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What Sami Sings with the Birds by Johanna Spyri
page 26 of 60 (43%)
The following morning Sami was awakened by loud tones, but it was no
longer the birds singing; it was the farmer's wife ordering the boys
harshly to get up right away. She had already called them three times,
and if this time they didn't obey, their father would come. Then they
all sprang out of bed and in a few minutes were down-stairs, where
their father was already sitting at the table and would not have waited
much longer.

The day did not pass very differently from the one before, and thus
passed a long series of days. There was already a change in the work.

Sami, little by little, learned to do everything very well, for he took
pains and followed his grandmother's advice carefully. He always had
something to do for the other boys still, so that he never finished his
work a moment before supper-time. But he was no longer late. A change had
also come about in this. Stoeffi had learned that there was one thing Sami
could not or would not do which he himself could do very well: he could
not tell a lie.

He had been late again a couple of times, but had never told the reason.
Finally, however, the farmer had spoken harshly:

"Now speak out, and tell why you can't get through your work faster; you
are quick enough when anyone is watching you."

Then Sami had accordingly told all the truth, and the father had
threatened to beat the boys if they didn't do their work themselves.
Afterwards Stoeffi had thrashed Sami to punish him, and had warned him
that he would do it every time Sami complained of him.

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