Such carelessness I never did see, and them plants was going on beautifully." "Confound the young rascal!" the squire said wrathfully, for he was fond of cucumbers.

"I will speak to him myself.

This sort of thing will never do." And accordingly, the squire spoke somewhat sharply to Reuben, who was really sorry for the damage his carelessness had caused; and he not only promised the squire that it should not occur again, but mentally resolved very firmly that it should not.

He felt very shamefaced when Kate passed him in the garden, with a serious shake of her head, signifying that she was shocked that he had thus early got into a scrape, and discredited her recommendation.
The lesson was a useful one.

Henceforth Reuben paid closer attention to his work, and even the gardener, who regarded boys as his great trial in life, expressed himself satisfied with him.
"Since that affair of the cucumbers I must own, squire," he said a month later, "that he is the best boy I have come across.