WONDERING TOM 127

and pondered over the day’s events, but with new resolu-
tion in his soul. And the result of all his pondering was
that, as he entered the city gate, he snapped his ‘fingers,
saying,“ The King’s words shall never come true! Wonder-

ing Tom is going to work at last!”

 

THREE years passed away.

“Little Wisk” grew to be quite a big girl; but nobody
thought of calling her by any other name. She was so
lithe and quick, so rosy, fresh, and sparkling, and so ten-
der and true withal, that she was Little Wisk as a matter
of course.

One chilly November afternoon she missed old Katy,
the old apple-woman, from her accustomed place at the
street corner.

“She must be ill,” thought little Wisk. “Perhaps she
has no one to help her.”

With some persons, to think is to act. Wisk stepped
into a neighboring cobbler’s shop.

“Mr. Wacksend, do you know where the old apple-
woman. lives ?”

“No,” said the cobbler, eruffly. “Shut the door when
you go out.”

Little Wisk looked at him as he sat upon his bench,
pegging away at his work.

“Poor man!” she said to herself, “pushing the awl
through that thick leather makes him press his lips tight
together, and I suppose pressing his lips so tight, day after
day, makes him cross. I'll try the butcher.”

She ran into the next shop.