“Mother,” said William, “why’s it called Leap Year?”
“I simply can’t think, William,” said Mrs. Brown feelingly, “how do you get such dreadful holes in your heels?”
“It’s that hard road on the way to school, I ’spect,” said William. “I’ve gotter walk to school. I ’spect that’s it. I ’spect ’f I didn’t go to school an’ kept to the fields an’ woods I wun’t gettem like wot I do. But you an’ father keep sayin’ I’ve gotter go to school. I wun’t mind not goin’—jus’ to save you trouble. I wun’t mind growin’ up ign’rant like wot you say I would if I didn’t go to school—jus’ to save you trouble—I——”
Mrs. Brown hastily interrupted him.
“What did you want to know, William?”
William returned to his quest.
“Why’s it called Leap Year?”
“Well,” said Mrs. Brown, “it’s because of February 29th. It’s an extra day.”
William thought over this for some time in silence.