"Quite right, my son. Rose is a good friend of yours, and an excellent girl"
"I say ditto to that, mother," Ben answered warmly.
I am not going to represent Ben as being in love—he was too young for that—but, like many boys of his age, he felt a special attraction in the society of one young girl. His good taste was certainly not at fault in his choice of Rose Gardiner, who, far from being frivolous and fashionable, was a girl of sterling traits, who was not above making herself useful in the household of which she formed a part.
On his way to the home of Rose Gardiner, Ben met Tom Davenport.
"How are you getting along?" asked Tom, not out of interest, but curiosity.
"Very well, thank you."
"Have you got through helping the farmer?"
"Yes."
"It was a very long job. Have you thought better of coming to saw wood for father?"
"No; I have thought worse of it," answered Ben, smiling.