the uproarious jeers of any of the farm-hands who were witness to
the encounter.

On these occasions David vied with Tammas in facetiousness at
his father's expense.

"Good on yo', little un!" he roared from behind a wall, on one such
occurence.

"Bain't he a runner, neither?" yelled Tammas, not to be outdone.
"See un skip it--ho! ho!"

"Look to his knees a-wamblin'!" from the Jon, I'd wear petticoats."
As he spoke, a swinging box on the ear nearly knocked the young
reprobate down.

"D'yo' think God gave you a dad for you to jeer at? Y'ought to be
ashamed o' yo'self. Serve yo' right if he does thrash yo' when yo' get
home." And David, turning round, found James Moore close
behind him, his heavy eyebrows lowering over his eyes.

Luckily, M'Adam had not distinguished his œOfl's voice among the
others. But David Iearcd he had; for on the following morning the
little man said to him:

"David, ye'll come hame immediately after school to-day."

"Will I?" said David pertly.

''Ye will.