162 fT ‘story of Gutta-Percha Willie.

but the good houses would stand where I had built
them, and I should be able to see how comfortable
the people were in them. I should come nearer to
the people themselves that way with my work.
Yes, grannie, I would rather be a mason than a
smith,”

“ A carpenter fits up the houses inside,” said his
grandmother. “ Don’t you think, with his work,
he comes nearer the people that live in it than the
mason does?” ‘

“To be sure,” cried Willie, laughing. “People
hardly see the mason’s work, except as they ’re
coming up to the door, I know more about
carpenter's work too. Yes, grannie, I ave settled
now; I’ll be a carpenter—there!” cried Willie,
jumping up from his seat. “If it hadn’t been for
Mr Spelman, I don’t see how we could have had
you with us, grannie, Think of that!”

“ Only, if you had been a tailor or a shoemaker,
you would have come still nearer to the people
themselves,” —

“I don’t know much about tailoring,” returned
Willie. “I could stitch well enough, but I couldn’t
cut cut. I could. soon be a shoemaker, though.
I’ve done everything wanted in a shoe or a boot
with my own hands already ; Hector will tell you
so. I could begin to be a shoemaker to-morrow.
That is nearer than a carpenter. Yes.”

“I was going to suggest,” said his grannie, “ that