Abner heard these words with joy, for he was always possessed of a good appetite.
“I say, bub, I'm glad I run away,” he remarked, aside, to Herbert. “We live enough sight better than we did at home.”
Leaving the boys to pursue their journey, we will return to the bereaved parents, and inquire how they bore their loss.
When Mrs. Barton rose to commence the labors of the day, she found that no wood was on hand for the kitchen fire.
“Abner's gittin' lazier and lazier,” she soliloquized. “I'll soon have him up.”
She went to the foot of the stairs, and called “Abner!” in a voice by no means low or gentle.
There was no answer.
“That boy would sleep if there was an earthquake,” she muttered. “Come down here and split some wood, you lazy boy!” she cried, still louder.
Again no answer.
“He hears, fast enough, but he don't want to work. I'll soon have him down.”