All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

ALL AV A GARDEN FAIR. loi
^[iltoii. Tliey did a great deal of massive read-
ing in those years, and acquired a vast quantity
of ideas.
When the boys got promotion, whicli came
in due course, and wlien it was found lliat tliey
knew French and could write it, and were con-
sequently rewarded witli saharies wliicli gave
til em money to spend, Allen began to buy
books. Every boy who loves reading knows the
joy of seeing his shelf fdl up and overflow into
other shelves, until a whole bookcase is filled
up— yea, even a Avhole house, a house of tlie
largest size. And then he began to plough his
delightful way through the English poets. Yet
the interruption to reading caused by the eight
hours of work at his desk was very grievous to
him. And he made no friends among his fellow-
clei-ks.
' Out of the Ijoy who is always reading,'
said Hector to himself, ' comes, if he is properly
looked after, the man who writes."
lie watched the boy more carefully, lie
saw that Allen now neglected his French books