A storm was evidently coming, and my hope was that we might reach
our haven before it began. I kept my fears to myself, and we watched
the long lines of carts converging toward the gang-planks of our own
and other steamboats.

"See, youngsters," I cried, "all this means commerce. These loads
and loads of things will soon be at stores and homes up the river,
supplying the various needs of the people. Tomorrow the residents
along the river will bring what they have to sell to this same boat,
and by daylight next morning carts will be carrying country produce
and manufactured articles all over the city. Thus you see commerce
is made by people supplying themselves and each other with what they
need. Just as soon as we can bring down a crate of berries and send
it to Mr. Bogart we shall be adding to the commerce of the world in
the best way. We shall become what are called the 'producers,' and
but for this class the world would soon come to an end."

"'Rah!" cried Bobsey, "I'm goin' to be a p'oducer."

He promised, however, to be a consumer for a long time to come,
especially of patience. His native fearlessness soon asserted
itself, and he wanted to go everywhere and see everything, asking
questions about machinery, navigation, river craft, the contents of
every box, bale, or barrel we saw, till I felt that I was being used
like a town pump. I pulled him back to the cabin, resolving to stop
his mouth for a time at least with the contents of our lunch basket.

Winnie was almost as bad, or as good, perhaps I should say; for,
however great the drain and strain on me might be, I knew that these
active little brains were expanding to receive a host of new ideas.