Moss had few pennies to spare for sweets,
and, somehow, this candy tasted particularly nice, bought out of
grateful Ben's solitary dime. The little girls shared their goodies
with their favorite mates, but said nothing about the new arrangement,
fearing it would be spoilt if generally known. They told their mother,
however, and she gave them leave to lend their books and encourage Ben
to love learning all they could. She also proposed that they should
drop patch-work and help her make some blue shirts for Ben. Mrs. Barton
had given her the materials, and she thought it would be an excellent
lesson in needle-work as well as a useful gift to Ben--who, boy-like,
never troubled himself as to what he should wear when his one suit of
clothes gave out.
Wednesday afternoon was the sewing time, so the two little B's worked
busily at a pair of shirt sleeves, sitting on their bench in the
door-way, while the rusty needles creaked in and out, and the childish
voices sung school-songs, with frequent stoppages for lively chatter.
For a week, Ben worked away bravely, and never shirked nor complained,
although Pat put many a hard or disagreeable job upon him, and chores
grew more and more distasteful.
Pages:
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58