"Go home to your mother, and tell her the schoolma'am sent you home for three cents to buy a new book."
"I'll do that," replied Tommy, not stopping to think how wicked was the act which the bad boy proposed to him.
"Mind you, Tom, go to your mother—don't go to your father."
Tommy promised to do just as he was told by these bad boys, and ran home with all his might, to get the money for them. His mother did not stop to ask him any questions, though she wondered what book he could buy for three cents.
"Here's the three cents," said Tommy, as he joined the boys in the road. "Now tell me how I can stay away from school without having to take any physic."
"Just come with us; we are not going to school this fine morning. When the factory bell rings for twelve o'clock, just go home; and your folks won't know but that you have been to school."
"That's the way," added Ben Tinker. "That's what the fellers call 'hookin' jack.'"
Tommy did not exactly like the idea at first, for he could not help thinking what might happen in case he got found out. He did not ask himself whether it was right or wrong to do what the boys called "hooking jack;" but only whether he should get found out or not.
We ought always to do right, whatever may happen to us; and we should never do wrong, even if we feel certain of not being found out.
"Where are you going?" asked Tommy.