Willy was walking along as fast as he could, but of course he must answer a civil question.
"No. Don't know how to swim."
"Who s'posed you did—a little fellow like you?" said Gid, in a warm-hearted tone, as he dropped nimbly down from the tree, and alighted on his head. "Come 'long o' me, and I'll show you how."
Willy's eyes sparkled,—he didn't know it, but they did,—and he drew in his breath with a "Whew!" Not that he had the least idea of going with Gid; but the very thought of it was perfectly bewitching. How often he had teased his two brothers to teach him to swim! and they wouldn't. He was always too young, and they never could stop. They thought he was a baby; but Gid didn't think so. Ah, Gid knew better than that.
CHAPTER VI.
THE BOY THAT MEANT TO MIND HIS MOTHER.
"Come on, Billy Button."
"O, Gid Noonin, I can't."