CHAPTER IX. "It fortuned, out of the thickest wood, SHORTLY after my adventure, I was agreeably surprised by a visit from our old friend and uncle, Mr. Hoskins. It was not altogether unexpected, but it had come to pass a little earlier than we reckoned upon; the room intended for him not being then quite finished. However, we were all happy at the meeting, and as he had himself been a rough settler in the woods of Vermont, he was easily accommodated, and looked upon apologies as superfluities. Although he said nothing himself on the subject, yet I soon perceived that his visit to Babelmandel was not dictated altogether by affection for his niece, my wife, and that in the journey he had an eye awake to number one. His latter specs had not proved such beneficial operations as some of his earlier, and he had improved his farm in Vermont quite as much as it was worth while to do, considering the limited market in his neighbourhood; in a word, he was inclined to sell his betterments there, and embark in a new trade. He had, indeed, hinted as much to me when I originally proposed to come into the Genesee country, so that the purpose of his visit was with a view to both or either of these objects. The first afternoon we spent in jocose temperance. I rehearsed to him all the adventures of our voyage and journey from New York, the tribulations we had suffered in the woods, and the prospect beginning to dawn around us, with all which he was well pleased; but when I proposed to accompany him next morning over the settlement, he said "No: I guess Squire Laurie talks too much —when a man's a-making calculations his company ain't partikler precious, and flashing in the pan scares ducks. The gentleman will 'scuse me." I certainly did not think this was very civilized, but he was in all things a plain spoken man, and had proved the sincerity of his friendship by five hundred excellent reasons, so I did not answer him just so tartly as my inclination at the time prompted. Next morning he rose at an early hour, and went out by himself, and when he had returned and had taken breakfast, he remained a considerable space of time, ruminating and smoking in silence. Having finished one cigar, and taken out another, he drew his chair close to mine, as he twisted off the end of it, and said— 66 Well, I ain't a-going to be 'quivocal, but to speak sheer to the point. When Squire Lawrie shall have made all tight, right, and clear on his location, will he then turn cordwainer and make trampers ?" 66 My dear Sir," exclaimed I, "what puts such a thing in your head? I never bored a hole with an elsin in my life." By this time he had lighted his cigar, and giving a puff, he coolly inquired, without noticing my reply, "will the gentleman make coatees and straw hats ?" "Gude guide us, Mr. Hoskins! what do you mean ?" "Will he keep tavern?" "Me keep a public, Mr. Hoskins ?” "Then if you don't," said he, giving a cool methodical puff, "the devil may spit brimstone on you by the gallon, if you ain't as flat as the walls of Jerico, either as a dead or a ruined duck, before thunder sours my wife's beer in June after next. Look ye, Squire, this here land of yours ain't a farm in Jersey State-I allow that--but this Belmandel town ha'n't got nothing for trade." "Well,” replied I, eagerly discerning something of his meaning; "well, what then ?” "Cockles and crabfish! sha'n't you starve?" "But I'm no feart," was my answer, in a light manner, "for I have been making my calculations too." I then expounded to him that I was sensible the land I had taken was not enough to bring up a family upon, but that I had seen from the beginning I could revive my seed business to great advantage; for the country around was fast settling, and seeds would be in request, so that with them, and implements of agriculture, I reckoned my chance pretty fair. Moreover, I intended to send one of the boys to learn storekeeping, and the other to be a mill-wright. While I was thus explaining to him my views and intentions, he looked all the time very steadily at me with the tail of his eye; and at the conclusion, without taking the cigar from his lips, he said "Well, I have heard more folly ;" and putting his hand on my knee, and looking up in my face, he added, "I guess the Squire will do yet, for I 'gin to reckon his head in't a pumpkin; and now that I see how the cat jumps, I won't be a sitting on the fence no longer." By this I could perceive he had some intention of making me a proposal of business, inasmuch as sitting on the fence means looking on in neutrality from a rail at others fighting. Just as we were in this conjuncture of our discourse, a great shout arose out of doors, which caused us to rise hastily to see what was the |