Rollo in the Woods | Page 4

distance, just coming
through the turn-stile.
It was his cousin James. It seems that James had come to play with him
that day, and Rollo's mother had directed him down towards the woods.
James came running along towards Rollo, holding up something round
and bright, in each hand. They were half dollars.
"Where did you get them?" said Rollo.
"One is for you, and one is for me," said James. "Uncle George sent
them to us."
"What a beautiful little eagle!" said Rollo, as he looked at one side of
his half dollar; "I wish I could get it off and keep it separate."
"O no," said James, "that would spoil your half dollar."

"Why, they would know it was a half dollar by the letters and the head
on the other side. What a pretty thin eagle! How do you suppose they
fasten it on so strong?"
James said he thought he could get it off; so they went and sat down on
a smooth log, that was lying on the ground, and laid Rollo's half dollar
on the log. Then he took a pin, and tried to drive the point of it under
the eagle's head, with a small stone. But the eagle would not move.
They only made some little marks and scratches on the silver.
"Never mind," said Rollo; "I will keep it as it is." So he took his half
dollar, and they walked along towards the brook.
They showed their money to Jonas, and told him that they had tried to
get the eagle off. He smiled at this. The boys went back soon to the
wigwam, and James said he would help Rollo finish it. While they were
at work they put their money on a large flat stone, on the bank of the
brook. They fixed a great many boughs into their wigwam, weaving
them in all around, and thus made a very pleasant little house, leaving a
place for a door in front. When they were tired, they went and opened
Rollo's little package, and found a fine luncheon in it of bread and
butter and pie; which they ate very happily together, sitting on little
hemlock branches in the wigwam.

DIFFICULTY.
After their luncheon, the boys began to talk about the best place for a
window for the wigwam.
"I think we will have it this side, towards the brook," said James, "and
then we can look out to the water."
"No," said Rollo, "it will be better to have it here, towards where Jonas
is working, and then we can look out and see him."
"No," said James, "that is not a good plan; I do not want to see Jonas."

"And I do not want to see the water," replied Rollo. "It is my wigwam,
and I mean to have the window here."
So saying, he went to the side towards Jonas, and began to take away a
bough. James came there too, and said angrily,
"The wigwam is mine as much as it is yours, for I helped make it, and I
will not have a window here."
So he took hold of the branch that Rollo had hold of. They both felt
guilty and condemned, but their angry feelings urged them on, and they
looked fiercely at each other, and pulled upon the branch.
"Rollo," said James, "let go."
"James," said Rollo, "I tell you, let my wigwam alone."
"It is not your wigwam."
"I tell you it is."
Just then they heard a noise in the bushes. They looked around, and
saw Jonas coming towards them. They felt ashamed, and were silent,
though each kept hold of the branch.
"Now, boys," said Jonas, "you have got into a foolish and wicked
quarrel. I have heard it all. Now you may do as you please--you may let
me settle it, or I will lead you home to your mother, and tell her about it,
and let her settle it."
The boys looked ashamed, but said nothing.
"If you conclude to let me settle it, you must do just as I say. But I do
not pretend that I have any right to decide such a case, unless you
consent. So I will take you home, if you prefer."
The boys both preferred that he should settle it, and promised to do as
he should say.

"Well, then," said he, "the first thing is for you, Rollo, to go over the
other side of the brook, and you, James, to stay here, and both to sit
down still, until you have had time to cool."
The boys obeyed, and Jonas went back to his work.
The boys sat still, feeling guilty and ashamed; but they were not
penitent. They ought to have been sorry for their fault, and become