aunt s foot.
But as I was saying, said Aunt Polly, he warn t _bad_, so to say only
misch_ee_vous. Only just giddy, and harum-scarum, you know. He warn t
any more responsible than a colt. _He_ never meant any harm, and he was
the best-hearted boy that ever was and she began to cry.
It was just so with my Joe always full of his devilment, and up to
every kind of mischief, but he was just as unselfish and kind as he
could be and laws bless me, to think I went and whipped him for taking
that cream, never once recollecting that I throwed it out myself because
it was sour, and I never to see him again in this world, never, never,
never, poor abused boy! And Mrs. Harper sobbed as if her heart would
break.
I hope Tom s better off where he is, said Sid, but if he d been
better in some ways
_Sid!_ Tom felt the glare of the old lady s eye, though he could not
see it. Not a word against my Tom, now that he s gone! God ll take care
of _him_ never you trouble _your_self, sir! Oh, Mrs. Harper, I don t
know how to give him up! I don t know how to give him up! He was such a
comfort to me, although he tormented my old heart out of me, most.
The Lord giveth and the Lord hath taken away Blessed be the name of
the Lord! But it s so hard Oh, it s so hard! Only last Saturday my Joe
busted a firecracker right under my nose and I knocked him sprawling.
Little did I know then, how soon Oh, if it was to do over again I d hug
him and bless him for it.
Yes, yes, yes, I know just how you feel, Mrs. Harper, I know just
exactly how you feel. No longer ago than yesterday noon, my Tom took
and filled the cat full of Pain-killer, and I did think the cretur would
tear the house down. And God forgive me, I cracked Tom s head with my
thimble, poor boy, poor dead boy. But he s out of all his troubles now.
And the last words I ever heard him say was to reproach
But this memory was too much for the old lady, and she broke entirely
down. Tom was snuffling, now, himself and more in pity of himself than
anybody else. He could hear Mary crying, and putting in a kindly word
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