Page:Little Daffydowndilly-1887.djvu/21

Rh But, just while he was delighting himself with this idea, little Daffydowndilly beheld something that made him catch hold of his companion&rsquo;s hand, all in a fright.

&ldquo;Make haste. Quick, quick !&rdquo; cried he. &ldquo;There he is again!&rdquo;

&ldquo;Who?&rdquo; asked the stranger, very quietly.

&ldquo;Old Mr. Toil,&rdquo; said Daffydowndilly, trembling, &ldquo;There! he that is overseeing the carpenters. &rsquo;T is my old schoolmaster, as sure as I &rsquo;m alive!&rdquo;

The stranger cast his eyes where Daffydowndilly pointed his finger; and he saw an elderly man, with a carpenter's rule and compasses in his hand. This person went to and fro about the unfinished house, measuring pieces of timber, and marking out the work that was to be done, and continually exhorting the other carpenters to be diligent. And wherever he turned his hard and wrinkled visage, the men seemed to feel that they had a task-master over them, and sawed, and hammered, and planed, as if for dear life.

&ldquo;Oh no! this is not Mr. Toil, the schoolmaster,&rdquo; said the stranger. &ldquo;It is another brother of his, who follows the trade of carpenter.&rdquo;

&ldquo;I am very glad to hear it,&rdquo; quoth Daffydowndilly; &ldquo;but if you please, sir, I should like to get out of his way as soon as possible.&rdquo;

Then they went on a little farther, and soon heard the sound of a drum and fife. Daffydowndilly pricked up his ears at this, and besought his companion to hurry forward, that they might not miss seeing the soldiers. Accordingly, they made what haste they could, and soon met a company of soldiers, gayly dressed, with beautiful feathers in their caps, and