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“Did Frank treat you to lemonade?”

Alet the nickel that he nodded Then he squirmed and said:

“No, Father”

Father looked at hi time Then he took out his wallet and opened it, and slowly he took out a round, big silver half-dollar He asked:

“Almanzo, do you knohat this is?”

“Half a dollar,” Almanzo answered

“Yes But do you knohat half a dollar is?”

Al but half a dollar

“It’s work, son,” Father said “That’s what money is; it’s hard work”

Mr Paddock chuckled “The boy’s too young, Wilder,” he said “You can’t ster understand that”

“Almanzo’s smarter than you think,” said Father

Alet away But Mr Paddock was looking at Father just as Frank looked at Alm

anzo when he double-dared him, and Father had said that Almanzo was smart, so Almanzo tried to look like a smart boy Father asked:

“You kno to raise potatoes, Almanzo?”

“Yes,” Almanzo said