Once Timothy Robinson , perhaps moved by pity for Sam 's wife and baby , had hired him for a year at better wages than most hired men received in Dalrymple . Sam idled through a month of it , then got offended and left in the middle of haying . Timothy Robinson washed his hands of him after that . When Ellis was fourteen Sam Duncan died , after a lingering illness of a year . During this time the family were kept by the charity of pitying neighbours , for Ellis could not be spared from attendance on his father to make any attempt at earning money . Mrs. Duncan was a fragile little woman , worn out with her hard life , and not strong enough to wait on her husband alone . When Sam Duncan was dead and buried , Ellis straightened his shoulders and took counsel with himself . He must earn a livelihood for his mother and himself , and he must begin at once . He was tall and strong for his age , and had a fairly good education , his mother having determinedly kept him at school when he had pleaded to be allowed to go to work . He had always been a quiet fellow , and nobody in Dalrymple knew much about him . But they knew all about his father , and nobody would hire Ellis unless he were willing to work for a pittance that would barely clothe him . Ellis had not gone to his Uncle Timothy until he had lost all hope of getting a place elsewhere . Now this hope too had gone . It was nearly the end of June and everybody who wanted help had secured it . Look where he would , Ellis could see no prospect of employment . `` If I could only get a chance ! '' he thought miserably . `` I know I am not idle or lazy -- I know I can work -- if I could get a chance to prove it . '' He was sitting on the fence of the Fillmore elderberry pasture as he said it , having taken a short cut across the fields . This pasture was rather noted in Dalrymple .
Originally a mellow and fertile field , it had been almost ruined by a persistent , luxuriant growth XXXXX elderberry bushes .
During If about across as at by of unless with