During breakfast Mr. Middleton inquired more particularly into Mr.
Wilmot’s plans and wishes, and told him there was no doubt that he could
obtain a good school in that immediate neighborhood. "Your best way," said
he, "will be to write a subscription paper. The people then see what for a
fist you write, and half the folks in Kentuck will judge you by that. In
the paper you must tell what you know and what you ask to tell it to
others. I’ll head the list with my two gals and give you a horse to go
round with, and I’ll bet Tempest, and Sunshine, too, that you’ll get a
full school afore night."

At the last part of this speech Julia curled her lips and tried to look
indignant, while Fanny laughingly said, "Pa, what makes you always bet
sister and me, just as though you could sell us like horses? It’s bad
enough to bet and sell the blacks, I think."

"Ho, ho! So you’ve got some free State notions already, have you?" said
Mr. Middleton. "Well, honey, you’re more’n half right, I reckon." So
saying, he for the fourth time passed up his coffee cup.

Breakfast being over, he took his young friend to the stable and bade him
select for his own use any horse he chose. Mr. Wilmot declined, saying he
was not much accustomed to horses; he preferred that Mr. Middleton should
choose any horse he pleased.

"Very well," said Mr. Middleton; "from the accounts I have heard of your
horsemanship it may be improved; so I reckon I’ll not give you a very
skeary horse to begin with. Thar’s Aleck’ll just suit you. He’ll not throw
you on the gate, for he doesn’t trot as fast as a black ant can walk!"