登陆注册
5382600000036

第36章 CHAPTER VII(5)

Margaret arose."I haven't treated that child.I have only let him alone.I can barely hold myself.He needs the hide tanned about off him!""If you'd cared to look at his body,you'd know that you couldn't find a place to strike without cutting into a raw spot,"said Wesley."Besides,Billy has not done a thing for which a child should be punished.He is only full of life,no training,and with a boy's love of mischief.

He did abuse your kittens,but an hour before I saw him risk his life to save one from being run over.He minds what you tell him,and doesn't do anything he is told not to.

He thinks of his brother and sister right away when anything pleases him.He took that stinging medicine with the grit of a bulldog.He is just a bully little chap,and I love him.""Oh good heavens!"cried Margaret,going into the house as she spoke.

Sinton sat still.At last Billy tired of the swing,came to him and leaned his slight body against the big knee.

"Am I going to sleep here?"he asked.

"Sure you are!"said Sinton.

Billy swung his feet as he laid across Wesley's knee.

"Come on,"said Wesley,"I must clean you up for bed.""You have to be just awful clean here,"announced Billy.

"I like to be clean,you feel so good,after the hurt is over."Sinton registered that remark,and worked with especial tenderness as he redressed the ailing places and washed the dust from Billy's feet and hands.

"Where can he sleep?"he asked Margaret.

"I'm sure I don't know,"she answered.

"Oh,I can sleep ist any place,"said Billy."On the floor or anywhere.Home,I sleep on pa's coat on a store-box,and Jimmy and Belle they sleep on the storebox,too.

"I sleep between them,so's I don't roll off and crack my head.Ain't you got a storebox and a old coat?"Wesley arose and opened a folding lounge.Then he brought an armload of clean horse blankets from a closet.

"These don't look like the nice white bed a little boy should have,Billy,"he said,"but we'll make them do.

This will beat a storebox all hollow."

Billy took a long leap for the lounge.When he found it bounced,he proceeded to bounce,until he was tired.

By that time the blankets had to be refolded.Wesley had Billy take one end and help,while both of them seemed to enjoy the job.Then Billy lay down and curled up in his clothes like a small dog.But sleep would not come.

Finally he sat up.He stared around restlessly.Then he arose,went to Wesley,and leaned against his knee.He picked up the boy and folded his arms around him.Billy sighed in rapturous content.

"That bed feels so lost like,"he said."Jimmy always jabbed me on one side,and Belle on the other,and so Iknew I was there.Do you know where they are?""They are with kind people who gave them a fine supper,a clean bed,and will always take good care of them.""I wisht I was--"Billy hesitated and looked earnestly at Wesley."I mean I wish they was here.""You are about all I can manage,Billy,"said Wesley.

Billy sat up."Can't she manage anything?"he asked,waving toward Margaret.

"Indeed,yes,"said Wesley."She has managed me for twenty years.""My,but she made you nice!"said Billy."I just love you.

I wisht she'd take Jimmy and Belle and make them nice as you.""She isn't strong enough to do that,Billy.They will grow into a good boy and girl where they are."Billy slid from Wesley's arms and walked toward Margaret until he reached the middle of the room.Then he stopped,and at last sat on the floor.Finally he lay down and closed his eyes."This feels more like my bed;if only Jimmy and Belle was here to crowd up a little,so it wasn't so alone like.""Won't I do,Billy?"asked Wesley in a husky voice.

Billy moved restlessly."Seems like--seems like toward night as if a body got kind o'lonesome for a woman person--like her."Billy indicated Margaret and then closed his eyes so tight his small face wrinkled.

Soon he was up again."Wisht I had Snap,"he said.

"Oh,I ist wisht I had Snap!"

"I thought you laid a board on Snap and jumped on it,"said Wesley.

"We did!"cried Billy--"oh,you ought to heard him squeal!"Billy laughed loudly,then his face clouded.

"But I want Snap to lay beside me so bad now--that if he was here I'd give him a piece of my chicken,'for,I ate any.

Do you like dogs?"

"Yes,I do,"said Wesley.

Billy was up instantly."Would you like Snap?""I am sure I would,"said Wesley.

"Would she?"Billy indicated Margaret.And then he answered his own question."But of course,she wouldn't,cos she likes cats,and dogs chases cats.

Oh,dear,I thought for a minute maybe Snap could come here."Billy lay down and closed his eyes resolutely.

Suddenly they flew open."Does it hurt to be dead?"he demanded.

"Nothing hurts you after you are dead,Billy,"said Wesley.

"Yes,but I mean does it hurt getting to be dead?""Sometimes it does.It did not hurt your father,Billy.

It came softly while he was asleep."

"It ist came softly?"

"Yes."

"I kind o'wisht he wasn't dead!"said Billy."'Course Ilike to stay with you,and the fried chicken,and the nice soft bed,and--and everything,and I like to be clean,but he took us to the show,and he got us gum,and he never hurt us when he wasn't drunk."Billy drew a deep breath,and tightly closed his eyes.

But very soon they opened.Then he sat up.He looked at Wesley pitifully,and then he glanced at Margaret.

"You don't like boys,do you?"he questioned.

"I like good boys,"said Margaret.

Billy was at her knee instantly."Well say,I'm a good boy!"he announced joyously.

"I do not think boys who hurt helpless kittens and pull out turkeys'tails are good boys.""Yes,but I didn't hurt the kittens,"explained Billy.

"They got mad 'bout ist a little fun and scratched each other.

I didn't s'pose they'd act like that.And I didn't pull the turkey's tail.I ist held on to the first thing Igrabbed,and the turkey pulled.Honest,it was the turkey pulled."He turned to Wesley."You tell her!

Didn't the turkey pull?I didn't know its tail was loose,did I?""I don't think you did,Billy,"said Wesley.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 穿越复仇公主

    穿越复仇公主

    我穿越到了复仇公主的这本书里,会发生什么样的事情呢,敬请期待
  • 抛弃萌动的大烦恼(学生心理健康悦读)

    抛弃萌动的大烦恼(学生心理健康悦读)

    人生路上,难免会遇到形形色色、各种各类的烦恼。这些烦恼总会或多或少的影响到人们的心情和生活。甚至形成恶性循环。其实大可不必惧怕这些烦恼,当它们还在萌动期时,你完全可以扑灭它们生长的势头。《抛弃萌动的大烦恼》主要有以下精彩看点:人为什么会做恶梦、剖析嫉妒心理、怎样保持心理健康、恋爱与心理健康、增进心理耐力……
  • 胭脂木

    胭脂木

    他护着身后的女人,冷眼看着被他推下楼梯的她,跌断腿,直到离婚他再也没有出现。从此她的复仇开始了……生下她儿子的女人,逝去的小小生命,被摧毁的事业,这些都是她送他的礼物,最后的一击是五份被收藏已久的亲子鉴定……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 人民的好战士雷锋

    人民的好战士雷锋

    本书是中国孩子的好榜样丛书的一本。雷锋是一个伟大的共产主义战士,他从一个孤儿到当工人,参军入伍,他的成长故事折射着我们伟大时代的向上精神。本书翔实地描写了雷锋成长的事迹,展现了一个伟大战士的普通心灵,为小读者树立了学习的榜样。本书出版后,颇受欢迎,多次再版。
  • 美艳布可方物

    美艳布可方物

    简单讲,这又是一个穷小子经历各种巧合遭遇不少波折最终打败无敌大反派翻盘人生逆袭宇宙的老套冒险故事。复杂讲,本书主要是想搞搞悬疑,科幻只是外皮。三位主角的名字已经按照时下流行的方式放到书名里了。来都来了……
  • 恋琳风故事剪辑

    恋琳风故事剪辑

    这是个故事合集,剧情略略虐一虐,大概未知个故事。
  • The Man

    The Man

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 不朽方士

    不朽方士

    观阴阳、察风水、窥天道,方术传承,永生不朽……方士,从事医、卜、星、相等职业的人,擅长看相算命、风水堪舆、遁甲阵法、祭拜鬼神、炼丹长生,也称法术之士。千年棋局觅长生,几世轮回成不朽。.(一三五七九出品,精品保证,值得期待!)
  • 息除中夭陀罗尼经

    息除中夭陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 女主她只想安稳活着

    女主她只想安稳活着

    一朝事故,被迫穿书到刚看过的末世小说里。不是女主也就算了,还是个被女主弄死的小炮灰。本来以为有系统,结果系统也临时掉链子。好不容易抱个大腿,没想到金大腿居然黑化了??她只想在末世好好的活着,复仇什么的,跟她没关系啊?!