Among the admonitions given to Jack on leaving home, one was
prominently in his mind, to beware of imposition, and to be as
economical as possible.
Accordingly he rejected all invitations to ride, and strode along,
with his carpet-bag in hand, though, sooth to say, he had very
little idea whether he was steering in the right direction for his
uncle's shop. By dint of diligent and persevering inquiry he found
it at length, and, walking in, announced himself to the worthy baker
as his nephew Jack.
"What, are you Jack?" exclaimed Mr. Abel Crump, pausing in his
labor; "well, I never should have known you, that's a fact. Bless
me, how you've grown! Why, you're most as big as your father, ain't
you?"
"Only half an inch shorter," returned Jack, complacently.
"And you're--let me see, how old are you?"
"Eighteen, that is, almost; I shall be in two months."
"Well, I'm glad to see you, Jack, though I hadn't the least idea of
your raining down so unexpectedly. How's your father and mother and
Rachel, and your adopted sister?"
"Father and mother are pretty well," answered Jack, "and so is Aunt
Rachel," he added, smiling; "though she ain't so cheerful as she
might be."
"Poor Rachel!" said Abel, smiling also, "all things look upside down
to her. I don't suppose she's wholly to blame for it. Folks differ
constitutionally.
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