"'I'SE JUS 'BLIGE WHUP 'IM ALL DE WAY TER SCHOOL'"
"Yes; and—" closing her eyes, and just touching the lids lightly, as the most delicate hint possible——
"Eyes!" shouted a yet more tremendous chorus.
"Yes; and now, since the eyes are such a very important part of the head, let us think how we can take very good care of the eyes."
This sounded rather complicated, and there was another moment of awful concentration. Even Trusty appeared to be thinking warmly on the subject.
"Well, Ezekiel, what do you say?"
"Not pick no holes in 'em wid no pin," suggested Ezekiel pleasantly.
"Why, Ezekiel, certainly not! Of course we shouldn't want to pick holes in them with a pin; but—well, what do you say, Tommy?"
"Not pick no holes in 'em wid no needle!" explained Tommy, his face all aglow with enthusiasm.
"Why, no, indeed! Of course not—why, of course not. But that isn't just what I mean, because of course you would never think of doing that anyway, would you, Tommy?"
Hands were waving madly in all directions now; but when young Charles Sumner Scott raised his with its usual effect of poise and precision, Miss North considered the situation saved. Charles usually saved the situation.
"How must we treat the eyes if we want to keep them nice and strong, Charles?"
"Not pick no holes in 'em wid no hat-pin!" announced Charles.
"Hands down!" ordered Miss North.
Hands down, indeed!
"Hezzy Cones, did you hear what I said?"
"Yath'm! Not pick no holthe in 'em wid no hair-pin!" shouted Hezzy, not to be walked over so easily, and jubilant at this slight variation.
The new pupil had waked up, too.
"Not pick no holes in 'em wid no knittin'-needle!" he sang loudly, in a perfect burst of inspiration.
This was a stroke of genius, and they all looked around on the new-comer admiringly, and looked a little doubtful, for a moment, as to whether anything more could be said on the subject.
Ezekiel fairly radiated at his friend's success.
