Part 54 (1/2)
”I shan't interfere,” replied Watson. ”The boy has acted badly and he deserves punishment.”
”Yes, I'll take him back,” said the blacksmith. ”I guess he'll stay this time,” he added grimly.
”I think he will have to. There won't be any circus to give him employment.”
”He is a good strong boy, and he can make a good blacksmith, if he has a mind to.”
”You must make him have a mind to,” said Stephen Watson.
When the horse was shod he got into the carriage and drove away.
After this interview Mr. Bickford seemed in unusually good spirits, so much so that his wife inquired: ”Have you had any good luck, Aaron?”
”What makes you ask?”
”Because you look unusually chipper. I was hopin' somebody had died and left you a fortune.”
”Well, not exactly, wife; but I've heard something that makes me feel good.”
”What's that?”
”Stephen Watson, of Smyrna, was over here this morning.”
”Well?”
”He says that boy Kit is coming home in a few days.”
”What if he is?”
”He's goin' to bring him over here, and apprentice him to me again.”
”I should think once would be enough, considerin' how he treated you.”
”He ain't goin' to serve me so again, you may bet on that. I'm goin' to have my way this time.”
”Ain't you afraid he'll run away again?”
”Not much. The circus has shut up, and he'll have to stay with me, or starve. His uncle tells me I can punish him when I think he deserves it.”
”I hope you won't be disappointed, Mr. Bickford, but that boy's rather hard to handle.”
”I know it, but I'm the one that can handle him.”
”You thought so before, the evening we went to the show.”
”I know so this time.”
CHAPTER x.x.xVIII.