any rabbits. She
thought that such animals in Rodolphus's possession would make her a great
deal of trouble. But Rodolphus said that he _would_ have some. At least,
he said, he would have _one_.

Rodolphus was standing in the path, in front of the door of his mother's
house, when he said this. His mother was upon the great flat stone which
served for a step.

"But Beechnut asks a quarter of a dollar for his rabbits." said his
mother, in an expostulating tone, "and you have not got any money."

"Ah, but I know where I can get some money," said Rodolphus.

"Where?" said his mother.

"Father will give it to me," said Rodolphus.

"But I shall ask him not to give it to you," said his mother.

"I don't care," said Rodolphus. "I can get it, if you do."

"How?" asked his mother.

Rodolphus did not answer, but began to turn summersets and cut capers on
the grass, making all sorts of antic gestures and funny grimaces toward
his mother. Mrs. Linn, for that was his mother's name, laughed, and then
went into the house, saying, as she went, "Oh, Rolf, Rolf, what a little
rogue you are!"

Rodolphus's father was a workman, and he was away from home almost all the
day, though sometimes Rodolphus himself went to the place where he worked,
to see him. When Mr. Linn came home at night, sometimes he _played_ with
Rodolphus, and sometimes he quarreled with him: but he never really
_governed_ him.

For example, when Rodolphus was a very little boy, he would climb up into
his father's lap, and begin to feel in his father's waistcoat pockets for
money. If his father directed him not to do so, Rodolphus would pay no
regard to it. If he attempted to take Rodolphus's hands away by force,
Rodolphus would scream, and struggle; and so his father, not wishing to
make a disturbance, would desist. If Mr. Linn frowned and spoke sternly,
Rodolphus would tickle him and make him laugh.

Finally, Rodolphus would succeed in getting a cent, perhaps, or some other
small coin, from his father's pocket, and would then climb down and run
away. The father would go after him, and try all sorts of coaxings and
threatenings, to induce Rodolphus to bring the cent back--while Mrs. Linn
would look on, laughing, and saying, perhaps, "Ah; let him have the cent,
husband. It is not much."

Being encouraged thus by his mother's interposition, Rodolphus would of
course persevere, and the contest would end at last by his keeping the
money. Then he would insist t