thick curls,
looking at us and listening to us with an air of the most intelligent
attention that returned our curiosity with interest; and when the boy,
in answer to our inquiry if he could hold a horse, clutched the reins
with his small fingers, and planted himself beside our high-mettled
steed with an air of firm determination, that seemed to say, "I'm
your master! Run awry if you dare!" we both of us felt that they were
subjects for a picture, and that, though Sir Joshua might not have
painted them, Gainsborough and our own Collins would.

But besides their exceeding picturesqueness, the evident content, and
helpfulness, and industry of these little creatures, was delightful to
look at and to think of. In conversation they were at once very civil
and respectful (Bessy dropping her little curtsy, and Harry putting
his hand to the lock of hair where the hat should have been, at every
sentence they uttered) and perfectly frank and unfearing. In answer to
our questions, they told us that "Father was a broom-maker, from the
low country; that he had come to these parts and married mother, and
built their cottage, because houses were so scarce hereabouts, and
because of its convenience to the heath; that they had done very well
till the last winter, when poor father had had the fever for five
months, and they had had much ado to get on; but that father was brave
again now, and was building _another house_ (house!! ) larger and finer,
upon Squire Benson's lands: the squire had promised them a garden from
the waste, and mother hoped to keep a pig. They were trying to get all
the money they could to buy the pig; and what his honour had promised
them for holding the horse, was all to be given to mother for that
purpose."

It was impossible not to be charmed with these children. We went again
and again to the Everley wood, partly to gather lilies, partly to
rejoice in the trees with their young leaves so beautiful in texture as
well as in colour, but chiefly to indulge ourselves in the pleasure of
talking to the children, of adding something to their scanty stock of
clothing, (Bessy ran as fast as her feet could carry her to the clear
pool at the bottom of the wood, to look at herself in her new bonnet,)
and of assisting in the accumulations of the Grand Pig Savings' Bank,
by engaging Harry to hold the horse, and Bessy to help fill the lily
basket.

This employment, by showing that the lilies had a money value, put a new
br