in with good friends."

"Well, I guess Californy's the place to make money. I ain't made any
yet, but I mean to. There wasn't no chance to get ahead in Pumpkin
Hollow. I was workin' for eight dollars a month and board."

"It would be a great while before you could save up money to buy a
farm out of that, Mr. Bickford."

"That's so."

"My experience was something like yours. Before I came out here I
was working on a farm."

"Sho!"

"And I didn't begin to get as much money as you. I was bound out to
a farmer for my board and clothes. The board was fair but the
clothes were few and poor."

"You don't say!"

"I hope you will be as lucky as I have been."

"How much are you worth now?" asked Joshua curiously.

"From one to two thousand dollars, I expect."

"Sho! I never did! How long have you been out here?"