When Flora and Nellie arrived at the well, there was no water in the bucket. It was drawn with a long pole, called a “sweep,” supported on a crotched post. The bucket was attached to a small pole, fastened to the end of the long one, which went down into the well.
As the bucket went down, one end of the long pole came down with it, while the other end went up—just as the beam does in a pair of scales. It was hard work to draw water with a sweep, and the little girls found that the strength of both of them was not enough to move it.
While they were trying, they saw Uncle Ben leave his work, and walk over to the well. They wondered what he was coming for, as they could not believe that one so cross as people said he was would think of helping them.
“That is rather too hard work for such little girls,” said he, as he pulled down the sweep, and then drew up the bucket full of water.
“Thank you, sir,” said Flora. “You are so kind!”
“What is your name, my little girl?” asked Uncle Ben, pleasantly.
“Flora Lee, sir; and this is Nellie Green.”
“You have been in the pasture—haven’t you?”
“Yes, sir; we have been trying to find some strawberries, but they were so scarce we couldn’t get many,” replied Flora, when she had taken a good drink of the pure cold water.
“There were more of you, I thought.”