cent and mighty conflict with soap and water. Patsey looked apprehensively every now and then at his home; his mot

there were delays in getting away from home. Getting on a coat was one; finding a hat was the worst of all. Since Bugsey g

h any of the Watson boys, they were so rough and unladylike in their manner. Perhaps that was why Wilford came over at once to Patsey. Patsey did not care for Wilford Ducker e

butcher-ride?

nswered with ve

emme go," Wi

ey replied,

Pat, wo

r final g's. Mrs. Ducker considered it more serious to drop a final g than a dinner plate. She often spoke of

Pat, wo

essly down the stre

d would a wo

huck could

r butcher-ride, Pa

cher

but still beat time with his

a jack-knife in

though only for an instant. I

said with pride. "It's a R

y condescended, after a

week, ord'rin'

y declared stoutly. "You c

ut just then the butcher ca

ard it. Patsey

nt. It was all one to the butcher. He k

It was Mrs. Ducker. Mrs. Ducker had been down the street ordering a crate of pears. Mrs. Ducker wa

he sensation it gave her. Wilford could not have told, either, just how he felt when he saw hi

place. Wilford dared not ask for the return of the knife: his mother would know that he had

s more sorrowf

regarding the downcast little boy with

, but, oh, so glad that she had saved him fro

eason of rest and retirement, that he might the better ponder upon the sins of disobedi

der sorry I jewed him down now. Might as well ha' let