When Harry remonstrated with him on his quitting work so early, he said: "Why, you see, Mah'sr Harry, it's a long way from dem woods here, and I got to go all de way back home agin; and it gits dark mighty early dese short days." In about a week the old man came to Hurry and declared that he must throw up his engagement.
"What's the matter ?" asked Harry.
"I'm gwine to gib up dat job, Mah'sr Harry." "But why?
You wanted it bad enough," said Harry.
"But I'm gwine to gib it up now," said the old man.
"Well, I want you to tell me your reasons for giving it up," persisted Harry.
Uncle Braddock stood silent for a few minutes, and then he said: "Well, Mah'sr Harry, dis is jist de truf; dem ar boys, dey ses to me dat ef I come foolin' around dere any more, dey'd jist chop me up, ole wrapper an' all, and haul me off fur kindlin' wood.

Dey say I was dry enough.

An' dey needn't a made sich a fuss about it, fur I didn't trouble 'em much; hardly eber went nigh 'em.

Ten cents' worf o' oberseein' aint a-gwine to hurt nobody." "Well, Uncle Braddock," said Harry, laughing, "I think you're wise to give it up." "Dat's so," said the old negro, and away he trudged to Aunt Matilda's cabin, where, no doubt, he ate a very good ten cents' worth of corn-meal and bacon.
This wood enterprise of Harry's worked pretty well on the whole.
Sometimes the men cut and hauled quite steadily, and sometimes they did not.

Once every two weeks Harry rode over to the station, and collected what was due him; and his share of the profits kept Aunt Matilda quite comfortably.
But, although Kate was debarred from any share in this business, she worked every day at her tidies for the store, and knit stockings, besides, for some of the neighbors, who furnished the yarn and paid her a fair price.