The Fairchilds by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

AT this moment the conversation was interrupted by Mr. Wilbur, who entered in a great flutter.

"I should like to know who's been a-meddling with that ere team of mine? " said he, in an aggrieved tone of voice. "There's my horse a-standing hitched by the mill door with the traces just hacked right off, and the wagon ain't nowhere to be seen. I'd like to know who's been a-meddling with my team, that's all."

"Here's the fellow," said Jeduthun, laying his hands on Eben. "If it hadn't been for him, your old horse would have been lying where your wagon is-in the mill pond."

And Jeduthun proceeded to tell the story, which lost nothing in the process. Mr. Wilbur did not seem inclined to be very grateful to Eben for his interference.

"Just like boys! Never have no sense," said he, angrily. "Why couldn't you hold on and holler?"

"I did make all the noise I could, but nobody heard me," said Eben. "I saw the old horse must go in a minute, and I did what seemed for the best."

"Next time, Eben, you can let the horse go along with the wagon," said Jeduthun. "You don't seem to get much thanks for saving him. I know I thought you'd be killed before I could get to you. I never saw anything better done in my life."

"Indeed, Mr. Wilbur, I don't see what better the boy could do," said Mr. Antis. "It was not a very good place to leave a horse."

"Of course it wasn't. Trust a boy for finding out the worst place to leave a horse or anything else. I told Tom to put him in the shade. Just like boys! I never saw one that wasn't a plague. Now, there's my wagon in the pond, and all my groceries in it."

"I think I will go and got the horse, and find out what Mrs. Antis wants," said Eben, addressing himself to the miller. "There is no time to lose."

"Do, my boy, and take Flora with you, as I said, and, Jeduthun, you find some of the men to help about getting up the wagon for Mr. Wilbur."

"I knew it," said Jeduthun as they walked over towards the house. "I would have taken my Bible oath that it was Tom Wilbur who tied that horse. If you do take this place, Eben, you will find Mrs. Antis a very pleasant lady to work for. She isn't any of your snappish kind of women, nor she ain't one of the slack kind, either. She calculates to do what's right herself, and she wants other people to do it by her. I'll just pull out the buggy for you while you go in and speak to her."

Mrs. Antis was pleased to find a chance to send to the Springs, and gave Eben a number of commissions.

"Please write them down, Mrs. Antis," said Eben.

"Why, can't you remember?"

"I dare say I could, but every one forgets sometimes, and when a thing is written, it is written, you know."

"Very true," said Mrs. Antis. "Is any one going with you?"

"Mr. Antis said I might take Flora for the ride," said Eben.

"So much the better," replied Mrs. Antis, good-naturedly giving up the thought she had just entertained of riding over herself. "She can do my errand at the milliner's, and save me the trouble. Just go over and get your sister and call here, and I will have the basket all ready."

"If one could find such a boy as that, there would be comfort in it," thought Mrs. Antis as Eben went out, "but I think every one we have tried has been a greater plague than the last."