When the meal was over Jedediah made what was, for him, an amazing
suggestion.
"Now," he said, "I cal'late I'd better be gettin' to work, hadn't I?
What'll I do first, Thankful?"
Mrs. Barnes stared at him. "Work?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I want to be doin' somethin'--somethin' to help, you know. I
don't cal'late to stay around here and loaf. No, SIR!"
Thankful drew a long breath. "All right, Jed," she said. "You can go
out in the barn and feed the horse if you want to. Kenelm--Mr.
Parker--generally does it, but he probably won't be here for quite a
spell yet. Go ahead. Imogene'll show you what to do. . . . But, say,
hold on," she added, with emphasis. "Don't you go off the premises, and
if you see anybody comin', keep out of sight. I don't want anybody to
see a brother of mine in THOSE clothes. Soon's ever I can I'll go up
to the village and buy you somethin' to wear, if it's only an 'ilskin
jacket and a pair of overalls. They'll cover up the rags, anyhow. As
you are now, you look like one of Georgie's picture-puzzles partly put
together."
When the eager applicant for employment had gone, under Imogene's
guidance, Emily spoke her mind.
"Auntie," she said, "are you going to make him work--now; after what
he's been through, and on Christmas day, too?"
Thankful was still staring after her brother.
"Sshh! sshh!" she commanded. "Don't speak to me for a minute; you may
wake me up. Jedediah Cahoon ASKIN' to go to work! All the miracles in
Scriptur' are nothin' to this.
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