As the man turned to leave the house, his wife entered, having succeeded in finding another dozen of eggs. She also expressed her astonishment that “things had riz up so fast;” to which Tom replied that the articles were worth, to him, every cent he had paid for them. The extra dozen were placed with the others; and then Tom, seeing that the farmer was endeavoring to drive his game chickens toward the barn, sent Bob out to assist him. The fowls were finally secured, and, after the fisher-boy had taken them to the boat, he returned to the place where he had left Tom, and showed him two or three wounds on his hands, which he had received while capturing the rooster. The young trader was delighted; and the thought then occurred to him that he had done a very sensible thing when he bought those chickens, for the rooster’s attack on Bob was conclusive evidence that he was “grit to the backbone.”
“That farmer don’t know much about chickens,” said he to Bob, “or he would not have sold that rooster for a dollar. I’ll get more than that for him. I knew I would be certain to succeed this time. Now,” he continued, as he again produced his memorandum book, “I’ve got every thing I want except the oats. Sit down here.”
The fisher-boy seated himself beside his employer, who began to “make out a bill” of the articles he had purchased. Tom did the writing and Bob the calculating; and finally the book showed the following:
Ackount of Expenses.
21 duzen eggs At twenty cts. four dollers and 20
10 ponds butter At twenty 2 cts. too dollers and 20
Three first class game chickens At one Doller 3 dollers
Oats for packing Eggs a half doller
making nine Dollers and 90
“There,” said Tom, gazing admiringly at his work, “that’s the first bill I ever made out. I’ll show it to father when I get home. Now I’ll have left just—just—let me see—”
“Ten cents,” suggested Bob.
“So I will. I’ll get some apples with that.”
The fisher-boy thought that if the money had belonged to him, he would have saved it; but he knew that it would do no good to offer such advice to Tom; and, besides, his thoughts were turned into another channel, by the arrival of the farmer with the oats. While Bob busied himself in packing away the eggs, Tom went into the house with the farmer, to settle his bill; and after this was done, the man conducted him to the orchard, where he filled his pockets with apples. He then walked about the yard with the farmer, until Bob had carried all the articles he had purchased to the boat, when he took his leave; and, promising to return in a day or two for another load, he stepped on board the sloop, which filled away for home.