this establishment that can say as much; and when I say this establishment, I may say New York; for Warford, Leppy & Co. is an establishment of which I am proud. Could lose a train or make a mistake as well as anybody else, if I tried, I dare say; but beggin' your pardon, sir, for never losing a train or making a mistake Ropey's the chap."

Ropey started, and arrived at the station some minutes before the train left. But meeting a friend who was going by the next one-some thirty minutes later-Ropey consented to accompany him; he said thirty minutes would make but little difference in delivering that note. Mr. Leppy, seeing how business began to shape, became somewhat alarmed, and started Wragg, another porter in the establishment, with a note to acquaint Mr. Warford of the dilemma, and request his advice. Others were dispatched to the several banks, with which the firm did business, to find what relief—if needed-they were to expect from them. Their reply was satisfactory, if nothing unexpected turned up.

Mr. Dotter made his appearance at his desk about an hour after Ropey had left, much to the relief of Mr. Leppy & Co. Dotter had been attacked with cholera during the night, and against his physician's advice had left his bed to go to business. He had been cautioned that his life might be the forfeit of his imprudence; that did not deter him -he knew that little could be done without the safe key. Dotter, an old and tried servant on whom rested all the responsibility, held life cheap when the firm was in danger: be the consequences what they may, he would go. Dotter coming in the down train passed Ropey going up; and, about the time Ropey found Mr. Dotter's home, Mr. Dotter entered the counting-house of Warford, Leppy & Co.

With Dotter's financial abilities, and the assistance from the banks as promised, the firm closed the business for that day-solvent.

Ropey was wanted for a purpose only Mr. Leppy knew about, but was nowhere to be found—could have been back two hours since; but Ropey was still absent, and the other porters were busily engaged. Therefore Ropey was the more wanted. It appears that, after Ropey ascertained that Mr. Dotter had left home for business, he thought for once in his life he would miss the train, and take a look round; so he and his friend adjourned to a tavern in the neighborhood. There Ropey spent the remainder of the day, not thinking or caring whether his services would be required or not.

Mr. Leppy did not look at his absence in the same light, but took a different view of the matter; being much annoyed by Ropey's non-appearance, came to the conclusion that Ropey should be suspended, and, if he could not satisfactorily account for his absence, dismissed.

-In the morning, when the store opened, Ropey did not present himself at the usual time; inquiries were made--but no Ropey. The clerks were at their accustomed duties; one after the other the partners appeared; still Ropey was absent. About the middle of the day Ropey walked in boldly, somewhat the worse from the over-indulgence of the previous day. He had evidently prescribed for himself the universally known remedy in such cases--a little hair from the dog that bit him—and seemed but little better for the application.

Mr. Leppy and the balance of the firm summoned Ropey to the counting-house. Mr. Leppy commenced: "Now, Ropey, what is the reason that

"Now, beggin' your pardon, sir, that isn't the point. Our firm has dragged through it beautifully, and who have you to thank for it? no one but Ropey,-Ropey's the chap."

"None of your fooling, sir, but tell me why-"

"Beggin' your pardon, sir, I don't mean to say that Mr. Dotter's appearance yesterday is to go for nothing; in all machines there are wheels-big wheels-wheels within wheels, as I say. Sometimes the big wheel does the work-sometimes the little wheel. Mr. Warford is a big wheel. Mr. Leppy is a wheel-a big wheel. Dotter is also a wheel; and now please, beggin' your pardon, sir, don't interrupt me. I say Ropey's a wheel though he is but a little wheel. Now yesterday the little wheel done it. Beggin' your pardon, sir, but don't interrupt me, suppose I had delivered this note to Mr. Dotter, what would have been the result? You would have had the key of the safe; Mr. Dotter would have stayed home; and the firm could not have pulled through; for all which Ropey's the chap;" and Ropey, with an air of importance, drew himself up to his utmost four feet ten inches. Leppy, angry as he really was, could scarcely suppress a laugh; aware of the man's weakness, and perhaps amused by his display of it, he allowed him to make out his case in his own way.

"Ropey, I gave you a note for Mr. Dotter, which you never delivered. The fact is, you lost it; and why did you not return and report yourself?"

"Oh! now I understand you, sir. You accuse me of losing the note. Beggin' your pardon, sir, I never lost a note in all my life." Here, with an air of triumph, he drew the note from his pocket and threw it down on the table. "Now, Mr. Leppy, I hope you'll confess your injustice. You accuse me of losing the note, and there it is, sir. No, no, sir, you may think what you please, but beggin' your pardon, rely upon what I tell you--Ropey's the chap."

"Why, this is making the matter worse and worse! instead of obeying my orders, you were passing the afternoon drinking—the effects of which you are not over even now."

"In course I did, sir," replied Ropey in a manner the most unconcerned. "In course, and where's the harm of it when I had nothing else to do? I knew it was all right, and that our firm was sa e.”

"What! when I positively desired you to deliver that note into Mr. Dotter's own hands?"

"In course you did! you're a perfect gentleman, Mr. Leppy, and I don't mean to contradict you, but beggin' your pardon, sir, there was no need to employ a Ropey for such a thing as that."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"I'll tell you what I mean, sir: any man in this establishment can deliver a note when he is ordered to do so; any common porter can do that; but, for knowing when to deliver a note and when not to deliver a note-beggin' your pardon, sir, Ropey's the chap. Now-now -please don't interrupt me. Setting the case I had done as you ordered me, what would have been the consequence? First place, Mr. Dotter would have got the note; second place, I should have got the key to the safe; third place, Mr. Dotter would have stayed at home; fourth place, no one could do as Mr. Dotter; fifth place, our firm would have had to go in. Now, beggin' your pardon, sir,—don't interrupt me--all owing to my not delivering that note, our firm still keeps its head above water, for which, if you have any one to thank, Ropey's the chap."

Ropey, having satisfied himself that not only had he done no wrong, but that, on the contrary, he had rendered a considerable service to the firm of Warford, Leppy & Co., and feeling that the dissatisfaction shown by Mr. Leppy at the course he had taken was unwarranted, with an air of injured pride and interest, without waiting for another word from Mr. Leppy, left the room.

There was a man who did odd jobs for the different stores and offices in the neighborhood of Warford, Leppy & Co.'s store, and when required would lend a hand to load or unload goods, take messages or parcels when the others were enagaged; this man's name was Pat Dolan. It happened that Dolan had done some considerable work at different times for Warford, Leppy & Co., and Ropey on one occasion had insulted Dolan, which Dolan never forgave. What was the nature of the insult never transpired, it being entirely between the partiessome heavy offense, no doubt; for, the first time the parties met after its perpetration (which was in a bar-room), Dolan, who was a powerful

man, caught little Ropey up in his arms and actually set him on a redhot stove. The seat was too warm for Ropey's comfort, and he bounded off like a roast chestnut, suffering some damage to his clothing. Still Pat Dolan never forgave the insult, nor Ropey the injury; and when they met, as sometimes they could not avoid doing, they always passed each other in silence and with a sullen scowl.

On the morning after Ropey's interview with Leppy & Co., Pat Dolan was installed as porter in Warford, Leppy & Co.'s; one of the other porters took the position Ropey was discharged from. Ropey made his appearance as usual at the store, and to his astonishment he was saluted by Pat Dolan with, "Good morning to you, Mr. Ropey." The value of the salute was considerably diminished in Ropey's estitimation by the sneering tone in which it was uttered. Ropey made no reply, but was passing on, when Dolan placed himself in the passage-way and prevented Ropey's further progress.

"None of your nonsense, beggin' your pardon, Mr. Dolan, I'm Ropey!"

"Then you'll walk out of this, Mr. Ropey; you're discharged." "Discharge Ropey! Pooh! let me know who'll dare discharge Ropey, and I'll soon let them know that Ropey's the chap!"

"Then you'll let Mr. Leppy know it, Mr. Ropey, so you can walk out of this, I tell you."

"I'll see Mr. Leppy himself," said Ropey, attempting to force a passage under Pat Dolan's guard.

"Then you'll see him in the street, for out of this you must go, and quickly, if you please!" Dolan uttered these words with a grin, at the same time pointing to a stove that stood in the office with a significant look at Ropey. The hint was taken; he made no reply, but hastened into the street. "A burnt child dreads the fire."

"Discharged! Ropey discharged! Good-by to the firm of Warford, Leppy & Co.; your chances of struggling through this panic are slight. Ropey discharged! it can't be done! nonsense!-all an invention of Pat Dolan." However, Ropey walked up and down the street till the arrival of Mr. Leppy; that gentleman appeared at last.

"Beggin' your pardon, sir," said Ropey, looking Mr. Leppy full in the face" beggin' your pardon, sir, I have news that will astonish you: Ropey's discharged!"

"Well, what then?"

Ropey's

"Beggin' your pardon, sir, I'm afraid you don't understand me; I Bay Ropey's discharged, and you say, 'Well, what then? dis charged, sir; ROPEY! that's all !"

"You are discharged in consequence of your negligence; you will be paid the full week's wages; but you will not be wanted here again. You are discharged." Mr. Leppy entered the counting-house, leaving Ropey utterly bewildered by this confirmation of his disgrace.

He staggered to the other side of the street, and looked up at the names over the front of the store, then up the street, then down the street. He felt that the building would fall; the business must stopthere was no help for it. "Can't go on," he muttered, "can't go on, that's very certain; a wheel out of the machine! I pity Warford most. I'm sorry for Warford. Ropey out! Can't be! Mr. Leppy's a wheel, a big wheel, I don't deny it; but Mr. Warford's a bigger wheel. Now, we'll see what Mr. Warford 'll say to all this."

Ropey immediately went in search of the biggest wheel. He found Mr. Warford some four miles away from his home, dining with a party of friends. Ropey arrived as they had just sat down to dinner. Would Ropey please to wait? Ropey scribbled something on a piece of paper, and requested that it be handed to Mr. Warford, who, with evident alarm, read these words: "Don't be frightened, sir, but I've bad news for you."

Mr. Warford left the table hurriedly, and led the way out of the "What in the name of heaven is the matter? is the store on

room.

fire, or what?"

66

'Not exactly that, sir, only, beggin' your pardon, sir, the concern can't go on."

"Nothing more than I expected. The firm suspended business, eh?"

"No, sir, but the thing will never enter your head, so, I'll tell you: Ropey's discharged !"

"Well, is that all? is it for that you have dared to disturb me?" "All!" exclaimed Ropey. "Beggin' your pardon, sir, allow me to ask you a question. Suppose I took a wheel out of a watch-a little wheel, we'll say what would happen ?"

"The watch couldn't go, of course."

"That'll do, sir, that's all I want; for getting at once to the right of things, Ropey's the chap! No, Mr. Warford, this is why the concern can't go on: a little wheel is taken out of the machine; Ropey's discharged! that's all !"

Mr. Warford, who knew and enjoyed the humor of the man, burst out laughing, in spite of his vexation at the interruption. "I suppose you have done something to merit it, or you would not have been discharged from our employ."