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。"