There were three other boys in the shed, all older than himself, and
half-a-dozen men, and Dick was fairly bewildered by the orders they
gave him.
As a new hand and the youngest it was quite evident he would be
expected to fag for all, and long before night his back and legs were
very tired.
But Mrs. Garth had a good tea all ready, and Pat, who had been
disconsolate all day, nearly wagged off his short tail for joy when he
got home.
And then he wrote a letter.
"DEAR PADDY,
"We got to Ironboro' quite safely, after a lot of ups and downs on the
road. Pat was nearly lost, so many people wanted to steal, or beg, or
buy him, and no wonder.
"My uncle Richard is gone to Klondyke, and I am going to write him a
letter.
"His friend, Mr. Dainton, found me, or I found his little girl, and
they have been so kind. He is a foreman at Lisle & Co.'s, and he knew
uncle ever so well. He has got me a place in their sheds, and I began
work to-day.
"Our firm is splendid, I should think six times as big as the tin
works, and I am going to try so hard there.
"Ironboro' is very dirty, and there are publics everywhere. The men
drink a great deal here, and it is such a pity. Mr. Dainton says they
could do well if they liked, because the pay is so good.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63