"
"I want a boy to follow me round, and do just what I bid him."
"I don't see any necessity for it."
"He could do errands for you, too, father," said Sam diplomatically.
"We would have to send to the city for a boy, in case I let you have
one."
"No, we wouldn't," answered Sam.
"Do you know of any one around here?"
"Yes; there is Ben Stanton. He's got to find something to do."
"I thought you didn't like Ben Stanton," said the major, in some
surprise. "I have heard you say-"
"Oh, he's rather uppish-feels too big for a poor boy; but I would
soon train him. I'd make him know his place."
"Your remarks are well founded, my son. Only yesterday I met the boy
on the village street, and instead of taking off his hat and making
a low bow, as he should do to a man of my position, he nodded
carelessly, and said. 'How are you, major?' Really, I don't know
what the country is coming to, when the rising generation is so
deficient in veneration."
"The fact is, father, Ben thinks himself as good as anybody. You'd
think, by the way he speaks to me, that he considered himself my
equal."
"That is one of the evils incident to a republican form of
government," said the major pompously.
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