"That you cut the slice into four parts."
"But I have no knife!" remonstrated the boy.
"But that is the condition," insisted the alderman. "If you want the
bread you must cut it."
"Surely you do not expect me to cut the bread without any knife!" said
Tommy.
"Why not?" asked the alderman, winking his eye at the company.
"Because it cannot be done. How, let me ask you, sir, could you have
married without any wife?"
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the jolly alderman; and he was so pleased with
Tommy's apt reply that he gave him the bread at once, and a knife to
cut it with.
"Thank you, sir," said Tommy; "now that I have the knife it is easy
enough to cut the bread, and I shall now be as happy as you are with
your beautiful wife."
The alderman's wife blushed at this, and whispered to her husband.
The alderman nodded in reply, and watched Tommy carefully as he ate
his supper. When the boy had finished his bread--which he did very
quickly, you may be sure,--the man said,
"How would you like to live with me and be my servant?"
Little Tommy Tucker had often longed for just such a place, where he
could have three meals each day to eat and a good bed to sleep in at
night, so he answered,
"I should like it very much, sir."
So the alderman took Tommy for his servant, and dressed him in a smart
livery; and soon the boy showed by his bright ways and obedience that
he was worthy any kindness bestowed upon him.
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