become
somewhat used to the labour, however, and stood it better. He was more
successful in his work, too, and Farmer Tinch had less opportunity for
cursing him. But at night he seemed more tired, even, than before, and
he longed for his home again. He thought of the cosy bed he would now
be enjoying if he had only taken his mother's advice, and he felt almost
like getting up in the night and stealing away on the road to the north.
But, always a sensible lad, Archie realised that this discouragement
could not last, and he lost himself in sleep, looking forward three
days, when his week should be up, and he would be on his way to the
city, with four dollars more to add to his slender store.

The three days passed slowly, but at length the Saturday night came, and
he prepared to be off. But good Mrs. Tinch entreated him to remain with
them over Sunday, and, as Archie wasn't sure that it would be quite
right for him to travel on Sunday, he decided to do so. So the next day
he brushed his only suit of clothes, and drove with his late employer to
church, where Farmer Tinch sat in a front seat and passed the bread
and wine at communion. Archie's heart rose to his throat as he saw
this paragon so devout in church. He felt like rising in his seat and
denouncing him before all the people as a tyrant and a hard-hearted
wretch. But he kept quiet, though he found it impossible to partake of
the communion under such circumstances.

The Tinches had brought their dinner with them, and at noon they all sat
on one of the grassy mounds in the churchyard, to take some refreshment
before the afternoon service began. When they had finished, Archie
wandered off, and came to a crowd of boys who were romping behind the
church. When they saw him approach, they all stopped their noise,
and looked at him wonderingly. Evidently they were not used to seeing
strange boys. The silence was soon broken, however, by one of the boys
calling out, "Why, fellers, thet's the chap what's been workin' fer
Hiram Tinch." This announcement was enough to make Archie an even
greater object of interest than before, for the boys seemed to think
that any person who could work for Farmer Tinch, and come out of the
ordeal none the worse for wear, must be something wonderful. Archie was
soon on good terms with them all, however, and told them of his plan of
going to New York. The boys were all attention, and soon he was the hero
of the occasion. When the bell rung for t