38 Joe's First Earnings.

was delighted beyond measure, and said to his
sister—

“Tam glad I spoke up for mother. I dursn’t
have done, only the lady had such a kind face,
and listened quiet and patient when I told her
about poor father being dead and—everything.”

There was just one drawback to the lad’s
satisfaction, and he was half ashamed of allow-
ing himself to think about it. When mother
began her extra work, was it likely she would
allow him so much time for play? It had been
80 pleasant to look forward to learning some-
thing for her by self-denial, but if his hours
were shortened, farewell to any hope of that kind.

Joe fought a stout battle with himself before
he could honestly say, “I must help mother in
the way she thinks best, and that will save her
most trouble, though I should like to keep on
working for that nice lady.”

However, Mrs. Coppuck had not yet more
than she could do without further help from
Joe, and he was able to be at Mrs. Standing’s
again on the following day.

The lady met him with a pleasant smile and
the words, ‘‘ Well, Joe, I am satisfied with your
yesterday’s weeding.”

‘1 would ha’ liked to do a bigger piece, but I
couldn’t,” said Joe.

‘“‘Tam glad you did not try. Better a small
piece done well than a large one half done. It
is to be threepence an hour, Joe.”