"What is it, sir?"

"The paper," said the old gentleman, irritably; "hasn't it come yet?"

"No, sir," said the man; and then he repeated, "taint in yet, please,
sir."

"Very well--you said so once; that's all," waving his hand; then as
the door closed, he said to his son, "That pays one for coming to
such an out-of-the-way country place as this, away from papers--I
never will do it again."

As the old gentleman, against the advice of many friends who
knew his dependence on externals, had determined to come to this
very place, the boy was not much startled at the decisive words. He
stood very quietly, however, until his father finished. Then he said:

"It's too bad, father! supposing I tell you my story? Perhaps you'll
enjoy hearing it while you wait--it's really quite newspaperish."

"Well, you might as well tell it now, I suppose," said the old
gentleman; "but it is a great shame about that paper! to advertise
that morning papers are to be obtained--it's a swindle, Jasper! a
complete swindle!" and the old gentleman looked so very irate that
the boy exerted himself to soothe him.

"I know," he said; "but they can't help the trains being late."

"They shouldn't have the trains late," said his father, unreasounbly.