Learning My Lessons

"But these were pears," I said.

"All the same, only one's longer than t'other. Apples and pears. He
won't do nothing."

Ike was right, for the matter was soon forgotten, and Mrs Dodley his
housekeeper used the pillow-case as a bag for clothes-pegs.

Those were bright and pleasant days, for though now and then some
trouble came like a cloud over my life there was more often plenty of
sunshine to clear that cloud away.

My uncles came to see me, first one and then the other, and they had
very long talks with Mr Brownsmith.

One of them told me I was a very noble boy, and that he was proud of me.
He said he was quite sure I should turn out a man.

"Talks to the boy as if he felt he might turn out a woman," Old
Brownsmith grumbled after he was gone.

It was some time after before the other came, and he looked me all over
as if he were trying to find a hump or a crooked rib. Then he said it
was all right, and that I could not do better.

One of them said when he went away that he should not lose sight of me,
but remember me now and then; and when he had gone Old Brownsmith said,
half aloud: "Thank goodness, I never had no uncles!" Then he gave me a comical
look, but turned serious directly.

"Look here, Grant," he said. "Some folk start life with their gardens
already dug up and planted, some begin with their bit of ground all
rough, and some begin without any land at all. Which do you belong to?"