Chester Rand | Page 4

a path?"
Chester hesitated.
"Fifteen cents," he answered, at last.
"I'll give you ten. Money's skerce."
Chester reflected that he could probably do the job in half an hour, and he accepted. It cheered him to think he was earning something, however small.
He worked with a will, and in twenty-five minutes the work was done.
"You're spry," said Jane Cleveland, when he brought the shovel to the door. "It took Hannah twice as long, and she didn't do it as well."
"It isn't the kind of work for ladies," replied Chester.
"Wait till I fetch the money."
Miss Cleveland went into the house, and returned with a nickel and four pennies.
"I'm reely ashamed," she said. "I'll have to owe you a cent. But here's a mince pie I've just baked. Take it home to your ma. Maybe it'll come handy. I'll try to think of the other cent next time you come along."
"Don't trouble yourself about it, Miss Cleveland. The pie is worth a good deal more than the cent. Mother'll be very much obliged to you."
"She's very welcome, I'm sure," said the kindly spinster. "I hope you'll get work soon, Chester."
"Thank you."
Chester made his way homeward, as he did not care to carry the pie about with him. His mother looked at him in surprise as he entered the house.
"What have you there, Chester?" she asked.
"A pie from Miss Cleveland."
"But how came she to give you a pie?"
"I shoveled a path for her, and she gave me a pie and ten cents--no, nine. So you see, mother, I've earned something this week."
"I take it as a good omen. A willing hand will generally find work to do."
"How are you off for wood, mother?"
"There is some left, Chester."
"I'll go out in the yard and work at the wood pile till dinner time. Then this afternoon I will go out again and see if I can find some more paths to shovel."
But Chester was not destined to earn any more money that day. As a general thing, the village people shoveled their own paths, and would regard hiring such work done as sinful extravagance. Chester did, however, find some work to do. About half-past three he met Abel Wood tugging a large basket, filled with groceries, to the minister's house. He had set it down, and was resting his tired arms when Chester came along.
"Give me a lift with this basket, Chester, that's a good fellow," said Abel.
Chester lifted it.
"Yes, it is heavy," he said.
"The minister's got some company," went on Abel, "and he's given an extra large order."
"How do you like working in the store, Abel?"
"It's hard work, harder than I thought."
"But remember what a magnificent salary you will get," said Chester, with a smile.
"It ain't half enough. Say, Chester, old Tripp is rich, ain't he?"
"I should call myself rich if I had his money."
"He's a miserly old hunks, then, to give me such small pay."
"Don't let him hear you say so."
"I'll take care of that. Come, you'll help me, won't you?"
"Yes," answered Chester, good-naturedly; "I might as well, as I have nothing else to do."
Between the two the basket was easily carried. In a short time they had reached the minister's house. They took the basket around to the side door, just as Mr. Morris, the minister, came out, accompanied by a young man, who was evidently a stranger in the village, as Chester did not remember having seen him before.
"Chester," said the minister, kindly, "how does it happen that you have an assistant to-day?"
"I am the assistant, Mr. Morris. Abel is Mr. Tripp's new boy."
"Indeed, I am surprised to hear that. When did you leave the store?"
"Last Saturday night."
"Have you another place?"
"Not yet."
"Are you at leisure this afternoon?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then perhaps you will walk around with my friend, Mr. Conrad, and show him the village. I was going with him, but I have some writing to do, and you will do just as well."
"I shall be very happy to go with Mr. Conrad," said Chester, politely.
"And I shall be very glad to have you," said the young man, with a pleasant smile.
"Come back to supper, Chester," said the minister; "that is, if your mother can spare you."
"Thank you, sir. I suppose you will be able to carry back the empty basket, Abel," added Chester, as his successor emerged from the side door, relieved of his burden.
"I guess so," answered Abel, with a grin.
"I was never in Wyncombe before," began Mr. Conrad, "though I am a second cousin of your minister, Mr. Morris. I have to go away to-morrow morning, and wish to see a little of the town while I am here."
"Where do you live, Mr. Conrad?"
"In the city of New York."
"Are you a minister, too?"
"Oh, no!" laughed the young man. "I am in a very different business. I am an artist--in a small way. I make