mphatically.

"One other thing. You say the boy doesn't work as much as he
ought to. I can only say this is no business of mine. You
have full authority over him, and you can make him work. I
don't believe in pampering boys and indulging them in
laziness. I recommend you to be strict with William--to let
him understand that you are not to be trifled with. Such
would be my course. Yours, etc.,

"CHARLES WALDO."

Nathan Badger was deeply disappointed. He had made up his mind that Mr.
Waldo would allow him at least a dollar a week and had complacently
calculated how much this would enable him to lay aside. Now this dream
was over.

Of course he could have given up the boy, for he was not formally bound
to him. But this he did not care to do. The fact was that Bill earned
his board twice over, and Mr. Badger knew it, though he would not have
admitted it. It was for his interest to keep him.

He went home deeply disappointed and angry and disposed to vent his
spite on the poor victim of his tyranny, even had there been no
plausible excuse for doing so.

When he reached home he was met by Mrs. Badger with a frowning brow.
"Well, Mr. Badger, there's been a pretty scene since you went away."

"What do you mean, Cornelia?"

"Bill has nearly killed Andrew Jackson."

"Are you crazy, wife?"

"No, I am in earnest. The young rascal attacked poor Andrew with a hoe
and nearly killed him."

"Then he must be crazy!" ejaculated Mr. Badger. "Where is Andrew? I want
his account of it. If it is as you say, the boy shall suffer."

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE VICTIM OF TYRANNY

Andrew Jackson made his appearance with a piece of brown paper over an
imaginary bruise on his head and eye and the carefully assumed
expression of a suffering victim.

"What is this I hear?" asked his father. "Have you had a difficulty with
Bill?"

"Yes," answered Andrew in the tone of a martyr. "He knocked me down with
a hoe, and if mother had not come out just as she did I think he would
have killed me."

"What made him attack you?" asked Mr. Badger, exceedingly surprised.

"I asked him if he would dig some fish-worms for me."

"Couldn't you dig some yourself?"

"I s'pose I could, but he knew better than I where to find them."

"What next?"

"He said he wouldn't. I told him that I would tell you about his
impertinence. Then he hit me with the hoe as hard as he could."

"Was that all that passed?"