"
As Brother had said, two scholars were ever so much better than
one and they had a beautiful time playing together. Mickey, in
spite of his ragged clothes, and bad grammar, knew how to play,
and he suggested several new things that Sister and Brother had
never done.
"I been to school," boasted Mickey.
The children were anxious to have him stay to lunch with them and
Louise, who had heard his voice and who came downstairs to see
him, also invited him to stay. But he was too shy, and shuffled
off just as Nellie Yarrow bounded up the front steps.
"Wasn't that Mickey Gaffney?" she asked curiously. "I shouldn't
think you'd want to play with him. His folks are awful poor, and,
besides, his father was arrested last year."
"Mickey isn't to blame for that," retorted Grace quickly. "Don't
be a snob, Nellie; Brother and Sister had a good time playing with
that little red-headed boy."
"But hardly any of the children play with him," persisted Nellie,
who of course went to the public school. "You see last term Mickey
was in my room, and he only came till about the middle of October
--maybe it was November. Anyway, soon as it got cold he stopped
coming.
"The teacher thought he was playing hooky, and she told Mr.
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