Jack stammered and hesitated until it was a positive pleasure both to himself and the storekeeper when the speech was finally ended.
"What can you do?" Mr. Treat asked thoughtfully as he fashioned with infinite care the bit of wood into a toothpick.
"Almost anything, sir. I'd be willin' to work very hard if I could get the job."
"Have you got any idea what the jobs 'round here might be?"
"It don't make any difference; I'm not afraid of bucklin' down to them."
"How much do you count on earnin'?"
"I want to get enough to buy a cow for Aunt Nancy."
"Do you know what one is worth?"
"No, sir."
Mr. Treat was silent for a moment as if revolving some very weighty matter in his mind, and said slowly,—