Village books

Now there was such an exaggerated wistfulness
in young Arkwright's attitude that Peter was amused.
"Hello, Sam," he called. "What you doing out here?"
The Arkwright boy turned with a start.
"Aw, is that you, Siner?" Before the negro could reply, he added: "Was
you on the Harvard football team, Siner? Guess the white fellers have a
pretty gay time in Harvard, don't they, Siner? Geemenettie! but I git
tired o' this dern town! D' reckon I could make the football team? Looks
like I could if a nigger like you could, Siner."
None of this juvenile outbreak of questions required answers. Peter
stood looking at the hobbledehoy without smiling.
"Aren't you going to school?" he asked.
Arkwright shrugged.
"Aw, hell!" he said self-consciously. "We got marched down to the
protracted meetin' while ago--whole school did. My seat happened to be
close to a window. When they all stood up to sing, I crawled out and
skipped. Don't mention that, Siner."
"I won't."
"When a fellow goes to college he don't git marched to preachin', does
he, Siner?"
"I never did.


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