"I'm glad you like it," said Mr. Bobbsey with a smile.

"Could you go to sea in this boat?" asked the boy, who was not very
much older than Bert.

"Go to sea? Oh, no!" answered Mr. Bobbsey. "This boat is all right on
a lake, or river, but the big waves of the ocean would be too strong
for it. We don't intend to go to sea. Why? Are you fond of sailing?"

"That's what I am!" cried the boy. "I'm going to sea in a ship some
day. I'm sick of farm-life!" and his eyes snapped.

"Are you a farmer?" asked the twins' father.

"I work for a farmer, and I don't like it--the work is too hard," the
boy said, as he hung his head.

"There is plenty of hard work in this world," went on Mr. Bobbsey. "Of
course too much hard work isn't good for any one, but we must all do
our share. Where do you work?"

"I work for Mr. Hardee, who lives just outside the town of Lemby,"
answered the boy.

"Oh, yes, I know Mr. Hardee," spoke Mr. Bobbsey. "I sold him some
lumber with which he built his house. So you work for him? But what
are you doing so far away from the farm?"

"Mr. Hardee sent me over here, to Lakeport, on an errand."