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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text
Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 edition. Excerpt: ...a bag, and a thunderin'' heavy one, from the Norwich boat to French''s Hotel,--a mile and a half I guess it was,--and how much do you think the man paid me? Twenty-five cents. Yes, he did, but he didn''t want to. All he offered me first was ten cents. That''s rather poor pay. I don''t think I should want to work for that myself. You couldn''t live very high on such pay, said Ben. I have worked as cheap, though. You have! said Ben, surprised. Yes, my lad, I was a poor boy once,--as poor as you are. Where did you live? asked Ben, interested. In a country town in New England. My father died early, and I was left alone in the world. So I hired myself out to a farmer for a dollar a week and board. I had to be up at five every morning, and work all day. My wages, you see, amounted to only about sixteen cents a day and board for twelve hours'' work. Why didn''t you run away? inquired Ben. I didn''t know where to run to. I s''pose you aint workin'' for that now? said our hero. No, I''ve been promoted, said the gentleman, smiling. Of course I got higher pay, as I grew older. Still, at twenty-one I found myself with only two hundred dollars. I worked a year longer till it became three hundred, and then I went out West,--to Ohio,--where I took up a quarter-section of land, and became a farmer on my own account. Since then Fve dipped into several things, have bougnt nore land, which has increased in value on my hands, till now I am probably worth fifty thousand dollars. I''m glad of it, said Ben. Why? '' Because you can afford to pay me liberal fat unashin'' your baggage. What do you call liberal? inquired his patron, smiling. Fifty cents, answered Ben, promptly. Then I will be liberal. Now, suppose you tell me something about...
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