ozen buildings, including the sawmill and blacksmith shop, were
too trying for Yankee's nervous system.

"Yes, indeed," said Ranald, heartily. "We will be very glad to have you,
and it will be the very best thing for father."

"S'pose old Fox cud nibble round the brule," continued Yankee, nodding
his head toward his sorrel horse. "Don't think I will do much drivin'
machine business. Rather slow." Yankee spent the summer months selling
sewing-machines and new patent churns.

"There's plenty of pasture," said Ranald, "and Fox will soon make
friends with Lisette. She is very kind, whatever."

"Ain't ever hitched her, have you?" said Yankee.

"No."

"Well, might hitch her up some day. Guess you wudn't hurt the
buckboard."

"Not likely," said Ranald, looking at the old, ramshackle affair.

"Used to drive some myself," said Yankee. But to this idea Ranald did
not take kindly.

Yankee stood for a few moments looking down the lane and over the
fields, and then, turning to Ranald, said, "Guess it's about ready to
begin plowin'. Got quite a lot of it to do, too, ain't you?"

"Yes," said Ranald, "I was thinking I would be beginning to-morrow."

"Purty slow business with the oxen. How would it do to hitch up Lisette
and old Fox yonder?"

Then Ranald understood the purpose of Yankee's visit.

"I would be very glad," said Ranald, a great load lifting from his
heart. "I was afraid of the work with only the oxen." And then, after
a pause, he added, "What did you mean about buying Lisette?" He was
anxious to have that point settled.

"I said what I meant," answered Yankee. "I thought perhaps you would
rather have the money than the colt; but I tell you what, I hain't got
money enough to put into that bird, and don't you talk selling to any
one till we see her gait hitched up. But I guess a little of the plow
won't hurt for a few weeks or so."

Next day Lisette left behind her forever the free, happy days of
colthood. At first Ranald was unwilling to trust her to any other hands
than his own, but when he saw how skillfully and gently Yankee handled
her, soothing her while he harnessed and hitched her up, he recognized
that she was safer with Yankee than with himself, and allowed him to
have the reins.

They spent the morning driving up and down the lane with Lisette and
Fox hitched to the stone-boat. The colt had been kindly treated from
her earliest days, and consequently knew nothing of fear. She stepped
daintily b