that he proposed a partnership to the cook and the setting up a little booth in the ‘county fair,’ which is like our rural cattle shows, you know.  The cook (a superior person who borrows books from Mrs. Lossing, but seems very decent and respectful notwithstanding, and broils game to perfection.  And such game as we have here, Sarah!)—­well, the cook made him cream-cakes, sandwiches, tarts, and candy, and Harry honorably bought all the provisions with his profits from the first venture.  You will open your eyes at his father permitting such a thing, but Henry Lossing is a thorough Westerner in some ways, and he looks on it all as a joke.  ‘Might show the boy how to do business,’ he says.

“Well, they had a ravishing display, so Alma, the cook, and William, the man, assured me—­per Derry.  All the sadder its fate; for alas! a gang of rowdy boys fell upon Harry, and while he was busy fighting half of them—­ he is as plucky as his uncle, the general—­the other half looted the beautiful stock in trade!  They would have despoiled our poor little merchant entirely but for the opportune arrival of a schoolmate who is mightily respected by the rowdies.  He knocked one of them down and shouted after the others that he would give every one of them a good thrashing if they did not bring the plunder back; and as he is known to be a lad of his word for good or evil, actually the scamps did return most of the booty, which the two boys brushed off and sold, as far as it went (!) The consequence of the fray has been that Harry is unboundedly grateful to this Tommy Fitzmaurice, and is at present coaching him on his graduating oration.  Fitzmaurice has studied hard and won honors, and wants to make a show with his oration, to please his father.  ‘You see,’ says Harry, ’Tommy’s father has saved money and is spending it all on Tommy, so’s he can be educated.  He needs Tommy in the business real bad, but he won’t let him come in; he keeps him at school, and he thinks everything of his getting the valedictory, and Tommy, he worked nights studying to get it.’  When I asked what was the father’s business, Harry grew a bit confused.  ’Well, he kept a saloon; but’—­Harry hastened to explain—­’it was a very nice saloon, never any trouble with the police there; why, Tommy knew every man on the force.  And they keep good liquors, too,’ said Harry, earnestly; ‘throw away all the beer left in the glasses.’  ‘What else would they do with it?’ asked innocent I.  ’Why, keep it in a bucket,’ said Harry, solemnly, ’and then slip the glass under the counter and half fill out of the bucket, then hold it under the keg low, so’s the foam will come; that’s a trick of the trade, you know.  Tommy says his father would scorn that!’ There is a vista opened, isn’t there?  I was rather shocked at such associates for Harry, and told his mother.  Did she think it a good idea to have such a boy coming to the house? a saloon-keeper’s son?  She did not laugh,