286 Hans Brinker

XXXV
BONES AND TONGUES

ONES are strange things. One would suppose that

they knew nothing at all about school-affairs ; but they

do. Even Jacob Poot’s bones, buried as they were in flesh,
were sharp in the matter of study-hours.

Early on the morning of his return, they ached through and
through, giving Jacob a twinge at every stroke of the school-
bell, as if to say, “Stop that clapper! There’s trouble in it.”
After school,.on the contrary, they were quiet and comfort-
able; in fact, seemed to be taking a nap among their cushions.

The other boys’ bones behaved in a similar manner; but
that is not so remarkable. Being nearer the daylight than
Jacob’s, they might be expected to be more learned in the
ways of the world. Master Ludwig’s, especially, were like
beauty, only skin deep: they were the most knowing bones
you ever heard of. Just put before him, ever so quietly, a
grammar-book, with a long lesson marked in it, and immedi-
ately the sly bone over his eyes would set up such an aching !
Request him to goto the garret for your foot-stove, instantly
the bones would remind him that he was “ too tired.” Ask
him to go to the confectioner’s, a mile away, and presto / not
a bone would remember that it ever had been used before.

Bearing all this in mind, you will not wonder when I tell
you that our five boys were among the happiest of the happy
throng pouring forth from the schoolhouse that day.