The next day Mother and Grandma Horton went to call on Mrs. Parkney, and they carried some of Harriet’s famous chicken soup with them.

“Harriet always sends some to my friends when they are sick,” explained Mother Horton to Mrs. Parkney and, of course, when she said that, no one could feel they were being offered charity.

While Mother and Grandma Horton were visiting Mrs. Parkney, Sunny Boy and Grandpa Horton went downtown to buy the skates for Bob.  They spent a long time in the shop, looking at the skates and asking the clerk questions, and finally they bought a beautiful pair of skates “on shoes” of the best leather.  The clerk put them in a box and told Sunny Boy he was carrying home the best skates in the store.

“I hope Bob will like them,” said Sunny Boy, skipping along beside Grandpa Horton.  “Oh, look, here comes the other grandpa!”

The tall old gentleman coming toward them saw Sunny Boy, and smiled.  He stopped and held out his hand.

“Well, if it isn’t my little ice-pond friend!” he said cordially.  “Did you catch cold from those wet feet?”

He shook hands with Grandpa Horton, and Sunny Boy answered that he had not taken cold and asked if he had “found his little girl?”

“Oh, yes, thank you, Adele turned up safe and sound and smiling,” replied Adele’s grandfather.  “By the way, I think friends should at least know each other’s names.  I am Judge Layton.”

“I am Arthur B. Horton,” answered Sunny Boy’s grandpa.  “This is my grandson and namesake, called Sunny Boy for convenience.  I’m visiting my son, Harry Horton.”

“I’ve met him a number of times in court,” said Judge Layton.  “And I am more than glad to know his father and his son.  You live on a farm, I believe Mr. Horton?  I think I’ve heard your son mention ‘Brookside.’”

The two grandfathers talked about the country and about farms—­Judge Layton had been brought up on a farm and had never lost his interest in farming—­and Sunny Boy, waiting politely and patiently, was not exactly listening.  He was playing with a piece of snow and ice and wishing that Grandpa Horton would hurry so that he could, take the skates to Bob Parkney.  Then, suddenly, he heard the Judge say something that sounded very interesting.

“I need an honest man, for while the work is light the place must be well looked after,” he said.  “I can’t get any one I’ll trust.  Few men with families are willing to go outside the city limits, and there is no one to board a single man.  I’d give a good deal to get hold of the right kind of man.”

“Grandpa,” whispered Sunny Boy, pulling Grandpa Horton’s coat sleeve.  “Grandpa, Daddy says Mr. Parkney should do light work.”

Truth to tell, Sunny Boy had a hazy idea that “light work” meant something to do with electric lights or gas; but though it turned out that Judge Layton wanted a man to take care of a small country place he had bought that winter, Sunny Boy’s quick thought proved a happy one.