penses. Isn't that a
bright idea, mother?"

She had not the heart to say no, or to suggest that a boy on a bicycle
applying for work was a thing too novel to be eminently successful. But
to get work was at once so essential and so hopeless, that she would
not throw any cold water on Donald's eagerness and pluck. She hoped too,
that, spite of the eccentricity of the notion, some shrewd, kind-hearted
gentleman might have sense enough to see the honest purpose of the poor
lad who had only himself to depend upon. For his father had now fallen
into a state of depression which made all application to him for either
advice or help worse than useless. And as both he and Mrs. Boyd had been
solitary orphans when they were married, there were no near relatives
of any kind to come to the rescue. Donald knew, and his mother knew too,
that he must shift for himself, to sink or swim.

So, after two days' rest, which he much needed, the boy went off again
"on his own hook," and his bicycle, which was a degree better than his
legs, he said, as it saves shoe-leather. Also, he was able to come
home pretty regularly at the same hour, which was a great relief to his
mother. But he came home nearly as tired as ever, and with a despondent
look which deepened every day. Evidently it was just the same story; no
work to be had; or if there was work, it was struggled for by a score
of fellows, with age, character, and experience to back them, and Donald
had none of the three. But he had one quality, the root of all success
in the end, dogged perseverance.

There is a saying, that we British gain our victories, not because we
are never beaten, but because we never will see that we are beaten, and
so go on fighting till we win. "Never say die," was Donald's word to
his mother night after night. But she knew that those who never SAY die,
sometimes DO die, quite quietly, and she watched with a sore heart her
boy growing thinner and more worn, even though brown as a berry with
constant exposure all day long to wind and weather, for it was now less
autumn than winter.

After a fortnight, Mrs. Boyd made up her mind that this could not go
on any longer, and said so. "Very well," Donald answered, accepting her
decision as he had been in the habit of doing all his life.--Mrs. Boyd's
children knew very well that whatever her will was, it was sure to be
a just and wise will, herself being the last person she ever thought
of.--"Yes, I'll give in, if you t