DIFFICULTY.
After their luncheon, the boys began to talk about the best place for awindow for the wigwam.
"I think we will have it _this_ side, towards the brook," said James,"and then we can look out to the water."
"No," said Rollo, "it will be better to have it _here_, towards whereJonas is working, and then we can look out and see him."
"No," said James, "that is not a good plan; I do not want to see Jonas."
"And I do not want to see the water," replied Rollo. "It is _my_ wigwam,and I mean to have the window _here_."
So saying, he went to the side towards Jonas, and began to take away abough. James came there too, and said angrily,
"The wigwam is mine as much as it is yours, for I helped make it, and Iwill not have a window here."
So he took hold of the branch that Rollo had hold of. They both feltguilty and condemned, but their angry feelings urged them on, and theylooked fiercely at each other, and pulled upon the branch.
"Rollo," said James, "let go."
"James," said Rollo, "I tell you, let my wigwam alone."
"It is not your wigwam."
"I tell you it is."
Just then they heard a noise in the bushes. They looked around, and sawJonas coming towards them. They felt ashamed, and were silent, thougheach kept hold of the branch.
"Now, boys," said Jonas, "you have got into a foolish and wickedquarrel. I have heard it all. Now you may do as you please--you may letme settle it, or I will lead you home to your mother, and tell her aboutit, and let her settle it."
The boys looked ashamed, but said nothing.
"If you conclude to let me settle it, you must do just as I say. But Ido not pretend that I have any right to decide such a case, unless youconsent. So I will take you home, if you prefer."
The boys both preferred that he should settle it, and promised to do ashe should say.
"Well, then," said he, "the first thing is for you, Rollo, to go overthe other side of the brook, and you, James, to stay here, and both tosit down still, until you have had time to cool."
The boys obeyed, and Jonas went back to his work.
The boys sat still, feeling guilty and ashamed; but they were notpenitent. They ought to have been sorry for their fault, and becomegood-natured and pleasant again. But instead of that, they were silentand displeased, eyeing one another across the brook. Jonas waited sometime, and then came and called them both to him.
"Now," says James, "I will tell you all about it, and you shall decidewho was to blame."
"I heard it all, and I know which was to blame; you, James, came hereto see Rollo, and found him building a wigwam. It was _his_ wigwam, not_yours_. He began it without you, and was going on without you, and whenyou came, you had no right to assume any authority about it. You oughtto have let him do as he wished with his own wigwam. You were unjust."
Here Rollo began to look pleased and triumphant, that Jonas had decidedin his favor.
"But," continued Jonas, "you, Rollo, were playing here alone. Yourlittle cousin came to see you; and you were very glad to have him come.He helped you build, and when he wanted to have the window in aparticular way, you ought to have let him. To quarrel with a visitor forsuch a cause as that, was very ungentlemanly and unkind. So you see youwere both very much to blame."
The boys looked guilty and ashamed, but they did not feel reallypenitent. They were not cordially reconciled. Neither was willing togive up.
"But," said Rollo, "how shall we make the window?"
"I think you ought not to make any window, as you cannot agree aboutit."
They wanted to make a window now more than ever, for each wanted to havehis own way; but Jonas would not consent, and as they had agreed toabide by his decision, they submitted. Jonas then returned to his work,and the boys stood by the side of the brook, not knowing exactly what todo. Jonas told them, when they went away, that he expected that theywould have another quarrel, as he perceived that their hearts were stillin a bad state.