t help. So I studied very hard. Then I was taken very
sick and was out of my head. I talked about books all the time. The
doctor said I came near having brain fever, and it wouldn't do for me
to go for awhile. I don't believe it would hurt me, but that's why I'm
not going to school this year. Did you ever go to school, Gustus?"

"No, missy; me an' Fritz don't need no larnin'."

"But you do, Gustus, and I'm going to teach you."

He did not look particularly pleased at the offer. Nevertheless, Beth
put the cat and the kittens down, and started to run for her books.

Bent as usual on mischief, Fritz made a dive and, catching the
prettiest kitten by the neck, started away with it. The mother cat was
after him in an instant. Her back was ruffled, and she struck Fritz
with her sharp paw. He dropped the kitten and ran howling from the
room. Gustus thought it a good opportunity to escape and started after
Fritz.

"Gustus, come back," called Beth.

He looked crestfallen, but felt in duty bound to do as his little
mistress bade. She brought her books, and had Gustus sit down beside
her. Then she tried him with the alphabet. He proved woefully
ignorant. After pointing out to him, A, B, and C, many, many times,
she said:

"Show me A, Gustus."

He grinned. "A what, missy?"

"The letter A, of course, g----" She almost said "goosie," but thought
in time that such a word would not be dignified for a teacher to use.

She did not find the fun in teaching that she had expected.
Nevertheless, she persevered. Her face grew flushed as Gustus proved
himself more and more ignorant.

When Mrs. Davenport returned from town, she found Beth at her
self-imposed task.

"Mamma, Gustus ought to go to school."

"I don't wants to go," he cried, his eyes rolling so there was hardly
any black visible in them.

Mrs. Davenport did not press the point. She intended to talk it over
with her husband.

"Mr. Davenport and I bought these for you," she said, untying a package
and drawing out a suit of boy's clothes, stockings, shoes, and
underwear.

Gustus's pride now passed all bounds. He let forth a perfect avalanche
of thanks, using large words, the meaning of which he had little idea.
Even young darkies like big-sounding speech.

The morning passed quickly to Beth. To her delight, towards noon the
sun broke through the clouds. This reminded her of Harvey Baker's
invitation to fish.

"Mamma, may I go down to the wh