"
"All right," said Abe meekly.
"Take a gourdful of soap with you," said Sarah. "And mind you, no
reading until you finish washing your hair."
He grumbled under his breath as he walked down to the horse trough. With
a new book waiting to be read, washing his hair seemed a waste of time.
But if that was what Sarah wanted, he would do it. He lathered his head
with soap and ducked it into the water. Some of the soap got into his
eyes and he began to sputter. He heard a giggle.
"Hey, Johnny, is that you?" he said. "Get a bucket of water--quick!"
Johnny, the eight-year-old stepbrother, was glad to oblige. He poured
bucket after bucket of water over Abe's head. Finally all of the soap was
rinsed out of his hair. Abe took the tail of his shirt and wiped the soap
out of his eyes. Both boys were covered with water. The ground around the
horse trough was like a muddy little swamp. Johnny was delighted. He liked
to feel the mud squish up between his toes.
[Illustration]
"Look at me, Abe," he shouted. "Ain't we having fun?"
Abe took his young stepbrother by the hand. His eyes were twinkling.
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