ce beneath the hat brim, piqued Mrs. Hodgkins' curiosity.

"What on airth!"--she began, but the figure did not move.

"Going ter be deef like his father, I wonder?" she murmured, then raising
her voice she exclaimed,

"I say, Timotheus, what on airth be ye a dreaming of this bright mornin'
'stead er gittin' ready fer school?"

A moment longer the boy stood staring at the sky, then as if slowly, and
with an effort coming down to earth again, he looked down upon the woman
who had interrupted him as he said,

"I heered ye, Mis' Hodgkins the fust time ye spoke, but when I'm a
thinkin' a thought, I ain't apt ter answer."

"Good gracious!" ejaculated Mrs. Hodgkins, "I hope fer the good of yer
family, ye don't think 'em often."

"I'm allus er workin' ter improve my intellec'; that's why I ain't er
goin' ter school. Got so I knowed all the teacher knowed last year, so
'tain't nothin' but a waste er time ter think of goin' this year."

"Yer father said ye was goin' ter devote yer time ter literatoor; what d'
he mean by that, Timotheus?" asked Mrs. Hodgkins.

"Wall, I'll have ter help on the farm, but between chores, I expect ter be
readin' what literatoor we own. On the shelf in our parlor we've got the
almanic, a New England Primer, a book er Martyrs, a book called Book er
Beauty, another with a yaller kiver called the Pirate's Den, and one more
called The Letter Writer, 'n' I guess by the time I've read all them I'll
know a heap. Father says he expects I'll do somethin' wonderful yet, 'n' I
guess he's 'baout right."

"Well of all the"--but here she checked herself, and bidding him a hasty
good morning, she hurried on, lest her disgust should make itself heard.

Timotheus Simpkins still leaned upon the rail fence, as if he had
forgotten her; apparently he was once more "thinkin' a thought."

"I guess I better write that daown before I fergit it," he remarked a few
moments later, as he started towards the house, his hands clasped behind
his back and his gaze riveted upon space. Some great thought was evidently
about to be transferred to paper.

If Timotheus failed to appreciate the opportunity offered the young people
of the town to obtain an education, he stood alone in his ignorance and
egotism.

At the hour for the opening of school all the pupils of the year before
were present and many new ones waited to be assigned to their respective
classes.

Prue and Randy were surrounded by their friends upon their arr