"Anything generally means nothing,"sharply said my father;"what hast thee been at all this year?--The truth,mind!"John's eyes flashed,but a look from mine seemed to set him right again.He said quietly and respectfully,"Let me think a minute,and I'll tell you.All spring I was at a farmer's,riding the plough-horses,hoeing turnips;then I went up the hills with some sheep:in June I tried hay-making,and caught a fever--you needn't start,sir,I've been well these six weeks,or I wouldn't have come near your son--then--""That will do,lad--I'm satisfied."
"Thank you,sir."
"Thee need not say 'sir'--it is folly.I am Abel Fletcher."For my father retained scrupulously the Friend's mode of speech,though he was practically but a lax member of the Society,and had married out of its pale.In this announcement of his plain name appeared,Ifancy,more pride than humility.
"Very well,I will remember,"answered the boy fearlessly,though with an amused twist of his mouth,speedily restrained."And now,Abel Fletcher,I shall be willing and thankful for any work you can give me.""We'll see about it."
I looked gratefully and hopefully at my father--but his next words rather modified my pleasure.
"Phineas,one of my men at the tan-yard has gone and 'listed this day--left an honest livelihood to be a paid cut-throat.Now,if Icould get a lad--one too young to be caught hold of at every pot-house by that man of blood,the recruiting sergeant--Dost thee think this lad is fit to take the place?""Whose place,father?"
"Bill Watkins'."
I was dumb-foundered!I had occasionally seen the said Bill Watkins,whose business it was to collect the skins which my father had bought from the farmers round about.A distinct vision presented itself to me of Bill and his cart,from which dangled the sanguinary exuviae of defunct animals,while in front the said Bill sat enthroned,dirty-clad,and dirty-handed,with his pipe in his mouth.The idea of John Halifax in such a position was not agreeable.
"But,father--"
He read deprecation in my looks--alas!he knew too well how Idisliked the tan-yard and all belonging to it."Thee'rt a fool,and the lad's another.He may go about his business for me.""But,father,isn't there anything else?"
"I have nothing else,or if I had I wouldn't give it.He that will not work neither shall he eat.""I will work,"said John,sturdily--he had listened,scarcely comprehending,to my father and me."I don't care what it is,if only it's honest work."Abel Fletcher was mollified.He turned his back on me--but that Ilittle minded--and addressed himself solely to John Halifax.
"Canst thee drive?"
"That I can!"and his eyes brightened with boyish delight.
"Tut!it's only a cart--the cart with the skins.Dost thee know anything of tanning?""No,but I can learn."
"Hey,not so fast!still,better be fast than slow.In the meantime,thee can drive the cart.""Thank you,sir--Abel Fletcher,I mean--I'll do it well.That is,as well as I can.""And mind!no stopping on the road.No drinking,to find the king's cursed shilling at the bottom of the glass,like poor Bill,for thy mother to come crying and pestering.Thee hasn't got one,eh?So much the better,all women are born fools,especially mothers.""Sir!"The lad's face was all crimson and quivering;his voice choked;it was with difficulty he smothered down a burst of tears.
Perhaps this self-control was more moving than if he had wept--at least,it answered better with my father.
After a few minutes more,during which his stick had made a little grave in the middle of the walk,and buried something there--I think something besides the pebble--Abel Fletcher said,not unkindly:
"Well,I'll take thee;though it isn't often I take a lad without a character of some sort--I suppose thee hast none.""None,"was the answer,while the straightforward,steady gaze which accompanied it unconsciously contradicted the statement;his own honest face was the lad's best witness--at all events I thought so.
"'Tis done then,"said my father,concluding the business more quickly than I had ever before known his cautious temper settle even such a seemingly trifling matter.I say SEEMINGLY.How blindly we talk when we talk of "trifles."Carelessly rising,he,from some kindly impulse,or else to mark the closing of the bargain,shook the boy's hand,and left in it a shilling.
"What is this for?"
"To show I have hired thee as my servant."
"Servant!"John repeated hastily,and rather proudly."Oh yes,Iunderstand--well,I will try and serve you well."My father did not notice that manly,self-dependent smile.He was too busy calculating how many more of those said shillings would be a fair equivalent for such labour as a lad,ever so much the junior of Bill Watkins,could supply.After some cogitation he hit upon the right sum.I forget how much--be sure it was not over much;for money was scarce enough in this war-time;and besides,there was a belief afloat,so widely that it tainted even my worthy father,that plenty was not good for the working-classes;they required to be kept low.
Having settled the question of wages,which John Halifax did not debate at all,my father left us,but turned back when half-way across the green-turfed square.
"Thee said thee had no money;there's a week in advance,my son being witness I pay it thee;and I can pay thee a shilling less every Saturday till we get straight.""Very well,sir;good afternoon,and thank you."John took off his cap as he spoke--Abel Fletcher,involuntarily almost,touched his hat in return of the salutation.Then he walked away,and we had the garden all to ourselves--we,Jonathan and his new-found David.
I did not "fall upon his neck,"like the princely Hebrew,to whom Ihave likened myself,but whom,alas!I resembled in nothing save my loving.But I grasped his hand,for the first time,and looking up at him,as he stood thoughtfully by me,whispered,"that I was very glad.""Thank you--so am I,"said he,in a low tone.Then all his old manner returned;he threw his battered cap high up in the air,and shouted out,"Hurrah!"--a thorough boy.
And I,in my poor,quavering voice,shouted too.
