THE VILLAGE STORE. 361 



in proportion as I longed to be in his place. I expect you will 

 imagine that with Excelsior and Eureka for his watchwords he 

 eventually turned out to be an embryotic John Wanamaker, 

 but he didn't. He is at present tending bar in a down-town 

 saloon ; his face is as red as it used to be white, and he wears 

 carbuncles on his nose. 



At this period of my existence I recollect that for the osten- 

 sible purpose of advancing the cause of education, but, I fear, 

 more with an eye to trade, the opposition store started a night 

 school for the education of the village youth. If with the for- 

 mer idea it was a delusion and a snare. With the storekeeper 

 acting the role of teacher we did sums on our slates and fin- 

 ished our " studies " by spelling. I remember getting above 

 several by spelling the word " twelfth." Among the number 

 who took side-steps to the rear was a large boy, who, while 

 I was on my way home, waylaid me from behind a board 

 pile, and told me he'd soon show me how to spell. In my 

 temerity I remarked " he'd have to spell able first," but before 

 he was done with me I felt, physically speaking, as if he had 

 left me with the mark of Cain ! I bit the dust a martyr to 

 orthography and " science ; " but that Avay of being " spelled 

 down" I never liked. Another boy, whom I had also got 

 above, told me afterward it was good for me ; but I could not 

 see how it was. But I was young then. 



I pass on to the other regular habitues of the " country store." 

 Through the daytime the number was few and generall}' of 

 the genus " loafer." These passed the time in smoking, chew- 

 ing, spitting at the stove to hear it " siz," and eying the cus- 

 tomers, particularly the female portion, while they made their 

 purchases. Much herding together had used up and dwarfed 

 their conversational powers, and they dwelt in a dreamy state 

 — probably wondering why they had ever been created. Occa- 

 sionally one would start up, as if seized with an original idea, 

 and ask if there was anything in the office for him, and then, 



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