groaned Polly . `` I promised to hem those handkerchiefs for Ned , and so I must ; but I do think handkerchiefs are the most pokey things in the world to sew . I dare say you think you can sew faster than I can . Just wait a bit , and see what I can do , miss , '' she said to the shadow . It took some time to find her thimble and needles and spools , for Polly was n't a very neat little girl ; but she got settled at last , and stitched away as if bent on beating her dumb friend . Little Will 's shadow went up to the nursery , and stopped before a basin of water . `` Oh ! ah ! ai n't this drefful ? '' cried Will , with a shiver ; for he knew he 'd got to have his face washed , because he would n't have it done properly when he got up , but ran away . Now , Will was a good child ; but this one thing was his great trouble , and sometimes he could n't bear it . Jane was so rough . She let soap get in his eyes , and water run down his neck , and she pinched his nose when she wiped him , and brushed his hair so hard that really it was dreadful ; and even a bigger boy would have found it hard to bear . He shivered and sighed : but Jane came in ; and , when he saw that the shadow stood still and took the scrubbing like a little hero , he tried to do the same , and succeeded so well that Jane actually patted his head and called him `` a deary ; '' which was something new , for old Nurse Jane was always very busy and rather cross . Feeling that nothing worse could possibly happen to him , Will ran after his shadow , as it flitted away into the barn , and began to feed the chickens . `` There , now ! I forgetted all about my chickeys , and the shadow ` membered 'em ; and I 'm glad of it , '' said Will , scattering dabs of meal and water to the chirping , downy little creatures who pecked and fluttered at his feet . Little shadow hunted for eggs , drove the turkeys out of the garden , and picked a basket of chips : then it went to play with Sammy , a neighbor 's child ; for , being a small shadow , it had n't many jobs to do , and plenty of active play was good for it . Sammy was a rough little boy and rather selfish : so , when they played ball , he wanted to throw all the time ; and , when Will objected , he grew angry and struck him . The blow did n't hurt Will 's cheek much , but it did his little feelings ; and he lifted his hand to strike back , when he saw his shadow go and kiss Sammy 's shadow .
All his anger was gone in a minute , and he just put his arm round XXXXX 's neck and kissed him .
Jane Ned Polly Sammy Will chickeys deary downy drefful spools