Polite
and Correct Correspondence,' the 'Dictionary of Legal Terms, or
Every Man His Own Lawyer,' the 'Modern Penman,' the 'Eureka Shorthand
System'--in fact, all the knowledge in the world, condensed into one
thousand and four pages, for the small sum of five dollars. Who can
afford to be without this book, which will pay for itself twice over
every week of the year?

"I was picked up, ladies and gents," continued Eliph' Hewlitt, "by
a passing ship, and I decided to devote my life to a great work--to
circulating this wonderful book in my native land. I wept when I thought
of the millions that had not seen it--millions that were living poor,
starved lives because they didn't have a copy of Jarby's Encyclopedia
of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature, Science and Art, and I gave
myself to the cause."

The minister handed the book back to Eliph' Hewlitt, and cleared his
throat.

"It seems to be all you claim for it," he said; "but I fear the landlord
of the Kilo House was right. We are not, many of us, ready for more
books at present. If you return in a year or eight months----"

Eliph' Hewlitt smiled, and put his hand gently no the glossy black knee
of the minister's best trousers.

"True," he said, "true! Kilo has books. Kilo knows the civilizing and
Christianizing influence of books. But," he exclaimed, "think of
the poor heathen! Think of the poor missionaries fighting to bring
civilization to those dark-hued brothers! Shall it be said that every
home in Kilo has a set of Sir Walter Scott, ten volumes with gilt edges,
while the minds of the heathen dry up and rot for want of the vast
treasures contained in Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium
of Literature, Science and Art? Here in this book is the wisdom of the
whole world, and will you selfishly withhold it form those who need
it so badly? If I know Kilo, I think not. If what is said in Jefferson
regarding the unselfishness and liberality of Kilo is true, I think not.
I know what you will say. You will say, 'Here, take this money we have
collected this evening and give to the thirsting heathen as many volumes
of Jarby's Encyclopedia of Knowledge and Compendium of Literature,
Science and Art, as it will buy at five dollars a volume.'"

He glanced around the circle of faces.

"That is what you will say," he said; "But Eliph' Hewlitt will beg a
chance to do his little for the noble work. He will, seeing the good
cause, make the price four seventy