"I trust in Heaven we all shall have our rights yet, Jacob," said he at last. "I wish I was a man!"
Here the conversation ended, and they went to bed.
This was now a busy time at the cottage. The manure had to be got out of the stable and pigsties, and carried out to the potato-ground and garden; the crops had to be put in, and the cart was now found valuable. After the manure had been carried out and spread, Edward and Humphrey helped Jacob to dig the ground, and then to put in the seed. The cabbage-plants of last year were then put out, and the turnips and carrots sown. Before the month was over, the garden and potato-field were cropped, and Humphrey took upon himself to weed and keep it clean. Little Edith had also employment now, for the hens began to lay eggs, and as soon as she heard them cackling, she ran for the eggs and brought them in; and before the month was over, Jacob had set four hens upon eggs. Billy, the pony, was now turned out to graze in the forest; he came home every night of his own accord.
"I'll tell you what we want," said Humphrey, who took the command altogether over the farm: "we want a cow."
"Oh yes, a cow," cried Alice, "I have plenty of time to milk her."
"Whose cows are those which I see in the forest sometimes?" said
Humphrey to Jacob.
"If they belong to any body, they belong to the king," replied Jacob; "but they are cattle which have strayed and found their way to the forest, and have remained here ever since. They are rather wild and savage, and you must be careful how you go too near them, as the bulls will run at you. They increase very fast: there were but six a few years ago, and now there are at least fifty in the herd."
"Well, I'll try and get one, if I can," said Humphrey.
"You will be puzzled to do that, boy," replied Jacob, "and as I said before, beware of the bulls."
"I don't want a bull," replied Humphrey, "but a cow would give us milk, and then we should have more manure for the garden. My garden will then grow more potatoes."