Sturdy and Strong

or a suit of working clothes in fair condition, and then returning hid his bundle in the hay and rejoined Bill, who had from early morning been at work shelling walnuts. Although Bill

he market, Bill," George said as t

way. I have been a-thinking over this 'ere go, and I don't think as it will act nohow. In

oughish sort of boys in works of that sort,

they will like enough turn you out as well as me. That's what I am a-thinking most on, George. If they chucks me the chances are as they chucks you too

. Of course at first we must both expect to be blown up sometimes, but if we

it don't pay to cheek back, not unless you have got a market-cart between you and a clear road for a bolt. I wasn't born yesterday. Yer've

u are coming to work with me to start with, and I know you will do your best to keep your place. If you fail, well, so much the worse, it can't be

r thi

indeed,

r take y

will take my davey that I do not think that the

nts me to go with

and trul

I goes; but mind yer, i

e hay, and George soon heard by his reg

had at first protested against the fashion, saying as he did very well and did not see no use in it; but seeing that George really enjoyed it he followed his example. After a morning or two, indeed, and with t

after Bill had run down, attired only in his trousers. When Bill wen

you up t

o of yourn knocking about, but I can't s

n't find them, and even if you found them y

aimed in consternation. "What

could not go as you were; so you put on that shirt and those thi

ed in ast

ad four bob with what we got yesterday. Yer didn't find

thes for them yesterday. I can do without them very well till we earn enough to get

r a minute, and then threw himself d

!" George exclaimed. "Wha

for him like that? I wish I may die if I don't feel as if I should bust. It's

put on your clothes. We will have a cup of coffee each and a loaf between us for breakfast, and

works at Limehouse before the doors were opened. Presently some men and bo

you?" the man at

mes, and the man loo

u are to go into that planing-shop," and he po

er one of the planing-machines. George was told to take them away as fast as they were finished and pile them against a wall. When the machines s

on the floor, by the storm of shavings which flew from the cutters, and the unceasing activity which prevailed around them. Beyond receiving an occasional order, shouted in a loud tone-for conversation in a

ge asked the man from whose benc

the man said as

f it, Bill?" George asked

ied. "Why, talk about the Garden! Lor', why it aint no

I know when I was at Croydon there was a man killed in a sawmill there by being caught in the strap; th

aint a coffee-sta

one. There's a pump in the yard, so we can have a drink of water as we come back.

heels. But I expect it aint going to be like that regular. They've just g

think we shall find the work any harder. They don't put boys a

e do about ni

man we work for. He looks a good-natured sort of ch

; then as they came out George said t

and don't know anyone down here. I thought perhaps you could te

rge more closely than

young chap and different to most of 'em. Do you think you could keep regular hours, and not com

lesome," George said; "and I am q

to be cooked f

in the evening, we should not want much cooking done, especially if th

got any traps

looked

and chairs

shook h

afterwards, but w

rked with me has just got a job as foreman down in the country. At any rate I will try you for a week, and if at the end

y well, and expressed his thank

r of a house in a row. It was just like its neighbor, except that George noticed that the blinds

the room. Missis!" he shouted, and a woman appeared from the backroom. "

hould have thought you had better sense. Why, they will be trampling up and down the stairs like yo

you don't get on with them at the end of that time, of course they must go. They have only come to work at the shop to-day

fortable little room, not large, but sufficiently so for two boys. There was a bed, a chest of drawers, two chair

o for you?"

nicer;" while Bill was so taken aback by it

n said. "If you have got any things

nths ago to look for work, and beyond odd jobs I have had nothing to do since, so that everything I had

you work in the shop it's safe enough. Now I mu

think of that?" George as

not furnished, anywhere near the market, not at four bob a week. Aint it clean just; so help me if t

t well, Bill, and make as little m

ve such a room as that to ourselves, and to walk into a house bold without being afraid as

must be very saving at first. There will be several things to get; a kettle and a teapot, and a co

it be prime!"

towels," George went o

ted Bill. "What

ping your hands and fac

et 'em; but I've always found my hands dried quick enough by

to save every penny we can, so as to get some things

hey were not to be always alone together. "Well, yer know, George, I am game for anythink. I can hold on with

ill stick to bread for breakfast, and bread and cheese for dinner, and bread for supper, with

y; "and then two shillings for rent, and that w

, so if she comes out the first of April, that's five months, say twenty-two weeks. Twenty-two weeks at eight shillings, let me s

sixteen was an almost unheard-of sum, and the fact that his companion h

days to reconcile Mrs. Gr

ter work as regular as the master. They rubs their feet on the mat, and you can scarce hear 'em go upstairs, and I don't hear no mor

th themselves all the e

. I think I can hear a voice g

w's the

in yesterday, expecting to find it like a pigsty; but they had made the bed afore starting

at first protested. "He had done very well without reading, and didn't see much good in it." However, as George insisted he gave way, as he would have done to any proposition whatever upon wh

r, Bill," he said; "because when the summer ev

ere generally able to afford a bloater between them, or a very thin rasher of bacon. Their enjoyment of their meals was immense. Bill indeed frequently protested that they were spending too much money;

e to work in comfort. Mr. Penrose had several times come through the room, and

se boys do

it a minute for a plank. They generally comes in a few minutes before time and gets the bench cleared up. They

aid. "I am interested in them, and am

when they went to get their money

much," George said as th

man said. "The governor orde

f that, George? Four bob a week more to put by regularly.

t aside at present for clothes. We want two more shirts apiece, and some more stockings, and we shall

hey also went to an evening service once a week. Their talk, too, at home was often on religion, for Bill was extremely anxious to l

mehouse, expressing her great pleasure at hearing that George was so well and comfortable. At Christmas, the works being closed for four days, George had gone down to see her, and they had a delightful talk together. Christmas had indeed been a memorable occasion to the boys, for on Christmas Eve the carrier had left a basket at Grimstone's directed "George Andrews." The boys ha

hamper for

hment, opening the door. "Why, whoever could h

he direction, anyhows,

rge agreed, and at once began to unknot

top!" he shouted. He turned it

od wishes, H

voice; and indeed it was the kindness that prompted

strated; "never mind that there

dding, and some oranges and apples. These were all placed on the table, and wh

ut or whatever yer asked for. Of course that wasn't true; yer told me it wasn't, and I shouldn't have believed it if yer hadn't, but this 'ere is true. Now I sees, George, as what yer said was right and what I said was wrong. I thought yer were a flat 'cau

airs, Bob Grimstone, his wife, and the three young uns, to supper, not to-morrow night nor

em all," Bill said, l

d in their parlor. There will be nothing to get, you know, but some bread and butter,

o, just for once, George, w

agreed to. We see plenty of the misery which drink causes all round and the way in which money is wasted over it. I like a glass of beer as well as you do, and when I get to be

and the supper two nights afterwards came off

had finally bought a pretty New Year's card and had written on the back, "with the

ulted Grimstone and his wife as to the qu

had asked; "one a good-sized one a

our and sixpence," M

had a parlor and t

shillings, I should say,

ch for a wh

s a week, but you might get one without the kitc

," George said, "only it would

en and two bedrooms for a start, and you can put things into the parlor afterward

t cost for the kitch

, I should say I could pick up the things for you, so that you co

for by the end of this month Bill and I

laimed in astonishment. "Do you mean to sa

lot of things too

have been starv

aughed. "I am sure Bill is a ston

for the last five months to make a comfortable home for his mother, for I know lots of men who are earning their two quid a week and has their old

ed on one if you or Mrs. Grimstone will go about it for us I shall be much obli

here are things, when you are going to take a house, that you stand out for; su

following Sunday the two b

time. We can bring our grub in a basket and our tea in a bottle, as several of the hands do; but if it's ove

came upon what he wanted. It was just about a mile from the works and beyond the lines of regular streets. Here he found a turning off the main road with but eight houses in it, fou

those who lived in the rows, chiefly by city clerks, for the gardens were nicely kept, the blinds were clean and spotless, muslin curtains hun

u think of

ut how about the rent, George? I

Bill. They are very small, you see, and I don't suppose they wou

scrap of paper the name of the ag

. Laburnum Villas. No. 8 Laburnum Villas; that sounds first-rate, doe

d, "I will get the key from the agent's and will be there just after twelve to-morrow, so if y

Bob's dinner?

o-morrow, and I will set it

mstone, thank you very much.

on the following day the two boys arri

ed, "there is Mrs. Gri

opened and th

one said; "and it's in good order and w

-floor were two little rooms opening with folding doors, and a little kitchen bui

said, "a bedroom each for us; it coul

. Grimstone said, "where you could grow lots of veget

ch do they

nd it looks pretty and nice. The agent says it's been painted and papered from top to bottom since the last people left, but

already been thinking of the question in his mind; "and

stoutly, for he was as much pleas

ty-five wide. Half of it was covered with stumps of a plantation of cabbages, the oth

ble to grow all our own potatoes h

a country woman, an

and French beans, and lettuces and such like, but you will have to get some manure to put in. Things won't grow without manure even in the country, and I am sure they won't here; and then you know you can have flowers in the front

d into a run at the top of their speed when the first clock they saw pointed to seven minutes to one. The bell was ringing

e," the

"it's the first time we have ever been late,

. "Ah, well I will let you in this time, 'cause you are well-behaved young chaps;