"'I hope you'll pard'n this intrusion, sir,' he began, speaking
deliberately, and twirling his hat the while; 'but I've come more'n two
hundred miles to see you, sir.'
"I expressed myself as pleased, and he continued: 'They tell me, sir, as
you're the gentleman as wrote that little book, _How to be Happy,
Wealthy, and Wise_."
He enumerated the three items slowly, dwelling lovingly on each. I
admitted the fact.
"'Ah, that's a wonderful book, sir,' he went on. 'I ain't one of them as
has got brains of their own--not to speak of--but I know enough to know
them as has; and when I read that little book, I says to myself, Josiah
Hackett (that's my name, sir), when you're in doubt don't you get addling
that thick head o' yours, as will only tell you all wrong; you go to the
gentleman as wrote that little book and ask him for his advice. He is a
kind-hearted gentleman, as any one can tell, and he'll give it you; and
_when_ you've got it, you go straight ahead, full steam, and don't you
stop for nothing, 'cause he'll know what's best for you, same as he knows
what's best for everybody. That's what I says, sir; and that's what I'm
here for.'
"He paused, and wiped his brow with a green cotton handkerchief. I
prayed him to proceed.
"It appeared that the worthy fellow wanted to marry, but could not make
up his mind _whom_ he wanted to marry.
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