“Oh, yes!” said Almira, laughing. “I'll have to get up about three o'clock, I suppose, to have the things ready in time.”
“Three o'clock!” exclaimed Marty in dismay.
“There's going to be plenty of hard work about your missionary money, Almira,” said Mrs. Ashford.
“Oh, I'm willing to do the work,” replied Almira. “From all Ruth says, it is a cause worth working for.”
“Yes; but all that wont be till next summer—a year off,” objected Evaline. “How are we going to get any money sooner?”
But Almira had another plan.
“Father,” she said, one evening, “instead of hiring an extra hand this fall to sort and barrel apples, wont you let Evaline and me do it, and pay us the wages?”
“Do you think you could do as much work as a man?” inquired the farmer good-humoredly.
“I'll back Almiry for fast and good work against any man I ever saw,” said Hiram emphatically.
Mr. Stokes laughed quietly. “Well,” he said, “'t will be hard work, with all else you have to do, but I'm willing you should try.”