Chapter 3

           So,onthefollowingevening,weagainassembled,todiscussandarrangeourplans. Harrissaid: 

           "Now,thefirstthingtosettleiswhattotakewithus. Now,yougetabitofpaperandwritedown,J.,andyougetthegrocerycatalogue,George,andsomebodygivemeabitofpencil,andthenI’llmakeoutalist." 

           That’sHarrisallover—soreadytotaketheburdenofeverythinghimself,andputitonthebacksofotherpeople. 

           HealwaysremindsmeofmypoorUnclePodger. Youneversawsuchacommotionupanddownahouse,inallyourlife,aswhenmyUnclePodgerundertooktodoajob. Apicturewouldhavecomehomefromtheframe-maker’s,andbestandinginthedining-room,waitingtobeputup;andAuntPodgerwouldaskwhatwastobedonewithit,andUnclePodgerwouldsay: 

           "Oh,youleavethattome. Don’tyou,anyofyou,worryyourselvesaboutthat. I’lldoallthat." 

           Andthenhewouldtakeoffhiscoat,andbegin. Hewouldsendthegirloutforsixpen’orthofnails,andthenoneoftheboysafterhertotellherwhatsizetoget; and,fromthat,hewouldgraduallyworkdown,andstartthewholehouse. 

           "Nowyougoandgetmemyhammer,Will,"hewouldshout; "andyoubringmetherule,Tom; andIshallwantthestep-ladder,andIhadbetterhaveakitchen-chair,too; and,Jim! yourunroundtoMr.Goggles,andtellhim,‘Pa’skindregards,andhopeshisleg’sbetter;andwillhelendhimhisspirit-level?’