must be attributed to his not fully understanding the character of
their offence; for Alfred had so artfully represented the facts of the
case, as to make their truancy appear in a milder light than it
deserved to be regarded.




CHAPTER VI.

WORK.

"Oscar, go down cellar and get some coal," said Mrs. Preston one
evening, when the fire was getting low.

"I 'm reading--you go and get it, Ralph," said Oscar, without looking
up from the newspaper in his hand.

"No, I shan't," replied Ralph; "I 've done all your chores to-day, and
I won't do any more."

"Tell Bridget to bring it up, then," added Oscar, his eyes still
fastened upon his paper.

"Oscar," said Mrs. Preston, sharply, "I told you to get it, and do you
obey me, this minute. Bridget has worked hard all day, and Ralph has
already had to do several errands and jobs that you ought to have done,
and that is the reason why I did not ask them to get the coal. You
have done nothing but play, when you were out of school, since morning,
and now, when I ask you to do a trifling thing, you try to shirk it