“O, well, I dare say you will like it better after you get used to it,” said Marcus. “But if you shouldn’t, it wont make much difference. We all have to do some jobs that are not so pleasant as others.”
“I like to milk—only it tires my wrists,” said Ronald. “I can milk one cow, all alone, but Marcus wont let me, very often.”
“Next week,” continued Marcus, “we must gather our apples, and you can help us about that. Then there will be the carrots, beets, turnips and cabbages to get in, the seed-corn to harvest, corn to husk, snow to shovel, wood to haul, and various other jobs to do, through the winter. Do you think you can do your share of all this?”
“I’ll try to,” replied Oscar.
“Then there are your studies to be attended to,” resumed Marcus. “I shall make out a list of them, for each day in the week, while you study at home. And you must have some time for play, in addition to all the rest, for ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ The first thing, every day, will be to attend to your regular morning’s work. Then, if there are any errands or extra jobs to be done, they will come next in order. After that, you will get your lessons, and then will come the play-time.”
“How much time will he have for play?” inquired Otis.
“That will depend very much upon his diligence in doing his work and getting his lessons,” replied Marcus.
“I shan’t want much play-time,” said Oscar, with a significant glance towards the couple of twelve-year-old urchins, who were evidently counting upon his companionship in their sports.
“So much the better,” replied Marcus with perfect indifference, although, in his mind, he had some doubts about the last assertion.
Marcus had previously examined Oscar in his studies, and, in the course of the afternoon, he gave him lessons for the coming Monday, and also handed him a written list of studies for each day in the week. The list is as follows:—