"No; I wish I had half-a-dozen; for I could sell them all; but I intend to order some from Baltimore to-day."
"Then maybe you would buy this one back from me at half price? I have taken such care of it, that it is as good as new, you see. Look at it for yourself."
"Yes, I see it looks perfectly fresh; but here is some writing on the fly leaf; that would have to be torn out, you know; so that the book could never be sold as a new one again; I should have to sell it as a second hand one, at half price; that would be a dollar and a half, so that you see I would only give you a dollar for it."
"Sir?" questioned Ishmael, in sad amazement.
"Yes; because you know, I must have my own little profit on it."
"Oh, I see; yes, to be sure," assented Ishmael, with a sigh.
But to part with his treasure and get no more than that! It was like Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage.
However, the poor cannot argue with the prosperous. The bargain was soon struck. The book was sold and the boy received his dollar. And then the dealer, feeling a twinge of conscience, gave him a dime in addition.
"Thank you, sir; I will take this out in paper and wafers, if you please. I want some particularly," said Ishmael.
Having received a half dozen sheets of paper and a small box of wafers, the lad asked the loan of pen and ink; and then, standing at the counter, he wrote a dozen circulars as follows: