Driven from Home; Or, Carl Crawford's Experience

nk at the Vance mansion, merely taking ou

for it," he said. "Now I shou

n 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 bre

hay field. He was leaning on his rake, and looking perplexed and troubled. Carl pause

ler, where are yo

t know-

ou are goin'?" repeated

g out in the world to se

like a job?" asked

ort of

My hired man is sick, and he's left me

l, in surprise, as he looked

ght, and what he don't know about the weather ain't worth knowin'. I want to ge

ant me to

ook strong

strong," said Ca

hat do y

t. I'll h

fence, landing in the hay field,

" said the farmer. "

ling, as he noted the clumsy figure of

e hay. Then we'll go over to t

is your

d standing near it a good-sized barn, brown from want of paint and expos

to hayin'?" as

tly; though I've ha

inutes at it. However, raking is easily learned, and his want of experience was not detected. He started off with great enthusiasm, but after

he said to himself, "and it won't do to let

arpened his appetite till he really felt uncomfortable. It was at this time-just twelve o'clock-that the farmer's

er. "If you don't mind takin' your pay in victual

uld take two

s scarce, and I'd rather pay in vic

to work for their board?" asked Carl,

rk for me till sundown, and I'll give yo

t would take a long time to make a fortune, but he was so hungry

id. "Shall I lea

'll be a

e, for I can't afford to

as you

rought them to

my hands?"

ehind the door. Mis' Perkins"-that was the way he addressed his wife-"this is a youn

. He don't look v

y-one yet," answered Carl

was. You ain't no s

ma'am, in warm w

it in cold weather, does it?" aske

ir; I can't

nd vegetables, but the plebeian meal seemed to Carl the best he ever

petite so," reflected the young traveler.

orked till the supper hour, five o'clock. By t

armer, in a tone of satisfaction, "and onl

s,

rain, or I'm mistaken. Old

table, the rain began to come down in large drops-forming pools in the hollows

goin' to-night?"

't kno

of the fifteen cents I agreed to pay you. Money's very skeerc

how much the farmer would ask for lodging, for there seemed small chance of co

is hands with satisfaction at the thought that he ha

inued employment on the same terms. He was bent on pursuing his journ

ever, a small house, the outer door of which stood conveniently open. Through the open window, Carl saw a table spread as if for dinner, and he thought it probable that he could arrange to become a board

ly hungry, and the sight of the

to the table and eat. Somebody will be along before I get thr

self, and ate heartily

ut paying," thought Carl. "I'

as deserted. Then he opened that of a small b

s hanging, with his head bent forward, his eyes wi