“Come on, grandfather,” Walter would call out laughingly; “try it!” “‘Try it’!” retorted Grandfather Sprague. “I’m not going to ‘try’ it; I’m going to do it!” “When?” laughed Walter. “One time is as good as another.” “Do it now! Do it now!” retorted the lad. “You’re nothing but a little whipper-snapper. You don’t weigh more than a hundred and fifty.” “How much do you weigh, grandfather?” “Two hundred and ten.” “All right. You have the advantage in weight. I’ll not count it though, if you’ll put me on the bed.” “Don’t try it, pa,” spoke up Grandmother Sprague. “You might slip and break your leg.” “Or hurt his pride,” laughed Walter, whose love and respect for his grandfather were almost as keen as was the old man’s love for the stalwart lad. “Pooh, ma,” the old gentleman retorted a trifle testily. “You don’t suppose I’m so old I can’t take my own grandson across my lap and spank him as he deserves, do you?” “You might if he would lie still,” replied Mrs. Sprague dryly. “But you and I were born on the same day and so I know just how old you are. You are seventy-seven――――” “And almost as spry as ever I was,” broke in her husband. “I don’t feel a day older than when I was forty. The only thing that troubles me any is that I stub my toe more than I used to.” “You take my advice and don’t bother with Walter.” “Well, to please you, ma, I’ll give him a day of grace. But I give you fair warning,” he would add turning to the laughing boy, “that to-morrow at ten-thirty I shall give you what you deserve.” “To-morrow at ten-thirty,” brought a daily repetition of the scene and conversation and not yet had Grandfather Sprague found just the time for displaying his prowess. His deep love for Walter was a source of joy to his grandson, who almost revered his portly, jolly, devout grandfather. His happiest days were those spent on the farm, and next to them were the visits of his grandfather and grandmother to the city. According to Grandfather Sprague, all the members of the family were in a conspiracy to “spoil the boy,” that is, all except himself. He was for letting the boy know his proper place. But if anyone had ever heard of Grandfather Sprague refusing a request of Walter, or failing to be the first to herald his success in school or on the athletic field, he had held his peace so successfully that none had ever heard his testimony.