From the waist down, Moses’ masculine and figure seemed to utter a dull protest against cut-me-downs. There are many forces in life that growing youths are not able to control. One of these, in the career of Moses, was the inexorable will of his mother that homemade garments for his limbs. Made from his father’s discarded trousers of black and grey check, the new pair of abominations that the legs of the youthful Wopp bore evidence to the unskilled fingers of the . They had the generous dimensions allowed by an imaginative and economical mind that could look into the future and could see legs and a general expansion. In fact, the coarse checked tweed fell in slight gathers, and aft. The greenish-grey coat that slouched from Moses’ shoulders did not fail to heighten the effect, but seemed to set the costume in italics.  
Going home from school one Friday afternoon, Moses heard sniggering half-suppressed comments behind him. He walked along slowly, his big toe that pathetically from a large hole in his shoe. It reached his ears that one youth was dazzled by the effect of his checked trousers; in other words, it made him sea-sick. Moses quickened his pace slightly, but his face looked like an advance notice of . Presently he turned and at his tormenters.
 
“Smile, Moses, dern yer empty corn-cob face! Smile!” shouted one.
 
Betty Wopp was along the road with other little school-girls and heard the addressed to the wretched boy. The sense of Moses’ need of her brought her to a halt. Indignation made her tight little braids of hair assume an aspect as terrific as Medusa’s snaky coils. She ran lightly up to Moses and walked beside him.
 
“Never mind, Mosey, we’ll tell Miss Gordon. She’ll give them sulphur an’ brimstone to-morrer.”
 
“S’Gordon won’t care,” Moses. “She never had to wear Par’s old pants, an’ she won’t un’erstan’ how a feller feels.”
 
“Oh, Mosey, she un’erstan’s everything, she’s jist wonderful.” Betty’s voice was positive.
 
“Jist hold on there, Mose, we wanter play a game of checkers on yer pants.” At this Moses turned and held up a fist as warning of a potential thrashing which the boys knew would never materialize. Moses was slow to active .
 
One boy, to his last to Moses before turning into another road, picked up a stone and it at his dejected victim. The stone glanced and struck Jethro who was bounding along the road to meet his mistress. A piteous followed by a loud howl, and Betty was on her knees beside the wounded animal. She turned and shouted imprecations after the fleeing boys.
 
“Where is the dern dog hurt?” Moses.
 
Betty’s tears by now were flowing too fast for her to make an answer. She picked up the whimpering dog and proceeded to carry him home. From time to time Moses stroked the quivering head and murmured low phrases of comfort.
 
When the house was reached, Eliza Wopp was , an effective , at the door, waving her large hands in a gesture indicative of dismay. Moses stoically told his tale of assault.
 
“But, Mose, you shorely didn’t fergit a sorft answer turneth away wrarth?”
 
“Oh!” interposed Betty, “but they did............