BEECHNU'T’S RETURN. 71

 

 

The boy refuses to go on. Beechnut in difficulty.

though the roads were very wet, being everywhere filled
with pools and streams of water ; for it had rained incess-
antly all the day, and it seemed to rain faster and faster
as the night came on.

At last, just as it began to grow pretty dark, they came
in the wagon to a long low place, near a pond, where the
road was overflowed with water for a great distance be-
fore them. The boy stopped, and said that he should not
dare to go through that water. Beechnut examined the
place as well as he could, and thought there was no
serious danger; but all his efforts to inspire the boy with
courage sufficient to undertake the passage, were vain.
The truth was, the boy was beginning to be tired of the
dismal expedition that he had been sent upon, and was
very glad to have anything occur to release him from the
necessity of going on three hours longer in the darkness
and rain. He therefore positively refused to go any
farther.

“Well,” said Beechnut, “I will pay you for what you
have done, and you may go back.”

So Beechnut paid him the proper proportion of the sum
which had been agreed upon for the whole journey, and
then got out of the wagon.

“ Now,” said he, “ give me my valise.”’

“ But what are you going to do? ” said the boy.

“E don’t know,” said Beechnut. “I am going to do
something. [ will consider and decide after you have
gone.”

So the boy turned his wayon round, and bidding Beech-
nut good-night, he drove away.

Beechnut had his umbrella over his head, and his
valise in his hand. He went out to the side of the road,