English
Therestofourjourneywasveryeasy,andalittleaftersunsetwereachedthehouseofmymaster'sfriend.
Weweretakenintoaclean,snugstable;therewasakindcoachman,whomadeusverycomfortable,andwhoseemedtothinkagooddealofJameswhenheheardaboutthefire.
"Thereisonethingquiteclear,youngman,"hesaid,"yourhorsesknowwhotheycantrust;itisoneofthehardestthingsintheworldtogethorsesoutofastablewhenthereiseitherfireorflood.
Idon'tknowwhytheywon'tcomeout,buttheywon't—notoneintwenty."
Westoppedtwoorthreedaysatthisplaceandthenreturnedhome.Allwentwellonthejourney;weweregladtobeinourownstableagain,andJohnwasequallygladtoseeus.
BeforeheandJamesleftusforthenightJamessaid,"Iwonderwhoiscominginmyplace."
"LittleJoeGreenatthelodge,"saidJohn.
"LittleJoeGreen!why,he'sachild!"
"Heisfourteenandahalf,"saidJohn.
"Butheissuchalittlechap!"
"Yes,heissmall,butheisquickandwilling,andkind-hearted,too,andthenhewishesverymuchtocome,andhisfatherwouldlikeit;andIknowthemasterwouldliketogivehimthechance.
HesaidifIthoughthewouldnotdohewouldlookoutforabiggerboy;butIsaidIwasquiteagreeabletotryhimforsixweeks."
"Sixweeks!"saidJames;"why,itwillbesixmonthsbeforehecanbeofmuchuse!Itwillmakeyouadealofwork,John."
"Well,"saidJohnwithalaugh,"workandIareverygoodfriends;Ineverwasafraidofworkyet."
"Youareaverygoodman,"saidJames."IwishImayeverbelikeyou."
"Idon'toftenspeakofmyself,"saidJohn,"butasyouaregoingawayfromusoutintotheworldtoshiftforyourselfI'lljusttellyouhowIlookonthesethings.
IwasjustasoldasJosephwhenmyfatherandmotherdiedofthefeverwithintendaysofeachother,andleftmeandmycripplesisterNellyaloneintheworld,withoutarelationthatwecouldlooktoforhelp.
Iwasafarmer'sboy,notearningenoughtokeepmyself,muchlessbothofus,andshemusthavegonetotheworkhousebutforourmistress(Nellycallsherherangel,andshehasgoodrighttodoso).
ShewentandhiredaroomforherwitholdWidowMallet,andshegaveherknittingandneedleworkwhenshewasabletodoit;andwhenshewasillshesentherdinnersandmanynice,comfortablethings,andwaslikeamothertoher.
ThenthemasterhetookmeintothestableunderoldNorman,thecoachmanthatwasthen.
Ihadmyfoodatthehouseandmybedintheloft,andasuitofclothes,andthreeshillingsaweek,sothatIcouldhelpNelly.
ThentherewasNorman;hemighthaveturnedroundandsaidathisagehecouldnotbetroubledwitharawboyfromtheplow-tail,buthewaslikeafathertome,andtooknoendofpainswithme.
WhentheoldmandiedsomeyearsafterIsteppedintohisplace,andnowofcourseIhavetopwages,andcanlaybyforarainydayorasunnyday,asitmayhappen,andNellyisashappyasabird.
Soyousee,James,Iamnotthemanthatshouldturnuphisnoseatalittleboyandvexagood,kindmaster.No,no!
Ishallmissyouverymuch,James,butweshallpullthrough,andthere'snothinglikedoingakindnesswhen'tisputinyourway,andIamgladIcandoit."
"Then,"saidJames,"youdon'tholdwiththatsaying,'Everybodylookafterhimself,andtakecareofnumberone'?"
"No,indeed,"saidJohn,"whereshouldIandNellyhavebeenifmasterandmistressandoldNormanhadonlytakencareofnumberone?
Why,sheintheworkhouseandIhoeingturnips!
WherewouldBlackBeautyandGingerhavebeenifyouhadonlythoughtofnumberone?why,roastedtodeath!No,Jim,no!
thatisaselfish,heathenishsaying,whoeverusesit;andanymanwhothinkshehasnothingtodobuttakecareofnumberone,why,it'sapitybutwhathehadbeendrownedlikeapuppyorakitten,beforehegothiseyesopen;that'swhatIthink,"saidJohn,withaverydecidedjerkofhishead.
Jameslaughedatthis;buttherewasathicknessinhisvoicewhenhesaid,"Youhavebeenmybestfriendexceptmymother;Ihopeyouwon'tforgetme."
"No,lad,no!"saidJohn,"andifeverIcandoyouagoodturnIhopeyouwon'tforgetme."
ThenextdayJoecametothestablestolearnallhecouldbeforeJamesleft.
Helearnedtosweepthestable,tobringinthestrawandhay;hebegantocleantheharness,andhelpedtowashthecarriage.
AshewasquitetooshorttodoanythinginthewayofgroomingGingerandme,JamestaughthimuponMerrylegs,forhewastohavefullchargeofhim,underJohn.
Hewasanicelittlebrightfellow,andalwayscamewhistlingtohiswork.
Merrylegswasagooddealputoutatbeing"mauledabout,"ashesaid,"byaboywhoknewnothing;"buttowardtheendofthesecondweekhetoldmeconfidentiallythathethoughttheboywouldturnoutwell.
AtlastthedaycamewhenJameshadtoleaveus;cheerfulashealwayswas,helookedquitedown-heartedthatmorning.
"Yousee,"hesaidtoJohn,"Iamleavingagreatdealbehind;mymotherandBetsy,andyou,andagoodmasterandmistress,andthenthehorses,andmyoldMerrylegs.
AtthenewplacetherewillnotbeasoulthatIshallknow.
IfitwerenotthatIshallgetahigherplace,andbeabletohelpmymotherbetter,Idon'tthinkIshouldhavemadeupmymindtoit;itisarealpinch,John."
"Ay,James,lad,soitis;butIshouldnotthinkmuchofyouifyoucouldleaveyourhomeforthefirsttimeandnotfeelit.
Cheerup,you'llmakefriendsthere;andifyougetonwell,asIamsureyouwill,itwillbeafinethingforyourmother,andshewillbeproudenoughthatyouhavegotintosuchagoodplaceasthat."
SoJohncheeredhimup,buteveryonewassorrytoloseJames;asforMerrylegs,hepinedafterhimforseveraldays,andwentquiteoffhisappetite.
SoJohntookhimoutseveralmorningswithaleadingrein,whenheexercisedme,and,trottingandgallopingbymyside,gotupthelittlefellow'sspiritsagain,andhewassoonallright.
Joe'sfatherwouldoftencomeinandgivealittlehelp,asheunderstoodthework;andJoetookagreatdealofpainstolearn,andJohnwasquiteencouragedabouthim.
Share this article to
FINISH