Proud and Lazy

make me take some of his nasty physic, and I thought I'd rather go to school than do that."

"I can tell you how you can stay away from school without taking any physic."

"How?"

"Give me the three cents, and I will tell you."

"I haven't them; if I had I would."

"Well, I will tell you how to get them, if you like."

"How?"

"Go home to your mother, and tell her the schoolma'am sent you home for three cents to buy a new book."

"I'll do that," replied Tommy, not stopping to think how wicked was the act which the bad boy proposed to him.

"Mind you, Tom, go to your mother--don't go to your father."

Tommy promised to do just as he was told by these bad boys, and ran home with all his might, to get the money for them. His mother did not stop to ask him any questions, though she wondered what book he could buy for three cents.

"Here's the three cents," said Tommy, as he joined the boys in the road. "Now tell me how I can stay away from school