Chester had never been kissed by anyone before , so far as he could remember . Something came up in his throat that felt about as big as a pumpkin . At the same moment he wished he could have told Miss Salome the whole truth about himself . I might tell her in the morning , he thought , as he watched her figure passing out of the little porch chamber . But on second thought he decided that this would never do . He felt sure she would disapprove of his running away , and would probably insist upon his going straight back to Upton or , at least , informing Aunt Harriet of his whereabouts . No , he could not tell her . Clemantiny was an early riser , but when she came into the kitchen the next morning the fire was already made and Chester was out in the yard with three of the five cows milked . `` Humph ! '' said Clemantiny amiably . `` New brooms sweep clean . '' But she gave him cream with his porridge that morning . Generally , all Miss Salome 's hired hands got from Clemantiny was skim milk . Miss Salome 's regular hired man lived in a little house down in the hollow . He soon turned up , and the other two men she had hired for harvest also arrived . Martin , the man , looked Chester over quizzically . `` What do you think you can do , sonny ? '' `` Anything , '' said Chester sturdily . `` I 'm used to work . '' `` He 's right , '' whispered Clemantiny aside .
`` He 's smart XXXXX a steel trap .
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