30 BRAGGADOCIO.

Tom fitting the sides to the bottom of the
boat.

“ Now, that isn’t fair, Bessie, when I am
making the boat as well as I can.”

“Why, Tom, it will take us just as well over
to the island. I did not think you would care
what it looked like. ‘Handsome is, that
handsome does.’ ”

“JT mean to paint her one of these days,
when I can earn some money to pay for it;
and then she won’t look at all like a bread-
tray. It was a bright thought of father’s to
buy me the plane and auger; now she will
look as smooth as a floor, inside and out; and
will glide over the water like a wild duck.”

Mixon soon after came home.

“Father,” said Tom, “I smelt the tar long
before you came in sight.”

“T expect I shan’t get the smell out of my
hair for a week. Your greens sold remarkable
well, The tar didn’t cost much, so I bought
with the rest of the money some red and some
white paint.”

“ Oh, father, how can you always think of
just what we want? It is so strange!” ex-