Mr. Tucker to Philip.

Our hero, without a word, obeyed. He was firmly resolved that Squire
Pope should not have his way, but he did not choose to make himself
ridiculous by an ineffectual resistance which would only have ended in
his discomfiture.

Seated between Mr. Tucker and the squire, he was driven rapidly toward
the poorhouse.

CHAPTER IX. THE POORHOUSE.

There was no room for Zeke to ride--that is, there was no seat for
him--but he managed to clamber into the back part of the wagon, where
he sat, or squatted, rather uncomfortably, but evidently in the best of
spirits--if any inference could be drawn from his expression.

The poorhouse was not far away. It was a three-story frame house, which
badly needed painting, with a dilapidated barn, and shed near by.

A three-story farmhouse is not common in the country, but this dwelling
had been erected by a Mr. Parmenter, in the expectation of making a
fortune by taking summer boarders.

There was room enough for them, but they did not come. The situation was
the reverse of pleasant, the soil about was barren, and there were no
shade or fruit trees. It was a crazy idea, selecting such a spot for a
summer boarding-house, and failure naturally resulted.

There had, indeed, been two boarders--a man and his wife--who paid one
week's board, and managed to owe six before the unlucky landlord decided
that they were a pair of swindlers. He had spent more money than he
could afford on his house, and went steadily behind-hand year after
year, till the town--which was in want of a poorhouse--stepped in
and purchased the house and farm at a bargain. So it came to be a
boarding-house, after all, but in a sense not contemplated by the
proprietor, and, at present, accommodated eleven persons--mostly old and
infirm--whom hard fortune compelled to subsist on charity.

Mr. Tucker had this advantage, that his boarders, had no recourse except
to stay with him, however poor his fare or harsh his treatment, unless
they were in a position to take care of themselves.

When Philip came in sight of the almshouse--which he had often seen, and
always considered a very dreary-looking building--he was strengthened in
his determination not long to remain a tenant.

Mr. Tucker drove up to the front door with a flourish.

A hard-featured woman came out, and regarded the contents of the wagon
with curiosity.

"Well, Abigail, can you take another boarder!" asked Mr. Tucker, as he