could have been said to have recovered his scattered senses.
Two hours' more sleep and there would have been no further history to
give of our little hero.

He was dragged to the forge, the fire of which glowed under the force of
the bellows, and by degrees, as the warmth reached him, he was restored
to self-possession. To the inquiries made as to who he was, and from
where he came, he now answered as he had before arranged in his mind.
His father and mother were a long way before him; he was going to
London, but having been tired, he had fallen asleep under the haystack,
and he was afraid that if he went not on to London directly, he never
might find his father and mother again.

"Oh, then," replied the shepherd, "they have gone on before, have they?
Well, you'll catch them, no doubt."

The blacksmith's wife, who had been a party to what was going on, now
brought up a little warm ale, which quite re-established Joey; and at
the same time a waggon drove up to the door, and stopped at the
blacksmith's shop.

"I must have a shoe tacked on the old mare, my friend," said the driver.
"You won't be long?"

"Not five minutes," replied the smith. "You're going to London?"

"Yes, sure."

"Here's a poor boy that has been left behind by his father and mother
somehow--you wouldn't mind giving him a lift?"

"Well, I don't know; I suppose I must be paid for it in the world to
come."

"And good pay too, if you earn it," observed the blacksmith.

"Well, it won't make much difference to my eight horses, I expect," said
the driver, looking at Joey; "so come along, youngster: you may perch
yourself on top of the straw, above the goods."

"First come in with me, child," said the wife of the blacksmith; "you
must have some good victuals to take with you--so, while you shoe the
horse, John, I'll see to the boy."

The woman put before Joey a dish in which were the remains of more than
one small joint, and our hero commenced his attack without delay.

"Have you any money, child?" inquired the woman.

Joey, who thought she might expect payment, replied, "Yes ma'am, I've
got a shilling;" and he pulled one out of his pocket and laid it out on
the table.

"Bless the child! what do you take me for, to think that I would touch
your money? You are a long way from London yet, although you have got
such a chance to get there. Do you know where to go when you get
there?"

"Yes, ma'am," replied Joey; "I shall get work in the stab