nearly noon before
`` Well , here 's a true Jack-at-all-trades ! '' exclaimed Mr. Gifford , opening his eyes . `` I begin to wish we had a place for you ! '' It was nearly noon before Jack had another sample of printing ready to show . There was a good supply of type , to be sure , but he was not much of a printer , and type-setting did not come easily to him . He worked almost desperately , however , and meanwhile his brains were as busy as the coffee-mills . He succeeded finally , and it was time , for a salesman was just reporting : `` Mr. Gifford , we 're out of paper bags . ''