"We have done him good already, haven't we?" pursued Dudley,
reflectively; "only he started by doing us good. I tell you what we
might do for him. Teach him to read."
Roy looked very doubtful.
"It is so difficult, and he seems so stupid. I did try the other day,
for he asked me to; but I never thought any body _could_ be so stupid! I
told him we would have to give it up, for it made me lose my temper so.
I thought perhaps he could go to old Principle. You see he is too big
for school, but old Principle is always saying he likes to teach people
things."
"Well, that is awfully funny," said Dudley, pointing down to the pine
woods opposite them. "Talk of him and there he is! Isn't that him
walking along over there? Look--now he's stooping down to look at
something. I'm sure it's old Principle; we'll call him!"
Two shrill boyish voices rang out, "Old Principle! Hi! We want you! Old
Principle!"
Soon after old Principle was standing beneath the wall, having obeyed
the summons.
He stood looking up at them with his straw hat pushed to the back of his
head, and his keen, piercing eyes twinkling kindly under his thick,
shaggy eyebrows.
"Well, laddies, you're above me now.
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