Then he gave it up as a bad job and returned to the city.

"I might keep my health if I stayed," he admitted, in explaining his position to Captain Berry, "but if I want to keep to what little money I have left, I'd better go.

Might as well die of disease as starvation." Everyone expected that the "gentleman of the old school" would go also, but one evening Abner Payne, whose business is "real estate, fire and life insurance, justice of the peace, and houses to let and for sale," rushed into the post office to announce that the Major had leased the "Gorham place," furnished, and intended to make East Harniss his home.
"He likes the village so well he's goin' to stay here always," explained Abner.

"Says he's been all 'round the world, but he never see a place he liked so well's he does East Harniss.

How's that for high, hey?
And you callin' it a one-horse town, Obed Gott!" The Major moved into the "Gorham place" the next morning.