24 ROBERT DAWSON.

_ boys, and sympathy enough did I find. Joe Hill’s
mother had given him an excuse, and in consequence
he had been on the playground full an hour and a half.
Sam Jones had an excuse, Bill Farley declared flatly
he knew he could not do the lesson, and would not even
try. Charley Frazier, where is he? Soon we espied
Charley bounding over the green, approaching the
school-house upon the run.

“Your arithmetic lesson, Charley—how is it? You
look as if you had done it, but I do not believe you
have,” cried Farley.

“Yes: I’ve done it. Why, it’s ensy enough, I'm
sure,” declared Charley, with a most satisfied air.

« Easy enough-!” scornfully repeated’ Bill Farley; “I
don’t know where the easy, is, for my part.”

“TI knew the committee were coming in, and I did

“not mean to let the master mortify me before them, so
I got an excuse ; now I am ready for play !” cried Sam
Jones, flourishing his bat. | ’

“T'll join you. Come, who’s for'a game of bat and

ball?” shouted Charley.