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reconciling influence abroad； which could bring the like antics into
harmony with bud and growth and the frolic air。
A puff on the right cheek from my wilful companion sent me off at a
fresh angle； and presently I came in sight of the village church； sitting
solitary within its circle of elms。 From forth the vestry window projected
two small legs； gyrating； hungry for foothold； with larcenynot to say
sacrilegein their every wriggle： a godless sight for a supporter of the
Establishment。 Though the rest was hidden； I knew the legs well enough；
they were usually attached to the body of Bill Saunders； the peerless bad
boy of the village。 Bill's coveted booty； too； I could easily guess at that；
it came from the Vicar's store of biscuits； kept （as I knew） in a cupboard
along with his official trappings。
For a moment I hesitated； then I passed on my way。 I protest I was
not on Bill's side； but then； neither was I on the Vicar's； and there was
something in this immoral morning which seemed to say that perhaps；
after all； Bill had as much right to the biscuits as the Vicar； and would
certainly enjoy them better； and anyhow it was a disputable point； and no
business of mine。 Nature； who had accepted me for ally； cared little who
had the world's biscuits； and assuredly was not going to let any friend of
hers waste his time in playing policeman for Society。
He was tugging at me anew； my insistent guide； and I felt sure； as I
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rambled off in his wake； that he had more holiday matter to show me。
And so； indeed； he had； and all of it was to the same lawless tune。 Like a
black pirate flag on the blue ocean of air； a hawk hung ominous； then；
plummet…wise； dropped to the hedgerow； whence there rose； thin and shrill；
a piteous voice of squealing。
By the time I got there a whisk of feathers on the turflike scattered
playbillswas all that remained to tell of the tragedy just enacted。 Yet
Nature smiled and sang on； pitiless； gay； impartial。 To her； who took no
sides； there was every bit as much to be said for the hawk as for the
chaffinch。 Both were her children； and she would show no preferences。
Further on； a hedgehog lay dead athwart the pathnay； more than dead；
decadent； distinctly； a sorry sight for one that had known the fellow in
more bustling circumstances。 Nature might at least have paused to shed
one tear over this rough jacketed little son of hers； for his wasted aims； his
cancelled ambitions； his whole career of usefulness cut suddenly short。
But not a bit of it！ Jubilant as ever； her song went bubbling on； and
〃Death…in… Life；〃 and again； 〃Life…in…Death；〃 were its alternate burdens。
And looking round； and seeing the sheep…nibbled heels of turnips that
dotted the ground； their hearts eaten out of them in frost… bound days now
over and done； I seemed to discern； faintly； a something of the stern
meaning in her valorous chant。
My invisible companion was singing also； and seemed at times to be
chuckling softly to himself； doubtless at thought of the strange new
lessons he was teaching me； perhaps； too； at a special bit of waggishness
he had still in store。 For when at last he grew weary of such insignificant
earthbound company； he deserted me at a certain spot I knew； then
dropped； subsided； and slunk away into nothingness。 I raised my eyes；
and before me； grim and lichened； stood the ancient whipping…post of the
village； its sides fretted with the initials of a generation that scorned its
mute lesson； but still clipped by the stout rusty shackles that had tethered
the wrists of such of that generation's ancestors as had dared to mock at
order and law。 Had I been an infant Sterne； here was a grand chance for
sentimental output！ As things were； I could only hurry homewards； my
moral tail well between my legs； with an uneasy feeling； as I glanced back
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over my shoulder； that there was more in this chance than met the eye。
And outside our gate I found Charlotte； alone and crying。 Edward； it
seemed； had persuaded her to hide； in the full expectation of being duly
found and ecstatically pounced upon； then he had caught sight of the
butcher's cart； and； forgetting his obligations； had rushed off for a ride。
Harold； it further appeared； greatly coveting tadpoles； and top…heavy with
the eagerness of possession； had fallen into the pond。 This； in itself； was
nothing； but on attempting to sneak in by the back… door； he had rendered
up his duckweed…bedabbled person into the hands of an aunt； and had been
promptly sent off to bed； and this； on a holiday； was very much。 The
moral of the whipping… post was working itself out； and I was not in the
least surprised when； on reaching home； I was seized upon and accused of
doing something I had never even thought of。 And my frame of mind
was such； that I could only wish most heartily that I had done it。
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A WHITE…WASHED UNCLE
In our small lives that day was eventful when another uncle was to
come down from town； and submit his character and qualifications （albeit
unconsciously） to our careful criticism。 Previous uncles had been
weighed in the balance； andalas！ found grievously wanting。 There
was Uncle Thomasa failure from the first。 Not that his disposition was
malevolent； nor were his habits such as to unfit him for decent society； but
his rooted conviction seemed to be that the reason of a child's existence
was to serve as a butt for senseless adult jokes；or what； from the
accompanying guffaws of laughter； appeared to be intended for jokes。
Now； we were anxious that he should have a perfectly fair trial； so in the
tool…house； between breakfast a