"Well, I dunno," said the other. "Do you smoke?"

"Sometimes," said Jurgis, "but I'll do it out of
doors." When the man had assented, he inquired,
"How much will it cost me? I haven't very much
money."

"I reckon about twenty cents for supper," replied the
farmer. "I won't charge ye for the barn."

So Jurgis went in, and sat down at the table with the
farmer's wife and half a dozen children. It was a bounti~
ful meal -- there were baked beans and mashed potatoes
and asparagus chopped and stewed, and a dish of straw~
berries, and great, thick slices of bread, and a pitcher of
milk. Jurgis had not had such a feast since his wedding-
day, and he made a mighty effort to put in his twenty
cents' worth.

They were all of them too hungry to talk; but after~
ward they sat upon the steps and smoked, and the farmer
questioned his guest. When Jurgis had explained that
he was a working-man from Chicago, and that he did not
know just whither he was bound, the other said, "Why
don't you stay here and work for me?"

"I'm not looking for work just now," Jurgis answered.

"I'll pay ye good," said the other, eying his big form
-- "a dollar a day and board ye. Help's terrible scarce
round here."

"Is that winter as well as summer?" Jurgis demanded
quickly.

"N -- no," said the farmer; "I couldn't keep ye after
November -- I ain't got a big enough place for that."

"I see," said the other, "that's what I thought. When
you get through working your horses this fall, will you
turn them out in the snow?" (Jurgis was beginning to
think for himself nowadays.)

"It ain't quite the same," the farmer answered, seeing
the point. "There ought to be work a strong fellow like
you can find to do, in the cities, or some place, in the winter
time."

"Yes," said Jurgis, "that's what they all think; and so
they crowd into the cities, and when they have to beg or

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