Part 2 (1/2)

”Because look what great big huge things he does! How could those tremendous hammers set such a little thing as that right? They would knock it all to pieces. Don't you think you had better take it to the watchmaker?”

”If I did, Willie, do you know what you would say the moment you saw him at work?”

”No, papa. What should I say?”

”You would say, 'Don't you think, papa, you had better take it back to the smith?”

”But why should I say that?”

”Because, when you saw his tools beside this lock, you would think the tools so small and the lock so huge, that nothing could be done between them. Yet I daresay the watchmaker could set the lock all right if he chose to try. Don't you think so, Mr Willet?”

”Not a doubt of it,” answered the smith.

”Had we better go to him then?”

”Well,” answered the smith, smiling, ”I think perhaps he would ask you why you hadn't come to me. No doubt he could do it, but I've got better tools for the purpose. Let me look at the lock. I'm sure I shall be able to set it right.”

”Not with that great big hammer, then,” said Willie.

”No; I have smaller hammers than that. When do you want it, sir?”

”Could you manage to do it at once, and let me take it home, for there's a little baby there, just arrived?”

”You don't mean it!” said the smith, looking surprised. ”I wish you joy, sir.”

”And this is the lock of the room she's in,” continued the doctor.

”And you're afraid of her getting out and flying off again!” said the smith. ”I will do it at once. There isn't much wrong with it, I daresay.

I hope Mrs Macmichael is doing well, sir.”

He took the lock, drew several screws from it, and then forced it open.

”It's nothing but the spring gone,” he said, as he took out something and threw it away.

Then he took out several more pieces, and cleaned them all. Then he searched in a box till he found another spring, which he put in instead of the broken one, after snipping off a little bit with a pair of pincers. Then he put all the pieces in, put on the cover of it, gave something a few taps with a tiny hammer, replaced the screws, and said--

”Shall I come and put it on for you, sir?”

”No, no; I am up to that much,” said Mr Macmichael. ”I can easily manage that. Come, Willie. I'm much obliged to you for doing it at once.

Good-night.”

Then out they went into the snowstorm again, Willie holding fast by his father's hand.

”This is good,” said his father. ”Your mother will have a better day all to-morrow, and perhaps a longer sleep to-night for it. You see how easy it is to be both useful and kind sometimes. The smith did more for your mother in those few minutes than ten doctors could have done. Think of his great black fingers making a little more sleep and rest and warmth for her--and all in those few minutes!”

”Suppose he couldn't have done it,” said Willie. ”Do you think the watchmaker could?”

”That I can't tell, but I don't think it likely. We should most probably have had to get a new one.”