understand that it was because of the expansion or swelling of the air
within the hard case, which then burst open to find more room.

[Illustration: Eddie popping corn.]

Eddie was very busy for some time in the kitchen attending to his
corn. When it was all done, he separated that which was popped from
that which was only parched, and put it in different dishes. He gave
his dog Philo some of the brown kernels, and he seemed to like them as
well as Eddie himself. Eddie enjoyed hearing him crack them with his
sharp teeth, and would stroke his great head, and say kindly, "Poor
Philo! you are a good Philo;" and the dog would wag his tail as much
as to say, "Dear Eddie! you are a good Eddie."

After giving Philo his share, and Kate hers, Eddie carried up a large
dishful to his mother and the children. He did not wish to eat it all
himself for he was a generous boy and always liked to have others
partake of his pleasures, whatever they might be. He reserved some of
the nicest of it in a tumbler, which he placed on his mother's
work-table. Mrs. Dudley took a little, saying to him,

"If you miss your corn, Eddie, you will know what has become of it."

He looked up from his play quite soberly, and said slowly, "Mother, if
_you_ wish to eat more you may, but _I_ am not going to."

"Why not, my child?"

"I am going to save it for father."