Skippy Bedelle: His Sentimental Progress From the Urchin to the Complete Man of the WorldJohnson, Owen
General
Skippy Bedelle: His Sentimental Progress From the Urchin to the Complete Man of the World
Johnson, Owen
Lawrenceville School -- Fiction; Schools -- Fiction
"I don't want to play in your yard,
I don't like you any more . . ."
"My, you're a cold-hearted brute," said Snorky, in whom perhaps the
spirit of envy was strong.
"I am," said Skippy unctuously, "and I am going to be brutier, take a
tip from yours truly, _Moony_."
He disposed of half a dozen cushions, draped two flags and carefully
placed three photographs amid the gallery on his bureau.
"Do you think that's honorable?" said Snorky resentfully.
"Scalps, that's all!" said Skippy with a grandiloquent wave of his hand.
"I get you. Heart whole and fancy free etcetera etceteray?"
"Every time."
"Since when?" said Snorky wickedly.
Skippy allowed this to pass, but having pensively contemplated the
effect produced by the addition of Miss Dolly Travers, Miss Jennie
Tupper and Miss Vivi Balou to the adoring galaxy of the past, he swung a
leg over the table and assuming that newly acquired manner of a man of
the world, which was specially galling to his chum, announced,
"Snorky, old horse, you play it wrong."
"I do, eh?"
"You do. There's nothing in that fussing game. Women, my boy, are our
inferiors."
"Well, it took you some time to find it out."
"Keerect, but now I'm wise. Woman is like a harp in the desert, played
upon by every passing wind."
"Where'd ye read that?"
"If you're going in for that sort of thing get promiscuous. The only
cure for one woman is another."
"You ought to know."
"Are you corresponding with Margarita?" said Skippy suddenly.
"And if I am?"
Skippy shook his head sadly.
"Woman--" he began sententiously and just then fate knocked at the door.
"Come in if you're good-looking," said Snorky, glad of the interruption.
The door opened and discovered a short bulbous freshman, just a whit
embarrassed as freshmen should be in the presence of royalty.
"Oh well, come in any way," said Skippy. "What's your name, freshman!"
"Potterman," said the rotund youngster squeezing in.
"Sir."
"Sir."
"What's the rest of it--the handle, the nickname."
"Are we telling our real names?" said the new arrival, cocking his
derby.
"Green, get out the bamboo cane," said Skippy solemnly.
"Oh well, they call me Hippo--sir," said Potterman hastily.
"Ah yes, Hippo Potterman. Of course. That's good, but we'll try to do
better by you. Where did they find you?"
"Philamedelphia, sir."
"What's that you've got there?" said Snorky just about to fall upon him
bodily.
"Please, sir, it's a letter from Mrs. Bedelle, your aunt."
"Oh, I see," said Skippy with a feeling of disappointment. "You know my
aunt? Well, freshman, you may give it to me. I permit you. Advance.
That's it. Curtsey. A little lower. Better."
DEAR JACK,
My very dear friend Susan Potterman is sending her
son Cornelius--
Skippy frowned and looked up incredulously.
"Is your name really Cornelius?"
Potterman flushed like the rose and said with a gulp:
"Yes, sir, it is."
"Too bad, too bad."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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