Some days after this Tommy became interested in the growing of corn, and
Harry promising to get some seed from his father, Tommy got up early
and, having dug very perseveringly in a corner of his garden to prepare
the ground for the seed, asked Mr. Barlow if this was not very good of
him.

"That," said Mr. Barlow, "depends upon the use you intend to make of the
corn when you have raised it. Where," he asked, "will be the great
goodness in your sowing corn for your own eating? That is no more than
all the people round here continually do. And if they did not do it,
they would be obliged to fast."

"But then," said Tommy, "they are not gentlemen, as I am."

"What," answered Mr. Barlow, "must not gentlemen eat as well as others;
and therefore, is it not for their interest to know how to procure food
as well as other people?"

"Yes, sir," answered Tommy; "but they can have other people to raise it
for them."

"How does that happen?"

"Why they pay other people to work for them, or buy bread when it is
made."

"Then they pay for it with money?"

"Yes, sir."