Chapter 25

           "Don’tdothat,Scout.Sethimoutonthebacksteps."

           "Jem,areyoucrazy?...."

           "Isaidsethimoutonthebacksteps."

           Sighing,Iscoopedupthesmallcreature,placedhimonthebottomstepandwentbacktomycot.Septemberhadcome,butnotatraceofcoolweatherwithit,andwewerestillsleepingonthebackscreenporch.Lightningbugswerestillabout,thenightcrawlersandflyinginsectsthatbeatagainstthescreenthesummerlonghadnotgonewherevertheygowhenautumncomes.

           Aroly-polyhadfoundhiswayinsidethehouse;Ireasonedthatthetinyvarminthadcrawledupthestepsandunderthedoor.IwasputtingmybookonthefloorbesidemycotwhenIsawhim.Thecreaturesarenomorethananinchlong,andwhenyoutouchthemtheyrollthemselvesintoatightgrayball.

           Ilayonmystomach,reacheddownandpokedhim.Herolledup.Then,feelingsafe,Isuppose,heslowlyunrolled.HetraveledafewinchesonhishundredlegsandItouchedhimagain.Herolledup.Feelingsleepy,Idecidedtoendthings.MyhandwasgoingdownonhimwhenJemspoke.

           Jemwasscowling.Itwasprobablyapartofthestagehewasgoingthrough,andIwishedhewouldhurryupandgetthroughit.Hewascertainlynevercrueltoanimals,butIhadneverknownhischaritytoembracetheinsectworld.

           "Whycouldn’tImashhim?"Iasked.

           "Becausetheydon’tbotheryou,"Jemansweredinthedarkness.Hehadturnedouthisreadinglight.

           "Reckonyou’reatthestagenowwhereyoudon’tkillfliesandmosquitoesnow,Ireckon,"Isaid.