The White Crystals

delays or accidents occurring to mar it. About eleven o'clock the porter made up Roger's berth, and, though the boy wondered at the novelty of a bed on wha

, for he had been well remembered by Mr. Anderson, brought

asked the boy traveller

we's a leetle late this mornin', sah. Probably we'll arrive

o really did seem better than he had in some we

ter, grinning once more, and causing Roger to wonder, if he sm

ger was out on the vestibuled platform before the wheels stopped screeching under the force of the brakes. He was watching among the crowd under the shed for

t the third man, on whom he fixed his attention, Roger knew was Mr. Kimball. He waved his hand, and was glad to see

om beneath the light sandy moustache,

you Uncle Bert

t I," and this fact seemed to give Mr. Kimball so much pleasu

let's hev yer satchel, 'n' we'll go 'n' git some breakfust. I ain't eat yit. Ye see I come out from Cardiff yist'day, hevin' t' do some tradin', 'n' I stayed over night at th'

at the strange sounding talk of his uncle, who spoke the c

it disappointed. "Howsomever we'll remedy thet when we git ye out t' Cardiff. 'Fore ye've been thar a week I'll hev ye eatin' salt-risin' bread, c

id," confe

ay. But Land o' Goshen, here I be talkin', 'stid a leadin' th' way t' th' hotel. Come 'long now, 't ain

his companion put away a hearty one, with evident relish. The waiter was kept busy, and Roger wondered vaguel

ly. "Porter Amidown's stage leaves then. I'd a druv out 'ith th' Democrat wagin, b

ke nearly every New York boy, was of the polit

Ha! ha! Why we call them vehicles thet name, not 'cause they're in politics, but jist t' hev a way a' speakin' 'bout 'em, thet's all, same's a phaet

tradin', fer I didn't finish yist'day. Thet'll give ye a chanst t' look around th' city. Ade, he's yer cousin, ye know, wanted me t

d Roger, wonderin

llar 'n' elbow, ye know. Ade 's dead

tling," and he began to be a little apprehen

Mr. Kimball, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "

ty strong?"

kin throw, lessen it's fer practice. He's allers tryin' t' tackle some un a leetle better 'n' what he is. Wants t' git a reputation, he says. His mother says he wants t'

oin'," he remarked, after a pause, an

a book for Adrian, some sewing silk for his daughter Clara, and some tools for himself. He finished by noon, a

to go, first rat

umped into them. On the way through the works Mr. Kimball explained how the salt springs were underneath the ground on which they were walking, and how the brine was bro

scores of men, and Roger took a great interest looking at everything. He never knew before what a lot of salt came

big silver watch. "It's nigh two o'clock, 'n' Porter leaves at three smack.

t five minutes to spare, which Mr. Kimball used in getting together his packages and Roger's baggage, and putting them

phew I were tellin' ye

ooked Roger o

ain't he?" he sugge

he poked Porter playfully in the ribs. Then he helped Roger up to the high seat, and followed nimbly himself. The

big wagon rolled along, first on the asphalt streets, under tall elm and maple trees that lined the thoroughfares, where the houses were so close to

count book, and making notes of his recent purchases, with the amounts they cost, and so was too much occupied to talk. Thus Roger was left to himself for a while. He was much inter

ust cool enough to be delightful that October afternoon. Soon the horses were jogging along, the reins fl

rything in

idown. "Ain't changed much

it has hed much chanst

e and the garden of that one, the grape and the honey outlook, until Roger wondered

f the country through which they were passing. He showed him where Enos Jones had a good field of wheat, and where Nathan Parks was expecting to gathe

ong before they reached the outskirts of the village. The big vehicle stopped at the post-office. Porter threw off a bag of mail, called to the horses to resume their