BOY (raising hand ). Teacher, Matildy Weeks keeps laughing at me.
TEACHER. You shouldn’t look at her, then.
BOY. She’ll laugh to some other feller ef I don’t. (Grins.)
(GIRL near CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS FITTS laughs aloud.)
TEACHER. Mehitable, was that you laughed?
MEHIT. Yes, sir. I couldn’t help it. (Laughs.) Christopher Columbus asked me if I loved carrots. (All look at C. C., who is vainly trying to hide an immense carrot by putting it in his pocket.)
TEACHER. Bring that this way, sir.
C. C. F. (presenting the carrot ). Y-y-you c-c-c-can h-h-have it! I d-d-d-don’t want it!
TEACHER. I think the best punishment I can give you, Christopher, for your disobedience is to make you eat it before the class.
CHRIS. (in dismay). I d-d-didn’t b-b-b-b-b-bring it t-t-to eat m-m-myself. The d-d-doctor s-s-s-said I m-mustn’t eat one more c-c-c-c-carrot. If I d-d-did I would d-d-die! I d-d-don’t want to d-d-die! (Crying.)