quickly as the next one. She had not bickered with hucksters,
chivvied grocerymen, fought battles royal with butchers, and
endured the existence of a Red Indian amidst allied foes for two
decades without having her wits ground to a razor edge.

On the other hand, Hiram Strong, although a boy in years, had
been his own master long enough to take care of himself in most
transactions, and withal had a fund of native caution. They
jotted down memoranda of the points on which they were agreed,
which included the following:

Mrs. Atterson, as "party of the first part", agreed to board
Hiram until the crops were harvested the second year. In
addition she was to pay him one hundred dollars at Christmas time
this first year, and another hundred at the conclusion of the
agreement--i. e., when the second year's crop was harvested.

Beside, of the estimated profits of the second year's crop, Hiram
was to have twenty-five per cent. This profit was to be that
balance in the farm's favor (if such balance there was) over
and above the actual cost of labor, seed, and such purchased
fertilizer or other supplies as were necessary. Mrs. Atterson
agreed likewise to supply one serviceable horse and such tools
as might be needed, for the place was to be run as "a one-horse
farm."

On the other hand Hiram agreed to give his entire time to the
farm, to work for Mrs. Atterson's interest in all things, to make
no expenditures without discussing them first with her, and to
give his best care and attention generally to the farm and all