t?" asked Beechnut.

"Swinging on the gate."

"No," said Beechnut, "I did not mean that. You have done things a
great deal more childish than that."

"What?" said Phonny.

"The first was," said Beechnut, "making a dispute with Malleville, by
appealing to me to decide whether you were childish."

"Why I ought to know if I am childish," said Phonny, "so that if I am,
I may correct the fault."

"I don't think that that was your motive," said Beechnut, "in asking.
If you had wished to know my opinion in order to correct yourself of
the fault, you would have asked me some time privately. I think that
your motive was a wish to get a triumph over Malleville."

"Oh, Beechnut!" said Phonny.

Although Phonny said Oh Beechnut, he still had a secret conviction
that what Beechnut had said was true. He was silent a moment, and then
he asked what was the other childishness which Beechnut had seen
within half an hour.

"In unloading this wood," said Beechnut, "you tried to get hold of the
biggest sticks, even when they were partly buried under the little
ones, and thus worked to great disadvantage. _Men_ take the smaller
ones off first, and so clear the way to get at the larger ones. But
boys make a great ado in getting hold of the largest ones they can
see, by way of showing the by-standers how strong they are."

"Well," said Phonny, "I will throw off the little ones after this."

So Phonny went to work again, and in throwing off the remainder of the
load, he acted in a much more sensible and advantageous manner than he
had done before. The cart was soon empty. Beechnut then went into the
house and brought out a small chair; this he placed in the middle of
the cart, for Malleville. He also placed a board across the cart in
front, in such a manner that the ends of the board rested upon the
sides of the cart. The board thus formed a seat for Beechnut and
Phonny. Beechnut then gave the reins to Phonny, who had taken his seat
upon the board, while he, himself, went to help Malleville in.

He led Malleville up to the cart behind, and putting his hands under
her arms, he said "Jump!" Malleville jumped--Beechnut at the same time
lifting to help her. She did not however quite get up, and so Beechnut
let her down to the ground again.

"Once more," said Beechnut.

So Malleville tried again. She went a little higher this time than
before, but not quite high enough.

"That makes twice," said Beechnut. "The rule is,

"Try