"Isn't your father coming, Pen?"
"No, Susie, I guess he won't."
"Will he stay here and chop trees all alone?"
"He says he likes it, and he isn't a bit afraid of being alone. There's a man at the house to help Vosh when we get there. Now, Susie, we must climb."
There was fun in that, but Pen was up first.
"Is your dress caught, Susie?—Vosh, help Susie: she's caught on a splinter."
"I'll help her."
"No, you needn't. There, it isn't torn much.—Now, Pen, do you think the oxen can pull such a load as this?"
"Of course they can."
In a minute or so more, Susie began to have new ideas about the management of oxen, and how strong they were, and how wonderfully willing. They seemed to know exactly what to do, with a little help from Vosh and his long whip. When all was ready, and they bowed their horns, and strained against their yokes with their powerful necks, it seemed as if they could have moved any thing in the world.