CHAPTER III.

Clinton’s chamber—The furniture—The 41 writing-desk—The library—The schooner—Pictures—Lessons suspended—Plans about work—Morning—Milking—A talk about the cows—Daisy’s uneasiness—Conversation suspended—Breakfast—Impromptu rhymes—Clinton’s favorite song—The turkeys and hens—Weeding—Witch-grass—Difficulty of exterminating it—An imagined moral—A habit of Whistler’s father—The toad—A cruel act—Ending his misery—Whistler’s thoughtlessness—Toads not poisonous—The good they do—How the boys serve them—Tame toads—How they eat—“Spitting fire” a vulgar notion—How the toad disposes of his old coat—Clinton’s authority for his statement—The morning’s work completed,