Willie’s Grandmother, 131

 

silent waiting upon her, watching and trying to
anticipate her every want. When she had eaten
a little bread and butter and an egg, and drunk
two cups of tea, she lay back in her own easy
chair, which had been placed for her by the side of
the parlour fire, and fell fast asleep for ten minutes,
breathing so gently that Willie got frightened, and
thought she was dead. But all at once she opened
her eyes wide, and made a sign to him to come
to her.

“ Sit down there,” she said, pushing a little foot-
stool towards him. ,

Willie obeyed, and sat looking up in her face.

“So,” she said, “you’re the little man that can
do everything ?”

“No, grannie,” answered Willie, laughing. “I
wish I could; but I am only learning to do a few
things; and there’s not one of them I can do
right yet.”

“Do you know what they call you?”

“The boys at school call me Six-fingered Jack,”
said Willie.

“There!” said his grandmother. “I told you
so.”

“T’m glad it’s only a nickname, grannie; but if
it weren’t, it would soon be one, for I’m certain the
finger that came after the little one would be so
much in the way it would soon get cut off” .

“ Anyhow, supposing you only half as clever a