"
"You have acted nobly," said the Duchess. "I am transported with ecstasy
at hearing the nightingale sing for the first time in my garden, and
also at the love which you have shown for your mother. It moves me still
more, however, when I think that my children possess a heart big enough
to part with money intended for their own use, and voluntarily give it
up to afford help and joy to others. I, too, will reward the boy
generously. I wonder what use he would make of the money."
"We could not give the money to a more worthy person," said Alfred, who
then related to his mother the boy's aspirations. "Besides, I have
written to his teacher, and this is what he says about him: 'A greater
deed of charity you could not perform than to help Michael Warden carry
out his desire to learn a trade. He is a clever, ingenious boy, and
would learn quickly. I think he would like best to be a wheelwright, and
I would suggest that you apprentice him with the master in our village.'
So you see, mother, the money would not be spent in vain."
"Very well, the money shall be his."
On the following morning, Alfred sent for Michael, and counted out to
him the money, increasing it to fifty pounds. Michael's astonishment
almost carried him off his feet, and he thanked Alfred profusely for the
extra money. He hurried home to his father and laid his wealth before
him on the table. The old man stared at it in blank amazement, and said:
"My boy, I hope you have not stolen this money!"
"No, father, but a little bird in the forest helped me," and Michael
related the incident.
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