“No⁠—no⁠—I reckon it wouldn’t hardly do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly’s awful particular about this fence⁠—right here on the street, you know⁠—but if it was the back fence I wouldn’t mind and she wouldn’t. Yes, she’s awful particular about this fence; it’s got to be done very careful; I reckon there ain’t one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it the way it’s got to be done.”

“No⁠—is that so? Oh come, now⁠—lemme just try. Only just a little⁠—I’d let you , if you was me, Tom.”

“Ben, I’d like to, honest injun; but Aunt Polly⁠—well, Jim wanted to do it, but she wouldn’t let him; Sid wanted to do it, and she wouldn’t let Sid. Now don’t you see how I’m fixed? If you was to tackle this fence and anything was to happen to it⁠—”

“Oh, shucks, I’ll be just as careful. Now lemme try. Say⁠—I’ll give you the core of my apple.”