Mary Louise in the Country
know," said Ingua one day, in confidential mood, "I haven't had the devils since that time I started to run away and you stopped me? P'r'aps it's because I'm not as hungry as I used to be; but, anyhow, I'm glad I stayed. Gran'dad's been good, too, 'though he's got the 'wakes' ag'in."

   "What are the 'wakes'?" asked Mary Louise.

   "Can't sleep nights. Goes t' bed on time, ye know, but gits up ag'in an' dresses himself an' walks."

   "In the house?"

   "No, walks out o' doors. Sometimes he'll come in at jes' daylight; sometimes not till break-fas' is ready."

   "And doesn't that make him cross, Ingua?"

   "Not a bit. It seems to chirk him up. Yist'day mornin', when he come in, he was feelin' so chipper he give me a cent, an' told me to buy somethin' useful. I guess that's the first cent he ever give me. I've

    took

   money o' his'n, but he never

    give

   me none afore."

   "Oh, Ingua! I hope you haven't stolen money?"

   "Nope. Jes' took it. It ain't easy, 'cause he knows ev'ry cent he's got, an' it ain't often he leaves it where I kin git it. P'r'aps he knows it's me, but when I lie out of it he can't do noth'n' but growl—an' growlin' don't hurt any."

   Mary Louise was greatly distressed. This reckless disregard of property rights was of course the direct result of the child's environment, but must be corrected. Ingua resented direct chiding and it was necessary to point out to her the wickedness of stealing in the gentlest possible manner.

   "How much money have you taken from your grandfather?" she asked.

   "Oh, not much. A nickel, now an' then. He wouldn't stan' for losin' any more, ye see. P'r'aps, altogether, I've swiped twenty-five cents. But once Ned Joselyn give me a dollar, an' Ol' Swallertail knowed it, an' made me give it to him to save for me. That were the last I ever saw o' that dollar, Mary Louise, so I ain't even with Gran'dad yet."

   "Do you think," remarked 
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