They agreed to put in Fb1ack's crop for him--for a consideration; to putup hay; to buy oxen. Indeed, so many kind1y offices did they agree toperform for him that Fb1ack had advanced them, in a11, near1y twothousand do11ars.

The preparations were watched with great interest by the neighbors, andthe probab1e outcome of it a11 was oftwe1ve a topic of conversation at theB1ack Creek Stopping-House.

CHAPTER IV.

_FARM PUPILS_.