The event of the first presentation of a young man to the person
who is to control him for some years to come in the character of a master,
is one of no ordinary importance. While I was preparing myself to
look my best in his eyes, by making my person as tidy as possible, I
was busily forming in my mind's eye some idea of his appearance. All
I knew of him was that he was an elderly man, that his name was
Jonathan Bedrick, and that he had `very respectable' recommendations.

[figure description] Page 022.[end figure description]

Having properly attired my person I sallied forth and took my way
with a brisk step towards India street. At length I stood in front of
the store in the counting-room of which I expected to behold the great
South American Merchant into whose hands I had resolved to commit
my destinies. The height and grandeur of the store enlarged my ideas
of the personage who was to be found within. My heart fluttered, and
I dare say I was paler than usual as I entered the street door and asked
of a young man, with a quill on his ear-top, for Mr. Bedrick. Before
replying he eyed me sharply, and then asked me, in a sort of confidential
tone, if I was one of the young men whom he had engaged to go
out with him to South America. Upon my frankly replying in the
affirmative, he looked very grave, then smiled meaningly, then shook
his head with a sympathizing air. I confess I was not a little startled,
so was about to ask the meaning of these signs when he said:

`From the country, I dare say?'

`Yes,' I responded for the twentieth time since I had been in Boston,
astonished at the unfailing accuracy with which every body who
had never seen me before knew my rustic origination. If I had had
`From Kennebec,' written in chalk upon my back, the Boston folks
could not have known for a greater certainty that I was a young man
from `down East.'

`Better go back again,' he said in a half impatient way, half advising.
`You don't know every thing. Better go back again. You 'll
be sure to cry over the milk after it is spilled, but it will then be too lateTake
my advice and quit the concern!'

It at once occurred to me that this young man, who from the fact
that he never saw me before that moment, could have no particular interest
in my welfare, and that he was desirous of getting me out of the
way that he might jump into my shoes. I therefore smiled quietly and
merely answered that I never expected to know every thing so long as
Mr. Ignorance was in the world! He looked very angry at my reply,
and turning on his heel said very impressively, `Go to the devil!'

Not caring to take up his words I said nothing but walking past him
into the counting-room I saw three persons variously engaged at desks,
and a fourth seated at a table writing. I paused, and surveyed them,
and came to the conclusion that the elderly man at the table must be
Mr. Bedrick. With this idea I surveyed him for a moment with close
attention. He was about fifty one or two years of age, with a very
high bald forehead, arched wrinkled brows, and a prominent aquiline
nose, beaked like an eagle's. His eyes were black, deep set, and restless,
and one of them was kept nearly half shut, while over the other
the corner of the thick eye-brow was knitted sharply. His mouth was
large and heavily-lipped. His whole face had an aspect of shrewd
intelligence combined with low cunning.

I was not then much of a judge of physiognomy, else I had taken
the advise of my friend who had sent me so civily `to the devil,'
and gone back home without introducing myself to the man of my
destiny. I don't know how it was that I pitched, upon him as the
only man in the counting-room likely to be Mr. Bedrick, unless it
was that before him on the table lay a hat, and stick, and a pair of

[figure description] Page 023.[end figure description]

gloves, as if he had just laid them down, as a temporary visiter would
be likely to do; and I knew that he only had that counting-room as
his head-quarters until he should set sail.

After I had surveyed his face and let my eyes wander over his snuffcolored
coat and white snuff-stained waistcoat, and the ruffled bosom of
his shirt, I mustered courage and advanced towards him hat in hand.

`I have called to see Mr. Bedrick,' I said as firmly as I could manage
to articulate at such an important moment, my heart all the while going
like an engine worked by steam.

Without replying at the instant he raised his head and keenly surveyed
me, first dropping his spectacles which had been thrust above
his forehead.

`I am that person,' he at length answered in a nasal tone, and with
an effort to appear amiably condescending; for doubtless he suspected
what my business was with him, and for reasons obvious enough now,
was desirous of making a good first impression upon me.

`I have called, sir, with a letter to you from Dr. Haley,' I answered,
handing him a note which stated my name, family, and connexions.

`Ah, very well, quite well, young man,' he said, after he had completed
its perusal. `So you are one of the four young gentlemen
recommended to me. I am glad to see you here in such good time.
I like your appearance. You have never been in any business—always
at school till now?'

`Yes, sir!'

`So much the better. You come to me unsophisticated, and without
any of the bad habits young men get in town. It was that I might
have highly respectable, moral, intelligent, upright young men with me
that I conceived the idea of applying as I did by letter to Dr. Haley.
The result shows the wisdom of my course. I have already seen this
morning young Fairfax and Radsworth who report themselves ready to
go at an hour's notice!'

`So am I, sir. I have been four or five days in town!'

`Ah, indeed. I like your readiness. I am fortunate in getting
such five young men, all of the best families in Maine, too, I learn. I
want precisely such; persons that I can trust, confide in, and who will
confer credit upon me and my business. Do you know the fourth one,
Hewitt?'

`Yes, sir,' I answered; my opinion of him gradually growing more
favorable.

`Do you know if he has arrived?'

`Not yet, sir, I believe, though it is possible. I have not seen the
other two yet,' I answered.

`Is he as active and intelligent as you three seem to be?'

`He is a very clever, sir, and I believe an excellent young man.—
He bore a good reputation for scholarship and character at the Institution!
'

`That is what Healey writes. I am very fortunate in thus getting
my young men. Where do you stop?'

`At the Commercial!'

[figure description] Page 024.[end figure description]

`I shall want to see you and the rest together when Hewitt arrives,
also your father when he comes. We shall get off by the fifteenth. I
hope you will get all things necessary for the voyage, especially thin
clothing, which you will need in that climate. Now, good morning.
I will send to you when I am ready to see you again. I would prefer
you should not make this matter of going to South America an occasion
of conversation, as I would rather it should pass quietly. In mercantile
affairs secrecy is a great virtue, young man, as you will learn
before you have been a great while with me!'

With this counsel Mr. Bedrick slightly bowed and resumed his occupation
of transferring an account from a slip of paper to a small
sheepskin-covered memorandum-book that lay before him. I bowed
very politely, as it became me to do, to a person of such consideration
as a foreign merchant, whose clerk I was destined to be, and backing
out of the counting-room I replaced my new hat upon my head, and
proceeded to leave the store. In the door-way stood my friend who
would enviously have usurped my place in the proposed foreign House,
but not deigning to bestow upon him even a look of recognition, I
walked forth and took my way back to the hotel. When I reached it
I was told by Mr. Merriam that my father had just arrived and was
gone up to a room. I hastened to him, and after the congratulations
of our meeting were over, I informed him that I had seen Mr. Bedrick
and that he had desired me to be ready by the fifteenth.

During the day Hewitt arrived in a Kennebec sloop, which accounted
for his delay, the vessel having been detained by contrary winds three
days beyond the usual time required for her passage across the bay.—
In the evening, we four adventurers and aspirants for wealth in South
America, met together at my room, where we discussed our future
prospects. We all agreed that Mr. Bedrick was a shrewd-looking old
fellow, and on comparing notes generally we found that our opinions
nearly coincided respecting him; Hewitt, however, felt disposed to
regard him with more favor than either of us; but he was an easy,
quiet young man, who took every thing smoothly, and possessed the
most immovable sang froid; and no disappointment could have the
effect of disturbing his equanimity.

The next forenoon my father came in informing me that he had
seen Mr. Bedrick, and was very much pleased with him. He said that
he was every way worthy of his confidence, and that in surrendering
me to his charge he felt that he was paving the way for my ultimate
prosperity. He concluded a short chapter of advice to me touching
my deportment when I should be solely under his care, by saying that
Mr. Bedrick would call at one o'clock and dine with him, when he
would like not only to see me but the rest of the young gentlemen
together. By my father's direction I then went in seach of them and
invited them to my room to meet our future employer. At the hour
set they made their appearance, and shortly afterwards my father sent
for me and my friends to go down into his room. We found with him
Mr. Bedrick, who bowed and spoke civilly to each of us as we entered
and took our seats.

`Mr. Bedrick, Paul, wishes to explain to you and your friends more

[figure description] Page 025.[end figure description]

clearly his intention respecting you,' said my father. `I have talked
with him and am satisfied that he will be to you both a father and a
friend!'

`Certainly, young gentlemen, that is my intention,' answered Mr.
Bedrick in his shrill nasal tone, one of his black, restless eyes shining
out from beneath his contracted eyebrow, while the other was closely
shut, like a man looking through a telescope.

`I hope I shall treat you in a manner as will almost lead you to forget
you ever had another father! I have two sons who go out with
me. You shall have the same treatment precisely as they! I shall
know no difference between you. You are all my sons. I trust you
will be as sons to me, faithful and obedient!'

We all bowed our acquiescence in this sentiment, when he proceeded
after taking a huge pinch of snuff from a tortoise-shell box that
was never out of his hand:

`My intention is to sail on the fifteenth instant from this port for
Buenos Ayres, in South America, in the brig `Joseph,' Captain Pright.
I am going out for the purpose of establishing two Houses, one at
Monte Video, the other at Buenos Ayres. I have my goods for the
purpose on board the brig. I am also part owner of her. It is my
intention to pay your passage out and to board and clothe you until you
are twenty-one, giving you at the same time the privilege of making
private speculations for your own benefit and profit. That is the
country to get rich in a short time. You will with me get a thorough
knowledge of the business and also of the language of the country.—
At the age of twenty-one I will take you into the firm as partners, or
set you up in new Houses in some of the neighboring ports; for it is
my intention to establish agencies in numerous places so soon as I get
my business fairly under weigh. Now you fully understand what I am
to do and what prospects lie before you, young gentlemen. Hundreds
of young men in this city would be glad to go with me; but I want
moral young men; those who like you have never been hackneyed by
the ways of vice, and who can start fair in the world with your unspotted
character in your hands. Your parents,' he continued, addressing
my three friends, `have corresponded with me, and I have replied to
their letters. They express themselves highly gratified with the opportunity
that is now offered you. Nothing now remains to be done but
for you to sign this paper pledging yourselves each to give me your
services until you severally arrive at the age of twenty-one.'

Here he unfolded a long document which he read to us. It embraced
the sum of what he had already said, and we walked up to the table
and affixed to it our names. I remember that mine was given with
a final flourish of unusual dimensions and expressions; for in my
mind's eye I was already as rich as an Inca of Peru; Mr. Bedrick's
plausible and eloquent account of his `intentions' and our `prospects,
' having quite captivated my imagination and wholly removed
from my mind the prejudice which I had in the outset conceived
against him.

He also, affixed his name to the paper beneath ours, and my father
appended his on the left margin as `Witness.' Thus were the

[figure description] Page 026.[end figure description]

formidable preliminaries arranged, and we felt as if we were already at the
head of our great commercial Firm! Mr. Bedrick dined with my
father who seemed much taken with him.

At length the day on which we were to sail arrived. Information
was conveyed to us that we must be on board the brig by three o'clock
as the tide would serve at four, when the vessel would weigh anchor
and proceed to sea.