'Here, Bill Andrews, since you have been so helpful to these folks, and helped them here, you may just come and help me; so take hold of them 'tarnal old bellows, and blow for your life.' 'That I will, Uncle Sam.' The old man, although reluctant to move about much, made expeditious work with his hammer; the pin was soon made and fitted to its place, and the carriage ready for another start. Before this, however, Mr. Rutherford had reached the shop, having left Mrs. Rutherford and the children to enjoy a fine shade at a little distance. As Mr. Cutter had been acquainted with his father, it afforded the former an opportunity of making many inquiries about events long transpired, some of which, being connected with Mr. Cutter's removal to his present house, occasioned, on his part, very long and heavy sighs, and serious shakes of the head. At length he could hold in no longer. 'Oh, dear, oh, dear! it makes me feel bad all over to hear you talk about them places and things;--to think what an old fool I've been to come to such a place as this.' 'It does not look like a very thriving place, Mr. Cutter.' 'Thriving! there's nothing thrives here but rum and deviltry. _Thriving!_--I tell you what, the _old 'un_ thrives here, no one else, and a great haul he'll have--he's fixing for it. No schools, no meetin'-houses, and no nothing that's good;--the men most all drunk and lazy, and the boys going to the d----l, if I must say so, asking your pardon, as fast as they can.' 'This is a poor account of your place, Mr. Cutter. What do you suppose has caused such a state of things?' 'It is beyond me to say, sir; there seems to be a kind of curse on the place; and it is my candid opinion, if something ain't done here soon--some preaching, or something else of that sort--we're a gone case;--even a dumb Quaker would be better than nothing. He might walk round in his square coat, and frighten the old 'un a little.' Mr. Rutherford could not restrain a smile at the earnestness of the old man, and the singularity of his idea. 'From your description, Mr. Cutter, you are not much better off here than our people in the barrens.' 'Not much to boast on, I tell you, sir. Only they can't raise nothing, and must depend upon old Cross for work to buy their bread with, and he charges them just what he pleases; and if they should grumble, or ask for their money to spend elsewhere, he would turn them off entirely, and then they might live on huckle berries and pine knots.' 'They are badly off, I believe, sir; but I hope to be able to make some change in things there. The people are, no doubt, imposed upon, and I shall not allow it to be so if I can help it.' 'Bless your young heart for saying so; but you must look out for Cross; he's a precious villain--I _tell_ you.' 'I believe he is no better than he should be; but I shall try to manage it, so as not to injure the poor folks, at any rate.'