“Now, Sid,” exclaimed Will, on his way to Aunt Stanshy’s “there has been trouble in the Up-the-Ladder Club, I learn, and I want to fix it up, and you will help me, will you not?”
“O yes,” replied Sid, whose nature was not a hard and implacable one.
“Wort is at the house, and you are willing to say you are sorry you hurt him, and you want to make up and be good friends?”
“O yes.”
When Will entered the house with his prize, the two met Wort face to face.
“I want these two knights to make up and be good friends again, because it is all foolish and wrong, you know, holding out against one another,” said Will.
The two boys eyed one another, Sid grinning, Wort looking sulky and foolish.
“Wort,” said the late principal of the academy, “I am sorry I hurt you. I didn’t mean to do it, but I suppose I was too anxious to keep up the discipline of the school, and I got agoing, you know. Let’s shake hands and be friends.”
Wort hesitated.
“You ought to do that,” said Will. “Shake hands, Wort,” and as he spoke he carelessly but effectively waved a stick of sassafras-pipe in Wort’s sight. It is one of the most potent sticks that can be used for a boy’s “licking.”