But you see , they had chosen to do a foolish thing just once too often ; so , by the laws of Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid , they had to go on doing it whether they chose or not , till the coming of the Cocqcigrues . Ah ! do n't you wish that some one would go and convert those poor heathens , and teach them not to frighten their little children into fits ? `` Now , then , '' said the Powwow man to Tom , `` would n't you like to be frightened , my little dear ? For I can see plainly that you are a very wicked , naughty , graceless , reprobate boy . '' `` You 're another , '' quoth Tom , very sturdily . And when the man ran at him , and cried `` Boo ! '' Tom ran at him in return , and cried `` Boo ! '' likewise , right in his face , and set the little dog upon him ; and at his legs the dog went . At which , if you will believe it , the fellow turned tail , thunderbox and all , with a `` Woof ! '' like an old sow on the common ; and ran for his life , screaming , `` Help ! thieves ! murder ! fire ! He is going to kill me ! I am a ruined man ! He will murder me ; and break , burn , and destroy my precious and invaluable thunderbox ; and then you will have no more thunder-showers in the land . Help ! help ! help ! ''
XXXXX which the papa and mamma and all the people of Oldwivesfabledom flew at Tom , shouting , `` Oh , the wicked , impudent , hard-hearted , graceless boy !
At by for if in of on quoth upon with