stration: Faneuil Hall.]

"The market is glutted," replied the second.

"If it were a little later in the season I would talk with you," was
the answer of the third.

"I've got more on hand now than I know what to do with," said the
fourth.

Robert began to think he might have to take them back to Rumford. He
saw a sign, "John Hancock, Successor to Thomas Hancock," and
remembered that his father had traded there, and that John Hancock
was associated with Sam Adams and Doctor Warren in resisting the
aggressions of the king's ministers. Mr. Hancock was not in the store,
but would soon be there. The clerk said he would look at what Robert
had to sell, put on his hat, stepped to the wagon, stood upon the
thills, held a cheese to his nose, pressed it with his thumb, tapped
it with a gimlet, tasted it, and smacked his lips.

"Your mother makes good cheese," he said.

"My sister made them."

"Your sister, eh. Older than yourself?"

"No, younger; only seventeen."

"Indeed! Well, you may tell her she is a dabster at cheese-making. Do
you want cash? If you do I'm afeard we shall not be able to trade,
because cash is cash these days; but if you are willing to barter I
guess we can dicker, for Mr. Hancock is going to freight a ship to the
West Indias and wants something to send in her, and it strikes me the
sugar planters at Porto Rico might like a bit of cheese," the clerk
said.

"I shall want some sugar, coffee, molasses, codfish, and other
things."

"I'll give you the market price for all your cheeses, and make fair
rates on what you want from us."

"I can't let you have all. I must reserve two of the best."

"May I ask why you withhold two?"

"Because my father wishes to present one to Mr. Samuel Adams and the
other to Doctor Joseph Warren, who are doing so much to preserve the
rights of the Colonies."

[Illustration: BONNER'S Map of Boston for 1722.]

"Your father's name is"--

"Joshua Walden," said Robert.

"Oh yes, I remember him well. He was down here last winter and I
bought his load. He had a barrel of apple-sauce, and Mr. Hancock
liked it so well he took it for his own table. There is Mr. Hancock,
now," said the clerk, as a chaise drove up and halted before the door.

Robert saw a tall young man, wearing a saffron colored velvet coat,
ruffled shirt, buff satin breeches, black silk stockings, and shining
shoe-buckles, step in a dignified manner from the chaise and hand the
reins to a gray-headed