I don't want it that
much."
"Must I take it back?"
"You think hard, and decide yourself."
"Lift me down," said Billy, after a silence, "I got to put this in the
jar, and tell her."
Wesley set the boy on the floor, but as he did so he paused one second
and strained him close to his breast.
Margaret sat in her chair sewing; Billy slipped in and crept beside her.
The little face was lined with tragedy.
"Why Billy, whatever is the matter?" she cried as she dropped her sewing
and held out her arms. Billy stood back. He gripped his little fists
tight and squared his shoulders. "I got to be shut up in the closet," he
said.
"Oh Billy! What an unlucky day! What have you done now?"
"I stold!" gulped Billy. "He said it was ist a mistake, but it was
worser 'an that. I took something you told me I wasn't to have."
"Stole!" Margaret was in despair. "What, Billy?"
"Cookies!" answered Billy in equal trouble.
"Billy!" wailed Margaret. "How could you?"
"It was for him and you," sobbed Billy. "He said he couldn't eat it
'fore me, but out in the barn it's all dark and I couldn't see. I
thought maybe he could there. Then we might put out the light and you
could have yours. He said I only made it worse, cos I mustn't take
things, so I got to go in the closet. Will you hold me tight a little
bit first? He did."
Margaret opened her arms and Billy rushed in and clung to her a few
seconds, with all the force of his being, then he slipped to the floor
and marched to the closet.
Pages:
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175