“Sixteen.”
“For a boy of sixteen. Of course, when you’re a man grown, you can get a good deal more. Why, I pay one man as much as a dollar and a quarter a day!”
“Would I have to work very hard?” asked Andy.
“Oh, no! Just enough for healthy exercise,” said Brackett, in a light, cheerful tone. “It does boys good to use their limbs. I was a dreadful hard worker when I was a boy.”
“You look as if you’d been tired ever since,” said Andy to himself, as he watched the lounging attitude of his future employer.
“You’ll have a nice, pleasant home,” continued Mr. Brackett—“plenty of life and fun. I’ve got four beautiful children, that’ll look upon you as a brother. Mrs. Brackett, who is a perfect lady, will take an interest in you and make you feel at home.”
Before Andy could reply, Mrs. Brackett made her appearance at the back door.
“Jeremiah!” she screamed. “I want some more wood—quick!”
“All right, Lucindy. Well, what do you say? Will you come?”
“I’ll try it a week,” said Andy.