He whistled at his work, and the miller thought this merry-hearted lad
was worth having around as an inspiration, even though he might not be
as sturdy a worker as his big-muscled Toby.
But Dick was possessed of indomitable pluck, and after he grew a little
accustomed to the work he thoroughly satisfied his employer.
At noon he heard a conch shell blown, and washing up as Mr. Cartwright
had directed him, he proceeded to the house, where he sat down to a
bountiful spread that was certainly a joyous sight in the eyes of a
hungry boy.
He only wished the little mother were sitting beside him instead of big
Toby, now well on the road to recovery.
And all that afternoon, when he felt tired from the unusual employment
of his muscles, he cheered himself up with the thought of how proud he
would be to place that first dollar and a quarter in the hand of the
waiting little woman in the cottage by the river bank--for it was one of
the miller's peculiarities to do a cash business, and pay any one
working for him each day after the hour for stopping arrived.
It was a tiresome walk back to town and then out home, but Dick strode
along with a light heart, and having changed his mind about his
homecoming stopped in town to buy something in the way of groceries
which he knew would fill a long-felt want at home.
In the gloaming then he arrived, to find his mother beginning to grow
nervous over his long absence; and only when her arms were about his
neck he told of his success in obtaining work.
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