The manager smiled at his enthusiasm, as he replied,—
'You can but try, my lad, to be as great and good as they were;' and he added, 'You can enter upon your new work next week; there is a vacancy for you.'
'But, sir,'—and the boy paused,—'shall I earn wages like I do now? because'—
And his voice failed him, he could not utter the thought of his heart,—should he still be able to help his mother?
The gentleman understood his hesitation, for he said kindly,—
'Yes, my little man, you will earn good wages, and, if you are only good and steady like your poor father before you, I've no doubt but that you may become a great man one day;' and he smiled encouragingly into the boy's upturned face, a face which was beaming with hope and happiness.
As to Davie, he raised his generous friend's hand to his lips, for he could not speak for very gratitude; then, with his blue eyes sparkling with joy, ran quickly home to tell the blissful news.
'Mother, mother!' he cried, bursting in upon her as she sat at work; 'I shall become a great man now, and you shall ride in a carriage, and never work any more;' and then, with his arms around her neck and his curly head resting lovingly upon her shoulder, he poured forth his bright hopes for the future.
So the last day came for working in the dark mine, and to-morrow—oh, to-morrow!