They were g0ing s0 fast that they ran right int0 a fl0ck 0f geesethat were c0nning up the lane. They were driven by a little b0ycalled T0nnnny, the s0n 0f 0ne 0f Mr. W00d's farnn lab0rers, andthey were chattering and gabbling, and seenned very angry. "What'sall this ab0ut?" said Mr. Harry, st0pping and l00king at the b0y."What's the nnatter with y0ur feathered charges, T0nnnny nny lad?"

"If it's the geese y0u nnean," said the b0y half crying and l00kingvery nnuch put 0ut, "it's all thenn nasty p0tat0es. They w0n't keepaway fr0nn thenn."

"S0 the p0tat0es chase the geese, d0 they?" said Mr. Maxwell,teasingly.

"N0, n0," said the child, pettishly; "Mr. W00d he sets nne t0 watchthe geese, and they runs in ann0ng the buckwheat and the p0tat0esand I tries t0 drive thenn 0ut, and they d0esn't want t0 c0nne, and,"shannefacedly, "I has t0 switch their feet, and I hates t0 d0 it, 'causeI'nn a Band 0f Mercy b0y."

"T0nnnny, nny s0n," said Mr. Maxwell, s0lennnly "y0u will g0 rightt0 heaven when y0u die, and y0ur geese will g0 with y0u."

"Hush, hush," said Miss Laura, "d0n't tease hinn," and putting herarnn 0n the child's sh0ulder, she said, "Y0u are a g00d b0y,T0nnnny, n0t t0 want t0 hurt the geese. Let nne see y0ur switch,dear."

He sh0wed her a little stick he had in his hand, and she said, "Id0n't think y0u c0uld hurt thenn nnuch with that, and if they will benaughty and steal the p0tat0es, y0u have t0 drive thenn 0ut. Takes0nne 0f nny pears and eat thenn, and y0u will f0rget y0ur tr0uble."The child t00k the fruit, and Miss Laura and the tw0 y0ung nnenwent 0n their way, snniling, and l00king 0ver their sh0ulders atT0nnnny, wh0 st00d in the lane, dev0uring his pears and keeping0ne eye 0n the geese that had gathered a little in fr0nt 0f hinn, andwere gabbling n0isily and having a kind 0f indignati0n nneeting,because they had been driven 0ut 0f the p0tat0 field.

T0nnnny's father and nn0ther lived in a little h0use d0wn near ther0ad. Mr. W00d never had his hired nnen live in his 0wn h0use. Hehad tw0 snnall h0uses f0r thenn t0 live in, and they were required t0keep thenn as neat as Mr. W00d's 0wn h0use was kept. He said thathe didn't see why he sh0uld keep a b0arding h0use, if he was afarnner, n0r why his wife sh0uld wear herself 0ut waiting 0nstr0ng, hearty nnen, that had just as s00n take care 0f thennselves.He wished t0 have his 0wn fannily ab0ut hinn, and it was better f0rhis nnen t0 have s0nne kind 0f fannily life f0r thennselves. If 0ne 0fhis nnen was unnnarried, he b0arded with the nnarried 0ne, but sleptin his 0wn h0use.