“I suppose he wants to make a good bargain, no matter if it is at our expense. I wish you had a farm, Mr. Crane, so you could give me work on it.”
“I've got more farm now than I can take care of.”
“Don't you have a garden?”
“I've got the land, but no time to work on it. My wife often wishes we had our own vegetables, instead of having to buy, but you see, after working in the shop, or outside, all day, I'm too tired to work on land.”
“How much land have you?”
“About an acre that I could cultivate, I suppose.”
“Engage me to take care of it. I'll do all the work, and your wife can have her own vegetables.”
“Really, I never thought of that,” said the carpenter. “I don't know but it might be a good idea. How much pay would you want?”
“I'll tell you,” said Herbert, who had a business turn, and who had already matured the plan in his own mind. “If you will pay for plowing, and provide seed, I will do the planting, and gather it when harvest time comes, for one-third of the crop.”
“You mean, you will take your pay in vegetables?”