different exercises, and were going to play, should you laugh, I
say, if somebody was to run away with them all, and your master
oblige you to do them all over again? Tell me, Will, should you
laugh, or cry and look cross? And even that would not be half so
bad for you, as it was for the maids to be obliged to wash their
clothes over again; washing is very hard labour, and tires people
sadly, and so does threshing too. It is very unkind, therefore,
to give them such unnecessary trouble; and everything that is
unkind, is wicked; and I would not do it upon any account, I
assure you.' 'Then I assure you,' replied Will, 'you may let it
alone; I can do it without your assistance.' He then began mixing
the grain and the chaff together, the other boy strongly
remonstrating against it, to which he paid no attention; and
whilst he was so employed, two men, Simon and John, entered the
barn.

'Why, how now, Master Billy,' said Simon; 'what are you about?
What business have you to be here? You are always doing some
mischief or other! I wish, with all my heart, that you were kept
chained like a dog, and never suffered to be at liberty, for you
do more harm in an hour, than a body can set right again in a
month!' Will then took up hats full of the corn and chaff, and
threw it in the two men's faces; afterwards taking up a flail, he
gave Simon a blow across his back, saying, at the same time, 'I
will show you the way to thresh, and separate the flesh from the
bones.' 'O! will you so, young squire?' said John; 'I will show
you the way to make naughty boys good.' He then left the barn,
but presently returned accompanied by a gentleman, upon the sight
of whom Will let fall the flail, which he was till then
brandishing over Simon's head, and was going away, when the