_He_
felt that she had not stood by him.
He dared not play truant, because he so feared the policeman who had
said that he _must_ attend school.
Poor Gyp! Ignorant, and born of ignorant parents, he believed, as they
did, that if he did not go to school, he would be sent to jail! Jail
was the only thing that Gyp thought worse than school. He considered
himself a prisoner in school, but _after four_ he was _free_, so that
jail was worse only because one could not get out of jail at all!
"If it's school or jail, I'll go to _school_!" he said.
For weeks he appeared each morning and afternoon, sullen, and unhappy.
Then something occured that made him change his mind, and his eyes
grow bright, and his heart grow lighter.
Out of all Avondale, Princess Polly was the only person who spoke
kindly to him. Wild, careless Gyp fairly worshipped the blue eyed,
golden haired little girl who always gave him a pleasant word, and a
smile.
One morning, after a heavy storm, the avenues were in fair condition,
until the pupils reached a place where they must cross to the opposite
side of the street to enter the school yard.
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