Harper's Young People, July 4, 1882 / An Illustrated Weekly

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Halloa, the house! Jedediah! Jedediah Petry! Mrs. Jedediah! Cadmus! Are you all deaf this morning? Come, come!
Dr. Flaxman stood up in his old chaise before the door of the last white cottage in Wicketiquok village, and shouted until he was purple in the face. The nine-o'clock June sun shone bright upon the closed green blinds. A broom and a watering-pot rested in the open doorway; but the broom and the pot seemed to be the only members of the Petry family ready to receive an early morning call. No marvel that Dr. Flaxman grew impatient, said several things to himself, and was just making ready to get out of the chaise and tie his new horse, when all at once a boy came running around the house corner, calling: Good-morning, Doctor. Did you call?
Did I call? echoed the Doctor, cuttingly. Well, Cadmus Petry, I should rather say that I did. Are you the only member of the family up at this time o' day? Cadmus, I want your father.
Can't have him, Doctor, replied the lad. Pop's gone up to Lafayette by the early train.
There, now! exclaimed the Doctor, appearing much disturbed by this answer. So I've missed him, after all my trouble! Well, where's your mother?
Gone with father. I'm keeping house for 'em. They won't come back before evening. They were going to take dinner at Grandfather Fish's in the town, and then go to Lawyer Gable's, on some important business, they said; something about buying some more land, I believe.
That's just it, Cadmus, said Dr. Flaxman, looking still more vexed and perplexed. He ran his sharp eye all over the boy from head to foot, and then continued: Look a-here, Cadmus. You're a pretty smart youngster, and I think you'll have to help me—eh?
Yes, sir, replied Cadmus, quietly.
Your father is going to buy a part of a farm to-day up in Lafayette, and he's getting it a good deal on my advice. He asked me to go and look at it and make some inquiries, and I did. Now I've got a letter here, my boy, that just alters my whole judgment of the matter. I wouldn't have your father make that bargain without first seeing this letter for anything you can think of. It came this morning. Now couldn't you go right up to Lafayette, catch your father and mother before they go to the lawyer's office, and give him this letter—without fail? I can't go myself, because Judge Kenipe's so low since yesterday; but I'll send a telegram ahead of you to tell your father to wait until you come.