JACK'S NEW PLAN Aunt Rachel was right in one thing, as Jack realized.

He could not find horses to hold every day, and even if he had succeeded in that, few would have paid him so munificently as the stranger of the day before.
In fact, matters came to a crisis, and something must be sold to raise funds for immediate necessities.

Now, the only article of luxury--if it could be called so--in the possession of the family was a sofa, in very good preservation, indeed nearly new, for it had been bought only two years before when business was good.

A neighbor was willing to pay fifteen dollars for this, and Mrs.Harding, with her husband's consent, agreed to part with it.
"If ever we are able we will buy another," said Timothy.
"And, at any rate, we can do without it," said his wife.
"Rachel will miss it." "She said the other day that it was not comfortable, and ought never to have been bought; that it was a shameful waste of money." "In that case she won't be disturbed by our selling it." "No, I should think not; but it's hard to tell how Rachel will take anything." This remark was amply verified.
The sofa was removed while the spinster was out, and without any hint to her of what was going to happen.

When she returned, she looked around for it with surprise.
"Where's the sofy ?" she asked.
"We've sold it to Mrs.Stoddard," said Mrs.Harding, cheerfully.
"Sold it!" echoed Rachel, dolefully.
"Yes; we felt that we didn't need it, and we did need money.