A Farmer’s Life 
they’d have to do without the raisins and cur- 
rants, and she shouldn’t cut a gammon for ’em 
—’cause they wanted the middle cut. 
“He kep’ on work and got a little wood split. 
And in the evenin’ I had to pass by where he was 
workin’ and he says, “ Master, I wants to speak 
to ye.’ 
“Well, what is it, Tom?’ I says. 
““*“T wants to ast ye somethin’. Do you think 
God Almighty ever made a man to work all day 
without any vittles or drink in him?’ 
“Well, Tom,’ I says, ‘God A’mighty have 
made all sorts of queer things; and He’ve made 
one man so contrairy as he'll do it.’ ... I’ve 
often laughed about it since. . . . But that 
was the trouble with old Tom. He was so 
contrairy. He always stood in his own light. 
“Called to me one day, he did: ~ Withee 
Smith, I wants to speak to ye. . . . I wants to 
ast ye a question. Will ye give me your advice ?’ 
‘““*JT dunno as it’s much good,’ I says; “‘ but 
I ain’t heard what it 1s.’ 
““* Why,’ he says, ‘ Higgins have jest bought 
this farm down here and wants somebody to 
look after it, and his son have recommended me 
for the job. D’you think I better take it?’ 
““* Well,’ I says, ‘ he couldn’t do better. You 
could do the work all right. But since you’ve 
asked my opinion I'll give it to ye. I knows 
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