J. Cole | Page 5

when I wanted water he lifted the water-bottle on high, and poured as
though it was something requiring a "head." Mary nearly caused a
catastrophe at that moment by frowning at him, and saying, sotto voce,
"Whatever are you doing? Is that the way to pour out water? It ain't
hale, stoopid!"
Joe's face became scarlet; and to hide his confusion he seized a
dish-cover, and hastily went out of the room with it, returning in a
moment pale and serious as became one who at heart was every inch a
family butler with immense responsibilities.
Joe was quiet and sharp, quick and intelligent; but I could see he was
quite new to waiting at table. To remove a dish was, I could see, his
greatest dread; and it amused me to see the cleverness with which he
managed that Mary should do that part of the duty.
When only my plate and a dish remained to be cleared away, he would
slowly get nearer as I got towards the last morsel, and before Mary had
time, would take my plate, and go quite slowly to the sideboard with it,
leisurely remove the knife and fork, watching meanwhile in the mirror
if Mary was about to take the dish away; if not he would take
something outside, or bring a decanter, and ask if I wanted wine.
I was, however, pleased to find him no more awkward, as I feared he
would have been, and when, having swept the grate and placed my
solitary wineglass and dessert-plate on the table, he retired, softly
closing the door after him, I felt I should make something of J. Cole,
and hoped his character would be good.
CHAPTER II.
The next morning a tastefully arranged vase of flowers in the centre of
the breakfast-table, and one magnificent rose and bud by my plate,
were silent but eloquent appeals to my interest on behalf of my
would-be page; and when Joe himself appeared, fresh from an hour's

self-imposed work in my garden, I saw he had become quite one of the
family; for Bogie, my little terrier, usually very snappish to strangers,
and who considered all boys as his natural enemies, was leaping about
his feet, evidently asking for more games, and our old magpie was
perched familiarly on his shoulder.
"Good-morning, Joe," I said. "You are an early riser, I can see, by the
work you have already done in the garden."
"Why, yes," replied Joe, blushing, and touching an imaginary cap; "I'm
used to bein' up. There was ever so much to do of a mornin' at 'ome;
and I 'ad to 'elp father afore I could go to be with Dick, and I was with
Dick a'most every mornin' by seven, and a good mile and a arf to walk
to 'is place. Shall I bring in the breakfust, mum? Mary's told me what to
do."
Having given permission, Joe set to work to get through his duties, this
time without any help, and I actually trembled when I saw him enter
with a tray containing all things necessary for my morning meal, he
looked so over-weighted; but he was quite equal to it as far as landing
the tray safely on the sideboard. But, alas! then came the ordeal; not
one thing did poor Joe know where to place, and stood with the
coffeepot in his hand, undecided whether it went before me, or at the
end of the table, or whether he was to pour out my coffee for me.
I saw he was getting very nervous, so took it from him, and in order to
put him at his ease, I remarked,--
"I think, perhaps, I had better show you, Joe, just for once, how I like
my breakfast served, for every one has little ways of their own, you
know; and you will try to do it my way when you know how I like it,
won't you?"
Thereupon I arranged the dishes, etc., for him, and his big eyes
followed my every movement. The blinds wanted pulling down a little
presently, and then I began to realize one of the drawbacks in having
such a very small boy as page. Joe saw the sun's rays were nearly
blinding me, and wanted to shut them out; but on attempting to reach

the tassel attached to the cord, it was hopelessly beyond his reach. In
vain were the long arms stretched to their utmost, till the sleeves of the
ex-page's jacket retreated almost to Joe's elbows, but no use.
I watched, curious to see what he would do.
"Please 'm, might I fetch an 'all chair?" said Joe; "I'm afraid I'm not big
enuf to reach the tossle, but I won't pull 'em up so 'igh to- morrow."
I gave