"Sporadic swearing," Peter called it, and explained what it meant to the children, and why he forgave that, while punishing the intentional swearer with exclusion from his favor.

So, too, the girls were told that to "poke" tongues at each other, and make faces, was but another way of swearing; "for they all mean that there is hate in your hearts, and it is that which is wrong, and not the mere words or faces." He ran the risk of being laughed at, but they didn't laugh, for something in his way of talking to them, even when verging on what they called "goody-goody," inspired them with respect.
Before many weeks of this intercourse, Peter could not stroll east from his office without being greeted with yells of recognition.

The elders, too, gave him "good-evening" pleasantly and smiled genially.

The children had naturally told their parents about him of his wonderful presents, and great skill with knife and string.
"He can whittle anything you ask!" "He knows how to make things you want!" "He can tie a knot sixteen different kinds!" "He can fold a newspaper into soldiers' and firemen's caps!" "He's friends with the policeman!" Such laudations, and a hundred more, the children sang of him to their elders.
"Oh," cried one little four-year-old girl, voicing the unanimous feeling of the children, "Mister Peter is just shplendid." So the elders nodded and smiled when they met him, and he was pretty well known to several hundred people whom he knew not.
But another year passed, and still no client came..