Onelistenerhehadwhonevertired，andtowhomhewasmorethanamereschoolmate。PoorBilly’schiefdelightwastoliebesidethebrook，watchingleavesandbitsoffoamdanceby，listeningdreamilytothemusicinthewillow-tree。HeseemedtothinkNatasortofangelwhosataloftandsang，forafewbabymemoriesstilllingeredinhismindandseemedtogrowbrighteratthesetimes。SeeingtheinteresthetookinNat，Mr。
Bhaerbeggedhimtohelpthemliftthecloudfromthefeeblebrainbythisgentlespell。Gladtodoanythingtoshowhisgratitude，NatalwayssmiledonBillywhenhefollowedhimabout，andlethimlistenundisturbedtothemusicwhichseemedtospeakalanguagehecouldunderstand。“Helponeanother，“wasafavoritePlumfieldmotto，andNatlearnedhowmuchsweetnessisaddedtolifebytryingtoliveuptoit。
JackFord’speculiarpastimewasbuyingandselling；andhebidfairtofollowinthefootstepsofhisuncle，acountrymerchant，whosoldalittleofeverythingandmademoneyfast。Jackhadseenthesugarsanded，themolasseswatered，thebuttermixedwithlard，andthingsofthatkind，andlaboredunderthedelusionthatitwasallaproperpartofthebusiness。
Hisstockintradewasofadifferentsort，buthemadeasmuchashecouldoutofeverywormhesold，andalwaysgotthebestofthebargainwhenhetradedwiththeboysforstring，knives，fish-hooks，orwhateverthearticlemightbe。Theboyswhoallhadnicknames，calledhim“Skinflint，“
butJackdidnotcareaslongastheoldtobacco-pouchinwhichhekepthismoneygrewheavierandheavier。