Next day the father and son set to work, and Tommy contrived to make
himself so useful, that the Tailor hardly knew how he got through so
much work.
"It's not like the same thing," he broke out at last, "to have some
one a bit helpful about you; both for the tailoring and for company's
sake. I've not done such a pleasant morning's work since your poor
mother died. I'll tell you what it is, Tommy," he added, "if you were
always like this, I shouldn't much care whether Brownie stayed or
went. I'd give up his help to have yours."
"I'll be back directly," said Tommy, who burst out of the room in
search of his brother.
"I've come away," he said squatting down, "because I can't bear it. I
very nearly let it all out, and I shall soon. I wish the things
weren't going to come to me," he added, kicking a stone in front of
him. "I wish he'd measured you, Johnnie."
"I'm very glad he didn't," said Johnnie. "I wish he'd kept them
himself."
"Bottle-green, with brass buttons," murmured Tommy, and therewith fell
into a reverie.
The next night the suit was finished, and laid by the bread and milk.
"We shall see," said the old lady, in a withering tone. There is not
much real prophetic wisdom in this truism, but it sounds very awful,
and the Tailor went to bed somewhat depressed.
Next morning the Brownies came down as usual.
"Don't they look splendid?" said Tommy, feeling the cloth. "When we've
tidied the place I shall put them on."
But long before the place was tidy, he could wait no longer, and
dressed up.
"Look at me!" he shouted; "bottle-green and brass buttons! Oh,
Johnnie, I wish you had some."
"It's a good thing there are two Brownies," said Johnnie, laughing,
"and one of them in rags still. I shall do the work this morning." And
he went flourishing round with a broom, while Tommy jumped madly
about in his new suit. "Hurrah!" he shouted, "I feel just like the
Brownie. What was it Grannie said he sang when he got his clothes? Oh,
I know--
'What have we here? Hemten hamten,
Here will I never more tread nor stampen.'"
And on he danced, regardless of the clouds of dust raised by Johnnie,
as he drove the broom indiscriminately over the floor, to the tune of
his own laughter.
It was laughter which roused the Tailor that morning, laughter coming
through the floor from the kitchen below. He scrambled on his things
and stole down-stairs.
"It's the Brownie," he thought; "I must look, if it's for the last
time."
At the door he paused and listened. The laughter was mixed with
singing, and he heard the words--
"What have we here? Hemten hamten,
Here will I never more tread nor stampen."
He pushed in, and this was the sight that met his eyes:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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