The growth of young Frank Algernon Cowperwood was through years of what might be called a comfortable and happy family existence.

Buttonwood Street, where he spent the first ten years of his life, was a lovely place for a boy to live.

It contained mostly small two and three-story red brick houses, with small white marble steps leading up to the front door, and thin, white marble trimmings outlining the front door and windows.

There were trees in the street--plenty of them.

The road pavement was of big, round cobblestones, made bright and clean by the rains; and the sidewalks were of red brick, and always damp and cool.