“For I expect you will be all that, one of these days, (a literal “governor,” I mean,) or in some other way assert your supremacy over nineteen twentieths of the rest of the human race.  Methinks even now from afar I see Joseph’s dream enacting, in your favour, only you will perforce lack something of his baker’s dozen of homages in your own family.  Unless —­ but nobody can tell what may happen.  For my part I am sincerely willing to be surpassed, so it be only by you; and will swing my cap and hurrah for you louder than anybody, the first time you are elected.  Do not think I am more than half mad.  In truth I expect great things from you, and I expect without any fear of disappointment.  You have an obstinacy of perseverance, under that calm face of yours, that will be more than a match for all obstacles in your way; indeed obstacles only make the rush of the stream the greater, if once it get by them; the very things which this minute threatened to check it, the next are but trophies in the foaming triumph of its onward course.  You can do what you will; and you will aim high.  Aim at the highest.

“I am aiming as hard as I can, and so fast that I can’t see whether my arrows hit.  Not at the capture of any pretty face, —­ though there are a few here that would be prizes worth capturing; but really I am not skilled in that kind of archery and on the whole am not quite ready for it.  An archer needs to be better equipped, to enter those lists with any chance of success, than alas!  I am at present.  I am aiming hard at the dressing up of my mind, in the sincere hope that the dressing up of my person may have some place in the after-piece.  In other words, I am so busy that I don’t know what I am doing.  Asphodel was a miserable place (though I am very glad you are in it) —­ my chances of success at Little River are much better.  Indeed I am very much to my mind here; were I, as I said, a little better equipped outwardly, and if my aunt Landholm only had mamma’s recipe for making pumpkin pies; or, as an alternative, had the pumpkin crop this season but failed.  But alas! the huge number of the copper-coloured tribe that lurked among the corn forests a few weeks ago, forbid me to hope for any respite till St. Nicholas jogs my aunt L.’s elbow.

“I have left myself no room to say with how much delight I received your letter, nor with what satisfaction I think of you as having fairly started in the race.  You have entered your plough, now, Governor, —­ quick, quick, for the other side.

“Thine in the dearest rivalry,

“Will.  Rufus Landholm

“All manner of love to mamma, papa, and the little ones, from Will.”

In another corner, —­ “I am sorry Mr. Haye makes so little stay at Asphodel at this time —­ you will not see anything of him, nor of his place.”

“I can bear that,” thought Winthrop.

He was much too busy to see men or places.  One fortnight was given to the diligent study of Algebra; two other little fortnights to Latin; and then his father came and took him home, sooner than he expected.  But he had “entered his plough.”