Part 50 (1/2)
The day afterward he was walking slowly along the village street, when he came upon G.o.dfrey Preston strutting along, with an air of importance. He and his mother had removed to Boston, but they were visiting the town on a little business.
”h.e.l.lo, there!” said G.o.dfrey, halting.
”h.e.l.lo!” said Andy.
”You've lost your place, haven't you?” asked G.o.dfrey, with a sneer.
”Yes.”
”How are you going to live?”
”By eating, I expect,” answered Andy, shortly.
”If you can get anything to eat, you mean?”
”We got enough so far.”
”Perhaps you won't have, long. You may have to go to the poorhouse.”
”When I do, I shall find you there.”
”What do you mean?” demanded G.o.dfrey, angrily.
”I mean I shan't go there till you do.”
”You're proud for a beggar.”
”I'm more of a gentleman than you are.”
”I'd thrash you, only I won't demean myself by doing it.”
”That's lucky, or you might get thrashed yourself.”
”You're only an Irish boy.”
”I'm proud of that same. You won't find me go back on my country.”
G.o.dfrey walked away. Somehow, he could never get the better of Andy.
”I hope I'll see you begging in rags, some day,” he thought to himself.
But boys like Andy are not often reduced to such a point.
CHAPTER x.x.xIV THE WILL AT LAST
The next three months pa.s.sed very unsatisfactorily for Andy. In a small country town like that in which he lived there was little opportunity for a boy, however industrious, to earn money. The farmers generally had sons of their own, or were already provided with a.s.sistants, and there was no manufacturing establishment in the village to furnish employment to those who didn't like agriculture.
Andy had some idea of learning the carpenter trade, there being a carpenter who was willing to take an apprentice, but, unfortunately, he was unwilling to pay any wages for the first year--only boarding the apprentice--and our hero felt, for his mother's sake, that it would not do to make such an engagement.