I think it's more likely that he's ten. Ye can't keep a child out
of school unless he's less'n five, or over fourteen."
"Then he's OVER fourteen!" cried the woman.
"Less'n five one minute, and over fourteen the next!" said the man in
disgust. "Grows kinder fast, don't he?"
"Well, he AIN'T goin' ter school!" the woman insisted, and the officer
went his way.
Gyp, however, did not believe that he would long remain away from the
shanty.
He determined to take no chances, and it seemed to him that the safest
thing for him to do, was to keep well away from home.
At twilight he surprised his family by appearing with a huge bundle of
fagots that he had gathered in the woods. He gave them yet another
surprise by packing the wood upon the old wood pile behind the house,
and running off again for more.
He returned with a larger bundle than the first.
"Kind 'o busy, ain't yer?" questioned his mother, but Gyp made no reply.
She watched him, as he hastily piled the wood.
It certainly was unusual to see the boy work like that!
When asked to do a task, it was Gyp's habit to do it as slowly as
possible, and to do as little as he dared.
Now, without waiting to be asked, he was working as if he had not a
moment to spare!
Yet more amazing, on the next day, before any of his family was
stirring, he was again at work, and soon a huge heap of fagots rose in
the little back yard.
"What AILS ye, Gyp?" his mother asked, "Be ye sick?"
Gyp never answered unless he chose, and this was surely one of the times
when he did not choose.
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