, who was making preparations for breakfast, had told him he would find her husband. He noticed the kitchen time-piece as he passed

the musty hay thrown down to them with an avidity that suggested, on their part, a scarcity of rations. The same untidiness tha

do to assist you?" asked Budd, pleas

e can milk?" was the ra

ing to learn," replied

t up on that mow an' throw down more hay. These pesky critters eat more'n their necks are wuth," said

f the good appetite he had had the night before, seemed to him greatly inferior to his supper. The coffee was bitter and sweetened with molasses, the johnny-cakes were burnt, and the meat and vegetables were cold. He did his best to eat heartily of the unsavory food, however--par

us to have hired out to him for the season; for the dilapidated condition of the buildings and the untidiness and disorder that marked everything about the place were not, after all, the worst features with which Budd had to deal. He soon found that his employer was a hard

ve been expected to do, tried to win the approval of both Mr. Benton and his wife. He soon found this impossible, and so con

nd chuckled to himself at the thought that Budd's fear of losing his wages kept him so industrious and docile. He confidentially admitted to his wife, one day, that the lad

ers, John Benton. There never was a

endure what he knew he must be enduring, and finally his curiosity got the better of him; for, m

the profoundest example of

d Budd, with a laugh. "W

his wife ten years, and know them well enough to be sure that an angel direct from Heaven couldn't long stand their abuse; and yet you have actually been

es, and a shudder shook his robust frame as though he saw someth

than either work or abuse, and I prefer even to live with John B

n and went on, leaving Mr. Wright to res

udd asked Mr. Benton for

ad's request took his employer so by surpris

exclaimed. "What a

idea had come to his min

o have yer pay all in a bunch. Jes' think how m

persisted Budd; "and as I have earned it

that Mr. Benton had quite a sum of money by him, an

let, opened it. From it he then took the paper of agreement that Budd and

say anythin' 'bout my

udd reluctan

e yer time is up ye are to have no pay, do

ean and contemptible his employer was, and what

with me yer whole time till it's up?" he

tend to pay me anything until Oc

returning the paper to his wallet and placing it in

p his hoe and r

house after his few effects, and quitting the place forever. But he did, and went resolutely on with his work. Fortunate for him was it, though he did not know it then, that he did so.

took down his light overcoat. From an inside pocket he took a long wallet, and from the wallet a postal card. Addressing it with a pencil to "N. B. Johnson, E

but find, through a misunderstanding with my employer, that I am not to have my pay until the six months for which I have hired out are ended. At that time you may expe

D B

nded it directly to a mail agent upon a passing train. His reason for this act could not be easily misunderstood. Evidently he did not care that the Mr. Johnson to whom he had written