three o'clock before
`` I declare ! '' exclaimed Mrs. Atterson , `` a hen 's always been just a hen to me -- one 's the same as another , exceptin ' the feathers on some is prettier . '' `` To-night I 'll show you some breeders ' catalogs and you can think the matter over as to what kind of a fowl you want , '' said the young farmer . He went back to his job after dinner and kept steadily at work until three o'clock before there came a break . Then he saw a carriage drive into the yard , and a few moments later a man In a long gray coat came striding across the lot toward him . Hiram knew the gentleman at once -- it was Mr. Bronson , the father of the girl he had saved from the runaway . To tell the truth , the boy had rather wondered about his non-appearance during the days that had elapsed .