Hiram, meantime, pursued the even tenor of his way, secure in his position, enjoying to the full extent of his selfish nature all his ‘blessings and privileges,’ for which he thanked God twice daily, wondering how men could be so blind and misguided as to turn their backs on religion when there was such happiness and peace in giving up all to God!

CHAPTER IV.

Mr. Bennett was correct in his surmise that there were two stores in the little village of Hampton.  Of one of these Thaddeus Smith was proprietor.  He was one of the solid men of the place, and had ’kept store’ there for the last forty years, succeeding his father, who was one of the early settlers in the town.  He had continued on with his customers in the good old fashion, extending liberal credits and charging a regular, undeviating profit of thirty-three and a third per cent.  About five years previous to Hiram Meeker’s leaving school, Mr. Smith’s peace was greatly disturbed by the advent of a rival, in the person of Benjamin Jessup, who took possession of an advantageous locality, and after a week’s bustle with teams and workmen transporting, unpacking, and arranging, displayed his name, one fine morning, in large gilt letters to the wondering inhabitants of Hampton, and under it the cabalistic words:  ‘CHEAP CASH STORE.’  A large number of handbills were posted about the village, informing the good people of the opening of the aforesaid ‘cash store,’ and that the proprietor was prepared to sell every variety of goods and merchandise ‘cheap for cash or ready pay,’ by which last expression was meant acceptable barter.  Of course, the whole town flocked to inspect Mr. Jessup’s stock and price his goods.  The cunning fellow had valued them only at about cost, while he declared he was making a living profit at the rates charged, and a living profit was all he wanted.  Furthermore, he allowed the highest prices for the commodities brought in by the farmers, and gave them great bargains in return.  He was especially accommodating to the ladies, permitting them to tumble his whole stock of dry goods for the sake of selecting a pretty pattern for an apron, or finding a remnant which they were ‘welcome to.’

Mr. Smith was sadly grieved.  Although some very old-fashioned people stuck sternly to him, refusing to be allured by the bait of great bargains, and so forth and so forth, yet his store was nearly deserted.  Thaddeus Smith was a perfectly upright man.  It is true, he charged a large profit on his goods—­this was because it had always been his habit, and that of his father before him.  But he was accommodating in his credit and lenient to debtors in default.  His word could be relied on implicitly, and his dealings were marked by scrupulous honesty.

On this trying occasion he called his son, who was supposed to be his partner, into consultation, and asked him what he thought of the state of things.