or six."

"I'll give three," said the squire, who reflected that even at that rate
he would be saving considerable.

"I will leave it to Harry himself," said his father.

"Harry, you hear Squire Green's offer. What do you say? Will you go to
work for him at three dollars a month?"

"I'd rather go away, as you told me I might, father."

"You hear the boy's decision, squire."

"Wal, wal," said the squire, a good deal disappointed--for, to tell the
truth, he had told Abner he should not want him, having felt confident
of obtaining Harry. "I hope you won't neither of ye regret it."

His tone clearly indicated that he really hoped and expected they would.
"I bid ye good night."

"I'll hev the cow back ag'in," said the squire to himself. "He needn't
hope no massy. If he don't hev the money ready for me when the time is
up, he shan't keep her."

The next morning he was under the unpleasant necessity of reengaging
Abner.

"Come to think on't, Abner," he said, "I guess I'd like to hev you stay
longer. There's more work than I reckoned, and I guess I'll hev to have
somebody."

This was at the breakfast table. Abner looked around him, and after
making sure that there was nothing eatable left, put down his knife
and fork with the air of one who could have eaten more, and answered,
deliberately: "Ef I stay I'll hev to hev more wages."

"More wages?" repeated Squire Green, in dismay. "More'n ten dollars?"

"Yes, a fellow of my age orter hey more'n that."

"Ten dollars is a good deal of money."

"I can't lay up a cent off'n it."

"Then you're extravagant."

"No I ain't. I ain't no chance to be. My cousin, Paul Bickford, is
gettin' fifteen dollars, and he ain't no better worker'n I am."

"Fifteen dollars!" ejaculated, the squire, as if he were naming some
extraordinary sum. "I never heerd of such a thing."

"I'll work for twelve'n a half," said Abner, "and I won't work for no
less."

"It's too much," said the squire. "Besides, you agreed to come for ten."

"I know I did; but this is a new engagement."

Finally Abner reduced his terms to twelve dollars, an advance of two
dollars a month, to which the squire was forced to agree, though very
reluctantly. He thought, with an inward groan, that but for his hasty
dismissal of Abner the night before, on the supposition that he could
obtain Harry in his place, he would not have been compelled to raise
Abner's wages. This again resulted indirectly from selling the co