Willie’s Talk with his Grandmother. 161

 

fessional man could not be allowed to follow ; but
Willie’s grandmother knew better, and went on
talking about the thing in the quietest manner.

“It’s a fine trade,” she said; “thorough manly
work, and healthy, I believe, notwithstanding the
heat. But why would you take to it, Willie?”

Willie fell back on his principles, and thought for
a minute.

“Of course, if I’m to be any good at all I must
have a hand in what Hector calls the general busi-
ness of the universe, grannie.”

“To be sure; and that, as a smith, you would
have; but why should you choose to be a smith
rather than anything else in the world?”

“ Because—because—people can’t get on without
horse-shoes, and ploughs and harrows, and tires for
cart-wheels, and locks, and all that. It would help
people very much if I were a smith.”

“T don’t doubt it. But if you werea mason you
could do quite as much to make them comfortable ;
you could build them houses.”

“Yes, I could. It would be delightful to build
houses for people. I should like that.”

“It’s very hard work,” said his grandmother.
“Only you wouldn’t mind that, I know, Willie.”

“No man minds hard work,” said Willie “TI
think I should like to be a mason; for then, you
see, I should be able to look at what I had done.
The ploughs and carts would go away out of sight,