cried and said that he could n't wash them when Dave, as soon as he had
washed his, had thrown the water out. Then Dad scowled at Dave, and Joe
passed his plate along for more pumpkin.

Dinner was almost over when Dan, still looking hungry, grinned and asked
Dave if he was n't going to have some BREAD? Whereupon Dad jumped up in a
tearing passion. "D--n your insolence!" he said to Dan, "make a jest of
it, would you?"

"Who's jestin'?" Dan answered and grinned again.

"Go!" said Dad, furiously, pointing to the door, "leave my roof, you
thankless dog!"

Dan went that night.

It was only upon Dad promising faithfully to reduce his account within two
months that the storekeeper let us have another bag of flour on credit.
And what a change that bag of flour wrought! How cheerful the place
became all at once! And how enthusiastically Dad spoke of the farm and the
prospects of the coming season!

Four months had gone by. The fence had been up some time and ten acres of
wheat put in; but there had been no rain, and not a grain had come up,
or was likely to.

Nothing had been heard of Dan since his departure. Dad spoke about him
to Mother. "The scamp!" he said, "to leave me just when I wanted
help--after all the years I've slaved to feed him and clothe him, see what
thanks I get! but, mark my word, he'll be glad to come back yet." But