he isn t at home where is he said he is out in the lot falling trees said the boy how far is it from here asked o about a good half mile which way said on � in out yonder said the boy and he pointed back of the house where a rough road led into the woods you can hear his axe listened and he heard distinctly the sound of an axe in the woods behind it ceased immediately after there was a prolonged crash which echoed back from the mountains there goes a tree said the boy was sorry to have to leave so long but he wished to until he should find the man as he knew that the was very desirous of having the business done that day so he told the boy that he believed he would go and see if he could find mr and then he set off in the direction which the boy had in this road was so sheltered by the woods that the snow was not much drifted and besides it had been kept open by the which had been employed in out pine logs when got in to the end of the road he heard the strokes of the axe at a short distance on the right difficulty he looked that way and found that the man was standing at the foot of a tall tree of very large size and he was cutting through the trunk of it about two feet from the top of the snow he saw that it was nearly oflf and so he thought he would wait a moment where he was and see it fall he observed that mr occasionally looked up the stem of the tree between the strokes of his axe as if to see whether it was beginning to fall after a few strokes more he stepped back from the foot of the tree to one side wondered why he left his work before the tree fell he looked up to the top of it and he perceived that it was moving it was bending over very slowly indeed it moved however faster and faster and presently began to come tearing down between the branches of the other trees and at length descended with a mighty crash to the ground thought that it was a very fine spectacle indeed he wished that had been there to see it then went to mr and his business successfully accord on a farm in winter ing to the farmer s directions then he turned around and began to walk back as fast as he could go i am afraid said he to himself that is almost out of patience waiting for me chapter x � a surprise walked on until he came out of the woods at the house where he had seen the boy cut wood as he approached tlie place he saw that the boy was there still but there was a man with him the man had a stick in his hand he is driving a team somewhere said to himself i wonder where his oxen are a moment afterwards came in sight of the oxen which were in the road having been hid from his view before by the wood pile the man and the boy looked at as he walked towards them the man smiled a little as if he knew but thought that he had never seen him before well said the man did you find mr i on a in winter yes sir replied he wondered how the man happened to know his name i m glad of it said he and you d better make back is almost tired of waiting for you you mean said no said the man � he said his name was said his name is i don t see what made him tell you that hi name was so saying walked away wondering what this could mean he had never known to do any such thing before he thought would not tell a falsehood on any account he was not inclined to say any thing of that kind by way of jest he was a very sober and as well as honest boy besides he could not think what should have put into s head he did not recollect that he had said any thing of for a long time in fact he had seldom told any thing about him and what could have induced him to call himself he could not � however he had nothing to do but to go on for the more he attempted to imagine some explanation of the mystery the more he was puzzled so he walked on as il as he could he came at length in sight of the spot where he had left the horse and the horse was there but was not to he has got tired of waiting and has gone away said or perhaps he is playing about near this last supposition was pretty soon for a moment confirmed for saw very soon after a boy s head on the bank of the brook at a little distance below there he is now said to himself no it isn t he that toy isn t dressed like i wonder who it is the boy had a long pole in his hand and was pushing cakes of ice with it he was so intent upon this amusement that at first he did not see but presently looking up his eye suddenly caught a view of coming and he instantly dropped his pole and ran towards him shouting � on a farm in winter why exclaimed in his turn how came you to be here it was indeed was astonished he could scarcely believe his senses is it possible that this is you said he yes said laughing with great delight i believe it is and how came you 