His father was for a time to assist Uncle Nathan upon the farm; and
under pretence of performing some of the lighter work Ephraim usually
came to the farm with him, but it was very little work which his father
or any one else got out of him; but it seemed an understood thing that
Cousin Silas and his family were to be borne with, and they endeavored
to bear the infliction with as good a grace as possible. My aunt was put
out of all patience, by finding one day, upon going to the clothes' yard
to hang out her weekly washing, the clothes-lines cut in pieces and
scattered about the yard. She knew at once that this was some of
Ephraim's handiwork, and when the men came home to dinner she taxed him
with the crime in no very gentle tones. As usual he declared himself
innocent, even saying that he did not know there was a line in the yard.
Then, as if a sudden thought had struck his mind, he said with the most
innocent manner imaginable, "I just now remember that when we went out
from breakfast this morning, I saw Tom Green coming out of the yard with
a jack-knife in his hand, and it must have been him who cut up the
lines.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183