The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-12-23
Ben and His
Book-Wagon


BIZ RuBY poucLAs


Fortunately he had seen the hand
writing on the wall in time to read 1t
and retire while he could still hold on
to precious books. He had lost all
his money, a lot of faith in his own
| judgment, most of his patience with
what he had formerly idealized as the
cream Of Boston inteligencia, but
he possessed many fine editions OF
rare books, autographed copies, spe-
cially bound volumes, a unique collec-
ton of works that might serve him iD
good stead some day.
He secured job in bookshop in
railway terminal in New York,
where he did not expect anything of
the clients who might come and go
and where he operated, on the side,
circulating library of some activity.
There is more appreciation of
books in the minds of the people who
come in here with not more than
quarter to spend on a loaned volume
than found in all my experience in
effete Boston," he said bitterly, to
Horace, colleague and a man who
was becoming his friend.
Summer approached and Ben chafed
under the confinement The terminal
bookshop was open evenings as we'll
as all day and his hours very long.
One night as he walked down
toward Greenwich village, where he
had cubicle in which to sleep, he
had an inspiration. Why could he not
take his precious books and, with the
cooperation of some firm of progress
sive publishers, combine his wares
with theirs. and his work and expert
ence with their investment and go
a-caravaning for the summer? To live
among his books. to sleep at night in
the silent places. to travel the dusty
country roads and commune with
country folk-that would be delight
full life, thought Ben
1t took him some time to convince
a house of book publishers that this
would pay, not only on the Immediate
investment but as permanent adver-
tisement for their books and period
icals. But he had a charming per-
sonality, a persuasive manner when he.
was thoroughly in earnest. and, al
most as dream coming true, he
found himself the keeper of the book
caravan. He had a well-stocked set
of shelves, a hundred books for circu-
lation on his journey, portable home
and bookshop combined.
Thoughts of girl he had fallen i'm
love with while visiting a college,
friend in Brattleboro, Vt, took him,
one night, to camp just outside the
town on lovely brook-Broad brook,
as he. remembered the name. He drew
his motor up under a group of fra
grant, age-old pine trees and there he
pitched his camp. His book business
had progressed, and not only had he
sold many volumes and taken orders
for more, but he had left, through his
circulating system, many others that
were to be called for on his return
trip.
From the region of Brattleboro he
took daily trips to the camps in the
neighborhood Always. like fragrant
scent pursuing him. came to him the
memory of this girl he had always
since thought of as his Dream Girl.
He knew her name. but further than
that he had heard nothing of her since
his college days.
Occasionally. at noon, when he
stopped his book wagon at country
place, he was invited to eat the mid
day meal with the family. And such
meals And such wealth of philos-
ophy as he found among the great
souls who had been reared and were
still living in the wonderful hills of
Vermont
couldn't you come back to spend
Sunday with us?" asked woman who
had been more than glad to have him
to dinner. "Ethel my daughter. will
be home and she loves books-and
folks like you"
Ben accepted the invitation and re-
called with quickly beating pulse
that Ethel had been the name of his
Dream Girl Could it. would it. be
she? If not. why was he to be haunt
ed by the memory of her sweetness?
Why had he been led into the depths
of this country but for romantic pur-
pose?
On Sunday when his motor caravan
chug-chugged up to the white gate
Ethel was the first person he saw in
the old-fashioned garden beside the
porch.
| When she saw him she knew 1t was
the same Ben of her teen days.
The spaces in their minds where
they found common meeting ground
were numberless and Ethel's mother
Invited Ben to spend the night with
them.
"No-I'li come to breakfast with
You. if may" he said. "but tonight
this night of nights must spend
out under the stars to give my thanks
for what has happened TO me-"
The mother understood She also
g