“What does he want?” thought Thomas.

He soon learned.

“I need help on my farm, and I guess you will suit me,” said Mr. Conrad, though that was not his name.  In fact, I don’t know his name, but that will do as well as any other.

“I don’t know whether mother can spare me, but I can ask her,” said Thomas.  “What are you willing to pay?”

“I’ll give you twelve dollars a month, but you’ll have to make long days.”

Twelve dollars a month!  Tom’s eyes sparkled with joy, for to him it seemed an immense sum—­and it would go very far in the little family.

“I am quite sure mother will let me go,” he said.  “I’ll go in and ask her.”

“Do so, sonny, and I’ll wait for you here.”

Thomas swung open the plank door, and entered the cabin.

It was about twenty feet one way by thirty the other.  It had three small windows, a deal floor, and the spaces between the logs of which it was built were filled in with clay.  It was certainly an humble dwelling, and the chances are that not one of my young readers is so poor as not to afford a better.  Yet, it was not uncomfortable.  It afforded fair protection from the heat of summer, and the cold of winter, and was after all far more desirable as a home than the crowded tenements of our larger cities, for those who occupied it had but to open the door and windows to breathe the pure air of heaven, uncontaminated by foul odors or the taint of miasma.

“Mother,” said Thomas, “Mr. Conrad wants to hire me to work on his farm, and he is willing to pay me twelve dollars a month.  May I go?”

“Ask Mr. Conrad to come in, Thomas.”

The farmer entered, and repeated his request.

Mrs. Garfield, for this was the widow’s name, was but little over thirty.  She had a strong, thoughtful face, and a firm mouth, that spoke a decided character.  She was just the woman to grapple with adversity, and turning her unwearied hands to any work, to rear up her children in the fear of the Lord, and provide for their necessities as well as circumstances would admit.

She didn’t like to spare Thomas, for much of his work would be thrown upon her, but there was great lack of ready money and the twelve dollars were a powerful temptation.

“I need Thomas at home,” she said slowly, “but I need the money more.  He may go, if he likes.”

“I will go,” said Thomas promptly.

“How often can you let him come home?” was the next question.

“Every fortnight, on Saturday night.  He shall bring his wages then.”

This was satisfactory, and Thomas, not stopping to change his clothes, for he had but one suit, went off with his employer.

His absence naturally increased his mother’s work, and was felt as a sore loss by Jimmy, who was in the habit of following him about, and watching him when he was at work.  Sometimes his brother gave the little fellow a trifle to do, and Jimmy was always pleased to help, for he was fond of work, and when he grew older and stronger he was himself a sturdy and indefatigable worker in ways not dreamed of then.