“Your mother makes good cheese,” he said.
“My sister made them.”
“Your sister, eh. Older than yourself?”
“No, younger; only seventeen.”
“Indeed! Well, you may tell her she is a dabster at cheese-making. Do you want cash? If you do I’m afeard we shall not be able to trade, because cash is cash these days; but if you are willing to barter I guess we can dicker, for Mr. Hancock is going to freight a ship to the West Indias and wants something to send in her, and it strikes me the sugar planters at Porto Rico might like a bit of cheese,” the clerk said.
“I shall want some sugar, coffee, molasses, codfish, and other things.”
“I’ll give you the market price for all your cheeses, and make fair rates on what you want from us.”
“I can’t let you have all. I must reserve two of the best.”
“May I ask why you withhold two?”
“Because my father wishes to present one to Mr. Samuel Adams and the other to Doctor Joseph Warren, who are doing so much to preserve the rights of the Colonies.”