`` I am , '' was Ellis 's laconic answer . `` Well , lem me see . '' Old Thomas calculated carefully . He never paid a cent more for anything than he could help , and was noted for hard bargaining . `` I 'll give ye sixteen dollars if you clean out the whole field , '' he said at length . Ellis looked at the pasture . He knew something about cleaning out elderberry brush , and he also knew that sixteen dollars would be very poor pay for it . Most of the elders were higher than a man 's head , with big roots , thicker than his wrist , running deep into the ground . `` It 's worth more , Mr. Fillmore , '' he said . `` Not to me , '' responded Old Thomas drily . `` I 've plenty more land and I 'm an old fellow without any sons . I ai n't going to pay out money for the benefit of some stranger who 'll come after me . You can take it or leave it at sixteen dollars . '' Ellis shrugged his shoulders . He had no prospect of anything else , and sixteen dollars were better than nothing . `` Very well , I 'll take it , '' he said . `` Well , now , look here , '' said Old Thomas shrewdly , `` I 'll expect you to do the work thoroughly , young man . Them roots ai n't to be cut off , remember ; they 'll have to be dug out . And I 'll expect you to finish the job if you undertake it too , and not drop it halfway through if you get a chance for a better one . '' `` I 'll finish with your elderberries before I leave them , '' promised Ellis .
* * * * * Ellis went XXXXX work the next day .
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