particular
about him."

The Squire spoke soberly, but there was a twinkle in his eye, and Mrs.
Moss tried not to smile, for the Squire's horse was a joke all over the
town, being about twenty years old, and having a peculiar gait of his
own, lifting his fore-feet very high; with a great show of speed, though
never going out of a jog-trot. The boys used to say he galloped before
and walked behind, and made all sorts of fun of the big, Roman-nosed
beast who allowed no liberties to be taken with him.

"I'm too fond of horses to hurt 'em, sir. As for riding, I aint afraid
of anything on four legs. The King of Morocco used to kick and bite like
fun, but I could manage him first-rate."

"Then you'd be able to drive cows to pasture, perhaps?"

"I've driven elephants and camels, ostriches and grizzly bears, and
mules, and six yellow ponies all to onct. May be I could manage cows if
I tried hard," answered Ben, endeavoring to be meek and respectful when
scorn filled his soul at the idea of not being able to drive a cow.

The Squire liked him all the better for the droll mixture of indignation
and amusement betrayed by the fire in his eyes and the sly smile round
his lips; and being rather tickled by Ben's list of animals, he
answered, gravely:

"We don't raise elephants and camels much round here. Bears used to be
plenty, but folks got tired of them. Mules are numerous, but we have the
two-legged kind, and as a general thing prefer Shanghae fowls to
ostriches."

[Illustration: THE VISIT TO THE SQUIRE.]

He got no farther, for Ben laughed out so infectiously that both the
others joined him, and somehow that jolly laugh seemed to settle matters
better than words. As they stopped, the Squire tapped on the window
behind him, saying, with an attempt at the former gruffness:

"We'll try you on cows awhile. My man will show you where to drive them,
and give you some odd jobs through the day. I'll see what you are good
for, and send you word to-night. Mrs. Moss, the boy can sleep at your
house, can't he?"

"Yes, indeed, sir. He can go on doing it, and come up to his work just
as well as not. I can see to him then, and he wont be a care to any
one," said Mrs. Moss, heartily.

"I'll make inquiries concerning your father, boy; meantime mind what you
are about, and have a good report to give when he comes for you,"
returned the Squire, with a warning wag of a stern fore-finger.

"Thank y', sir. I will, sir. Father'll come ju