Sunan Ibn Majah Book 16, Hadith 11
“The Prophet (ﷺ) was in need of food, and news of that reached 'Ali. He went out seeking work so that he could earn something to give to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He came to a garden belonging to a Jewish man, and he drew seventeen buckets of water for him, each bucket for a date. The Jew gave him the option to take seventeen of his 'Ajwah dates (a high quality of dates) and he brought them to the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ).”
I heard Abu Hurairah say: “I grew up an orphan, and I emigrated as a poor man, and I was hired by the daughter of Ghazwan in return for food and a turn riding the camel. I would gather firewood for them when they stopped to camp and urge their camels along for them by singing when they rode. Praise is to Allah (SWT) who has caused His religion to prevail and has made Abu Hurairah an Imam.”
“I used to draw water, one bucket for a date, and I stipulated that they should be good quality, dried dates.”