I'LL make it all right about your running away; and if the Squire gives you a job, just thank him for it, and do your best to be steady and industrious; then you'll get on, I haven't a doubt," she whispered, ringing the Ben at a side-door, on which the word "Morris" shone in bright letters.
"Come in!" called a gruff voice; and, feeling very much as if he were going to have a tooth out, Ben meekly followed the good woman, who put on her pleasantest smile, anxious to make the best possible impression.
A white-headed old gentleman sat reading a paper, and peered over his glasses at the new-comers with a pair of sharp eyes, saying in a testy tone, which would have rather daunted any one who did not know what a kind heart he had under his capacious waistcoat,-- "Good-morning, ma'am.

What's the matter now?
Young tramp been stealing your chickens ?" "Oh, dear no, sir!" exclaimed Mrs.Moss, as if shocked at the idea.
Then, in a few words, she told Ben's story, unconsciously making his wrongs and destitution so pathetic by her looks and tones, that the Squire could not help being interested, and even Ben pitied himself as if he were somebody else.
"Now, then, boy, what can you do ?" asked the old gentleman, with an approving nod to Mrs.Moss as she finished, and such a keen glance from under his bushy brows that Ben felt as if he was perfectly transparent.
"'Most any thing, sir, to get my livin'." "Can you weed ?" "Never did, but I can learn, sir." "Pull up all the beets and leave the pigweed, hey?
Can you pick strawberries ?" "Never tried any thing but eatin' 'em, sir," "Not likely to forget that part of the job.

Can you ride a horse to plow ?" "Guess I could, sir!"-- and Ben's eyes began to sparkle, for he dearly loved the noble animals who had been his dearest friends lately.
"No antics allowed.

My horse is a fine fellow, and I'm very particular about him." The Squire spoke soberly, but there was a twinkle in his eye, and Mrs.Moss tried not to smile; for the Squire's horse was a joke all over the town, being about twenty years old, and having a peculiar gait of his own, lifting his fore-feet very high, with a great show of speed, though never going out of a jog-trot.

The boys used to say he galloped before and walked behind, and made all sorts of fun of the big, Roman-nosed beast, who allowed no liberties to be taken with him.
"I'm too fond of horses to hurt 'em, Sir.