Gutta-Percha Willie by George MacDonald
page 57 of 173 (32%)
page 57 of 173 (32%)
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he would rather make some difference in the way of doing it. What if,
instead of sinking the letters in the frame, he made them stand up from the frame by cutting it away to some depth all round them. There was not much originality in this, for it was only reversing what Spelman had done; but it was more difficult, and would, he thought, be prettier. Then what was he thus to carve? One would say, "Why, _William Macmichael_, of course, and, if he liked, _Priory Leas_" But Willie was a peculiar little fellow, and began to reason with himself whether he had any right to put his own name on the slate. "My father did not give me the slate," he said, "to be my very own. He gave me the knife like that, but not the slate. When I am grown up, it will belong to Agnes. What shall I put on it? What's mine's papa's, and what's papa's is his own," argued Willie.--"_I_ know!" he said to himself at last. The boys couldn't imagine what he meant to do when they saw him draw first a D and then an O on the frame. But when they saw a C and a T follow, they thought what a conceited little prig Willie was! "Do you think you're a doctor because your father is, you little ape?" they said. "No, no," answered Willie, laughing heartily, but thinking, as he went on with his work, that he might be one some day. When the drawing of the letters was finished, there stood, all round the slate, "_Doctor Macmichael's Willie, The Ruins, Priory Leas_." Then out came his knife. But it was a long job, for Willie was not one of those slovenly boys that _scamp_ their work. Such boys are nothing but soft, pulpy creatures, who, when they grow to be men, will be too |
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