Old Thomas Fillmore had at first tried to conquer them by mowing them down `` in the dark of the moon . '' But the elderberries did not seem to mind either moon or mowing , and flourished alike in all the quarters . For the past two years Old Thomas had given up the contest , and the elderberries had it all their own sweet way . Thomas Fillmore , a bent old man with a shrewd , nutcracker face , came through the bushes while Ellis was sitting on the fence . `` Howdy , Ellis . Seen anything of my spotted calves ? I 've been looking for 'em for over an hour . '' `` No , I have n't seen any calves -- but a good many might be in this pasture without being visible to the naked eye , '' said Ellis , with a smile . Old Thomas shook his head ruefully . `` Them elders have been too many for me , '' he said . `` Did you ever see a worse-looking place ? You 'd hardly believe that twenty years ago there was n't a better piece of land in Dalrymple than this lot , would ye ? Such grass as grew here ! '' `` The soil must be as good as ever if anything had a chance to grow on it , '' said Ellis . `` Could n't those elders be rooted out ? '' `` It 'd be a back-breaking job , but I reckon it could be done if anyone had the muscle and patience and time to tackle it . I have n't the first at my age , and my hired man has n't the last . And nobody would do it for what I could afford to pay . '' `` What will you give me if I undertake to clean the elders out of this field for you , Mr. Fillmore ? '' asked Ellis quietly .
Old Thomas looked at him with a surprised face , which gradually reverted XXXXX its original shrewdness when he saw that Ellis was in earnest .
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