"Pull," said Rodolphus. "Pull away, hearty."
"No," said the girls——"we can't pull. It is too heavy——besides, you will break down our cart."
"Rodolphus!" said Ellen.
Rodolphus turned his head, and saw his sister looking down upon him from the top of the fence.
"Ellen," said he, "is that you?"
"Yes," said Ellen, "I would not trouble those poor girls. Let them have their cart."
"Why, they could pull me just as well as not," said Rodolphus, "if they would only try. Come, girls," he added, "give one good pull, and then I will get out."
The girls hesitated a moment, being obviously afraid that the cart would be broken. They looked up to Ellen, as if they hoped that in some way or other she could help them, but Ellen knew not what to do. So they concluded to submit to Rodolphus's terms. They made a desperate effort to draw the cart along a few steps, but the result which they had feared was realized. The cart went on, staggering, as it were, under its heavy burden, for a short space, and then a crack was heard, and one side of it sank suddenly down to the ground. The axletree had broken, close to the wheel.
The children seemed greatly distressed at this accident. Rodolphus got out of the cart, and looked at the fracture——appearing perplexed in his turn, and not knowing what to say. The oldest girl took up the wheel, and began to examine the fracture with a very sorrowful countenance, while the youngest looked on, the picture of grief and despair.
"Now, Mary," said the youngest child, in a very desponding tone, "I don't believe we can sell our cart at all."