I wouldnt worry about that, Tess told her placidly. If he is very bad you can send him to the reform school.
Oh oo! gasped Dot, all her maternal instincts aroused at such a suggestion. That would be awful.
I dont know. They do send boys to the reform school. Jimmy Mulligan, whose mother lives in that little house on Willow Wythe, is in the reform school because he wouldnt mind his mother.
But they dont send Sammy there, urged Dot.
No o. Of course, admitted the really tender-hearted Tess, we know Sammy isnt really naughty. He is only silly to run away every once in a while.
There was much bustle inside the old Corner House that evening. Because they really missed Ruth so much, her sisters invented divers occupations to fill the hours until
a very wide and red-faced woman stood in the doorway.
Hullo, me bye! she called to Sammy, as he lingered outside the broken fence with a longing eye upon her. Where be yez bound so airly in the marnin?
Im just traveling, Maam, Sammy returned with much dignity. Could could you sell me some breakfast?
Breakfast, is it? repeated the smiling woman. Shure, Id give yez it, if mate wasnt so high now. Come in me kitchen and sit ye down. Theres tay in the pot, and Ill fry yez up a spider full o pork and taters, if thatll do yez?
The menu sounded tempting indeed to Sammy. He accepted the womans invitation instantly and entered the house, past the staring children. The two oldest of the group, a shrewd-faced boy and a sharp-featured girl, stood back and whispered together while they watched the visitor.
Sammy was so much interested in the bountiful breakfast with which the housewife supplied him that he thought very little about the children peering in at the door and open windows. When he had eaten the last crumb he asked his hostess how much he should pay her.
Well, me bye, Ill not overcharge ye, she replied. If yez have ten cents about ye well call it square an thats only for the mate, as I said before is so high, I dunno.
Sammy produced the knotted handkerchief, put it on the table and untied it, displaying the coins it held with something of a flourish. The jingle of so many dimes brought a sigh of wonder in unison from the young spectators at door and windows. The woman accepted her dime without comment.
Sammy thanked her politely, wiped his mouth on his sleeve (napery was conspicuous by its absence in this household) and started out the door. The smaller children scattered to give him passage; the older boy and girl had already gone out of the badly fenced yard and were loitering along the road in the direction Sammy was traveling.
Hullo! Heres raggedy-pants, said the girl saucily, when Sammy came along.
How did you get them holes in your breeches, kid? added the boy.
Never you mind, rejoined Sammy gruffly. Theyre my pants.
Stuck up, aint you? jeered the girl and stuck out her tongue at him.
Sammy thought these were two very impolite children, and although he was not rated at home for his own chivalrous conduct, he considered these specimens in the road before him quite unpleasant young people.
Neer mind, said the boy, looking at Sammy slyly, he dont know everything. He aint seen everything if he is traveling all by himself. I bet hes run away.
I aint running away from you, was Sammys belligerent rejoinder.
You would if I said Boo! to you.
No, I wouldnt.
Ya! scoffed the girl, leering at Sammy, dont talk so much. Do something to him, Peter.
Peter glanced warily back at the house. Perhaps he knew the large, red-faced woman might take a hand in proceedings if he pitched upon the strange boy.
I bet, he said, starting on another tack, that he never saw a cherry-colored calf like ourn.
I bet he never did, crowed the girl in delight.
A cherry-colored calf, scoffed Sammy. Get out! There aint such a thing. A calf might be red; there are red cows
This calf is cherry-colored, repeated the boy earnestly. Its down there in our pasture.
Dont believe it, said Sammy flatly.
Tis so! cried the girl.
I tell you, said the very shrewd-looking boy. Well show it to you for ten cents.
I dont believe it, repeated Sammy, but more doubtfully.
The girl laughed at him more scornfully than before. Hes afraid to spend a dime an him with so much money, she cried.
I dont believe youve got a cherry-colored calf to show me.
Gimme the dime and Ill show you whether we have or not, said Peter.
No, said the cautious Sammy. Ill give you a dime if you show it to me. But no foolin. I wont give you a cent if the calf is any other color.
All right, shouted the other boy. Come on and Ill show you. Come on, Liz.
All right, Peter, said the girl, quite as eagerly. Hurry up, raggedy-pants. We can use that dime, Peter and me can.
The bare-legged youngsters got through a rail fence and darted down a path into a scrubby pasture, as wild as unbroken colts. Sammy, feeling fine after the bountiful breakfast he had eaten, chased after them wishing that he had thought to remove his shoes and stockings too. Peter and Liz seemed so much more free and untrammeled than he!