t, to get the money for them. His mother did
not stop to ask him any questions, though she wondered what book he
could buy for three cents.

"Here's the three cents," said Tommy, as he joined the boys in the
road. "Now tell me how I can stay away from school without having
to take any physic."

"Just come with us; we are not going to school this fine morning.
When the factory bell rings for twelve o'clock, just go home; and
your folks won't know but that you have been to school."

"That's the way," added Ben Tinker. "That's what the fellers call
'hookin' jack.'"

Tommy did not exactly like the idea at first, for he could not help
thinking what might happen in case he got found out. He did not ask
himself whether it was right or wrong to do what the boys called
"hooking jack;" but only whether he should get found out or not.

We ought always to do right, whatever may happen to us; and we
should never do wrong, even if we feel certain of not being found
out.

"Where are you going?" asked Tommy.

"Over the other side of the river. We must not let any one see us
after school time, for they will know we ought to be in school."

"And, just you mind, Tom Woggs," added Ben, "if you get found out
yourself, you mustn't tell of us. If you do, you will be apt to get
a broken head--mind that."

Joe Birch jumped over the wall into the lot, and was followed by
his companions in evil. Tommy did not feel just right; not that he
felt bad because he was doing wrong, but because he was afraid of
the two boys.

When they had crossed the lot, they came to a by-road; and here it
was agreed that Ben should run up to the village and buy something
with the money which Tommy had furnished.

He was gone but a little while; and when he joined them again, they
all hastened across the bridge, and were soon in the woods, where
no one could see them.

"What did you buy with the money?" asked Joe.

"Some cigars. I got six for three cents."

"Cigars!" exclaimed Tommy. "What do you want of cigars?"

"To smoke, of course. What do you think?"

"It will make you sick."

"I guess not. You shall have one, if you like. A feller ain't
nobody if he don't smoke," replied Joe.

But the boys decided not to smoke at first; and seeing there was
plenty of sticks and brush in the woods, Tommy proposed that they
should build a house--just for the fun of it.

"So we will; and when we get it done, we will smoke our cigars in
it, and have a good t