CHAPTER I. THE POST OFFICE AT WAYNEBORO."If we could only keep the post office, mother, we should be all right,"said Herbert Carr, as he and his mother sat together in the littlesitting room of the plain cottage which the two had occupied ever sincehe was a boy of five."Yes, Herbert, but I am afraid there won't be much chance of it.""Who would want to take it from you, mother?""Men are selfish, Herbert, and there is no office, however small, thatis not sought after.""What was the income last year?" inquired Herbert.Mrs. Carr referred to a blank book lying on the table in which thepost-office accounts were kept, and answered:"Three hundred and ninety-eight dollars and fifty cents.""I shouldn't think that would be much of an inducement to an able-bodiedman, who could work at any business.""Your father was glad to have it.""Yes, mother, but he had lost an arm in the war, and could not engage inany business that required both hands.""That is true, Herbert, but I am afraid there will be more than one whowill be willing to relieve me of the duties. Old Mrs. Allen called atthe office to-day, and told me she understood that there was a movementon foot to have Ebenezer Graham appointed.""Squire Walsingham's nephew?""Yes; it is understood that the squire will throw his influence into thescale, and that will probably decide the matter.""Then it's very mean of Squire Walsingham," said Herbert, indignantly."He knows that you depend on the office for a living."