*

I have had a start! It is a letter from Artemas; nothing particular
about himself, only I should say he was well. But he wants to take
out a young man farther west with him,--somebody with something of an
education, who understands chemicals or engineering, and he wants me to
pick out somebody. There's my brother Sam, of course. I thought of him
the first thing. But Artemas never took to Sam, though he is my brother.
Still, I dare say he would do right by him. And Sam don't seem to find
the work here that suits, and I hate to have him hanging round. But he
don't know more than I about chemicals, as much as even what they are,
though I dare say he could find out, for Sam is smart and always could
make out if he chose to lay his hands to anything. And I dare say
Artemas thought of Sam, and that is why he sent to me to give him a
chance. From what he says it must be a pretty good chance, exactly what
Sam would like if he knew anything about the business. I dare say he'd
do quite as well as half the fellows who might go. He can be steady if
he's a mind to.

But I can't but think of Larkin Prince; how he's taken all the pains to
get an education, and his father for him laying up money for the very
purpose, and that pretty Clara Wylie waiting to be married till he
should get something fit to do, and maybe her father wanting to marry
her off to some rich man while she's waiting, when her heart is set on
Larkin. And he'd be just the man for Artemas, seeing as he's been
studying just such things.

* * * * *

It wasn't no use taking up the time writing in my diary, as Artemas must
have a telegraph before night, and the boys home from school to know if
they might go to the swamp after checkerberries, and Lavinia with them,
and I let her go, clean apron and all, and I put on my bonnet to go over
to Mrs. Prince's. It made my heart bump to think how much Sam would set
on having the situation, and Artemas kind of expecting him; but I said
to myself, if Larkin should be out of town, or anything, that would
settle the matter for Sam.

As it happened, who should I meet but Larkin just at the gate! and I
asked him if he would turn back and step in with me for a minute. He
looked kind of provoked, and I shouldn't wonder if he hadn't expected to
meet Clara Wylie coming out of her gate just below, as it's natural she
should at this time. But he came in, and I gave him Artemas's letter to
read, fo