When you are older you can read how he grew up to be a good, clever man, and met again all his old friends, and made many new ones.
JENNY WREN.
ONE day, a great many years ago, a gentleman ran up the steps of a tall house in the neighborhood of St. Mary Axe.
The gentleman knocked and rang several times before any one came, but at last an old man opened the door. "What were you up to that you did not hear me?" said Mr. Fledgeby irritably.
"I was taking the air at the top of the house, sir," said the old man meekly, "it being a holiday. What might you please to want, sir?"
"Humph! Holiday indeed," grumbled his master, who was a toy merchant amongst other things. He then seated himself and gave the old man—a Jew and Riah by name—directions about the dressing of some dolls, and, as he rose to go, exclaimed—
"By the bye, how do you take the air? Do you stick your head out of a chimney-pot?"
"No, sir, I have made a little garden on the roof."
"Let's look at it," said Mr. Fledgeby.