"What's that, Hi? Don't go very deep down into my pocket, for it won't stand it. After paying my bills, and paying for moving out here, I ain't got much money left--and that's a fact!""It won't cost much, but we've got to have a yard for the hens. Hens and a garden will never mix successfully. Unless you enclose them you might as well have no garden in that spot where I'm plowing.""There warn't but five eggs to-day," said Mrs. Atterson. "Mebbe we'd better chop the heads off 'em, one after the other, and eat 'em.""They'll lay better as it grows warmer. That henhouse must be fixedbefore next winter. It's too draughty," said Hi. "And then, hens can't lay well--especially through the winter--if they haven't the proper kind of food.""But three or four of the dratted things want to stay on the nest all the time," complained the old lady.
"If I was you, Mrs. Atterson," Hiram said, soberly, "I'd spend five dollars for a hundred eggs of well-bred stock.
"I'd set these hens as fast as they get broody, and raise a decent flock of biddies for next year. Scrub hens are just as bad as scrub cows. The scrubs will eat quite as much as full-bloods, yet the returns from the scrubs are much less.""I declare!" exclaimed Mrs. Atterson, "a hen's always been just a hen to me--one's the same as another, exceptin' the feathers on some is prettier.""To-night I'll show you some breeders' catalogs and you can think the matter over as to what kind of a fowl you want," said the young farmer.
He went back to his job after dinner and kept steadily at work until three o'clock before there came a break. Then he saw a carriage drive into the yard, and a few moments later a man In a long gray coat came striding across the lot toward him.
Hiram knew the gentleman at once--it was Mr. Bronson, the father of the girl he had saved from the runaway. To tell the truth, the boy had rather wondered about his non-appearance during the days that had elapsed. But now he came with hand held out, and his first words explained the seeming omission:
"I've been away for more than a week, my boy, or I should have seen you before. You're Hiram Strong, aren't you--the boy my little girl has been talking so much about?""I don't know how much Miss Lettie has been talking about me," laughed Hiram. "Full and plenty, I expect.""And small blame to her," declared Mr. Bronson. "I won't waste time telling you how grateful I am. I had just time to turn that boy of Dickerson's off before I was called away. Now, my lad, I want you to come and work for me.""Why, much as I might like to, sir, I couldn't do that," said Hiram. "Now, now! we'll fix it somehow. Lettie has set her heart on havingyou around the place.
"You're the second young man I've been after whom I was sure would suit me, since we moved on to the old Fleigler place. The first fellow I can't find; but don't tell me that I am going to be disappointed in you, too." "Mr. Bronson," said Hiram, gravely, "I'm sorry to say 'No.' A little while ago I'd have been delighted to take up with any fair offer you might have made me. But I have agreed with Mrs. Atterson to run her place for1
"Two years!" exclaimed Mr. Bronson.
"Yes, sir. Practically. I must put her on her feet and make the old farm show a profit.""You're pretty young to take such responsibility upon your shoulders, are you not?" queried the gentleman, eyeing him curiously.
"I'm seventeen. I began to work with my father as soon as I could lift a hoe. I love farm work. And I've passed my word to stick to Mrs. Atterson.""That's the old lady up to the house?" "Yes, sir.""But she wouldn't hold you to your bargain if she saw you could better yourself, would she?""She would not have to," Hiram said, firmly, and he began to feel a little disappointed in his caller. "A bargain's a bargain--there's no backing out of it.""But suppose I should make it worth her while to give you up?" pursued Mr. Bronson. "I'll sound her a bit, eh? I tell you that Lettie has set her heart on having you, as we cannot find another chap whom we were looking for."Now, Hiram knew that this referred to him; but he said nothing. Besides, he did not feel too greatly pleased that the strongest reason for Mr. Bronson's wishing to hire him was his little daughter's demand. It was just a fancy of Miss Lettie's. And another day, she might have the fancy to turn him off.
"No, sir," spoke Hiram, more firmly. "It is useless. I am obliged to you; but I must stick by Mrs. Atterson.""Well, my lad," said the Westerner, putting out his hand again." I am glad to see you know how to keep a promise, even if it isn't to your advantage. And I am grateful to you for turning that trick for my little girl the other day.
"I hope you'll come over and see us--and I shall watch your work here. Most of these fellows around here are pretty slovenly farmers in my estimation; I hope you will do better than the average."He went back across the field and Hiram returned to his plowing. The young farmer saw the bay horses driven slowly out of the yard and along the road.
He saw the flutter of a scarf from the carriage and knew that Lettie Bronson was with her father; but she did not look out at him as he toiled behind the old horse in the furrow.
