“I’ll take care of that. Come, you’ll help me, won’t you?”
“Yes,” answered Chester, good-naturedly; “I might as well, as I have nothing else to do.”
Between the two the basket was easily carried. In a short time they had reached the minister’s house. They took the basket around to the side door, just as Mr. Morris, the minister, came out, accompanied by a young man, who was evidently a stranger in the village, as Chester did not remember having seen him before.
“Chester,” said the minister, kindly, “how does it happen that you have an assistant to-day?”
“I am the assistant, Mr. Morris. Abel is Mr. Tripp’s new boy.”
“Indeed, I am surprised to hear that. When did you leave the store?”
“Last Saturday night.”
“Have you another place?”
“Not yet.”
“Are you at leisure this afternoon?”