Page 97 - Lavender-B-6

At this dark and hopeless moment an inspiration burst upon him! Nothing less than a
great, magnificent inspiration.

He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. Ben Rogers hove in sight presently—

the very boy, of all boys, whose ridicule he had been dreading. Ben’s gait was the hop-
skip-and-jump—proof enough that his heart was light and his anticipations high. He
was eating an apple, and giving a long, melodious whoop, at
intervals, followed by a deep-toned ding-dong-dong, ding- Tom was dreading
dong-dong; he was impersonating a steamboat. As he drew being seen by his Just a Minute!

near, he slackened speed, took the middle of the school peers. Why do
street, leaned far over to starboard and you think it is so?
rounded to ponderously and with
laborious pomp and circumstance—
for he was personating the ‘Big
Missouri’, and considered himself
to be drawing nine feet of water. He

was boat and captain and engine
bells combined, so he had to imagine
himself standing on his own hurricane
deck giving the orders and executing
them.

Tom went on whitewashing—paid no

attention to the steamboat. Ben stared
a moment and then said: ‘Hi-Yi! You’re
up a stump, ain’t you!?’

No answer. Tom surveyed his last
touch with the eye of an artist, then
he gave his brush another gentle sweep and hove in sight: slowly moved closer and became visible

surveyed the result, as before. Ben ranged ridicule: making fun in an unkind way
dreading: feeling extremely worried about something
up alongside of him. Tom’s mouth watered that might happen
for the apple, but he stuck to his work. Ben gait: way of walking
said: ‘Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?’ heart was light: cheerful and happy
anticipation: a feeling of excitement about something
that is going to happen in the near future
Tom wheeled and suddenly said: ‘Why, it’s whoop: a loud cry of joy or excitement
you, Ben! I warn’t noticing.’ impersonating: copying the actions
slackened: became slower
‘Say—I’m going in a-swimming, I am. starboard: to turn to the right

Don’t you wish you could? But of course, ponderously: moving slowly
you’d druther work—wouldn’t you? Course pomp and circumstance: a grand public display
personating: playing the part of
you would!’ warn’t: wasn’t
druther: prefer

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