Shaking his head, he replied to the application, "I can't give you money, Ellis." "You can't ?" "No; for that would be no real kindness.

But, if you will reform your life; if you will abandon drink, and become a sober, industrious man, I will pledge myself to procure you a good situation as clerk.

In a few years you may regain all that has been lost." "Bah!" muttered Ellis, grinding his teeth as he spoke.

"All good talk!" and, turning away, he passed from the store of his old friend.

Without a cent in his pocket, and burning with a desire for drink, he had conquered all reluctance and shame, and applied, as we have seen, to an old friend, for money.