Breakfast being over, he took his young friend to the stable and bade him select for his own use any horse he chose.  Mr. Wilmot declined, saying he was not much accustomed to horses; he preferred that Mr. Middleton should choose any horse he pleased.

“Very well,” said Mr. Middleton; “from the accounts I have heard of your horsemanship it may be improved; so I reckon I’ll not give you a very skeary horse to begin with.  Thar’s Aleck’ll just suit you.  He’ll not throw you on the gate, for he doesn’t trot as fast as a black ant can walk!”

Accordingly Aleck was saddled and bridled and Mr. Wilmot was soon mounted and, with his subscription paper in his pocket, was riding off after subscribers.  He was very successful; and when at night he turned his face homeward, he had the names of fifteen scholars and the partial promise of five more.

“Well, my boy, what luck?” said Mr. Middleton, as Wilmot entered the sitting room that evening.

“Very good success,” returned Mr. Wilmot; “I am sure of fifteen scholars and have a promise for five more.”

“Yes, pretty good,” said Mr. Middleton; “fifteen sartin, and five unsartin.  Who are the unsartin ones?—­old Thornton’s?”

Mr. Wilmot replied that he believed it was a Mr. Thornton who had hesitated about signing.

“He’ll sign,” said Mr. Middleton.  “I’s thar after you was, and he told me you might put down five for him.  I pay for two on ’em.  He lives on my premises; and if he doesn’t pay up for t’other three, why, he’ll jog, that’s all.”

Mr. Wilmot said he hoped no one would send to school against their wishes.

“Lord, no,” rejoined Mr. Middleton; “old Thornton wants to send bad enough, only he’s stingy like.  Let me see your paper, boy.”

Mr. Wilmot handed him the paper, and he went on:  “Thar’s ten scholars at eight dollars—­that makes eighty; then thar’s five at eleven dollars, and fifty-five and eighty makes a hundred and thirty-five; then thar’s five more at fifteen dollars; five times fifteen; five times five is twenty-five—­seventy-five dollars;—­seventy-five and a hundred and thirty-five;—­five and five is ten, one to seven is eight, eight and three is eleven—­two hundred and ten dollars!  Why, quite a heap!  Of course you’ve got clothes enough to last a spell, so you can put two hundred out at interest.  I’ll take it and give you ten per cent.”

Mr. Wilmot smiled at seeing his money so carefully disposed of before it was earned, but he merely said, “There’s my board to be deducted.”

“Your what?” asked Mr. Middleton.

“My board, sir.  I have no other means of paying it.  I find I can get boarded for a dollar and a half a week.”

“The deuce you can,” said Mr. Middleton.  “Who’ll board you for that?”

Mr. Wilmot gave the name of the gentleman, to which Mr. Middleton replied, “I want to know if he will board you so very cheap!”

“Why, yes.  Do you think I should pay more?”