Tom Temple’s
Career
CHAPTER I
NATHAN MIDDLETON.
ON THE main street, in the town of Plympton,stood a two-story house, with a narrow lawn infront. It had a stiff, staid look of decorum,as if no children were ever allowed to create disorderwithin its precincts, or interfere with its settled regularity.It appeared to be a place of business as well as aresidence, for there was a thin plate on one side of thefront door, bearing the name of
Some people might object to turning even a part oftheir dwellings into a business office, but then it savedrent, and Mr. Middleton was one of the saving kind. Hehad always been saving from the first time he received apenny at the mature age of five, and triumphing over thedelusive pleasures of an investment in candy, put it in atin savings-bank to the present moment. He didn’tmarry until the age of forty, not having dared to undertakethe expense of maintaining two persons. At thattime, however, he fortunately encountered a maiden ladyof about his own age, whose habits were equally economical,who possessed the sum of four thousand dollars.After a calculation of some length he concluded that itwould be for his pecuniary benefit to marry. He proposed,was accepted, and in due time Miss CorinthiaCarver became Mrs. Nathan Middleton.
Their married life had lasted eight years, when theyvery unexpectedly became the custodian of my hero.
One day Mr. Middleton sat in his office, drawing upan application for insurance, when a stranger entered.
“Wants to insure his life, I hope,” thought Nathan,in the hope of a commission.
“Take a chair, sir. What can I do for you?” heasked urbanely. “Have you been thinking of insuringyour life