human
I thought, my boy, she said,
gpt
O dear! cried Joel, burrowing deep in the comfortable lap,
human
O dear--O dear!
gpt
Now, that is silly, Joey, said Mother Fisher,
human
In the first place I just hate school!
gpt
Hate school? cried Mother Fisher.
human
Oh, Joey! think how Ben wanted more schooling, only he wouldn't take the chance when Mr. King offered it to him because he felt that he must be earning money as soon as possible. Oh, Joey!
gpt
Oh, Joey!
human
That's just it, he cried.
gpt
Ben wanted it, and I don't. I hate it, and I don't want to go back.
human
Don't want to go back?
gpt
No, I don't. The fellows are always twitting me, and every one gets ahead of me, and I'm everlastingly staying in from ballgames to make up lessons, and I'd like to fire the books, I would,
human
And nobody cares for me because I won't be smart like the others, but I can't help it, I just hate school!
gpt
Joel, said Mrs. Fisher slowly,
human
What?
gpt
I shall go directly downstairs and tell Mr. King that Father Fisher and I, Polly and Phronsie, will not go abroad with him,
human
You can't do that, said Joel in amazement.
gpt
He's engaged the state-rooms.
human
That makes no difference, said Mrs. Fisher,
gpt
I'm big enough to take care of myself, mother,
human
So I thought, said Mrs. Fisher composedly,
gpt
The idea, Mamsie, of your staying at home to take care of me, said Joel excitedly.
human
Why, feel of that. He bared his arm, and coming up, thrust it out for inspection.
gpt
Isn't that splendid? I do verily believe I could whip any fellow in school, I do, he cried, regarding his muscles affectionately.
human
If you don't believe it, just pinch them hard. You don't mean it really, Mamsie, what you said, of course. The idea of staying at home to take care of me,
gpt
I don't care how many boys you can whip, observed Mother Fisher coolly,
human
And before I'd give up, a boy of thirteen, and beg to be taken away from school because the lessons were hard, and I didn't like to study, I'd work myself to skin and bone but I'd go through creditably. Mrs. Fisher sat straight now as an arrow in her corner of the sofa.
gpt
I've said my say, Joel, she finished after a pause,
human
Mother, howled Joel, dashing across the room to her,
gpt
Study doesn't amount to much unless you are glad of the chance, said Mrs. Fisher sharply.
human
I wouldn't give a fig for it, being driven to it,
gpt
I do care for the chance, he cried;
human
Do you really wish to go back to school, and put your mind on your books? Be honest, now.
gpt
Yes, I do,
human
Well, you never told me a lie, and I know you won't begin now, said Mother Fisher, slowly releasing him.
gpt
You may go back, Joe; I'll trust you.
human
Phronsie, said Jasper, as the sound of the two voices could be heard in Mother Fisher's room,
gpt
No, she said, without looking at him,
human
Jasper, I don't.
gpt
Do come, Phronsie, he begged, going over to her, and holding out his hand.
human
You can't think how nice the new one is, with yellow stripes and two long horns. Come and see it, Phronsie.
gpt
No, Jasper, said the child quietly. Then in the next breath,
human
I think Joey must be very sick.
gpt
Oh! Mamsie is taking care of him, and he'll soon be all right, broke in Polly cheerily.
human
Do go with Jasper, Phronsie, do, dear.
gpt
No.
human
If Grandpapa should come in and find her so 'twould be very dreadful! exclaimed Polly, looking over at the five boys, who in this sudden emergency were knocked speechless.
gpt
Do let us all play some game. Can't some one think of one?
human
Let us play 'Twenty Questions,' proposed Jasper brightly.
gpt
I'll begin it, I've thought of something.
human
That's horrid, cried Van, finding his tongue,
gpt
I do, said David.
human
I think 'Twenty Questions' is always nice. Is it animal, vegetable or mineral, Jasper?
gpt
I'm sick of it. Do play something not quite as old as the hills, I beg.
human
Well, you think of something yourself, old man, said Jasper, nodding furiously at him.
gpt
Hurry up.
human
I'd rather have Polly tell a story than any game you could possibly think of, said Van, going over to her, where she sat on the rug at Phronsie's feet.
gpt
Polly, will you?
human
Don't ask her to-night,
gpt
Yes, I shall. It's the only time we shall have, said Van,
human
I can't think of the first thing,
gpt
Don't try to think; just spin it off, said Van.
human
Now begin.
gpt
You're a regular nuisance, Van! exclaimed Jasper indignantly.
human
Polly, I wouldn't indulge him.
gpt
I know Phronsie wants a story; don't you, Phronsie?
human
No, she said again,
gpt
I don't want a story; Joey must be sick.
human
Jasper, cried Polly in despair, and springing up,
gpt
Phronsie, said Jasper, bending to speak into her ear,
human
Give me your handkerchief, Polly,
gpt
Now, there's a dear,
human
Well--well--well! he exclaimed, looking over his spectacles at them all.
gpt
Playing games, hey?
human
We're going to,
gpt
No, Polly is going to tell a story, said Van loudly,
human
I want immensely to hear it! declared the old gentleman, pulling up an easy-chair to the fireside.
gpt
There now, sitting down,
human
I'm fixed. Now proceed, my dear.
gpt
Phronsie, Mr. King beckoned to her, and then suggestively touched his knee,
human
Yes, Grandpapa.
gpt
There, up she goes! sang Mr. King, swinging her into position on his lap.
human
Now then, Polly, my child, we are all ready for the wonderful tale. Stay, where is Joel?
gpt
Joel went upstairs a little while ago, said Jasper quickly.
human
Well, now, Polly, do begin.
gpt
I'll tell how we went to buy Phronsie's shoes, said Polly, drawing up an ottoman to Mr. King's side.
human
Now, boys, bring your chairs up.
gpt
Joel ought to know that you are going to tell a story, Polly, said Mr. King.
human
One of you boys run out and call him at the foot of the stairs.
gpt
He's in Mamsie's room, said Ben.
human
I suppose when she gets through with him, he'll come down.
gpt
Oh! ah! said the old gentleman.
human
Well, Polly, then perhaps you would better proceed.