"I think you are a very sensible man, Mr. Hamlin," said Frank. "I couldn't get along without something to read."
"Not in this out-of-the-way place, at any rate," said Mr. Hamlin. "Nothing can be more dismal than the homes of some of my neighbors, who spend as much, or more, than I do every year. Yet, they consider me extravagant because I buy books and subscribe for periodicals."
By this time, Dick came in from the barn.
"Dick," said his father, "this is Frank Courtney, who comes from Chicago on a business errand. He is a traveling merchant—"
"In other words, a peddler," said Frank, with a smile, "ready to give the good people in Jackson a chance to buy stationery at reasonable prices."
"He will board with us while he is canvassing the neighborhood, and I expect you and he will become great friends."
"I think we shall," said Frank.
Dick was a little shy, but a few minutes set him quite at ease with his new acquaintance.
After supper, Frank said:
"Dick, if you are at leisure, I wish you would take a walk about the village with me. I want to see how it looks."