And now let's take a big jump forward.

Hold your breath while we gather our muscles for the effort, for when we land, it is at a point four years from the day when Tom Gordon entered the employ of Josiah Warmore, the leading merchant in the town of Bellemore, on the Hudson.
There have been many changes in those years, but in some respects slight differences could be noted.

It would be hard to tell from looking at Mr.
Warmore that he was one day older than when he stopped at the home of Farmer Pitcairn and hired Tom Gordon.

His hair and whiskers were so white at that time that they could not grow any whiter.

The face wears the same kindly expression, the shoulders are no more stooped than they were then, and his walk is as brisk and sprightly as ever.