"If you please, sir," said the boy, bravely, although he was
frightened at meeting the Squire face to face, "I want you to give me
some work to do, so that I can earn money."

"Earn money!" repeated the Squire, "why do you wish to earn money?"

"To buy food for my mother, sir. We are very poor, and since she is
no longer able to work for me I wish to work for her."

"But what can you do?" asked the Squire; "you are too small to work in
the fields."

"I could earn something, sir, could n't I?"

His tone was so pleading that mistress Madge was unable to resist it,
and even the Squire was touched. The young lady came forward and took
the boy's hand in her own, and pressing back his curls, she kissed his
fair cheek.

"You shall be our shepherd," she said, pleasantly, "and keep the sheep
out of the meadows and the cows from getting in to the corn. You know,
father," she continued, turning to the Squire, "it was only yesterday
you said you must get a boy to tend the sheep, and this little boy can
do it nicely."

"Very well," replied the Squire, "it shall be as you say, and if he is
attentive and watchful he will be able to save me a good bit of
trouble and so really earn his money."

Then he turned to the child and said,