"No, papa, I don't think I was; for I am sure the boy is not bad, he has such honest eyes. And he said he had no father, nor mother, nor brother, nor sister, and he seemed in such trouble."
"Well, my child?"
"You know now what I mean, papa. I confess I had quite forgotten the poor boy till this afternoon I saw him standing in front of the house. I had been singing 'Love at Home,' and he had been listening, I think; and I fancy it had made him sad, for his eyes were full of tears, but when he saw he was noticed he hurried away as quickly as possible."
"And suppose I should decide to employ this boy, Eva, where should I find him?"
"Oh, he said he was nearly always on the landing-stage. He sold matches there, except when he was running errands."
"Well, I will think about it, Eva."
"Oh, promise, papa, there's a good man."
"I don't believe in making rash promises, Eva," said Mr. Lawrence kindly; "and, besides, I have very little faith in those street boys. They are taught to be dishonest from their infancy, and it is a difficult matter for them to be anything else; but I'll think about it."
And Mr. Lawrence was as good as his word; he did think about it, and, what is more, he decided to give the little boy a trial.
Benny was on the landing-stage on New Year's Day when Mr. Lawrence was returning from Chester. He had scarcely left the railway boat when several lads crowded around him with "Carry yer bag, sir?" Benny among the number.