runty

In it, a group of children go ice skating on a pond in the woods, all taking to the ice with great enthusiasm, except for one runty kid who sucks at ice skating.

In the language of the country they meant runty, mean-figured, undersized.

Runty took the chair, and in a few earnest and well-chosen words, he dispatched the Ossified Man for a pitcher of beer.

Three such smilin' faces as yours turned right up at him would produce a shadder, Runty.