Half-Past Seven Stories

Now for instance, they will insist there are only four seasons when, as

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o run, and to go bobbin' for eels; and a whole lot of other famous seasons as wel

man, for, though he is six feet tall, and wears suspenders and long pants, and shaves and all that, h

d say--but Marble-time--midway between Kite-time and

o dilly-dallying, as there was when kindlings were called for. It was funny to see how quickly they could gather when they heard the wheels come up the d

sk a question just as the reins fell over the

ot for me, Toyma

ers. And Jehosophat and Marmaduke were trying hard to be "

expected, when she suggested

girl be a Lit

made it

r to be just that, but by being a Little Gent

ame quite so attractive. However, they remembered it pretty well, considering. And toda

all into the kitchen

his pockets little round things--marbles,

armaduke, "there'

horses; and six of blue dappled the same way; nine big glass ones with pink and blue streaks like the colorings in Mother's marble cake; nine ma

all the beautiful marbles out on the t

ny things in fun in the White House with the Green Blinds by the Side of the

e she sewed a red J; on the second a blue M; on the third

te it--they seldom skipped that of their own free will--but after it was over, the Toyman kneeled

ward to the real game in the morning, for the real game m

time from his work--that is, he meant to, but it

ere "Croakers"; and two of the blue; three "Chineys"; three "Glasseys" with the pink and blue streaks; and one each of the most beautiful of all,--the agates. The blue and cream-colored agate M

ir old friend informed them, w

me places they called 'em 'Reals,' just as in some cities they say p

ely as much so as "hazards" and "simple honors" which the grownups are forever discussing. In fact

tion, "if you called them 'Pures' when y

sted a questio

hen did you sto

apped his knees with his rough brown hand. His answ

chool, "Tomorrow never comes," and that is

ound, two feet across. In the middle he

d on the outside of the ring and shoot at the marbles in the hole, that is, they did in that year, in that particular part o

over the line the Toyma

e game," he told the

the hollow of the first finger and shooting it out with the thumb,

reatest importance,

right way. They did finely, too--though naturally not as well as the Toyman. They had lent him some of their marbles, and my! wasn't he a fine shot! He would se

n wasn't doing so well--though, maybe--between

ssey," and his shooter, the "pure," of course. And Jehosophat had ten "migs," two "chimneys," one "glassey," two brown "croakers," and one blue one, and his shooter. But poor little Hepzebiah had

ldn't be fair to Marmaduke and Jehosophat, who were trying their bes

s a wink the Toyman placed three of his marbles in her pile, and when Marmaduke saw

he old hen, isn't it?" whispered Jehosoph

the little girl ca

played many games, some of them ve

't turn out so well. That was the time

thing chinked in his pocke

dially, for they were always a little

marbles?"

id the tw

t you," he

ed to yell, but Jehosophat, who was

olitely. He's mean

air'?" Fatty

Jehosophat, "wha

te of affairs did

" called Jehosoph

tty shouted very angri

er the marbles that way or put your foot in the ring. You've got to 'knu

t too full of water to say anything, "get--bllllll

under the ole hen, isn't it?' whi

view la

orty-two marbles and they had only nine api

g very surpri

-two very carefully, th

hosophat, "what

could hear them dropping in. "Chink, chink," they went, but their "chink, chink" di

ehosophat insisted, "when we're through

't know everything," F

is, both the bro

nows most everythin

ded things onc

not 'in fun.' You said you'd play 'f

Still, he had agreed to play that way, and so, though he wanted to punch Fat

, something made of wood and shaped like a bridge or

n, Joshy,

do?" asked

and if they go through the little holes, yo

and very foolishly they thought they migh

t than they had expected. More marbles would hit against the wood and bounce back than ever went through th

tty wal

e said, "I'll

k." They spoke never a word--just looked and listened--looked at the few marbles left in their ow

estions yet. However, Marmaduke kept reaching down into his pockets so often, to feel the lonely little marbles he had left,--the o

did the gam

d Marmaduke, but

t be something the matter, and

s playing 'for keeps,' and he t

er, and Mother looked a

ened," she said, "

hat exc

lost our

n, too, to play games 'in fun.' If you play anything 'for keeps,' the one who loses is always hurt and feel

to say any more.

boys into the woodshed. They sneaked

it till

ng to happe

at old answer of his w

an'

had expected earlier in the week. And when he came back his pockets chinked r

maduke loved the first blue croaker and the br