a kindness."

Thus launched on a career of plunder, the judge very speedily
accumulated a water bucket--useful when one wished to milk a cow--an ax
from a woodpile, a kettle from a summer kitchen, a tin of soft soap, and
an excellent blanket from a wash-line.

"For the boy, Solomon," he said gently, when he caught Mahaffy's steady
disapproving glance fixed upon him as he displayed this last trophy.

"What sort of an example are you setting him?"

"The world is full of examples I'd not recommend, Solomon. One must
learn to discriminate. A body can no more follow all the examples than
he can follow all the roads, and I submit that the ends of morality can
as well be served in showing a child what he should not do as in showing
him what he should. Indeed, I don't know but it's the finer educational
idea!"

Thereafter the judge went through the land with an eye out for
wash-lines.

"I'm looking for a change of linen for the boy, Solomon," he said. "Let
me bring you a garment or two. Eh--how few men you'll find of my build;
those last shirts I got were tight around the armholes and had no more
tail than a rabbit!"

Two nights later Mr. Mahaffy accepted a complete change of under linen,
but without visible sign of gratitude.

A night later the judge disappeared from camp, and after a prolonged
absence returned puffing and panting with three watermelons, which
proved to be green, since his activity had been much in advance of the
season.

"I don't suppose there is any greater tax on human ingenuity than to
carry three watermelons!" he remarked. "The human structure is ideally
adapted to the transportation of two--it can be done with comfort; but
when a body tackles three he finds that nature herself is opposed to the
proceeding! Well, I am going back for a bee-gum I saw in a fence corner.
Hannibal will enjoy that--a child is always wanting sweets!"

In this fashion they fared gaily across the state, but as they neared
the Mississippi the judge began to consider the future. His bright
and illuminating intelligence dealt with this problem in all its
many-sidedness.

"I wish you'd enter one of the learned professions, Solomon--have you
ever thought of medicine?" he inquired. Mr. Mahaffy laughed. "But why
not, Solomon? There is nothing like a degree or a title--that always
stamps a man, gives him standing--"

"What do I know about the human system?"

"I should certainly hope you know as much as the average doctor