. Plucky boys. to her, with the message that an old gentlemanwas waiting below, wishing to see her. A shudder ran through the poor mother, who,like many another mother, hated bicycles, andnever had an easy mind when Donald was awayon his. The strangers first word was anythingbut reassuring. Beg pardon, maam, but is your name Boyd,and have you a son called Donald, who went outon a bicycle this morning ? Yes, yes ! Has anything happened ? Tell mequick ! Im not aware, maam, that anything has hap-pened, said the old gentleman. I saw the ladat light this morning. He seemed to be managinghis machine
. Plucky boys. to her, with the message that an old gentlemanwas waiting below, wishing to see her. A shudder ran through the poor mother, who,like many another mother, hated bicycles, andnever had an easy mind when Donald was awayon his. The strangers first word was anythingbut reassuring. Beg pardon, maam, but is your name Boyd,and have you a son called Donald, who went outon a bicycle this morning ? Yes, yes ! Has anything happened ? Tell mequick ! Im not aware, maam, that anything has hap-pened, said the old gentleman. I saw the ladat light this morning. He seemed to be managinghis machine uncommonly well. I met him at thefoot of a hill near Edinburgh Castle. He had gotoff and was walking; so he saw me, and took offhis cap. I like respect, especially in a young fel-low towards an old one. 22 FACING THE WORLD. Did he knov*^ you, for I have not that pleasure ?said Mrs. Boyd, poUte, though puzzled. For theold man did not look quite like a gentleman, andspoke with the strong accent of an uneducated. EDINBURGH CASTLE. person, yet he had a kindly expression, andseemed honest and well-meaning, though decidedlycanny. I cannot say he knew me, but he rememberedme, which was civil of him. And then I mindedthe lad as the one that had come to me for worka week or two ago, and I took his name andaddress. Thats your sons writing ? he jumbled FACING THE WORLD. 23 out and showed a scrap of paper. Its bona Jidc,isnt it ? And he really is in search of work .? He hasntrun away from home, or been turned out by hisfather for misconduct, or anything of that sort 1 Heisnt a scamp, or a neer-do-weel ? I hope he doesnt look like it, said Mrs. Boyd. No, maam ; youre right, he doesnt. He carrieshis character in his face, which is better than in hispocket. It was that which made me ask his name andaddress, though I could do nothing for him. Then you were the gentleman who told himyou couldnt keep adog and bark your-self ? s a i d M r s. ^Boyd, amused, and /just a shade hopeful. Precisely. N
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectboys, bookyear1884
