It was dusk when Aaron trudged up the icy slope to the farmhouse. The front porch of the house was dark but candlelight shone in the kitchen windows. Aaron imagined the sumptuous dinner his mother must be busy preparing, the delicious roast chicken, crunchy salad and his mother's famous pumpkin pie.
Although his stomach was growling, Aaron made a detour to the barns and checked the horses first. They stood in their dean stalls and munched hay contentedly. The playful colts, only a few years old, recognised Aaron. Their ears pricked up when he appeared and they thrust their heads out to nuzzle at him. Aaron patted them gently before grabbing a pitchfork and cleaned out the soiled hay. Then he spread fresh hay to make clean beds for the cows and the sheep.
Aaron took a carrot and snapped little pieces off it. Then he fed the pieces to the two young calves his father had entrusted to his care. He scratched them around the little horns as they pushed their noses between the bars. Armed with a pail and a stool, Aaron entered the cow's stall to milk her. His fingers worked expertly and gradually the pail was full of milk. He poured some milk in the pans for the cats. They were indispensable to Aaron as they kept the barns free of mice and rats.
Carrying the lantern, Aaron made his way to the house. He washed his hands thoroughly and sat down at the dining table. After a long day's work, he was ready to enjoy his dinner. His last chore before he slept would be to cut up carrots and potatoes to feed the cows the next day.
After the sumptuous meal, he sat beside the fireplace and mended his boots while his mother washed the dishes. He dried the dishes before reading a mystery novel which he had borrowed from the library.