1891 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



745 



I wanted to hire somebody a week ago. I've 

 changed my mind since, and am going to do 

 without. I might find an odd job for you now 

 and then, if you don't get steady work." she 

 added, noticing the siiadow that fell over his 

 bright face. ■" If you were only a girl now. yoti 

 would be just what I want. Haven't you got a 

 sister who wants work V 



"No. ma'am: Freda is sick," he said. "But 

 I know how to do girls* work, Mrs. Marten 1 I 

 really do. I have always helped my mother 

 about the house, and she says sometimes that I 

 am as good as a girl ! She would give me a rec- 

 ommendation for housework. I know. Do let 

 me try. I am sure I could do it." 



■• You lidiculous boy!" Mrs. Marten respond- 

 ed, laughing heartily. "A minute ago you 

 were sure you could do a man's work, and now 

 you think you can do a girl's. I should like to 

 .see you at iti" 



■■ I shall be very glad to let you see me. if you 

 will give me the chance," he said, joining in 

 her laugh. "I don't pretend that I can sew, 

 though 1 suppose I could leai'u to do that on a 

 pinch. It can't be any thing very hard. But 

 1 know that I can sweep, and help about the 

 washing, and cook some things: for I have oft- 

 en done it. I don't say that I like that kind of 

 work, but I can do it. when I can't get the kind 

 that I do like. Indeed. Mrs. Marten. I am in 

 earnest,'' he said, growing grave again. •" Since 

 we moved here I have tried everywhere to 

 get work, and I can't find any. This seems 

 to be my last chance, and I want very much to 

 get it. because my mother has no one but me to 

 help her, and instead of helping I am only a 

 burden. It seems a shame that a great strong 

 fellow like me should not be able to stipport 

 himself. So I will do any honest work. I don't 

 care what it is." 



'• I believe you, my boy," Mrs. Marten said, 

 with unwonted kindness. " But you don't real- 

 ize how unpleasant this would be. It is va- 

 cation now: but school begins next week, 

 and some of the Academy boys board with 

 me. You would not want to do such work 

 after they came. You don't know how they 

 would torment you.'' 



"But I should do it all the same, whether I 

 wanted to or not.'' he returned. •" I've learned 

 that lesson. If the boys want to amuse them- 

 selves. I suppose they can: but it will be an old 

 story before long, and I shan't let them keep me 

 from any work 1 can get. I will do any thing. 

 except to steal or to beg." 



Mrs. Marten wavered a little. Thrift hinted 

 that the combination of man-and-maid-servant, 

 though unusual, would be very convenient: 

 compassion whispered that he needed the place: 

 her womanly nature was attracted by his frank 

 speech and pleasant face, no less than by his 

 resolute spirit. He saw her hesitation, and 

 pressed his advantage. 



" Suppose you were to take me on trial for a 

 •day or two.'' he suggested. "Then you could 

 tell whether I was likely to be worth my salt." 



" Well.'" she said at last, " it's a queer thing to 

 do. but I may be sorry if I don't do it. " Some 

 refuse roast meat, and afterward long for the 

 smoke of it.' I beUeve I will try you as you 

 say. What wages do you want'?'' 



"Something to eat, and whatever you think I 

 earn." he answered. 



■• Well, that's fair,'' she said. " ' When two ride 

 the same horse one must ride behind:' but if I 

 am both buyer and seller. I'll see that you are 

 not cheated. When will you come?" 



" Ohl I have come," he said gayly. His spirits 

 had gone up with a bound. "1 can stay now if 

 you like. Mother will know that I have found 

 work." 



■'Very well. Then come upstairs," she said. 



pleased with his piomptness. " We are clean- 

 ing house, and I can't waste any more time, if I 

 am going to get tln(mgh before those boys come 

 back again." 



He followed her upstairs, and she presented 

 him to the much-astonished Sophy. 



"Here's Bridget's successor.'' she said. "I 

 hope he will be an improvement on her. There's 

 room enough for it. Oh, you have got all the 

 books and pictures out and cleared the room. 

 That's a good beginning. Where's the tack- 

 hammer ■? This carpet is to come up. Louis." 



He set to work at once, drew out the tacks, 

 folded the carpet, carried it into the yard, and 

 began cleaning it in a most satisfactory way. 

 Sophy seized the oi)portunity of his absence to 

 shower questions about him upon her mother, 

 who was quite unable to answer most of them. 



•• But I never heard of such a thingi" Sophy 

 said, when she had learned all she could. " He 

 only thinks of the work; and I dare say he can 

 do that, for if his face tells the truth, he has 

 ten times Bridget's sense; but I don't believe he 

 has counted on the rest of it. When Jim Bur- 

 ton finds out that he is doing girl's work, he 

 won't give him much peace. 1 can't say that I 

 should want to stand in his shoes I" 



"Well, 'a laugh breaks no bones,'" Mrs. 

 Marten said, with much composure. "I guess 

 we won't disturb ourselves about it. " Our 

 worst misfortunes are those that never happen.' 

 Louis looks wide awake, and I have an im- 

 pression that he can take care of himself. I 

 told him about the boys, but he did not seem 

 frightened about them. I shan't be surprised 

 if he gives Jim Burton as good as he sends. 

 I've taken a fancy to him." 



"But you know nothing about him."' Sophy 

 said. 



"Not a thing," her mother assented, "ex- 

 cept just what my own eyes and ears have told 

 me. I shall trust their testimony for the 

 present. The boy's face speaks for him. If 

 he doesn't suit us we shall be no worse off than 

 we were before, and he may be real good help. 

 ' The proof of the pudding is in the eating.' " 



" He has a pleasant face." wSophy admitted, 

 looking out of the window which gave a view 

 of the yard, and the new help at his work, " and 

 I believe he is smart. Do see how he goes at 

 that carpet! Doesn't he make the dust fly! If 

 he isn't ■ striking twelve" now, he'll be a trea- 

 sure.'' 



" Mustn't expect too much," Mrs. Marten said. 

 " He's nothing but a boy. and I don't suppose 

 he is perfect. ' He who wants a horse without 

 a fault may go afoot.' But I like the spirit he 

 showed: he was ready to take what he could 

 get. if he could not get what he liked. That's 

 the kind of boy that succeeds in the world. He 

 can try it a while, and I'll be on the lookout to 

 find a place with more suitable work for him. 

 But I wish those boys would just let him 

 alone." 



" They won't then." Sophy said, shaking her 

 head. "It will be nuts to them, you may de- 

 pend." 



" And it I try to caution them, it will only be 

 • showing the cat the way to the cream.' " Mrs. 

 Marten said. " We shall have to let him fight 

 his own battles for any thing I see. ' Every fox 

 has to take care of his own tail.' But boys are 

 unfeeling creatures sometimes, and I am afraid 

 he won't lie on a bed of roses." 



They worked silently considering this point, 

 until Louis appeared, with a flushed face, and 

 said: 



"I think tlie carpet is clean, Mrs. Marten. 

 What comes next ?" 



" Can you wash windows?" she asked, look- 

 ing round the room. 



" I should think so," he answered. " At least 



