deed of charity you could not perform than to help Michael Warden carry
out his desire to learn a trade. He is a clever, ingenious boy, and
would learn quickly. I think he would like best to be a wheelwright, and
I would suggest that you apprentice him with the master in our village.'
So you see, mother, the money would not be spent in vain."

"Very well, the money shall be his."

On the following morning, Alfred sent for Michael, and counted out to
him the money, increasing it to fifty pounds. Michael's astonishment
almost carried him off his feet, and he thanked Alfred profusely for the
extra money. He hurried home to his father and laid his wealth before
him on the table. The old man stared at it in blank amazement, and said:
"My boy, I hope you have not stolen this money!"

"No, father, but a little bird in the forest helped me," and Michael
related the incident.

His father, overjoyed, now made all preparations for Michael's outfit.
He then conducted him to the master wheelwright, paid the stipulated sum
and entered him as an apprentice. At the end of three years, the boy was
as accomplished in his trade as his master.

Before starting out into the world, Michael returned to the Castle of
Banford to tell of his progress, and once more thank the Duchess and her
children for their kindness to him. They praised him heartily for the
strides he had made. The Duchess then gave him another gift of money for
his journey, and said: "Success be yours. We must never do good by
halves; the sapling that we plant we should also water." Then with many
encouraging remarks, the Banfords bade him good-bye.