"You are very careless, Joseph," said the teacher. "Sit with Harris to study, and don't let it happen again, sir."
The boys put their heads together behind the map of the New England States, and began studying their boundaries.
"Let's begin with the littlest," whispered Jode. "And don't you talk to me, old fellow; I don't want to be kept in again after school. Rhode Island is bounded on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by--"
"Oh, say," interrupted Johnny, "I've got some field-mice in a box at home. I was going to bring them to-day, but was afraid the teacher would take 'em away. They're the cunningest little things! Come over after school and I'll show 'em to you."
"All right," whispered Jode, with one eye on the teacher. "On the north by Massachusetts, on the east by Massachusetts and Atlantic Ocean, on the south by--"
"Oh gracious! look there!" interrupted Johnny again. "Look at Boney Woods! What's he a-doin'?"
Boney had his book propped up in front of him. His head was bowed studiously over his lesson, but his lesson was farthest from his thoughts. He had cut a piece of leather from the top of his boot-leg, and was making a pair of spectacles.
"Oh, never mind him. Come on, and let's learn this. I've got through half the day all right, and don't want to spoil it all now. Rhode Island is bounded on the north by Massachusetts, on the east by Massachusetts and Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Atlantic--"
"I say, Jode," interrupted his seat-mate, "I can pick up three marbles at a time with my toes."
"So could I," answered Jode, "if I didn't have my shoes on."
"Well, I'll just show you," retorted Jode.
There was a class in algebra at the board, and the teacher was very busy explaining some problem. "Let _x_ equal the length of the fish," he was saying. Jode raised his foot carefully and began to untie his shoe.
"And let _y_ equal the length of its tail," continued the teacher, completely absorbed in the problem.
In a moment the shoe slipped off noiselessly, and Johnny put three of his largest marbles in a row on a crack in the floor.
"Aw, that ain't fair," said Jode. "You can't pick up that big Pompey yourself. Put down three little grays."
Johnny grumbled, but made the change, and Jode triumphantly picked them up with his toes.