CHAPTER VIII

HARRY'S DECISION




Squire Green rubbed his hands as if he had been proposing a plan
with special reference to the interest of the Waltons. Really he
conceived that it would save him a considerable sum of money. He
had in his employ a young man of eighteen, named Abner Kimball,
to whom he was compelled to pay ten dollars a month. Harry, he
reckoned, could be made to do about as much, though on account of
his youth he had offered him but two dollars, and that not to be
paid in cash.

Mr. Walton paused before replying to his proposal.

"You're a little too late," he said, at last, to Harry's great
relief.

"Too late!" repeated the squire, hastily. "Why, you hain't hired
out your boy to anybody else, have you?"

"No; but he has asked me to let him leave home, and I've agreed to
it."

"Leave home? Where's he goin'?"