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in a strange place; and we all know how
chilled and desolate the best of us will
sometimes feel in such a situation. The
boy had no friends to care for, or to care
for him. The regret of no recent sepa¬
ration was fresh in his mind; the absence
of no loved and well-remembered face
was heavy, notwithstanding ; and he wish¬
ed, as he crept into his narrow bed, that
that were his coffin, and that he could be
laid in a calm and lasting sleep in the
churchyard ground, with the tall
waving gently above his head, and the
sound of the old deep bell to soothe him
in his sleep.
Oliver was awakened in the morning
by a loud kicking at the outside of the
deadiian. which, before he could huddle
on his clothes, was repeated in an angry
and impetuous manner about twenty-five
times ; and, when he began to undo the
chain, the legs left off their volleys, and
a voice began. |
6 Open the door, will yer?’ cried the
voice which belonged to the legs which
had kicked at the door.
“J will directly, sir,” replied Oliver,
undoing the chain, and turning the key.
ss ( suppose yer the new boy, a’nt yer ?”
said the voice through the key-hole.
“ Yes, sir,” replied Oliver.
* How old are yer?” inquired the voice.
“Ten, sir," replied Oliver.
Then I "11 whop yer when I get in,”
said the voice; “you just see if I don’t,
that’s all, my work’us brat!” and, having
made this obliging promise, the voice be¬
gan to whistle.
Oliver had been too often subjected to
the process to which the very expressive
monysyllable just recorded, bears refer¬
ence, to entertain the smallest doubt that
the owner of the voice, whoever he might
be, would redeem his pledge most honour¬
ably. He drew back the bolts with a
trembling hand, and opened the door.
For a second or two, Oliver glanced up
the street, and down the street, and over
the way, impressed with the belief that
. the unknown, who had addressed him
through the key-hole, had walked a few
paces off to warm himself, for nobody did
Oliver see but a big charity-boy sitting on
the post in front of the house, eating a
slice of bread and butter, which he cut
into wedges the size of his mouth with a
elasp-knife, and then consumed with great
dexterity.
6] beg your pardon, sir,” said Oliver,
at len seeing that no other visitor
oO
made his appearance; “did you knock?"
“T kicked,” replied the charity-boy.
“ Did you want a coffin, sir?" inquired
Oliver, innocently.
At this the charity-boy looked monstrous
fierce, and said that Oliver would stand in
need of one before long, if he cut jokes
with his superiors in that way.
“ Yer don’t know who I am, I suppose,
work’us ?” said the charity-boy, in con¬
tinuation ; descending from the top of the
post, meanwhile, with edifying gravity.
s No, sir,” rejoined Oliver.
*1’m Mister Noah Claypole," said the
charity-boy, “and you’re under me. Take
down the shutters, yer idle young ruffian !”
With this Mr. Claypole administered a
kick to Oliver, and entered the shop with
a dignified air, which did him great cre¬
dit: it is difficult for a large-headed,
small-eyed youth, of lumbering make and
heavy countenance, to look dignified un¬
der any circumstances; but it is more
especially so, when superadded to these
personal attractions, are a red nose and
yellow smalls.
Oliver having taken down the shutters,
and broken a pane of glass in his efforts to
stagger away beneath the weight of the
first one to a small court at the side of the
house in which they were kept ery the
day, was graciously assisted by Noah,
who, having consoled him with the assu¬
rance that “he ’d catch it,” condescended
tohelp him. Mr. Sowerberry came down
soon after, and, shortly afterwards, Mrs.
Sowerberry appeared ; and Oliver having
“ caught it,” in fulfilment of Noah’s pre¬
diction, followed that young gentleman
down stairs to breakfast.
“Come near the fire, Noah,” said Char¬
lotte. “I saved a nice little piece of ba¬
con for you from master’s breakfast. Oli¬
ver, shut that door at Mister Noah’s back,
and take them bits that I’ve put out on
the cover of the bread-pan. There ’s your
tea; take it uway to that box, and drink
it there, and make haste, for they "11 want
you to mind the shop. D?’ye hear?"
“T)’ ye hear, work’us?’ said Noah
Claypole.
* Lor, Noah!’ said Charlotte, “ what a
rum creature you are! Why don’t you
6 Let him alone!” said Noah. " Why
every body lets him alone enough, for the
matter of that. Neither his father nor
mother will ever interfere with him: all
his relations let him have his own wa
pretty well. Eh, Charlotte? He! he! he!”
6 Oh, you queer soul!" said Charlotte,
tursting into a hearty laugh, in which
she was joined by Noah ; after which thev