to suggest that he might contribute toward the school fund, and still the
gossip at the store progressed, unhindered by the departure of the
"_see_lectman."

"My Reuben," remarked Mr. Jenks, "made more progress in his studies last
season than he ever made before in two winters' work, and I feel that the
teacher deserves a deal of thanks fer stirring up such an interest. I
don't have the sort er feelin' that Boyden has. I stand ready and willin'
ter put my hand in my pocket ter help aout expenses, ef some others will
'gree ter chip in."

"But there's a 'scuse fer Boyden," chuckled Nate Burnham, the old fellow
behind the stove, as he relighted his pipe, and puffed a few times to
determine if it intended to burn. "There's a sort er 'scuse fer Boyden,"
he repeated, "fer his children have growd up, so he ain't got no use fer
schools, and fellers like him don't pay fer things they ain't a usin'."

"Wal, I think we ought ter have a village improvement sarsiety fer the
benefit of us as is out'n school," remarked Joel Simpkins, thrusting his
hands deep into his pockets and tossing his head to shake back a
refractory lock of hay-colored hair.

He was the "head clerk" at Barnes' store. To be sure he was, as a general
thing, the _only_ clerk, but Joel considered himself quite a personage,
and never referred to himself as other than head clerk.

"Kinder had an idee that ye couldn't be improved, Joel," remarked a young
farmer who had thus far taken no part in the conversation.

Joel looked sharply at the man, and vaguely wondered if possibly the