Ralph Stock

“ Lamb owned ten acres of cleared land and a hundred and fifty of primeval bush, two pigs, five cows, three horses, sundry chickens, and now a choreboy. Strode was left in no doubt as to this last item. Lamb was quite nice about it, but he had views on choreboys—even unpaid ones. He was a worker himself, and expected others to fall into the same category. Life, as far as he was concerned, consisted of a pitched battle against time and circumstance. ”

“ And the one who's never done anything, and never will do anything if he can help it. Oh, I tell you, we get all sorts in here."
"I expect you do," said Strode, "but I don't seem to recognise myself yet."
"No," agreed the agent, "that's why I'm taking the trouble to talk to you."
Strode was encouraged into turning back from the door.
"Mind, I'm not raising any false hopes," warned the other, with a dolorous eye fastened on his victim like a poultice, "but if you're willing to do anything until you can do something, there's a mixed farmer out Lakeville, Ontario way, wanting a choreboy." ”

“ Middleton coughed faintly and settled back amongst the cushions. "But please go on. I love this school for candour of ours. It's a sort of yearly cure."
"I haven't noticed that," returned Joyce, "but then you're past praying for. I was thinking of this Strode boy. It seems more of a shame in his case, somehow."
"What?"
"To turn the makings of a man into a lap-dog. He's more sensitive about it than you were."
"I see." Middleton lit a cigarette and smiled at his adversary through the smoke. "You seem as partial to me as ever, my dear Joyce." ”

“ What else is Canada for, one may well ask, but to provide adventurous souls with the opportunity of landing penniless on her shores and ultimately becoming wheat, cattle or lumber kings, of taming wild horses on her illimitable plains, fighting and laying low camp bullies, or tracking evil-doers to the edge of beyond in the ranks of the North-West Mounted Police? ”

“ Purvis said and did while Strode was in her amazing employ. His duties appeared to consist of rising at any hour that seemed good to him, mealing with his employer and her daughter Joyce—a taciturn but otherwise attractive girl of about twenty-five—and occasionally rolling the drive, supervising the vegetable garden, or posting letters. Of an evening he was expected, and usually contrived, to make himself pleasant to the family and any chance visitors, and on the last day of each month Mrs. Purvis handed him, almost apologetically, a very clean envelope containing thirty dollars. ”

“ I happen to want a choreboy myself, that's all. The wages are thirty dollars a month, and the work no more thrilling than Mr. Lamb's, but if you think of making a change, you might bear in mind that Mrs. Purvis, of 'Homelands,' can do with a 'hand.'"
"I can't handle an axe, or milk," blurted Strode. ”

“ The question is unanswerable, and that Strode did none of these things must be admitted with regret, and excused, if excuse be possible, on the grounds that from the viewpoint of high romance the modern young man is a disappointing person, and present-day Canada a disappointing place. ”