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The Young Explorer; Or, Claiming His Fortune
The Young Explorer; Or, Claiming His Fortune
CHAPTER I
BEN'S INHERITANCE
"I've settled up your father's estate, Benjamin," said Job Stanton. "You'll find it all figgered out on this piece of paper. There was that two-acre piece up at Rockville brought seventy-five dollars, the medder fetched a hundred and fifty, the two cows—"
"How much does it all come to, Uncle Job?" interrupted Ben, who was impatient of details.
"Hadn't you better let me read off the items, nephew?" asked Job, looking over his spectacles.
"No, Uncle Job. I know you've done your best for me, and there's no need of your going through it all. How much is there left after all expenses are paid?"
"That's what I was a-comin' to, Ben. I make it out that there's three hundred and sixty-five dollars and nineteen cents. That's a dollar for every day in the year. It's a good deal of money, Ben."
"So it is, Uncle Job," answered Ben, and he was quite sincere. There are not many boys of sixteen to whom this would not seem a large sum.
"You're rich; that is, for a boy," added Uncle Job.
"It's more than I expected, uncle. I want you to take fifteen dollars and nineteen cents. That'll leave me just three hundred and fifty."
"Why should I take any of your money, nephew?"
"You've had considerable trouble in settling up the estate, and it's taken a good deal of your time, too."