Alexander, the principal. And he found out that the reason Mickey
didn't come to school was 'cause his father didn't send him."
"Why didn't his father send him?" asked Sister.
"He wouldn't work, and Mickey didn't have any shoes to wear,"
explained Nellie. "Mr. Alexander got somebody to give Mickey a
pair of shoes, but he wouldn't pay any attention to his lessons,
and I know he wasn't promoted. I suppose he'll be in the first
grade again this year."
Brother and Sister thought a good deal about Mickey after Nellie
had gone home. They wondered if he wanted to go to school and
whether he wished the summer would hurry so the new term might
open.
"He liked to play school, so I guess he likes to go, really,"
argued Sister. "Playing is different," said Brother wisely. "He
didn't have any shoes on this morning, did he?"
"No, that's so," Sister recalled. "And his clothes were all torn
and dirty; maybe he hasn't any new suit to wear the first day."
All the Morrison children had always started school in new suits
or dresses, and Mother Morrison had promised Brother a new sailor
suit and Sister a gingham frock when they started off in
September.
"Miss Putnam would say he 'scuffled,'" giggled Sister, remembering
that was what Miss Putnam thought all children did with their
feet.
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