"Not as much as I wish," Ben answered, as Hal smiled at the plain question.
"I thought so," said Mr. Dayton; "and the very best thing you can do, young man, is to come down to my house, or perhaps I can come up here, and gather some really useful and necessary information about figures. It will make a man of you. I guess you're a pretty good boy, and you only need brightening up a little."
Hal replied: "I wish you would, Uncle Dayton; that is just what I should like."
"Well," said he, "it wouldn't do you any hurt to come with him."
"I should come, too," said Mary.
"Come right along," was the reply. At supper time he said he preferred a simple dish of bread and milk, which he seemed to enjoy greatly, and all the niceties Mary had prepared were set aside unnoticed.
"Do you know what day you were born on, Ben?" he said.
"I know the day of the month, sir, but not the day of the week."
"Tell me the day of the month and year and I will tell you the day of the week."
"September 6, 1828."