"O," gasped Billy, "I could not do that! I'm afwaid!"
"Why should you be afraid," continued the grasshopper. "Doesn't your mother love you?"
"O yes," cried Billy, "a million bushels!"
"And don't you love your mother?" said the grasshopper.
"O yes, a hundwed million bushels!" answered Billy.
"Then go and tell her you broke the cup! You will be happy if you do!"
"I can't," said Billy, "I just can't!"
"Mercy on us!" cried the grasshopper, jumping over to another blade of grass. "I wouldn't be afraid! What kind of a man do you think you'll grow up to be?"
"Well," said Billy, "perhaps I will tell her. You wait here till I come back!"
Very slowly he walked to the door. His heart beat so hard he could hear it thumping. As he stood in the door-way, a shame-faced little Billy, his mother looked up and said, "Did you come to help mother shell the peas?" For that is what she was doing. But Billy did not answer. He walked up close to her. "Mother," he said, "I—I bwoke a cup!"