As a special 'just because' gift, Tom gives Eddie a deluxe chemistry set. Mrs. Livingston, fearful of the chemicals harming the carpet, tells him to only play with it in the bathroom. The next day he plays on the carpet of his room and is politely scolded by Mrs. Livingston. He's so wrapped up in the experiment that he continues on the carpet and spills the beaker full of dark colored chemicals. He compounds matters by stepping in it and tracking it across the room and then all over his shirt and bedspread. Eddie comically moves furniture to cover the spots. It doesn't work, however, as Mrs. Livingston is shown the spots and says he must tell his father. Tom reminds him of a talk they've had in the past about responsibility. Since he's shown he's not been responsible with it, he will have his chemistry set taken away. Eddie is disappointed, but understands and seeing his maturity about it, Tom says this one time they'll not put it in practice. Tom admits to Mrs. Livingston that he was probably too easy on him, as he didn't have the heart to take it away after a similar experience his father had with him. After being asked, Mrs. Livingston says she thinks Tom is too lenient with Eddie and he must learn from his wrongdoings. She is visibly disappointed when Tom defends his position. Eddie boasts to the carpet cleaner how he never gets spanked, only talks. At dinner, Tom and Eddie notice how upset Mrs. Livingston seems to be with them both. The next day Eddie hears a passing parade and runs out onto the balcony and climbs a chair to hang half his body over the railing. Mrs. Livingston panics to think how close he is to falling many stories and rushes to grab and pull him back in. Eddie runs to his father saying she hurt him. When everything is told to him, Tom explains reasons Mrs. Livingston's actions and tells him to apologize for scaring her so bad. Eddie promises to never do it again, and Tom lets it off at that. Mrs. Livingston privately tells Tom she doesn't think he realizes how close Eddie came to falling. The next morning Tom sees Eddie dangling over the balcony and rushes to him, pulling him back and giving a well-deserved spanking. Eddie, not used to the punishment, is angry and thinks his father doesn't love him anymore. Tom acknowledges to Mrs. Livingston's that if he has been a little firmer in the beginning, none of that would have happened. Now he hopes to find a way for Eddie to understand.
Moral theme: the importance of discipline