It is so senseless! Now what did you mean by saying 'just like pie,' in speaking of your lesson just now ?" "Oh! come now, Miss Hildy!" said Bubble, bashfully, "the' ain't no use in your tellin' me you don't know what pie is." "Of course I know what pie is, you silly boy!" said Hilda, laughing.
"But what has pie to do with your geography lesson ?" "That's so!" murmured the boy, apologetically.

"That's a fact, ain't it! I won't say 'like pie' no more; I'll say 'like blazes,' instead." "You needn't say 'like' anything!" cried Hilda, laughing again; "just say, I know my lesson 'well,' or 'thoroughly.' There are plenty of _real_ words, Bubble, that have as much meaning as the slang ones, and often a great deal more." "That's so," said Bubble, with an air of deep conviction.

"I'll try not to talk no more slang, Miss Hildy.

I will, I swan!" "But, Bubble, you must not say 'I swan' either; that is _abominable_ slang." Bubble looked very blank.

"Why, what _shall_ I say ?" he asked, simply.
"Pink won't let me say 'I swow,' 'cause it's vulgar; an' if I say 'by' anything, Ma says it's swearin',--an' I can't swear, nohow!" "Of course not," said Hilda.