To have the better excuse to avoid his teasing, I am ready dressed to go to church this morning.

But Piggy continued his teasing until Abe Carpenter said: "Say, Mealy, we want you to go to the cave with us to-morrow; can you?" The "can you" was an imputation on his personal liberty that Mealy resented.

" "Too bad!" cried the tease.

When the boy heard all this teasing he laughed.

"I DON'T TELL EVERYBODY THAT, YOU INQUISITIVE TEASE, BUT FACT IS, I PUT THE STUMP OF AN OLD PAINT-BRUSH IN THE BOWL, AND SMOKE THE OILIEST TOBACCO I CAN FIND.

For Mother Nature you should have respect: She does not like these teasings and these jokes.