CHAPTER III.
JOHN MAKES SOME ACQUAINTANCES.
JOHN had not walked far when he saw a horse galloping down the street: the people shouted, which only made the horse run the faster; but just as he reached the corner, John made a spring, and, catching the rein, in a moment he was on his back. John’s time, when he lived at the fishing village, had been divided between riding ponies and paddling boats; but he had never ridden so fine an animal as this,—his skin shone like satin, and his saddle and bridle were so handsome, that the little boy concluded he must belong to some very rich captain indeed.
Directly a ragged boy came up to him with ‘Halloo! there, what are you doing with my horse?’
‘I caught him,’ said John, ‘but I don’t believe he belongs to you;’ so, touching his side with his heel, the spirited horse set off at full speed, and did not stop till he reached a handsome house, on the steps of which stood a gentleman with a whip in his hand, just ready for a ride. He was pleased to get his horse, and put a shilling in John’s hand for his trouble.
So large a piece of money astonished the child; his eyes glistened, and, without knowing it, he spoke his thoughts: ‘Oh, mother, you need not have cried so!’
The gentleman was preparing to mount his horse, but hearing these words, he said, ‘What was the matter with your mother?’
‘She had no money to buy us bread, sir.’
‘Has she no work to do?’