J. Cole | Page 2

out of those big, wide- open eyes,
that interested me in him, and made me want to know more of him.
"You are very small to go into service," I said, "and I am afraid you
could not do the work I should require; besides, you should have
waited to hear from me, and then have come to see me, if I wanted you
to do so."
"Yes, I know I'm not very big," said the boy, nervously fidgeting with
his bundle; "leastways not in hite; but my arms is that long, they'll
reach ever so 'igh above my 'ed, and as for bein' strong, you should jest
see me lift my father's big market basket when it's loaded with 'taters,
or wotever is for market, and I hope you'll not be angry because I come
to-day; but Dick--that's my brutther Dick--he says, 'You foller my
advice, Joe,' he says, 'and go arter this 'ere place, and don't let no grass
grow under your feet. I knows what it is goin' arter places; there's such
lots a fitin' after 'em, that if you lets so much as a hour go afore yer
looks 'em up, there's them as slips in fust gets it; and wen yer goes to
the door they opens it and sez, "It ain't no use, boy, we're sooted;" and
then where are yer, I'd like to know? So,' sez he, 'Joe, you look sharp
and go, and maybe you'll get it.' So I come, mum, and please, that's all."
"But about your character, my boy," I said. "You must have somebody
to speak for you, and say you are honest, and what you are able to do. I
always want a good character with my servants; the last page- boy I had
brought three years' good character from his former situation."

"Lor!" said Joe, with a serious look, "did he stay three years in a place
afore he came to you? Wotever did he leave them people for, where he
were so comfortable? If I stay with you three years, you won't catch me
a leavin' yer, and goin' somewheres else. Wot a muff that chap was!"
I explained that it did not always depend on whether a servant wanted
to stay or not, but whether it suited the employers to keep him.
"'Praps he did somethin', and they giv' 'im the sack," murmured Joe; "he
was a flat!"
"But about this character of yours," I said; "if I decide to give you a
trial, although I am almost sure you are too small, and won't do, where
am I to go for your character? Will the people where your brother lives
speak for you?"
"Oh, yes!" cried the little fellow, his cheeks flushing; "I know Dick'll
ask 'em to give me a caricter. Miss Edith, I often cleaned 'er boots.
Once she come 'ome in the mud, and was a-goin' out agin directly; and
they was lace-ups, and a orful bother to do up even; and she come into
the stable-yard with 'er dog, and sez: 'Dick, will you chain Tiger up,
and this little boy may clean my boots if he likes, on my feet?' So I
cleaned 'em, and she giv' me sixpence; and after that, when the boots
come down in the mornin', I got Dick always to let me clean them little
boots, and I kep 'em clean in the insides, like the lady's maid she told
me not to put my 'ands inside 'em if they was black. Miss Edith, she'll
giv me a caricter, if Dick asks 'er."
Just then the visitors' bell rang; and I sent my would-be page into the
kitchen to wait until I could speak to him again, and told him to ask the
cook to give him something to eat.
"Here are your flowers," I said; "take them with you."
He looked at me, and then, as if ashamed of having offered them,
gathered them up in his hands, and with the corner of the red
handkerchief wiped some few leaves and dust-marks off my table, then
saying in a low voice, "I didn't know you 'ad beauties of yer own, like

them in the glass pots, but I'll giv' 'em to the cook." So saying, he went
away into the kitchen, and my visitors came in, and by and by some
more friends arrived.
The weather was very warm, and we sat chattering and enjoying the
shade of the trees by the open French window. Presently, somebody
being thirsty, I suggested lemonade and ice, and I offered strawberries,
and (if possible) cream; though my mind misgave me as to the latter
delicacy, for we had several times been obliged to do without some of
our luxuries if they entailed "fetching," as we had no boy