Pondering over the “narrer minds” of those with whom he had been conversing, Josiah Boyden tramped along the dusty road, becoming more incensed with every step, as he thought of the individual who had presumed to suggest that he might contribute toward the school fund, and still the gossip at the store progressed, unhindered by the departure of the “seelectman.”

“My Reuben,” remarked Mr. Jenks, “made more progress in his studies last season than he ever made before in two winters’ work, and I feel that the teacher deserves a deal of thanks fer stirring up such an interest.  I don’t have the sort er feelin’ that Boyden has.  I stand ready and willin’ ter put my hand in my pocket ter help aout expenses, ef some others will ’gree ter chip in.”

“But there’s a ’scuse fer Boyden,” chuckled Nate Burnham, the old fellow behind the stove, as he relighted his pipe, and puffed a few times to determine if it intended to burn.  “There’s a sort er ’scuse fer Boyden,” he repeated, “fer his children have growd up, so he ain’t got no use fer schools, and fellers like him don’t pay fer things they ain’t a usin’.”

“Wal, I think we ought ter have a village improvement sarsiety fer the benefit of us as is out’n school,” remarked Joel Simpkins, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets and tossing his head to shake back a refractory lock of hay-colored hair.

He was the “head clerk” at Barnes’ store.  To be sure he was, as a general thing, the only clerk, but Joel considered himself quite a personage, and never referred to himself as other than head clerk.

“Kinder had an idee that ye couldn’t be improved, Joel,” remarked a young farmer who had thus far taken no part in the conversation.

Joel looked sharply at the man, and vaguely wondered if possibly the remark was sarcastic, but the face into which he peered was so genuinely good natured that Joel was reassured, and he at once decided that only a very fine compliment was intended.

“I think we could fix up this ’ere square,” said Joel, “ter begin with.  Take that old horse trough.  That could be fixed up ‘n’ painted, ‘n’ that willer tree; ‘twouldn’t hurt it ter give it a good preunin’.  Growin’ as it does daown in the ditch, or puddle beside this store, it flourishes, an’ lops its limbs nigh onto across the square; an’ the rickety fence beside it ought ter be straightened up ’fore some of the fellers that are perpetually leanin’ ’gainst it pitch with it backward inter the ditch.”

“Wal, Joel, while yer ’baout it,” remarked Silas Barnes, “why don’t yer suggest a brick block er two, an’ pavin’ stones in the square an’ a few other things such as I told ye I seen in Boston.  ’Tain’t wuth while ter stop after ye git started ter make suggestions.”

“Speakin’ of the teacher,” remarked Mr. Potts, “I’m one that speaks in favor of Miss Gilman every time, and Jotham seconds everything I say.”

“Lemme tell ye what my Timotheus is a doin’ these days.  I set him ter hoeing fer me, and I tell ye ye’d like ter watch him a spell,” said old Mr. Simpkins, his face beaming with pride in his youngest son.