I consider I have done him a kindness."
Thus launched on a career of plunder, the judge very speedily
accumulated a water bucket--useful when one wished to milk a cow
--an ax from a woodpile, a kettle from a summer kitchen, a tin of
soft soap, and an excellent blanket from a wash-line.
"For the boy, Solomon," he said gently, when he caught Mahaffy's
steady disapproving glance fixed upon him as he displayed this
last trophy.
"What sort of an example are you setting him?"
"The world is full of examples I'd not recommend, Solomon. One
must learn to discriminate. A body can no more follow all the
examples than he can follow all the roads, and I submit that the
ends of morality can as well be served in showing a child what he
should not do as in showing him what he should. Indeed, I don't
know but it's the finer educational idea!"
Thereafter the judge went through the land with an eye out for
wash-lines.
"I'm looking for a change of linen for the boy, Solomon," he
said. "Let me bring you a garment or two. Eh--how few men
you'll find of my build; those last shirts I got were tight
around the armholes and had no more tail than a rabbit!"
Two nights later Mr. Mahaffy accepted a complete change of under
linen, but without visible sign of gratitude.
A night later the judge disappeared from camp, and after a
prolonged absence returned puffing and panting with three
watermelons, which proved to be green, since his activity had
been much in advance of the season.
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