Mr. Bates looked rather annoyed. Accustomed to perfect order himself, he was often irritated by the slovenly ways of his neighbor.
"Then there's nothing for you to do but repair damages as well as you can. What color of paint is in the brush?"
"Red, sir."
"And you want to use green. You'll have to go to the house and get some warm soap-suds and give the brush a thorough washing."
Rufus found that he had plenty of occupation for some time after that. The brush was soaked up to the handle in the bright red paint, and it was a work of patience to give it the necessary cleaning. Indeed, dinner time found him just ready to begin the task which might have been easily accomplished in the morning had it not been for that long delay.
After dinner he and Uncle Giles again repaired to the barn, where the elder cleaned harness while the younger painted.
"I think I begin to realize," said Rufus, "that your plan of having tools ready is a good one."
"Yes, it's good, no matter what sort of work you're going to do. I believe you wish to be a minister one of these days, don't you, Rufus?"
"Yes, I think so now, Uncle."
"Then you are getting some of your tools ready when you are studying Latin and history and other things in school. And you are getting others ready when you read the Bible, and when you study your Sunday-school lesson, and when you listen to the preaching of your minister. You need to take pains to remember what you learn in these ways, for the good things in your memory will be the tools that you will have constant use for.