to buy me the route, and five
dollars over. I put the five dollars in the bank, but it don't yield
what you'd call an income precisely. So there it is, Mr. Cheeseman, and
I can't see that things looks much like matrimony for little Calvin.
Honest now, do you?"

Mr. Cheeseman rumpled his thick hair till it gave the impression of Papa
Monkey's having married a white cockatoo. He glanced at Calvin sidewise.

"She has money,--" he said slowly.

"And she can keep it!" said Calvin Parks. "I ain't that kind."

"Just so!" said Mr. Cheeseman. "Precisely. Where are you livin' now,
friend Parks?"

"I'm boardin' with Widder Marlin;" said Calvin.

The old man looked up sharply. "You are?" he said. "Humph! that don't
seem a very likely place, 'cordin' to folks's ideas round here. Them
two aren't thought specially well of by their neighbors."

"That so?" said Calvin. "I guess they won't hurt me any. I sailed mate
to Cap'n Marlin," he added, "and he was always good to me."

"Humph!" said Mr. Cheeseman again. "I see." He rumpled his hair again,
and rose to his feet. "Friend Parks," he said, slowly, "you've got to
lay by, that's all there is to it; and I'm going to show you how."

CHAPTER X

JOHN ALDEN--WITH A DIFFERENCE

Winter had come. Early December though it was, the snow lay deep and
smooth over meadow and hill, and hung in fluffy masses on the branches
of pine and fir. Calvin Parks had got rid of the wheels that never
ceased to incommode him, and jingled along merrily on runners, both he
and Hossy enjoying the change.

It had become a matter of course that he should turn in at the Sills'
gateway whenever he passed along their road, and he managed to pass once
or twice a week. So on this crystal morning he found himself driving
into the stable yard almost unconsciously. The brown horse whinnied as
he clattered into the stable, and an answering whinny came from the
furthest stall in the corner.

"That's old John sayin' good mornin', hossy!" said Calvin. "How are you,
John? Who else is to home?"

He looked along the row of stalls. "Here's the old hoss of all, and
here's the mare. The young colt is out; presume likely Sam is gone to
market, hossy. What say to gettin' a bite in his stall? He won't be back
till dinner time."

Hossy approving, Calvin unharnessed him, and he stepped into the stall
without further invitation.

"Now you be real friendly with old John and the mare!" said Calvin, "and
I'll come f