Things of this kind almost always go on from bad to worse; and the more folks “picked upon him,” the more he hated them. The boys, and even the girls, who lived near him, used to insult him, when they dared to do so. All these things put together made him very unhappy.
The children under the tree jumped up when they saw Flora and Nellie running towards them so fast; and they at once concluded that Uncle Ben must have driven them out of his yard.
“I knew he would,” said Charley.
“So did I,” added Katy; “and they were fools to go near him.”
“So you have come, at last?” continued Charley, as the two little girls reached the tree.
“Yes; and got driven away, as I knew you would,” said Katy.
“No, we didn’t get driven away,” puffed Flora, out of breath with running.
“Didn’t he send you off?” asked Frank.
“Indeed he did not,” answered Flora. “I don’t care what any body says about Uncle Ben; I say he is a real nice man—isn’t he, Nellie?”
“Yes, he is.”