It took Hank a long time to purchase his supply of provisions, there were so many things he wanted which he was obliged to let alone; but at last he started homeward with a full basket on each arm. Among other things he had purchased a pair of new shoes for his mother—she needed shoes almost as badly as her husband—and he had two dollars left. He knew right where they would go.
"Father is bound to have what is left, and I can't hinder him from taking it," he said, as he put his baskets down in a doorway to rest. "I shan't resist at all when he asks for it. If I was satisfied that this would be the last time he would ask me for it, he could take it and welcome; but it won't be. He'll be after me for some plug-tobacco, and I have already spent as much money for that as I can afford. But two hundred dollars! I'm going to take mother's breath away when I tell her that."
When Hank drew near to his home he couldn't see anybody, but the sound of a loud voice coming from the inside, his father's voice, told him that his mother had returned from her day's washing. His father was angry about something, for his stentorian voice was raised so high in his excitement that it could have been heard across the street, while his mother answered in a mild tone, which seemed to increase the man's fury.
"Why didn't you get it?" he heard his father ask, as he unlatched the gate. "Here I am going around barefooted, and you are making a sight of money by washing. I tell you I don't want to go around this way any longer."
"The woman was not at home when I left," said Mrs. Lufkin. "And supposing I do get the money, what good will it do you? It amounts to only one dollar, and you can't get a pair of shoes for less than two."
"Well, if you ain't got any money how am I to get things to eat? I can't live on nothing."
"I am sure I don't know. The tea is gone, the bread is pretty nearly gone, and what we are to do I don't know. There was a man inquiring about you to-day. He says he can easily give you a job in the hay-field, if you are willing to go to work."
"But I tell you I can't work. This wound in my side bothers me more than I can tell. I wish that fellow had it. I tell you he would give that hay-field a wide berth."
This was all that Hank heard of the confab between husband and wife, for just then the gate clicked and he went merrily up the porch with his two baskets on his arm. He walked into the room and placed them on the table.
"There, mother," said he. "You'll find grub enough in those baskets to last you three or four days. When that is gone I can easily get more."