They rose every
morning at five, had a slice of bread and a cup of milk, and were
off to the gardener's, where they worked hard until half-past
eight. Mr. Hardy had requested that they should be specially
instructed in the raising of vegetables, and in the planting and
pruning of fruit-trees. The culture of flowers could be of no
utility. The digging made the boys' backs ache at first, and
blistered their hands, but they stuck to it manfully, and soon
became accustomed to the work, returning to breakfast with glowing
cheeks and tremendous appetites.
In the afternoon they might be seen in the carpenter's shop with
their coats and waistcoats off, working away with saw or plane.
Although both made good progress in both pursuits, yet their tastes
differed; Charley preferring the carpentering, while Hubert was the
gardener's most promising pupil. The former was therefore
christened the head carpenter by his sisters, while the latter was
promoted to the post of chief gardener.
Four or five months of this work made a visible difference in the
boys' appearance. They both widened out across the shoulders, their
arms became strong and muscular, and they looked altogether more
healthy and robust. Nor did their appearance belie them; for once
when spending a holiday in the cricket-field with their former
schoolfellows, wrestling matches being proposed after the game was
over, they found that they were able to overcome with ease boys
whom they had formerly considered their superiors in strength.
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