A REQUEST. 
439 
others that I should like to learn. But 
when I asked the man about it he said 
they did not want to take an apprentice. 
Now, I know your grandfather has some 
interest in the works, and I thought perhaps 
he might get me a place there.” 
“ Would you rather do that than go to 
school and have an education ?” asked 
Sidney. 
“I think I should,” said Jack. “Of 
course I should like to learn all I could; 
but I have always wanted to be a machi¬ 
nist, more than any thing else in the 
world.” 
“Well,” said Richard, “we will talk to 
grandfather about it; and I dare say he can 
manage it. And now, do you know, Jack, 
that we are really going to school on Thurs¬ 
day and shall be away till Christmas ?” 
Jack looked very grave at this intel¬ 
ligence. “ I don’t see what you want to go 
away to school for,” said he. “I am sure 
you know enough.” 
Richard laughed at Jack’s idea of his 
acquirements, and began to tell what he 
was going to study in school. 
“I should think you mean to be some 
