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Tarkington, Booth, 1869-1946

"Penrod and Sam"


That evening, during the half-hour preceding dinner, the
dining-room was the scene of another struggle, only a little less
desperate than that which had been the prelude to lunch, and
again an appeal to the head of the house was found necessary.
Muscular activity and a liberal imitation of the jeremiads once
more subjugated the rebel--and the same rebellion and its
suppression in a like manner took place the following morning
before breakfast. But this was Saturday, and, without warning or
apparent reason, a remarkable change came about at noon. However,
Mr. and Mrs. Schofield were used to inexplicable changes in
Penrod, and they missed its significance.
When Mrs. Schofield, with dread in her heart, called Penrod into
the house "to take his medicine" before lunch, he came briskly,
and took it like a lamb!
"Why, Penrod, that's splendid!" she cried "You see it isn't bad,
at all."
"No'm," he said meekly. "Not when you get used to it."
"And aren't you ashamed, making all that fuss?" she went on
happily.
"Yes'm, I guess so."
"And don't you feel better? Don't you see how much good it's
doing you already?"
"Yes'm, I guess so.


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