One evening, all the party walked to carry to Hannah Higgins's little
girl a pinafore that Annie had been making. She was a nice, tidy
woman, but there was little furniture in her house, and she looked
very poor. The garden was large, and in pretty good order; and there
was an empty pig-sty, into which Annie peeped significantly.
"No, Miss Annie, we haven't no pig," said Mrs. Higgins. "Ben says,
says he, 'Mother, when I'm taken on for carter boy, see if I don't
get you a nice little pig, as will eat the garden stuff, and pay the
rent.'
"Oh, but--" began Annie, and there she came to a sudden stop.
"Is he likely soon to be a carter boy?" asked Miss Fosbrook.
"No, Ma'am; he is but ten years old, and they don't often take them
on under twelve; but he is a good boy to his mother, and a terrible
one for leasing."
Miss Fosbrook was obliged to have it explained to her that "leasing"
meant gleaning; and she saw the grand pile of small neat bundles of
wheat put out to dry on the sunny side of the house.
"O Davie!" cried Annie, as soon as they were outside the gate,
"sha'n't we get the pig for Hannah?"
"It is my money, not yours; I shall do what I please with it," said
David, rather crossly.
Pages:
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287