The next day , however , the peddler returned to say that he could not find that very knife , and thought he must have left it at Miss Crane 's . It was a very nice one with a pearl handle , and he could not afford to lose it . Every one looked , and every one declared they knew nothing about it . ` This young gentleman had it last , and seemed to want it very much . Are you quite sure you put it back ? ' said the man to Lewis , who was much troubled at the loss , and vowed over and over again that he did return it . His denials seemed to do no good , however , for every one was sure he had taken it , and after a stormy scene Miss Crane paid for it , and the man went grumbling away . '' `` Did Lewis have it ? '' cried Nat , much excited . `` You will see . Now poor Lewis had another trial to bear , for the boys were constantly saying , ` Lend me your pearl-handled knife , Gooseberry , ' and things of that sort , till Lewis was so unhappy he begged to be sent home . Miss Crane did her best to keep the boys quiet , but it was hard work , for they would tease , and she could not be with them all the time . That is one of the hardest things to teach boys ; they wo n't ` hit a fellow when he is down , ' as they say , but they will torment him in little ways till he would thank them to fight it out all round . '' `` I know that , '' said Dan . `` So do I , '' added Nat , softly . Jack said nothing , but he quite agreed ; for he knew that the elder boys despised him , and let him alone for that very reason . `` Do go on about poor Lewis , Aunt Jo . I do n't believe he took the knife , but I want to be sure , '' said Daisy , in great anxiety . `` Well , week after week went on and the matter was not cleared up . The boys avoided Lewis , and he , poor fellow , was almost sick with the trouble he had brought upon himself .
He resolved never to tell another lie , and tried so hard that Miss Crane pitied and helped him , and really came at last to believe that he did not take the XXXXX .
Aunt anxiety fellow home knife loss peddler reason trial work