ing the curious ones away. "Don't bother the new hand,"
he said. "If you want to know particulars ask me. Anything I don't tell
you you can read in next week's Item. This is a bank, not a question
box."

Captain Elisha Warren came in and was as surprised as the rest. After an
interview with the cashier he returned to my window and requested me to
open up. When I did so he reached in a big hand and seized mine.

"Shake, Ros," he said, heartily. "I'm glad for the bank and I'm gladder
still for you. Come hard at fust, does it?"

"A little," I confessed. "Not as hard as I expected, though."

"Fust day or two out of port is always the toughest. You'll get your sea
legs on pretty soon. Then you'll be glad you shipped, I cal'late."

"I hope so," I answered, rather dubiously.

"I know you will. There's nothin' so tiresome as doin' nothin'. I know,
because that's been my job for quite a spell. Seems sometimes as if I'd
have a fit, I get so sick of loafin'."

His idea of a "loaf" was rising at six and weeding his garden,
superintending the labor on his cranberry swamps or about his barns and
grounds, attending bank and Selectmen's meetings, and generally keeping
busy until sunset.

"I tell Abbie, my housekeeper," he continued, "that if 'twan't for my
age I believe I'd go to sea again just to keep from fallin' apart with
dry rot. I asked her if she'd noticed how my timbers creaked, and she
said I didn't keep still long enough for her to notice anything. Ho! ho!
Nothin' makes her more provoked than for me to mention gettin' old or
goin' to sea. All the same, I envy you your youth, Ros. You've got your
life afore you, and I'm glad to see that you're goin' to make somethin'
of it. I always said you'd wake up if somebody give you a punch. Who
punched you, Ros?"

My reply was non-committal.

"Better mind my own business, hadn't I," he observed. "All right,
I will. No offense meant, you understand. But, you see, I've never
believed that work was the cuss of mankind, like some folks, and no
matter how much money a young feller's got I think he's better off doin'
somethin'. That's the gospel accordin' to Elisha. Well, good luck and a
pleasant v'yage. See you again soon. Say," turning back, "keep an eye on
George, will you? Folks in love are l'ble to be absent-minded, they tell
me, and I should not want him to be absent with any of my money. Hear
that, do you, George?"

Taylor, who was standing near, laughed and walked away. A