Lot Gordon lived about half a mile away in the old Gordon homestead alone, except for an old servant-woman and her husband, who managed his house for him and took care of the farm.

Lot himself did not work in the common acceptance of the term.

His father had left him quite a property, and he did not need to toil for his bread.

People called him lazy.

He owned nearly as many books as the parson and the lawyer.
He often read all night it was said, and he roamed the woods in all seasons.