“All right,” said Lockman. “What can you suggest?”
“I don't know, I'm sure. But something decent.”
“He doesn't know enough to be a house servant, Glad—”
“No—but something outside. Couldn't he learn gardening? Are you fond of flowers, Samuel?”
“Yes, ma'am,” said Samuel quickly.
“Well, then, make a gardener out of him,” said Miss Wygant; and that settled Samuel's destiny.
The boy took his departure and went home, almost running in his excitement. He was transported into a distant heaven of bliss; he had been seated among the gods—he was to dwell there forever after!
His new patron had given him a five-dollar bill; and before he reached the Stedman home he stopped in a grocery store and loaded up his arms with bundles. And then, seized by a sudden thought, he went into a notion store and set down his bundles and purchased a clean, white linen collar, and a necktie of royal purple and brilliant green—already tied, so that it would always be perfect in shape.
Then he went into the Stedmans, and the widow and the youngest children sat round and listened open-eyed to his tale. And then came Sophie, and he had to tell it all over again.
The girl's eyes opened wide with excitement when he came to the end of his recital. “Miss Wygant!” she exclaimed. “Miss Gladys Wygant?”