It seemed especially necessary that he be at home with the children at night, for his father was often gone till late and then came home partly under the influence of drink. Austin knew that the children needed his protection.
“Austin,” said his father in a surly tone one morning, “why are you lying around home all the time? Why do you not get out and make some money? I have enough to support without doing for you.”
“I can not get any work near enough to be at home nights with the children. Besides I am working at those posts,” was his answer.
“There is no need of your thinking you must be at home at night. The girls do the work anyway, and you could just as well get out and make something. Go hire yourself to one of the ranchmen along the river. Have some ambition and try to do something for yourself.”
How these unkind words stung Austin! He was angry, vowing to himself that if that was all the thanks he was to receive for keeping the ends of the family together he would get out and make money.
That afternoon he visited two or three of the ranchmen, offering himself as a workhand; but when they observed how young he looked, each one asked concerning his age. When they heard that he was but fourteen, they said their work was too heavy for a boy.
“Did you get yourself a job?” asked his father that evening.
“No sir, no one would hire me because I am so young.”
“Why did you tell them your age! they would have believed you if you had said you were seventeen.”
“But I am not seventeen, and I do not like to tell what is untrue.”