"I'll answer the best I know." Upon this Captain Letcher, taking a little time to think, began to question his young cousin in the different branches he had enumerated.
The questions were not very hard, for the good captain, though he had taught school in Indiana, was not a profound scholar.
James answered every question promptly and accurately, to the increasing surprise of his employer.
The latter paused.
"Haven't you any more questions ?" asked James.
"No, I don't think of any." "Then may I ask you some ?" "Yes, if you want to," answered the captain, rather surprised.
"Very well," said James.

"A man went to a shoemaker and bought a pair of boots, for which he was to pay five dollars.

He offered a fifty-dollar bill, which the shoemaker sent out and had changed.

He paid his customer forty-five dollars in change, and the latter walked off with the boots.
An hour later he ascertained that the bill was a counterfeit, and he was obliged to pay back fifty dollars in good money to the man who had changed the bill for him.

Now, how much did he lose ?" "That's easy enough.