but in the summer he only attended irregularly, being needed to
work at home. His father could not afford to hire help, and there
were many ways in which Harry, though young, could help him. So it
happened that Harry, though a tolerably good scholar, was deficient
in many respects, on account of the limited nature of his opportunities.

He set to work at once at the chores. First he went to the woodpile
and sawed and split a quantity of wood, enough to keep the kitchen
stove supplied till he came home again from school in the afternoon.
This duty was regularly required of him. His father never touched
the saw or the ax, but placed upon Harry the general charge of the
fuel department.

After sawing and splitting what he thought to be sufficient,
he carried it into the house by armfuls, and piled it up near the
kitchen stove. He next drew several buckets of water from the well,
for it was washing day, brought up some vegetables from the cellar
to boil for dinner, and then got ready for school.





CHAPTER II

A CALAMITY