“The kind that little Alexander and little Moses had in the bulrushes,” suggested Hodge. “The kind that mother used to make.”
“This applicant for the proud position of chauffeur in my ancestral domicile——”
“Be-a-u-ti-ful language,” drawled Smith. “My, I wish I could talk that way.”
“This applicant said, in response to my father’s question,” continued Ned unabashed, “that he had been five years in his last place. ‘Fine record,’ said my pater, much delighted. ‘Why did you leave?’ he then asked the chap.”
“Ah, I know the answer to that,” said Hodge. “That came over in the Mayflower. That was told to J. Smith by Pocahontas.”
“What was the answer. I never heard it,” said Walter.
“Why, the fellow left his last place because he was pardoned out or his term had expired, I forget which,” groaned Hodge.
CHAPTER XX
A CHANGE IN WALTER
Dan had not taken any part in the bantering of the boys, but he none the less enjoyed their light and easy way of looking at life. It was all very different from his own early experiences. Since the death of his father life had been a hard struggle. Every penny had to be counted with care and the work on the farm was exacting. Early and late he had toiled, though he never had thought of complaining. Tom and his mother were laboring as hard as he. Indeed, most of his neighbors knew no more than he did of the lighter side of life.