"I do n't know what we shall do for bread," she said, kissing her boy
with tears in her eyes, "for I am not yet strong enough to work, and
we have no money left."

"But I can work," answered the boy; "and I 'm sure if I go to the
Squire up at the Hall he will give me something to do."

At first the widow was reluctant to consent to this, since she loved
to keep her child at her side, but finally, as nothing else could be
done, she decided to let him go to see the Squire.

Being too proud to allow her son to go to the great house in his
ragged clothes, she made him a new suit out of a pretty blue dress she
had herself worn in happier times, and when it was finished and the
boy dressed in it, he looked as pretty as a prince in a fairy tale.
For the bright blue jacket set off his curls to good advantage, and
the color just matched the blue of his eyes. His trousers were blue,
also, and she took the silver buckles from her own shoes and put them
on his, that he might appear the finer. And then she brushed his curls
and placed his big straw hat upon them and sent him away with a kiss
to see the Squire.

It so happened that the great man was walking in his garden with his
daughter Madge that morning, and was feeling in an especially happy
mood, so that when he suddenly looked up and saw a little boy before
him, he said, kindly,

"Well, my child, what can I do for you?"