A few minutes later all the fun was over. Almira Jane, waving her
empty basket to rid it of the crumbs, climbed into the carriage;
and at Mr. Patterson's request Master Sunshine and Tommy accepted
his place, while he remained for a quiet talk with Mr. Sinclair.
The rest of the boys sauntered happily home, with a pleasant word
each for Billy, who by this time was so amazed at the good fortune
that had befallen him that he could find no words in which to
express his feelings.
But that was not all, I can tell you. The boys were full of the
new idea; and strange as it may seem, the more kind things they
saw done, the more they were anxious to do themselves, and nearly
all the objectionable pastimes they had formerly engaged in were
laid aside. No one ever went fishing just for the pleasure of
throwing the panting, struggling fish on the grass; no one ever
tormented frogs, or pulled the wings off the poor flies nowadays.
The boys of the Hill-top school had taken all living things under
their protection, and you may be sure that they put down all kinds
of thoughtless cruelty.
It was just a year from the day on which they made their bargain
with Mr. Patterson that the fountain was set up. It was shrouded
in a great flag until it should be finally unveiled.
It was a great day in the village, I can tell you. Never before
had the Hill-top schoolboys been so looked up to. The fountain was
their gift to the village.
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