t. Perhaps I am better off as I am."

"And so ye are, I'm thinkin'."

Harry found that, exert himself as he might, Mrs. Ryan picked nearly as
fast as he did. She was used to it, and her pail filled up rapidly.

Harry was glad he did not bring a larger pail, for to him, unaccustomed
to bend over, the work was fatiguing, and when, as the town clock struck
two, he saw his pail filled to the brim, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"If the pail held more, I shouldn't feel satisfied to stop," he said to
himself, "so I'm glad it doesn't."

Mrs. Ryan had two pails and a basket, and each of her children carried a
small pail, so that she remained in the pasture after Harry left.

It was shorter for Harry to go at once to the store, instead of going
round by his home, and this he resolved to do.

About twenty rods from the store, rather to his vexation, he met Philip
Ross, elaborately dressed and swinging a light cane.

Philip, who had not heard of Harry's loss of place, regarded our hero
with surprise, not unmixed with curiosity. But for his curiosity, he
would have passed him without a word. Curiosity conquered dislike, and
he inquired:

"Does Mead send you out to pick berries?"

"No," answered Harry.

"Haven't you been picking berries?"

"This looks like it, doesn't it?"

"Of course. Have you a holiday?"

"Yes, a long holiday. I am not working for Mr. Mead now."

An expression of joy lighted up the face of Philip.

"Has he discharged you?" he asked.

"He has taken his nephew in my place."

"And so you have to pick berries for a living?" asked Philip, in
exultation.

"Yes," answered Harry, coolly.

"I must go home and tell mother," said Philip, briskly. "Wait a minute,
though. Do you want a job?"

"Yes," responded Harry, rather surprised that Philip should feel any
interest in the matter.

"Then I can give you one. Come up to the house early every morning, and
I'll hire you to black my shoes. I'll give--let me see--thirty cents a
week."

"Thank you, but I couldn't come up to your house. Bring them down to
mine every morning, and I may accept the job."

"Do you think I would demean myself by carrying dirty shoes round the
village?" demanded Philip, angrily.

"I don't know," said Harry, coolly. "You'll have to do it, if you want
me to black them."

Philip muttered something about impudence, but went off very well
pleased, to report to his mother that she could trade at Mead's once
more, as he had se