George himself accounted for it in the following manner: -

"You do be kind to me now, Gearge," said Abel, gratefully, as he
stood one day, with the baby in his arms, watching the miller's man
emptying a sack of grain into the hopper.

"I likes to see thee with that babby, Abel," said George, pausing in
his work. "Thee's a good boy, Abel, and careful. I likes to do any
thing for thee, Abel."

"I wish I could do any thing for thee, Gearge," said Abel; "but I be
too small to help the likes of you, Gearge."

"If you're small, you're sprack," said the miller's man. "Thee's a
good scholar, too, Abel. I'll be bound thee can read, now? And a
poor gawney like I doesn't know's letters."

"I can read a bit, Gearge," said Abel, with pride; "but I've been at
home a goodish while; but mother says she'll send I to school again
in spring, if the little un gets on well and walks."

"I wish I could read," said George, mournfully; "but time's past for
me to go to school, Abel; and who'd teach a great lummakin vool like
I his letters?"

"I would, Gearge, I would!" cried Abel, his eyes sparkling with
earnestness. "I can teach thee thy letters, and by the time thee's
learned all I know, maybe I'll have been to school again, and
learned some more."