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Updated: May 9, 2025
Once Jehosophat thought he had caught one, but his teeth slipped on its smooth round cheek and all he got was a piece of skin. It was fun just the same. A lot of other games they played, with flour, and candles, and rings, and things, then the Toyman gathered them up on his knees and the arm of his chair, and told them a story. A good one? Of course! He never told a poor one.
Under the big oak by the brook sat the three happy children with Rover, Brownie, and little yellow Wienerwurst. They were watching the Toyman cut the ripe corn. "Isn't that funny?" said Jehosophat. "What's funny?" asked Marmaduke. "Wot's funny?" repeated Hepzebiah. "Oh! I was just thinking," said Jehosophat, "how he seems just Frank when he's ploughing or harrowing or cutting the corn.
Seven times they sounded. It was from the church over in the town, the big white church with the long finger pointing at the sky. And the Little-Clock-with-the-Wise-Face-on-the-Mantel, answered back. So they obeyed the old yellow Man-in-the-Moon and scampered like little white mice back to bed. "Tell me a story a fairy story," said Jehosophat to his Mother.
Jehosophat was coming home from the schoolhouse, which was up the road about a mile, a long way from the White-House-with-the-Green-Blinds where the three happy children lived. With him walked four of his friends Sophy Soapstone and Sammy Soapstone, who lived on the farm by the Old Canal; Lizzie Fizzletree, who lived on the turnpike; and Fatty Hamm, who lived by the river road.
And when the long legs had caught up with the short ones, the Toyman put his arm around the boy's shoulders, and they walked along like well, like two old chums. What was finest, too, was that he never mentioned the cause of Jehosophat's trouble and embarrassment, which is what no really true friend ever should do. At last Jehosophat asked, "Where we goin'?"
And every once in a while that little imp Lizzie Fizzletree would make outrageous bows, almost down to the ground, in imitation of Jehosophat. Next day was the day, the great day.
"Hello!" called the boys, not very cordially, for they were always a little suspicious when Fatty happened around. "Playin' marbles?" he asked. "Yes," said the two brothers. "I can beat you," he declared. "You can't, either," Marmaduke started to yell, but Jehosophat, who was having one of his good days, said, "Let's treat him politely. He's mean, but he's company."
And the teacher's glasses fell off her nose, and she seemed to be unable to find them in her embarrassment and then the whole audience roared till the walls of the little Red Schoolhouse echoed to their laughter, and Jehosophat saw Fatty slapping his fat legs in delight. Meanwhile, Jehosophat wasn't losing any time.
Marmaduke was to take part in the marches and songs, but Jehosophat had to speak a whole piece, all alone too. It was a great honor, no doubt about that, which Jehosophat didn't appreciate. He thought it a bother. Now their teacher was a patriot and fond of History. All through the term she had told them tales of brave lads who were good and great.
His hair was slicked down extra tight, too, and he kept gazing down into his new store hat. He felt very sorry for himself, and even sorrier for Jehosophat. But the Presidentboardeducation was saying, "Come, come," again, and then, "Tut, tut!" And all-of-a-sudden Fatty let go of his coat, and Jehosophat found himself on his feet and on his way to the platform.
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