J. COLE. o

there’s them as slips in fust gets it; and wen
yer goes to the door they opens it and sez,
“Tt ain’t no use, boy, we’re sooted;” and then
where are yer, I’d lke to know? So,’ sez
he, ‘Joe, you look sharp and go, and maybe
you'll get it.” So I come, mum, and please,
that’s all.”

“But about your character, my boy,” I
said. “You must have somebody to speak .
for you, and say you are honest, and what
you are able to do. I always want a good
character with my servants; the last page-boy
I had brought three years’ good character
from his former situation.”

“Lor!” said Joe, with a serious look, “did
he stay three years in a place afore he came
to you? Wotever did he leave them people
for, where he were so comfortable? If I stay
with you three years, you won’t catch me a
leavin’ yer, and goin’ somewheres else. Wot
a muff that chap was!”

I explained that it did not always depend
on whether a servant wanted to stay or not,
but whether it suited the employers to keep
him.