copper to protect the toes.

For the first time since he was on piecework, Jonah set out for the
shop on Monday morning; but when he walked in, Paasch met him with a
look of surprise, thinking he had mistaken the day of the week. He
blinked uneasily when Jonah reached for his apron.

"It vas no use putting on your apron. Dere is not a stitch of work to
be done," he cried in amazement.

Jonah looked round, it was true. He remembered that the repairs, which
were the backbone of Paasch's trade, began to come in slowly on Monday.
Paasch always began the week by making a pair of boots for the window,
which he sold at half price when the leather had perished. In his
eagerness for work, he had forgotten that Paasch's business was so
small. He looked round with annoyance, realizing that he would never
earn the wages here that he needed for his child. For he usually
earned about fifteen shillings, except in the Christmas season, when
trade was brisk. Then he drew more than a pound. This sum of money,
which had formerly satisfied his wants, now seemed a mere flea-bite.

He looked round with a sudden scorn on the musty shop that had given
him work and food since he was a boy. The sight of the old man,
bending over the last, with his simple, placid face, annoyed him. And
he felt a sudden enmity for this man whose old-fashioned ways had let
him grow grey here like a rat in a hole.

He stared round, wondering if anything could be done to improve the
business. The shop wanted livening up with a coat of paint. He would
put new shelves up, run a partition across, and dress the windows like
the shops down town. In his eager thoughts he saw the dingy shop
transformed under his touch, spick and span, alive with customers, who
jostled one another as they passed in and out, the coin clinking
merrily in the till.

He awoke as from a dream, and looked with dismay on the small, grimy
shop keeping pace with its master's old age. Suddenly an idea came
into his head, and he stared at Paasch with a hard, calculating look in
his eyes. Then he got up, and walked abruptly out of the shop. The old
German, who was used to his sudden humours and utter want of manners
peered after his retreating figure with a puzzled look.

Jonah had walked out of the door to look for work. He saw that it was
useless to expect the constant work and wages that he needed from
Paasch, for the old man's business had remained stationary during the
twelve