“His name is Henry,” replied her husband.

“Henry what?”

“Henry Gaston, I believe.  Isn’t that it, my boy?”

Henry replied in the affirmative.  Mr. Sharp then said—­

“You can go in with Mrs. Sharp, Henry.  She will tell you what she wants you to do.”

“Yes, come along.”  And Mrs. Sharp turned away as she spoke, and retired into the more interior portion of the house, followed by the boy.

“Mrs. Sharp will tell you what she wants you to do?” Yes, that’ tells the story.  From this hour the child is to become the drudge—­the hewer of wood and drawer of water—­for an unfeeling woman, whose cupidity and that of her husband have prompted them to get a little boy as a matter of saving—­one who could do the errands for the shop and the drudgery for the house.  There was no thought for, and regard toward the child to be exercised.  He was to be to them only an economical little machine, very useful, though somewhat troublesome at times.

“I don’t see that your mother has killed you with clothes,” said Mrs. Sharp to him, after taking his bundle and examining it, and then surveying him from head to foot.  “But I suppose she thinks they will do well enough; and I suppose they will.  There, do you see that wooden pail there?  Well, I want you to take it and go to the pump across the street, down in the next square, and bring it full of water.”

Henry took the pail, as directed, and went and got the water.  This was the beginning of his service, and was all well enough, as far as it went.  But from that time he had few moments of relaxation, except what the night gave him, or the quiet Sabbath.  All through the first day he was kept busy either in the house or shop, and, before night, had received two or three reprimands from Mrs. Sharp, administered in no very affectionate tones.

When night came, at last—­it had seemed a very long day to him—­and he was sent to bed alone, in the dark, he put off his clothes and laid himself down, unable, as he did so, to restrain the tears and sobs.  Poor child!  How sadly and yearningly did his heart go back to the narrow apartment, every nook and corner of which were dear to him, because his mother’s presence made all sunshine there!  And bow earnestly did he long to be with her again!  But he soon sank away to sleep, from which he did not awaken until the half angry voice of Mrs. Sharp chided him loudly for “lazying it away” in bed until after sunrise.  Quickly getting up and dressing himself, he went down and commenced upon a new day of toil.  First he had to bring in wood, then to grind the coffee, afterward to bring water from the pump, and then to scour the knives for breakfast.  When these were done, he was sent into the shop to see if Mr. Sharp didn’t want him, where he found plenty to occupy his attention.  The shop was to be sprinkled and swept out, the counter to be dusted, and various other little matters to be attended to, which occupied him until breakfast