"Where were you at recess? I was going by, and stopped to speak to you; but you were not in the playground."
"Oh!" murmured Daniel in some confusion, "I didn't know my lesson, and I had to stay in. Teacher kept me an hour after school to get it and recite it."
"I should like to know what you go to school for; but to get your lessons? If I hear of such conduct again I'll take you away mighty quick. I'm not going to slave myself going of errands to have you lounging away your time over your books. Now go right into the house and change your clothes, and help Amos about those fish. Every one of 'em has got to be cleaned, and salted down in the tubs before supper. Don't be gone a minute if you know what is good for yourself," shouted his father, as he saw an ugly pout on the boy's face.
"I'll be just as long as I please," muttered Daniel between his teeth, "and I wont clean many fish you'd better believe."
But though. Daniel was angry that he had been questioned, and that he had been set to the business which he specially disliked, though he muttered over and over that he would not be ordered about by anybody; yet he knew too well what would happen if he did not obey. He therefore kicked off his shoes, threw his school pants across the room, and dressed himself for work without any unnecessary delay.
Amos Crawson was fifteen years old; and Daniel, eleven. They did not agree very well either at their work or play.
"There's your part," said Amos pointing to a large pile separate from the other.
"I wont do all those," growled Dan, casting a glance over the fence toward his father.
Amos only laughed.
"My knife is awful dull; I shall never get done with this old thing."