"
When he had been working a couple of hours,
he began to feel hungry. His walk, and the
work he had been doing, sharpened his appetite
till he really felt uncomfortable. It was
at this time--just twelve o'clock--that the
farmer's wife came to the front door and blew
a fish horn so vigorously that it could probably
have been heard half a mile.
"The old woman's got dinner ready," said
the farmer. "If you don't mind takin' your
pay in victuals, you can go along home with
me, and take a bite."
"I think I could take two or three, sir."
"Ho, ho! that's a good joke! Money's scarce,
and I'd rather pay in victuals, if it's all the
same to you."
"Do you generally find people willing to
work for their board?" asked Carl, who knew
that he was being imposed upon.
"Well, I might pay a leetle more. You work
for me till sundown, and I'll give you dinner
and supper, and--fifteen cents."
Carl wanted to laugh. At this rate of
compensation he felt that it would take a long time
to make a fortune, but he was so hungry that
he would have accepted board alone if it had
been necessary.
"I agree," he said. "Shall I leave my rake here?"
"Yes; it'll be all right."
"I'll take along my valise, for I can't
afford to run any risk of losing it."
"Jest as you say."
Five minutes brought them to the farmhouse.
"Can I wash my hands?" asked Carl.
"Yes, you can go right to the sink and wash
in the tin basin. There's a roll towel behind
the door. Mis' Perkins"--that was the way
he addressed his wife--"this is a young chap
that I've hired to help me hayin'.
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