y to Congress by spending something handsome. That might be
as good a way to let off the steam as any. When a man gets into
politics, he don't seem to mind much else. He has got to drive right
through. I don't know how well it pays."

"In the way of comfort, I'm afraid it _don't_ pay," said Mr Snow.

"I expect not. I don't more than half think it would pay _me_.
Politics have got to be considerably mixed up in our country. I don't
believe I should ever get to see my way clear to go all lengths; and I
don't believe it would amount to anything if I could. Besides, if a man
expects to get very far along in _that_ road, he has got to take a fair
start in good season. I learnt to read and cypher in the old log
school-house at home, and my mother taught me the catechism on Sunday
afternoons, and that is about all the book-learning I ever got. I
shouldn't hardly have an even chance with some of those college-bred
chaps, though there are _some_ things I know as well as the best of
them, I reckon. Have you ever been out West?"

"I was there once a good many years ago. I had a great notion of going
to settle there when I was a young man. I am glad I didn't, though."

"Money ain't to be made there anything like as fast as it used to be,"
said Mr Green. "But there is chance enough, if a man has a head for
it. I have seen some cool business done there at one time and another."

The chances in favour of Mr Snow's "word in season" were becoming
fewer, he saw plainly, as Mr Green wandered off from his
dissatisfaction to the varied remembrances of his business-life; so,
with a great effort, he said:

"Ain't it just possible that your property and the spending of it don't
satisfy you because it is not in the nature of such things to give
satisfaction?"

Mr Green turned and looked earnestly at him.

"Well, I have heard so, but I never believed it any more for hearing it
said. The folks that say it oftenest don't act as if they believed it
themselves. They try as hard for it as any one else, if they are to be
judged by their actions. It is all right to say they believe it, I
suppose, because it is in the Bible, or something like it is."

"And you believe it, not because it is in the Bible, but because you are
learning, by your own experience, every day you live."

Mr Green whistled.

"Come, now; ain't that going it a little too strong? I never said I
didn't expect to enjoy my property. I enjoy it now, after a