There were two men employed by Haley, one the son of a Scotch-Canadian
farmer, Webster by name, a stout young fellow, but slow in his
movements, both physical and mental, and with no further ambition than
to do a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. He was employed by the
month during the busier seasons of the year. The other, Perkins, was
Haley's "steady" man, which means that he was employed by the year and
was regarded almost as a member of the family. Perkins was an Englishman
with fair hair and blue eyes, of fresh complexion, burned to a clear
red, clean-cut features, and a well knit, athletic frame. He was, as
Tim declared, a terror to work; indeed, his fame as a worker was well
established throughout the country side. To these men Cameron was
introduced as being from Scotland and as being anxious to be initiated
into the mysteries of Canadian farm life.
"Glad to see you!" said Perkins, shaking him heartily by the hand.
"We'll make a farmer of you, won't we, Tim? From Scotland, eh? Pretty
fine country, I hear--to leave," he added, with a grin at his own
humour. Though his manner was pleasant enough, Cameron became conscious
of a feeling of aversion, which he recognised at once as being as
unreasonable as it was inexplicable. He set it down as a reflection
of Tim's mental attitude toward the hired man.
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