Sugar and Spice

Young Franky's boots were sent to be mended. The girl came back and said they would not be done for a week; the cobbler was so busy. Annie, of the same family, who knew nothing of this, sent hers, and said they must be done by the next day. The cobbler said if they brought him two pairs again to do at once, he'd knock their heads together with his lasts, and then give them a good "welting". He was the only cobbler in the village, or he would not have been so independent. Franky had often watched the boot-maker at his work; so he coaxed his father to let him have some money to buy tools and leather, in order that he and his sisters might play at making boots and shoes.