“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed the serious Bob. “How did the aforesaid Tod acquire his wealth?”
“He didn’t do nuthin’, an’ yet he’s well off, Tod is. Some folks is born lucky. That’s all the difference there is between folks, in my opinion. Some has luck for ’em and some has it agin ’em.”
“And Tod had it with him, did he?” inquired Bob.
“He did that. His father left him well fixed, for Tod had the house and fifty acres o’ land all clear. And now he’s gone an’ sold some lots up there on that bluff where he couldn’t raise nothin’, and he’s got two thousan’ dollars in clean money for ’em. Neow if that isn’t luck, then I don’t know what luck is,” said Ethan, impressively. “He jest works when he feels like it, and when he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Jest takes his ease and comes an’ goes when an’ where he pleases, an’ doesn’t ask no odds of nobody.”
“Fortunate youth!” murmured Bob; and again silence came upon the party.
For an hour more they sped on before the breeze, which still continued strong. The sun was high in the heavens, and across the bright blue of the sky occasional masses of silver-colored clouds passed. It was a perfect summer day, and the deep peace which rested over all things seemed to include the boys in its embrace. The boat was handled perfectly by Ethan and Tom, and it must have required men made of different material from that in our boys not to feel the keen delight of living amidst such surroundings. The rush and roar of the city were things impossible to be imagined, and even the grind of the closing days in school, and the prospect of the hard work in college, were all vague and meaningless.
“What’s that place ahead, Ethan?” suddenly exclaimed Jock, sitting erect as he spoke, and pointing to a place of considerable size to their left.
“Brockville.”
“Why don’t we stop there and get dinner?”
“I’ve got something for ye to eat aboard the boat.”