thoughtfully. As he said this, he laid down
his saw, which he had just taken to hang upon a nail where it
belonged, and ran off out of the shop.

He was in pursuit of Beechnut. He found him harnessing a horse into a
wagon.

"Beechnut," said he, "have you given Stuyvesant the charge of my
hen-house?"

"I have offered it to him," said Beechnut, "but he has not told me yet
whether he accepted the offer or not."

"You are going to let him have half the eggs if he takes care of the
house and the hens?" inquired Phonny.

"One third of them," said Beechnut.

"I did not know that you would do that," said Phonny. "If I had known
that you would be willing to let it out in that way, I should have
wanted it myself."

"I am not certain that it would be safe to let it to _you_," said
Beechnut.

"Why not?" asked Phonny.

"I am not sure that you would be persevering and faithful in taking
care of the hens."

"Why should not I as well as Stuyvesant?" asked Phonny. "Stuyvesant is
not so old as I am."

"He may have more steadiness and perseverance, for all that," said
Beechnut.

"I think you might let me have it as well as him," said Phonny.

"Very well," said Beechnut, "either of you. It shall go to the one who
has the first claim."

"You say he did not accept your offer of it to him?"

"No," said Beechnut, "I believe he did not."

"Then I agree to accept it now," said Phonny, "and that gives me the
first claim."

Beechnut did not answer to this proposal, but went on harnessing the
horse. When the horse was all ready, he gathered up the reins and
stood a moment, just before getting into the wagon, in a thoughtful
attitude.

"Well now, Phonny," said he, "here is a great law question to be
settled, whether you or Stuyvesant has the best right to the contract.
Go and ask Stuyvesant to come to the shop-door."

So Beechnut got into the wagon and drove out of the shed, and along
the yard, until he came to the shop-door, and there he stopped. Phonny
and Stuyvesant were standing in front of the door.

"Stuyvesant," said Beechnut, "here is a perplexing case. Phonny wants
to have the care of the hen-house on the same terms I offered it to
you. You did not tell me whether you would take it or not."

"No," said Stuyvesant, "I was going to tell you that I would take it,
but if Phonny wants it, I am willing to give it up to him."

"And you, Phonny," said Beechnut, "are willing, I suppose, if
Stuyvesant wants it, to giv