What have you to do with the beating of skins and the tanning of leather ?' 'My father would have you go forth as a knight-errant, Micah,' said Reuben, laughing.

'You might chance to get your own skin beaten and your own leather tanned.' 'Who ever knew so long a tongue in so short a body ?' cried the innkeeper.

'But in good sooth, Master Micah, I am in sober earnest when I say that you are indeed wasting the years of your youth, when life is sparkling and clear, and that you will regret it when you have come to the flat and flavourless dregs of old age.' 'There spoke the brewer,' said Reuben; 'but indeed, Micah, my father is right, for all that he hath such a hops-and-water manner of putting it.' 'I will think over it,' I answered, and with a nod to the kindly couple proceeded on my way.
Zachariah Palmer was planing a plank as I passed.

Looking up he bade me good-morrow.
'I have a book for you, lad,' he said.
'I have but now finished the "Comus,"' I answered, for he had lent me John Milton's poem.

'But what is this new book, daddy ?' 'It is by the learned Locke, and treateth of states and statecraft.