The elderberries tried to hold out too , but they were no match for the lad 's perseverance . It was a hard piece of work , however , and Ellis never forgot it . Week after week he toiled in the hot summer sun , digging , cutting , and dragging out roots . The job seemed endless , and his progress each day was discouragingly slow . He had expected to get through in a month , but he soon found it would take two . Frequently Timothy Robinson wandered by and looked at the increasing pile of roots and the slowly extending stretch of cleared land . But he never spoke to Ellis and made no comment on the matter to anybody . One evening , when the field was about half done , Ellis went home more than usually tired . It had been a very hot day . Every bone and muscle in him ached . He wondered dismally if he would ever get to the end of that wretched elderberry field . When he reached home Jacob Green from Westdale was there . Jacob lost no time in announcing his errand . `` My hired boy 's broke his leg , and I must fill his place right off . Somebody referred me to you . Guess I 'll try you . Twelve dollars a month , board , and lodging . What say ? '' For a moment Ellis 's face flushed with delight . Twelve dollars a month and permanent employment !
Then he remembered his promise XXXXX Mr. Fillmore .
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