od. Ask 'em why, and they tell about your givin'
goods away right along; a half a dozen sticks here, a roll of lozengers
there, quarter-pounds all along the ro'd so to say. Now, young man, that
ain't trade!"

Calvin's slow blood crept up among the roots of his hair. "I don't know
as it's any of their darned business!" he said slowly.

"It ain't, nor yet it ain't mine to tell you; nor yet it ain't the
wind's; yet it keeps on blowin' just the same, and while you're cussin'
it for liftin' your hat off, it's turnin' your windmill for you. See?"

Calvin raised his head with a jerk.

"I see!" he said. "That's straight. I see that, Mr. Cheeseman, and thank
you for sayin' it. But--well now, see how 'tis at my end. I'm joggin'
along the ro'd, see? hossy and me, who so peart, lookin' for trade.
Well, here come a little gal; pretty, like as not,--little gals mostly
are, and when they ain't you're sorry enough to make it even--and when
she sees us she stops, and hossy stops. He knows! wouldn't go on if I
told him to. Say she don't speak a word; say she just looks at me kind
o' wishful; what would you do? She's a child, and she wants a stick of
candy; that's what I'm there for, ain't it, to see that she gets it?
Well! and she hasn't got a cent. What would you do? Would you drive off
and leave her cryin' in the ro'd behind you?"

"I would!" said Mr. Cheeseman firmly. "She'd ought to have got a cent
from her Ma, and she'll do it next time if you don't give in now."

"Mebbe she has no Ma!" said Calvin gloomily. "Mebbe her Ma's a Tartar."

"That ain't your lookout!" retorted Mr. Cheeseman. "Now, friend Parks,
it comes to just this. You put this to yourself straight; are you
runnin' a candy route, or an orphan asylum?"

Calvin was silent, gazing darkly at the pan of cinnamon drops before
him. Mr. Cheeseman, having driven his nail home, put away his hammer.

"Now about your stock!" he said cheerfully. "You rather run to sticks in
your fancy, but if I was you I'd go a mite more into fancy truck
Christmas time. Gives 'em a change, and seems more holiday like. Take
this lobster loaf, now!"

He laid his hand on a huge mass, chocolate-coated, its side displaying
strata of red and white. "This is a good article when you strike a
large family or a corner store. It's cheap, and it's fillin'. You let me
put you up a couple of loaves; what say?"

"All right!" said Calvin, still gloomily. "What next?"

"Well, here's chicken bones!" and