herownboywasprovidedforbybeingatthelaborer'swherethemouthwateredmorefrequentlythanthepotboiled,andwhereingeneralnoonewasathometotakecareofthechild.thenhewouldcry,butwhatnobodyknowsnobodycaresfor;sohewouldcrytillhewastired,andthenfallasleep;andwhileweareasleepwecanfeelneitherhungernorthirst.ah,yes;sleepisacapitalinvention.

asyearswenton,annelisbeth'schildgrewapacelikeweeds,althoughtheysaidhisgrowthhadbeenstunted.hehadbecomequiteamemberofthefamilyinwhichhedwelt;theyreceivedmoneytokeephim,sothathismothergotridofhimaltogether.shehadbecomequitealady;shehadacomfortablehomeofherowninthetown;andoutofdoors,whenshewentforawalk,sheworeabonnet;butsheneverwalkedouttoseethelaborer:thatwastoofarfromthetown,and,indeed,shehadnothingtogofor,theboynowbelongedtotheselaboringpeople.hehadfood,andhecouldalsodosomethingtowardsearninghisliving;hetookcareofmary'sredcow,forheknewhowtotendcattleandmakehimselfuseful.

thegreatdogbytheyardgateofanobleman'smansionsitsproudlyonthetopofhiskennelwhenthesunshines,andbarksateveryonethatpasses;butifitrains,hecreepsintohishouse,andthereheiswarmanddry.annelisbeth'sboyalsosatinthesunshineonthetopofthefence,cuttingoutalittletoy.ifitwasspring-time,heknewofthreestrawberry-plantsinblossom,whichwouldcertainlybearfruit.thiswashismosthopefulthought,thoughitoftencametonothing.andhehadtositoutintherainintheworstweather,andgetwettotheskin,andletthecoldwinddrytheclothesonhisbackafterwards.ifhewentnearthefarmyardbelongingtothecount,hewaspushedandknockedabout,forthemenandthemaidssaidhewassohorribleugly;buthewasusedtoallthis,fornobodylovedhim.thiswashowtheworldtreatedannelisbeth'sboy,andhowcoulditbeotherwise.itwashisfatetobebelovedbynoone.hithertohehadbeenalandcrab;thelandatlastcasthimadrift.hewenttoseainawretchedvessel,andsatatthehelm,whiletheskippersatoverthegrog-can.hewasdirtyandugly,half-frozenandhalf-starved;healwayslookedasifheneverhadenoughtoeat,whichwasreallythecase.

lateintheautumn,whentheweatherwasrough,windy,andwet,andthecoldpenetratedthroughthethickestclothing,especiallyatsea,awretchedboatwentouttoseawithonlytwomenonboard,or,morecorrectly,amanandahalf,foritwastheskipperandhisboy.therehadonlybeenakindoftwilightallday,anditsoongrewquitedark,andsobitterlycold,thattheskippertookadramtowarmhim.thebottlewasold,andtheglasstoo.itwasperfectintheupperpart,butthefootwasbrokenoff,andithadthereforebeenfixeduponalittlecarvedblockofwood,paintedblue.adramisagreatcomfort,andtwoarebetterstill,thoughttheskipper,whiletheboysatatthehelm,whichheheldfastinhishardseamedhands.hewasugly,andhishairwasmatted,andhelookedcrippledandstunted;theycalledhimthefield-laborer'sboy,thoughinthechurchregisterhewasenteredasannelisbeth'sson.thewindcutthroughtherigging,andtheboatcutthroughthesea.thesails,filledbythewind,swelledoutandcarriedthemalonginwildwaswetandroughaboveandbelow,andmightstillbed!whatisthat?whathasstrucktheboat?