was
used.

"Stop," said Stuyvesant, "I would not bore into the work bench. I will
get a piece of board."

So he pulled out a small piece of board from under the work bench and
Phonny bored into that.

Mrs. Henry next came to the chopping block. The hatchet was lying upon
the block.

"I am rather sorry to see that you have got a hatchet," said Mrs.
Henry.

"Why, mother?" asked Phonny.

"Because I think it is a dangerous tool. I think it is a very
dangerous tool indeed."

"Oh no, mother," said Phonny, "there is no danger."

"You might be holding a piece of wood in your hand," said Mrs. Henry,
"and then in trying to chop it with your hatchet, hit your hand
instead of the wood. There is great danger when you strike a blow with
a sharp instrument."

"Oh no, mother," said Phonny. "There is not any danger. I have had my
hatchet a long time and I never have cut myself but once."

"That shows that there is some danger," said his mother. "Besides I
knew a boy who was cutting with a hatchet, and it came down through
the board that he was cutting, and struck the boy himself, in the
knee, and wounded him very badly."

"But I shall be very careful," said Phonny. "I _know_ I shall not cut
myself with it."

"I wish," said his mother, "that you would let me have the hatchet to
carry in the house and keep it till you grow older."

"Oh no, mother," said Phonny, "we could not get along at all without
the hatchet, unless we had an axe, and that would be more dangerous
still. But we will be very careful with it."

Mrs. Henry did not appear satisfied with these promises, but she did
not urge Phonny any longer to give the hatchet to her. She walked
along, seeming, however, not at all at her ease. Phonny showed her his
stock of boards and blocks, among which last, was one which he said
was to be made into a boat. After looking around at all these things,
Mrs. Henry and Malleville went away. Phonny and Stuyvesant remained in
the shop.

"I would let her have the hatchet," said Stuyvesant.

"I don't think there is any danger," said Phonny.

"Nor I," said Stuyvesant.

"Then why would not you keep the hatchet here?" asked Phonny.

"Because, Aunt Henry does not feel easy about it," said Stuyvesant.
"It is not right for us to make her feel uncomfortable."

"But then what shall we do when we want to sharpen stakes?" asked
Phonny.

"I don't know," said Stuyvesant,--thinking. "Perhaps we might burn
them sharp in the kitchen