“I’m glad you like it,” the boy replied. “Of course I could do such work quicker after I’d tried my hand at it two or three times.”
“I didn’t expect you’d more than half finish it in one day, an’ now there’s nothing to be done but put in the seeds. We’ll see to that in the morning. I must go after White-Face now, or we shall have a late supper. Have you seen anything of Gladys?”
“She hasn’t been here. Say, why can’t I get the cow?”
“I suppose you might, for she’s gentle as a kitten; but you must be tired.”
“I reckon it won’t hurt me to walk from here to the pasture.” And Seth started off at full speed, delighted with the opportunity to perform yet more work, for there was in his mind the thought that Aunt Hannah would think kindly of him after he was gone, if he showed himself willing to do whatsoever came in his way.
It did not seem exactly safe to walk deliberately up to that enormous beast of a cow; but since Gladys had done so he advanced without any great show of fear, and was surprised at discovering that she willingly obeyed the pressure on her horns.
He led her into the cleanly barn, threw some hay into the manger, and then fastened the chain around her neck, all the while wondering at his own bravery.
“Is there anything more for me to do?” he asked, as Aunt Hannah came out of the house with the three-legged stool and the glistening tin pail.
“You’ve earned a rest, my dear,” the little woman said cheerily. “Sit down on the front porch and enjoy the sensation which comes to every one who has done a good day’s work. We poor people can have what rich folks can’t, or don’t, which amounts to much the same thing.”
Seth did not avail himself of this permission; but stood on the threshold of the “tie-up” watching the little woman force out the big streams of milk without apparent effort, until the desire to successfully perform the same task was strong upon him.