He was a strong big boy for his age, and bright and quick too; so some thought that it would help to make the old wife gay to have a bright young child with her. But Dame Broom's gay days were long, long past. She was a sad, dull old thing now, but she said she was glad to have the boy. She would do her best for him, and keep him clean.

Well, the old wife kept her word. She gave the boy food and drink, and kept him. nice and clean. She was not bad to him at all, but she did not try to make his life bright and gay, as a child's life should be, for she did not love him one bit, and so, of course, Dan did not love her; for if we want to get love we must give it. So, in such a dull home, with no one to speak to him all day long but this deaf old wife, it was not strange that Dan should grow up a dull sort of boy. From morn to night he did not see a kind. smile or hear the sound of a laugh, so he did not learn to laugh or smile him-self, and he did not speak much, for he had to shout so loud to make Dame Broom hear.

There was no house near the hut, so that it was but now and then that Dan could play with boys and girls. He did not go to school, for in those days boys and girls were not all sent to school as they are now. Some of them do not like it; but I can tell you poor Dan would have been right glad if he had been sent to school.

When Dan was ten years old the dame thought it high time for him to work for his bread; so one day she took her stick in her hand, and bid Dan wash his face and come with her. They went more than a mile down the road till they came to a farm house.

Near the house there was a man in a smock frock. When she saw him the old wife gave a bob, and said,

Please, sir, do you want a boy to mind the cows?"

The man gave a stare, and then a grunt. At last he said

"I have no cows to mind, old witch." He knew the poor old thing by sight.

But just then a tall man with a kind face "What do you want, good wife?"

came up.

he said.

Please, sir, do you want a boy to mind the cows?" said she, with a bob.

"Yes, that I do," said the kind man. this the boy?"

"Is

"Yes, sir," said Dan at once. He thought he would like to serve this man.

"Well, come in doors and my wife will give you bread and milk,” said the man, as he led the way to the house door.

His wife, Mrs Wright, was as kind as he, and she made the two sit down, and gave them milk and bread.

"He looks like a strong boy," said Mr Wright; "he may come next week to herd the cows, and if I find that he is a good boy, and I can trust him, I will give him half-acrown a week."

Dan was glad when he heard these words, but he did not know what to say, so he gave a broad grin, and his eyes and teeth shone.