登陆注册
4620400000031

第31章

"What's that, Hi? Don't go very deep down into my pocket, for it won't stand it. After paying my bills, and paying for moving out here, I ain't got much money left--and that's a fact!""It won't cost much, but we've got to have a yard for the hens. Hens and a garden will never mix successfully. Unless you enclose them you might as well have no garden in that spot where I'm plowing.""There warn't but five eggs to-day," said Mrs. Atterson. "Mebbe we'd better chop the heads off 'em, one after the other, and eat 'em.""They'll lay better as it grows warmer. That henhouse must be fixedbefore next winter. It's too draughty," said Hi. "And then, hens can't lay well--especially through the winter--if they haven't the proper kind of food.""But three or four of the dratted things want to stay on the nest all the time," complained the old lady.

"If I was you, Mrs. Atterson," Hiram said, soberly, "I'd spend five dollars for a hundred eggs of well-bred stock.

"I'd set these hens as fast as they get broody, and raise a decent flock of biddies for next year. Scrub hens are just as bad as scrub cows. The scrubs will eat quite as much as full-bloods, yet the returns from the scrubs are much less.""I declare!" exclaimed Mrs. Atterson, "a hen's always been just a hen to me--one's the same as another, exceptin' the feathers on some is prettier.""To-night I'll show you some breeders' catalogs and you can think the matter over as to what kind of a fowl you want," said the young farmer.

He went back to his job after dinner and kept steadily at work until three o'clock before there came a break. Then he saw a carriage drive into the yard, and a few moments later a man In a long gray coat came striding across the lot toward him.

Hiram knew the gentleman at once--it was Mr. Bronson, the father of the girl he had saved from the runaway. To tell the truth, the boy had rather wondered about his non-appearance during the days that had elapsed. But now he came with hand held out, and his first words explained the seeming omission:

"I've been away for more than a week, my boy, or I should have seen you before. You're Hiram Strong, aren't you--the boy my little girl has been talking so much about?""I don't know how much Miss Lettie has been talking about me," laughed Hiram. "Full and plenty, I expect.""And small blame to her," declared Mr. Bronson. "I won't waste time telling you how grateful I am. I had just time to turn that boy of Dickerson's off before I was called away. Now, my lad, I want you to come and work for me.""Why, much as I might like to, sir, I couldn't do that," said Hiram. "Now, now! we'll fix it somehow. Lettie has set her heart on havingyou around the place.

"You're the second young man I've been after whom I was sure would suit me, since we moved on to the old Fleigler place. The first fellow I can't find; but don't tell me that I am going to be disappointed in you, too." "Mr. Bronson," said Hiram, gravely, "I'm sorry to say 'No.' A little while ago I'd have been delighted to take up with any fair offer you might have made me. But I have agreed with Mrs. Atterson to run her place for1

"Two years!" exclaimed Mr. Bronson.

"Yes, sir. Practically. I must put her on her feet and make the old farm show a profit.""You're pretty young to take such responsibility upon your shoulders, are you not?" queried the gentleman, eyeing him curiously.

"I'm seventeen. I began to work with my father as soon as I could lift a hoe. I love farm work. And I've passed my word to stick to Mrs. Atterson.""That's the old lady up to the house?" "Yes, sir.""But she wouldn't hold you to your bargain if she saw you could better yourself, would she?""She would not have to," Hiram said, firmly, and he began to feel a little disappointed in his caller. "A bargain's a bargain--there's no backing out of it.""But suppose I should make it worth her while to give you up?" pursued Mr. Bronson. "I'll sound her a bit, eh? I tell you that Lettie has set her heart on having you, as we cannot find another chap whom we were looking for."Now, Hiram knew that this referred to him; but he said nothing. Besides, he did not feel too greatly pleased that the strongest reason for Mr. Bronson's wishing to hire him was his little daughter's demand. It was just a fancy of Miss Lettie's. And another day, she might have the fancy to turn him off.

"No, sir," spoke Hiram, more firmly. "It is useless. I am obliged to you; but I must stick by Mrs. Atterson.""Well, my lad," said the Westerner, putting out his hand again." I am glad to see you know how to keep a promise, even if it isn't to your advantage. And I am grateful to you for turning that trick for my little girl the other day.

"I hope you'll come over and see us--and I shall watch your work here. Most of these fellows around here are pretty slovenly farmers in my estimation; I hope you will do better than the average."He went back across the field and Hiram returned to his plowing. The young farmer saw the bay horses driven slowly out of the yard and along the road.

He saw the flutter of a scarf from the carriage and knew that Lettie Bronson was with her father; but she did not look out at him as he toiled behind the old horse in the furrow.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 神偷毒后之嫁个皇帝是傻子

    神偷毒后之嫁个皇帝是傻子

    21世纪美女神偷,冷清锁本来想着完成最后一笔交易后就金盆洗手,可是她不过是睡了一觉,醒来后竟到了一个陌生的地方。冷清锁与某只美男大眼瞪小眼的对视着。突然美男捏着她的小脸大笑起来:“太好了,朕的皇后又活过来了!”冷清锁看着眼前的美男,心中一万只草泥马奔腾而过,丫的,她穿越了?而且还成了皇后?不过这皇帝的脑子好像有问题啊!从此冷清锁走上了一条漫漫逃跑路,可是也就怪了,为什么她每次逃跑都能被这傻子给抓住?“皇后,你偷了东西还想逃跑?”“胡说,老娘早就金盆洗手了。”“那你偷了朕的心要怎么算?”殊不知,在她想着逃跑的时候,他却在一步步算计着该如何把她绑在身边……(男强女强,宠文,1v1)
  • 紫薇仙尊

    紫薇仙尊

    他本是一介凡人却得到紫薇大帝的传承,自此踏上修仙之路!得神兵四门,化天地玄黄,开创一个崭新的宇宙世界,且看他如何凭借一副神秘的金色卷轴,衍化出鸿蒙金榜!
  • 明妄经

    明妄经

    一念之慈,是一切美好的开始;一念之恶,是一切悲惧的源头。跨山跃海,万步成眠,游走各处,见解世间,百媚情肠,人生苦短。何为正?何为邪?一切因缘起,亦是因念灭。 这是一个关于假和尚在异界带领一群真和尚征服世界的故事……爽文粉勿入。
  • 魔尊别撩了!

    魔尊别撩了!

    他与她,是师徒,是恋人,他是师,她是徒,他是玄幽大陆最强者,她是被手机砸死的穿越者,他是一瞥寒人心,一笑惊天地的帝君,她是精灵古怪,巧舌如簧的小魔女,当帝君遇上小魔女,情劫也到了,他为她堕魔,却逃不开死神的魔爪,逃不过寒心的魔咒,他爱惨了她,她却伤透了他的心,一句‘与你何干’将他的爱从高地坠入低谷。“站住,我很忙,你我无缘!所以趁早放弃吧,我没有心思陪你们这些代码玩感情戏,放过我就是放过你自己,一举两得啊!”她打着哈欠,看着面前的他。“一举两得?当初你出现时为何没想到如今?放过你……绝不可能,人不常说爱而无畏吗?如今我就应了这句话。”他邪魅一笑勾人心魄,白发随风摇曳。
  • 相公欠调教:惹上休夫娘子

    相公欠调教:惹上休夫娘子

    她美丽冷艳,冰冷无情却被身边最信任的人出卖,穿越之后竟然失忆。睁开眼那一瞬间,她爱上了他,江南世家少主,但,母亲却逼他纳妾,那日,她休了他。他,无殇宫宫主,异是冰冷无情,只有往外丢人却意外拣了从悬崖掉落下去的她回去。从此,另一段说不清的感情开始缠绵……一个是昔日的情人,一个是今日的恩人,一正一邪,水火不容,注定那一天的刀剑交锋!而她,又该何去何从!(纯属虚构)
  • 看不懂的日本人

    看不懂的日本人

    “中国”这个题目,日本人不晓得放在解剖台上解剖了几百次,装在试管里化验了几千次。对于日本,我们中国人却只是一味的排斥反对,再不肯做研究工夫,几乎连日本字都不愿意看,日本话都不愿意听,日本人都不愿意见……今天,不论你喜欢日本也好,讨厌日本也好,你都应该了解她。因为中国和日本不可能不接触,只有更好的了解日本,了解日本人,才能在联系与合作,矛盾与斗争中取得主动。
  • 全世界都是NPC

    全世界都是NPC

    女生带着剑仙系统穿越到古代,成为当世唯一的仙人。她明明任性妄为,睚眦必报,杀人如割草,坑死人不赔命,撩完人就跑,却被天下人尊奉为艺术大师、神灵、救世主和圣人。新书《杀了那个男主》上传,欢迎大家收藏订阅。裙:799078951
  • 我愿流浪在小镇

    我愿流浪在小镇

    我们总怪时光匆匆、时间少,你想找一僻静之所把不安的心,小心安放。我们渴望去一趟远方,让自由的风带走你被一切不顺造成的忧伤,却从未出发。我们和作者范泽木一样,天天穿梭于钢筋水泥的丛林,朝九晚五轨迹恒定,常常被生活压得喘不过气,也许我们走得太远,而忘记了从何处出发。作者范泽木眼里的小镇就是我们心中的小镇,小镇里的故事就是我们每个人的故事。人间冷暖,草木诗话,这些被妥善安置的时光,需要我们一一掀开。让我们每个有心人,释放自己对故乡及一切美好事物的怀恋,自细微处,看万物有灵之美,赏时光静好的安宁。
  • 紫玄宝鉴

    紫玄宝鉴

    先天断脉之体柳枫意外得到玄果续体,居然又碰见修真界名宿炫火真人,得到让整个修真界为之疯狂的‘仙宝’紫玄宝鉴,柳枫将以何种身份面对这突如其来的陌生世界,以后又将走上何种归途?
  • 东茶记

    东茶记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。