u's thet new lad thet's come ter work over at Mullins's, ain't ye?"

"No'm," said Archie, "I don't work anywhere. I'm on my way to New York,
where I expect to find a position, and I thought perhaps you'd allow me
to do a little work here this morning to earn my breakfast."

Good Mrs. Lane, for that was the woman's name, was horrified to think
that any one was alive and without breakfast at eight o'clock in the
morning. "Goodness me!" said she. "Why, you must be half-famished fer
want of food, ain't ye?" And she bustled about the kitchen, putting the
kettle on to boil, and stirring up the fire. "You'll have some nice ham
and eggs, my boy, and then I have somethin' in mind fer you. I reckon
yer ain't in no hurry ter get ter the city, be ye? Well, even if ye
do be in a hurry, I reckon you'll be glad of the chance to earn four
dollars. I ain't goin' to ask ye no questions about how ye come to be
walkin' to New York, because I never wuz no hand ter meddle in other
folkses affairs, but ye look to be a likely lad, and a strong un, and ez
my sister's husband, what lives two miles down the pike, needs a boy to
drive a plough fer a week, I b'lieve ye'll suit 'im first-rate. So ez
soon ez ye have finished yer vittles, I'll walk down there with ye, and
we'll see the old man."

Archie hardly knew whether to be delighted with the prospect or not. Of
course four dollars would be nice to have, but he was anxious to get
to the city as soon as possible, and every day counted. But perhaps it
would be wrong, he thought, to throw away such a good chance to earn
some money, and he had decided to accept any offer the farmer made
him, long before he finished his breakfast. When he got up from the
straight-backed chair, he felt that he had never eaten a better meal
in his life, and when Mrs. Lane started off down the road, he gladly
followed her. A week on such a farm as this would be no unpleasant
experience. Such food was not to be had every day, he knew, and he of
course would have precious little that was good to eat when he reached
the city.

They soon covered the two miles, Mrs. Lane getting along very fast for
such a large woman, and at last they stood before Hiram Tinch, who owned
the farm. Archie was made to describe his intentions, and was thoroughly
examined by Mr. Tinch. He told the farmer that he knew nothing about
farm work, but Mr. Tinch said he would soon teach him, and it was
settled that Archie was to remain on the farm a w