"
"Never fear," replied Gilligren, joyfully, as he put the sixpence in
his pocket, "I shall not trouble you again."
The next morning he cut a short stick to assist him in walking, and
after bidding goodbye to his uncle and aunt he started upon his
journey to London.
"The money will not last him two days," said the man, as he watched
Gilligren go down the turnpike road, "and when it is gone he will
starve to death."
"Or he may fall in with people who will treat him worse than we did,"
rejoined the woman, "and then he 'll wish he had never left us."
But Gilligren, nothing dismayed by thoughts of the future, trudged
bravely along the London road. The world was before him, and the
bright sunshine glorified the dusty road and lightened the tips of the
dark green hedges that bordered his path. At the end of his pilgrimage
was the great city, and he never doubted he would find therein proper
work and proper pay, and much better treatment than he was accustomed
to receive.
So, on he went, whistling merrily to while away the time, watching the
sparrows skim over the fields, and enjoying to the full the unusual
sights that met his eyes. At noon he overtook a carter, who divided
with the boy his luncheon of bread and cheese, and for supper a
farmer's wife gave him a bowl of milk. When it grew dark he crawled
under a hedge and slept soundly until dawn.
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