Ruby's Reward — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘¢T think it would hardly be wise for me to do that under exi-ting circumstances. I want to be a business man and get to doing something for myself as soon as pos- sible. After Uncle Ralph died and I found that I must look out for myself, I wished to enter an architect’s office and tit mysclf for that profession ; but Mr Conant, to whom I applied, advised me to learn all that L could about carpentering first, so IT have been hard at work at it during the jast year. There is a little more that I wish to learn before I go into tho office for good, which will be very soon—indeed, Lam there a good deal of my time now.” ‘““Do yon like carpentering ?” asked his companion. “‘T have been growing to like it better during the last few months. I am con- fident that it is going to be of great practical use to me, though I know that office-work will be more to my taste.” “Edmund ought to have helped you,” remarked Mr Ruggles with a grave shake of the head. “He did not seem willing to,” returned Walter. ‘He wanted ine to go into the counting-room ; but I could not bring my mind to that, so I preferred to accept Mr Conant’s offer. It has been rather up-hill work. It was pretty tough on my back and hands at first, for I was so unused to anything of tho kind; but I have heen crowing stronger all the timeS ARE RP