ed to start early on their
journey on the following morning.

"I don't know as I can go to sleep," said Joshua. "I can't help
thinkin' of how rich I am, and what dad and all the folks will say."

"Do you mean to go home at once, Mr. Bickford?"

"Jest as soon as I can get ready. I'll tell you what I am goin' to
do, Joe. I'm goin' to buy a tip-top suit when I get to Boston, and a
gold watch and chain, and a breast-pin about as big as a saucer.
When I sail into Pumpkin Holler in that rig folks'll look at me, you
bet. There's old Squire Pennyroyal, he'll be disappointed for one."

"Why will he be disappointed?"

"Because he told dad I was a fool to come out here. He said I'd be
back in rags before a year was out. Now, the old man thinks a good
deal of his opinion, and he won't like it to find how badly he's
mistaken."

"Then he would prefer to see you come home in rags?"

"You bet he would."

"How about Susan? Ain't you afraid she has married the store clerk?"

Joshua looked grave for a moment.

"I won't say but she has," said he; "but if she has gone and
forgotten about me jest because my back is turned, she ain't the gal
I take her for, and I won't fret my gizzard about her."

"She will feel worse than you when she finds you have come back with
money."

"That's so."

"And you will easily find some one else," suggested Joe.

"There's Sophrony Thompson thinks a sight of me," said Mr. Bickford.
"She's awful jealous of Susan. If Susan goes back on me, I'll call
round and see Sophrony."

Joe laughed.

"I won't feel anxious about you, Joshua," he said, "since I find you
have two girls to choose between."

"Not much danger of breakin' my heart. It's pretty tough."

There was a brief silence.

Then Joshua said:

"What are your plans, Joe? Shall you remain in San Francisco?"

"I've been thinking, Mr. Bickford, that I would like to go home on a
visit. If I find that I have left my business in good hands in the
city, I shall feel strongly tempted to go home on the same steamer
with you."

"That would be hunky," said Bickford, really delighted. "We'd have a
jolly time."

I think we would. But, Mr. Bickford, I have no girls to welcome me
home, as you have."

"You ain't old enough yet, Joe. You're a good-lookin' feller, and
when the time comes I guess you can find somebody."

"I don't begin to trouble myself about such things yet," said Joe,
laughing. "I am only sixteen."

"You've bee