“I said he’s a good-hearted boy,” said Taleswapper. “He’ll obey you if you’re fair with him.”

The Smith met his gaze. “I give honest measure. I don’t beat the boys I take on. Have I ever laid hand on you, Bosey?”

“Never, sir.”

“You see, Taleswapper, a prentice can obey out of fear, and he can obey out of greed. But if I’m a good master, he’ll obey me cause he knows that’s how he’ll learn.”

Taleswapper grinned at the smith. “There’s no fee,” said Taleswapper. “The boy will earn it out. And he gets his schooling.”

“No need for a smith to have letters, as I should know.”

“Won’t be long before Hio’s part of the United States,” said Taleswapper. “The boy’s got to vote, I think, and read the newspapers. A man who can’t read only knows what other folks tell him.”

Makepeace Smith looked at Taleswapper with a grin half-hid on his face. “That so? And ain’t it you telling me? So don’t I only know this cause other folks, namely you, is telling me so?”

Taleswapper laughed and nodded. The smith had shot the head clean off the turkey with that one. “I make my way in the world telling tales,” said Taleswapper, “so I know you can get much with just the sound of a man’s voice. He already reads above his years, so it won’t do him harm to miss a bit of school. But his ma is set on him having letters and ciphering like a scholar. So just promise me you won’t stand between him and schooling, if he wants it, and we’ll leave it at that.”

“Got my word on that,” said Makepeace Smith. “And you don’t have to write it down. A man who keeps his word doesn’t have to read and write. But a man who has to write down his promises, you got to watch him all morning. I know that for a fact. We got lawyers in Hatrack these days.”

“The curse of civilized man,” said Taleswapper. “When a man can’t get folks to believe his lies anymore, then he hires him a professional to lie in his place.”

They laughed together over that one, setting there on two stout stumps just inside the door of the forge, the fire smoldering in its brick chimney place behind them, the sun shining on half-melted snow outside. A redbird flew across the grassy, trampled, dunged-up ground in front of the forge. It dazzled Taleswappees eyes for a moment, it was such a startlement against the whites and greys and browns of late winter.