nything bad or mean unless you intend to
cover it up with lies."

What a simple rule was this of the teacher!--and yet--well the very next
thing he said was:

"Where did you hear all that swearing?"

How could I answer his question truthfully? I was old enough to know
that the truth would disgrace my Uncle Peabody. I could not tell the
truth, therefore, and I didn't. I put it all on Dug Draper, although his
swearing had long been a dim, indefinite and useless memory.

As a penalty I had to copy two maxims of Washington five times in my
writing-book. In doing so I put them on the wall of my memory where I
have seen them every day of my life and from which I read as I write.

"Speak no evil of the absent for it is unjust."

"Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial
fire called conscience."

The boys in the school were a sturdy big-boned lot with arms and legs
like the springing bow. Full-lunged, great-throated fellows, they grew
to be, calling the sheep and cattle in the land of far-reaching
pastures. There was an undersized boy three years older who often picked
on me and with whom I would have no peaceful commerce.

I copy from an old memorandum book a statement of my daily routine just
as I put it down one of those days:

"My hardest choar is to get up after uncle calls me. I scramble
down stairs and pick up my boots and socks and put them on. Then I
go into the setting room and put on my jacket. I get some brand
for the sheep. Then I put on my cap and mittens and go out and feed
the sheep. Then I get my breakfast. Then I put on my frock, cap,
mittens and fetch in my wood. Then I feed the horses their oats.
Then I lay away my old clothes until night. I put on my best coat
and mittens and tippet and start for school. By the time I get to
Joe's my toes are cold and I stop and warm them. When I get to
school I warm me at the stove. Then I go to my seat and study my
reader, then I take out my arithmetic, then my spelling book, then
comes the hardest study that ever landed on Plymouth Rock. It is
called geography. After the spelling lesson comes noon. The teacher
plays with me cos the other boys are so big. I am glad when I go
home. Then I do my choars again, and hear my aunt read until
bedtime."

There were girls in the school, but none like Sally. They whispered
together with shy glances in o