ut he did not
condescend to make any reply to the smart speech.

"I have taken the liberty to call upon you this morning, to see if you
did not wish to purchase a copy of 'The Wayfarer'--a new book just
issued from the press, which people say is to be the book of the
season."

My young readers need not suppose this was an impromptu speech, for
Bobby had studied upon it all the time he was coming from Boston in the
cars. It would be quite natural for a boy who had enjoyed no greater
educational advantages than our hero to consider how he should address
people into whose presence his calling would bring him; and he had
prepared several little addresses of this sort, for the several
different kinds of people whom he expected to encounter. The one he
had just "got off" was designed for the "upper crust."

When he had delivered the speech, he approached the indignant, frowning
nabob, and with a low bow, offered him a copy of "The Wayfarer."

"Boy," said Colonel Whiting, raising his arm with majestic dignity, and
pointing to the door,--"boy, do you see that door?"

Bobby looked at the door, and, somewhat astonished replied that he did
see it, that it was a very handsome door, and he would inquire whether
it was black walnut, or only painted in imitation thereof.

"Do you see that door?" thundered the nabob, swelling with rage at the
cool impudence of the boy.

"Certainly I do, sir; my eyesight is excellent."

"Then use it!"

"Thank you, sir; I have no use for it. Probably it will be of more
service to you than to me."

"Will you clear out, or shall I kick you out?" gasped the enraged
magnate of B----.

"I will save you that trouble, sir; I will go, sir. I see we have both
made a mistake."

"Mistake? What do you mean by that, you young puppy? You are a little
impudent, thieving scoundrel!"

"That's your mistake, sir. I took you for a gentleman, sir; and that
was my mistake."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed a sweet, musical voice, and at that moment a
beautiful young lady rushed up to the angry colonel, and threw her arms
around his neck.

"The jade!" muttered he.

"I have caught you in a passion again, uncle;" and the lady kissed the
old gentleman's anger-reddened cheek, which seemed to restore him at
once to himself.

"It was enough to make a minister swear," said he, in apology.

"No, it wasn't, uncle; the boy was a little pert, it is true; but you
ought to have laughed at him, instead of getting angry