Now Aunt Kipp had one soft place in her heart , though it was partially ossified , as she very truly declared , and Toady was enshrined therein . She thought there never was such a child , and loved him as she had done his father before him , though the rack would n't have forced her to confess it . She scolded , snubbed , and predicted he 'd come to a bad end in public ; but she forgave his naughtiest pranks , always brought him something when she came , and privately intended to make his future comfortable with half of her fortune . There was a dash and daring , a generosity and integrity , about the little fellow , that charmed her . Sophy was weak and low-spirited , Polly pretty and headstrong , and Aunt Kipp did n't think much of either of them ; but Toady defied , distracted , and delighted her , and to Toady she clung , as the one sunshiny thing in her sour , selfish old age . When he made his demure request , she looked at him , and her eyes began to twinkle , for the child 's purpose was plainly seen in the loving glances cast upon the pictorial pocket-handkerchief . `` A story ? Yes , I 'll tell you one about a little boy who had a kind old -- ahem ! -- grandma . She was rich , and had n't made up her mind who she 'd leave her money to . She was fond of the boy , -- a deal fonder than he deserved , -- for he was as mischievous a monkey as any that ever lived in a tree , with a curly tail . He put pepper in her snuff-box , '' -- here Toady turned scarlett , -- `` he cut up her bestt frisette to make a mane for his rocking-horse , '' -- Toady opened his mouth impulsively , but shut it again without betraying himself -- `` he repeated rude things to her , and called her ` an old aggrewater , ' '' -- here Toady wriggled in his chair , and gave a little gasp . `` If you are tired I wo n't go on , '' observed Aunt Kipp , mildly . `` I 'm not tired , 'm ; it 's a very interesting story , '' replied Toady , with a gravity that nearly upset the old lady . `` Well , in spite of all this , that kind , good , forgiving grandma left that bad boy twenty thousand dollars when she died . What do you think of that ? '' asked Aunt Kipp , pausing suddenly with her sharp eye on him . `` I -- I think she was a regular dear , '' cried Toady , holding on to the chair with both hands , as if that climax rather took him off his legs . `` And what did the boy do about it ? '' continued Aunt Kipp , curiously .
`` He bought a velocipede , and gave his sister half , and paid his mother 's rent , and XXXXX a splendid marble cherakin over the old lady , and had a jolly good time , and -- '' `` What in the world is a cherakin ? ''
asked charmed confess enshrined make pausing put thought upset wriggled