He came down the stairs to Malleville, and as Beechnut returned in a few minutes with the whip, they all went out towards the barn together.
Beechnut had already put the bags of grain into the wagon behind, and now he assisted Phonny and Malleville to get in.

He gave them the whole of the seat, in order that they might have plenty of room, and also that they might be high up, where they could see.

He had a small bench which was made to fit in, in front, and which he was accustomed to use for himself, as a sort of driver's seat, whenever the wagon was full.

He placed this bench in its place in front, and taking his seat upon it, he drove away.
When the party had thus fairly set out, and Phonny and Malleville had in some measure finished uttering the multitude of exclamations of delight with which they usually commenced a ride, they began to wish that Beechnut would tell them a story.

Now Beechnut was a boy of boundless fertility of imagination, and he was almost always ready to tell a story.