nd a hay-cart, drawn by oxen and driven by a man, was just
entering the meadow from the side next the barn.

Jacob hung his bundle upon a stake, threw his coat and waistcoat over
the rail, and, resting his chin on his shirted arms, leaned on the
fence, and watched the hay-makers. As the woman came down the nearer
side she appeared to notice him, for her head was turned from time to
time in his direction. When she had made the round, she stopped the
horses at the corner, sprang lightly from her seat and called to the
man, who, leaving his team, met her half-way. They were nearly a furlong
distant, but Jacob was quite sure that she pointed to him, and that
the man looked in the same direction. Presently she set off across the
meadow, directly towards him.

When within a few paces of the fence, she stopped, threw back the flaps
of her sun-bonnet, and said, "Good day to you!" Jacob was so amazed to
see a bright, fresh, girlish face, that he stared at her with all his
eyes, forgetting to drop his head. Indeed, he could not have done so,
for his chin was propped upon the top rail of the fence.

"You are a stranger, I see," she added.

"Yes, in these parts," he replied.

"Looking for work?"

He hardly knew what answer to make, so he said, at a venture, "That's as
it happens." Then he colored a little, for the words seemed foolish to
his ears.

"Time's precious," said the girl, "so I'll tell you at once we want
help. Our hay MUST be got in while the fine weather lasts."

"I'll help you!" Jacob exclaimed, taking his arms from the rail, and
looking as willing as he felt.

"I'm so glad! But I must tell you, at first, that we're not rich, and
the hands are asking a great deal now. How much do you expect?"

"Whatever you please?" said he, climbing the fence.

"No, that's not our way of doing business. What do you say to a dollar a
day, and found?"

"All right!" and with the words he was already at her side, taking long
strides over the elastic turf.

"I will go on with my mowing," said she, when they reached the horses,
"and you can rake and load with my father. What name shall I call you
by?"

"Everybody calls me Jake."

"'Jake!' Jacob is better. Well, Jacob, I hope you'll give us all the
help you can."

With a nod and a light laugh she sprang upon the machine. There was
a sweet throb in Jacob's heart, which, if he could have expressed it,
would have been a triumphant shout of "I'm not afraid of her! I'm not
a