A few miles from the village of Elmwood lived Mr. Judson, a rich farmer,
he might properly be termed rich in this world's goods, for, besides the
broad acres which comprised the two farms in one where he resided, he
was the owner of several houses in the village, which brought him a
handsome annual income. The chief aim of his life appeared to be the
acquisition of money, and, when once it came into his possession, it was
guarded with miserly care. The very countenance and manner of the Farmer
bespoke his nature. Aided by memory, I see him now as I saw him years
ago:--he was of medium height, strong and muscular, but thin in flesh.
His hair had once been black, but was then sprinkled thickly with gray;
he had small piercing, restless black eyes that seemed to look several
ways at once. His nose was of the form which I have often heard styled a
hawk-bill; and, altogether, there was a sort of dry, hard look about the
man which rendered his personal appearance repulsive and disagreeable.
His constant care and anxiety was to get the largest possible amount of
labor out of those in his employ; consequently, he was always in a hurry
himself, and striving to hurry every one else. His farm-laborers used to
say that he kept his eyes in such unceasing motion, to see that every
thing went right on all sides, that a restless, roving expression of the
eyes had become natural to him. Though living only a few miles distant,
neither my mother nor myself knew any thing of the character of this
man; and when he came to engage me to do "chores and light work" as he
termed it, we gladly accepted his offer, as my mother had the idea that
residing for a time upon a farm (if not overworked) would have a
beneficial effect upon my health and constitution. Many wondered when
it became known that I had gone to live with Farmer Judson; but each one
kept their thoughts to themselves. When I took my place at the Farmer's
I soon found that, if my work was light, there was likely to be plenty