said Mrs. Wiggs, "so I didn't disturb him. He ain't fer long, pore
feller!"

"No, poor chap," said Redding, sadly.

Mrs. Wiggs saw the shadow on his face, and hastened to change the
subject. "What do you think of Asia's fence?" she asked.

"What about it?"

"She done it herself," said Mrs. Wiggs. "That an' the pavement, too.
Mrs. Krasmier's goat et up her flowers las' year, an' this year she
'lowed she'd fix it different. Chris Hazy, that boy over yonder
with the peg-stick, helped her dig the post-boles, but she done the
rest herself."

"Well, she is pretty clever!" said Redding, almost incredulously, as
he examined the fence and sidewalk. "How old is she?"

"Fourteen, goin' on to fifteen. Asia, come here."

The girl left the flower-bed she was digging, and came forward.

"Not a very big girl, are you?" said Redding, smiling at her. "How
would you like to go up to the tile factory, and learn to do
decorating?"

Her serious face lit up with great enthusiasm; she forgot her
shyness, and said, eagerly: "Oh, yes, sir! Could I?"