“To the city, I suppose,” was the reply.  “I can’t sell them here very well.  Nearly all of the summer people raise their own.”

“You should have some one place in the city to send them, Rodney.  I have heard that Peter McDuff gives good prices.  You might try him.”

“Will you write him a letter, grandad?”

“I think you had better do it yourself.  This is your business, and you must carry it through from beginning to the end.”

It took Rod some time to write that letter.  It was the first business one he had ever written, and he did not know just what to say.  At last, after numerous efforts, he decided that this would be satisfactory: 

HILLCREST, N. B.
  July 12th, 1911.

“MR. PETER McDUFF,
  St. John.

“Dear Sir:  I have some strawberries which I am going to pick myself.  I want to buy a scout suit, and Miss Arabella has given me her berries.  What will you give me for them?  I will send them down on the boat when I hear from you.

“Yours very truly,

“ROD ROYAL.”

Rod carried this letter to the office, mailed it, and brought back a number of berry-boxes from the store in his little hand-waggon.  The rest of the afternoon he spent in making a crate to hold the boxes.  Long and patiently he toiled, and at times Mrs. Royal went into the workshop to see how he was getting along.  When supper time came it was a queer ramshackle affair he had constructed, which would hardly hold together long enough to reach the wharf, let alone the rough handling it would receive on the steamer.

That evening after Rod was in bed, Parson Dan took a lamp and went out to the workshop.  His heart was strangely moved as he looked upon the pathetic efforts of the little lad.  Casting aside his coat, he started to work, and in about half an hour he had fashioned a neat strong crate, capable of standing the strain of travel.  Into this he put the berry-boxes, placed upon it a good strong cover, and went back into the house.

Rod was surprised and delighted next morning when he went into the workshop.  He had his misgivings, however, and asked the parson whether it was right for him to receive any help.

“That’s all right, Rodney,” the clergyman explained.  “You can hardly be expected to make the berry-boxes any more than you can make the large crate.  There are some things others must do for us.  You will need two or three more crates, so the one I made last night will show you just how the work is to be done.  You did remarkably well yesterday with nothing to guide you, but to-day I expect you to do better.”

Thus encouraged, Rod once more set to work, and by night he had finished two crates which greatly pleased Mr. and Mrs. Royal.  They were overjoyed at the boy’s enthusiasm, his skill and his work, as well as his willingness to be taught.

The next day a reply was received from Peter McDuff.  Rod was greatly excited as he tore open the envelope.