“But, Barney,” remonstrated his mother, “is he fit to go about that machine? Something might happen the lad.”
“I don't think there is any danger, mother. And, besides, we will be at hand all the time.”
“And what will two lads like you do following the machine all day? You will only be hurting yourselves.”
“You watch us, mother,” cried Dick. “We'll be after Ben like a dog after a coon.”
“Indeed,” said his mother. “I have heard that it takes four good men to keep up to a machine. It was no later than yesterday that Mr. Morrison's Sam was telling me that they had all they could do to follow up, the whole four of them.”
“Huh!” grunted Dick scornfully, “I suppose so. Four like Fatty Morrison and that gang of his!”
“Hush, laddie. It is not good to be speaking ill of your neighbours,” said his mother.
“It's not speaking ill to say that a man is fat. It's a very fine compliment, mother. Only wish someone could say the same of me.”
“Indeed, and you would be the better of it,” replied his mother compassionately, “with your bones sticking through your skin!”
It was with the spring crop that Ben Fallows began his labours; and much elevated, indeed, was he at the prospect of entering into partnership with the Boyle boys, who were renowned for the very virtues which poor Ben consciously lacked and to which, in the new spirit that was waking in him, he was beginning to aspire. For the weeks spent under Barney's care and especially in the atmosphere of the Mill household had quickened in Ben new motives and new ambitions. This Barney had noticed, and it was for Ben's sake more than for their own that the boys had associated him with them in their venture of taking harvesting contracts. And as the summer went on they found no reason to regret the new arrangement. But it was at the expense of long days and hard days for the two boys following the reaper, and often when the day's work was done they could with difficulty draw their legs home and to bed. Indeed, there were nights when Dick, hardly the equal of his brother in weight and strength, lay sleepless from sheer exhaustion, while Barney from sympathy kept anxious vigil with him. Morning, however, found them stiff and sore, it is true, but full of courage and ready for the renewal of the long-drawn struggle which was winning for them not only very substantial financial profits, but also high fame as workers. The end of the harvest found them hard, tough, full of nerve and fit for any call within the limit of their powers. It was Ben who furnished the occasion of such a call being made upon them. A rainy day found him at the blacksmith shop with the Mill team waiting to be shod. The shop was full of horses and men. A rainy day was a harvest day for the blacksmith. All odd jobs allowed to accumulate during the fine weather were on that day brought to the shop.