"I've bought a
third interest in a country grocery store."
If the Hon. Nathaniel started before, this last piece of information
fairly brought him to his feet. "And may I inquire, sir," he thundered,
"if this special partnership in a country grocery store is the summit of
your ambitions? I suppose I shall hear next that you are engaged to some
farmer's daughter, and propose to marry her, regardless of the wishes
of your family, and despite the terrible example supplied by your Uncle
James."
"It hasn't come to that yet," remarked Quincy, calmly, "but it may if I
find a farmer's daughter who comes up to my ideal of a wife and to whom
I can give an honest love."
The Hon. Nathaniel sank back in his chair. Quincy continued, "I will not
try to answer your sarcastic reference to the grocery store. It is a
good investment and an honorable business, fully as honorable as
cheating the prison or the gallows of what is due them; but the summit
of my ambition is by no means reached. I am young yet and have plenty of
time to study the ground before expanding my career, but I will tell
you, privately and confidentially, that my friends have asked me to run
for the General Court, and I have about decided to stand as a candidate
for nomination as representative from our district.
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