ride in the wrong place, I reckon."

"If it is pride to want to earn an independent living, and not live on
charity, then I am proud," continued Philip.

"Well, squire, how is it to be," asked Mr. Tucker.

"Philip," said Squire Pope pompously, "you are very young, and you don't
know what is best for you. We do, and you must submit. Mr. Tucker, take
him and put him in the wagon, and we'll drive over to the poorhouse."

"What! now?" asked Philip, in dismay.

"Just so," answered Joe Tucker. "When you've got your bird, don't let
him go, that's what I say."

"That's the talk, dad!" said Zeke gladfully. "We'll take down his pride,
I guess, when we've got him home."

Joe Tucker approached Philip, and was about to lay hold of him, when our
hero started back.

"You needn't lay hold of me, Mr. Tucker," he said. "I will get into the
wagon if Squire Pope insists upon it."

"I'm glad you're gettin' sensible," said the squire, congratulating
himself on finding Philip more tractable than he expected.

"And you will go to the poorhouse peaceful, and without making a fuss?"
asked Joe.

"Yes, I will go there; but I won't stay there."

"You won't stay there!" ejaculated the squire.

"No, sir! In treating me as a dependent on charity, you are doing what
neither you nor any other man has a right to do," said Philip firmly.

"You don't appear to remember that I am a selectman and overseer of the
poor," said the Squire.

"I am aware that you hold those offices; but if so, you ought to save
money to the town, and not compel them to pay for my support, when I am
willing and able to support myself."

Squire Pope looked a little puzzled. This was putting the matter in a
new light, and he could not help admitting to himself that Philip was
correct, and that perhaps his fellow citizens might take the same view.

On the other hand, the squire was fond of having his own way, and he had
now gone so far that he could not recede without loss of dignity.

"I think," he answered stiffly, "that I understand my duty as well as a
boy of fifteen. I don't mean to keep you here long, but it is the best
arrangement for the present."

"Of course it is," said Zeke, well pleased with the humiliation of his
enemy.

"Shut up, Zeke!" said his father, observing from the squire's expression
that he did not fancy Zeke's interference.

"All right, dad," said Zeke good-naturedly, seeing that things had
turned out as he desired.

"Jump in!" said