the door to meet his other taskmaster.



VI: A TENDER HEARTED SKELETON


"Now, then, lazybones," was Mr. Lord's warning cry as Toby came
out of the tent, "if you've fooled away enough of your time, you
can come here an' tend shop for me while I go to supper. You crammed
yourself this noon, an' it 'll teach you a good lesson to make you
go without anything to eat tonight; it 'll make you move round more
lively in future."

Instead of becoming accustomed to such treatment as he was receiving
from his employers, Toby's heart grew more tender with each brutal
word, and this last punishment -- that of losing his supper --
caused the poor boy more sorrow than blows would. Mr. Lord started
for the hotel as he concluded his cruel speech; and poor little
Toby, going behind the counter, leaned his head upon the rough
boards and cried as if his heart would break.

All the fancied brightness and pleasure of a circus life had vanished,
and in its place was the bitterness of remorse that he had repaid
Uncle Daniel's kindness by the ingratitude of running away. Toby
thought that if he could only nestle his little red head on the
pillows of his little bed in that rough room at Uncle Daniel's,
he would be the happiest and best boy, in the future, in all the
great wide world.