“I am glad you like the idea. I am going to make a Western farmer of you.”
Mr. Taylor gave Julius some practical directions about driving, and had an illustration of the boy’s quickness in his immediate comprehension and acting upon them. They soon came in sight of a gate, on the other side of which was a lane.
“Jump out and open the gate,” said Mr. Taylor. “That lane leads to my house.”
They soon came in sight of a substantial farm-house of good appearance. A man in overalls, and without a coat, came up to meet the carriage.
“Abner,” said Mr. Taylor, “you may take out the horse, and put him in the barn.”
“Shall I go with him?” asked Julius.
“Not now. I will take you into the house, and introduce you to Mrs. Taylor, who will show you where you are to sleep.”
He entered the house, followed by Julius.
“Come in here,” said Mr. Taylor, throwing open the door of a comfortable sitting-room. It was furnished in ordinary, yet tasteful, style; and to Julius, bred in the street and never having known anything better than a bare and cheerless apartment in a shabby tenement house, it seemed like a palace. In front of a fire sat a pleasant and comely woman of thirty-five, sewing. She looked up as Mr. Taylor entered, and her eyes rested with interest on the boy who followed him.{86}