Publisher's Synopsis
"Do unto the other man the way he'd like to do unto you-and do it first." So believes the old horse-trading country banker, James Harper. A dry, quaint, and somewhat illiterate character who possesses an amazing amount of knowledge not found in books. He holds fast to the cheerful belief that there is nothing wholly bad or useless in this world. James, with his reputed horse, Shylock, is an accurate portrayal of a type that exists in the rural districts of the northwestern U.S. today. Orrin Olsen, an easterner, takes the opportunity to work in James Harper's bank. The change from city life to the country lifestyle of Seattle is one he learns to adjust to with the help of James Harper and friends. Some experiences are hilarious as the town folk try to understand the lifestyle of those from the east. A romance blossoms between Orrin and a woman he met while traveling, but not without its misunderstandings. The true and original character, lifestyle, and language of the period are humorously portrayed in this delightfully quaint tale of Seattle in the 1800's. Surely this well-written characterization can easily become a new addition to the collection of American literary portraits.
