"So we understand. But we want a choice one."
"I've got some that can't be beat this side the White mountains."
"We've learned that also. We took the liberty of looking over your spruce grove on our way up here."
"Well; they didn't nobody hender ye, did they?"
"No. We found what we were looking for, all right."
"Jes' so. Come in an' set down."
Grandpa Walker moved ponderously from the doorway in which he had been standing, to his comfortable chair by the window, seated himself, picked up his pipe from the window-sill, filled it, lighted it and began puffing. The two men entered the room, closing the door behind them, and found chairs for themselves and occupied them. Then the conversation was renewed.
"We'll be perfectly frank with you, Mr. Walker," said Hubert Morrissey, "and tell you what we want and why we want it. It is proposed to erect a first-class liberty-pole in the school-yard at Chestnut Hill. A handsome American flag has already been given to the school. The next thing in order of course is the pole. Mr. Campbell and I have been authorized to find a spruce tree that will fill the bill, buy it, and have it cut and trimmed and hauled to town while the snow is still on. It has to be dressed, seasoned, painted, and ready to plant by the time the frost goes out, and there isn't a day to lose. There, Mr. Walker, that is our errand."
"Jes' so. Found the tree did ye? down in my swamp?"
"We certainly did."