Bob the Castaway | Page 5

while Bob's mother grew pale. Bob himself, not a little frightened as
the result of his joke, sank down in a chair,
"I want damages fer personal injuries, as well as fer five gallons of

molasses that run to waste."
"It couldn't have been more than three gallons," interrupted Bob.
"Molasses runs awful slow, and the spigot wasn't open more than three
minutes."
"It runs fast in hot weather," observed the storekeeper.
"What is it all about?" asked Mr. Henderson.
Then Mr. Hodge explained, dwelling on the pain he had suffered as a
result of the fall from the string that tripped him and on the loss of the
molasses.
"I want ten dollars damage," he concluded. "A dollar fer the molasses
an' the rest fer personal injuries."
"I am afraid I cannot afford to pay so much," said Mr. Henderson, who,
while he made good wages, was trying to save up enough to pay for his
home.
"Then I'll sue ye."
"I would not like you to do that, but I cannot afford to pay ten
dollars--at least not now. I have some interest to meet this week."
"Well, maybe I might take a little less," said Mr. Hodge, as he saw a
prospect of Bob's father coming to a settlement. "I'll make it eight
dollars, an' ye can pay me in installments."
"I suppose that will be fair," admitted Mr. Henderson. He spoke very
quietly, but he was much exercised over what had happened.
"Can ye pay me anythin' now?" asked Mr. Hodge eagerly, rubbing his
shins, which, to tell the truth, were only slightly bruised and did not
hurt him in the least now.
"I could give you two dollars. But first I want to ask Bob if he is
responsible for this."

To his sorrow Mr. Henderson did not have much doubt of it.
"Oh, I guess he won't deny it," said the storekeeper.
"Did you do this, Bob?" inquired his father.
"I--I guess so, but I didn't mean anything."
Bob was not so happy over his prank as he had been at first.
Mr. Henderson said nothing. He took two dollars from his wallet--a
wallet that did not have any too much money in it--and handed the bills
to the storekeeper, who eagerly pocketed them.
"When kin ye give me some more?" he asked.
"Next week. I am sorry, Mr. Hodge, that my son did this."
"So am I. But I s'pose boys will be boys."
Mr. Hodge seemed in better mood. The truth was, he had not expected
to receive any money, and as he was a sort of miser, it made him feel
better to think he was going to get damages without having to pay a
lawyer. In reality, not more than fifty cents' worth of molasses had run
to waste.
When the storekeeper had left Mr. Henderson further questioned Bob,
getting all the particulars of the trick.
"I'm sorry, dad," said Bob when he had finished his recital.
"That is what you say every time, my son. You said it after you
frightened Mrs. Anderson's cow and they had to have the veterinarian
for the animal, but that did not pay his bill. I had to settle for it,"
"I know, dad. I'll not do it again."
"And that's another thing you always say, Bob. Now this is getting
serious. You must mend your ways. This will be quite a heavy expense

to me. I was going to spend that two dollars for a new pair of shoes.
Now I will have to wait."
"I'm sorry, dad."
"But that doesn't give me my shoes,"
Mr. Henderson spoke gravely, and Bob felt quite badly over what he
had done, for he loved his father and mother very much, and would not
intentionally pain them. The trouble was he was, like many other boys,
thoughtless. He did not count the consequences when indulging in
pranks.
A little later, after giving his son quite a severe lecture, and obtaining
his promise to be better in the future, Mr. Henderson prepared to go to
bed. Bob also retired to his room, for he felt in no mood to go out with
the village boys that night.
"I'm sure I don't know what to do with Bob," said Mrs. Henderson to
her husband when she was locking up the house. "I'm afraid he'll get
into serious trouble."
"I hope not. I think I must punish him severely the next time he plays
any tricks."
"He is too big to whip."
"I know it. I must think of some other method."
Bob fell asleep, resolving to mend his ways, or at least to play in the
future only harmless tricks to which no one would object. But in the
morning his good resolutions had lost some of their power, like