The boy now obeyed, and found himself in a large room, evidently the kitchen and living-room all in one. There was no carpet on the floor, and a stove, a table and a half-dozen chairs constituted its furniture.
Three large dogs lay before the fire, growling sullenly. A woman and four small children
were seated at the table. An empty chair and an unemptied plate showed that Mr. Noman had been eating when he was called to the door.
There was food enough upon the table, but its disorderly arrangement, and the haphazard way in which each child was helping itself, caused the boy to give an involuntary shudder, as his host invited him to sit down “an’ take a bite, while they talked over business together.”
Mr. Noman evidently meant to give his caller a flattering impression of his hospitality, for he heaped the boy’s plate with cold pork, brown bread and vegetables, and even called on his wife to get some of that “apple sass” for the young stranger.
The boy was hungry, and the food was, after all, wholesome, and he stowed away a quantity that surprised himself, if not his host.
When supper was eaten, Mr. Noman pushed back his chair and abruptly asked his guest:
“Who air ye?”
“Matt Rives,” promptly replied the boy.
“That’s a kinder cur’us name, now, ain’t it?” questioned Mr. Noman. “I dunno any Riveses round here. Where be ye from?”