The new
vicar of St. Peter's Church is astonished to learn that the long-serving
verger, Albert Foreman, is illiterate. When Foreman refuses to learn to read,
the vicar feels he has no choice but to fire him.
On the way back to his lodgings, Foreman notices that there is not a
tobacconist shop in the area. Needing work, he decides to open one. He also
takes the opportunity to propose to his landlady, Emma. Their fledgling
business is very successful, and Foreman soon sets up another shop, run by his stepdaughter
and her husband. Over the next decade, Foreman starts up more and more shops,
becoming a wealthy man in the process and depositing his profits at the bank.
The bank manager recommends that he invest his sizable savings in order to get
a better return on his money, forcing Foreman to reveal that he has not been
able to because he cannot read. When the stunned manager asks (rhetorically) if
he knew where he would be if he could, Foreman replies that he would be the
verger of St. Peter's.
vicar of St. Peter's Church is astonished to learn that the long-serving
verger, Albert Foreman, is illiterate. When Foreman refuses to learn to read,
the vicar feels he has no choice but to fire him.
On the way back to his lodgings, Foreman notices that there is not a
tobacconist shop in the area. Needing work, he decides to open one. He also
takes the opportunity to propose to his landlady, Emma. Their fledgling
business is very successful, and Foreman soon sets up another shop, run by his stepdaughter
and her husband. Over the next decade, Foreman starts up more and more shops,
becoming a wealthy man in the process and depositing his profits at the bank.
The bank manager recommends that he invest his sizable savings in order to get
a better return on his money, forcing Foreman to reveal that he has not been
able to because he cannot read. When the stunned manager asks (rhetorically) if
he knew where he would be if he could, Foreman replies that he would be the
verger of St. Peter's.
