﻿SAMMY AND WILLIE. 163 



Sammy. There, that is done. Get your hat and books while I 

 drive out the sheep. 



In a few moments the little boys were on their way to school, 

 while Willie, who had received a new idea, began to talk of Sam- 

 ray's rule. 



Willie. How do you manage to keep a rule like that, Sam ? I '11 

 tell you what, sir, if you had as much to do as 7 have you could n't 

 do it. " One thing at a time," indeed ! I never did one thing at a 

 time since I was born ; I can't stop for that. 



Sammy. But don't you have to finish what you begin ? 



Willie. Be sure I do; father is mighty particular. Everything 

 has to be done ; but there is no such thing as doing one thing at a 

 time; 'twould take forever. Your father don't make you drive so. 



Sammy. Ho\v much had you to do this morning, Willie ? 



Willie. Why, in the first place, I had to get up, and eat my 

 breakfast. 



Sammy. Oh, I meant work. 



Willie. Don't you call that work ? I call it about as hard work 

 as a fellow can do, that of getting up in the morning. 



Sammy. And eating his breakfast, eh ? 



Willie. Why, as to that, if a body could have an hour or so for 

 this business, it would n't be so hard ; but I can't spend time to eat. 

 I never get up from the table without thinking it is a mercy that I 

 have n't been choked to death. But I must tell you what father 

 gave me to do. First, then, I had to drive the cows to pasture, then 

 get my geography, then I had to weed that bed, and hoe that row, 

 and and drive out the sheep. Now, tell me, what you had to do. 



Sammy. I took time to get up and dress myself, to read a chap- 

 ter in my little Testament, and say my morning prayer ; I ate my 

 breakfast, without choking, went half a mile on an errand for 

 mother, and studied my lessons on the way. 



Willie. Then you broke your rule ; that was doing more than 

 one thing at a time. 



Sammy. Oh no, sir! we can make our minds work with our 

 hands and our feet, and they will be no hindrance one to the other. 

 When I came home, I hoed two rows, helped Kezzy churn, turned* 



