Part 18 (1/2)

He walked and walked and walked, but London was a long way from his home.

At last a man with a wagon came along. He was a kind man, and he gave d.i.c.k a ride.

”Where are you going?” asked d.i.c.k.

”I'm going to London,” said the man.

”You are very good to give me a ride. I am going there, too,” said d.i.c.k.

It was dark when they reached London.

That night d.i.c.k slept in a barn with the horses.

The next morning he looked for the golden stones in the streets.

He looked and looked, but he could find only dust and dirt.

There were many, many people in London, and d.i.c.k thought that he could soon find something to do.

He wandered around the streets, seeking for work.

He asked many people, but no one wanted the poor little country boy.

As d.i.c.k had no money for food, he soon became very, very hungry.

At last he grew so weak that he fell down before the door of a great house.

Here the cook found him and began to beat him with a stick.

”Run away, you lazy boy!” she cried.

Poor d.i.c.k tried to rise, but he was so faint from want of food that he could not stand.

Just then the owner of the house, Mr. Fitzwarren, came up. He took pity on the poor boy and ordered the cook to give him some food.

Then he turned to d.i.c.k and said:

”If you wish to work, you may help the cook in the kitchen. You will find a bed in the attic.”

d.i.c.k thanked Mr. Fitzwarren again and again for his kindness.

The cook was very cross to d.i.c.k and whipped him almost every day.

His bed in the attic was only a pile of old rags.

He soon found that there were many rats and mice in the attic.

They ran over his bed and made so much noise every night that he could not sleep.