The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-12-25

thought, "she cont1ded to Polly, later.
He's got an honest face and handy
fingers, if he is forty tramps."
Baxter showed himself so willing
on the morrow, Farmer Thornley,
suggested he should spend another
day in his employment, and then the
work in hand ran over to the follow
ing day, and as nobody could finish
it so well as Baxter, he naturally
staid on and on, till, at the end of the
week, Thornley, admitted, may be
you're as good hand as I'd get if /
waited till Christmas, perhaps you'd
like steady work for the Summer,
with board and wages ?"
You wouldn't be likely to do bet
ter" put in Hannah, "with no recon-
mendation you see-though 1 don't
say you need one"
"Thank you, and what do you
say ;" he asked, turning to Polly.
CT? why" faltered Polly.
"Polly hasn't anything to say
about it," objected Hannah. " Me
| anu 1AlI ItI run tuIS
"Then she's the first woman that
hasn't nothing to say. Speak up;
Polly" commanded Farmer Thorn
ley.
Don't never leave a sentence to
loose ends. I was going to say that
four makes a cozy family. Two's a
company, and three's crowd, eh,
Polly?" said Thornley,, with laugh.
And Baxter staid.
"' What makes the lamb love
Mary SO p" he quoted, as they wend-
ed homeward, Polly's little eve lamb,
frisking before them, having joined
them in the pastures.
"Why you know" explained Polly.
Her mother disowned her, and she
was left shivering and hungry out in
the cold, and brought her before the
kitchen fire, and fed her with warm
milk, till she grew and throye."
& And Thornbley gave her to you: !
No; but he said, seems rs
though she belonged to Polly. But
Miss Hannah didn't like ii.
9 Then s'pose the dishes belong to
Polly cause she washes EN-, and the
rooms, cause she sweeps 'em, and the
beds, cause she makes 'em ? sac said.
Isn't Polly paid her lawful wages
for doing whatever her hands find TO
do, be it to cosset lambs. or cook the
l.gictuhls .......-.,.--.. -
Polly? asked Baxter.
have always liveP in this house,
but not as a servant, Mr.. Baxter; this
was the old parsonage: my uncle
lived here, with little or no salary.
He didn't care for that he came here
to do good to show people the road
to heaVen-there was no church then
for miles around-and he had money
OF his own. My mother and I came
with him, and after she died we two
lived on here together, and he taught
me all [ know--it isn't much. But
when / was fifteen. he came from
the city one day, where he had gone
on business, and told me that some
wicked people had ruined him, that
his good work was ended; and he
threw his head back, sitting in his
anne hair, and gasped once or twice
and | was all alone-quite, quite
alone. After that, people came and
looked at the place, and the Thorn
ley's among them and I was little
moping beggar, not knowing which
way to turn, and the Thornley's Of
fered to keep me for maid ofall-work
for food and clothing. There was
nothing else for me to do, and the
neighbors said it was a providence
but since then l nave struck for high
er wages, and now / have day dreams;
when l get money enough mean to
go away to school, even if I'm as old
as the hills, and then maybe / can do
something nicer than to churn and
cook for my daily bread.n
And have you saved anything
YETI" '. .slf,d -.
g A hundred dollars already"
Baxter smiled. " And when do
you expect to set out and seek your
fortune pm Ai'n - jsR 'ets. T4y
".Do you think it will take very
long? she asked anxiously. Shall 1
he too. old 2" RI 20
II should think not" he returned,
still smiling to himself This was not
the first walk Baxter and Polly had
taken together, neither was this the
last confidence reposed in each other.
"Youitwo seem to have an ever
lasting lot Of talk together" com
mented Hannah, land Polly amt no
talker neither and what's oueer vo,,l