My very boots seemed to plead with me to let one of those boys relieve
them of the load that weighed them down. But, behold my dilemma--six
persistent, lusty, vociferous boys clamoring for one job, while I, as
arbiter, must deal out elation to one boy, and dejection to the five.
"Silence! Fall into line for inspection!" Behold my brigade, standing
in line, and no two of them alike in size, feature or dress. All
looked eager, and five of them looked at my boots and pointed their
index fingers at the same objects. The sixth boy held up his head in a
manly way and looked me in the eye. I looked him over and was affected
in two ways. His clothes touched my funny bone and made me laugh
before I knew it. If those pants had been made for that boy, then
since that time there had been a great growth in that boy or a great
shrinkage in the pants. But, if the pants were several sizes too small
and fit him too little, the coat was several sizes too large and fit
him too much, so that his garments gave him the appearance of being a
small child from his waist down, and an old man from his waist up.
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