登陆注册
4710000000013

第13章

Carl obtained permission to leave his trunk at the Vance mansion, merely taking out what he absolutely needed for a change.

"When I am settled I will send for it," he said.

"Now I shouldn't know what to do with it."

There were cordial good-bys, and Carl started once more on the tramp. He might, indeed, have traveled by rail, for he had ten dollars and thirty-seven cents; but it occurred to him that in walking he might meet with some one who would give him employment.

Besides, he was not in a hurry to get on, nor had he any definite destination. The day was fine, there was a light breeze, and he experienced a hopeful exhilaration as he walked lightly on, with the world before him, and any number of possibilities in the way of fortunate adventures that might befall him.

He had walked five miles, when, to the left, he saw an elderly man hard at work in a hay field. He was leaning on his rake, and look-ing perplexed and troubled. Carl paused to rest, and as he looked over the rail fence, attracted the attention of the farmer.

"I say, young feller, where are you goin'?" he asked.

"I don't know--exactly."

"You don't know where you are goin'?" repeated the farmer, in surprise.

Carl laughed. "I am going out in the world to seek my fortune," he said.

"You be? Would you like a job?" asked the farmer, eagerly.

"What sort of a job?"

"I'd like to have you help me hayin'. My hired man is sick, and he's left me in a hole.

It's goin' to rain, and----"

"Going to rain?" repeated Carl, in surprise, as he looked up at the nearly cloudless sky.

"Yes. It don't look like it, I know, but old Job Hagar say it'll rain before night, and what he don't know about the weather ain't worth knowin'. I want to get the hay on this meadow into the barn, and then I'll feel safe, rain or shine."

"And you want me to help you?"

"Yes; you look strong and hardy."

"Yes, I am pretty strong," said Carl, complacently.

"Well, what do you say?"

"All right. I'll help you."

Carl gave a spring and cleared the fence, landing in the hay field, having first thrown his valise over.

"You're pretty spry," said the farmer.

"I couldn't do that."

"No, you're too heavy," said Carl, smiling, as he noted the clumsy figure of his employer.

"Now, what shall I do?"

"Take that rake and rake up the hay. Then we'll go over to the barn and get the hay wagon."

"Where is your barn?"

The farmer pointed across the fields to a story-and-a-half farmhouse, and standing near it a good-sized barn, brown from want of paint and exposure to sun and rain. The buildings were perhaps twenty-five rods distant.

"Are you used to hayin'?" asked the farmer.

"Well, no, not exactly; though I've handled a rake before."

Carl's experience, however, had been very limited. He had, to be sure, had a rake in his hand, but probably he had not worked more than ten minutes at it. However, raking is easily learned, and his want of experience was not detected. He started off with great enthusiasm, but after a while thought it best to adopt the more leisurely movements of the farmer. After two hours his hands began to blister, but still he kept on.

"I have got to make my living by hard work," he said to himself, "and it won't do to let such a little thing as a blister interfere."

When he had been working a couple of hours, he began to feel hungry. His walk, and the work he had been doing, sharpened his appetite till he really felt uncomfortable. It was at this time--just twelve o'clock--that the farmer's wife came to the front door and blew a fish horn so vigorously that it could probably have been heard half a mile.

"The old woman's got dinner ready," said the farmer. "If you don't mind takin' your pay in victuals, you can go along home with me, and take a bite."

"I think I could take two or three, sir."

"Ho, ho! that's a good joke! Money's scarce, and I'd rather pay in victuals, if it's all the same to you."

"Do you generally find people willing to work for their board?" asked Carl, who knew that he was being imposed upon.

"Well, I might pay a leetle more. You work for me till sundown, and I'll give you dinner and supper, and--fifteen cents."

同类推荐
  • 滹南遗老集引

    滹南遗老集引

    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。
  • 台湾资料清经世文编选录

    台湾资料清经世文编选录

    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。
  • 神农本草经赞

    神农本草经赞

    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。
  • 太上金书玉谍宝章仪

    太上金书玉谍宝章仪

    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。
  • 资阳郡中咏怀

    资阳郡中咏怀

    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。
热门推荐
  • 感恩,敬业,责任

    感恩,敬业,责任

    《感恩·敬业·责任》从感恩、敬业、责任三个部分分别进行论述,并结合员工的工作实际,用大量生动翔实的故事和案例,阐述了在现代职场我们为什么要成为一名懂感恩、讲敬业、负责任的员工以及怎样做到懂感恩、讲敬业、负责任。他山之石,可以攻玉,借鉴《感恩·敬业·责任》的经验,成就你的事业,充实你的人生,实现你的价值,是《感恩·敬业·责任》的初衷。希望各位读者朋友通过阅读《感恩·敬业·责任》掌握职场生存的精髓,真正做到懂感恩、讲敬业、负责任,成为企业最需要的优秀员工,开拓出自己的一片天地。
  • 妙手摘星辰

    妙手摘星辰

    唐妙为了逃离傅清野可谓是煞费苦心。“总裁,夫人和小少爷把您一会儿要用的合同都画上了王…不是…小乌龟…”“没事,多给他们几份画个够。”“少爷,少奶奶把您车库里所有车的轮胎都扎爆了…”“哦?原来她是想让我在家里陪她。”唐妙想了想,还是算了吧,跑不掉就凑合过一辈子吧,有颜又多金…“傅清野你拉我去哪啊!”“去你心里…”“你有病啊!”“你是我的药…”唐妙泪奔自己选的老公跪着也得过完一辈子…【甜宠1v1/虐渣/欢迎入坑】
  • 圣龙图腾

    圣龙图腾

    龙,其形有九似。头似驼,角似鹿,眼似兔,耳似牛,项似蛇,腹似蜃,鳞似鲤,爪似鹰,掌似虎。先民氏族,以圣龙为图腾,延续火种,传承生命。诸天万界,龙腾四海。吾辈岂是池中物,一朝崛起,气吞山河亿万里。
  • 快园道古

    快园道古

    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。
  • 王事

    王事

    战火烽烟,青梅煮酒,武将权臣,算子得谋。纵观天下时局,吴、陈并分天下,其余数十诸国林立,久战而兵驰。遍观朝堂二十载,满目皆是弄权人。权谋与杀伐交织,太平与枯骨长埋,他亦为大势所趋,奈何卷入血雨腥风之争……“王事靡盬,何蓺黍稷?”且看逐鹿天下,鹿死谁手。……他是战功赫赫的将军,是出身显贵的郡公府公子。历遍沙场造就他杀伐决断之性情,显赫出身赋予他睥睨天下之胸怀。她亦是将门之后,天选之女,丽名遍天下。一身傲骨奈何沦为家族博弈棋子,或用或弃。
  • Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm

    Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm

    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。
  • 快穿之红娘攻略

    快穿之红娘攻略

    星际初代永远是星际初代,即使轮回,也不是你们能够随意践踏的,你觉得我对你用了全部的实力吗?一个身穿一身白色丧服,一个身穿一身红色嫁衣,一个代表了生死离别两相难,一个代表了千里姻缘一线牵,可以说她是红娘,也可以说她是命丧,星际传闻红娘还有另一面,但是很少人见过。红娘为守护而生,命丧为判决而生,我愿以我永生来守护另一个我永生,伤害姻缘的人,除非杀掉我先。剑皇,你追妻的路最大的障碍不是红线,而是我,命丧,跟红娘一体双魂,自诞生之日起便是如此。自古姻缘天注定,生死难断天地灵。Boss啊boss,我命丧竟然就值那么点价钱吗?呵呵呵呵……
  • 初生记

    初生记

    开始讲述这个故事前,那条忧郁的煤渣小路还未消失。小路两边的竹林遮天蔽日,阳光遗失在路上,好似汗湿的手心里炽热的硬币。穿过竹林,眼前便豁然展开大片刚从冬天醒来、翻滚着墨绿波光的小麦田。我和哥哥走出家门,很不情愿地踏上这条永远潮乎乎阴森森的小路,走向麦田那边的学校时,常常一边走一边把双手举到胸前,摊开来,承接从高高的天空上撒落的阳光。我们越走越快,光点从手上飞到身上,渐渐地我们跑起来了,光点飞得越来越快,在我们身上翩翩飞舞。我们总是为这情景兴高采烈。哥哥跨开两条腿,左手虚虚地握着,横在胸前,右手则攥一根细竹枝,满脸通红地催赶着他胯下虚设的马跑在我前面。
  • 百论疏

    百论疏

    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。
  • 妃本张狂:废柴嫡女娶邪王

    妃本张狂:废柴嫡女娶邪王

    是日,宣王府门口张贴告示一张,上书:“限你家宣王三日之内收拾嫁妆与我成亲!”落款竟然是丞相府里的废柴大小姐李双双!一时间全城轰动!所有人都等着看这位废柴小姐如何被宣王杀头!可是,谁承想,这宣王司徒傲天竟然一道命令:“收拾东西!本王嫁了!”嫁了?嫁了!堂堂一个宣王,竟然嫁人了!李双双说:“姐是被坑了!不过是诚实勇敢的时候,不小心选了勇敢!”司徒傲天说:“娘子,你都把人家娶回来了,你可要对人家负责啊!”