human
I have a complaint to make against your son Hamilton. To-day while I was on my way through the streets of our town I was assailed in the fashion of a ruffian by your son, who threw snowballs at me, knocking me down and ruining my silk hat and a rare volume of history I was carrying. I demand that your son apologize to me for his actions or I shall make a complaint to the authorities.
gpt
Hamilton, what does this mean?
human
I don't know,
gpt
Did you snowball Mr. Felps?
human
No. I didn't snowball anybody.
gpt
He says you did.
human
He must be mistaken.
gpt
It is mighty queer, muttered Mr. Spink.
human
I will look into this to-morrow.
gpt
The old Harry take Felps anyway, muttered Ham to himself.
human
How did he learn I threw that snowball? That Dodge crowd must have told him.
gpt
Sure, Mr. Dodder, yer son ought to be locked up, so he ought, said the Irishman.
human
It's him as is wantin' to kill old Mammy Shrader.
gpt
Why, what do you mean, sir?
human
Sure an' wasn't it Carl as knocked the old lady down to-day and laid her on a sick bed, wid a doctor, an' me wife to nurse her till she gits betther? Sure it's a bastly shame, so it is, an' Carl will go to the lock-up onless ye pay all the bills.
gpt
I do not understand you.
human
Thin I'll be after explainin',
gpt
What do you mean by making trouble in this fashion?
human
I didn't make trouble,
gpt
Sure an' he did that,
human
Mr. O'Brien says you knocked Mrs. Shrader down.
gpt
I didn't.
human
He was seen--several b'ys saw him,
gpt
I--er--it was an accident, stammered Carl, quailing before the stern gaze of his parent.
human
The--er--the snowball slipped. It didn't hit Mammy Shrader hard, and she fell down of her own account, not because of the snowball.
gpt
She says th' snowball knocked her down, said Samuel O'Brien.
human
If ye was my b'y I'd be afther givin' ye a good walloppin', so I would!
gpt
I will go and see Mrs. Shrader, said Mr. Dudder.
human
Carl, you remain at home until I get back.
gpt
Can't I go over and see Ham?
human
No.
gpt
I promised him that I would be over.
human
Well, you can't go. You study your lessons, unless you prefer to go with me to Mrs. Shrader's.
gpt
I don't want to go to her house,
human
Carl, I have a good mind to punish you severely, he said.
gpt
I did not think you would treat a woman as Mrs. Shrader has been treated. I shall have to pay her doctor's bill and also something more--at least fifteen or twenty dollars. Mr. Dudder sighed at the thought of parting with so much cash.
human
I shall take the amount out of your spending money, and out of the money I was going to give you for Christmas.
gpt
Can't I have the five dollars you promised me for Christmas?
human
Not a cent of it.
gpt
Oh, you're a mean thing!