第7章

Hehadthelastpieceofcakeinonehand，andthelastbiteofsaladdisappearedinonegreatgulp。Thenthegirlsshoutedagain。

"Let\'shaveasampleourselves，"suggestedone。Shecaughtuptheboxandhandedouttheremainingsandwich。Anothergirldivideditintobiteseachlittleoveraninchsquare，andthensheliftedthecuplidanddepositedapreservedstrawberryoneachbite。"One，two，three，altogethernow!"

shecried。

"Youoldmeanthings!"screamedBilly。

Inaninstanthewasdownintheroadandhandfulsofdustbegantoflyamongthem。Thegirlsscatteredbeforehim。

"Billy!"criedElnora。"Billy!I\'llnevergiveyouanotherbite，ifyouthrowdustonanyone!"

ThenBillydroppedthedust，boredbothfistsintohiseyes，andfledsobbingintoElnora\'snewblueskirt。

Shestoopedtomeethimandconsolationbegan。Thosegirlslaughedon。Theyscreamedandshouteduntilthelittlebridgeshook。

"To-morrowmightaswellbeaclearday，"saidEllen，passingaroundandfeedingtheremainingberriestothegirlsastheycouldcomposethemselvesenoughtotakethem。

"Billy，Iadmireyourtastemorethanyourtemper。"

Elnoralookedup。"Thelittlesoulisnothingbutskinandbones，"shesaid。"Ineverwasreallyhungrymyself；

wereanyofyou?"

"Well，Ishouldsayso，"criedaplump，rosygirl。

"I\'mfamishedrightnow。Let\'shavebreakfastimmediate!"

"Wegottorefillthisboxfirst!"saidEllenBrownlee。

"Who\'sgotthebutter?"Agirladvancedwithawoodentray。

"Putitinthepreservecup，alittlestrawberryflavourwon\'thurtit。Next!"calledEllen。

AloafofbreadwasproducedandEllencutoffapiecewhichfilledthesandwichbox。

"Next!"Abottleofoliveswasunwrapped。Thegrocer\'sboywhowaswaitingopenedthat，andEllenfilledthesaladdish。

"Next!"

Abagofmacaroonswasproducedandthecakecompartmentfilled。

"Next!"

"Idon\'tsupposethiswillmakequiteasgooddogfeedasabird，"laughedagirlholdingopenabagofslicedhamwhileEllenfilledthemeatdish。

"Next!"

Aboxofcandywashandedherandshestuffedeverycornerofthelunchboxwithchocolatesandnougat。

ThenitwasclosedandformallypresentedtoElnora。

Thegirlseachhelpedthemselvestocandyandolives，andgaveBillytheremainderofthefood。Billytookonebiteofham，andapproved。BelleandJimmyhadgivenupchasingthedog，andangryandashamed，stoodwaitinghalfablockaway。

"Comeback!"criedBilly。"Yougreatbigdunces，comeback!They\'sanewkindofmeat，andcakeandcandy。"

Theboydelayed，butthegirljoinedBilly。Ellenwipedherfingers，steppedtothecementabutmentandbeganreciting"HoratioattheBridge!"substitutingElnorawherevertheheroappearedinthelines。

Elnoragatheredupthesacks，andgavethemtoBelle，tellinghertotakethefoodhome，cutandspreadthebread，setthingsonthetable，andeatnicely。

ThenElnorawastakenintothewagonwiththegirls，anddrivenontheruntothehighschool。Theysangasongbeginning——

"Elnora，pleasegivemeasandwich。

I\'mashamedtoaskforcake"

astheywent。Elnoradidnotknowit，butthatwasherinitiation。Shebelongedto"thecrowd。"Sheonlyknewthatshewashappy，andvaguelywonderedwhathermotherandAuntMargaretwouldhavesaidabouttheproceedings。

CHAPTERVII

WHEREINMRS。COMSTOCKMANIPULATESMARGARET

ANDBILLYACQUIRESARESIDENCE

SaturdaymorningElnorahelpedhermotherwiththework。

WhenshehadfinishedMrs。ComstocktoldhertogotoSintons\'andwashherIndianrelics，sothatshewouldbereadytoaccompanyWesleytotownintheafternoon。

Elnorahurrieddowntheroadandwassoonatthecisternwithatubbusilywashingarrowpoints，stoneaxes，tubes，pipes，andskin-cleaningimplements。

Thenshewenthome，dressedandwaswaitingwhenthecarriagereachedthegate。Shestoppedatthebankwiththebox，andSintonwenttodohismarketingandsomeshoppingforhiswife。

AtthedrygoodsstoreMr。Brownleecalledtohim，"Hello，Sinton!Howdoyoulikethefateofyourlunchbox?"Thenhebegantolaugh——

"Ialwayshatetoseeamanlaughingalone，"saidSinton。

Itlookssoselfish!Tellmethefun，andletmehelpyou。"

Mr。Brownleewipedhiseyes。

"Isupposedyouknew，butIseeshehasn\'ttold。"

Thenthethreedays\'historyofthelunchboxwasrepeatedwithparticularswhichincludedthedog。

"Nowlaugh!"concludedMr。Brownlee。

"BlestifIseeanythingfunny!"repliedWesleySinton。

"Andifyouhadboughtthatboxandfurnishedoneofthoselunchesyourself，youwouldn\'teither。Icallsuchaworkashame!I\'llhaveitstopped。"

"Someonemustseetothat，allright。Theyarelittleleeches。Theirfatherearnsenoughtosupportthem，buttheyhavenomother，andtheyrunwild。Isupposetheyarecrazyforcookedfood。Butitisfunny，andwhenyouthinkitoveryouwillseeit，ifyoudon\'tnow。"

"Aboutwherewouldabodyfindthatfather?"inquiredWesleySintongrimly。Mr。Brownleetoldhimandhestarted，locatingthehousewithlittledifficulty。

Housewastheproperword，forofhometherewasnosign。

Justasmallemptyhousewiththreeunkeptlittlechildrenracingthroughandaroundit。Thegirlandtheelderboyhungback，butdirtylittleBillygreetedSintonwith:

"Whatyouwanthere?"

"Iwanttoseeyourfather，"saidSinton。)

"Well，he\'sasleep，"saidBilly。

"Where?"askedSinton。

"Inthehouse，"answeredBilly，"andyoucan\'twakehim。"

"Well，I\'lltry，"saidWesley。

Billyledtheway。"Thereheis!"hesaid。"Heisdrunkagain。"

Onadirtymattressinacornerlayamanwhoappearedtobestrongandwell。Billywasright。Youcouldnotawakehim。Hehadgonethelimit，andalittlebeyond。

Hewasnowfacingeternity。Sintonwentoutandclosedthedoor。

"Yourfatherissickandneedshelp，"hesaid。

"Youstayhere，andIwillsendamantoseehim。"

"Ifyoujustlethim\'lone，he\'llsleepitoff，"

volunteeredBilly。"He\'sthatwayallthetime，buthewakesupandgetsussomethingtoeatafterawhile。

Onlywaitin\'twistsyouupinsideprettybad。"

Theboyworenoairofcomplaint。Hewasmerelystatingfacts。

WesleySintonlookedintentlyatBilly。"Areyoutwistedupinsidenow?"heasked。

Billylaidagrimyhandontheregionofhisstomachandthefilthylittlewaistsankclosetothebackbone。

"Betyerlife，boss，"hesaidcheerfully。

"Howlonghaveyoubeentwisted?"askedSinton。

Billyappealedtotheothers。"Whenwasitwehadthestuffonthebridge?"

"Yesterdaymorning，"saidthegirl。

"Isthatallgone?"askedSinton。

"Shewentandtoldustotakeithome，"saidBillyruefully，"and\'cosshesaidto，wetookit。Pahadcomeback，hewasdrinkingsomemore，andheatealotofit——

almostthewholething，anditmadehimsickasadog，andhewentandwastedallofit。Thenhegotdrunksomemore，andnowhe\'sasleepagain。Wedidn\'tgethardlynone。"

"Youchildrensitonthestepsuntilthemancomes，"

saidSinton。"I\'llsendyousomethingstoeatwithhim。

What\'syourname，sonny?"

"Billy，"saidtheboy。

"Well，Billy，Iguessyoubettercomewithme。I\'lltakecareofhim，"Sintonpromisedtheothers。HereachedahandtoBilly。

"Iain\'tnobaby，I\'maboy!"saidBilly，asheshuffledalongbesideSinton，takingakickateverymovableobjectwithoutregardtohisbatteredtoes。

OncetheypassedaGreatDanedoglollingafteritsmaster，andBillyascendedSintonasifhewereatree，andclungtohimwithtremblinghothands。

"Iain\'tafraidofthatdog，"scoffedBilly，ashewasagainplacedonthewalk，"butonc\'thetookmeforaratorsomepin\'andhisteethcutintomyback。IfI\'dadoneright，I\'datookthelawonhim。"

Sintonlookeddownintotheindignantlittleface。Thechildwasbrightenough，hehadagoodhead，butoh，suchabody!

"I\'boutgotenoughofdogs，"saidBilly。"Iusedtolike\'em，butI\'mgettingprettytired。Yououghttoseenthelickin\'JimmyandBelleandmegiveourdogwhenwecaughthim，fortakingalittlebirdshegaveus。Wewaited\'tillhewasasleep\'nenlaidaboardonhimandallofusjumpedonittoonc\'t。Youcouldaheardhimyellamile。

Bellesaidmebbewecouldsqueezethebirdoutofhim。

But，squeezenothing!Hewashollerasus，andthatbirdwaslostlong\'foreitgottohisstummick。Itwasistalittleone，anyway。Bellesaiditwouldn\'t\'a\'madeabiteapieceforthreeofusnohow，andthedoggotonegoodswaller。

Wedidn\'tgetmuchofthemeat，either。Patookmostofthat。Seemslikepasanddogsgetseverything。"

Billylaugheddolefully。InvoluntarilyWesleySintonreachedhishand。TheywerecomingintothebusinesspartofOnabashaandthestreetswerecrowded。Billyunderstoodittomeanthathemightlosehiscompanionandtookagrip。

Thatlittlehothandclingingtighttohis，thesorefeetrecklesslyscouringthewalk，thehungrychildpantingforbreathashetriedtokeepeven，thebravesouljestinginthefaceofhardluck，caughtSintoninatender，emptyspot。

"Say，son，"hesaid。"Howwouldyouliketobewashedclean，andhaveallthesupperyourskincouldhold，andsleepinagoodbed?"

"Aw，gee!"saidBilly。"Iain\'tdeadyet!Themthingsisinheaven!Poorfolkscan\'thavethem。Pasaidso。"

"Well，youcanhavethemifyouwanttogowithmeandgetthem，"promisedSinton。

"Honest?"

"Yes，honest。"

"Crostyerheart?"

"Yes，"saidSinton。

"KinItakesometoJimmyandBelle?"

"Ifyou\'llcomewithmeandbemyboy，I\'llseethattheyhaveplenty。"

"Whatwillpasay?"

"Yourpaisinthatkindofsleepnowwherehewon\'twakeup，Billy，"saidSinton。"Iamprettysurethelawwillgiveyoutome，ifyouwanttocome。"

"Whenpeopledon\'teverwakeupthey\'redead，"

announcedBilly。"Ismypadead?"

"Yes，heis，"answeredSinton。

"Andyou\'lltakecareofJimmyandBelle，too?"

"Ican\'tadoptallthreeofyou，"saidSinton。"I\'lltakeyou，andseethattheyarewellprovidedfor。Willyoucome?"

"Yep，I\'llcome，"saidBilly。"Let\'seat，firstthingwedo。"

"Allright，"agreedSinton。"Comeintothisrestaurant。"

HeliftedBillytothelunchcounterandorderedtheclerktogivehimasmanyglassesofmilkashewanted，andabiscuit。

"Ithinkthere\'sgoingtobefriedchickenwhenwegethome，Billy，"hesaid，"soyoujusttaketheedgeoffnow，andfilluplater。"

WhileBillylunchedSintoncalledupthedifferentdepartmentsandnotifiedtheproperauthoritiesendingwiththeWomen\'sReliefAssociation。HesentabasketoffoodtoBelleandJimmy，boughtBillyapairoftrousers，andashirt，andwenttobringElnora。

"Why，UncleWesley!"criedthegirl。"WheredidyoufindBilly?"

"I\'veadoptedhimforthetimebeing，ifnotlonger，"

repliedWesleySinton。

"Wheredidyougethim?"

"Well，youngwoman，"saidWesleySinton，"Mr。Brownleetoldmethehistoryofyourlunchbox。Itdidn\'tseemsofunnytomeasitdoestotherestofthem；soI

wenttolookupthefatherofBilly\'sfamily，andmakehimtakecareofthem，orallowthelawtodoitforhim。

Itwillhavetobethelaw。"

"He\'sdeaderthananything!"brokeinBilly。"Hecan\'tevertakeallthemeatanymore。"

"Billy!"gaspedElnora。

"Neveryoumind!"saidSinton。"Achilddoesn\'tsaysuchthingsaboutafatherwholovedandraisedhimright。

Whenithappens，thefatheraloneistoblame。Youwon\'thearBillytalklikethataboutmewhenIcrossover。"

"Youdon\'tmeanyouaregoingtotakehimtokeep!"

"I\'llsoonneedhelp，"saidWesley。"Billywillcomeinjustaboutrighttenyearsfromnow，andifIraisehimI\'llhavehimthewayIwanthim。"

"ButAuntMargaretdoesn\'tlikeboys，"objectedElnora。

"Well，shelikesme，andIusedtobeaboy。Anyway，asIremembershehashadherwayabouteverythingatourhouseeversinceweweremarried。IamgoingtopleasemyselfaboutBilly。Hasn\'tshealwaysdonejustasshechosesofarasyouknow?Honest，Elnora!"

"Honest!"repliedElnora。"Youarebeautifultoallofus，UncleWesley；butAuntMargaretwon\'tlikeBilly。

Shewon\'twanthiminherhome。"

"Inourhome，"correctedWesley。

"Whatmakesyouwanthim?"marvelledElnora。

"Godonlyknows，"saidSinton。"Billyain\'tsobeautiful，andheain\'tsosmart，Iguessit\'sbecausehe\'ssohuman。

Myheartgoesouttohim。"

"Sodidmine，"saidElnora。"Ilovehim。I\'dratherseehimeatmylunchthanhaveitmyselfanytime。"

"Whatmakesyoulikehim?"askedWesley。

"Why，Idon\'tknow，"ponderedElnora。"He\'ssolittle，heneedssomuch，he\'sgotsuchsplendidgrit，andhe\'sperfectlyunselfishwithhisbrotherandsister。

ButwemustwashhimbeforeAuntMargaretseeshim。

Iwonderifmother——"

"Youneedn\'tbother。I\'mgoingtotakehimhomethewayheis，"saidSinton。"IwantMaggietoseetheworstofit。"

"I\'mafraid——"beganElnora。

"SoamI，"saidWesley，"butIwon\'tgivehimup。

He\'stakenasortofgriponmyheart。I\'vealwaysbeencrazyforaboy。Don\'tlethimhearus。"

"Don\'tlethimbekilled!"criedElnora。DuringtheirtalkBillyhadwanderedtotheedgeofthewalkandbarelyescapedthewheelsofapassingautomobileinanefforttocatchastraykittenthatseemedindanger。

WesleydrewBillybacktothewalk，andheldhishandclosely。

"Areyouready，Elnora?"

"Yes；youweregonealongtime，"shesaid。

Wesleyglancedatapackageshecarried。"Havetohaveanotherbook?"heasked。

"No，Iboughtthisformother。I\'vehadsuchsplendidlucksellingmyspecimens，Ididn\'tfeelrightaboutkeepingallthemoneyformyself，soIsavedenoughfromtheIndianrelicstogetafewthingsIwanted。Iwouldhavelikedtohavegottenheradress，butIdidn\'tdare，soI

compromisedonabook。"

"Whatdidyouselect，Elnora?"askedWesleywonderingly。

"Well，"saidshe，"IhavenoticedmotheralwaysseemedinterestedinanythingMarkTwainwroteinthenewspapers，andIthoughtitwouldcheerherupalittle，soIjustgothis`InnocentsAbroad。\'Ihaven\'treaditmyself，butI\'veseenmentionmadeofitallmylife，andthecriticssayit\'sgenuinefun。"

"Good!"criedSinton。"Good!You\'vemadeasplendidchoice。Itwilltakehermindoffherselfalot。Butshewillscoldyou。"

"Ofcourse，"assentedElnora。"But，possiblyshewillreadit，andfeelbetter。I\'mgoingtoserveheratrick。

IamgoingtohideituntilMonday，andsetitonherlittleshelfofbooksthelastthingbeforeIgoaway。Shemusthaveallofthembyheart。When，sheseesanewoneshecan\'thelpbeingglad，forshelovestoread，andifshehasalldaytobecomeinterested，maybeshe\'lllikeitsoshewon\'tscoldsomuch。"

"Wearebothinforit，butIguessweareprepared。

Idon\'tknowwhatMargaretwillsay，butI\'mgoingtotakeBillyhomeandsee。Maybehecanwinwithher，ashedidwithus。"

Elnorahaddoubts，butshedidnotsayanythingmore。

WhentheystartedhomeBillysatonthefrontseat。

Hedrovewiththehitchingstraptiedtotherailingofthedash-board，flourishedthewhip，andyelledwithdelight。AtfirstSintonlaughedwithhim，butbythetimeheleftElnorawithseveralpackagesathergate，hewaslookingseriousenough。

Margaretwasatthedoorastheydroveupthelane。

WesleyleftBillyinthecarriage，hitchedthehorsesandwenttoexplaintoher。Hehadnotreachedherbeforeshecried，"Look，Wesley，thatchild!You\'llhavearunaway!"

Wesleylookedandran。Billywasstandinginthecarriageslashingthemettlesomehorseswiththewhip。

"Seememake\'emgo!"heshoutedasthewhipfellasecondtime。

Hedidmakethemgo。Theytookthehitchingpostandafewfencepalings，whichscrapedthepaintfromawheel。Sintonmissedthelinesatthefirsteffort，butthedraggingpostimpededthehorses，andhesooncaughtthem。Heledthemtothebarn，andorderedBillytoremaininthecarriagewhileheunhitched。ThenleadingBillyandcarryinghispackagesheenteredtheyard。

"Yourunplayafewminutes，Billy，"hesaid。"Iwanttotalktothenicelady。"

TheniceladywaslookingratherstupefiedasWesleyapproachedher。

"Whereinthenameofsensedidyougetthatawfulchild?"shedemanded。

"HeisayounggentlemanwhohasbeenstoppingElnoraandeatingherluncheveryday，partofthetimewiththeassistanceofhisbrotherandsister，whileourgirlwenthungry。Brownleetoldmeaboutitatthestore。

It\'shappenedthreedaysrunning。Thefirsttimeshewentwithoutanything，thesecondtimeBrownlee\'sgirltookhertolunch，andthethirdacrowdofhighschoolgirlsboughtalotofstuffandmetthematthebridge。

Theyoungstersseemedtothinktheycouldrobhereveryday，soIwenttoseetheirfatherabouthavingitstopped。"

"Well，Ishouldthinkso!"criedMargaret。

"Therewerethreeofthem，Margaret，"saidWesley，"thatlittlefellow——"

"Hyena，youmean，"interpolatedMargaret。

"Hyena，"correctedWesleygravely，"andanotherboyandagirl，allequallydirtyandhungry。Themanwasdead。Theythoughthewasinadrunkensleep，buthewasstonedead。Ibroughtthelittleboywithme，andsenttheofficersandotherhelptothehouse。

He\'shalfstarved。Iwanttowashhim，andputcleanclothesonhim，andgivehimsomesupper。"

"Haveyougotanythingtoputonhim?"

"Yes。"

"Wheredidyougetit?"

"Boughtit。Itain\'tmuch。AllIgotdidn\'tcostadollar。"

"Adollarisagooddealwhenyouworkandsaveforitthewaywedo。"

"Well，Idon\'tknowabetterplacetoputit。Haveyougotanyhotwater?I\'llusethistubatthecistern。

Pleasegivemesomesoapandtowels。"

InsteadMargaretpushedbyhimwithashriek。Billyhadplayedbyproducingacordfromhispocket，andhavingtiedthetailsofMargaret\'swhitekittenstogether，hehadclimbedonaboxandhungthemacrosstheclothesline。

Wildwithfrightthekittenswereclawingeachothertodeath，andtheairwaswhitewithfur。Thestringhadtwistedandthefrightenedcreaturescouldnotrecognizefriends。Margaretsteppedbackwithbleedinghands。

Sintoncutthecordwithhisknifeandthepoorlittlecatsracedunderthehousebleedinganddisfigured。

MargaretwhitewithwrathfacedWesley。

"Ifyoudon\'thitchupandtakethatanimalbacktotown，"shesaid，"Iwill。"

Billythrewhimselfonthegrassandbegantoscream。

"YousaidIcouldhavefriedchickenforsupper，"

hewailed。"Yousaidshewasanicelady!"

WesleyliftedhimandsomethinginhismannerofhandlingthechildinfuriatedMargaret。Histouchwassogentle。ShereachedforBillyandgrippedhisshirtcollarintheback。Wesley\'shandclosedoverhers。

"Gently，girl!"hesaid。"Thislittlebodyiscoveredwithsores。"

"Sores!"sheejaculated。"Sores?Whatkindofsores?"

"Oh，theymightbefrombruisesmadebyfistsorboottoes，ortheymightbebadblood，fromwrongeating，ortheymightbepurefilth。Willyouhandmesometowels?"

"No，Iwon\'t!"saidMargaret。

"Well，givemesomerags，then。"

Margaretcompromisedonpiecesofoldtablecloth。

WesleyledBillytothecistern，pumpedcoldwaterintothetub，pouredinakettleofhot，andbeginningattheheadscouredhim。Theboyshuthislittleteeth，andsaidneverawordthoughhetwistedoccasionallywhenthesoapstruckarawspot。Margaretwatchedtheprocessfromthewindowinamazedandever-increasinganger。

WheredidWesleylearnit?Howcouldhisbighandsbesogentle?Hecametothedoor。

"Haveyougotanyperoxide?"heasked。

"Alittle，"sheansweredstiffly。

"Well，Ineedaboutapint，butI\'llbeginonwhatyouhave。"

Margarethandedhimthebottle。Wesleytookacup，weakenedthedrugandsaidtoBilly:"Man，thesesoresonyoumustbehealed。Thenyoumusteatthekindoffoodthat\'sfitforlittlemen。Iamgoingtoputsomemedicineonyou，anditisgoingtostinglikefire。Ifitjustrunsoff，Iwon\'tuseanymore。Ifitboils，thereispoisonintheseplaces，andtheymustbetiedup，dosedeveryday，andyoumustbewashed，andkeptmightyclean。

Now，holdstill，becauseIamgoingtoputiton。"

"Ithinktheoneonmylegistheworst，"saidtheundauntedBilly，holdingoutarawplace。Sintonpouredonthedrug。

Billy\'sbodytwistedandwrithed，buthedidnotrun。

"Gee，lookatitboil!"hecried。"Iguessthey\'spoison。

You\'llhavetodoittoallofthem。"

Wesley\'steethwereset，ashewatchedtheboy\'sface。

Hepouredthedrug，strongenoughtodoeffectivework，onadozenplacesoverthatlittlebodyandbandagedallhecould。Billy\'slipsquiveredattimes，andhischinjumped，buthedidnotshedatearorutterasoundotherthantotakeadeepinterestintheboiling。AsWesleyputthesmallshirtontheboy，andfastenedthetrousers，hewasreadytoresetthehitchingpostandmendthefencewithoutaword。

"NowamIclean?"askedBilly。

"Yes，youarecleanoutside，"saidWesley。"Thereissomedirtybloodinyourbody，andsomebadwordsinyourmouth，thatwehavetogetout，butthattakestime。

Ifweputrightthingstoeatintoyourstomachthatwilldoawaywiththesores，andifyouknowthatIdon\'tlikebadwordsyouwon\'tsaythemanyoftenerthanyoucanhelp，willyouBilly?"

BillyleanedagainstWesleyinapparentindifference。

"Iwanttoseeme!"hedemanded。

Wesleyledtheboyintothehouse，andliftedhimtoamirror。

"My，I\'mpurtygood-looking，ain\'tI?"braggedBilly。

ThenasWesleystoopedtosethimonthefloorBilly\'slipspassedclosetothebigman\'searandhastilywhisperedavehement"No!"asheranforthedoor。

"Howlonguntilsupper，Margaret?"askedWesleyashefollowed。

"Youaregoingtokeephimforsupper?"sheasked"Sure!"saidWesley。"That\'swhatIbroughthimfor。

It\'slikelyheneverhadagoodsquaremealofdecentfoodinhislife。He\'sstarvedtothebone。"

Margaretarosedeliberately，removedthewhiteclothfromthesuppertableandsubstitutedanoldredonesheusedtowrapthebread。Sheputawaytheprettydishestheycommonlyusedandsetthetablewitholdplatesforpiesandkitchenutensils。Butshefriedthechicken，andwasgenerouswithmilkandhoney，snowybread，gravy，potatoes，andfruit。

Wesleyrepaintedthescratchedwheel。Hemendedthefence，withBillyholdingthenailsandhandingthepickets。

Thenhefilledtheoldhole，diggedanewoneandsetthehitchingpost。

Billyhoppedononefootathistaskofholdingthepoststeadyastheearthwaspackedaroundit。Therewasnottheshadowofatroubleonhislittlefreckledface。

Sintonthrewinstonesandpoundedtheearthsolidaroundthepost。ThesoundofagulpingsobattractedhimtoBilly。

Thetearswererollingdownhischeeks。"IfI\'daknowedyou\'dhavetogetdowninahole，andworksohardI

wouldn\'t\'a\'hitthehorses，"hesaid。

"Neveryoumind，Billy，"saidWesley。"Youwillknownexttime，soyoucanthinkoverit，andmakeupyourmindwhetheryoureallywanttobeforeyoustrike。"

Wesleywenttothebarntoputawaythetools。HethoughtBillywasathisheels，buttheboylaggedontheway。Abigsnowyturkeygobblerresentedthesmallintruderinhisespecialpreserves，andwithspreadtailanddraggingwingscametowardhimthreateningly。IfthatturkeygobblerhadknownthesortofthingswithwhichBillywasaccustomedtoholdinghisown，heneverwouldhaveissuedthechallenge。Billyacceptedinstantly。

Hedancedaroundwithstiffarmsathissidesandimitatedthegobbler。Thencamehisopportunity，andhejumpedonthebigturkey\'sback。WesleyheardMargaret\'sscreamintimetoseetheflyingleapandadmireitsdexterity。

Theturkeytuckeditstailandscampered。Billyslidfromitsbackandashefellheclutchedwildly，caughtthefoldedtail，andinstinctivelyclungtoit。Theturkeygaveonescreamandrelaxeditsmuscles。Thenitfledindisfigureddefeattothehaystack。Billyscrambledtohisfeetholdingthetail，whilehiseyeswerebulging。

"Why，theblastedoldthingcameoff!"hesaidtoWesley，holdingoutthetailinamazedwonder。

Theman，caughtsuddenly，forgoteverythingandroared。

Seeingwhich，Billythoughtaturkeytailofnoaccountandflungthatonehighabovehimshoutinginwildchildishlaughter，whenthefeathersscatteredandfell。

Margaret，watching，begantocry。Wesleyhadgonemad。

Forthefirsttimeinhermarriedlifeshewantedtotellhermother。WhenWesleyhadwaiteduntilhewassohungryhecouldwaitnolongerheinvadedthekitchentofindacookedsupperbakingonthebackofthestove，whileMargaretwithredeyesnursedapairofdemoralizedwhitekittens。

"Issupperready?"heasked。

"Ithasbeenforanhour，"answeredMargaret。

"Whydidn\'tyoucallus?"

That"us"hadtoomuchcomradeshipinit。ItirritatedMargaret。

"Isupposeditwouldtakeyouevenlongerthanthistofixthingsdecentagain。Asformyturkey，andmypoorlittlekittens，theydon\'tmatter。"

"Iammightysorryaboutthem，Margaret，youknowthat。

Billyisverybright，andhewillsoonlearn——"

"Soonlearn!"criedMargaret。"WesleySinton，youdon\'tmeantosaythatyouthinkofkeepingthatcreaturehereforsometime?"

"No，Ithinkofkeepingawell-behavedlittleboy。"

Margaretsetthesupperonthetable。SeeingtheoldredclothWesleystaredinamazement。Thenheunderstood。

Billycaperedaroundindelight。

"Ain\'tthatpretty?"heexulted。"IwishJimmyandBellecouldsee。We，whyweisteatoutofourhandsoroffaolddrygoodsbox，andwhenwefixupalot，wehavenewspaper。Weain\'teverhadaniceredclothlikethis。"

WesleylookedstraightatMargaret，sointentlythatsheturnedaway，herfaceflushing。Hestackedthedictionaryandthegeographyoftheworldonachair，andliftedBillybesidehim。Heheapedaplategenerously，cutthefood，putaforkintoBilly\'slittlefist，andmadehimeatslowlyandproperly。Billydidhisbest。Occasionallygreedovercamehim，andheusedhislefthandtopopabiteintohismouthwithhisfingers。TheselapsesWesleypatientlyoverlooked，andwentonwithhisgeneralinstructions。

LuckilyBillydidnotspillanythingonhisclothingorthecloth。AftersupperWesleytookhimtothebarnwhilehefinishedthenightwork。ThenhewentandsatbesideMargaretonthefrontporch。Billyappropriatedthehammock，andswungbypullingaropetiedaroundatree。

TheveryenergywithwhichhewentattheworkofswinginghimselfappealedtoWesley。

"Mercy，buthe\'sanactivelittlebody，"hesaid。

"Thereisn\'talazyboneinhim。Seehowheworkstopayforhisfun。"