The Dunce Leaves Home There Was No Use Denying

8/14/2019 The Dunce Leaves Home There Was No Use Denying

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The Dunce Leaves Home There was no use denying the facttheDunce was just as bad as he could be. It

might have been the spring weather whichcaused all his naughtiness, but it is morelikely it was caused by-a letter the TeenieWeenies received.

A few weeks ago a little girl wrote to them

and said she felt sorry for the Dunce. Ithink I could help him to be a good boy,dont you? she wrote. If the Dunce wouldcome and live with me I would make a goodboy out of him. Please let him come.

After this letter had been opened and readby the Teenie Weenies, the Dunce was sostuck up there was no living with him. Hegot into all sorts of trouble. One morning hedropped the head of a match down the

spout of the old tea pot which served theChinaman as a chimney for his laundry,and when it landed in the fire it exploded,bl i th lid ff th ti t d

should have been helpiTeenie Weenies have tosent him bed once withbut it did not seem to d

If youd ask me, grevening after the Duncmalted milk, Id saytannin. If I had my wa

the woodshed and Id gof grass and Id give him

Why, grandfather! exFashion, the Dunce isjust full of fun and he r

be naughty.

Well, if you call puttinand stealin half a thimfun, then I havent gotgrowled the old gentlem

top of his tiny spectacle

He really didnt take fried cakes said the C


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I believe that would beanswered the General. would make a good bthink you had better go

Ah-ah-all right! exclago and get a few of my taway.

The Dunce stamped o

running upstairs, he sohis clothes into a bundl

The news quickly sprerose bush that the Dunwhen the foolish fellow front porch a number owere gathered about the

Well, good-by, Dunce,as the Dunce shuffledthat you can behave welcomed back home.

The Dunce never an

No, laughed the Cook. I suppose he gavemost of them away.

The very next morning the Dunce caught anant and turned it loose in Box Hall, wherethe Guff sisters lived, scaring the four little women half out of their wits. Miss Guffreported the matter at once to the General,

and the head of the Teenie Weenies had thePoliceman bring the Dunce to the shoehouse.

Now, Dunce; said the General when theDunce stood before him, do you think youare behaving like a gentleman?

N-N-No, sir, answered the Dunce.

Well, I dont think you are either, and Iwant you to understand we cant stand for

this foolishness a bit longer, and unless youturn over a new leaf and behave yourselfyou are going to get into trouble.

stomachache?


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The Poor Dunce Has A Hard Days TrampI dont care, muttered the Dunce as heshuffled out from beneath the rose bush. I

wont stand bein scolded all the time, so Illjust leave em and go and live with that nicelittle girl.

At the end of the garden he turned aroundand looked longingly at the edge of the

shoehouse roof, which showed over the topof a little bill. Two great tears gathered inhis eyes, but brushing them away the poorDunce set off toward the big road.

The Dunce had never thought to put food in

his package, and after he had tramped allmorning he discovered he was frightfullyhungry.

Jinks! he thought to himself, I wish I hadsome of the Cooks good doughnuts.Presently he found a banana skin lyingbeside the road, which some big person hadthrown away and from the skin he was able

wished many times for a

I might get a bird to cabe said to himself.

A little farther on he sthe road, and he askeda lift.

Ill take you a ways for

wheat, said the birdover suspiciously.

I-I havent got a bit of wDunce.

What! exclaimed the me to carry you for nothpoor Dunce a nasty look

The Dunce limped on ffinally he spied three y

beside the road.Chickens are always kithe Dunce. Ill speak to


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tonight?Why, youd better come in and talk to ourmother, answered one of the chickens in a

high, piping voice. My ma, she knowseverything. Shell tell you. The threechickens led the Dunce into a big yard where a small coop stood, and as they walked up to the coop an old hen popped

her big head out between the slats.Pardon me, madam, said the Dunce,taking off his hat, for in spite of hisfoolishness the Dunce had proper manners;I have just been asking your children

whether I could get a bite to eat and a placeto sleep tonight.

Why, yes, cackled the hen, who was quiteimpressed with the Dunces polite ways.Well be fed pretty soon, and youre

welcome to all you can eat. I only have threechildren, and Id be glad to take you in forthe night. You can snuggle right down

d f th d ll k j t

while the hen talked to

Presently a woman cahouse near by and thre

wheat and corn to thehad gone, the Duncebehind the coop when tcame out and ate seveafter they had soaked fo

of water which stood neNow, my dear, said supper had been eatenand you can climb righspend the night.

Now, the Dunce had ona ducks nest, and he hup by insects, so he hens invitation. He sobottle nearby into wh

tired little body, and, clothes for a pillow, he sleep,


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The Dunce Falls Among ThievesWhen the Dunce awakened the next morning he

was terribly stiff after his long walk of the day

before, and he ached in every muscle as heclimbed out of the bottle where he had spent thenight.

Good morning, my dear, cried the old hen, who with her three chickens was busy eatingbreakfast, which had been spread on the groundin front of the coop. You are just in time forbreakfast.

The Dunce quickly washed his face and handsin the pan of fresh water that stood in front ofthe coop. Picking up two large grains of wheat

for his morning meal, the little chap made a tinycup out of a plantain leaf, into which he put thegrains of wheat and covered them with a fewdrops of water.

Youd better gather up a few grains to take

along with you, suggested the hen. It alwaysbest to have food along when you are traveling.You never can tell when you might need it. Youcant travel well on an empty craw

grains of wheat and put with his clothes.

Now, remember this, wa

the Dunce wrapped up thbirds see how much whshow your wealth, for onmuch you have they wonget it.

The two grains of wheat wwere now soft, so the Duone of them for his brebundle and stick, the Dhen for her kindness. W

way, he said.

Youll find a lot of grac ways, and I want to sathose birds a wide berthTheyre the worst thieveshad better not have anyth

The Dunce thanked her off down the big road towthe little girl lived who baand live with her


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Ill give you five grains ifmiles, said the Dunce.

Its a bargain, answered

The Dunce quickly opcounted out five grains of

Youve got some more asked one of the birds,

with his big yellow eye.

Y-y-yes, s-s-sir, b-b-but to eat myself, answered t

Well, said the bird, winkmy friend here cant be us to help you, you wil

share, too.

There was nothing to dofour grains of wheat, fogreatly frightened, particulonely place.

The two big birds quicklyand then, winking at eacha loud laugh and flew awa

At noon the little traveler stopped at a small

stream of water, where he found the top of asalve box. He filled it with water and, building afire under it, he took a grain of wheat out of hisbundle and put in on to boil. When the wheat

was done the little chap fished it out, and whenit had cooled he peeled off the outer skin and ate

it eagerly to the last crumb. The tired little fellowfelt sleepy after his lunch, so he decided to takea short nap, and, making himself comfortable inthe shade of a bush nearby, he lay down besidea big stone to sleep.

The poor little chap did not sleep long, for he was soon awakened by a loud, rasping voice,and, opening his eyes, he was horrified to seetwo big evil looking grackles staring at him.

How do you do? said the Dunce, jumping tohis feet and bowing politely.

The grackles seemed to be pleasant fellows, sothe Dunce soon became quite friendly, and toldthem who he was and where he was going

and more that he was safe at home under therose bush.


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The Dunce Is KidnappedFor a long time the poor Dunce sat andcried over the loss, his wheat. Theyre justlowdown thieves and robbers! sobbed theDunce. Takin all my food and not keepintheir promise. I-I-I wish I hadnt left home. Ihavent had anything but hard luck since 1left and Im goin back again.

The Dunce wrapped up the bundle ofclothes out of which he had taken the wheatand, hanging it to a stick over his shoulder,he limped off in the direction of home. Thepoor fellows feet were blistered and soreand he made very slow progress, for he had

to stop and rest every little while.Presently he noticed two large birds light ona bush near the road; and when he drewnear he was quite alarmed, as he recognizedthe two Crackles who had robbed him. He

quickly hid under a mullein leaf, but thebirds saw him, and presently they flew tothe road and walked up to his hiding place.

Ill take you the five mcarry you for the wheat

I-I-I have decided to wont trouble you answered the Dunce, fonot to trust the birds.

The birds looked knowand, walking off a few together for a few minut

Well, come on out of tthe birds, and, reachinthe leaf, he caught the the sleeve with his beakfellow out.

Getting a good stout collar, the two birds flewcarried the frightened Ttop of a tree fully a mile

Wh-wh-whats the i-

scared Dunce when heswaying limb high abov

Shut up! snapped on


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conversation of the birds the Dunce soonfound that he was being held for ransom.

Ill fly over about the rose bush where these Tiny Winnies live and see how the groundlies, said one of the birds. We ought to getfive hundred grains of wheat for this fellow,so you watch him while Im away. And thebird flew off.

For a long time the Dunce sat astride thelimb looking for some means of escape, butthere was absolutely no chance to get away,for one of the birds sat on the limb next tothe tree trunk and there was not a singlelimb within reach. The bird napped in the

warm sunshine, every now and thenopening his big yellow eye to watch theDunce, but presently the bird fell into adeep sleep.

After a time the Dunce was attracted by a

slight noise over his head and, looking up,he was astonished to see the Teenie WeenieIndian crawling out on a limb overhead. TheI di ti d th D t b i t d

Weenies soon made thground, where they losta place to hide.

We hide here till night,When night comes we no see us in night; he sl

While the two Teenie Wthe Indian told the ashe had followed him. General he told me to you no get into troubehind and when me sme climb tree and get y

When night same on

crawled out of their hidfor home. They arrivedlate the next morninggiven a royal welcoWeenies.

Im home for good, anafter he had eaten twotwo grains of boiled rice


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The Dunce Leaves Home There Was No Use Denying

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