I like to see Fletcher taken down," said Henry Fairbanks. "I never
saw a fellow put on so many airs. He is altogether too aristocratic
to associate with ordinary people."

"Yes," said Oscar, "he has a foolish pride, which I hope he will some
time get rid of."

"He ought to have been born in England, and not in a republic."

"If he had been born in England, he would have been unhappy unless he
had belonged to the nobility," said Alfred DeWitt.

"Look here, boys," said Tom Carver, "what do you say to mortifying
Fitz's pride?"

"Have you got a plan in view, Tom? If so, out with it."

"Yes: you know the pedler that comes into town about once a month to
buy up rags, and sell his tinwares."

"I have seen him. Well, what of him?"

"He is coming early next week. Some of us will see him privately,
and post him up as to Fitz's relations and position, and hire him to
come up to school, and inquire for Fitz, representing himself as his
cousin. Of course Fitz will deny it indignantly, but he will persist
and show that he knows all about the family."

"Good! Splendid!" exclaimed the boys laughing. "Won't Fitz be
raving?"

"There's no doubt about that. Well, boys, I'll arrange it all, if
you'll authorize me."

"Go ahead, Tom. You can draw upon us for the necessary funds."

Fletcher had retired to his room, angry at the opposition his
proposal had received, and without any warning of the humiliation
which awaited him.

CHAPTER X.

THE TIN-PEDLER.

Those of my readers who live in large cities are probably not
familiar with the travelling tin-pedler, who makes his appearance at
frequent intervals in the country towns and villages of New England.
His stock of tinware embraces a large variety of articles for
culinary purposes, ranging from milk-pans to nutmeg-graters. These
are contained in a wagon of large capacity, in shape like a box, on
which he sits enthroned a merchant prince. Unlike most traders, he
receives little money, most of his transactions being in the form of
a barter, whereby be exchanges his merchandise for rags, white and
colored, which have accumulated in the household, and are gladly
traded off for bright tinware. Behind the cart usually depend two
immense bags, one for white, the other for colored rags, which, in
time, are sold to paper manufacturers. It may be that the very paper
on which this description is printed, was manufactured from rags so
collected.

Abner Bickford w