Are you willin' to hire out for a week ?" "What'll you pay me ?" asked Ben.
"I'll keep you, and give you a cord of wood.

Your mother'll find it handy.

I'm short of money, and calc'late wood'll be just as good pay." Ben thought over the proposal, and answered: "I'd rather take my meals at home, Mr.Greyson, and if you'll make it two cords with that understanding, I'll agree to hire out to you." "Ain't that rather high ?" asked the farmer, hesitating.
"I don't think so." Finally Silas Greyson agreed, and Ben promised to be on hand bright and early the next day.

It may be stated here that wood was very cheap at Pentonville, so that Ben would not be overpaid.
There were some few things about the house which Ben wished to do for his mother before he went to work anywhere, and he thought this a good opportunity to do them.

While in the store his time had been so taken up that he was unable to attend to them.