“I don’t think, my lord, that Billy is of the slightest use at Ferry Farm unless I am there. My mother, who believes in everybody’s being industrious, has done her best to make him work. So have his father and mother, Uncle Jasper and Aunt Sukey. But except for waiting on me, and taking care of my horse, Billy will absolutely do nothing. He is not surly about it--he is always grinning and laughing and singing--but--I can’t explain it exactly--he will work his fingers to the bone for me, but he won’t work for anybody else.”