“I’m to drive him and the goat wagon in the park, and the man is to give me ten dollars a week. That’ll be better than going about the streets. I’ll get paid regular. Hurray!” and Mike hugged and kissed his mother.
CHAPTER VI
LIGHTFOOT BUTTS A BOY
When Mike had quieted his joy and happiness down a bit, he explained to his mother how it had come about. It seemed that as he was driving Lightfoot about, hitched to the cart, and giving a number of children a ride on a quiet street, a man had come up to Mike.
“I have a goat stand in the park,” the man explained. “I own a number of goats and wagons, and hire boys to drive them. Would you like to sell me your goat and wagon? I need another.”
“But I told him I wouldn’t sell Lightfoot,” Mike explained. “Then he wanted me to hire my outfit to him at so much a week, but I wouldn’t do that, for I wouldn’t let anybody but myself drive my goat.”
“That’s right,” agreed Mrs. Malony, who was almost as fond of Lightfoot as was Mike himself. “What did the man say then?”
“Well, he wanted to know if I’d come to the park and drive the goat myself. He said he’d give me eight dollars a week, but I said I could earn more than that working for myself. Then he raised it to ten dollars and I took him up.”