His next encounter was with a farmer, who sat in the grassy corner of a field, under the shade of a maple tree, eating his dinner. This reminded Fred that it was noon, and that he was hungry.
“How d’e do, mister?” said Fred, looking through the rail-fence. “I should like to come over and take dinner with you.”
“You’ll have to furnish your own victuals,” said the farmer.
“That I can do,” said Fred, and climbed over the fence, and sat down by his new acquaintance.
“Where you bound for?” said the farmer, as Fred opened his bundle, and took out a sandwich.
“Going to seek my fortune,” said Fred.
“You don’t look like a runaway ’prentice,” said the farmer; “but that’s a curious answer to a civil question.”
“It’s true,” said Fred. “I am going to seek my fortune.”
“Where do you expect to find it?”
“I can’t tell—I suppose I must hunt for it.”