But no lots were sold!  The Acre Hill Land Improvement Company was willing to make itself popular—­very willing.  Didn’t mind giving Dumfries Corners people free entertainment, but—­lots didn’t sell.  What is the use of paying the expenses of a club if lots don’t sell?  This was a new problem for the company to consider.  There were sixteen houses ready for occupancy, and consuming interest at a terrible rate, but no one came to look at them.  Acre Hill was a charming spot, no doubt, but for some unknown reason or other it failed to take hold of the popular fancy, despite the attractions of the club.

Suddenly the head of the institution had an idea.  In the great metropolis there was an impecunious and popular member of Uppertendom whose name had been appearing in the society journals with great frequency for years.  He formerly had been prosperous, but now he was down financially; yet society still received and liked him, for he had many good points and was fundamentally what the world calls a good fellow.

“Why not send for Jocular Jimson Jones?” suggested the head and leading spirit of the Improvement Company.  “We can offer him one of our cottages, and pay his debts if he has any, if he will live here and give us the benefit of his social prestige.”

The suggestion was received with enthusiasm.  Mr. Jones was summoned, came and inspected the cottage, and declined.  He really couldn’t, you know.  Of course he was down, but not quite down to the level of a cottage of that particular kind.  He still had plenty of friends whom he could visit and who would be charmed to entertain him in the style to which he was accustomed.  Why, therefore, should he do this thing, and bring himself down to the level of the ordinary commuter?  No, indeed.  Not he!  The Directors saw the point, and next offered him—­and this time he accepted—­the free use of the residence of one of the officers of the company, a really handsome, pretentious structure, with a commanding view, stable, green-houses, graceful lawns, and all other appurtenances of a well-appointed country seat.  In addition to the furnishing of the house in proper taste, they put coal in the cellar and fly-screens in the windows.  They filled the residence with servants, and indorsed the young person at the grocer’s and butcher’s.  They bought him a surrey and a depot wagon.  They bought him horses and they stocked him well with fine cigars.  They paid his tailor’s bills, and sundry other pressing monetary affairs were funded.  In fact, the Acre Hill Land Improvement Company set Jocular Jimson Jones up and then gave him carte blanche to entertain; and inasmuch as Jocular had a genius for entertaining, it is hardly necessary to say that he availed himself of his opportunity.