The patch of squashes-counting chickens before they are
hatched-ifs-ducks, and the bright side-explanation-hopeful
Nat-Nathaniel Bowditch-Sir Humphrey Davy-Buxton-benefit
of hopefulness-the squashes coming up-Frank Martin-"all
play and no work"-Ben Drake-scene when Nat was four
years old-"thinking on his own hook"-men of mark think
for themselves-"niggers' work"-great men not ashamed of
useful work-the harvest-day-Frank's surprise-Nat as a peddler-his
sister-his drawings-Samuel Budgett, Dr. Kitto,
and the rich merchant peddling-"creep before you can walk"-the
errand-boy and his success-what his culture of squashes
shows 1-17