If you've got to play tricks, do it on somebody your size.

Then it's fair.

Don't scare lone widows." "I won't do it again," promised Bob, who felt a little ashamed of his prank of the previous night.
Soon Mrs.Henderson came downstairs to get breakfast, and when the meal was over Bob got ready for school, Mr.Henderson leaving for his work in the woolen mill.
When Bob was safely out of the way Captain Spark once more brought up before Mrs.Henderson the proposition he had made the night before.
"Well, Lucy," he said, for he called Mrs.Henderson by her first name, "have you thought over what I said about taking Bob to sea ?" "Yes, I have." "And what do you think of it ?" "Well, to tell you the truth, I don't like the idea." "Why not?
I'm sure it would be good for him." "It might.

I'm sure you mean it well, but I couldn't bear to have him go." "It will make a man of him--cure him of some of his foolish ways, I'm sure." "Perhaps it would.

Bob is very wild, I know, but I think I have more influence over him than any one else.