The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker Read Online Free PDF Page A

way, he can’t talk back, you see.”
    Muffled protests came from under the cloth, and again Doc laughed heartily.
    Lucas felt shy about joining in the good-natured banter, but it was fun to listen and to laugh. He hadn’t heard much talk about happy things such as courting and marrying for a long time.
    Even Mrs. Bunce’s scowling face, appearing at the door to “find out what all the ruckus was about,” did nothing to dampen the lighthearted mood in the room.
    James told them his plans. He hoped to be married in April, so he and Martha could set up housekeeping and be ready for the spring planting season.
    When James Freeman left, his pink cheeks smooth and his hair glistening, Doc turned to Lucas and said approvingly, “That was a fine, sharp edge you had on the razor, lad.”
    Lucas, who was wiping the razor clean, ducked his head, pleased by Doc Beecher’s praise.
    Mrs. Bunce returned at that moment to ask, “Did you charge Mr. Freeman a fair wage for that shave and haircut, Uriah?”
    Doc Beecher looked uncomfortable. “The man’s mind was on wooing, not wages,” he said.
    â€œThat’s no excuse,” Mrs. Bunce replied. “Do you want everyone in town marching in here for their shaves and haircuts, free of charge?”
    â€œThat’s hardly likely,” Doc Beecher murmured.
    â€œUriah,” she said, a warning tone in her voice, “we can’t expect to keep this household going on the earnings from my spinning. My fingers are nearly worn out. I’ve told you—”
    â€œYou have indeed, Cora,” Doc said with a sigh. “I’ll take care of it.” To Lucas he said, “Lad, come here and I’ll show you a little about the business end of our work.”
    Mrs. Bunce retreated as Doc Beecher took a large ledger book from the shelf and opened it.
    â€œHave you a head for figures, Lucas?” he asked.
    â€œI don’t guess so,” Lucas answered. “We mostly bartered with folks.”
    â€œThat’s generally the way it works here, too,” said Doc. “Here are my accounts, such as they are. Now, take our young visitor, James, for example. Let me see…”
    Doc ran his finger down several pages until he came to the entry for the Freeman family. “Here it is.”
    Lucas looked where Doc was pointing. From the series of notations, he was able to see that over the past few years, in return for such services as setting a broken finger, sewing up a leg wound, providing tonics for relief of ague and catarrh and plasters for bee stings, measles, and snake bite, Doc had received a variety of products from the Freeman farm, including eggs, milk, pork, and potatoes.
    â€œAfter her husband died, Mrs. Bunce came here to Southwick from the city of Philadelphia. She’s always urging me to be more businesslike, to set fees to be paid in cash and so on, the way they did in the city. But you know, lad, there’s scarce little money to be found in a farming community such as this.”
    In Lucas’s mind arose a memory of the small cloth bag his mother had kept under the straw mattress of her bed. Inside were four gold coins that Lucas had understood were to be spent only in the direst need. He’d left them behind, too, in his hurry to escape.
    â€œYou mark my words,” Doc continued. “As soon as he can, young James will be back with fair payment for our work today. Along with some tidings of a wedding, I’ll wager.”
    â€œYes, Doc,” Lucas agreed.
    â€œAll in all, I find this system quite satisfactory. Now, you see here—”
    Doc was about to point out a further aspect of his bookkeeping system when they were interrupted by another knock.
    This time it was a woman, holding the hand of a boy several years younger than Lucas. The boy had a cloth wrapped round his chin and tied at the top of his head. Tears slid down his cheeks.
    Lucas’s Uncle Asa had