Phil rose and looked up at the person addressing him. To his surprise, he recognized him as the man who had held his horse on the day he had violated a town ordinance by tying Jouncer to a tree. The man recognized him also.
“Hello!” he cried. “So you are young Hyson, are you? I’ve heard a good deal about you, but never knew who you were before. I suppose you haven’t been tying any more horses to trees lately?”
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE GROCER’S BUGGY ONCE MORE.
John Morgan, Jenny’s father, was a very sensible, practical man, and he had, besides, a genial and kindly humor which had a good deal of effect that evening in quieting and comforting the troubled soul of poor Phil.
The two sat together for an hour or more after supper, talking over the various affairs connected with the farm. Phil felt so utterly crushed by his uncle’s note, which to him seemed so hard and undeserved, and which, coming at such a time, was doubly severe in its effect, that at first he took no interest in such matters.
But John Morgan knew of the boy’s troubles, having had very full accounts of them from Jenny, though, indeed, nothing had been said to him of Mr. Berkeley’s letter, and, seeing what a melancholy mood he was in, he thought the best way to comfort him was to talk of every-day matters in as cheerful and hopeful a way as possible.
He told Phil that as his harvest was over, and as his two older boys could attend to the work on his place, he would stay here and give his help until other arrangements could be made.
He had been talking with Joel, and knew pretty well what ought to be done. He knew of a man who would come to him, and with this assistance he and Joel would get in the wheat crop. As for feed for the stock, and whatever else of the kind was needed on the place, he would see that it was supplied, and when the wheat was threshed, everything could be paid for.
Although these were the least of Phil’s troubles, it was some satisfaction to know that the farm affairs would be made all right.