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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14608-0.txt b/14608-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd2479d --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3549 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14608 *** + +[Illustration: "Edith was busy taking their photographs". Page 41.] + + + +LITTLE PRUDY'S CHILDREN + + + +JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL + +BY + +SOPHIE MAY + +AUTHOR OF "LITTLE PRUDY STORIES" "DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES" +"LITTLE PRUDY'S FLYAWAY SERIES" "FLAXIE FRIZZLE +SERIES" "THE QUINNEBASSET SERIES" ETC. + +BOSTON +LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS +1900 + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY LEE AND SHEPARD. + +_All Rights Reserved._ + +JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL. + +Norwood Press +J.S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith +Norwood Mass. U.S.A. + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. THE TALLYHO + II. THE FIRST DINNER + III. LUCY'S GOLD MINE + IV. "THE KNITTING-WOMAN" + V. THE AIR-CASTLE + VI. "GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE" + VII. THE ZEBRA KITTEN +VIII. STEALING A CHIMNEY + IX. "CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE + X. THE THIEF FOUND + XI. BEGGING PARDON + XII. "THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE" +XIII. NATE'S CAVE + XIV. JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +"Edith was busy taking their photographs" +"'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy" +Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken +"'James S. Dunlee, will--you--forgive me?'" + + + + +JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL + +I + +THE TALLYHO + + +"I never saw a gold mine in my life; and now I'm going to see one," +cried Lucy, skipping along in advance of the others. It was quite a +large party; the whole Dunlee family, with the two Sanfords,--Uncle +James and Aunt Vi,--making ten in all, counting Maggie, the maid. They +had alighted from the cars at a way-station, and were walking along the +platform toward the tallyho coach which was waiting for them. Lucy was +firmly impressed with the idea that they were starting for the gold +mines. The truth was, they were on their way to an old mining-town high +up in the Cuyamaca Mountains, called Castle Cliff; but there had been no +gold there for a great many years. + +Mr. Dunlee was in rather poor health, and had been "ordered" to the +mountains. The others were perfectly well and had not been "ordered" +anywhere: they were going merely because they wanted to have a good +time. + +"Papa would be so lonesome without us children," said Edith, "he needs +us all for company." + +He was to have still more company. Mr. and Mrs. Hale were coming +to-morrow to join the party, bringing their little daughter Barbara, +Lucy's dearest friend. They could not come to-day; there would have been +hardly room for them in the tallyho. With all "the bonnie Dunlees,"--as +Uncle James called the children,--and all the boxes, baskets, and +bundles, the carriage was about as full as it could hold. + +It was seldom that the driver used this tallyho. He was quite choice of +it, and generally drove an old stage, unless, as happened just now, he +was taking a large party. It was a very gay tallyho, as yellow as the +famous pumpkin coach of Cinderella, only that the spokes of the wheels +were striped off with scarlet. There were four white horses, and every +horse sported two tiny American flags, one in each ear. + +"All aboard!" called out the driver, a brown-faced, broad-shouldered +man, with a twinkle in his eye. + +"All aboard!" responded Mr. Sanford, echoed by Jimmy-boy. + +Whereupon crack went the driver's long whip, round went the red and +yellow wheels, and off sped the white horses as freely as if they were +thinking of Lucy's gold mine and longing to show it to her, and didn't +care how many miles they had to travel to reach it. But this was all +Lucy's fancy. They were thinking of oats, not gold mines. These bright +horses knew they were not going very far up the mountain. They would +soon stop to rest in a good stable, and other horses not so handsome +would take their places. It was a very hard road, and grew harder and +harder, and the driver always changed horses twice before he got to the +end of the journey. + +As the tallyho rattled along, the older people in it fell to talking; +and the children looked at the country they were passing, sang snatches +of songs, and gave little exclamations of delight. Edith threw one arm +around her older sister Katharine, saying:-- + +"O Kyzie, aren't you glad you live in California? How sweet the air is, +and how high the mountains look all around! When we were East last +summer didn't you pity the people? Only think, they never saw any lemons +and oranges growing! They don't know much about roses either; they only +have roses once a year." + +"That's true," replied Kyzie. "Let me button your gloves, Edy, you'll be +dropping them off." + +"See those butterflies! I'd be happy if Bab was only in here," murmured +a little voice from under Lucy's hat. "Bab didn't want to come with her +papa and mamma; she wanted to come with _me_!" + +"Now, Lucy, don't be foolish," said Edith. "Where could we have put Bab? +There's not room enough in this coach, unless one of the rest of us had +got out. You'll see Bab to-morrow, and she'll be in Castle Cliff all +summer; so you needn't complain." + +"_I_ wasn't complaining, no indeed! Only I don't want to go down in the +gold mine till Bab comes. I s'pose they'll put us down in a bucket, +won't they? I want Uncle James to go with us." + +Jimmy-boy laughed and threw himself about in quite a gale. He often +found his little sister very amusing. + +"Excuse me, Lucy," said he; "but I do think you're very ignorant! That +mine up there is all played out, and Uncle James has told us so ever so +many times. Didn't you hear him? The shaft is more than half full of +muddy water. I'd like to see you going down in a bucket!" + +"Well, then, Jimmy Dunlee, what _shall_ we do at Castle Cliff?" + +"We've brought a tent with us, and for one thing I'm going to camp out," +replied Jimmy. "That's a grand thing, they say." + +"Don't! There'll be something come and eat you up, sure as you live," +said Lucy, who had a vague notion that camping out was connected in some +way with wild animals, such as coyotes and mountain lions. + +"Poh! you don't know the least thing about Castle Cliff, Lucy! And Uncle +James has talked and talked! Tell me what he said, now do." + +Uncle James was seated nearly opposite, for the two long seats of the +tallyho faced each other. Lucy spoke in a low tone, not wishing him to +overhear. + +"He said we were going to board at a big house pretty near the old +mine." + +"Yes, Mr. Templeton's." + +"And he said somebody had a white Spanish rabbit with reddish brown eyes +and its mouth all a-quiver." + +"Yes, I heard him say that about the rabbit. And what are those things +that come and walk on top of the house in the morning?" + +"I know. They are woodpeckers. They tap on the roof, and the noise +sounds like 'Jacob, Jacob, wake up, Jacob!' Uncle James says when +strangers hear it they think somebody is calling, and they say, 'Oh, +yes, we're coming!' I shan't say that; I shall know it's woodpeckers. +Tell some more, Jimmy." + +"Yes" said Eddo, leaving Maggie and wedging himself between Lucy and +Jimmy. "Tell some more, Jimmum!" + +"Well, there's a post-office in town and there's a telephone, and Mr. +Templeton has lots of things brought up to Castle Cliff from the city; +so we shall have plenty to eat; chicken and ice-cream and things. That +makes me think, I'm hungry. Wouldn't they let us open a luncheon +basket?" + +Kyzie thought not; so Jimmy went on telling Lucy what he knew of Castle +Cliff. "It's named for an air-castle there is up there; it's a thing +they _call_ an air-castle anyway. A man built it in the hollow of some +trees, away up, up, up. I'm going to climb up there to see it." + +"So'm I," said Lucy. + +"Ho, you can't climb worth a cent; you're only a girl!" + +"But she has an older brother; and sometimes older brothers are kind +enough to help their little sisters," remarked Kyzie, with a meaning +smile toward Jimmy; but Jimmy was looking another way. + +"Uncle James told a funny story about that air-castle," went on Kyzie. +"Did you hear him tell of sitting up there one day and seeing a little +toad help another toad--a lame one--up the trunk of the tree?" + +"No, I didn't hear," said Lucy. "How did the toad do it?" + +"I'll let you all guess." + +"Pushed him?" said Edith. + +"No." + +"Took him up pickaback," suggested Lucy. + +"Nothing of the sort. He just took his friend's lame foot in his mouth, +and the two toads hopped along together! Uncle James said it probably +wasn't the first time, for they kept step as if they were used to it." + +"Wasn't that cunning?" said Edith. And Jimmy remarked after a pause, "If +Lucy wants to go up to that castle, maybe I could steady her along; only +there's Bab. She'd have to go too. And I don't believe it's any place +for girls!" + +The ride was a long one, forty miles at least. The passengers had dinner +at a little inn, the elegant horses were placed in a stable; and the +tallyho started again at one o'clock with a black horse, a sorrel +horse, and two gray ones. + +The afternoon wore on. The horses climbed upward at every step; and +though the journey was delightful, the passengers were growing rather +tired. + +"Wish I could sit on the seat with the king-ductor," besought little +Eddo, moving about uneasily. + +"That isn't a conductor, it's a driver. Conductors are the men that go +on the steam-cars,--the 'choo choo cars,'" explained Jimmum. Then in a +lower tone, "They don't have any cars up at Castle Cliff, and I'm glad +of it." + +Lucy did not understand why he should be glad, and Jimmy added in a +lower tone:-- + +"Because--don't you remember how some little folks used to act about +steam-engines? They might do it again, you know." + +"Yes, I 'member now. But that was a long time ago, Jimmy. He wouldn't +run after engines now." + +"Who wouldn't?" inquired young Master Eddo, forgetting the "king-ductor" +and turning about to face his elder brother. "Who wouldn't run after the +engine, Jimmum?" + +"Nobody--I mean _you_ wouldn't." + +"No, no, not me," assented Eddo, shaking his flaxen head. + +And there the matter would have ended, if Lucy had not added most +unluckily: "'Twas when you were only a baby that you did it, Eddo. You +said to the engine, 'Come here, little choo choo, Eddo won't hurt oo.' +_You_ didn't know any better." + +"_'Course_ I knew better," said Eddo, shaking his head again, but this +time with an air of bewilderment. "_I_ didn't say, 'Come here, little +choo choo.' No, no, not me!" + +"Oh, but you did, darling," persisted Lucy. "You were just a tiny bit +of a boy. You stood right on the track, and the engine was coming, +'puff, puff,' and you said, 'Come here, little choo choo, Eddo won't +hurt oo!'" + +"I didn't! Oh! Oh! Oh! _When'd_ I say that? _Did_ the engine hurt me? +_Where_ did it hurt me? Say, Jimmum, where did the engine hurt me?" +putting his hand to his throat, to his ears, to his side. + +The more he thought of it, the worse he felt; till appalled by the idea +of what he must have suffered he finally fell to sobbing in his mother's +arms, and she soothed his imaginary woes with kisses and cookies. For +the remainder of the journey he was in pretty good spirits and found +much diversion in watching the gambols of the two dogs following the +tallyho. One was a Castle Cliff dog, black and shaggy, named Slam; the +other, yellow and smooth, belonged to the "king-ductor" or driver, and +was called Bang. Slam and Bang often darted off for a race and Eddo +nearly gave them up for lost; but they always came back wagging their +tails and capering about as if to say:-- + +"Hello, Eddo, we ran away just to scare you, and we'll do it again if we +please!" + +It was a great day for dogs. Ever so many dogs ran out to meet Slam and +Bang. They always bit their ears for a "How d'ye do?" and then trotted +along beside them just for company. Eddo found it quite exciting. One +was a Mexican dog, without a particle of hair, but he did not seem to be +in the least ashamed of his singular appearance. + +Edith said it was an "empty country," and indeed there were few houses; +but there must have been more dogs than houses, for the whole journey +had a running accompaniment of "bow-wow-wows." + +The farther up hill the road wound the steeper it grew; and Jimmy +exclaimed more than once:-- + +"This coach is standing up straight on its hind feet, papa! Just look! +'Twill spill us all out backward!" + +But it did nothing of the sort. It took them straight to Castle Cliff, +"nearly six thousand feet above the level of the sea," and there it +stopped, before the front door of the hotel. It was about half-past five +o'clock in the afternoon, and Mr. Templeton, who had been looking out +for the tallyho, came down the steps to meet his guests. + + + + +II + +THE FIRST DINNER + + +Mr. Templeton's wife was just behind him. They both greeted the party as +if they had all been old friends. The house, a large white one, stood as +if in the act of climbing the hill. In front was a sloping lawn full of +brilliant flowers, bordered with house-leek, or "old hen and chickens," +a plant running over with pink blossoms. Kyzie had not expected to see a +garden like this on the mountain. + +At one side of the house, between two black oak trees, was a hammock, +and near it a large stone trough, into which water dripped from a +faucet. Two birds, called red-hammers, were sipping the water with +their bills, not at all disturbed by the arrival of strangers. + +It was a small settlement. The hotel, by far the largest house in Castle +Cliff, looked down with a grand air upon the few cottages in sight. +These tiny cottages were not at all pretty, and had no grass or lawns in +front, but people from the city were keeping house in them for the +summer; and besides there were tents scattered all about, full of +"campers." + +As the "bonnie Dunlees" and their elders entered the hotel, a merry +voice called out:-- + +"A hearty welcome to you, my friends, and three cheers for Castle +Cliff!" + +Mr. and Mrs. Dunlee and the Sanfords walked on smiling, and the children +lingered awhile outside; but it was a full minute before any of them +discovered that the cheery voice belonged to a parrot, whose cage swung +from a tall sycamore overhead. + +"Polly's pretty sociable," laughed Mr. Templeton. "Do you like animals, +young ladies? If so, please stand up here in a group, and you shall have +another welcome." + +Then he clapped his hands and called out "Thistleblow!" and immediately +a pretty red pony came frisking along and began to caper around the +young people with regular dancing steps, making at the same time the +most graceful salaams, pausing now and then to sway himself as if he +were courtesying. It was a charming performance. The little creature had +once belonged to a band of gypsies, who had given him a regular course +of training. + +"He is trying to tell you how glad he is to see you," said Mr. +Templeton, as the children shouted and clapped their hands. + +"Oh, won't Bab like it, though!" cried Lucy. "Seems as if I couldn't +wait till to-morrow for Bab to get here, for then the good times will +begin." + +But for Kyzie and Edith and Jimmy the good times had begun already. The +five Dunlees entered the house, little Eddo clinging fast to Jimmum's +forefinger. They passed an old lady who sat on the veranda knitting. She +gazed after them through her spectacles, and said to Mr. Templeton in a +tone of inquiry:-- + +"Boarders?" + +"Yes," he replied, rubbing his chin, "and they have lots of jingle in +'em too; they're just the kind I like." + +"Well, I hope they won't get into any mischief up here, that's all I've +got to say. Nobody wants to take children to board anyway, but you can't +always seem to help it." + +And then the old lady turned to her knitting again; indeed her fingers +had been flying all the while she talked. Mr. Templeton looked at her +curiously, and wondered if she disliked children. + +"I'd as lief have 'em 'round the house as her birds and kittens anyway," +he reflected; for she kept a magpie, three cats and a canary; and these +pets had not been always agreeable guests at the hotel. + +It was now nearly six o'clock, and savory odors from the kitchen mingled +with the balmy breath of the flowers stealing in from the lawn. The +Dunlee party had barely time for hasty toilets when the gong sounded for +dinner. The Templeton dining-room was large and held several tables. The +Dunlees had the longest of these, the one near the west window. There +were twelve plates set, though only nine were needed to-night. The three +extra plates had been placed there for the Hale family, who were +expected to-morrow. Mrs. Dunlee had told the landlord that she would +like the Hales at her table. + +"And Bab will sit side o' me," said Lucy. "Oh, won't we be happy?" + +As the Dunlees took their seats to-night and looked around the room they +saw a droll sight. The old lady, who had been knitting on the veranda, +was seated at a small table in one corner; and on each side of her in a +chair sat a cat! One cat was a gray "coon," the other an Angora; and +both of them sat up as grave as judges, nibbling bits of cheese. Mrs. +McQuilken herself, dressed in a very odd style, was knitting again. She +was a remarkably industrious woman, and as it would be perhaps three or +four minutes before the soup came in, she could not bear to waste the +time in idleness. Her head-dress was odd enough. It was just a strip of +white muslin wound around the head like an East Indian puggaree. Mrs. +McQuilken had many outlandish fashions. She was the widow of a +sea-captain and had been abroad most of her life. The children could +hardly help staring at her. Even after they had learned to know her +pretty well they still wanted to stare; and not being able to remember +her name they spoke of her as "the knitting-woman." + +"Look, Lucy," whispered Jimmy; "there's a boy I know over there at that +little table. It's Nate Pollard." + +He waved his hand toward him and Nate waved in reply. At home Jimmy had +not known Nate very well, for he was older than himself and in higher +classes; but here among strangers Jimmy-boy was glad to see a familiar +face. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard were with their son. Perhaps they had all +come for the summer. Jimmy hoped so. + +There were two colored servants gliding about the room, and a pretty +waiting-maid. + +"O dear, no cook from Cathay," whispered Kyzie to Edith. + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"I mean I wanted a cook from Cathay or Cipango," went on Kyzie, laughing +behind her napkin. + +"I'm going to shake you," said Edith, who suddenly bethought herself +that Cathay and Cipango were the old names for China and Japan. This had +been part of her history lesson a few days ago. How Kyzie did remember +everything! + +At that moment the colored man from Georgia stood at her elbow with a +steaming plate of soup. Lucy looked at him askance. Why couldn't he have +been a Chinaman with a pigtail? She had told Bab she was almost sure +there would be a "China cook" at the mountains, and when he passed the +soup he would say, "Have soup-ee?" Bab had been in Europe and in Maine +and in California, but knew very little of Chinamen and had often said +she "wanted to eat China cooking." + +The dinner was excellent. Eddo enjoyed it very much for a while; then +his head began to nod over his plate, his spoon waved uncertainly in the +air, and Maggie had to be sent for to take him away from the table. + +The ride up the mountain had been so fatiguing that by eight o'clock all +the Dunlees, little and big, were glad to find themselves snugly in bed. +They slept late, every one of them, and even the woodpeckers, tapping on +the roof next morning, failed to arouse them with their "Jacob, Jacob, +wake up, wake up, Jacob!" + +After breakfast Edith happened to leave the dining-room just behind Mrs. +McQuilken, who held her two cats cuddled up in her arms like babies, +and was kissing their foreheads and calling them "mamma's precious +darlings." As Edith heard this she could not help smiling, and Mrs. +McQuilken paused in the entry a moment to say:-- + +"I guess you like cats." + +"I do, ma'am. Oh, yes, very much." + +"That's right. I like to see children fond of animals. Now, I've got a +new kitty upstairs, a zebra kitty, that you'd be pleased with. It's a +beauty, and _such_ a tail! Come up to my room and see it if you want to. +My room's Number Five. But don't you come now; I shall be busy an hour +and a half. Remember, an hour and a half." + +Edith thanked her and ran to tell Kyzie what the "knitting-woman" had +been saying. + +"Go get your kodak," said Kyzie. "Nate Pollard is going to take us all +out on an exploring expedition. You know he has been in Castle Cliff a +whole week, and knows the places." + +"First thing I want to see is that mine," said Lucy, as they all met +outside the hotel. + +"The mine?" repeated Kyzie, and looked at Eddo. "I'm afraid it isn't +quite safe to take little bits of people to such a place as that. Do you +think it is, Nate?" + +"Rather risky," replied Nate. + +Eddo had caught the words, "little bits of people," and his eyes opened +wide. + +"What does _mine_ mean, Jimmum?" + +"A great big hole, I guess. See here, Eddo, let's go in the house and +find Maggie." + +"Yes," chimed in Edith, "let's go find Maggie. There's a _beau_-tiful +picture book in mamma's drawer. You just ask Maggie and she'll show you +the picture of those nice little guinea-pigs." + +Though very young, Eddo was acute enough to see through this little +manoeuvre. It was not the first time the other children had tried to get +him out of the way. They wanted to go to see a charming "great big hole" +somewhere, and they thought he would fall into it and get hurt. They +were always thinking such things--so stupid of them! They thought he +used to run after "choo choos" and talk to them, when of course he never +did it; 'twas some other little boy. + +"I want to go with Jimmum," said he, stoutly. "You ought to not go +'thout me! _I_ shan't talk to that mine. _I_ shan't say, 'Come, little +mine, Eddo won't hurt oo.' No, no, not me! I shan't say nuffin', and I +shan't fall in the hole needer. So there! H'm! 'm! 'm!" + +It was not easy to resist his pleading. Perhaps Aunt Vi saw how matters +were, for she appeared just then, bearing the news that she and Uncle +James were going to drive, and would like to take one of the children. + +"And Eddo is the one we want. He is so small that he can sit on the seat +between us. Aren't the rest of you willing to give him up just for this +morning? He can go to walk with you another time." + +So they all said they would try to give him up, and he bounded away with +Aunt Vi, his dear little face beaming with proud satisfaction. + + + + +III + +LUCY'S GOLD MINE + + +The other children strolled leisurely along toward a place that looked +like a long strip of sand. + +"A sand beach," said Kyzie. + +"No," said Nate; "it isn't a beach and it isn't sand." + +"What _can_ you mean? What else is it, pray?" + +She stooped and took up a handful of something that certainly looked +like sand. The others did the same. + +"What do you call that?" they all asked, as they sifted it through their +fingers. + +Nate smiled in a superior way. + +"Well, I don't call it sand, because it isn't sand. I thought it was +when I first saw it; I got cheated, same as you. But there's no sand to +it; it's just _tailings_." + +"What in the world is tailings?" asked Kyzie, taking up another handful +and looking it over very carefully. Strange if she, a girl in her teens, +couldn't tell sand when she saw it! But she politely refrained from +making any more remarks, and waited for Nate to answer her question. He +was an intelligent boy, between eleven and twelve. + +"Well, tailings are just powdered rocks," said Nate. + +"Powdered rocks? Who powdered them? What for?" asked Edith. + +"Why, the miners did it years ago. They ground up the rocks in the mine +into powder just as fine as they could, and then washed the powder to +get the gold out." + +"Oh, I see," said Edith. "So these tailings are what's left after the +gold's washed out." + +"Yes, they brought 'em and spread 'em 'round here to get rid of 'em I +suppose." + +"Is the gold all washed out, every bit?" asked Jimmy. "Seems as if I +could see a little shine to it now." + +"Well, they got out all they could. There may be a little dust of it +left though. Mr. Templeton says the folks in 'Frisco that own the mine +think there's _some_ left, and the tailings ought to be sent to San +Diego and worked over." + +Jimmy took up another handful. Yes, there was a faint shine to it; it +began to look precious. + +"Well, there's a heap of it anyway. It goes ever so far down," said he, +thrusting in a stick. + +"It's from ten to twelve feet deep," replied Nate, proud of his +knowledge; "and see how long and wide!" + +"_I_ don't see how they ever ground up rocks so fine," said Kyzie. +"Exactly like sand. And it stretches out so far that you'd think 'twas a +sand beach by the sea,--only there isn't any sea." + +"Well, it's just as good as a beach anyway," said Nate. "Just as good +for picnics and the like of that. When there's anything going on, they +get out the brass band and have fireworks and bring chairs and benches +and sit round here. I tell you it's great!" + +"There are lots of benches here now," remarked Edith. "And what's that +long wooden thing?" + +"That's a staging. That's where they have the brass band sit; that's +where they send up the fireworks." + +"Oh, I hope they'll have fireworks while we're here, and picnics." + +"Of course they will. They're always having 'em. And I heard somebody +say they're talking of a barbecue." + +Edith clapped her hands. She did not know what a barbecue might be, but +it sounded wild and jolly. + +"What a long stretch of mud-puddle right here by the tailings," said +Kyzie. + +Nate laughed. "It _is_ a damp spot, that's a fact!" + +They all wondered what he was laughing at. "I guess there used to be +water here once," said Jimmy at a venture. "There's water here now +standing round in spots. And,--why, it's _fishes_!" + +Lucy stooped all of a sudden and picked up a dead fish. + +"Ugh! I never caught a fish before!" But next moment she threw it away +in disgust. + +"How did dead fishes ever get into this mud-puddle?" queried Edith. + +"Well, they used to live in it before it dried up," replied Nate. "Fact +is, this is a _lake_!" + +Everybody exclaimed in surprise; and Kyzie said:-- + +"It doesn't seem possible; but then things are so queer up here that you +can believe almost anything." + +"Really it is a lake. It's all right in the winter, and swells +tremendously then; but this is a dry year, you know, and it's all dried +up." Kyzie forgave the lake for drying up, but pitied the fishes. Edith +thought Castle Cliff was "a funny place anyway." + +"What little bits of houses! Did they dry up too?" + +"Oh, those are just the cabins and bunk-houses that were built for the +miners, ever so long ago when the mine was going. Fixed up into cottages +now for summer boarders. Do you want to see the mine?" + +They went around behind the shaft-house and beyond the old saw-mill. + +"O my senses!" cried Edith, "is that the old gold mine, that monstrous +great thing? Isn't it horrid?" + +They all agreed that it was "perfectly awful and dreadful," and that it +made you shudder to look into it; and that they were glad baby Eddo was +safely out of the way. The mine was a deep, irregular chasm, full of +dirty water and rocks. It had a hungry, cruel look; you could almost +fancy it was waiting in wicked glee to swallow up thoughtless little +children. + +"It doesn't seem as if anybody could ever have dug for gold in that +horrid ditch," exclaimed Kyzie. + +"You'd better believe they did, though," said the young guide. "They +used to get it out in nuggets, cart-loads of it." + +He was not quite sure of the nuggets, but liked the sound of the word. + +"Yes, cart-loads of it. I tell you 'twas the richest mine in the whole +Cuyamaca Mountains." + +"Too bad the gold gave out," said Kyzie, gazing regretfully into the +watery depths. + +"But it didn't give out! Why, there's gold enough left down there to buy +up the whole United States! They lost the vein, that's all" + +"The vein? What's a vein?" asked Edith. + +"Well, you see," replied the guide, "gold goes along underground in +streaks; they call it veins. The miners had to stop digging here because +they lost track of the streak. But they'll find it again." + +"How do _you_ know?" asked Jimmy-boy, who thought Nate was putting on +too many airs. + +"Because Mr. Templeton said so. They've sent for Colonel Somebody from +I--forget where. He's a splendid mining engineer, great for finding lost +veins. He'll be here next week and bring a lot of men." + +"Whoop-ee!" cried Jimmy, "he'll find the vein and things, and we'll be +having gold as plenty as blackberries!" + +"Just what I was talking about yesterday when you laughed," broke in +Lucy. "I said I'd go down in a bucket; don't you know I did?" + +Edith was gazing spellbound at the yawning chasm. + +"Look at those rickety steps! The men will get killed! 'Twill all cave +in!" + +"No danger," said Nate, "there are walls down there, stone walls, papa +says, that keep it all safe." + +He meant "galleries," but had forgotten the word. + +"Well, I don't care if there are five hundred stone walls, I guess the +men could drown all the same!" said Edith. "That water ought to be let +out, Nate Pollard! If the colonel is coming next week why don't they let +out the water this very day and give the place a chance to dry off." + +She spoke in a tone of the gravest anxiety, as if she understood the +matter perfectly, and felt the whole care of the mine. Indeed, the mine +had become suddenly very interesting to all the children. It certainly +looked like a rough, wild, frightful hole; nothing more than a hole; but +if there were gold down there in "nuggets," why, that was quite another +matter; it became at once an enchanted hole; it was as delightful as a +fairy story. + +"I hope it's true that they've sent for that colonel," said Kyzie. + +"Of course it's true," replied Nate, who did not like to have his word +doubted. + +"I s'pose there are buckets 'round here. Oh, aren't you glad we came to +Castle Cliff?" said Lucy, pirouetting around Jimmy. + +"Bab will be glad, too," she thought. For Lucy never could look forward +to any pleasure without wishing her darling "niece" to share it with +her. + +"Well, I guess we've seen everything there is to see," remarked Nate, +who had now told all he knew and was ready to go. + +While they still wandered about, talking of "tailings" and "nuggets," +they were startled by the peal of a bell. + +"Twelve o'clock! Two minutes ahead of time though," said Nate, taking +from his pocket a handsome gold watch which Jimmy had always admired. + +"What bell is that? Where is it?" they all asked. "And what is it +ringing for?" + +"It's on top of the schoolhouse and it's ringing for noon. 'Twill ring +again in the evening at nine o'clock. But I can tell 'em they ought to +set it back two minutes." + +"A nine o'clock bell? Why, that's a _curfew_ bell! How romantic!" cried +Kyzie. She had read of "the mellow lin-lan-lone of evening bells," but +had never heard it. "Let's go to the schoolhouse." + +As luncheon at the Templeton House would not be served for an hour yet, +they kept on to the hollow where the schoolhouse stood. It was a small, +unpainted building in the shade of three pine trees. + +"Just wait a minute right here," said Edith, the young artist, +unstrapping her kodak. "I want a snap-shot at it. Stand there by that +tree, Jimmum. Put your foot out just so. I wish you were barefooted!" + +Just then, as if they had overheard the wish, two little boys came +running down the hill, and one of them was barefooted. Moreover, when +Kyzie asked if they would stand for a picture, they consented at once. + +"My name's Joseph Rolfe," said the elder, twitching off his hat, "and +his name,"--pointing to his companion with a chuckle,--"his name is +Chicken Little." + +"No such a thing! Now you quit!" retorted the younger lad in a choked +voice, digging his toes into the dirt, "quit a-plaguing me! My name's +Henry Small and you know it!" + +While Edith was busy taking their photographs, Kyzie thanked the urchins +very pleasantly. They both gazed at her with admiration. + +"See here," said Joe Rolfe, twitching off his hat again very +respectfully, "Are you going to keep school in the schoolhouse? I wish +you would!" + +At this remarkable speech Jimmy and Edith fell to laughing; but Kyzie +only blushed a little, and smiled. How very grown-up she must seem to +Joe if he could think of her as a teacher! She was now a tall girl of +fourteen, with a fine strong face and an earnest manner. She was +beginning to tire of being classed among little girls, and it was +delightful to find herself looked upon for the first time in her life as +a young lady. But she only said:-- + +"Oh, no, Joe, people don't teach school in summer! Summer is vacation." + +"Well, but they do sometimes," persisted Joe; "there was a girl kep' +this school last summer. She called it 'vacation school.' But we didn't +like her; she licked like fury." + +"So she did," echoed Chicken Little, "licked and pulled ears. Kep' a +stick on the desk." + +And with these last words both the little boys took their leave, running +up hill with great speed, as if they thought that standing for a picture +had been a great waste of time. + +"That Chicken boy is the biggest cry-baby," said Nate. "The boys like to +plague him to see him cry. Joe Rolfe has some sense." + +As the little party walked on, Miss Katharine turned her head more than +once for another look at the schoolhouse. + +"Wouldn't it be fun, Edy, to teach school in there and ring that +'lin-lan-lone bell' to call in the scholars? I'd make you study botany +harder'n you ever did before." + +"No, thank you, Miss Dunlee," replied Edith, courtesying. "You'll not +get me to worrying over botany. I studied it a month once, but when I go +up in the mountains I go to have a good time." + +She pursed her pretty mouth as she spoke. Her sister Katharine was by +far the best botanist in her class, and was always tearing up flowers in +the most wasteful manner. Worse than that, she expected Edith to do the +same thing and learn the hard names of the poor little withered pieces. + +"You don't love flowers as well as I do, Kyzie, or you couldn't abuse +them so!" + +This is what she often said to her learned sister after Kyzie had made +"a little preach" about the beauties of botany. + +As they entered the hotel for luncheon, Kyzie was still thinking of the +schoolhouse and the sweet-toned bell and the singular speech of Joe +Rolfe, about wanting her for a teacher. What came of these thoughts you +shall hear later on. + +"Well, I declare, I forgot all about that zebra kitty," said Edith. +"What will the knitting-woman think of such actions?" + + + + +IV + +THE "KNITTING-WOMAN" + + +The "knitting-woman" met Edith at the dining-room door after luncheon, +and said to her rather sharply:-- + +"Well, little girl, I thought you liked kittens?" + +"I do, Mrs.--madam, I certainly do," replied Edith feeling guilty and +ashamed. "But Nate Pollard took us to see the gold mine and the +schoolhouse and we've just got back." + +"Oh, that's it! I thought 'twas very still around here--I missed the +noise of the _boyoes_.--You don't know what I mean by boyoes," she +added, smiling. "I picked up the word in Ireland. I'm always picking up +words. It means _boys_." + +"I understand; oh, yes." + +"Well, 'twas a little trouble to me, your not coming when I expected +you; but you may come this afternoon. I'll be ready in ten minutes." + +"Yes, madam, thank you." + +Edith ran to her mother laughing. "Oh, mamma, she is the queerest woman! +Calls boys _boyoes_! I must go to see her kitten whether I want to or +not--in just ten minutes! I wish I could take Kyzie with me; would you +dare?" + +"Certainly not. Katharine has not been invited. And don't make a long +call, Edith." + +"No, mamma, I'll not even sit down. I'll just look at the zebra kitty +and come right away." + +Mrs. Dunlee smiled. If there were many pets at Number Five it was not +likely that Edith would hasten away. "Remember, daughter, fifteen +minutes is long enough for a call on an entire stranger. You don't wish +to annoy Mrs. McQuilken; but if you should happen to forget, you'll hear +this little bell tinkle, and that will remind you to leave." + +Number Five was a very interesting room, about as full as it could hold +of oddities from various countries, together with four cats, a canary, +and a mocking-bird. + +"If you had come this morning you would have seen Mag, that's the +magpie," said Mrs. McQuilken. "She's off now, pretty creature. She likes +to be picking a fuss with the chickens." + +The good lady had been knitting, but she dropped her work into the large +pocket of her black apron, and moved up an easy-chair for her guest. +Edith forgot to take it. Her eyes were roving about the room, attracted +by the curiosities, though she dared not ask a single question. + +"That nest on the wall looks odd to you, I dare say," said Mrs. +McQuilken. "The twigs are woven together so closely that it looks nice +enough for a lady's work-bag, now doesn't it?" + +Edith said she thought it did. + +"Well, that's the magpie's nest. She laid seven eggs in it once. I keep +it now for her to sleep in; it's Mag's cot-bed." + +Edith's eyes, still roving, espied a handsome kitty asleep on the +lounge. It must be the zebra kitty because of its black and dove-colored +stripes. Most remarkable stripes, so regular and distinct, yet so softly +shaded. The face was black, with whiskers snow-white. How odd! Edith had +never seen white whiskers on a kitten. And then the long, sweeping +black tail! + +Mrs. McQuilken watched the little girl's face and no longer doubted her +fondness for kittens. + +"I call her Zee for short. Look at that now!" And Mrs. McQuilken +straightened out the tail which was coiled around Zee's back. + +"Oh, how beautifully long!" cried Edith. + +"Long? I should say so! There was a cat-show at Los Angeles last fall, +and one cat took a prize for a tail not so long as this by +three-quarters of an inch! And Zee only six months old!" + +The kitty, wide awake by this time, was holding high revel with a ball +of yarn which the tortoise-shell cat had purloined from her mistress's +basket. + +"Dear thing! Oh, isn't she sweet?" said Edith, dropping on her knees +before the graceful creature. + +Mrs. McQuilken enjoyed seeing the child go off into small raptures; +Edith was fast winning her heart. + +"Does your mother like cats?" she suddenly inquired. + +"Not particularly," replied Edith, clapping her hands, as Zee with a +quick dash bore away the ball out of the very paws of the coon cat. +"Mamma thinks cats are cold-hearted," said she, hugging Zee to her +bosom. "She says they don't love anybody." + +"I deny it!" exclaimed Mrs. McQuilken, indignantly. "Tell your mother to +make a study of cats and she'll know better." + +Edith looked rather frightened. "Yes'm, I'll tell her." + +"They have very deep feelings and folks ought to know it. Now, listen, +little girl. I had two maltese kittens once. They were sisters and +loved each other better than any girl sisters _you_ ever saw. One of the +kittens got caught in a trap and we had to kill her. And the other one +went round mewing and couldn't be comforted. She pined away, that kitty +did, and in three days she died. Now I know that for a fact." + +"Poor child!" said Edith, much touched. "_She_ wasn't cold-hearted, I'll +tell mamma about that." + +"Well, if she doesn't like 'em perhaps it wouldn't do any good; but +while you're about it you might tell her of two tortoise-shell cats I +had. They were sisters too. Whiff had four kittens and Puff had one and +lost it. And the way Whiff comforted Puff! She took her right home into +her own basket and they brought up the four kittens together. Wasn't +that lovely?" + +"Oh, wasn't it, though?" said Edith. "Cats have hearts, I always knew +they did." + +"That shows you're a sensible little girl," returned the old lady +approvingly. "But you haven't told me yet what your name is?" + +"Edith Dunlee." + +"I knew 'twas Dunlee--that's a Scotch name; but I didn't know about the +Edith. Well, Edith, so you've been to see the gold mine? Pokerish place, +isn't it? I hear they're going to bring down the engine from the big +plant and try to start it up again." + +Edith had no idea what she meant by the "big plant," so made no reply. +Mrs. McQuilken went back to the subject of cats. + +"Did you know the Egyptians used to worship cats? Well, sometimes they +did. And when their cats died they went into mourning for them." + +"How queer!" + +"It does seem so, but it's just as you look at it, Edith. Cats are a +sight of company. I didn't care so much about them or about birds +either when my husband was alive and my little children, but now--" + +Again she paused, and this time she did not go on again. Some one out of +doors laughed; it was Jimmy Dunlee, and the mocking-bird took up the +merry sound and echoed it to perfection. + +"Doesn't that seem human?" cried Mrs. McQuilken. And really it did. It +was exactly the laugh of a human boy, though it came from the throat of +a tiny bird. + +"My little boys, Pitt and Roscoe, liked to hear him do that," said Mrs. +McQuilken. + +Edith observed that she did not say "my boyoes." "Pitt, the one that +died in Japan, doted on the mocking-bird. The other boy, Roscoe, was all +bound up in the canary." + +"Does the canary sing?" + +"Yes, he's a grand singer. Just you wait till he pipes up. You'll be +surprised. But you remember what I was saying a little while ago about +your mother? That zebra kitty--" + +Before she could finish the sentence Edith heard the warning tinkle of +the tea-bell, and sprang up suddenly, exclaiming: "Good-by, +Mrs.--good-by, _madam_, I must go now. You've been very kind, thank you. +Good-by." + +And out of the door and away she skipped, leaving her hostess, who had +not heard the bell, to wonder at her haste. "She went like a shot off a +shovel," said the good lady, taking up her knitting-work. "She seemed to +be such a well-mannered little girl, too! What got into her all at once? +She acted as if she was 'possessed of the fox.'" + +This is a common expression in Japan, and naturally Mrs. McQuilken had +caught it up, as she had caught up other odd things in her travels. She +was something of a mocking-bird in her way, was the captain's widow. + +"I've taken quite a fancy to Edith," she added, "a minute more and I +should have offered to give her the zebra kitty. But there, I shouldn't +want to make a fuss in the family. That woman, her mother, to think of +her talking so hard about cats! She doesn't _look_ like that kind of a +woman. I'm surprised." + +Edith ran back to her mother breathless. + +"Oh, mamma, I was having such a good time! And she didn't appear to be +'annoyed,' she talked just as fast all the time! But the bell rang while +she was saying something and I had to run." + +"Had to run? I hope you were not abrupt, my child?" + +"Oh, no, mamma, not at all. I said 'good-by' twice, and thanked her and +told her she had been very kind. That wasn't abrupt, was it? But oh, +that kitty's tail! I forget how many inches and a quarter longer than +any other kitty's tail in this state! And they are not cold-hearted,--I +mean cats,--I promised to tell you." + +Here followed an account of the two cat-sisters, who loved each other +better than girl-sisters. + +"And think of one of them dying of grief, the sweet thing! Human people +don't die of grief, do they, mamma?" + +"Not often, Edith. Such instances have been known, but they are very +rare." + +"Well," struck in wee Lucy, who had been listening to the touching +story, "well, I guess some folks would! Bab would die for grief of me, +and I would die for grief of Bab; we _said_ we would!" + +She made this absurd little speech with tears in her eyes; but Kyzie +and Edith dared not laugh, for mamma's forefinger was raised. Mamma +never allowed them to ridicule the friendship of the two little girls, +who had made believe for more than a year that they were "aunt" and +"niece." The play might be rather foolish, but the love was very sweet +and true. + +Lucy had been thinking all day of Barbara and longing for her arrival. A +full hour before it was time for the stage she went a little way up the +mountain with Jimmy, and they took turns gazing down the winding, dusty +road through a spy-glass. "I shan't wait here any longer. What's the +use?" declared Jimmy. + +"She's coming! she's coming! I saw her first!" was Lucy's glad cry. And +she ran down the mountain in haste, though the stage, a grayish green +one, was just turning a curve at least a mile away. + +"Well, you _have_ been parted a good while," said Uncle James, as the +two dear friends met and embraced on the coach steps; "a day and a +half!" + +"I'd have 'most died if I'd waited any longer," said Aunt Lucy, putting +her arm around her niece and leading her up the gravel path with the +pink "old hen and chickens" on either side. + +The little girls were entirely unlike, and the contrast was pleasant to +see. Lucy was very fair, with light curling hair:-- + + "Blue were her eyes as the fairy flax, + Her cheeks like the dawn of day, + And her bosom white as the hawthorn buds + That ope in the month of May." + +Bab was quite as pretty, but in another way. She had brilliant dark eyes +and straight dark hair with a satin gloss. She was half a head shorter +than her "auntie," though their ages were about the same. People liked +to see them together, for they were always sociable and happy, and loved +each other "dearilee." + +"Oh, Bab," said wee Lucy, "I had such a _loneness_ without you!" + +"I had a loneness too, Auntie Lucy. Seemed as if the time never would +go." + +And then the dark head and the fair head met again for more kisses, +while both the mammas looked on and said, in low tones and with smiles, +as they always did:-- + +"How sweet! Now we shall hear them singing about the place like two +little birds." + +This was Tuesday. The days went on happily until Thursday afternoon, +when "the Dunlee party," which always included the Hales and Sanfords, +set forth up the mountain for a sight of the famous "air-castle." Of +course Nate was with them, but this time not as a guide; the guide was +Uncle James. + +The road, though rather steep, was not a hard one. Mr. Dunlee had his +alpenstock, and Uncle James walked beside him, holding little Eddo by +the hand. Bab and Lucy, or "the little two," as Aunt Vi called them, +were side by side as usual, and Lucy had asked Bab to repeat the story +of "Little Bo-Peep" in French, for Nate wanted to hear it. Bab could +speak French remarkably well. + + "Petit beau bouton + A perde ses moutons, + Il ne sais pas que les a pris. + O laissez les tranquille! + Ils se retournerons, + Chacun sa queue apres lui." + +Mrs. Dunlee and Kyzie were just behind the children, and while Bab was +repeating the verse Kyzie said in a low tone:-- + +"Oh, mamma, let me walk with you all the way, please. There's something +I want to talk about." + +She looked so earnest that Mrs. Dunlee wondered not a little what it was +her eldest daughter had to say. + + + + +V + +THE AIR-CASTLE + + +"A vacation school, Katharine? And pray what may that be?" + +Kyzie's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining. She held her mother's +hand and talked fast, though plainly she did not feel quite at her ease. + +"Why, mamma, you've certainly heard of vacation schools--summer schools? +They're very common nowadays. In the summer, you know; so that college +people can go to them, and business people." + +"Ah! Like the one at Coronado Beach? Now I understand. But it didn't +occur to me that my little daughter would know enough to teach college +people!" + +"Now, mamma, don't laugh at me! Of course I mean children, the little +ignorant children right around here," making a sweeping gesture toward +the cottages and "bunk houses" that dotted the country lower down the +mountain, "I know enough to teach little children, I should hope, +mamma." + +"Possibly!" + +Mrs. Dunlee's tone was so doubtful that her daughter felt crushed. + +"Possibly you may know enough about books; but book-knowledge is not all +that is required in a teacher. Could you keep the children in order? +Would they obey you?" + +The little girl's head drooped a little. + +"Let me see, you are only fourteen?" + +"Fourteen last April, mamma. But everybody says, don't you know, that +I'm very large for my age." + +She tried to speak bravely, but the look of quiet amusement on her +listener's face made it rather hard for her to go on. + +"I suppose," said she, dropping her eyes again, "I suppose they don't +know much here, mamma,--the families that live here all the time. Some +of the boys actually go barefooted." + +"So I have observed. A great saving of shoes." + +"And they had a school last summer," went on Kyzie, resolutely. "A young +girl taught it who boarded where we do. Mr. Templeton said she did it +for fun." + +"Indeed!" + +"But they didn't like her a bit. I could teach as well as she did +anyway, mamma, for she just went around the room boxing their ears." + +"Is it possible, Katharine?" Mrs. Dunlee was serious enough now. "To +box a child's ears is simply brutal!" + +"I knew you'd say so, mamma; but that was just what Miss Severance did. +Of course I wouldn't touch their ears any more than I would fly!" + +Mrs. Dunlee turned now and regarded her daughter attentively. + +"But how did you ever happen to take up this sudden fancy for teaching, +dear? It's all new to me. What first made you think of it--at your age? +Can you tell?" + +"Oh, mamma, I've been thinking about it, off and on, for a year. Ever +since I was at Willowbrook last summer and heard Grandma Parlin talk +about _her_ first school. Why, don't you remember, she was just +fourteen, she said, nearly three months younger than I am." + +Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now, and said to herself:-- + +"Dear old Grandma Parlin! Little did she imagine she was filling her +great grand-daughter's head with mischievous notions!" + +They walked on a short way in silence. "But you must remember, +Katharine, that was seventy years ago. Grandma Parlin wouldn't advise a +girl of fourteen to do in these days as she did then. Schools are very +different now." + +"Yes, indeed, mamma, very, very different. Isn't it too bad? I'd like to +'board 'round' the way grandma did, and rap on the window with a ferule, +and 'choose sides' and all that! But there's one thing I could do!" +exclaimed the little girl, brightening. "I could make the children 'toe +the mark'; wouldn't that be fun? I mean stand in a line on a crack in +the floor. How grandma would laugh! I'll write her all about it, and +send her a photograph, bare feet and all." + +In her eagerness Kyzie spoke as if the matter were all arranged and she +could almost see the children "toeing the mark." + +"Not so fast, my daughter. Remember there are three points to be settled +before we can discuss the matter seriously. First, would your papa +consent? Second, would your mamma consent? Third, do the people of +Castle Cliff want a summer school anyway?" + +"Three points? I see, oh, yes," said Kyzie, meekly. + +"But now, Katharine, let us walk a little faster and join the others. +And not a word more of this to-day." + +"What did keep you two so long?" asked Edith, coming to meet them with a +bright face. If her happy thoughts had not been dwelling on the zebra +cat just presented her by the "knitting-woman," she would have observed +at once that mamma and Kyzie had been "talking secrets"; though she +might not have suspected that this had anything to do with the vacation +school. + +"Do hurry along," she added. "I want to show you the funniest sight! I +don't believe you've seen Barbara Hale, have you?" + +Edith could hardly speak for laughing; and her mother and Kyzie did not +wonder when they beheld the figure that little Bab had made of herself, +by a new style of dressing her hair. The two little girls were, as I +have told you, as different as possible, but had an intense desire to +look "just alike"; and when they tried their best the result was very +funny. + +I will mention here that Lucy "despised" her own hair for not being +straight like Bab's, and had often tried to braid it down her back; but +as the braid always came out and the ribbon came off, the attempt had +been forbidden. + +Now, however, as the children had left their city home and come to a +place where everybody was "on holiday," the mammas decided that they +might have a little more liberty. + +Their dresses were off the same piece,--good, strong brown ones; their +hats were alike; and, as for their hair, they were allowed to wear it as +they pleased "just for this summer." + +"We'll look exactly alike up there in the mountains," the little souls +had said to each other; and this was perhaps one reason why they had +been so overjoyed at the prospect of going. + +[Illustration] + +But to-day, ah! who would have dreamed that sweet little Bab could +become such a fright? She had done up her hair the night before on as +many as twenty curl-papers. Before starting for the air-castle she had +taken out some of the papers and found--not ringlets, but wisps of +very unruly hair. It would not curl any more than water will run up +hill. + +She went to Aunt Lucy in her trouble to seek advice. Aunt Lucy looked +her over with great care and then announced:-- + +"It is perfectly awful! Don't take out any more papers, Bab. Let 'em be, +so you can have something to stick the curls on to." + +And so it was done. The "curls," as Lucy was pleased to call them, were +drawn up and looped and twisted and fastened by hair-pins to the other +curls left in the papers. The effect was most surprising. It made Bab's +head so much higher than usual that she was as tall now as auntie, and +that in itself was a great gain. Besides, this style, as Lucy said, was +the "pompy-doo," and very fashionable! + +If Bab could have kept her hat on! But she couldn't, and the moment it +came off they all cried out:-- + +"Why-ee, Barbara!" and turned away to laugh. + +If Mrs. McQuilken had been there she would have said the child looked +"as if she was possessed of the fox." + +"The little goosies! Let them enjoy it!" whispered Mrs. Hale to Mrs. +Dunlee. "But those topknots will have to come down before the child can +go to the dinner-table." + +And then both the ladies laughed privately behind a large tree. The +mountain air was doing them good, and they often had as merry times +together as the young people. + +"Hear the boyoes," cried Edith, meaning Jimmy and Nate, who had now +reached the air-castle and were shouting with all their might. The +children ran, and so indeed did the older ones, for there was an +excellent path all the way. + +"So that is the air-castle," exclaimed Kyzie, when they were all within +sight of it. "It's a real house, built right in the mountain." + +She was right. There happened to be a great crack right here in the +rocky side of the mountain, and a cunning little house had been tucked +into the crack. It was built of small stones. It had two real windows +with glass panes, and a real door with a brass knocker, which the +children declared was "too cute for anything." + +"The house is as strong as a fort," said Uncle James. "Do you observe it +is walled all around with stones?" + +"Do you know who built it?" asked Aunt Vi; "and why he built it?" + +"A rich Mexican named Bandini. He admired the view from the mountain, +and I don't blame him, do you? He wanted a nice, quiet place where he +could read and write; that was why he came here. He has been here every +summer for years." + +"Well," said Mr. Dunlee, "if you call this an air-castle I must say it +is the most solid one I ever heard of! It doesn't look dreamy at all. +Why, an earthquake could hardly shake it." + +"The steps that lead up to it are not dreamy either," said Mrs. Dunlee. +"Real granite; and there's a large flag up there floating from the +evergreen tree." + +The "boyoes" had already climbed the steps, and Nate called down to Mrs. +Dunlee, "It's the Mexican flag!" But she had known that at a glance. The +colors were red, white, and green, and the device was an eagle on a +prickly pear with a snake in his mouth. + +"I wonder if there's anybody at home," said Nate, and would have lifted +the knocker if Jimmy had not said, "Wait for Uncle James." + +Jimmy thought as Uncle James was the leader of the expedition he should +be the one to do the knocking, or at any rate to tell them when to +knock. Nate himself had not thought of this. He was not so refined as +Jimmy, either by nature or by training. + +Everybody had climbed the steps now. The older people were enjoying the +magnificent view; but Bab and Lucy were looking for the two toads who +had been seen going up to the castle together, the well toad taking the +lame toad's foot in his mouth. + +"I wish they were both here," said Uncle James, "for you would like to +see them take that little journey." + +"And the Mexican who built this air-castle," said Aunt Vi, "is he here +this summer?" + +"No, he died last spring." + +"Died?" echoed little Eddo, who had heard that dying means "going up in +the sky." "What made him die, mamma? Didn't he like it down here?" + +Then without waiting for a reply he added most tenderly and +unexpectedly, "Isn't it nice that _you're_ not dead, mamma?" + +"Why do you think that, my son?" she asked, wondering what he would say. + +"Oh, _be_-cause I _am_ so glad about it." And at this sweet little +speech his mother caught him up in her arms and kissed him. How could +she help it? + +"Now," said Uncle James, "let us see if we can enter the castle. 'Open +locks whoever knocks.' Try it, boys." + +Nate lifted the knocker and pounded with a will. There was no answer or +sign of life. + +"Let's see if this will help us," said Uncle James, taking a key from +his vest pocket:-- + + "For I'm the keeper of the keys, + And I do whatever I please." + +The key actually fitted the lock, the door opened at once, and they all +entered the castle. + +"Mr. Templeton lent me the key," explained Mr. Sanford. "He said the +castle was as empty as a last year's bird's nest, but I thought we might +like to take a look at it." + +"We do, oh, we do," said Lucy. "Isn't it queer? Just two rooms and +nothing in 'em at all! Oh, Bab, let's you and I bring some dishes up +here and keep house! Here's a cupboard right in the wall." + +"I guess it's Mother Hubbard's cupboard, it looks bare enough. Just a +table in the room and one old chair," exclaimed Edith. + +"I'm glad we came in, though," said Kyzie. "Isn't it beautiful to stand +in the door and look down, down, and see Castle Cliff right at your +feet? And off there a city--Why, what's that noise?" + +No one answered. The older people knew the sound: it was that of an +angry rattlesnake out of doors shaking his rattle. + +Mr. Dunlee said:-- + +"Stay in the house, please, you ladies, and keep the children here. +James and I will go out and attend to this." + +He had an alpenstock, Uncle James a cane. The ladies and Mr, Hale and +the children watched the two gentlemen from the window,--all but little +Eddo, whose mother was playing bo-peep with him to prevent him from +looking out. A handsome rattlesnake was winding his way up the mountain +in pursuit of a tiny baby rabbit. The little "cotton-tail" was running +for the castle as fast as he could, intending to hide in a hole under +the door-stone. But he never would have reached the door-stone alive, +poor little trembling creature, if Mr. Dunlee and Uncle James had not +come up just in time to finish the cruel snake with cane and alpenstock. +Bunny got away safe, without even stopping to say, "Thank you." The +snake wore seven rattles, of which he was very proud; but Eddo had them +next day for a plaything, and made as much noise with them as ever the +snake had done; though Eddo never knew where they came from. + +It had been a delightful day, and when the friends all met again at +table they kept saying, "Didn't we have a good time?" + +It was to be noticed that Barbara's "topknots" had disappeared; and I +am glad to say that she never wore her lovely hair "pompy-doo" again. + +Kyzie's face was alight. In passing the door of her mother's room she +had heard her father say, laughing:-- + +"What, our Katharine? Why, how that would amuse Mr. Templeton!" + +Kyzie had hurried away for fear of listening; but now she kept +thinking:-- + +"Papa laughed. He always laughs when he is going to say 'yes.' He'll +talk to Mr. Templeton, and I just know I shall have the school Isn't it +splendid?" + + + + +VI + +"GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE" + + +"Hoopty-Doo!" shouted Jimmy, alighting on the piazza on all fours. "A +little girl like that keep school!" + +"Well, she is going to," returned Edith, looking up from the picture she +was drawing of a cherub in the clouds, "she's going to; and Mr. +Templeton says the Castle Cliff people are as pleased as they can be." + +"I heard what he said," struck in Nate. "He said they jumped at it like +a dolphin at a silver spoon." + +"He's always talking about that dolphin and that silver spoon," laughed +Edith. "If I knew how a dolphin looks, I'd draw one and give it to him +just for fun. But mamma, you don't expect me to go to school to that +little girl; now do you?" + +"Certainly not, Edith; oh, no." + +"Must _I_ go to Grandmother Graymouse?" whined Jimmy, "She's only my +sister. And I came up here to play." + +"Play all you like, my son. No one will ask you to go school." + +"But _I_ really want to go," said Nate. "I wouldn't miss it for +anything. A girl's school like that will be larks. Only four hours +anyway, two in the forenoon and two in the afternoon. Time enough left +for play." + +"H'm, if that's all, let's go," cried Jimmy. "We can leave off any time +we get tired of it." + +Kyzie heard this as she was crossing the hall. + +"Why, boys," she said, "you don't live in Castle Cliff! It's the Castle +Cliff children I'm going to teach--the little ones, you know." + +"But papa said if you'd show me about my arithmetic--" began Nate. + +"Perhaps I don't know so much as you do, Nate. But if you go you'll be +good, won't you--you and Jimmy both?" + +She spoke with some concern. "For if you're naughty, the other boys will +think they can be naughty too; and I shan't know what in the world to do +with them." + +"Oh, we'll sit up as straight as ninepins; we'll show 'em how city boys +behave," said Nate, making a bow to Kyzie. + +He could be a perfect little gentleman when he chose. He liked to tease +Jimmy, younger than himself, but had always been polite to Kyzie. Still +Kyzie did not altogether like the thought of having a boy of twelve for +a pupil. What if he should laugh at her behind his slate? + +Here Barbara and Lucy appeared upon the veranda, holding Edith's new +kitty between them. + +"We're going. We'll sit together and cut out paper dolls and eat figs +under the seat," declared Lucy, never doubting that this would be +pleasing news to the young teacher. + +Before Kyzie had time to say, "Why, Lucy!" little Eddo ran up the steps +to ask in haste:-- + +"Where's Lucy going? I fink I'll go too." + +Kyzie could bear no more. She ran and hid in the hammock and cried. They +all thought she was to have a sort of play-school; did they? They were +going just for fun. She must talk to mamma. Mamma thought the school was +foolish business; but mamma always knew what ought to be done, and how +to help do it. Or if mamma ever felt puzzled, there was papa to go +to,--papa, who could not possibly make a mistake. Between them they +would see that their eldest daughter was treated fairly. + +Monday morning came. Kyzie's courage had revived. Eddo would be kept at +home; Lucy and Bab had been informed that they were not to cut paper +dolls, though they might write on their slates. All that they thought of +just now, the dear "little two," was of dressing to "look exactly +alike." As Bab had learned once for all that her hair would not curl, +she spent half an hour that morning braiding her auntie's ringlets down +her back, and tying the cue with a pink ribbon like her own. But for all +the little barber could do the flaxen cue would not lie flat. It was an +old story, but very provoking. + +"Oh dear," wailed Lucy, "'most school-time and my hair is all _over_ my +head!" + +It did look wild. You could almost fancy it was angry because it had +not been allowed to curl after its own graceful fashion. + +The "little two" started off in good season, hoping not to be seen by +Eddo; but he espied them from the window, and they heard him calling +till his baby voice was lost in the distance:-- + +"You ought to not leave me! You ought to not leave m-e-e!" + +"He wants to go everywhere big people go." + +"Yes," responded Bab. "Such babies think they are as old as anybody. Oh, +see that Mexican dog, how straight his tail stands up!" + +"Like your hair," sighed Lucy. "If my hair would only be straight like +that!" + +And neither of them smiled at this droll remark. + +"But there's one thing we must remember, Bab. I'm glad I thought of it. +We must say, 'Miss' to Kyzie." + +"Miss what?" + +"Miss Dunlee. If we forget it, she'll feel dreadfully." And then they +began to hum a tune and keep step to the music. They often did this as +they walked. + +Kyzie had gone on before them. Her father was with her, but she had the +key in her hand and opened the schoolhouse door. They walked in +together, and Kyzie locked the door behind them, for several children +were waiting about who must not enter till the bell rang. + +The schoolhouse floor was very clean; the new teacher herself had swept +it. On the walls were large wreaths of holly, which had been left over +from last Christmas, when the Sunday-school had had a celebration here. +At one end of the room was a raised platform with a large desk on it. +On the wall over the desk was a motto made of red pepper berries, only +the words were so close together that you could not make them out unless +you knew beforehand what they were. + +"That means, 'Christ is risen,'" explained Kyzie. "It looks dreadfully, +but they didn't want it taken down, I'll make another by and by." + +There were blackboards on three sides of the room; quite clean they +looked now. The desks and benches were rude ones of black oak, and had +been hacked by jack-knives. Kyzie regretted this, but supposed the boys +had not been taught any better. There was only one chair in the room, a +large armed chair for the little teacher, and it stood solemnly on the +platform before the desk. + +"You see, papa, I've brought a big blank-book to write the names in. The +pen and inkstand belong here. Ahem, I begin to tremble," said she, and +looked at her mother's watch which she wore in her belt. "It's five +minutes of nine." + +"Oh, you'll do famously," said Mr. Dunlee. "And now, daughter, I'll wish +you good-by and the very best luck in the world." + +"Good-by, papa," said Kyzie, and locked the door after him. "I wish I'd +asked him to stay till I called them in and took their names. Papa is so +dignified that it would have been a great help. My, I feel as if I +weren't more than six years old!" + +She walked the floor, watch in hand. "Fifty seconds of nine." + +She went to the bell-rope and pulled with both hands. It was quite +needless to use so much force. The bell was directly over her head; and +instead of the "mellow lin-lan-lone" she expected, it made a din so +tremendous that it almost seemed as if the roof were about to fall upon +her. At the same time there was a scrambling and pounding at the door. +The children were trying to get in. + +"Oh, miserable me, I've locked them out!" thought the little teacher in +dismay. + +She hastened to the door and opened it, and they rushed in with a shout. +This was an odd beginning; but Kyzie said not a word. She remembered +that she was now Miss Dunlee, so she threw back her shoulders and looked +her straightest and tallest, and as much as possible like Miss Prince, +her favorite teacher. She had intended all along to imitate Miss +Prince--whenever she could think of it. + +Only fourteen years old! Well, what of that? Grandma Parlin had been +only fourteen when she taught _her_ first school. Keep a brave heart, +Katharine Dunlee! + +Joe Rolfe walked in as stiffly as a wooden soldier. Behind him came a +few boys and girls, some of them with their fingers in their mouths. +There were twelve in all. The last ones to enter were Nate and Jimmy, +followed by Aunt Lucy and her niece arm in arm. + +"I wonder if Nate is laughing at me for locking the door?" thought +Kyzie, not daring to look at him, as she waved her hands and said in a +loud voice to be heard above the noise:-- + +"All please be seated." + +Being seated was a work of time; and what a din it made! The children +wandered about, trying one bench after another to see which they liked +best. + +"You would think they were getting settled for life," whispered Nate to +Jimmy. + +The "little two" chose a place near the west window and began at once +to write on their slates. + +"I'm scared of Miss Dunlee," wrote Aunt Lucy. + +"Stop making me laugh," replied the niece. + +When at last everybody was "settled for life," Kyzie did not know what +to do next. "What would Miss Prince do? Why she would read in the Bible. +I forgot that." + +The new teacher took her stand on the platform behind the desk, opened +her Bible, and read aloud the twenty-third Psalm. Her voice shook, +partly from fright, partly from trying so hard not to laugh. But she did +not even smile--far from it. Nate and Jimmy who were watching her could +have told you that. If she had been at a funeral she could hardly have +looked more solemn. + +Jimmy touched Nate's foot under the bench; Nate gave Jimmy a shove; Bab +gazed hard at Lucy's flaxen cue; Lucy gazed straight at her thumb. + +After the reading "Miss Dunlee" walked about with her blank-book in one +hand and her pen in the other to take down the children's names. + +"I'm Joseph Rolfe; don't you remember me?" said the boy with red hair. +"And this boy next seat is Chicken Little." + +"No, I ain't either, I'm Henry Small," corrected the little fellow, +ready to cry. + +Kyzie shook her finger at both the boys and resolved that "Joe should +stop calling names, and Henry should stop being such a cry-baby." + +Annie Farrell was a dear little girl in a blue and white gingham gown, +and the new teacher loved her at once. Dorothy Pratt was little more +than a baby, and when spoken to she put her apron to her eyes and wanted +to go home. + +"She can't go home," said her older sister Janey, "mamma's cookin' for +company!" + +Kyzie patted the baby's tangled hair and sent Janey to get her some +water. + +"I'll go," spoke up Jack Whiting, aged seven. "Janey isn't big enough. +Besides the pail leaks." + +"I'm so glad Edith isn't here," thought Kyzie, "or we should both get to +giggling. There, it's time now to call them out to read. Let me see, +where is the best crack in the floor for them to stand on? Why didn't I +bring a quarter of a dollar with a hole in it for a medal? Oh, the medal +will be for the spelling-class; that was what Grandma Parlin said." + +It seemed a "ling-long" forenoon, and the little teacher rejoiced when +eleven o'clock came. The family at home looked at her curiously, and +Uncle James asked outright, "Tell us, Grandmother Graymouse, how do the +scholars behave?" + +"Well, I suppose they behaved as well as they knew how; but oh, it makes +me so hungry!" + +She could not say whether she liked teaching or not. + +"Wait till Friday night, Uncle James, and then I'll tell you." + +"Well said, Grandmother Graymouse! You couldn't have made a wiser +remark. We'll ask no further questions till Friday night." + +But when Friday night came they were all thinking of something else, +something quite out of the common; and "Grandmother Graymouse" and her +school were forgotten. + + + + +VII + +THE ZEBRA KITTEN + + +It began with Zee. By this time her young mistress had become very much +attached to her; and so indeed had all the "Dunlee party." Even Mrs. +Dunlee petted the kitten and said she was the most graceful creature she +had ever seen, except, perhaps, the dancing horse, Thistleblow. Eddo +loved her because "she hadn't any pins in her feet" and did not resent +his rough handling. The "little two" loved her because she allowed them +to play all sorts of games with her. They could make believe she was +very ill and tuck her up in bed, and she would swallow meekly such +medicine as alum with salt and water without even a mew. + +"She is so amiable," said Edith. "And then that wonderful tail of hers, +mamma! 'Twould bring, I don't know how much money, at a cat fair. It's a +regular _prize_ tail, you see!" + +An animal like this merited extra care. She was not to be put off like +an everyday cat with saucers of milk and scraps of meat; she must have +the choicest bits from the table. + +"Mrs. McQuilken says the best-fed cats make the best mousers," said +Edith. + +"Is that so, Miss Edith? Then the mice here at Castle Cliff haven't long +to live!" laughed good-natured Mr. Templeton, as he handed Zee's little +mistress a pitcher of excellent cream. + +Edith was very grateful to Mrs. McQuilken for this remarkable kitten. +She had taken much pains with her pencil drawing of a cherub in the +clouds, intending it as a present for the eccentric old lady. + +"Do you suppose she'll like it, mamma? You know she's so odd that one +never can tell." + +Mrs. Dunlee was sure the picture would be appreciated. The cherub's +sweet face looked like Eddo's, and the clouds lay about him very softly, +leaving bare his pretty dimpled feet, and hands, and arms, and neck. On +Friday afternoon Edith took the picture in her hand and knocked with a +beating heart at the door of Number Five. + +"Mrs. Me--McQuilken," said she, in a timid voice, on entering the room, +"you're so fond of pictures that I thought I'd bring you one I drew +myself. I'm afraid it's not so very, very good; but I hope you'll like +it just a little." + +[Illustration] + +Mrs. McQuilken was much surprised as well as gratified; and actually +there were tears in her eyes as she took the offering from Edith's hand. +She was a lonely old body, and never expected much attention from any +one, especially from children. + +"Why, how kind of you, my dear! It's a beauty!" she exclaimed, gazing at +the cherub through her spectacles. She was a good judge of pictures. +"That face is well drawn, and the clouds are fleecy. Did you really do +it your own self--and for me? Thank you, dear child!" + +Edith blushed with pleasure. She had by no means counted on such praise. + +"I'll always be kind to old people after this," she thought. "I believe +they care more about it than you think they do." + +But here they were interrupted by the very loud mewing of a cat out of +doors. They both ran downstairs to see what it meant. + +"I do hope and trust it isn't my Zee," cried Edith in alarm. + +But it was. They did not see her at first; she was in the back yard +behind the hotel. It seems a pan of clams had been left standing on the +back door-step; and Zee must have been frolicking about the pan, never +dreaming any live creature was in it, when one of the clams, attracted +by her black waving tail, had caught the tip of the tail in his mouth +and was holding it fast! + +This was pretty severe. Being only an ignorant bivalve, the clam did not +know that what he had in his mouth was a very precious article, the +"prize tail" of a beautiful cat. But having once taken hold of it, the +clam was too obstinate to let go. + +Poor Zee jumped up and down, and ran around in circles, mewing with all +her might. What had happened she did not know; she only knew some heavy +thing was dragging at her tail and pinching it fearfully. Every one in +the back of the house was busy; no one but Eddo heard Zee's cries. He +ran to the maid to ask "what made the kitty sing so sorry?" Whenever she +mewed he called it singing. + +The maid looked out then and threw down her mixing-spoon for laughing. +It was an odd sight to see a cat prancing about, waving her plume-like +tail with a clam at the end of it! Nancy was sorry for the kitten, but +did not know how in the world to get off the clam. + +"Take an axe! Take a hatchet!" cried Mrs. McQuilken. + +And without waiting for Nancy she seized a hatchet herself, split the +shell of the clam, and let poor kitty free. + +When Kyzie got home from school, Mrs. McQuilken had just mended Zee's +bleeding member with a piece of court-plaster. All the boarders were +grouped about on the lawn and veranda talking it over. Mrs. Dunlee held +in her lap a very forlorn and crumpled little bundle of kitty; and Edith +and Eddo were crying as if their hearts would break. + +"That beautiful, beautiful tail!" sobbed Edith. + +"Don't be unhappy about it, darling," said Aunt Vi, "it will heal in +time." + +"I know 't will heal, auntie; but what I'm thinking of is, won't it be +stiff? Aren't you afraid 'twill lose the--the--_expression of the +wiggle?_" + +No one even smiled at the question; everybody tried to comfort Edith. +And right in the midst of this trying scene another event occurred of a +different sort, but far more serious. It was little wonder that nobody +once thought of saying to Kyzie:-- + +"Well, Grandma Graymouse, you promised to tell us to-night how you like +your school." + +The school was quite forgotten, and so was the injured kitten. It +happened in this way: As soon as the kitten had been placed in a basket +of cotton and seemed tolerably comfortable, Jimmy and "the little two" +went along the road as they often did to watch for the stage. "The +colonel" might be coming now at almost any time, to find the lost vein +of the gold mine, and they wanted to see him first of any one. Lucy had +her papa's watch fastened to the waist of her dress, and took great +pleasure in seeing the hands move. This was not the first time she had +been allowed to carry the watch, and she was very proud because papa had +just said, "See how I trust my little girl." + +Jimmy had Uncle James's spy-glass. + +"Nate thinks the colonel won't come till to-morrow; but I expect him +to-night. Let's go farther up," said Jimmy-boy. + +They all climbed a little way and stood on a rock gazing down toward the +dusty road. They could see the roofs of several houses, and Lucy asked +why there was so much wire on them. + +"Oh, that's to hold the chimneys on," was Jimmy's reply. + +"How queer!" + +"Not queer at all. I've seen lots of chimneys tied on that way." + +Bab doubted this, but Lucy was proud to think how much Jimmy knew. + +"Six minutes past five," said she, looking at the watch again. "It takes +these little hands just as long to go round this little face as it takes +a clock's hands to go round a clock's face. How funny!" + +"Not funny at all," said Jimmy. "They're made that way. But be careful, +Lucy Dunlee, or you'll drop that watch. I shouldn't have thought papa +would have let you bring it up here. Did you tell him where we were +going?" + +"No, I never," replied Lucy with a sudden prick of conscience. "I didn't +know we'd go so far. 'Twas you that spoke and said we'd go higher up." + +"Well, you'd better let me take it, Lucy. I'm older than you are, and +I've got a little pocket, too, just the right size to hold it." + +Lucy hesitated, not wishing to part with the watch, and not at all sure +that it would be safer with Jimmy than with herself. He was not a famous +care-taker. + +"I don't see why you want to get it away when papa lent it to me and +it's fastened on so tight. How do I know papa would be willing?" + +As she spoke, however, Jimmy was fingering the little chain to see if +he could undo the clasp which held it to her dress. + +"There, I don't believe you could have got it off, Lucy, you didn't know +how." + +"Why, I never tried--papa fastened it on himself--oh, Jimmy-boy, you +will be so careful of it, now won't you?" + +For the watch lay in his hand, and she did not know how to get it back +again. When he had set his heart on anything Lucy usually gave up. +Barbara looked on in disapproval as the big brother put the watch in his +pocket. + +It had long been Jimmy's unspoken wish to have a watch of his very own +like Nate Pollard and various other boys. How rich and handsome the +short gold chain looked! What a bright spot it made as it dangled down +his new jacket. He gazed at it admiringly, while Bab and Lucy took +turns in looking through the spy-glass. + +"The stage is coming," they cried. Then they all started and ran down +the mountain; but as the stage drove up to the hotel no colonel +alighted, or at least, no one who looked like a colonel. Jimmy was +playing with the short gold chain which made a bright spot on his +jacket. He meant to restore the watch to its owner at dinner-time; but +it was early, he was not going in yet. And there was Nate Pollard +throwing up his cap and looking ready for a frolic. + +"I stump you to catch me!" said Nate. + +"Poh, I can catch you and not half try." + +Jimmy-boy was agile, Nate rather heavily built and clumsy. But if Jimmy +had suspected what a foolhardy project was in Nate's mind he would have +held back from the race. + +As it was, they both planted themselves against a tree, shouted, "One, +two, three!" and off they started. No one was watching, no one +remembered afterward which way they were going. + + + + +VIII + +STEALING A CHIMNEY + + +The "knitting-woman" sat knitting in her chamber that looked up the +mountain side, and thinking how the zebra kitten had suffered from her +enemy, the clam. Mrs. McQuilken's own cats were most of them asleep; the +blind canary was eating her supper of hemp-seed; and the noisy magpie +had run off to chat with the dog and hens. The room seemed remarkably +quiet. Mrs. McQuilken narrowed two stitches and glanced out of the +window. + +"Mercy upon us!" she exclaimed, though there was not a soul to hear her. +"Mercy upon us, what are those boyoes doing atop of that house?" + +In her astonishment she actually dropped her knitting-work on the floor +and rushed out of the room crying, "Fire!" though there was not a spark +of fire to be seen. + +The "boyoes" were Nate and Jimmy. Nate had said to Jimmy just as they +started on the race:-- + +"You won't dare follow where I lead;" and Jimmy, stung by the defiant +tone, had answered:-- + +"Poh, yes, I will! Who's afraid?" never once suspecting that Nate was +going to climb the ridge-pole of a house! + +The house was a small cabin painted green, but there were people living +in it, and nothing could be ruder than to storm it in this way, as both +boys knew. + +"Why, Nate why, _Nate_, what are you doing?" + +"Ho, needn't come if you're scared," retorted Nate. + +"Who said I was scared? But I'm not your 'caddy,' I won't go another +step," gasped Jimmy. + +Still he did not stop climbing. Hadn't Nate "stumped" him; and hadn't he +"taken the stump," agreeing to follow his lead? Besides, Nate was +already on the roof, and it was necessary to catch him at once. + +Jimmy reached the roof easily enough and darted toward Nate with both +arms out-stretched. But by that time Nate had turned around and begun to +slide down another ridge-pole, shouting:-- + +"Here, my caddy, here I am; catch me, caddy!" + +It was most exasperating. Jimmy saw that he had been outwitted. On the +solid earth, running a fair race, the chances were that he could have +beaten Nate. But was this a fair race? + +"No, I'll leave it out to anybody if it's fair! Nate Pollard is the +meanest boy in California," thought angry Jimmy, as he started to follow +his leader down the ridge-pole. + +At this moment something hit him just below the knee and held him fast. +In his haste he had not stopped to notice that the chimney was of the +very sort he had just described to Lucy--built of tiles and held on to +the roof by wires. He was caught in these wires; and whenever he tried +to move he found he was actually pulling the chimney after him! Nate, +safely landed on the ground, called back to him in triumph:-- + +"Hello, Jimmy-cum-jim! Hello, my caddy! Where are you? Why don't you +come along?" + +Jimmy was coming as fast as he could. He lay face downward, sliding +along toward the edge of the roof, and carrying with him that most +undesirable chimney! What would become of him if he should fall +head-first with the chimney on his back? + +It was a rough scramble; but he managed to turn over before he reached +the ground--so that he landed on his feet. The chimney landed near him, +a wreck. Jimmy was unhurt except for a few scratches. But oh, it was +dreadful to hear himself laughed at, not only by that mischievous Nate, +but by half a dozen other boys and a few grown people, who had collected +on the spot; among them the landlord and Mrs. McQuilken. + +Not that any one could be blamed for laughing. Jimmy was a comical +object. In carrying away a chimney which did not belong to him, he had +of course torn his clothes frightfully and left big pieces sticking on +the broken wires of the roof. A more "raggety" boy never was seen. + +"Wouldn't he make a good scarecrow?" said the landlord, shaking his +sides. "Jimmum, chimney, and all!" + +It was necessary to tear his clothes still more in order to get them +free from the tangle of wires. As the poor young culprit crept +unwillingly back to the hotel all the cats, dogs, donkeys, and chickens +in Castle Cliff seemed to combine in a chorus of mewing, barking, +braying, and cackling to inform the whole world that here was a boy who +had stolen a chimney! + +What wretched little beggar was this coming to the house? No one thought +of its being Jimmy Dunlee. + +"We caught this young rogue stealing a chimney," said Mr. Templeton. + +It seemed funny at first, and the Dunlees and Sanfords and Hales all +laughed heartily, till it occurred to them that the dear child had been +in actual danger; and then they drew long breaths and shuddered, +thinking how he might have pitched headlong to the ground and been +crushed by the weight of the chimney. + +"But my little son," asked Mrs. Dunlee presently, when the child was +once more respectably clad, and was walking down to dinner between +herself and Aunt Vi, "but my little son, what could have possessed you +to climb a roof? Was that a nice thing to do?" + +"No, mamma, of course not. But 'twas all Nate Pollard's fault. Nate +stumped me to it and I took the stump." + +"What _do_ you mean?" + +"Why, he said, 'You won't dare follow me,' and I said, 'Yes, I would.' +And I never mistrusted where he was going. Who'd have thought of his +climbing top of a house?" + +"Why, Jamie Dunlee, you did not follow Nate without knowing where he +was going?" + +"Yes, mamma; if I _had_ known I wouldn't have followed. But you see he +had stumped me and I'd taken the stump, so I was _obliged_ to go!" + +"Obliged to go!" repeated Aunt Vi, laughing, "Isn't that characteristic +of Jimmy?" + +The little fellow felt guiltier than ever. When Aunt Vi used that word +of five syllables it always meant that people had done very wrong, so he +thought. + +"Jamie," said his mother very seriously, "I am surprised that you should +have promised to follow Nate without knowing where he was going! And you +never even asked him where he was going! Is that the way you play, you +boys?" + +"No, mamma, it isn't. Nate makes you play his way because he's the +oldest. He's just as mean! But I couldn't back out after I was +stumped." + +"Oh, fie! Backing out is exactly the thing to do when a boy is trying to +lead you into mischief! But we'll talk more of this by and by." + +As they entered the dining-room, Jimmy squared his shoulders and would +not look toward Nate's table; and Nate, who had been severely reproved +by his parents, never once raised his eyes from his plate. No one felt +very happy. Jimmy's new suit was ruined; and Mr. Dunlee had already +learned that it would cost ten dollars to restore the tile chimney. Nor +was this all. While Jimmy was trying to console himself with ice-cream +he suddenly thought of his father's watch! It must have dropped out of +his pocket when he slid down the roof; but where, oh, where was it now? +Was it still on the ground, or had some one picked it up? Joe Rolfe had +been there, so had Chicken Little and a dozen others. He must go and +look for that watch, he must go this minute. + +"Mamma," he murmured, pushing aside his saucer of ice-cream, "may I--may +I be excused?" + +There was no answer; his mother had not heard him. + +"Mamma," in a louder tone, "oh, mamma!" + +"What is it, my son?" + +Seeing by his unhappy face that something was wrong, she nodded +permission for him to leave the table; and at the same time arose and +followed him into the hall. + +"Dear child, what is the matter?" + +"Papa's watch," he moaned. "I'm afraid somebody will steal it." + +As Mrs. Dunlee knew nothing whatever about the watch this sounded very +strange. She wondered if Jimmy had really been hurt by his fall and was +out of his head. + +"Why, my precious little boy," said she, taking his hot hand in hers. +"Papa's watch is safe in his vest pocket. Nobody is going to steal it." + +Jimmy looked immensely relieved. + +"Oh, has he got it back again? I'm so glad! Where did he find it?" + +"Darling," said Mrs. Dunlee, now really alarmed. "Come upstairs with +mamma. Does your head ache? I think it will be best for you to go right +to bed." + +But Jimmy persisted in talking about the watch. + +"Where did papa find it? He let Lucy have it; don't you know?" + +"No, I did not know." + +"And I took it away from Lucy. I was afraid she'd lose it. And +then,--oh, dear, oh, dear,--then I went and lost it myself!" + +Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now. Jimmy's head was clear enough; he +knew perfectly well what he was talking about. The watch was gone, a +very valuable one. Search must be made for it at once. Without waiting +to speak to her husband, Mrs. Dunlee put on her hat and went with Jimmy +up the hill. He limped a little from the bruise of his fall and she +steadied him with her arm as they walked. + + + + +IX + +"CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE + + +The man and woman who lived in the green cottage had gone to a +neighbor's to stay till their chimney should be fastened on again. There +was no one in sight. + +"Here's the place where I went up," said Jimmy, laying his hand on one +of the ridge-poles. "And here's the place where I came down," pointing +to another ridge-pole. + +Mrs. Dunlee was stooping and looking around carefully. There was not a +tuft of grass or a clump of weeds behind which even a small article +could be hidden, much less a large bright object like a gold watch. She +took a wooden pencil from her pocket and scraped the earth with it; but +only disturbed a few ants and beetles. If the watch had ever been +dropped here, it certainly was not here now. She and Jimmy turned and +walked home in the twilight,--or as Mrs. McQuilken called it, "the +dimmets," and poor Jimmy drew a cloud of gloom about him like a cloak. + +They looked on the ground at every step of the way. + +"There's a piece of chaparral over there. Did you go through that?" +asked Mrs. Dunlee. + +"No, I never, I'm sure I never. I walked in the road right straight +along. Oh, mamma, if I've lost that watch 'twill break my heart. But +I'll pay papa for it, you see if I don't! I'll save every penny I get +and put it together and pay papa!" + +Mrs. Dunlee did not reply for a moment; she took time to reflect. Jimmy +was a dear boy, but very heedless. He had done wrong in the first place +to take the watch from Lucy without his father's permission. He must be +taught to respect other people's property and other people's rights. He +must learn to think, and learn to be careful. Here was a chance for a +lesson. + +"Jamie," said she at last, "I am glad you wish to atone for the wrong +you have done; it shows a proper spirit. I agree with you that if the +watch isn't found you ought to give papa what you can toward paying for +it. That is no more than fair." + +"I want to, mamma, I just want to!" burst forth Jimmy. "I wish I was +little like Eddo, before 'twas wrong for me to be naughty." + +His mother took him in her arms and kissed him, for he was so tired and +miserable that he could not keep the tears back another moment. + +Friday night passed and most of Saturday; and though diligent search +was made, the watch was not found. + +"Poor papa!" said Kyzie. "He doesn't say much; but how sober he looks! +Grandma Dunlee gave him that watch, Jimmy, when he was a young man; and +he did love it so!" + +"I know it. Oh, dear, how can he stand it?" responded jimmy, who had +been deeply touched from the first by his father's forbearance. "Mr, +Pollard punished Nate dreadfully, you know; but here's Papa Dunlee, why, +he hasn't even scolded!" + +Papa Dunlee was a wise man. He saw that his little son was suffering +enough already; he was learning a hard lesson, and perhaps would learn +it all the better for being left alone with his own conscience. + +On Sunday afternoon the boy was very disconsolate, and Mr. Dunlee patted +him on the head, saying:-- + +"Maybe we'll find the watch yet, my son. And anyway, I know Jimmum +didn't mean to lose it." + +Then he sat down to read, and Jimmy gazed at him reverently. The +sunshine about his head seemed almost like a halo, and the boy thought +of the angels, and wondered if they could possibly be any better than +papa! + +"Papa is the best man! Never was cross in his life. I should be cross as +fury! I should shake _my_ boy all to pieces if he should carry off my +gold watch and drop it in the sand!" + +Monday morning came and the missing article did not appear. Everybody +looked troubled. Edith walked about, carrying her lame kitten in a +basket, and saying:-- + +"Zee is getting better all the while, but how can I be happy when papa's +watch is lost!" + +"Who knows but I shall be the one to find it?" returned Katharine with +a mysterious smile, as she was leaving the house. + +"You forgot to tell us, and we forgot to ask you, How do you like your +school?" said Aunt Vi. + +"Oh, ever so much, auntie. I'm making it just as old-fashioned as I can. +I'm going to write Grandma Parlin this week and ask her if what I do is +old-fashioned enough. Good-by." + +Jimmy was waiting for her down the path. + +"What makes you think you'll find the watch, Kyzie?" + +"Oh, I don't know, myself, what I meant. I just said it for fun." + +"Well, do you think Joe Rolfe has got it, or Chicken Little? That's what +I want to know." + +"Hush, Jimmy! Papa wouldn't allow you to speak names in that way. +Somebody stole it, I suppose, but we don't know who it was." + +Still Kyzie's face wore a stern look that morning. It was a thing not to +be spoken of, but she had resolved to "keep an eye" on two or three of +the boys, and see if there was anything peculiar in their appearance. +Should one of them blush or turn pale when spoken to, it would be a sure +sign of guilt, and she should go home and announce with triumph to her +father:-- + +"Papa, I've found out the thief!" + +The scholars all appeared pretty much as usual; raising their hands very +often to ask, "May I speak?" or, "May I have a drink of water?" The +little teacher had always wished they would not do so, but how could she +help it? It was "an old-fashioned school," perhaps that was why it was +so noisy. Whatever went wrong, Kyzie always said to herself, "Oh, it's +just an old-fashioned school." + +Nate Pollard and Jimmy sat to-day as far apart as possible, almost +turning their backs upon each other. At the bottom of his heart Nate was +truly ashamed of himself, though he would not have owned it. There were +five new scholars, and Katharine wrote down their names with much pride. +Best of all, some of the children really seemed to be trying to get +their lessons. + +She had never known Joe Rolfe to study like this. "Is it because he is +guilty?" thought the little teacher watching him from under her +eyebrows. She walked along toward him so softly that he did not hear her +footsteps. + +"Joseph!" she exclaimed, suddenly. Her voice startled him; he looked up +in surprise. + +"I'm glad to see you studying, Joseph." + +Did he blush? His face was of a brownish red hue at any time, being +much tanned; she could not be quite sure of the blush. But why did he +look so sober? Children generally smile when they are praised. + +She had been to Bab and Lucy and said, "How still you are, darlings!" +and they had seemed delighted. + +Next she tried Chicken Little. He certainly jumped when she spoke his +name close to his ear, "Henry." Now why should he jump and seem so +confused unless he knew he had done something wrong? She forgot that he +was a very timid boy. + +"Henry, what is the matter with you?" she asked, frowning severely. + +She had never frowned on him before, for she liked the little fellow, +and was trying her best to "make a man of him." + +"What is the matter, Henry?" + +By this time he was scared nearly out of his wits, and stole a side +glance at her to see if she had a switch in her hand. + +"Don't whip me," he pleaded in a trembling voice. "Don't whip me, +teacher; and I'll give you f-i-v-e thousand dollars!" + +As he offered this modest sum to save himself from her wrath, the little +teacher nearly laughed aloud, Henry did not know it, however; her face +was hidden behind a book. + +"What made you think, you silly boy, that I was going to punish you?" +she asked as soon as she could find her voice. "Have you done something +wicked?" + +She spoke in a low tone for his ear alone, but he writhed under it as if +it had been a blow. + +"I--don'--know." + +"He is the thief," thought Kyzie. "Oh, Henry, if you've done something +wrong you must know it. Tell me what it was." + +"I--can't!" + +She put her lips nearer his ear. "Was it you and Joseph Rolfe together? +Perhaps you _both_ did something wicked?" + +"I--don'--know." + +"Was it last Friday?" + +"I--don'--know!" + +"Will you tell me after school?" + +Henry was unable to answer. Worn out with contending emotions he put his +head down on the seat and cried. + +This did not seem like innocence. Joseph Rolfe was looking on from +across the aisle, as if he wished very much to know what she and Henry +were talking about. + +"I'll make them tell me the whole story, the wicked boys," thought +Kyzie, indignantly. "But I can't hurry about it; I must be very +careful. I think I'll wait till to-morrow." + +So she calmed herself and called out her classes. Katharine was a +"golden girl," and had a strong sense of justice. She would say nothing +yet to her father, for the boys might possibly be innocent; still she +went home that afternoon feeling that she had almost made a discovery. + +"Good evening, Grandmother Graymouse," said Uncle James, as they were +all seated on the veranda after dinner, "do I understand that you are +hunting for a watch?" + +"I'm hunting for it, oh, yes," replied Kyzie, trying not to look too +triumphant; "but I haven't found it yet. Just wait till to-morrow, Uncle +James." + +"I don't believe we'll wait another minute!" declared Mr. Sanford, +looking around with a roguish smile. "I see the Dunlee people are all +here, Jimmum, Lucy, and all. Attention, my friends! The thief has been +found!" + +"What thief?" asked Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Dunlee. + +"Why, _the_ thief! The one we're looking for! The one that stole the +watch!" + +"Do you really mean it?" asked the ladies again. "Did he bring it back?" + +"Come and see," said Uncle James, leading the way upstairs. + +"Of course it's Joe Rolfe," thought Kyzie. "I suppose he was frightened +by what I said to Henry Small." + +"Is the thief in your room, Uncle James?" said Jimmy. "Why didn't you +put him in jail?" + +"Ah, Jimmum, do you think all thieves ought to go to jail? I once knew a +little boy who stole a chimney right off a house; yet I never heard a +word said about putting _him_ in jail! + +"But here we are at the chamber door. Stand behind me, all of you, in +single file." + + + + +X + +THE THIEF FOUND + + +"I don't know so much as I thought I did," said Kyzie to herself. "Joe +Rolfe wouldn't be in this room." + +For Uncle James was knocking at the door of Number Five. + +"Walk right in," said Mrs. McQuilken, coming to meet her guests. She had +her knitting in one hand. "Come in, all of you. Why, Mr. Templeton, are +you here too? You wouldn't have taken me into your house if you'd known +I was a thief; now would you, Mr. Templeton?" + +And laughing, she put her right hand in her apron pocket and drew out a +gold watch and chain. + +"If this belongs to anybody present, let him step up and claim his +property." + +Mr. Dunlee came forward in amazement, while Jimmy gave a little squeal +of delight. + +"This is mine, thank you, madam," said Mr. Dunlee, looking at the watch +closely. It seemed very much battered. + +"Dreadfully smashed up, isn't it, sir? I can't tell you how sorry I am." + +Mr. Dunlee shook it, and held it to his ear. + +"Oh, it won't go," said Mrs. McQuilken. "The inside seems worse off, if +anything, than the outside. 'Twill have to have new works." + +"Very likely. But it is so precious to me, madam, that even in this +condition I'm glad to get it back again. Pray, where has it been?" + +"Right here in this room. Didn't you understand me to confess to +stealing it? Why, you're shaking your head as if you doubted my word." + +They were all laughing now, and the old lady's eyes twinkled with fun. + +"Well, if I didn't steal it myself, one of my family did, so it amounts +to the same thing. Come out here, you unprincipled girl, and beg the +gentleman's pardon," she added, kneeling and dragging forth from under +the bed a beautiful bird. + +It was her own magpie, chattering and scolding. + +"Now tell the gentleman who stole his watch? Speak up loud and clear!" + +The bird flapped her wings, and cawed out very crossly:-- + +"Mag! Mag! Mag!" + +"Hear her! Hear that!" cried her mistress. "So you did steal it, +Mag--I'm glad to hear you tell the truth for once in your life." + +"Did she take the watch? Did she really and truly?" cried the children +in chorus. + +"To be sure she did, the bad girl. She has done such things before, and +I have always found her out; but this time she was too sly for me. She +went and put it in my mending-basket; and who would have thought of +looking for it there?" + +Mag tipped her head to one side saucily, and kept muttering to herself. + +"Well, I happened to go to the basket this afternoon and take up a pair +of stockings to mend. They felt amazingly heavy. There was a hard wad in +them, and I wondered what it could be. I put in my hand and pulled out +the watch. Yes, 'twas tucked right into the stockings." + +"I wonder we didn't any of us mistrust her at the time of it," said Mr. +Templeton; "those magpies are dreadful thieves." + +"Well, I suppose you thought 'twas my business to take care of her, and +it was. I'm ashamed of myself," said Mrs. McQuilken. "I was looking out +of the window when the boys shied over that roof, but my mind wasn't on +jewelry then. All I thought of was to run and call for help." + +Yes, and it was her screams which had aroused the whole neighborhood. + +"And at that very time my Mag was roaming at large. No doubt she saw the +watch the moment it fell; and to use your expression, Mr. Templeton, she +jumped at it like a dolphin at a silver spoon." + +The landlord laughed. "But the mystery is," said he, "how she got back +to the house without being seen. She must have been pretty spry." + +"O Mag, Mag, to think I never once thought to look after you!" +exclaimed Mrs. McQuilken, penitently. + +The bird was scolding all the while, and running about with short, jerky +movements, trying her best to get out of the room; but the door was +closed. + +"Pretty thing," said Edith. "What a shame she should be a thief!" + +"She is pretty, now isn't she?" returned her mistress, fondly. "My +husband brought her from China. You don't often see a Chinese magpie, +with blue plumage,--cobalt blue." + +"She's a perfect oddity," said Mrs. Hale. "See those two centre +tail-feathers, so very long, barred with black and tipped with white." + +"Yes," said Mr. Dunlee, "and the red bill and red legs. She's a +brilliant creature, Mrs. McQuilken." + +"Well, you'll try to forgive her, won't you, sir? I mean to bring her +up as well as I know how; but what are you going to do with a girl that +can't sense the ten commandments?" + +"What indeed!" laughed Mr. Dunlee. + +"You see she's naturally light-fingered. Yes, you are, Mag, you needn't +deny it. Those red claws of yours are just pickers and stealers." + +Here Edith called attention to Mag's nest on the wall, and they all +admired it; and Mrs. McQuilken said the canary liked to have Mag near +him at night, he was apt to be lonesome. + +"I wish you'd come in the daytime," said she. "Come any and all of you, +and hear him sing. He does sing so sweetly, poor blind thing; it's as +good as a sermon to hear him." + +On leaving Mrs. McQuilken the children went to Aunt Vi's room and Jimmy +kept repeating joyously:-- + +"We've found the watch, we've found the watch!" + +"Yes," said Aunt Vi; "but what a wreck it is! Your papa will have to +spend a deal of money in repairing it." + +"Too bad!" said Lucy, "I 'spect 'twould cost him cheaper to buy a new +one." + +"'Twouldn't cost him so much; that's what you mean," corrected Jimmy. +"But I'm going to pay for mending it anyway." + +"How can you?" asked Kyzie. "All you have is just your tin box with +silver in it." + +"Well, but don't I keep having presents? And can't I ask folks to stop +giving me toys and books and give me money? And they'll do it every +time." + +"But that would be begging." + +Jimmy's face fell. Yes, on the whole it did seem like begging. He had +not thought of that. + +"Why can't it ever snow in this country?" he exclaimed suddenly. "Then I +could shovel it. That's the way boys make money 'back East'" + +Then after a pause he burst forth again, "Or, I might pick berries--if +there were any berries!" + +"It's not so very easy for little boys to earn money; is it, dear?" said +Aunt Vi, putting her arm around her young nephew and drawing him toward +her. "But when they've done wrong--you still think you did wrong, don't +you, Jimmy?" + +"He knows he did," broke in Lucy. "My papa lent me the watch." + +"She wasn't talking to you," remonstrated Jimmy. "Yes, auntie, I did +wrong; but Lucy needn't twit me of it! I won't be _characteristic_ any +more as long as I live." + +Aunt Vi smiled and patted his head lovingly. + +"No, dear, I think you'll be more thoughtful in future. But now let us +try to think what can be done to pay for the watch." + +"I'll let him have some of the money I get for teaching. I always meant +to," said Kyzie. + +"Very kind of you," returned Aunt Vi; "but we'll not take it if we can +help it, will we, Jimmy? I've been thinking it over for some days, +children; and a little plan has occurred to me. Would you like to know +what it is?" + +They all looked interested. If Aunt Vi had a plan, it was sure to be +worth hearing. + +"It is this: mightn't we get up some entertainments,--good ones that +would be worth paying for?" + +"And sell the tickets? Oh, auntie, that's just the thing! That's +capital!" cried Edith and Kyzie. "You'd do it beautifully." + +"I'm not so sure of that, girls. But we might join together and act a +little play that I've been writing; that is, we might try. What have you +to say, Jimmy? Could you help?" + +"I don't know. I can't speak pieces worth a cent," replied the boy, +writhing and shuffling his feet. "Look here!" he said, brightening. +"Don't you want some nails driven? I can do that first rate." + +Aunt Vi laughed and said nails might be needed in putting up a staging, +and she was sure that he could use a hammer better than she could. + +Jimmy-boy, much gratified, struck an attitude, and pounding his left +palm with his thumb, repeated the rhyme:-- + + "Drive the nail straight, boys, + Hit it on the head; + Work with your might, boys, + Ere the day has fled." + +"There, he can speak, I knew he could speak!" cried Lucy, in admiration. + +It was settled that they were all to meet Wednesday morning, and their +mother with them, to talk over the matter. + +"That's great," said Jimmy. + +The watch was found and the world looked bright once more. True, he was +deeply in debt; but with such a grand helper as Aunt Vi he was sure the +debt would very soon be paid. + + + + +XI + +BEGGING PARDON + + +Next morning Jimmy walked to school with "the little two," whistling as +he went. Lucy had tortured her hair into a "cue," and + + "The happy wind upon her played, + Blowing the ringlet from the braid." + +"I've got the snarling-est, flying-est hair," scolded she. "I never'll +braid it again as long as I live; so there!" + +"Good!" cried Jimmy. "It has looked like fury ever since we came up +here." + +Here Nate overtook the children. He had not been very social since the +accident, but seemed now to want to talk. + +"How do you do, Jimmy?" he said: and Jimmy responded, "How d'ye do +yourself?" + +The little girls ran on in advance, and Jimmy would have joined them, +but Nate said:--- + +"Hold on! What's your hurry?" + +Jimmy turned then and saw that Nate was scowling and twisting his +watch-chain. + +"I've got something to say to you--I mean papa wants me to say +something." + +"Oh ho!" + +"I don't see any need of it, but papa says I must." + +Jimmy waited, curious to hear what was coming. + +"Papa says I jollied you the other day." + +"What's that?" + +"Why, fooled you." + +"So you did, Nate Pollard, and 'twas awful mean." + +[Illustration] + +"It wasn't either. What made you climb that ridge-pole? You needn't +have done it just because I did. But papa says I've got to--to--ask your +pardon." + +"H'm! I should think you'd better! Tore my clothes to pieces. Smashed a +gold watch." + +"You hadn't any business taking that watch." + +There was a pause. + +"Look here, Jimmy Dunlee, why don't you speak?" + +"Haven't anything to say." + +"Can't you say, 'I forgive you'?" + +"Of course I can't. You never asked me." + +"Well, I ask you now. James S. Dunlee, will--you--forgive me?" + +"H'm! I suppose I'll have to," replied Jimmy, firing a pebble at nothing +in particular. "I forgive you all right because we've found the watch. +If we hadn't found it, I wouldn't! But don't you 'jolly' me again, Nate +Pollard, or you'll catch it!" + +This did not sound very forgiving; but neither had Nate's remark sounded +very penitent. Nate smiled good-naturedly and seemed satisfied. The fact +was, he and Jimmy were both of them trying, after the manner of boys, to +hide their real feelings. Nate knew that his conduct had been very +shabby and contemptible, and he was ashamed of it, but did not like to +say so. Jimmy, for his part, was glad to make up, but did not wish to +seem too glad. + +Then they each tried to think of something else to say. They were fully +agreed that they had talked long enough about their foolish quarrel and +would never allude to it again. + +"Glad that watch has come," said Nate. + +"So am I. It has come, but it won't _go_," said Jimmy. And they laughed +as if this were a great joke. + +Next Jimmy inquired about "the colonel," and Nate asked: "What colonel? +Oh, you mean the mining engineer. He'll be here next week with his men." + +By this time the boys were feeling so friendly that Jimmy asked Nate to +go with him before school next morning to see the knitting-woman's pets +and hear the blind canary sing. + +"Do you suppose the magpie will be there?" returned Nate. "I want to +catch her some time and wring her old neck." + +"Wish you would," said Jimmy. "Hello, there's Chicken Little crying +again. He's more of a baby than our Eddo." + +Henry was crying now because Dave Blake had called him a coward. So +very, very unjust! He stood near the schoolhouse door, wiping his eyes +on his checked apron and saying:-- + +"I'll go tell the teacher, Dave Blake!" + +"Well, go along and tell her then. Fie, for shame!" + +Henry, a feeble, petted child, was always falling into trouble and +always threatening to tell the teacher. Kyzie considered him very +tiresome; but to-day when he came to her with his tale of woe, she +listened patiently, because she had done him a wrong and wished to atone +for it. She had "really and truly" suspected this simple child of a +crime! He would not take so much as a pin without leave; neither would +Joseph Rolfe. Yet in her heart she had been accusing these innocent +children of stealing her father's watch! + +"Miserable me!" thought Kyzie. "I must be very good to both of them now, +to make up for my dreadful injustice!" + +She went to Joe and sweetly offered to lend him her knife to whittle +his lead pencil. He looked surprised. He did not know she had ever +wronged him in her heart. + +She wiped Henry's eyes on her own pocket handkerchief. + +"Poor little cry-baby!" thought she. "I told my mother I would try to +make a man of him, and now I mean to begin." + +She walked part of the way home with him that afternoon. He considered +it a great honor. She looked like a little girl, but her wish to help +the child made her feel quite grown-up and very wise. + +"Henry," said she, "how nice you look when you are not crying. Why, now +you're smiling, and you look like a darling!" + +He laughed. + +"There! laugh again. I want to tell you something, Henry. You'd be a +great deal happier if you didn't cry so much; do you know it?" + +"Well, Miss Dunlee,"--Kyzie liked extremely to be called Miss +Dunlee,--"well, Miss Dunlee, you see, the boys keep a-plaguing me. And +when they plague me I have to cry." + +"Oh, fie, don't you do it! If I were a little black-eyed boy about your +age I'd laugh, and I'd say to those boys: 'You needn't try to plague me; +you just can't do it. The more you try, the more I'll laugh.'" + +Henry's eyes opened wide in surprise, and he laughed before he knew it. + +"There! that's the way, Henry. If you do that they'll stop right off. +There's no fun in plaguing a little boy that laughs." + +Henry laughed again and threw back his shoulders. Why, this was +something new. This wasn't the way his mamma talked to him. She always +said, "Mamma's boy is sick and mustn't be plagued." + +"Another thing," went on the little girl, pleased to see that her words +had had some effect; "whatever else you may do, Henry, _don't_ 'run and +tell,' Do you suppose George Washington ever crept along to his teacher, +rubbing his eyes this way on his jacket sleeve, and said 'Miss +Dunlee--ah, the boys have been a-making fun of me--ah! They called me +names, they did!'" + +Henry dropped his chin into his neck. + +"Never mind! You're a good little boy, after all. _You_ wouldn't steal +anything, would you, Henry?" + +This sudden question was naturally rather startling. He had no answer +ready. + +"Oh, I know you wouldn't! But sometimes little _birds_ steal. Did you +hear that a magpie stole a watch the other day?" + +"Yes, I heard." + +"Well, here's some candy for you, Henry." + +The boy held out his hand eagerly, though looking rather bewildered. Was +the candy given because George Washington didn't "run and tell"? Or +because magpies steal watches? + +"Now, good night, Henry, and don't forget what: I've been saying to +you." + +Henry walked on, feeling somewhat ashamed, but enjoying the candy +nevertheless. If his pretty teacher didn't want him to tell tales, he +wouldn't do it any more. He would act just like George Washington; and +then how would the big boys feel? + +He did not forget his resolve. Next morning when Dave Blake ran out his +tongue at him and Joe Rolfe said, "Got any chickens to sell?" he laughed +with all his might, just to see how it would seem. Both the boys stared; +they didn't understand it. "Hello, Chicken Little, what's the matter +with you?" + +Henry could see the eyes of his young teacher twinkling from between the +slats of the window-blinds, and he spoke up with a courage quite +unheard-of:-- + +"Nothing's the matter with _me!_" + +"Hear that chicken," cried Joe Rolfe. "He's beginning to crow!" + +Henry felt the tears starting; but as Miss Katharine at that moment +opened the blind far enough to shake her finger at him privately he +thought better of it, and faltered out:-- + +"See here, boys, I like to be called Chicken Little first rate! Say it +again. Say it fi-ive thousand times if you want to!" + +"Oh, you're too willing," said Joe. "We'll try it some other time when +you get over being so willing!" + +The bell rang; it sounded to Henry like a peal of joy. He walked in in +triumph, and as he passed by the little teacher she patted him on the +head. She did not need to wipe his eyes with her handkerchief, there +were no tears to be seen. He was not a brave boy yet by any means, but +he had made a beginning; yes, that very morning he had made a beginning. + +"Don't you tease Henry Small any more, I don't like it at all," said +Katharine to Joseph Rolfe. + +And then she slipped a paper of choice candy into Joe's hand, charging +him "not to eat it in school, now remember." It was a queer thing to do; +but then this was a queer school; and besides Kyzie had her own reasons +for thinking she ought to be very kind to Joe. + +"How silly I was to suspect those little boys! I'm afraid I never shall +have much judgment. Still, on the whole, I believe I'm doing pretty +well," thought she, looking proudly at Henry Small's bright face, and +remembering too how Mr. Pollard had told her that very morning that his +son Nate was learning more arithmetic at her little school than he had +ever learned in the city schools. "Oh, I'm so glad," mused the little +teacher. + +Mrs. Dunlee thought Kyzie did not get time enough for play. And just now +the little girl was unusually busy. They were talking at home of the new +entertainment to be given for Jimmy-boy's benefit, and she was to act a +part in it as well as Edith. It was "Jimmy's play," but Jimmy was not to +appear in it at all. Kyzie and Edith together were to print the tickets +with a pen. The white pasteboard had been cut into strips for this +purpose; but as it was not decided yet whether the play would be +enacted on the tailings or in the schoolhouse, the young printers had +got no farther than to print these words very neatly at the bottom of +the tickets: + +"ADMIT THE BEARER." + + + + +XII + +"THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE" + + +There were only ten days in which to prepare for the play called +"Granny's Quilting." The children met Wednesday morning in Aunt Vi's +room, all but Bab, who was off riding. So unfortunate, Lucy thought; for +how could any plans be made without Bab? + +The play was very old-fashioned, requiring four people, all clad in the +style of one hundred and fifty years ago. Uncle James would wear a gray +wig and "small clothes" and personate "Grandsir Whalen"; Kyzie Dunlee, +Grandsir's old wife, in white cap, "short gown," and petticoat, was to +be "Granny Whalen" of course. + +A grandson and granddaughter were needed for this aged couple. Edith +would make a lovely granddaughter and pretend to spin flax. Who would +play the grandson and shell the corn? Jimmy thought Nate Pollard was +just the one, he was "so good at speaking pieces." They decided to ask +Nate at once, and have that matter settled. + +Aunt Vi showed a collection of articles which "the knitting-woman" had +kindly offered for their use; a three-legged light stand, two +fiddle-backed chairs, and a very old hour-glass. + +"I should call it a pair of glasses," said Edith, as they watched the +sand drip slowly from one glass into the other. + +Aunt Vi said it took exactly an hour for it to drain out, and our +forefathers used to tell the time of day by hour-glasses before clocks +were invented. + +"What _are_ forefathers?" Lucy asked Edith. + +"Oh, Adam and Eve and all those old people," was the careless reply. + +"And didn't they have any clocks?" + +"Of course not. What do you suppose?" + +There was a knock at the door. Nate had come to find Jimmy and go with +him to see the blind canary. + +"We were just talking about you," said Aunt Vi. "Are you willing to be +Katharine's grandson in the play?" + +Nate replied laughing that he would do whatever was wanted of him, and +he could send home and get some knee-buckles and a cocked hat. + +Aunt Vi said "Capital!" and gave Jimmy a look which said, "Everything +seems to be going on famously for our new play." + +Jimmy led the way to Mrs. McQuilken's room, his face wreathed with +smiles. + +"Ah, good morning; how do you all do?" said the lady, meeting the +children with courteous smiles. "I see you've brought your kitten, +Edith." + +"Yes, ma'am; will you please look at her wounds again?" + +"They are pretty well healed, dear. I've never felt much concerned about +Zee's wounds. She makes believe half of her sufferings for the sake of +being petted." + +"Does she, though? I'm so glad." + +"Yes; that 'prize tail' will soon be waving as proudly as ever. But I +suppose you all came to see the canary. Mag, you naughty girl," she +added, turning to the magpie, "hide under the bed. They didn't come to +see you. Here, Job, you are the one that's wanted." + +Little Job, the canary, was standing on the rug. He came forward now to +greet his visitors, putting out a foot to feel his way, like a blind +man with a cane. Then he began to sing joyously. + +"Don't you call that good music?" asked his mistress, knitting as she +spoke. "He came from Germany; there's where you get the best singers. +Some canaries won't sing before company and some won't sing alone; they +are fussy,--I call it _pernickitty_. Why, I had one with a voice like a +flute; but I happened to buy some new wall-paper, and she didn't like +the looks of it, and after that she never would sing a note." + +"Are you in earnest?" asked Kyzie. + +"Yes, it's a fact. But Job never was pernickitty, bless his little +heart!" + +She brought a tiny bell and let him take it in his claws. + +"Now, I'll go out of the room, and you all keep still and see if he'll +ring to call me back." + +She went, closing the door after her. No one spoke. Job moved his head +from side to side, and, apparently making up his little mind that he was +all alone, he shook the bell peal after peal. Presently his mistress +appeared. "Did you think mamma had gone and left you, Job darling? Mamma +can't stay away from her baby." + +The cooing tone pleased the little creature, and he sang again even more +sweetly than before. + +"Let me show you another of his tricks. You see this little gun? Well, +when he fires it off that will be the end of poor Job!" + +The gun was about two inches long and as large around as a lead pencil. +Inside was a tiny spring; and when Job's claw touched the spring the gun +went off with a loud report. Job fell over at once as if shot and lay +perfectly still and stiff on the rug. Lucy screamed out:--- + +"Oh, I'm so sorry he is dead!" + +But next moment he roused himself and sat up and shook his feathers as +if he relished the joke. + +The children had a delightful half hour with the captain's widow and her +pets; only Lucy could not be satisfied because Bab was away. + +"Too bad you went off riding yesterday," said she as they sat next +morning playing with their dolls. "You never saw that blind canary that +shoots himself, and comes to life and rings a bell." + +"But can't I see him sometime, Auntie Lucy?" + +"You can, oh, yes, and I'll go with you. But, Bab, you ought to have +heard our talk about the play! Kyzie is going to be as much as a hundred +years old, and I guess Uncle James will be a hundred and fifty. And +they've got a pair of old glasses with sand inside--the same kind that +Adam and Eve used to have." + +"Why-ee! Did Adam and Eve wear glasses? 'Tisn't in their pictures; _I_ +never saw 'em with glasses on!" + +"No, no, I don't mean glasses _wear_! I said glasses with sand inside; +_that's_ what Uncle James has got. Runs out every hour. Sits on the +table." + +"Oh, I know what you mean, auntie! You mean an _hour-glass!_ Grandpa +Hale has one and I've seen lots of 'em in France." + +Lucy felt humbled. Though pretending to be Bab's aunt, she often found +that her little niece knew more than she knew herself! + +"Seems queer about Adam and Eve," said she, hastening to change the +subject; "who do you s'pose took care of 'em when they were little +babies?" + +"Why, Auntie Lucy, there wasn't ever any _babiness_ about Adam and Eve! +Don't you remember, they stayed just exactly as they were made!" + +"Yes, so they did. I forgot." + +Lucy had made another mistake. This was not like a "truly auntie"; still +it did not matter so very much, for Bab never laughed at her and they +loved each other "dearilee." + +"You know a great many things, don't you, Bab? And _I_ keep forgetting +'em." + +"Oh, I know all about the world and the garden of Eden; _that's_ easy +enough," replied the wise niece. + +And then they went back to their dolls. + +Half an hour later Kyzie Dunlee was standing in the schoolhouse door +with a group of children about her when Nate Pollard appeared. As he +looked at her he remembered "Jimmy's play," and the parts they were +both to take in it; and the thought of little Kyzie as his poor old +grandmother seemed so funny to Nate that he began to laugh and called +out, "Good morning, grandmother!" + +He meant no harm; but Kyzie thought him very disrespectful to accost her +in that way before the children, and she tossed her head without +answering him. + +Nate was angry. How polite he had always been to her, never telling her +what a queer school she kept! And now that he had consented to be her +grandson in Jimmy's play, just to please her and the rest of the family, +it did seem as if she needn't put on airs in this way! + +"Ahem!" said he; "did you hear about that dreadful earthquake in San +Diego?" + +There had been a very slight one, but he was trying to tease her. + +"No, oh, no!" she replied, throwing up both hands. "When was it?" + +"Last night. I'm afraid of 'em myself, and if we get one here to-day you +needn't be surprised to see me cut and run right out of the +schoolhouse." + +The children looked at him in alarm. Kyzie could not allow this. + +"Oh, you wouldn't do that!" said she, with another toss of the head. +"Before I'd run away from an earthquake! Besides, what good would it +do?" + +By afternoon the news had spread about among the children that there was +to be a terrible earthquake that day. They huddled together like +frightened lambs. The little teacher, wishing to reassure them, planted +herself against the wall, and made what Edith would have called a +"little preach." + +She pointed out of the window to the clear sky and said she "could not +see the least sign of an earthquake." But even if one should come they +need not be afraid, for their heavenly Father would take care of them. + +"And you mustn't think for a moment of running away! No, children, be +quiet! Look at me, _I_ am quiet. I wouldn't run away if there were fifty +earthquakes!" + +Strange to say, she had hardly spoken these words when the house began +to shake! They all knew too well what it meant, that frightful rocking +and rumbling; the ground was opening under their feet! + +Kyzie, though she may have feared it vaguely all along, was taken +entirely by surprise, and did--what do you think? As quick as a flash, +without waiting for a second thought, she turned and jumped out of the +window! + +Next moment, remembering the children, she screamed for them to follow +her, and they poured out of the house, some by the window, some by the +door, all shrieking like mad. + +It was a wild scene,--the frantic teacher, the terrified children,--and +Kyzie will never cease to blush every time she recalls it. For there was +no earthquake after all! It was only the new "colonel" and his men +blasting a rock in the mine! + +Of course this escapade of the young teacher amused the people of Castle +Cliff immensely. They called it "the little schoolma'am's earthquake"; +and the little schoolma'am heard of it and almost wished it had been a +real earthquake and had swallowed her up. + +"Oh, Papa Dunlee! Oh, Mamma Dunlee!" she cried, her cheeks crimson, her +eyelids swollen from weeping. "I keep finding out that I'm not half so +much of a girl as I thought I was! What does make me do such ridiculous +things?" + +"You are only very young, you dear child," replied her parents. + +They pitied her sincerely and did their best to console her. But they +were wise people, and perhaps they knew that their eldest daughter +needed to be humbled just a little. It was hard, very hard, yet +sometimes it is the hard things which do us most good. + +"O mamma, don't ask me to go down to dinner. I can't, I can't!" + +"No indeed, darling, your dinner shall be sent up to you. What would you +like?" + +"No matter what, mamma--I don't care for eating. I can't ever hold up my +head any more. And as for going into that school again, I never, never, +never will do it." + +"I think you will, my daughter," said Mr. Dunlee, quietly. "I think +you'll go back and live this down and 'twill soon be all forgotten." + +"O papa, do you really, really think 'twill ever be forgotten? Do you +think so, mamma? A silly, disgraceful, foolish, outrageous, +abominable,--there, I can't find words bad enough!" + +As her parents were leaving the room she revived a little and added:-- + +"Remember, mamma, just soup and chicken and celery. But a full saucer of +ice-cream. I hope 'twill be vanilla." + + + + +XIII + +NATE'S CAVE + + +The little teacher went back to her school the very next day. It was a +hard thing, but she knew her parents desired it. Her proud head was +lowered; she could not meet the eyes of the children, who seemed to be +trying their best not to laugh. At last she spoke:-- + +"I got frightened yesterday. I was not very brave; now was I? Hark! The +people in the mine are blasting rocks again, but we won't run away, will +we?" + +They laughed, and she tried to laugh, too. Then she called the classes +into the floor; and no more did she ever say to the scholars about the +earthquake. She helped Nate in his arithmetic, and he treated her like a +queen. He was coming to Aunt Vi's room that evening to show his +knee-buckles and cocked hat and find out just what he was to do on the +stage. + +Kyzie wanted to see the cocked hat and felt interested in her own white +cap which Mrs. McQuilken was making. It was a good thing for Katharine +that she had "Jimmy's play" to think of just now. It helped her through +that long forenoon. After this the forenoons did not drag; school went +on as usual, and Kyzie was glad she had had the courage to go back and +"live down" her foolish behavior. + +When they met in Aunt Vi's room that evening it was decided not to have +"Jimmy's play" on the tailings, for that was a place free to all. People +would not buy tickets for an entertainment out of doors. + +"My tent is the thing," said Uncle James, and so they all thought It +was a large white one, and the children agreed to decorate it with +evergreens. It would hold all the people who were likely to come and +many more. + +During the week Uncle James set up the tent not far from the hotel and +in one corner of it built a staging. He did not mind taking trouble for +his beloved namesake, James Sanford Dunlee. The stage was made to look +like a room in an old-fashioned house. It had a make-believe door and +window and a make-believe fireplace with andirons and wood and shovel +and tongs. There was a rag rug on the floor, and on the three-legged +stand stood the hour-glass with candles in iron candlesticks. The +fiddle-backed chairs were there and two _hard_ "easy-chairs" and an old +wooden "settle." Lucy and Bab said it looked "like somebody's house," +and they wanted to go and live in it. + +On the Saturday afternoon appointed the play had been well learned by +the four actors. Everything being ready, this cosy little sitting-room +was now shut off from view by a calico curtain which was stretched +across the stage by long strings run through brass rings. + +The play would begin at half-past two. Jimmy was dressed neatly in his +very best clothes. He had a roll of paper and a pencil in one of his +pockets and during the play he meant to add up the number of people +present and find out how much money had been taken. + +"But Jimmy-boy, it won't be very much," said Edith. "This is an empty +town, and so queer too. Something may happen at the last minute that +will spoil the whole thing." + +She was right. Something did happen which no one could have foreseen. +For an "empty" town Castle Cliff was famous for events. + +As Jimmy left the hotel just after luncheon he overtook Nate Pollard +and Joe Rolfe standing near a big sand bank, talking together earnestly. + +"Come on, Jimmum," said Nate; "we've got a spade for you. We're going to +dig a cave in the side of this bank." + +"What's the use of a cave?" + +"Why, for one thing, we can run into it in time of an earthquake." + +"That's so," said Jimmy. "Or we could stay in and be cave-dwellers." + +But as he took up the spade he chanced to look down at his new clothes. +He had spoiled one nice suit already and had promised his mother he +would be more careful of this one. + +"Wait till I put on my old clothes, will you?" + +Nate laughed and snapped his fingers. "We're in a hurry. I've got to be +in the tent in half an hour. Go along, you little dude! We'll dig the +cave without you." + +The laugh cut Jimmy to the heart. And he had been learning to like Nate +so well. A dude? Not he! Besides, what harm would dry sand do? It's +"clean dirt." + +Then all in a minute he thought of that wild journey on the roof. It had +made a deeper impression upon him than any other event of his life. + +"Poh! Am I going to dig dirt in my best clothes just because Nate +Pollard laughs at me? I don't 'take stumps' any more; there's no sense +in it, so there!" + +And off he started, afraid to linger lest he should fall into +temptation. Jimmy might be heedless, no doubt he often was; but when he +really stopped to think, he always respected his mother's wishes and +always kept his word to her. + +This was the trait in Jimmy which marked him off as a highly bred +little fellow. For let me tell you, boys, respect for your elders is the +first point of high breeding all the world over. + +Jimmy sauntered on slowly toward the door of the tent. There were a +great many benches inside, but it was not time yet for the audience to +arrive. Uncle James and Katharine and Edith were on the stage, and Aunt +Vi was adding a few touches to Edith's dress. + +"O dear," said Grandmamma Graymouse, "I hope I shan't forget my part. +Tell me, Uncle James, do I look old enough?" + +"You look too old to be alive," he answered; "fifty years older than I +do, certainly! Mrs. Mehitable Whalen, are you my wife or my very great +grandmamma?" + +"But where's Nate Pollard?" Aunt Vi asked. "I told him to come early to +rehearse." + +"He said he'd be here in half an hour," said Jimmy. "He's off playing." + +"I hope I shall not have to punish my young grandson," said Uncle James, +solemnly, as he began to peel a sycamore switch. + +Uncle James's name was now "Ichabod Whalen," and he and "Mehitable +Whalen," his wife, were such droll objects in their old-fashioned +clothes that they could not look at each other without laughing. + +Their absent grandson, "Ezekiel Whalen" (or Nate Pollard), was a fine +specimen of a boy of ancient times, and Aunt Vi had been much pleased +with the way in which he acted his part. But where was he? Aunt Vi and +the grandparents grew impatient. It was now half-past two; people were +flocking into the tent; but the curtain could not rise, for nothing was +yet to be seen of young Master "Ezekiel Whalen" and his small clothes +and his cocked hat. The house was pretty well filled; really there were +far more people than had been expected, Jimmy, with pencil and paper in +hand, was figuring up the grown people and children, and multiplying +these numbers by twenty-five and by fifteen. When he found that the sum +amounted to nearly nine dollars he almost whistled for joy. + +But all this while the audience was waiting. People looked around in +surprise; the Dunlee family grew more and more anxious. Aunt Lucy +pinched Bab and Bab pinched Aunt Lucy. + +Suddenly there were loud voices at the entrance of the tent. The tent +curtain was pushed aside violently, and Mr. Templeton and Mr. Rolfe +rushed in exclaiming:-- + +"Two boys lost! All hands to the rescue!" + +The people were on their feet in a moment and there was a grand rush +for the outside. The panic, so it was said afterward, was about equal to +"the little schoolma'am's earthquake." + + + + +XIV + +JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK + + +"It's the Pollard and Rolfe boys," explained Mr. Templeton. + +"Ho! I know where _they_ are!" cried Jimmy, "They're all right. They're +only digging a cave in the side of a sand-bank." + +"Show us where! Run as fast as you can!" exclaimed Mr. Rolfe and Mr. +Pollard. Mr. Pollard had been hunting for the last half-hour. He knew +Nate was deeply interested in "Jimmy's play" and would not have kept +away from the tent unless something unusual had happened. + +Jimmy ran, followed by several men who could not possibly keep up with +him. But when they all reached the sand-bank, where were the +"cave-dwellers"? They had burrowed in the sand till completely out of +sight! + +"Hello! Where are you"? screamed Jimmy. + +There was no answer. In enlarging the cave they had loosened the very +dry earth, and thus caused the roof over their heads to fall in upon +them, actually burying them as far as their arm-pits! They tried to +scream, but their muffled voices could not be heard. The "cave" looked +like a great pile of sand and nothing more. Nobody would have dreamed +that there was any one inside it if it had not been for Jimmy's story. + +"Courage, boys, we're after you, we'll soon have you out!" said the men +cheerily; though how could they tell whether the boys heard or not? +Indeed, how did they know the boys were still alive? + +Two men went for shovels. The other men, not waiting for them to come +back thrust their arms into the bank and scooped out the sand with +their hands. The sand was loose and they worked very fast. Before the +shovels arrived a moan was heard. At any rate one of the boys was alive. +And before long they had unearthed both the young prisoners and dragged +them out of the cave. + +Not a minute too soon, Joe gasped for breath and looked wildly about; +but Nate lay perfectly still; it could hardly be seen at first that he +breathed. His father and mother, the doctor and plenty of other people +were ready and eager to help; but it was some time before he showed +signs of life. When at last he opened his eyes the joy of his parents +was something touching to witness. + +Jimmy, who had been standing about with the other children, watching and +waiting, caught his mother by the sleeve and whispered:-- + +"I should have been in there too, mamma, if it hadn't been for you!" + +"What do you mean, my son? In that cave? I never knew the boys were +trying to make a cave. I did not forbid your digging in the sand, did +I?" + +"No, mamma; but I knew you wouldn't want me to do it in these +clothes--after all my actions! And I had promised to be more careful." + +Mrs. Dunlee smiled, but there were tears in her eyes. + +"How glad I am that my little boy respected his mother's wishes," said +she, stooping to kiss his earnest face. + +She dared not think what might have happened if he had disregarded her +wishes! + +It was a time of rejoicing. Mr. Templeton ordered out the brass band +and the Hindoo tam tam. The horse Thistleblow seemed to think he must be +wanted too, and came and danced in circles before the groups of happy +people. + +"I could believe I was in some foreign country," said Mrs. McQuilken, +smiling under her East Indian puggaree, as she had not been seen to +smile before, and dropping a kiss on the cheek of her favorite Edith. + +After dinner the Dunlees met in Aunt Vi's room, and Aunt Vi observed +that Mrs. Dunlee kept Jimmy close by her side, looking at him in the way +mothers look at good little sons, her eyes shining with happy love and +pride. + +They were talking over "Jimmy's play," which had not been played. The +money must all be given back to the people who had sat and looked so +long at that calico curtain. + +"We'll try 'Granny's Quilting' again next Saturday," said Aunt Vi. + +They did try it again. There were no caves to dig this time, and young +Master "Ezekiel Whalen" was on the stage promptly at half-past one, +eager to show his grandparents that he was a boy to be relied upon after +all. The play was a remarkable success. All the "summer boarders and +campers" came to it, and everybody said:-- + +"Oh, do give us some more entertainments, Mrs. Sanford! Let us have one +every Saturday." + +Aunt Vi, being the kindest soul in the world, promised to do what she +could. She gave the play of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin," with children +for rats; and Eddo was dressed as a mouse, and squealed so perfectly +that Edith's cat could hardly be restrained from rushing headlong upon +the stage. + +Later there were tableaux. Edith wore red, white, and blue and was the +Goddess of Liberty. Jimmy was a cowboy with cartridge-belt and pistols. +Lucy and Barbara were Night and Morning, with stars on their heads. Mr. +Sanford was Uncle Jonathan. Mr. Hale was an Indian chief. + +Jimmy's debts were more than paid, and a happier boy was not to be found +in the state of California. + +After this there were plenty of free entertainments on the tailings. At +one of these, when the audience was watching a flight of rockets, +Katharine heard two women not far away talking together. One of them +asked:-- + +"Where's that little Dunlee girl, the one that keeps the play-school?" + +"Over there in the corner," replied the other, "She hasn't any hat on. +She's sitting beside the girl with a cat in her lap." + +"Oh, is that the one? So young as that? Well, she's a good girl, yes, +she is. I guess she _is_ a good girl," said the first speaker heartily. +"My little Henry thinks there's nothing like her. He never learned much +of anything till he went to that play-school. He never behaved so well +as he does now, never gave me so little trouble at home. She's a _good_ +girl." + +A world of comfort fell on Kyzie. Young as she was and full of faults, +she had really done a wee bit of good. + +"And they didn't say a word about my jumping out of the window," thought +she, with deep satisfaction. "Wait till I grow up, just wait till I grow +up, and as true as I live I'll be something and do something in this +world!" + +She did not say this aloud, you may be sure; but there was a look on her +face of high resolve. + +Uncle James had often said to Aunt Vi:-- + +"Our Katharine is very much in earnest. I know you agree with me that +"little Prudy's" eldest daughter is a golden girl!" + +The "play-school" closed a few days later, and it was Henry Small who +received the medal for good spelling. He wasn't so much of a cry-baby +nowadays and the boys had stopped calling him "Chicken Little." + +The Dunlee party went home the last week in August, declaring they had +had delightful times at Castle Cliff. + +"Only I never went down that mine in a bucket," said Lucy. "How could I +when the men were blowing up rocks just like an earthquake?" + +"And I wanted to wait till they found that vein," said Jimmy. + +A few days before they left, Uncle James went hunting and shot a deer. I +wish there were space to tell of the barbecue to which all the +neighbors were invited a little later. + +As it is, my young readers are not likely to hear any more of the +adventures of the "bonnie Dunlees," either at home or abroad. + +But during their stay in the mountains that summer Lucy begged Aunt Vi +to write some stories, with the little friends, Bab and Lucy, for the +heroines. + +"Some 'once-upon-a-time stories,' Auntie Vi. Make believe we two girls +go all about among the fairies, just as Alice did in Wonderland; only +there are two of us together, and we shall have a better time!" + +"Oh, fie! How could I take real live little girls into the kingdom of +the elves and gnomes and pixies? I shouldn't know how!" + +But she was so obliging as to try. The week before they left for home +she had completed a book of "once-upon-a-time stories," which she read +aloud to all the children as they clustered around her in the +"air-castle." She called it "Lucy in Fairyland," though she meant Bab +just as much as Lucy. If the little public would like to see this book +it may be offered them by and by; together with the comments which were +made upon each story by the whole Dunlee family,--Jimmy, wee Lucy, and +all. + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"] + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"] + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"] + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY'S CHILDREN SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jimmy, Lucy, and All, by Sophie May + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14608 *** diff --git a/14608-h/14608-h.htm b/14608-h/14608-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..65f7320 --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/14608-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4923 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jimmy, Lucy, and All, by Sophie May. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14608 ***</div> + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-001' id='illus-001'></a> +<img src="images/illus-001.jpg" +alt=""Edith was busy taking their photographs"!" +title=""Edith was busy taking their photographs"" /> +<h4><b>"Edith was busy taking their photographs"</b></h4> +</div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h3>LITTLE PRUDY'S CHILDREN</h3> + +<h1>JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>SOPHIE MAY</h2> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF "LITTLE PRUDY STORIES" "DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES" +"LITTLE PRUDY'S FLYAWAY SERIES" "FLAXIE FRIZZLE +SERIES" "THE QUINNEBASSET SERIES" ETC.</h5> + +<h6>BOSTON +LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS +1900</h6> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4>COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY LEE AND SHEPARD.</h4> + +<h4><i>All Rights Reserved.</i></h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL.</h1> + +<h4>Norwood Press +J.S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith +Norwood Mass. U.S.A.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> + <a href="#I"><b>I. THE TALLYHO</b></a><br /> + <a href="#II"><b>II. THE FIRST DINNER</b></a><br /> + <a href="#III"><b>III. LUCY'S GOLD MINE</b></a><br /> + <a href="#IV"><b>IV. "THE KNITTING-WOMAN"</b></a><br /> + <a href="#V"><b>V. THE AIR-CASTLE</b></a><br /> + <a href="#VI"><b>VI. "GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE"</b></a><br /> + <a href="#VII"><b>VII. THE ZEBRA KITTEN</b></a><br /> + <a href="#VIII"><b>VIII. STEALING A CHIMNEY</b></a><br /> + <a href="#IX"><b>IX. "CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE</b></a><br /> + <a href="#X"><b>X. THE THIEF FOUND</b></a><br /> + <a href="#XI"><b>XI. BEGGING PARDON</b></a><br /> + <a href="#XII"><b>XII. "THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE"</b></a><br /> + <a href="#XIII"><b>XIII. NATE'S CAVE </b></a><br /> + <a href="#XIV"><b>XIV. JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK</b></a><br /> + </p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<p> +<a href="#illus-001">"Edith was busy taking their photographs"</a><br /> +<a href="#illus-078">"'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"</a><br /> +<a href="#illus-108">Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken</a><br /> +<a href="#illus-160">"'James S. Dunlee, will you forgive me?'"</a><br /> +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I" /><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1" /></h2> + +<h3>I</h3> + +<h2>THE TALLYHO</h2> + + +<p>"I never saw a gold mine in my life; and +now I'm going to see one," cried Lucy, skipping +along in advance of the others. It was +quite a large party; the whole Dunlee family, +with the two Sanfords,—Uncle James and +Aunt Vi,—making ten in all, counting Maggie, +the maid. They had alighted from the cars +at a way-station, and were walking along the +platform toward the tallyho coach which was +waiting for them. Lucy was firmly impressed +with the idea that they were starting for the +gold mines. The truth was, they were on +<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2" />their way to an old mining-town high up in +the Cuyamaca Mountains, called Castle Cliff; +but there had been no gold there for a great +many years.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee was in rather poor health, and +had been "ordered" to the mountains. The +others were perfectly well and had not been +"ordered" anywhere: they were going merely +because they wanted to have a good time.</p> + +<p>"Papa would be so lonesome without us +children," said Edith, "he needs us all for +company."</p> + +<p>He was to have still more company. Mr. +and Mrs. Hale were coming to-morrow to +join the party, bringing their little daughter +Barbara, Lucy's dearest friend. They could +not come to-day; there would have been +hardly room for them in the tallyho. With all +"the bonnie Dunlees,"—as Uncle James called +the children,—and all the boxes, baskets, and +<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3" />bundles, the carriage was about as full as it +could hold.</p> + +<p>It was seldom that the driver used this tallyho. +He was quite choice of it, and generally +drove an old stage, unless, as happened +just now, he was taking a large party. It was +a very gay tallyho, as yellow as the famous +pumpkin coach of Cinderella, only that the +spokes of the wheels were striped off with +scarlet. There were four white horses, and +every horse sported two tiny American flags, +one in each ear.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" called out the driver, a +brown-faced, broad-shouldered man, with a +twinkle in his eye.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" responded Mr. Sanford, +echoed by Jimmy-boy.</p> + +<p>Whereupon crack went the driver's long +whip, round went the red and yellow wheels, +and off sped the white horses as freely as if +<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4" />they were thinking of Lucy's gold mine and +longing to show it to her, and didn't care how +many miles they had to travel to reach it. +But this was all Lucy's fancy. They were +thinking of oats, not gold mines. These bright +horses knew they were not going very far up +the mountain. They would soon stop to rest +in a good stable, and other horses not so +handsome would take their places. It was a +very hard road, and grew harder and harder, +and the driver always changed horses twice +before he got to the end of the journey.</p> + +<p>As the tallyho rattled along, the older people +in it fell to talking; and the children looked +at the country they were passing, sang +snatches of songs, and gave little exclamations +of delight. Edith threw one arm around her +older sister Katharine, saying:—</p> + +<p>"O Kyzie, aren't you glad you live in California? +How sweet the air is, and how high +<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5" />the mountains look all around! When we +were East last summer didn't you pity the +people? Only think, they never saw any +lemons and oranges growing! They don't +know much about roses either; they only +have roses once a year."</p> + +<p>"That's true," replied Kyzie. "Let me +button your gloves, Edy, you'll be dropping +them off."</p> + +<p>"See those butterflies! I'd be happy if Bab +was only in here," murmured a little voice +from under Lucy's hat. "Bab didn't want to +come with her papa and mamma; she wanted +to come with <i>me</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Now, Lucy, don't be foolish," said Edith. +"Where could we have put Bab? There's +not room enough in this coach, unless one of +the rest of us had got out. You'll see Bab +to-morrow, and she'll be in Castle Cliff all +summer; so you needn't complain."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6" /><i>I</i> wasn't complaining, no indeed! Only I +don't want to go down in the gold mine till +Bab comes. I s'pose they'll put us down in +a bucket, won't they? I want Uncle James +to go with us."</p> + +<p>Jimmy-boy laughed and threw himself about +in quite a gale. He often found his little +sister very amusing.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Lucy," said he; "but I do +think you're very ignorant! That mine up +there is all played out, and Uncle James has +told us so ever so many times. Didn't you +hear him? The shaft is more than half full +of muddy water. I'd like to see you going +down in a bucket!"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, Jimmy Dunlee, what <i>shall</i> we +do at Castle Cliff?"</p> + +<p>"We've brought a tent with us, and for one +thing I'm going to camp out," replied Jimmy. +"That's a grand thing, they say."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7" />Don't! There'll be something come and +eat you up, sure as you live," said Lucy, who +had a vague notion that camping out was connected +in some way with wild animals, such +as coyotes and mountain lions.</p> + +<p>"Poh! you don't know the least thing +about Castle Cliff, Lucy! And Uncle James +has talked and talked! Tell me what he said, +now do."</p> + +<p>Uncle James was seated nearly opposite, +for the two long seats of the tallyho faced +each other. Lucy spoke in a low tone, not +wishing him to overhear.</p> + +<p>"He said we were going to board at a big +house pretty near the old mine."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Templeton's."</p> + +<p>"And he said somebody had a white Spanish +rabbit with reddish brown eyes and its +mouth all a-quiver."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard him say that about the rab<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8" />bit. +And what are those things that come +and walk on top of the house in the morning?"</p> + +<p>"I know. They are woodpeckers. They +tap on the roof, and the noise sounds like +'Jacob, Jacob, wake up, Jacob!' Uncle James +says when strangers hear it they think somebody +is calling, and they say, 'Oh, yes, we're +coming!' I shan't say that; I shall know it's +woodpeckers. Tell some more, Jimmy."</p> + +<p>"Yes" said Eddo, leaving Maggie and +wedging himself between Lucy and Jimmy. +"Tell some more, Jimmum!"</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a post-office in town and +there's a telephone, and Mr. Templeton has +lots of things brought up to Castle Cliff from +the city; so we shall have plenty to eat; +chicken and ice-cream and things. That +makes me think, I'm hungry. Wouldn't they +let us open a luncheon basket?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9" />Kyzie thought not; so Jimmy went on +telling Lucy what he knew of Castle Cliff. +"It's named for an air-castle there is up there; +it's a thing they <i>call</i> an air-castle anyway. A +man built it in the hollow of some trees, away +up, up, up. I'm going to climb up there to +see it."</p> + +<p>"So'm I," said Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Ho, you can't climb worth a cent; you're +only a girl!"</p> + +<p>"But she has an older brother; and sometimes +older brothers are kind enough to help +their little sisters," remarked Kyzie, with a +meaning smile toward Jimmy; but Jimmy was +looking another way.</p> + +<p>"Uncle James told a funny story about +that air-castle," went on Kyzie. "Did you +hear him tell of sitting up there one day and +seeing a little toad help another toad—a lame +one—up the trunk of the tree?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10" />No, I didn't hear," said Lucy. "How did +the toad do it?"</p> + +<p>"I'll let you all guess."</p> + +<p>"Pushed him?" said Edith.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Took him up pickaback," suggested Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort. He just took his +friend's lame foot in his mouth, and the two +toads hopped along together! Uncle James +said it probably wasn't the first time, for they +kept step as if they were used to it."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't that cunning?" said Edith. And +Jimmy remarked after a pause, "If Lucy +wants to go up to that castle, maybe I could +steady her along; only there's Bab. She'd +have to go too. And I don't believe it's any +place for girls!"</p> + +<p>The ride was a long one, forty miles at least. +The passengers had dinner at a little inn, the +elegant horses were placed in a stable; and the +<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11" />tallyho started again at one o'clock with a black +horse, a sorrel horse, and two gray ones.</p> + +<p>The afternoon wore on. The horses climbed +upward at every step; and though the journey +was delightful, the passengers were growing +rather tired.</p> + +<p>"Wish I could sit on the seat with the +king-ductor," besought little Eddo, moving +about uneasily.</p> + +<p>"That isn't a conductor, it's a driver. Conductors +are the men that go on the steam-cars,—the +'choo choo cars,'" explained Jimmum. +Then in a lower tone, "They don't have any +cars up at Castle Cliff, and I'm glad of it."</p> + +<p>Lucy did not understand why he should be +glad, and Jimmy added in a lower tone:—</p> + +<p>"Because—don't you remember how some +little folks used to act about steam-engines? +They might do it again, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I 'member now. But that was a +<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12" />long time ago, Jimmy. He wouldn't run after +engines now."</p> + +<p>"Who wouldn't?" inquired young Master +Eddo, forgetting the "king-ductor" and turning +about to face his elder brother. "Who +wouldn't run after the engine, Jimmum?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody—I mean <i>you</i> wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"No, no, not me," assented Eddo, shaking +his flaxen head.</p> + +<p>And there the matter would have ended, if +Lucy had not added most unluckily: "'Twas +when you were only a baby that you did it, +Eddo. You said to the engine, 'Come here, +little choo choo, Eddo won't hurt oo.' <i>You</i> +didn't know any better."</p> + +<p>"<i>'Course</i> I knew better," said Eddo, shaking +his head again, but this time with an air +of bewilderment. "<i>I</i> didn't say, 'Come here, +little choo choo.' No, no, not me!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you did, darling," persisted Lucy.<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13" /> +"You were just a tiny bit of a boy. You +stood right on the track, and the engine was +coming, 'puff, puff,' and you said, 'Come +here, little choo choo, Eddo won't hurt oo!'"</p> + +<p>"I didn't! Oh! Oh! Oh! <i>When'd</i> I say +that? <i>Did</i> the engine hurt me? <i>Where</i> did it +hurt me? Say, Jimmum, where did the engine +hurt me?" putting his hand to his throat, to +his ears, to his side.</p> + +<p>The more he thought of it, the worse he +felt; till appalled by the idea of what he +must have suffered he finally fell to sobbing +in his mother's arms, and she soothed his +imaginary woes with kisses and cookies. For +the remainder of the journey he was in pretty +good spirits and found much diversion in +watching the gambols of the two dogs following +the tallyho. One was a Castle Cliff dog, +black and shaggy, named Slam; the other, +yellow and smooth, belonged to the "king-<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14" />ductor" +or driver, and was called Bang. Slam +and Bang often darted off for a race and +Eddo nearly gave them up for lost; but they +always came back wagging their tails and +capering about as if to say:—</p> + +<p>"Hello, Eddo, we ran away just to scare +you, and we'll do it again if we please!"</p> + +<p>It was a great day for dogs. Ever so many +dogs ran out to meet Slam and Bang. They +always bit their ears for a "How d'ye do?" +and then trotted along beside them just for +company. Eddo found it quite exciting. One +was a Mexican dog, without a particle of hair, +but he did not seem to be in the least +ashamed of his singular appearance.</p> + +<p>Edith said it was an "empty country," and +indeed there were few houses; but there must +have been more dogs than houses, for the +whole journey had a running accompaniment +of "bow-wow-wows."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15" />The farther up hill the road wound the +steeper it grew; and Jimmy exclaimed more +than once:—</p> + +<p>"This coach is standing up straight on its +hind feet, papa! Just look! 'Twill spill us +all out backward!"</p> + +<p>But it did nothing of the sort. It took them +straight to Castle Cliff, "nearly six thousand +feet above the level of the sea," and there +it stopped, before the front door of the hotel. +It was about half-past five o'clock in the +afternoon, and Mr. Templeton, who had been +looking out for the tallyho, came down the +steps to meet his guests.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="II" id="II" /><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16" />II</h3> + +<h2>THE FIRST DINNER</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Templeton's wife was just behind +him. They both greeted the party as if they +had all been old friends. The house, a large +white one, stood as if in the act of climbing +the hill. In front was a sloping lawn full +of brilliant flowers, bordered with house-leek, +or "old hen and chickens," a plant running +over with pink blossoms. Kyzie had not +expected to see a garden like this on the +mountain.</p> + +<p>At one side of the house, between two +black oak trees, was a hammock, and near +it a large stone trough, into which water +dripped from a faucet. Two birds, called +red-hammers, were sipping the water with +<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17" />their bills, not at all disturbed by the arrival +of strangers.</p> + +<p>It was a small settlement. The hotel, by +far the largest house in Castle Cliff, looked +down with a grand air upon the few cottages +in sight. These tiny cottages were not at all +pretty, and had no grass or lawns in front, +but people from the city were keeping house in +them for the summer; and besides there were +tents scattered all about, full of "campers."</p> + +<p>As the "bonnie Dunlees" and their elders +entered the hotel, a merry voice called out:—</p> + +<p>"A hearty welcome to you, my friends, +and three cheers for Castle Cliff!"</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Dunlee and the Sanfords +walked on smiling, and the children lingered +awhile outside; but it was a full minute +before any of them discovered that the +cheery voice belonged to a parrot, whose +cage swung from a tall sycamore overhead.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18" />Polly's pretty sociable," laughed Mr. Templeton. +"Do you like animals, young ladies? +If so, please stand up here in a group, and +you shall have another welcome."</p> + +<p>Then he clapped his hands and called out +"Thistleblow!" and immediately a pretty red +pony came frisking along and began to caper +around the young people with regular dancing +steps, making at the same time the most +graceful salaams, pausing now and then to +sway himself as if he were courtesying. It +was a charming performance. The little +creature had once belonged to a band of +gypsies, who had given him a regular course +of training.</p> + +<p>"He is trying to tell you how glad he is +to see you," said Mr. Templeton, as the children +shouted and clapped their hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh, won't Bab like it, though!" cried +Lucy. "Seems as if I couldn't wait till +<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19" />to-morrow for Bab to get here, for then the +good times will begin."</p> + +<p>But for Kyzie and Edith and Jimmy the +good times had begun already. The five +Dunlees entered the house, little Eddo clinging +fast to Jimmum's forefinger. They +passed an old lady who sat on the veranda +knitting. She gazed after them through her +spectacles, and said to Mr. Templeton in a +tone of inquiry:—</p> + +<p>"Boarders?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied, rubbing his chin, "and +they have lots of jingle in 'em too; they're +just the kind I like."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope they won't get into any +mischief up here, that's all I've got to say. +Nobody wants to take children to board +anyway, but you can't always seem to help +it."</p> + +<p>And then the old lady turned to her knit<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20" />ting +again; indeed her fingers had been flying +all the while she talked. Mr. Templeton +looked at her curiously, and wondered if she +disliked children.</p> + +<p>"I'd as lief have 'em 'round the house as +her birds and kittens anyway," he reflected; +for she kept a magpie, three cats and a canary; +and these pets had not been always +agreeable guests at the hotel.</p> + +<p>It was now nearly six o'clock, and savory +odors from the kitchen mingled with the +balmy breath of the flowers stealing in from +the lawn. The Dunlee party had barely time +for hasty toilets when the gong sounded for +dinner. The Templeton dining-room was large +and held several tables. The Dunlees had +the longest of these, the one near the west +window. There were twelve plates set, though +only nine were needed to-night. The three +extra plates had been placed there for the<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21" /> +Hale family, who were expected to-morrow. +Mrs. Dunlee had told the landlord that she +would like the Hales at her table.</p> + +<p>"And Bab will sit side o' me," said Lucy. +"Oh, won't we be happy?"</p> + +<p>As the Dunlees took their seats to-night +and looked around the room they saw a droll +sight. The old lady, who had been knitting +on the veranda, was seated at a small table +in one corner; and on each side of her in a +chair sat a cat! One cat was a gray "coon," +the other an Angora; and both of them sat +up as grave as judges, nibbling bits of cheese. +Mrs. McQuilken herself, dressed in a very +odd style, was knitting again. She was a remarkably +industrious woman, and as it would +be perhaps three or four minutes before the +soup came in, she could not bear to waste the +time in idleness. Her head-dress was odd +enough. It was just a strip of white muslin +<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22" />wound around the head like an East Indian +puggaree. Mrs. McQuilken had many outlandish +fashions. She was the widow of a +sea-captain and had been abroad most of her +life. The children could hardly help staring +at her. Even after they had learned to know +her pretty well they still wanted to stare; and +not being able to remember her name they +spoke of her as "the knitting-woman."</p> + +<p>"Look, Lucy," whispered Jimmy; "there's +a boy I know over there at that little table. +It's Nate Pollard."</p> + +<p>He waved his hand toward him and Nate +waved in reply. At home Jimmy had not +known Nate very well, for he was older than +himself and in higher classes; but here among +strangers Jimmy-boy was glad to see a familiar +face. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard were with their +son. Perhaps they had all come for the summer. +Jimmy hoped so.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23" />There were two colored servants gliding +about the room, and a pretty waiting-maid.</p> + +<p>"O dear, no cook from Cathay," whispered +Kyzie to Edith.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean."</p> + +<p>"I mean I wanted a cook from Cathay or +Cipango," went on Kyzie, laughing behind her +napkin.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to shake you," said Edith, who +suddenly bethought herself that Cathay and +Cipango were the old names for China and +Japan. This had been part of her history +lesson a few days ago. How Kyzie did remember +everything!</p> + +<p>At that moment the colored man from +Georgia stood at her elbow with a steaming +plate of soup. Lucy looked at him askance. +Why couldn't he have been a Chinaman with +a pigtail? She had told Bab she was almost +sure there would be a "China cook" at the +<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24" />mountains, and when he passed the soup he +would say, "Have soup-ee?" Bab had been +in Europe and in Maine and in California, +but knew very little of Chinamen and had +often said she "wanted to eat China cooking."</p> + +<p>The dinner was excellent. Eddo enjoyed +it very much for a while; then his head +began to nod over his plate, his spoon waved +uncertainly in the air, and Maggie had to be +sent for to take him away from the table.</p> + +<p>The ride up the mountain had been so +fatiguing that by eight o'clock all the Dunlees, +little and big, were glad to find themselves +snugly in bed. They slept late, every +one of them, and even the woodpeckers, tapping +on the roof next morning, failed to arouse +them with their "Jacob, Jacob, wake up, +wake up, Jacob!"</p> + +<p>After breakfast Edith happened to leave +the dining-room just behind Mrs. McQuilken, +<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25" />who held her two cats cuddled up in her +arms like babies, and was kissing their foreheads +and calling them "mamma's precious +darlings." As Edith heard this she could +not help smiling, and Mrs. McQuilken paused +in the entry a moment to say:—</p> + +<p>"I guess you like cats."</p> + +<p>"I do, ma'am. Oh, yes, very much."</p> + +<p>"That's right. I like to see children fond +of animals. Now, I've got a new kitty upstairs, +a zebra kitty, that you'd be pleased +with. It's a beauty, and <i>such</i> a tail! Come +up to my room and see it if you want to. +My room's Number Five. But don't you +come now; I shall be busy an hour and a +half. Remember, an hour and a half."</p> + +<p>Edith thanked her and ran to tell Kyzie +what the "knitting-woman" had been saying.</p> + +<p>"Go get your kodak," said Kyzie. "Nate +Pollard is going to take us all out on an +<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26" />exploring expedition. You know he has been +in Castle Cliff a whole week, and knows +the places."</p> + +<p>"First thing I want to see is that mine," +said Lucy, as they all met outside the hotel.</p> + +<p>"The mine?" repeated Kyzie, and looked +at Eddo. "I'm afraid it isn't quite safe to +take little bits of people to such a place as +that. Do you think it is, Nate?"</p> + +<p>"Rather risky," replied Nate.</p> + +<p>Eddo had caught the words, "little bits of +people," and his eyes opened wide.</p> + +<p>"What does <i>mine</i> mean, Jimmum?"</p> + +<p>"A great big hole, I guess. See here, +Eddo, let's go in the house and find Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Yes," chimed in Edith, "let's go find +Maggie. There's a <i>beau</i>-tiful picture book in +mamma's drawer. You just ask Maggie and +she'll show you the picture of those nice +little guinea-pigs."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27" />Though very young, Eddo was acute enough +to see through this little manoeuvre. It was +not the first time the other children had tried +to get him out of the way. They wanted to +go to see a charming "great big hole" somewhere, +and they thought he would fall into +it and get hurt. They were always thinking +such things—so stupid of them! They +thought he used to run after "choo choos" +and talk to them, when of course he never +did it; 'twas some other little boy.</p> + +<p>"I want to go with Jimmum," said he, +stoutly. "You ought to not go 'thout me! +<i>I</i> shan't talk to that mine. <i>I</i> shan't say, +'Come, little mine, Eddo won't hurt oo.' No, +no, not me! I shan't say nuffin', and I +shan't fall in the hole needer. So there! +H'm! 'm! 'm!"</p> + +<p>It was not easy to resist his pleading. +Perhaps Aunt Vi saw how matters were, for +<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28" />she appeared just then, bearing the news that +she and Uncle James were going to drive, +and would like to take one of the children.</p> + +<p>"And Eddo is the one we want. He is +so small that he can sit on the seat between +us. Aren't the rest of you willing to give +him up just for this morning? He can go +to walk with you another time."</p> + +<p>So they all said they would try to give +him up, and he bounded away with Aunt +Vi, his dear little face beaming with proud +satisfaction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="III" id="III" /><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29" />III</h3> + +<h2>LUCY'S GOLD MINE</h2> + + +<p>The other children strolled leisurely along +toward a place that looked like a long strip +of sand.</p> + +<p>"A sand beach," said Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"No," said Nate; "it isn't a beach and it +isn't sand."</p> + +<p>"What <i>can</i> you mean? What else is it, +pray?"</p> + +<p>She stooped and took up a handful of something +that certainly looked like sand. The +others did the same.</p> + +<p>"What do you call that?" they all asked, +as they sifted it through their fingers.</p> + +<p>Nate smiled in a superior way.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30" />Well, I don't call it sand, because it isn't +sand. I thought it was when I first saw it; +I got cheated, same as you. But there's no +sand to it; it's just <i>tailings</i>."</p> + +<p>"What in the world is tailings?" asked +Kyzie, taking up another handful and looking +it over very carefully. Strange if she, a +girl in her teens, couldn't tell sand when she +saw it! But she politely refrained from making +any more remarks, and waited for Nate +to answer her question. He was an intelligent +boy, between eleven and twelve.</p> + +<p>"Well, tailings are just powdered rocks," +said Nate.</p> + +<p>"Powdered rocks? Who powdered them? +What for?" asked Edith.</p> + +<p>"Why, the miners did it years ago. They +ground up the rocks in the mine into powder +just as fine as they could, and then washed +the powder to get the gold out."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31" />Oh, I see," said Edith. "So these tailings +are what's left after the gold's washed out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they brought 'em and spread 'em +'round here to get rid of 'em I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Is the gold all washed out, every bit?" +asked Jimmy. "Seems as if I could see a +little shine to it now."</p> + +<p>"Well, they got out all they could. There +may be a little dust of it left though. Mr. +Templeton says the folks in 'Frisco that own +the mine think there's <i>some</i> left, and the tailings +ought to be sent to San Diego and +worked over."</p> + +<p>Jimmy took up another handful. Yes, +there was a faint shine to it; it began to +look precious.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a heap of it anyway. It +goes ever so far down," said he, thrusting in +a stick.</p> + +<p>"It's from ten to twelve feet deep," re<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32" />plied +Nate, proud of his knowledge; "and +see how long and wide!"</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> don't see how they ever ground up rocks +so fine," said Kyzie. "Exactly like sand. +And it stretches out so far that you'd think +'twas a sand beach by the sea,—only there +isn't any sea."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's just as good as a beach anyway," +said Nate. "Just as good for picnics +and the like of that. When there's +anything going on, they get out the brass +band and have fireworks and bring chairs +and benches and sit round here. I tell you +it's great!"</p> + +<p>"There are lots of benches here now," +remarked Edith. "And what's that long +wooden thing?"</p> + +<p>"That's a staging. That's where they have +the brass band sit; that's where they send up +the fireworks."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33" />Oh, I hope they'll have fireworks while +we're here, and picnics."</p> + +<p>"Of course they will. They're always having +'em. And I heard somebody say they're +talking of a barbecue."</p> + +<p>Edith clapped her hands. She did not know +what a barbecue might be, but it sounded wild +and jolly.</p> + +<p>"What a long stretch of mud-puddle right +here by the tailings," said Kyzie.</p> + +<p>Nate laughed. "It <i>is</i> a damp spot, that's +a fact!"</p> + +<p>They all wondered what he was laughing +at. "I guess there used to be water here +once," said Jimmy at a venture. "There's +water here now standing round in spots. +And,—why, it's <i>fishes</i>!"</p> + +<p>Lucy stooped all of a sudden and picked +up a dead fish.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! I never caught a fish before!"<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34" /> +But next moment she threw it away in disgust.</p> + +<p>"How did dead fishes ever get into this +mud-puddle?" queried Edith.</p> + +<p>"Well, they used to live in it before it dried +up," replied Nate. "Fact is, this is a <i>lake</i>!"</p> + +<p>Everybody exclaimed in surprise; and Kyzie +said:—</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem possible; but then things +are so queer up here that you can believe +almost anything."</p> + +<p>"Really it is a lake. It's all right in the +winter, and swells tremendously then; but this +is a dry year, you know, and it's all dried +up." Kyzie forgave the lake for drying up, +but pitied the fishes. Edith thought Castle +Cliff was "a funny place anyway."</p> + +<p>"What little bits of houses! Did they dry +up too?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, those are just the cabins and bunk-<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35" />houses +that were built for the miners, ever so +long ago when the mine was going. Fixed +up into cottages now for summer boarders. +Do you want to see the mine?"</p> + +<p>They went around behind the shaft-house +and beyond the old saw-mill.</p> + +<p>"O my senses!" cried Edith, "is that the +old gold mine, that monstrous great thing? +Isn't it horrid?"</p> + +<p>They all agreed that it was "perfectly awful +and dreadful," and that it made you shudder +to look into it; and that they were glad baby +Eddo was safely out of the way. The mine +was a deep, irregular chasm, full of dirty water +and rocks. It had a hungry, cruel look; you +could almost fancy it was waiting in wicked +glee to swallow up thoughtless little children.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem as if anybody could ever +have dug for gold in that horrid ditch," +exclaimed Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36" />You'd better believe they did, though," +said the young guide. "They used to get it +out in nuggets, cart-loads of it."</p> + +<p>He was not quite sure of the nuggets, but +liked the sound of the word.</p> + +<p>"Yes, cart-loads of it. I tell you 'twas the +richest mine in the whole Cuyamaca Mountains."</p> + +<p>"Too bad the gold gave out," said Kyzie, +gazing regretfully into the watery depths.</p> + +<p>"But it didn't give out! Why, there's gold +enough left down there to buy up the whole +United States! They lost the vein, that's +all"</p> + +<p>"The vein? What's a vein?" asked Edith.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see," replied the guide, "gold +goes along underground in streaks; they call +it veins. The miners had to stop digging here +because they lost track of the streak. But +they'll find it again."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37" />How do <i>you</i> know?" asked Jimmy-boy, +who thought Nate was putting on too many +airs.</p> + +<p>"Because Mr. Templeton said so. They've +sent for Colonel Somebody from I—forget +where. He's a splendid mining engineer, great +for finding lost veins. He'll be here next +week and bring a lot of men."</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee!" cried Jimmy, "he'll find the +vein and things, and we'll be having gold as +plenty as blackberries!"</p> + +<p>"Just what I was talking about yesterday +when you laughed," broke in Lucy. "I said +I'd go down in a bucket; don't you know I +did?"</p> + +<p>Edith was gazing spellbound at the yawning +chasm.</p> + +<p>"Look at those rickety steps! The men +will get killed! 'Twill all cave in!"</p> + +<p>"No danger," said Nate, "there are walls +<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38" />down there, stone walls, papa says, that keep +it all safe."</p> + +<p>He meant "galleries," but had forgotten +the word.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care if there are five hundred +stone walls, I guess the men could drown +all the same!" said Edith. "That water +ought to be let out, Nate Pollard! If the +colonel is coming next week why don't they +let out the water this very day and give the +place a chance to dry off."</p> + +<p>She spoke in a tone of the gravest anxiety, +as if she understood the matter perfectly, and +felt the whole care of the mine. Indeed, +the mine had become suddenly very interesting +to all the children. It certainly looked +like a rough, wild, frightful hole; nothing +more than a hole; but if there were gold +down there in "nuggets," why, that was +quite another matter; it became at once an +<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39" />enchanted hole; it was as delightful as a +fairy story.</p> + +<p>"I hope it's true that they've sent for that +colonel," said Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"Of course it's true," replied Nate, who +did not like to have his word doubted.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose there are buckets 'round here. +Oh, aren't you glad we came to Castle +Cliff?" said Lucy, pirouetting around Jimmy.</p> + +<p>"Bab will be glad, too," she thought. For +Lucy never could look forward to any pleasure +without wishing her darling "niece" to +share it with her.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess we've seen everything there +is to see," remarked Nate, who had now told +all he knew and was ready to go.</p> + +<p>While they still wandered about, talking of +"tailings" and "nuggets," they were startled +by the peal of a bell.</p> + +<p>"Twelve o'clock! Two minutes ahead of +<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40" />time though," said Nate, taking from his +pocket a handsome gold watch which Jimmy +had always admired.</p> + +<p>"What bell is that? Where is it?" they +all asked. "And what is it ringing for?"</p> + +<p>"It's on top of the schoolhouse and it's +ringing for noon. 'Twill ring again in the +evening at nine o'clock. But I can tell 'em +they ought to set it back two minutes."</p> + +<p>"A nine o'clock bell? Why, that's a <i>curfew</i> +bell! How romantic!" cried Kyzie. She had +read of "the mellow lin-lan-lone of evening +bells," but had never heard it. "Let's go to +the schoolhouse."</p> + +<p>As luncheon at the Templeton House would +not be served for an hour yet, they kept on +to the hollow where the schoolhouse stood. +It was a small, unpainted building in the +shade of three pine trees.</p> + +<p>"Just wait a minute right here," said Edith, +<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41" />the young artist, unstrapping her kodak. "I +want a snap-shot at it. Stand there by that +tree, Jimmum. Put your foot out just so. I +wish you were barefooted!"</p> + +<p>Just then, as if they had overheard the wish, +two little boys came running down the hill, and +one of them was barefooted. Moreover, when +Kyzie asked if they would stand for a picture, +they consented at once.</p> + +<p>"My name's Joseph Rolfe," said the elder, +twitching off his hat, "and his name,"—pointing +to his companion with a chuckle,—"his +name is Chicken Little."</p> + +<p>"No such a thing! Now you quit!" +retorted the younger lad in a choked voice, +digging his toes into the dirt, "quit a-plaguing +me! My name's Henry Small and you know +it!"</p> + +<p>While Edith was busy taking their photographs, +Kyzie thanked the urchins very +<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42" />pleasantly. They both gazed at her with +admiration.</p> + +<p>"See here," said Joe Rolfe, twitching off his +hat again very respectfully, "Are you going +to keep school in the schoolhouse? I wish you +would!"</p> + +<p>At this remarkable speech Jimmy and Edith +fell to laughing; but Kyzie only blushed a little, +and smiled. How very grown-up she must +seem to Joe if he could think of her as a +teacher! She was now a tall girl of fourteen, +with a fine strong face and an earnest manner. +She was beginning to tire of being classed +among little girls, and it was delightful to find +herself looked upon for the first time in her +life as a young lady. But she only said:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Joe, people don't teach school in +summer! Summer is vacation."</p> + +<p>"Well, but they do sometimes," persisted +Joe; "there was a girl kep' this school last +<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43" />summer. She called it 'vacation school.' But +we didn't like her; she licked like fury."</p> + +<p>"So she did," echoed Chicken Little, "licked +and pulled ears. Kep' a stick on the desk."</p> + +<p>And with these last words both the little +boys took their leave, running up hill with +great speed, as if they thought that standing +for a picture had been a great waste of +time.</p> + +<p>"That Chicken boy is the biggest cry-baby," +said Nate. "The boys like to plague him to +see him cry. Joe Rolfe has some sense."</p> + +<p>As the little party walked on, Miss Katharine +turned her head more than once for another +look at the schoolhouse.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be fun, Edy, to teach school +in there and ring that 'lin-lan-lone bell' to call +in the scholars? I'd make you study botany +harder'n you ever did before."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, Miss Dunlee," replied<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44" /> +Edith, courtesying. "You'll not get me to +worrying over botany. I studied it a month +once, but when I go up in the mountains I +go to have a good time."</p> + +<p>She pursed her pretty mouth as she spoke. +Her sister Katharine was by far the best +botanist in her class, and was always tearing +up flowers in the most wasteful manner. +Worse than that, she expected Edith to do the +same thing and learn the hard names of the +poor little withered pieces.</p> + +<p>"You don't love flowers as well as I do, +Kyzie, or you couldn't abuse them so!"</p> + +<p>This is what she often said to her learned +sister after Kyzie had made "a little preach" +about the beauties of botany.</p> + +<p>As they entered the hotel for luncheon, +Kyzie was still thinking of the schoolhouse +and the sweet-toned bell and the singular +speech of Joe Rolfe, about wanting her for a +<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45" />teacher. What came of these thoughts you +shall hear later on.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare, I forgot all about that +zebra kitty," said Edith. "What will the +knitting-woman think of such actions?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="IV" id="IV" /><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46" />IV</h3> + +<h2>THE "KNITTING-WOMAN"</h2> + + +<p>The "knitting-woman" met Edith at the +dining-room door after luncheon, and said to +her rather sharply:—</p> + +<p>"Well, little girl, I thought you liked kittens?"</p> + +<p>"I do, Mrs.—madam, I certainly do," replied +Edith feeling guilty and ashamed. "But +Nate Pollard took us to see the gold mine and +the schoolhouse and we've just got back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's it! I thought 'twas very still +around here—I missed the noise of the +<i>boyoes</i>.—You don't know what I mean by +boyoes," she added, smiling. "I picked up +<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47" />the word in Ireland. I'm always picking up +words. It means <i>boys</i>."</p> + +<p>"I understand; oh, yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, 'twas a little trouble to me, your not +coming when I expected you; but you may +come this afternoon. I'll be ready in ten +minutes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, madam, thank you."</p> + +<p>Edith ran to her mother laughing. "Oh, +mamma, she is the queerest woman! Calls +boys <i>boyoes</i>! I must go to see her kitten +whether I want to or not—in just ten minutes! +I wish I could take Kyzie with me; +would you dare?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. Katharine has not been +invited. And don't make a long call, Edith."</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, I'll not even sit down. I'll +just look at the zebra kitty and come right +away."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee smiled. If there were many +<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48" />pets at Number Five it was not likely +that Edith would hasten away. "Remember, +daughter, fifteen minutes is long enough +for a call on an entire stranger. You don't +wish to annoy Mrs. McQuilken; but if you +should happen to forget, you'll hear this +little bell tinkle, and that will remind you to +leave."</p> + +<p>Number Five was a very interesting room, +about as full as it could hold of oddities +from various countries, together with four cats, +a canary, and a mocking-bird.</p> + +<p>"If you had come this morning you would +have seen Mag, that's the magpie," said Mrs. +McQuilken. "She's off now, pretty creature. +She likes to be picking a fuss with the +chickens."</p> + +<p>The good lady had been knitting, but she +dropped her work into the large pocket of +her black apron, and moved up an easy-chair +<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49" />for her guest. Edith forgot to take it. Her +eyes were roving about the room, attracted by +the curiosities, though she dared not ask a +single question.</p> + +<p>"That nest on the wall looks odd to you, +I dare say," said Mrs. McQuilken. "The +twigs are woven together so closely that it +looks nice enough for a lady's work-bag, now +doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>Edith said she thought it did.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the magpie's nest. She laid +seven eggs in it once. I keep it now for her +to sleep in; it's Mag's cot-bed."</p> + +<p>Edith's eyes, still roving, espied a handsome +kitty asleep on the lounge. It must be the +zebra kitty because of its black and dove-colored +stripes. Most remarkable stripes, so +regular and distinct, yet so softly shaded. +The face was black, with whiskers snow-white. +How odd! Edith had never seen white whis<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50" />kers +on a kitten. And then the long, sweeping +black tail!</p> + +<p>Mrs. McQuilken watched the little girl's +face and no longer doubted her fondness for +kittens.</p> + +<p>"I call her Zee for short. Look at that +now!" And Mrs. McQuilken straightened +out the tail which was coiled around Zee's +back.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how beautifully long!" cried Edith.</p> + +<p>"Long? I should say so! There was a cat-show +at Los Angeles last fall, and one cat took +a prize for a tail not so long as this by three-quarters +of an inch! And Zee only six +months old!"</p> + +<p>The kitty, wide awake by this time, was +holding high revel with a ball of yarn which +the tortoise-shell cat had purloined from her +mistress's basket.</p> + +<p>"Dear thing! Oh, isn't she sweet?" said<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51" /> +Edith, dropping on her knees before the +graceful creature.</p> + +<p>Mrs. McQuilken enjoyed seeing the child +go off into small raptures; Edith was fast +winning her heart.</p> + +<p>"Does your mother like cats?" she suddenly +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Not particularly," replied Edith, clapping +her hands, as Zee with a quick dash bore away +the ball out of the very paws of the coon cat. +"Mamma thinks cats are cold-hearted," said +she, hugging Zee to her bosom. "She says +they don't love anybody."</p> + +<p>"I deny it!" exclaimed Mrs. McQuilken, +indignantly. "Tell your mother to make a +study of cats and she'll know better."</p> + +<p>Edith looked rather frightened. "Yes'm, +I'll tell her."</p> + +<p>"They have very deep feelings and folks ought +to know it. Now, listen, little girl. I had two +<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52" />maltese kittens once. They were sisters and +loved each other better than any girl sisters <i>you</i> +ever saw. One of the kittens got caught in a +trap and we had to kill her. And the other one +went round mewing and couldn't be comforted. +She pined away, that kitty did, and in three +days she died. Now I know that for a fact."</p> + +<p>"Poor child!" said Edith, much touched. +"<i>She</i> wasn't cold-hearted, I'll tell mamma +about that."</p> + +<p>"Well, if she doesn't like 'em perhaps it +wouldn't do any good; but while you're about +it you might tell her of two tortoise-shell cats +I had. They were sisters too. Whiff had four +kittens and Puff had one and lost it. And the +way Whiff comforted Puff! She took her right +home into her own basket and they brought up +the four kittens together. Wasn't that lovely?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, wasn't it, though?" said Edith. "Cats +have hearts, I always knew they did."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53" />That shows you're a sensible little girl," +returned the old lady approvingly. "But you +haven't told me yet what your name is?"</p> + +<p>"Edith Dunlee."</p> + +<p>"I knew 'twas Dunlee—that's a Scotch +name; but I didn't know about the Edith. +Well, Edith, so you've been to see the gold +mine? Pokerish place, isn't it? I hear they're +going to bring down the engine from the big +plant and try to start it up again."</p> + +<p>Edith had no idea what she meant by the +"big plant," so made no reply. Mrs. McQuilken +went back to the subject of cats.</p> + +<p>"Did you know the Egyptians used to +worship cats? Well, sometimes they did. +And when their cats died they went into +mourning for them."</p> + +<p>"How queer!"</p> + +<p>"It does seem so, but it's just as you look +at it, Edith. Cats are a sight of company.<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54" /> +I didn't care so much about them or about +birds either when my husband was alive and +my little children, but now—"</p> + +<p>Again she paused, and this time she did +not go on again. Some one out of doors +laughed; it was Jimmy Dunlee, and the mocking-bird +took up the merry sound and echoed +it to perfection.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't that seem human?" cried Mrs. +McQuilken. And really it did. It was +exactly the laugh of a human boy, though +it came from the throat of a tiny bird.</p> + +<p>"My little boys, Pitt and Roscoe, liked to +hear him do that," said Mrs. McQuilken.</p> + +<p>Edith observed that she did not say "my +boyoes." "Pitt, the one that died in Japan, +doted on the mocking-bird. The other boy, +Roscoe, was all bound up in the canary."</p> + +<p>"Does the canary sing?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he's a grand singer. Just you wait +<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55" />till he pipes up. You'll be surprised. But +you remember what I was saying a little +while ago about your mother? That zebra +kitty—"</p> + +<p>Before she could finish the sentence Edith +heard the warning tinkle of the tea-bell, and +sprang up suddenly, exclaiming: "Good-by, +Mrs.—good-by, <i>madam</i>, I must go now. +You've been very kind, thank you. Good-by."</p> + +<p>And out of the door and away she skipped, +leaving her hostess, who had not heard the +bell, to wonder at her haste. "She went like +a shot off a shovel," said the good lady, taking +up her knitting-work. "She seemed to +be such a well-mannered little girl, too! What +got into her all at once? She acted as if she +was 'possessed of the fox.'"</p> + +<p>This is a common expression in Japan, and +naturally Mrs. McQuilken had caught it up, +as she had caught up other odd things in her +<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56" />travels. She was something of a mocking-bird +in her way, was the captain's widow.</p> + +<p>"I've taken quite a fancy to Edith," she +added, "a minute more and I should have +offered to give her the zebra kitty. But +there, I shouldn't want to make a fuss in the +family. That woman, her mother, to think +of her talking so hard about cats! She +doesn't <i>look</i> like that kind of a woman. I'm +surprised."</p> + +<p>Edith ran back to her mother breathless.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, I was having such a good +time! And she didn't appear to be 'annoyed,' +she talked just as fast all the time! But the +bell rang while she was saying something +and I had to run."</p> + +<p>"Had to run? I hope you were not +abrupt, my child?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, mamma, not at all. I said 'good-by' +twice, and thanked her and told her she +<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57" />had been very kind. That wasn't abrupt, was +it? But oh, that kitty's tail! I forget how +many inches and a quarter longer than any +other kitty's tail in this state! And they are +not cold-hearted,—I mean cats,—I promised +to tell you."</p> + +<p>Here followed an account of the two cat-sisters, +who loved each other better than girl-sisters.</p> + +<p>"And think of one of them dying of grief, +the sweet thing! Human people don't die of +grief, do they, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Not often, Edith. Such instances have +been known, but they are very rare."</p> + +<p>"Well," struck in wee Lucy, who had been +listening to the touching story, "well, I guess +some folks would! Bab would die for grief +of me, and I would die for grief of Bab; we +<i>said</i> we would!"</p> + +<p>She made this absurd little speech with +<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58" />tears in her eyes; but Kyzie and Edith dared +not laugh, for mamma's forefinger was raised. +Mamma never allowed them to ridicule the +friendship of the two little girls, who had made +believe for more than a year that they were +"aunt" and "niece." The play might be rather +foolish, but the love was very sweet and true.</p> + +<p>Lucy had been thinking all day of Barbara +and longing for her arrival. A full hour +before it was time for the stage she went a +little way up the mountain with Jimmy, and +they took turns gazing down the winding, +dusty road through a spy-glass. "I shan't +wait here any longer. What's the use?" +declared Jimmy.</p> + +<p>"She's coming! she's coming! I saw her +first!" was Lucy's glad cry. And she ran +down the mountain in haste, though the +stage, a grayish green one, was just turning +a curve at least a mile away.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59" />Well, you <i>have</i> been parted a good while," +said Uncle James, as the two dear friends +met and embraced on the coach steps; "a +day and a half!"</p> + +<p>"I'd have 'most died if I'd waited any +longer," said Aunt Lucy, putting her arm +around her niece and leading her up the +gravel path with the pink "old hen and +chickens" on either side.</p> + +<p>The little girls were entirely unlike, and +the contrast was pleasant to see. Lucy was +very fair, with light curling hair:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Blue were her eyes as the fairy flax,<br /></span> +<span>Her cheeks like the dawn of day,<br /></span> +<span>And her bosom white as the hawthorn buds<br /></span> +<span>That ope in the month of May."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Bab was quite as pretty, but in another +way. She had brilliant dark eyes and straight +dark hair with a satin gloss. She was half +a head shorter than her "auntie," though their +<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60" />ages were about the same. People liked to +see them together, for they were always +sociable and happy, and loved each other +"dearilee."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bab," said wee Lucy, "I had such +a <i>loneness</i> without you!"</p> + +<p>"I had a loneness too, Auntie Lucy. +Seemed as if the time never would go."</p> + +<p>And then the dark head and the fair head +met again for more kisses, while both the +mammas looked on and said, in low tones +and with smiles, as they always did:—</p> + +<p>"How sweet! Now we shall hear them +singing about the place like two little birds."</p> + +<p>This was Tuesday. The days went on +happily until Thursday afternoon, when "the +Dunlee party," which always included the +Hales and Sanfords, set forth up the mountain +for a sight of the famous "air-castle." +Of course Nate was with them, but this +<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61" />time not as a guide; the guide was Uncle +James.</p> + +<p>The road, though rather steep, was not a +hard one. Mr. Dunlee had his alpenstock, +and Uncle James walked beside him, holding +little Eddo by the hand. Bab and Lucy, or +"the little two," as Aunt Vi called them, were +side by side as usual, and Lucy had asked +Bab to repeat the story of "Little Bo-Peep" +in French, for Nate wanted to hear it. Bab +could speak French remarkably well.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Petit beau bouton<br /></span> +<span>A perde ses moutons,<br /></span> +<span>Il ne sais pas que les a pris.<br /></span> +<span>O laissez les tranquille!<br /></span> +<span>Ils se retournerons,<br /></span> +<span>Chacun sa queue apres lui."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee and Kyzie were just behind +the children, and while Bab was repeating +the verse Kyzie said in a low tone:—</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62" />Oh, mamma, let me walk with you all the +way, please. There's something I want to +talk about."</p> + +<p>She looked so earnest that Mrs. Dunlee +wondered not a little what it was her eldest +daughter had to say.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="V" id="V" /><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63" />V</h3> + +<h2>THE AIR-CASTLE</h2> + + +<p>"A vacation school, Katharine? And pray +what may that be?"</p> + +<p>Kyzie's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining. +She held her mother's hand and talked +fast, though plainly she did not feel quite at +her ease.</p> + +<p>"Why, mamma, you've certainly heard of +vacation schools—summer schools? They're +very common nowadays. In the summer, you +know; so that college people can go to them, +and business people."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Like the one at Coronado Beach? +Now I understand. But it didn't occur to me +that my little daughter would know enough to +teach college people!"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64" />Now, mamma, don't laugh at me! Of +course I mean children, the little ignorant +children right around here," making a sweeping +gesture toward the cottages and "bunk +houses" that dotted the country lower down +the mountain, "I know enough to teach +little children, I should hope, mamma."</p> + +<p>"Possibly!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee's tone was so doubtful that her +daughter felt crushed.</p> + +<p>"Possibly you may know enough about +books; but book-knowledge is not all that +is required in a teacher. Could you keep +the children in order? Would they obey +you?"</p> + +<p>The little girl's head drooped a little.</p> + +<p>"Let me see, you are only fourteen?"</p> + +<p>"Fourteen last April, mamma. But everybody +says, don't you know, that I'm very large +for my age."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65" />She tried to speak bravely, but the look of +quiet amusement on her listener's face made +it rather hard for her to go on.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said she, dropping her eyes +again, "I suppose they don't know much +here, mamma,—the families that live here all +the time. Some of the boys actually go barefooted."</p> + +<p>"So I have observed. A great saving of +shoes."</p> + +<p>"And they had a school last summer," +went on Kyzie, resolutely. "A young girl +taught it who boarded where we do. Mr. +Templeton said she did it for fun."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!"</p> + +<p>"But they didn't like her a bit. I could +teach as well as she did anyway, mamma, for +she just went around the room boxing their +ears."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible, Katharine?" Mrs. Dunlee +<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66" />was serious enough now. "To box a child's +ears is simply brutal!"</p> + +<p>"I knew you'd say so, mamma; but that +was just what Miss Severance did. Of course +I wouldn't touch their ears any more than I +would fly!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee turned now and regarded her +daughter attentively.</p> + +<p>"But how did you ever happen to take up +this sudden fancy for teaching, dear? It's all +new to me. What first made you think of it—at +your age? Can you tell?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, I've been thinking about it, +off and on, for a year. Ever since I was at +Willowbrook last summer and heard Grandma +Parlin talk about <i>her</i> first school. Why, don't +you remember, she was just fourteen, she said, +nearly three months younger than I am."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now, and +said to herself:—</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67" />Dear old Grandma Parlin! Little did she +imagine she was filling her great grand-daughter's +head with mischievous notions!"</p> + +<p>They walked on a short way in silence. +"But you must remember, Katharine, that was +seventy years ago. Grandma Parlin wouldn't +advise a girl of fourteen to do in these days as +she did then. Schools are very different now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, mamma, very, very different. +Isn't it too bad? I'd like to 'board 'round' the +way grandma did, and rap on the window +with a ferule, and 'choose sides' and all that! +But there's one thing I could do!" exclaimed +the little girl, brightening. "I could make +the children 'toe the mark'; wouldn't that be +fun? I mean stand in a line on a crack in the +floor. How grandma would laugh! I'll write +her all about it, and send her a photograph, +bare feet and all."</p> + +<p>In her eagerness Kyzie spoke as if the +<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68" />matter were all arranged and she could almost +see the children "toeing the mark."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, my daughter. Remember +there are three points to be settled before we +can discuss the matter seriously. First, would +your papa consent? Second, would your +mamma consent? Third, do the people of +Castle Cliff want a summer school anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Three points? I see, oh, yes," said Kyzie, +meekly.</p> + +<p>"But now, Katharine, let us walk a little +faster and join the others. And not a word +more of this to-day."</p> + +<p>"What did keep you two so long?" asked +Edith, coming to meet them with a bright +face. If her happy thoughts had not been +dwelling on the zebra cat just presented her +by the "knitting-woman," she would have +observed at once that mamma and Kyzie had +been "talking secrets"; though she might not +<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69" />have suspected that this had anything to do +with the vacation school.</p> + +<p>"Do hurry along," she added. I want to +show you the funniest sight! I don't believe +you've seen Barbara Hale, have you?"</p> + +<p>Edith could hardly speak for laughing; +and her mother and Kyzie did not wonder +when they beheld the figure that little Bab +had made of herself, by a new style of +dressing her hair. The two little girls were, +as I have told you, as different as possible, +but had an intense desire to look "just alike"; +and when they tried their best the result was +very funny.</p> + +<p>I will mention here that Lucy "despised" +her own hair for not being straight like Bab's, +and had often tried to braid it down her +back; but as the braid always came out and +the ribbon came off, the attempt had been +forbidden.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70" />Now, however, as the children had left +their city home and come to a place where +everybody was "on holiday," the mammas +decided that they might have a little more +liberty.</p> + +<p>Their dresses were off the same piece,—good, +strong brown ones; their hats were +alike; and, as for their hair, they were +allowed to wear it as they pleased "just for +this summer."</p> + +<p>"We'll look exactly alike up there in the +mountains," the little souls had said to each +other; and this was perhaps one reason why +they had been so overjoyed at the prospect +of going.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-078' id='illus-078'></a> +<img src="images/illus-078.jpg" +alt=""'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"" +title=""'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"" /> +<h4><b>"'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"</b></h4> +</div> + +<p>But to-day, ah! who would have dreamed +that sweet little Bab could become such a +fright? She had done up her hair the night +before on as many as twenty curl-papers. +Before starting for the air-castle she had +<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71" />taken out some of the papers and found—not +ringlets, but wisps of very unruly hair. +It would not curl any more than water will +run up hill.</p> + +<p>She went to Aunt Lucy in her trouble to +seek advice. Aunt Lucy looked her over +with great care and then announced:—</p> + +<p>"It is perfectly awful! Don't take out +any more papers, Bab. Let 'em be, so you +can have something to stick the curls on +to."</p> + +<p>And so it was done. The "curls," as Lucy +was pleased to call them, were drawn up and +looped and twisted and fastened by hair-pins +to the other curls left in the papers. The effect +was most surprising. It made Bab's head so +much higher than usual that she was as tall +now as auntie, and that in itself was a great +gain. Besides, this style, as Lucy said, was +the "pompy-doo," and very fashionable!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72" />If Bab could have kept her hat on! But +she couldn't, and the moment it came off +they all cried out:—</p> + +<p>"Why-ee, Barbara!" and turned away to +laugh.</p> + +<p>If Mrs. McQuilken had been there she +would have said the child looked "as if she +was possessed of the fox."</p> + +<p>"The little goosies! Let them enjoy it!" +whispered Mrs. Hale to Mrs. Dunlee. " But +those topknots will have to come down before +the child can go to the dinner-table."</p> + +<p>And then both the ladies laughed privately +behind a large tree. The mountain air was +doing them good, and they often had as +merry times together as the young people.</p> + +<p>"Hear the boyoes," cried Edith, meaning +Jimmy and Nate, who had now reached the +air-castle and were shouting with all their +might. The children ran, and so indeed did +<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73" />the older ones, for there was an excellent +path all the way.</p> + +<p>"So that is the air-castle," exclaimed +Kyzie, when they were all within sight of it. +"It's a real house, built right in the mountain."</p> + +<p>She was right. There happened to be a +great crack right here in the rocky side of +the mountain, and a cunning little house had +been tucked into the crack. It was built of +small stones. It had two real windows with +glass panes, and a real door with a brass +knocker, which the children declared was "too +cute for anything."</p> + +<p>"The house is as strong as a fort," said +Uncle James. "Do you observe it is walled +all around with stones?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know who built it?" asked Aunt +Vi; "and why he built it?"</p> + +<p>"A rich Mexican named Bandini. He ad<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74" />mired +the view from the mountain, and I +don't blame him, do you? He wanted a nice, +quiet place where he could read and write; +that was why he came here. He has been +here every summer for years."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Dunlee, "if you call this +an air-castle I must say it is the most solid +one I ever heard of! It doesn't look dreamy +at all. Why, an earthquake could hardly +shake it."</p> + +<p>"The steps that lead up to it are not +dreamy either," said Mrs. Dunlee. "Real +granite; and there's a large flag up there +floating from the evergreen tree."</p> + +<p>The "boyoes" had already climbed the +steps, and Nate called down to Mrs. Dunlee, +"It's the Mexican flag!" But she had known +that at a glance. The colors were red, white, +and green, and the device was an eagle on a +prickly pear with a snake in his mouth.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75" />I wonder if there's anybody at home," +said Nate, and would have lifted the knocker +if Jimmy had not said, "Wait for Uncle +James."</p> + +<p>Jimmy thought as Uncle James was the +leader of the expedition he should be the one +to do the knocking, or at any rate to tell +them when to knock. Nate himself had not +thought of this. He was not so refined as +Jimmy, either by nature or by training.</p> + +<p>Everybody had climbed the steps now. +The older people were enjoying the magnificent +view; but Bab and Lucy were looking +for the two toads who had been seen going +up to the castle together, the well toad taking +the lame toad's foot in his mouth.</p> + +<p>"I wish they were both here," said Uncle +James, "for you would like to see them take +that little journey."</p> + +<p>"And the Mexican who built this air-<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76" />castle," +said Aunt Vi, "is he here this summer?"</p> + +<p>"No, he died last spring."</p> + +<p>"Died?" echoed little Eddo, who had heard +that dying means "going up in the sky." +"What made him die, mamma? Didn't he +like it down here?"</p> + +<p>Then without waiting for a reply he added +most tenderly and unexpectedly, "Isn't it nice +that <i>you're</i> not dead, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you think that, my son?" she +asked, wondering what he would say.</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>be</i>-cause I <i>am</i> so glad about it." And +at this sweet little speech his mother caught +him up in her arms and kissed him. How +could she help it?</p> + +<p>"Now," said Uncle James, "let us see if +we can enter the castle. 'Open locks whoever +knocks.' Try it, boys."</p> + +<p>Nate lifted the knocker and pounded with +<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77" />a will. There was no answer or sign of +life.</p> + +<p>"Let's see if this will help us," said Uncle +James, taking a key from his vest pocket:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"For I'm the keeper of the keys,<br /></span> +<span>And I do whatever I please."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The key actually fitted the lock, the door +opened at once, and they all entered the +castle.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Templeton lent me the key," explained +Mr. Sanford. "He said the castle +was as empty as a last year's bird's nest, but +I thought we might like to take a look at +it."</p> + +<p>"We do, oh, we do," said Lucy. "Isn't it +queer? Just two rooms and nothing in 'em +at all! Oh, Bab, let's you and I bring some +dishes up here and keep house! Here's a +cupboard right in the wall."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78" />I guess it's Mother Hubbard's cupboard, +it looks bare enough. Just a table in the room +and one old chair," exclaimed Edith.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad we came in, though," said Kyzie. +"Isn't it beautiful to stand in the door and +look down, down, and see Castle Cliff right +at your feet? And off there a city—Why, +what's that noise?"</p> + +<p>No one answered. The older people knew +the sound: it was that of an angry rattlesnake +out of doors shaking his rattle.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee said:—</p> + +<p>"Stay in the house, please, you ladies, and +keep the children here. James and I will go +out and attend to this."</p> + +<p>He had an alpenstock, Uncle James a cane. +The ladies and Mr, Hale and the children +watched the two gentlemen from the window,—all +but little Eddo, whose mother was playing +bo-peep with him to prevent him from +<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79" />looking out. A handsome rattlesnake was +winding his way up the mountain in pursuit +of a tiny baby rabbit. The little "cotton-tail" +was running for the castle as fast as he +could, intending to hide in a hole under the +door-stone. But he never would have reached +the door-stone alive, poor little trembling creature, +if Mr. Dunlee and Uncle James had not +come up just in time to finish the cruel snake +with cane and alpenstock. Bunny got away +safe, without even stopping to say, "Thank +you." The snake wore seven rattles, of which +he was very proud; but Eddo had them next +day for a plaything, and made as much noise +with them as ever the snake had done; +though Eddo never knew where they came +from.</p> + +<p>It had been a delightful day, and when the +friends all met again at table they kept saying, +"Didn't we have a good time?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80" />It was to be noticed that Barbara's "topknots" +had disappeared; and I am glad to +say that she never wore her lovely hair +"pompy-doo" again.</p> + +<p>Kyzie's face was alight. In passing the +door of her mother's room she had heard her +father say, laughing:—</p> + +<p>"What, our Katharine? Why, how that +would amuse Mr. Templeton!"</p> + +<p>Kyzie had hurried away for fear of listening; +but now she kept thinking:—</p> + +<p>"Papa laughed. He always laughs when he +is going to say 'yes.' He'll talk to Mr. +Templeton, and I just know I shall have the +school Isn't it splendid?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="VI" id="VI" /><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81" />VI</h3> + +<h2>"GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE"</h2> + + +<p>"Hoopty-Doo!" shouted Jimmy, alighting +on the piazza on all fours. "A little girl like +that keep school!"</p> + +<p>"Well, she is going to," returned Edith, +looking up from the picture she was drawing +of a cherub in the clouds, "she's going to; +and Mr. Templeton says the Castle Cliff people +are as pleased as they can be."</p> + +<p>"I heard what he said," struck in Nate. +"He said they jumped at it like a dolphin at +a silver spoon."</p> + +<p>"He's always talking about that dolphin +and that silver spoon," laughed Edith. "If I +knew how a dolphin looks, I'd draw one and +give it to him just for fun. But mamma, you +<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82" />don't expect me to go to school to that little +girl; now do you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Edith; oh, no."</p> + +<p>"Must <i>I</i> go to Grandmother Graymouse?" +whined Jimmy, "She's only my sister. And +I came up here to play."</p> + +<p>"Play all you like, my son. No one will +ask you to go school."</p> + +<p>"But <i>I</i> really want to go," said Nate. "I +wouldn't miss it for anything. A girl's school +like that will be larks. Only four hours anyway, +two in the forenoon and two in the +afternoon. Time enough left for play."</p> + +<p>"H'm, if that's all, let's go," cried Jimmy. +"We can leave off any time we get tired of +it."</p> + +<p>Kyzie heard this as she was crossing the +hall.</p> + +<p>"Why, boys," she said, "you don't live in +Castle Cliff! It's the Castle Cliff children<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83" /> +I'm going to teach—the little ones, you +know."</p> + +<p>"But papa said if you'd show me about +my arithmetic—" began Nate.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I don't know so much as you do, +Nate. But if you go you'll be good, won't +you—you and Jimmy both?"</p> + +<p>She spoke with some concern. "For if +you're naughty, the other boys will think they +can be naughty too; and I shan't know what +in the world to do with them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll sit up as straight as ninepins; +we'll show 'em how city boys behave," said +Nate, making a bow to Kyzie.</p> + +<p>He could be a perfect little gentleman when +he chose. He liked to tease Jimmy, younger +than himself, but had always been polite to +Kyzie. Still Kyzie did not altogether like the +thought of having a boy of twelve for a pupil. +What if he should laugh at her behind his slate?</p> + +<p><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84" />Here Barbara and Lucy appeared upon the +veranda, holding Edith's new kitty between +them.</p> + +<p>"We're going. We'll sit together and cut +out paper dolls and eat figs under the seat," +declared Lucy, never doubting that this would +be pleasing news to the young teacher.</p> + +<p>Before Kyzie had time to say, "Why, +Lucy!" little Eddo ran up the steps to ask in +haste:—</p> + +<p>"Where's Lucy going? I fink I'll go +too."</p> + +<p>Kyzie could bear no more. She ran and +hid in the hammock and cried. They all +thought she was to have a sort of play-school; +did they? They were going just for +fun. She must talk to mamma. Mamma +thought the school was foolish business; but +mamma always knew what ought to be done, +and how to help do it. Or if mamma ever +<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85" />felt puzzled, there was papa to go to,—papa, +who could not possibly make a mistake. +Between them they would see that their eldest +daughter was treated fairly.</p> + +<p>Monday morning came. Kyzie's courage had +revived. Eddo would be kept at home; Lucy +and Bab had been informed that they were +not to cut paper dolls, though they might +write on their slates. All that they thought of +just now, the dear "little two," was of dressing +to "look exactly alike." As Bab had +learned once for all that her hair would not +curl, she spent half an hour that morning +braiding her auntie's ringlets down her back, +and tying the cue with a pink ribbon like her +own. But for all the little barber could do +the flaxen cue would not lie flat. It was an +old story, but very provoking.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear," wailed Lucy, "'most school-time +and my hair is all <i>over</i> my head!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86" />It did look wild. You could almost fancy +it was angry because it had not been allowed +to curl after its own graceful fashion.</p> + +<p>The "little two" started off in good season, +hoping not to be seen by Eddo; but he +espied them from the window, and they heard +him calling till his baby voice was lost in the +distance:—</p> + +<p>"You ought to not leave me! You ought +to not leave m-e-e!"</p> + +<p>"He wants to go everywhere big people +go."</p> + +<p>"Yes," responded Bab. "Such babies think +they are as old as anybody. Oh, see that +Mexican dog, how straight his tail stands up!"</p> + +<p>"Like your hair," sighed Lucy. "If my +hair would only be straight like that!"</p> + +<p>And neither of them smiled at this droll +remark.</p> + +<p>"But there's one thing we must remember,<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87" /> +Bab. I'm glad I thought of it. We must say, +'Miss' to Kyzie."</p> + +<p>"Miss what?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Dunlee. If we forget it, she'll feel +dreadfully." And then they began to hum +a tune and keep step to the music. They +often did this as they walked.</p> + +<p>Kyzie had gone on before them. Her +father was with her, but she had the key in +her hand and opened the schoolhouse door. +They walked in together, and Kyzie locked +the door behind them, for several children +were waiting about who must not enter till +the bell rang.</p> + +<p>The schoolhouse floor was very clean; the +new teacher herself had swept it. On the +walls were large wreaths of holly, which had +been left over from last Christmas, when the +Sunday-school had had a celebration here. At +one end of the room was a raised platform +<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88" />with a large desk on it. On the wall over +the desk was a motto made of red pepper +berries, only the words were so close together +that you could not make them out unless you +knew beforehand what they were.</p> + +<p>"That means, 'Christ is risen,'" explained +Kyzie. "It looks dreadfully, but they didn't +want it taken down, I'll make another by +and by."</p> + +<p>There were blackboards on three sides of +the room; quite clean they looked now. The +desks and benches were rude ones of black +oak, and had been hacked by jack-knives. +Kyzie regretted this, but supposed the boys +had not been taught any better. There was +only one chair in the room, a large armed +chair for the little teacher, and it stood +solemnly on the platform before the desk.</p> + +<p>"You see, papa, I've brought a big blank-book +to write the names in. The pen and +<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89" />inkstand belong here. Ahem, I begin to +tremble," said she, and looked at her +mother's watch which she wore in her belt. +"It's five minutes of nine."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll do famously," said Mr. Dunlee. +"And now, daughter, I'll wish you good-by +and the very best luck in the world."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, papa," said Kyzie, and locked +the door after him. "I wish I'd asked him +to stay till I called them in and took their +names. Papa is so dignified that it would +have been a great help. My, I feel as if I +weren't more than six years old!"</p> + +<p>She walked the floor, watch in hand. +"Fifty seconds of nine."</p> + +<p>She went to the bell-rope and pulled with +both hands. It was quite needless to use so +much force. The bell was directly over her +head; and instead of the "mellow lin-lan-lone" +she expected, it made a din so tre<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90" />mendous +that it almost seemed as if the roof +were about to fall upon her. At the same +time there was a scrambling and pounding at +the door. The children were trying to get in.</p> + +<p>"Oh, miserable me, I've locked them out!" +thought the little teacher in dismay.</p> + +<p>She hastened to the door and opened it, +and they rushed in with a shout. This was +an odd beginning; but Kyzie said not a word. +She remembered that she was now Miss Dunlee, +so she threw back her shoulders and +looked her straightest and tallest, and as +much as possible like Miss Prince, her favorite +teacher. She had intended all along to +imitate Miss Prince—whenever she could +think of it.</p> + +<p>Only fourteen years old! Well, what of +that? Grandma Parlin had been only fourteen +when she taught <i>her</i> first school. Keep a +brave heart, Katharine Dunlee!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91" />Joe Rolfe walked in as stiffly as a wooden +soldier. Behind him came a few boys and +girls, some of them with their fingers in +their mouths. There were twelve in all. +The last ones to enter were Nate and Jimmy, +followed by Aunt Lucy and her niece arm in +arm.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if Nate is laughing at me for +locking the door?" thought Kyzie, not daring +to look at him, as she waved her hands and +said in a loud voice to be heard above the +noise:—</p> + +<p>"All please be seated."</p> + +<p>Being seated was a work of time; and +what a din it made! The children wandered +about, trying one bench after another to see +which they liked best.</p> + +<p>"You would think they were getting settled +for life," whispered Nate to Jimmy.</p> + +<p>The "little two" chose a place near the +<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92" />west window and began at once to write on +their slates.</p> + +<p>"I'm scared of Miss Dunlee," wrote Aunt +Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Stop making me laugh," replied the niece.</p> + +<p>When at last everybody was "settled for +life," Kyzie did not know what to do next. +"What would Miss Prince do? Why she +would read in the Bible. I forgot that."</p> + +<p>The new teacher took her stand on the +platform behind the desk, opened her Bible, +and read aloud the twenty-third Psalm. Her +voice shook, partly from fright, partly from +trying so hard not to laugh. But she did not +even smile—far from it. Nate and Jimmy +who were watching her could have told you +that. If she had been at a funeral she could +hardly have looked more solemn.</p> + +<p>Jimmy touched Nate's foot under the bench; +Nate gave Jimmy a shove; Bab gazed hard +<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93" />at Lucy's flaxen cue; Lucy gazed straight at +her thumb.</p> + +<p>After the reading "Miss Dunlee" walked +about with her blank-book in one hand and her +pen in the other to take down the children's +names.</p> + +<p>"I'm Joseph Rolfe; don't you remember +me?" said the boy with red hair. "And +this boy next seat is Chicken Little."</p> + +<p>"No, I ain't either, I'm Henry Small," +corrected the little fellow, ready to cry.</p> + +<p>Kyzie shook her finger at both the boys +and resolved that "Joe should stop calling +names, and Henry should stop being such a +cry-baby."</p> + +<p>Annie Farrell was a dear little girl in a blue +and white gingham gown, and the new teacher +loved her at once. Dorothy Pratt was little +more than a baby, and when spoken to she put +her apron to her eyes and wanted to go home.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94" />She can't go home," said her older sister +Janey, "mamma's cookin' for company!"</p> + +<p>Kyzie patted the baby's tangled hair and +sent Janey to get her some water.</p> + +<p>"I'll go," spoke up Jack Whiting, aged +seven. "Janey isn't big enough. Besides +the pail leaks."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad Edith isn't here," thought +Kyzie, "or we should both get to giggling. +There, it's time now to call them out to read. +Let me see, where is the best crack in the +floor for them to stand on? Why didn't I +bring a quarter of a dollar with a hole in it +for a medal? Oh, the medal will be for the +spelling-class; that was what Grandma Parlin +said."</p> + +<p>It seemed a "ling-long" forenoon, and the +little teacher rejoiced when eleven o'clock +came. The family at home looked at her +curiously, and Uncle James asked outright,<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95" /> +"Tell us, Grandmother Graymouse, how do +the scholars behave?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose they behaved as well as +they knew how; but oh, it makes me so +hungry!"</p> + +<p>She could not say whether she liked teaching +or not.</p> + +<p>"Wait till Friday night, Uncle James, and +then I'll tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well said, Grandmother Graymouse! You +couldn't have made a wiser remark. We'll +ask no further questions till Friday night."</p> + +<p>But when Friday night came they were all +thinking of something else, something quite +out of the common; and "Grandmother Graymouse" +and her school were forgotten.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="VII" id="VII" /><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96" />VII</h3> + +<h2>THE ZEBRA KITTEN</h2> + + +<p>It began with Zee. By this time her young +mistress had become very much attached to +her; and so indeed had all the "Dunlee +party." Even Mrs. Dunlee petted the kitten +and said she was the most graceful creature +she had ever seen, except, perhaps, the dancing +horse, Thistleblow. Eddo loved her because +"she hadn't any pins in her feet" and +did not resent his rough handling. The "little +two" loved her because she allowed them to +play all sorts of games with her. They could +make believe she was very ill and tuck her +up in bed, and she would swallow meekly +such medicine as alum with salt and water +without even a mew.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97" />She is so amiable," said Edith. "And +then that wonderful tail of hers, mamma! +'Twould bring, I don't know how much +money, at a cat fair. It's a regular <i>prize</i> +tail, you see!"</p> + +<p>An animal like this merited extra care. +She was not to be put off like an everyday +cat with saucers of milk and scraps of meat; +she must have the choicest bits from the +table.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. McQuilken says the best-fed cats +make the best mousers," said Edith.</p> + +<p>"Is that so, Miss Edith? Then the mice +here at Castle Cliff haven't long to live!" +laughed good-natured Mr. Templeton, as he +handed Zee's little mistress a pitcher of excellent +cream.</p> + +<p>Edith was very grateful to Mrs. McQuilken +for this remarkable kitten. She had taken +much pains with her pencil drawing of a +<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98" />cherub in the clouds, intending it as a present +for the eccentric old lady.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose she'll like it, mamma? +You know she's so odd that one never can +tell."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee was sure the picture would be +appreciated. The cherub's sweet face looked +like Eddo's, and the clouds lay about him +very softly, leaving bare his pretty dimpled +feet, and hands, and arms, and neck. On +Friday afternoon Edith took the picture in her +hand and knocked with a beating heart at the +door of Number Five.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Me—McQuilken," said she, in a +timid voice, on entering the room, "you're so +fond of pictures that I thought I'd bring you +one I drew myself. I'm afraid it's not so +very, very good; but I hope you'll like it +just a little."</p> + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-108' id='illus-108'></a> +<img src="images/illus-108.jpg" +alt="Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken" +title="Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken" /> +<h4><b>Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken</b></h4> +</div> + +<p>Mrs. McQuilken was much surprised as well +<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99" />as gratified; and actually there were tears in +her eyes as she took the offering from Edith's +hand. She was a lonely old body, and never +expected much attention from any one, especially +from children.</p> + +<p>"Why, how kind of you, my dear! It's a +beauty!" she exclaimed, gazing at the cherub +through her spectacles. She was a good +judge of pictures. "That face is well drawn, +and the clouds are fleecy. Did you really do +it your own self—and for me? Thank you, +dear child!"</p> + +<p>Edith blushed with pleasure. She had by +no means counted on such praise.</p> + +<p>"I'll always be kind to old people after +this," she thought. "I believe they care more +about it than you think they do."</p> + +<p>But here they were interrupted by the very +loud mewing of a cat out of doors. They +both ran downstairs to see what it meant.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100" />I do hope and trust it isn't my Zee," cried +Edith in alarm.</p> + +<p>But it was. They did not see her at +first; she was in the back yard behind the +hotel. It seems a pan of clams had been +left standing on the back door-step; and +Zee must have been frolicking about the +pan, never dreaming any live creature was +in it, when one of the clams, attracted by +her black waving tail, had caught the tip +of the tail in his mouth and was holding it +fast!</p> + +<p>This was pretty severe. Being only an +ignorant bivalve, the clam did not know that +what he had in his mouth was a very precious +article, the "prize tail" of a beautiful cat. +But having once taken hold of it, the clam +was too obstinate to let go.</p> + +<p>Poor Zee jumped up and down, and ran +around in circles, mewing with all her might.<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101" /> +What had happened she did not know; she +only knew some heavy thing was dragging at +her tail and pinching it fearfully. Every one +in the back of the house was busy; no one +but Eddo heard Zee's cries. He ran to the +maid to ask "what made the kitty sing so +sorry?" Whenever she mewed he called it +singing.</p> + +<p>The maid looked out then and threw down +her mixing-spoon for laughing. It was an +odd sight to see a cat prancing about, waving +her plume-like tail with a clam at the end of +it! Nancy was sorry for the kitten, but did +not know how in the world to get off the +clam.</p> + +<p>"Take an axe! Take a hatchet!" cried +Mrs. McQuilken.</p> + +<p>And without waiting for Nancy she seized +a hatchet herself, split the shell of the clam, +and let poor kitty free.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102" />When Kyzie got home from school, Mrs. +McQuilken had just mended Zee's bleeding +member with a piece of court-plaster. All +the boarders were grouped about on the lawn +and veranda talking it over. Mrs. Dunlee +held in her lap a very forlorn and crumpled +little bundle of kitty; and Edith and Eddo +were crying as if their hearts would break.</p> + +<p>"That beautiful, beautiful tail!" sobbed +Edith.</p> + +<p>"Don't be unhappy about it, darling," said +Aunt Vi, "it will heal in time."</p> + +<p>"I know 't will heal, auntie; but what I'm +thinking of is, won't it be stiff? Aren't you +afraid 'twill lose the—the—<i>expression of the +wiggle?</i>"</p> + +<p>No one even smiled at the question; everybody +tried to comfort Edith. And right in +the midst of this trying scene another event +occurred of a different sort, but far more se<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103" />rious. +It was little wonder that nobody once +thought of saying to Kyzie:—</p> + +<p>"Well, Grandma Graymouse, you promised +to tell us to-night how you like your school."</p> + +<p>The school was quite forgotten, and so was +the injured kitten. It happened in this way: +As soon as the kitten had been placed in a +basket of cotton and seemed tolerably comfortable, +Jimmy and "the little two" went +along the road as they often did to watch for +the stage. "The colonel" might be coming now +at almost any time, to find the lost vein of the +gold mine, and they wanted to see him first of +any one. Lucy had her papa's watch fastened +to the waist of her dress, and took great pleasure +in seeing the hands move. This was not +the first time she had been allowed to carry the +watch, and she was very proud because papa +had just said, "See how I trust my little girl."</p> + +<p>Jimmy had Uncle James's spy-glass.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104" />Nate thinks the colonel won't come till +to-morrow; but I expect him to-night. Let's +go farther up," said Jimmy-boy.</p> + +<p>They all climbed a little way and stood on +a rock gazing down toward the dusty road. +They could see the roofs of several houses, +and Lucy asked why there was so much wire +on them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's to hold the chimneys on," was +Jimmy's reply.</p> + +<p>"How queer!"</p> + +<p>"Not queer at all. I've seen lots of chimneys +tied on that way."</p> + +<p>Bab doubted this, but Lucy was proud to +think how much Jimmy knew.</p> + +<p>"Six minutes past five," said she, looking at +the watch again. "It takes these little hands +just as long to go round this little face as it +takes a clock's hands to go round a clock's +face. How funny!"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105" />Not funny at all," said Jimmy. "They're +made that way. But be careful, Lucy Dunlee, +or you'll drop that watch. I shouldn't have +thought papa would have let you bring it up +here. Did you tell him where we were going?"</p> + +<p>"No, I never," replied Lucy with a sudden +prick of conscience. "I didn't know we'd +go so far. 'Twas you that spoke and said +we'd go higher up."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better let me take it, Lucy. +I'm older than you are, and I've got a little +pocket, too, just the right size to hold it."</p> + +<p>Lucy hesitated, not wishing to part with +the watch, and not at all sure that it would +be safer with Jimmy than with herself. He +was not a famous care-taker.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you want to get it away +when papa lent it to me and it's fastened on +so tight. How do I know papa would be +willing?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106" />As she spoke, however, Jimmy was fingering +the little chain to see if he could undo +the clasp which held it to her dress.</p> + +<p>"There, I don't believe you could have got +it off, Lucy, you didn't know how."</p> + +<p>"Why, I never tried—papa fastened it on +himself—oh, Jimmy-boy, you will be so +careful of it, now won't you?"</p> + +<p>For the watch lay in his hand, and she did +not know how to get it back again. When he +had set his heart on anything Lucy usually +gave up. Barbara looked on in disapproval +as the big brother put the watch in his +pocket.</p> + +<p>It had long been Jimmy's unspoken wish +to have a watch of his very own like Nate +Pollard and various other boys. How rich +and handsome the short gold chain looked! +What a bright spot it made as it dangled +down his new jacket. He gazed at it admir<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107" />ingly, +while Bab and Lucy took turns in looking +through the spy-glass.</p> + +<p>"The stage is coming," they cried. Then +they all started and ran down the mountain; +but as the stage drove up to the hotel no +colonel alighted, or at least, no one who +looked like a colonel. Jimmy was playing +with the short gold chain which made a bright +spot on his jacket. He meant to restore the +watch to its owner at dinner-time; but it was +early, he was not going in yet. And there +was Nate Pollard throwing up his cap and +looking ready for a frolic.</p> + +<p>"I stump you to catch me!" said Nate.</p> + +<p>"Poh, I can catch you and not half try."</p> + +<p>Jimmy-boy was agile, Nate rather heavily +built and clumsy. But if Jimmy had suspected +what a foolhardy project was in Nate's +mind he would have held back from the +race.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108" />As it was, they both planted themselves +against a tree, shouted, "One, two, three!" +and off they started. No one was watching, +no one remembered afterward which way +they were going.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="VIII" id="VIII" /><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109" />VIII</h3> + +<h2>STEALING A CHIMNEY</h2> + + +<p>The "knitting-woman" sat knitting in her +chamber that looked up the mountain side, and +thinking how the zebra kitten had suffered +from her enemy, the clam. Mrs. McQuilken's +own cats were most of them asleep; the blind +canary was eating her supper of hemp-seed; +and the noisy magpie had run off to chat +with the dog and hens. The room seemed +remarkably quiet. Mrs. McQuilken narrowed +two stitches and glanced out of the window.</p> + +<p>"Mercy upon us!" she exclaimed, though +there was not a soul to hear her. "Mercy +upon us, what are those boyoes doing atop of +that house?"</p> + +<p>In her astonishment she actually dropped +<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110" />her knitting-work on the floor and rushed out +of the room crying, "Fire!" though there was +not a spark of fire to be seen.</p> + +<p>The "boyoes" were Nate and Jimmy. +Nate had said to Jimmy just as they started +on the race:—</p> + +<p>"You won't dare follow where I lead;" +and Jimmy, stung by the defiant tone, had +answered:—</p> + +<p>"Poh, yes, I will! Who's afraid?" never +once suspecting that Nate was going to climb +the ridge-pole of a house!</p> + +<p>The house was a small cabin painted green, +but there were people living in it, and nothing +could be ruder than to storm it in this +way, as both boys knew.</p> + +<p>"Why, Nate why, <i>Nate</i>, what are you +doing?"</p> + +<p>"Ho, needn't come if you're scared," retorted +Nate.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111" />Who said I was scared? But I'm not +your 'caddy,' I won't go another step," +gasped Jimmy.</p> + +<p>Still he did not stop climbing. Hadn't +Nate "stumped" him; and hadn't he "taken +the stump," agreeing to follow his lead? +Besides, Nate was already on the roof, and it +was necessary to catch him at once.</p> + +<p>Jimmy reached the roof easily enough and +darted toward Nate with both arms out-stretched. +But by that time Nate had turned +around and begun to slide down another +ridge-pole, shouting:—</p> + +<p>"Here, my caddy, here I am; catch me, +caddy!"</p> + +<p>It was most exasperating. Jimmy saw that +he had been outwitted. On the solid earth, +running a fair race, the chances were that he +could have beaten Nate. But was this a fair +race?</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112" />No, I'll leave it out to anybody if it's fair! +Nate Pollard is the meanest boy in California," +thought angry Jimmy, as he started to follow +his leader down the ridge-pole.</p> + +<p>At this moment something hit him just +below the knee and held him fast. In his +haste he had not stopped to notice that the +chimney was of the very sort he had just +described to Lucy—built of tiles and held on +to the roof by wires. He was caught in +these wires; and whenever he tried to move +he found he was actually pulling the chimney +after him! Nate, safely landed on the ground, +called back to him in triumph:—</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jimmy-cum-jim! Hello, my caddy! +Where are you? Why don't you come +along?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy was coming as fast as he could. +He lay face downward, sliding along toward +the edge of the roof, and carrying with him +<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113" />that most undesirable chimney! What would +become of him if he should fall head-first +with the chimney on his back?</p> + +<p>It was a rough scramble; but he managed +to turn over before he reached the ground—so +that he landed on his feet. The chimney +landed near him, a wreck. Jimmy was unhurt +except for a few scratches. But oh, it +was dreadful to hear himself laughed at, not +only by that mischievous Nate, but by +half a dozen other boys and a few grown +people, who had collected on the spot; among +them the landlord and Mrs. McQuilken.</p> + +<p>Not that any one could be blamed for +laughing. Jimmy was a comical object. In +carrying away a chimney which did not +belong to him, he had of course torn his +clothes frightfully and left big pieces sticking +on the broken wires of the roof. A more +"raggety" boy never was seen.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114" />Wouldn't he make a good scarecrow?" +said the landlord, shaking his sides. "Jimmum, +chimney, and all!"</p> + +<p>It was necessary to tear his clothes still +more in order to get them free from the +tangle of wires. As the poor young culprit +crept unwillingly back to the hotel all the +cats, dogs, donkeys, and chickens in Castle +Cliff seemed to combine in a chorus of mewing, +barking, braying, and cackling to inform +the whole world that here was a boy who had +stolen a chimney!</p> + +<p>What wretched little beggar was this coming +to the house? No one thought of its being +Jimmy Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"We caught this young rogue stealing a +chimney," said Mr. Templeton.</p> + +<p>It seemed funny at first, and the Dunlees +and Sanfords and Hales all laughed heartily, +till it occurred to them that the dear child +<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115" />had been in actual danger; and then they +drew long breaths and shuddered, thinking +how he might have pitched headlong to the +ground and been crushed by the weight of +the chimney.</p> + +<p>"But my little son," asked Mrs. Dunlee +presently, when the child was once more +respectably clad, and was walking down to +dinner between herself and Aunt Vi, "but +my little son, what could have possessed you +to climb a roof? Was that a nice thing to +do?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, of course not. But 'twas all +Nate Pollard's fault. Nate stumped me to it +and I took the stump."</p> + +<p>"What <i>do</i> you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he said, 'You won't dare follow me,' +and I said, 'Yes, I would.' And I never mistrusted +where he was going. Who'd have +thought of his climbing top of a house?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116" />Why, Jamie Dunlee, you did not follow +Nate without knowing where he was going?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, mamma; if I <i>had</i> known I wouldn't +have followed. But you see he had stumped +me and I'd taken the stump, so I was <i>obliged</i> +to go!"</p> + +<p>"Obliged to go!" repeated Aunt Vi, laughing, +"Isn't that characteristic of Jimmy?"</p> + +<p>The little fellow felt guiltier than ever. +When Aunt Vi used that word of five syllables +it always meant that people had done very +wrong, so he thought.</p> + +<p>"Jamie," said his mother very seriously, "I +am surprised that you should have promised +to follow Nate without knowing where he was +going! And you never even asked him where +he was going! Is that the way you play, you +boys?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, it isn't. Nate makes you +play his way because he's the oldest. He's +<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117" />just as mean! But I couldn't back out after +I was stumped."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie! Backing out is exactly the thing +to do when a boy is trying to lead you into +mischief! But we'll talk more of this by and +by."</p> + +<p>As they entered the dining-room, Jimmy +squared his shoulders and would not look +toward Nate's table; and Nate, who had been +severely reproved by his parents, never once +raised his eyes from his plate. No one felt +very happy. Jimmy's new suit was ruined; +and Mr. Dunlee had already learned that +it would cost ten dollars to restore the tile +chimney. Nor was this all. While Jimmy was +trying to console himself with ice-cream he +suddenly thought of his father's watch! It +must have dropped out of his pocket when +he slid down the roof; but where, oh, where +was it now? Was it still on the ground, or +<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118" />had some one picked it up? Joe Rolfe had +been there, so had Chicken Little and a dozen +others. He must go and look for that watch, +he must go this minute.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," he murmured, pushing aside his +saucer of ice-cream, "may I—may I be +excused?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer; his mother had not +heard him.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," in a louder tone, "oh, mamma!"</p> + +<p>"What is it, my son?"</p> + +<p>Seeing by his unhappy face that something +was wrong, she nodded permission for him to +leave the table; and at the same time arose +and followed him into the hall.</p> + +<p>"Dear child, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Papa's watch," he moaned. "I'm afraid +somebody will steal it."</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Dunlee knew nothing whatever +about the watch this sounded very strange.<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119" /> +She wondered if Jimmy had really been hurt +by his fall and was out of his head.</p> + +<p>"Why, my precious little boy," said she, taking +his hot hand in hers. "Papa's watch is safe +in his vest pocket. Nobody is going to steal it."</p> + +<p>Jimmy looked immensely relieved.</p> + +<p>"Oh, has he got it back again? I'm so +glad! Where did he find it?"</p> + +<p>"Darling," said Mrs. Dunlee, now really +alarmed. "Come upstairs with mamma. Does +your head ache? I think it will be best for +you to go right to bed."</p> + +<p>But Jimmy persisted in talking about the +watch.</p> + +<p>"Where did papa find it? He let Lucy +have it; don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"No, I did not know."</p> + +<p>"And I took it away from Lucy. I was +afraid she'd lose it. And then,—oh, dear, +oh, dear,—then I went and lost it myself!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120" />Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now. Jimmy's +head was clear enough; he knew perfectly +well what he was talking about. The +watch was gone, a very valuable one. Search +must be made for it at once. Without waiting +to speak to her husband, Mrs. Dunlee put +on her hat and went with Jimmy up the hill. +He limped a little from the bruise of his fall +and she steadied him with her arm as they +walked.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="IX" id="IX" /><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121" />IX</h3> + +<h2>"CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE</h2> + + +<p>The man and woman who lived in the +green cottage had gone to a neighbor's to +stay till their chimney should be fastened on +again. There was no one in sight.</p> + +<p>"Here's the place where I went up," said +Jimmy, laying his hand on one of the ridge-poles. +"And here's the place where I came +down," pointing to another ridge-pole.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee was stooping and looking around +carefully. There was not a tuft of grass or a +clump of weeds behind which even a small +article could be hidden, much less a large +bright object like a gold watch. She took a +wooden pencil from her pocket and scraped +the earth with it; but only disturbed a few +<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122" />ants and beetles. If the watch had ever been +dropped here, it certainly was not here now. +She and Jimmy turned and walked home in +the twilight,—or as Mrs. McQuilken called +it, "the dimmets," and poor Jimmy drew a +cloud of gloom about him like a cloak.</p> + +<p>They looked on the ground at every step +of the way.</p> + +<p>"There's a piece of chaparral over there. +Did you go through that?" asked Mrs. +Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"No, I never, I'm sure I never. I walked +in the road right straight along. Oh, +mamma, if I've lost that watch 'twill break +my heart. But I'll pay papa for it, you see +if I don't! I'll save every penny I get and +put it together and pay papa!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee did not reply for a moment; +she took time to reflect. Jimmy was a dear +boy, but very heedless. He had done wrong +<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123" />in the first place to take the watch from +Lucy without his father's permission. He +must be taught to respect other people's +property and other people's rights. He must +learn to think, and learn to be careful. Here +was a chance for a lesson.</p> + +<p>"Jamie," said she at last, "I am glad you +wish to atone for the wrong you have done; +it shows a proper spirit. I agree with you +that if the watch isn't found you ought to +give papa what you can toward paying for it. +That is no more than fair."</p> + +<p>"I want to, mamma, I just want to!" burst +forth Jimmy. "I wish I was little like Eddo, +before 'twas wrong for me to be naughty."</p> + +<p>His mother took him in her arms and +kissed him, for he was so tired and miserable +that he could not keep the tears back +another moment.</p> + +<p>Friday night passed and most of Saturday; +<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124" />and though diligent search was made, the +watch was not found.</p> + +<p>"Poor papa!" said Kyzie. "He doesn't +say much; but how sober he looks! Grandma +Dunlee gave him that watch, Jimmy, when he +was a young man; and he did love it so!"</p> + +<p>"I know it. Oh, dear, how can he stand +it?" responded jimmy, who had been deeply +touched from the first by his father's forbearance. +"Mr, Pollard punished Nate dreadfully, +you know; but here's Papa Dunlee, +why, he hasn't even scolded!"</p> + +<p>Papa Dunlee was a wise man. He saw +that his little son was suffering enough +already; he was learning a hard lesson, and +perhaps would learn it all the better for being +left alone with his own conscience.</p> + +<p>On Sunday afternoon the boy was very disconsolate, +and Mr. Dunlee patted him on the +head, saying:—</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125" />Maybe we'll find the watch yet, my son. +And anyway, I know Jimmum didn't mean to +lose it."</p> + +<p>Then he sat down to read, and Jimmy +gazed at him reverently. The sunshine about +his head seemed almost like a halo, and the +boy thought of the angels, and wondered if +they could possibly be any better than papa!</p> + +<p>"Papa is the best man! Never was cross +in his life. I should be cross as fury! I +should shake <i>my</i> boy all to pieces if he +should carry off my gold watch and drop it +in the sand!"</p> + +<p>Monday morning came and the missing +article did not appear. Everybody looked +troubled. Edith walked about, carrying her +lame kitten in a basket, and saying:—</p> + +<p>"Zee is getting better all the while, but +how can I be happy when papa's watch is +lost!"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126" />Who knows but I shall be the one to +find it?" returned Katharine with a mysterious +smile, as she was leaving the house.</p> + +<p>"You forgot to tell us, and we forgot to +ask you, How do you like your school?" +said Aunt Vi.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ever so much, auntie. I'm making it +just as old-fashioned as I can. I'm going to +write Grandma Parlin this week and ask her +if what I do is old-fashioned enough. Good-by."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was waiting for her down the path.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think you'll find the +watch, Kyzie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know, myself, what I meant. +I just said it for fun."</p> + +<p>"Well, do you think Joe Rolfe has got it, +or Chicken Little? That's what I want to +know."</p> + +<p>"Hush, Jimmy! Papa wouldn't allow you +<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127" />to speak names in that way. Somebody stole +it, I suppose, but we don't know who it +was."</p> + +<p>Still Kyzie's face wore a stern look that +morning. It was a thing not to be spoken +of, but she had resolved to "keep an eye" +on two or three of the boys, and see if there +was anything peculiar in their appearance. +Should one of them blush or turn pale when +spoken to, it would be a sure sign of guilt, +and she should go home and announce with +triumph to her father:—</p> + +<p>"Papa, I've found out the thief!"</p> + +<p>The scholars all appeared pretty much as +usual; raising their hands very often to ask, +"May I speak?" or, "May I have a drink of +water?" The little teacher had always wished +they would not do so, but how could she help +it? It was "an old-fashioned school," perhaps +that was why it was so noisy. Whatever went +<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128" />wrong, Kyzie always said to herself, "Oh, it's +just an old-fashioned school."</p> + +<p>Nate Pollard and Jimmy sat to-day as far +apart as possible, almost turning their backs +upon each other. At the bottom of his heart +Nate was truly ashamed of himself, though he +would not have owned it. There were five +new scholars, and Katharine wrote down their +names with much pride. Best of all, some of +the children really seemed to be trying to get +their lessons.</p> + +<p>She had never known Joe Rolfe to study +like this. "Is it because he is guilty?" +thought the little teacher watching him from +under her eyebrows. She walked along toward +him so softly that he did not hear her footsteps.</p> + +<p>"Joseph!" she exclaimed, suddenly. Her +voice startled him; he looked up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to see you studying, Joseph."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129" />Did he blush? His face was of a brownish +red hue at any time, being much tanned; she +could not be quite sure of the blush. But +why did he look so sober? Children generally +smile when they are praised.</p> + +<p>She had been to Bab and Lucy and said, +"How still you are, darlings!" and they had +seemed delighted.</p> + +<p>Next she tried Chicken Little. He certainly +jumped when she spoke his name close +to his ear, "Henry." Now why should he +jump and seem so confused unless he knew +he had done something wrong? She forgot +that he was a very timid boy.</p> + +<p>"Henry, what is the matter with you?" she +asked, frowning severely.</p> + +<p>She had never frowned on him before, for +she liked the little fellow, and was trying her +best to "make a man of him."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Henry?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130" />By this time he was scared nearly out of +his wits, and stole a side glance at her to see +if she had a switch in her hand.</p> + +<p>"Don't whip me," he pleaded in a trembling +voice. "Don't whip me, teacher; and +I'll give you f-i-v-e thousand dollars!"</p> + +<p>As he offered this modest sum to save +himself from her wrath, the little teacher +nearly laughed aloud, Henry did not know +it, however; her face was hidden behind a +book.</p> + +<p>"What made you think, you silly boy, that +I was going to punish you?" she asked as +soon as she could find her voice. "Have +you done something wicked?"</p> + +<p>She spoke in a low tone for his ear alone, +but he writhed under it as if it had been a +blow.</p> + +<p>"I—don'—know."</p> + +<p>"He is the thief," thought Kyzie. "Oh,<a name="Page_131" id="Page_131" /> +Henry, if you've done something wrong you +must know it. Tell me what it was."</p> + +<p>"I—can't!"</p> + +<p>She put her lips nearer his ear. "Was it +you and Joseph Rolfe together? Perhaps +you <i>both</i> did something wicked?"</p> + +<p>"I—don'—know."</p> + +<p>"Was it last Friday?"</p> + +<p>"I—don'—know!"</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me after school?"</p> + +<p>Henry was unable to answer. Worn out +with contending emotions he put his head +down on the seat and cried.</p> + +<p>This did not seem like innocence. Joseph +Rolfe was looking on from across the aisle, +as if he wished very much to know what +she and Henry were talking about.</p> + +<p>"I'll make them tell me the whole +story, the wicked boys," thought Kyzie, +indignantly. "But I can't hurry about it;<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132" /> +I must be very careful. I think I'll wait +till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>So she calmed herself and called out her +classes. Katharine was a "golden girl," and +had a strong sense of justice. She would +say nothing yet to her father, for the boys +might possibly be innocent; still she went +home that afternoon feeling that she had +almost made a discovery.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Grandmother Graymouse," +said Uncle James, as they were all seated +on the veranda after dinner, "do I understand +that you are hunting for a watch?"</p> + +<p>"I'm hunting for it, oh, yes," replied +Kyzie, trying not to look too triumphant; +"but I haven't found it yet. Just wait till +to-morrow, Uncle James."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe we'll wait another minute!" +declared Mr. Sanford, looking around with +a roguish smile. "I see the Dunlee people +<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133" />are all here, Jimmum, Lucy, and all. Attention, +my friends! The thief has been +found!"</p> + +<p>"What thief?" asked Mrs. Hale and Mrs. +Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"Why, <i>the</i> thief! The one we're looking +for! The one that stole the watch!"</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it?" asked the ladies +again. "Did he bring it back?"</p> + +<p>"Come and see," said Uncle James, leading +the way upstairs.</p> + +<p>"Of course it's Joe Rolfe," thought Kyzie. +"I suppose he was frightened by what I said +to Henry Small."</p> + +<p>"Is the thief in your room, Uncle James?" +said Jimmy. "Why didn't you put him in +jail?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Jimmum, do you think all thieves +ought to go to jail? I once knew a little +boy who stole a chimney right off a house; +<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134" />yet I never heard a word said about putting +<i>him</i> in jail!</p> + +<p>"But here we are at the chamber door. +Stand behind me, all of you, in single file."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="X" id="X" /><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135" />X</h3> + +<h2>THE THIEF FOUND</h2> + + +<p>"I don't know so much as I thought I +did," said Kyzie to herself. "Joe Rolfe +wouldn't be in this room."</p> + +<p>For Uncle James was knocking at the door +of Number Five.</p> + +<p>"Walk right in," said Mrs. McQuilken, +coming to meet her guests. She had her +knitting in one hand. "Come in, all of you. +Why, Mr. Templeton, are you here too? You +wouldn't have taken me into your house if +you'd known I was a thief; now would you, +Mr. Templeton?"</p> + +<p>And laughing, she put her right hand in +her apron pocket and drew out a gold watch +and chain.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_136" id="Page_136" />If this belongs to anybody present, let +him step up and claim his property."</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee came forward in amazement, +while Jimmy gave a little squeal of delight.</p> + +<p>"This is mine, thank you, madam," said +Mr. Dunlee, looking at the watch closely. It +seemed very much battered.</p> + +<p>"Dreadfully smashed up, isn't it, sir? I +can't tell you how sorry I am."</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee shook it, and held it to his +ear.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it won't go," said Mrs. McQuilken. +"The inside seems worse off, if anything, +than the outside. 'Twill have to have new +works."</p> + +<p>"Very likely. But it is so precious to me, +madam, that even in this condition I'm glad +to get it back again. Pray, where has it +been?"</p> + +<p>"Right here in this room. Didn't you +<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137" />understand me to confess to stealing it? +Why, you're shaking your head as if you +doubted my word."</p> + +<p>They were all laughing now, and the old +lady's eyes twinkled with fun.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I didn't steal it myself, one of my +family did, so it amounts to the same thing. +Come out here, you unprincipled girl, and beg +the gentleman's pardon," she added, kneeling +and dragging forth from under the bed a +beautiful bird.</p> + +<p>It was her own magpie, chattering and +scolding.</p> + +<p>"Now tell the gentleman who stole his +watch? Speak up loud and clear!"</p> + +<p>The bird flapped her wings, and cawed out +very crossly:—</p> + +<p>"Mag! Mag! Mag!"</p> + +<p>"Hear her! Hear that!" cried her mistress. +"So you did steal it, Mag—I'm glad +<a name="Page_138" id="Page_138" />to hear you tell the truth for once in your +life."</p> + +<p>"Did she take the watch? Did she really +and truly?" cried the children in chorus.</p> + +<p>"To be sure she did, the bad girl. She +has done such things before, and I have +always found her out; but this time she was +too sly for me. She went and put it in my +mending-basket; and who would have thought +of looking for it there?"</p> + +<p>Mag tipped her head to one side saucily, +and kept muttering to herself.</p> + +<p>"Well, I happened to go to the basket this +afternoon and take up a pair of stockings to +mend. They felt amazingly heavy. There was +a hard wad in them, and I wondered what it +could be. I put in my hand and pulled out +the watch. Yes, 'twas tucked right into the +stockings."</p> + +<p>"I wonder we didn't any of us mistrust +<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139" />her at the time of it," said Mr. Templeton; +"those magpies are dreadful thieves."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose you thought 'twas my +business to take care of her, and it was. I'm +ashamed of myself," said Mrs. McQuilken. +"I was looking out of the window when the +boys shied over that roof, but my mind +wasn't on jewelry then. All I thought of was +to run and call for help."</p> + +<p>Yes, and it was her screams which had +aroused the whole neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"And at that very time my Mag was roaming +at large. No doubt she saw the watch +the moment it fell; and to use your expression, +Mr. Templeton, she jumped at it like a +dolphin at a silver spoon."</p> + +<p>The landlord laughed. "But the mystery is," +said he, "how she got back to the house without +being seen. She must have been pretty spry."</p> + +<p>"O Mag, Mag, to think I never once +<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140" />thought to look after you!" exclaimed Mrs. +McQuilken, penitently.</p> + +<p>The bird was scolding all the while, and +running about with short, jerky movements, +trying her best to get out of the room; but +the door was closed.</p> + +<p>"Pretty thing," said Edith. "What a shame +she should be a thief!"</p> + +<p>"She is pretty, now isn't she?" returned +her mistress, fondly. "My husband brought +her from China. You don't often see a +Chinese magpie, with blue plumage,—cobalt +blue."</p> + +<p>"She's a perfect oddity," said Mrs. Hale. +"See those two centre tail-feathers, so very +long, barred with black and tipped with +white."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Dunlee, "and the red bill +and red legs. She's a brilliant creature, Mrs. +McQuilken."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141" />Well, you'll try to forgive her, won't you, +sir? I mean to bring her up as well as I +know how; but what are you going to do +with a girl that can't sense the ten commandments?"</p> + +<p>"What indeed!" laughed Mr. Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"You see she's naturally light-fingered. Yes, +you are, Mag, you needn't deny it. Those +red claws of yours are just pickers and +stealers."</p> + +<p>Here Edith called attention to Mag's nest +on the wall, and they all admired it; and +Mrs. McQuilken said the canary liked to have +Mag near him at night, he was apt to be +lonesome.</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd come in the daytime," said +she. "Come any and all of you, and hear +him sing. He does sing so sweetly, poor +blind thing; it's as good as a sermon to hear +him."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142" />On leaving Mrs. McQuilken the children +went to Aunt Vi's room and Jimmy kept +repeating joyously:—</p> + +<p>"We've found the watch, we've found the +watch!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Aunt Vi; "but what a wreck +it is! Your papa will have to spend a deal +of money in repairing it."</p> + +<p>"Too bad!" said Lucy, "I 'spect 'twould +cost him cheaper to buy a new one."</p> + +<p>"'Twouldn't cost him so much; that's what +you mean," corrected Jimmy. "But I'm +going to pay for mending it anyway."</p> + +<p>"How can you?" asked Kyzie. "All you +have is just your tin box with silver in it."</p> + +<p>"Well, but don't I keep having presents? +And can't I ask folks to stop giving me toys +and books and give me money? And they'll +do it every time."</p> + +<p>"But that would be begging."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143" />Jimmy's face fell. Yes, on the whole it +did seem like begging. He had not thought +of that.</p> + +<p>"Why can't it ever snow in this country?" +he exclaimed suddenly. "Then I could shovel +it. That's the way boys make money 'back +East'"</p> + +<p>Then after a pause he burst forth again, +"Or, I might pick berries—if there were +any berries!"</p> + +<p>"It's not so very easy for little boys to earn +money; is it, dear?" said Aunt Vi, putting +her arm around her young nephew and drawing +him toward her. "But when they've done +wrong—you still think you did wrong, don't +you, Jimmy?"</p> + +<p>"He knows he did," broke in Lucy. "My +papa lent me the watch."</p> + +<p>"She wasn't talking to you," remonstrated +Jimmy. "Yes, auntie, I did wrong; but<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144" /> +Lucy needn't twit me of it! I won't be +<i>characteristic</i> any more as long as I live."</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi smiled and patted his head lovingly.</p> + +<p>"No, dear, I think you'll be more thoughtful +in future. But now let us try to +think what can be done to pay for the +watch."</p> + +<p>"I'll let him have some of the money I +get for teaching. I always meant to," said +Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"Very kind of you," returned Aunt Vi; +"but we'll not take it if we can help it, will +we, Jimmy? I've been thinking it over for +some days, children; and a little plan has +occurred to me. Would you like to know +what it is?"</p> + +<p>They all looked interested. If Aunt Vi +had a plan, it was sure to be worth hearing.</p> + +<p>"It is this: mightn't we get up some +<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145" />entertainments,—good ones that would be +worth paying for?"</p> + +<p>"And sell the tickets? Oh, auntie, that's +just the thing! That's capital!" cried Edith +and Kyzie. "You'd do it beautifully."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that, girls. But we +might join together and act a little play that +I've been writing; that is, we might try. +What have you to say, Jimmy? Could you +help?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I can't speak pieces worth +a cent," replied the boy, writhing and shuffling +his feet. "Look here!" he said, brightening. +"Don't you want some nails driven? I can +do that first rate."</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi laughed and said nails might be +needed in putting up a staging, and she was +sure that he could use a hammer better than +she could.</p> + +<p>Jimmy-boy, much gratified, struck an atti<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146" />tude, +and pounding his left palm with his +thumb, repeated the rhyme:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Drive the nail straight, boys,<br /></span> +<span>Hit it on the head;<br /></span> +<span>Work with your might, boys,<br /></span> +<span>Ere the day has fled."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"There, he can speak, I knew he could +speak!" cried Lucy, in admiration.</p> + +<p>It was settled that they were all to meet +Wednesday morning, and their mother with +them, to talk over the matter.</p> + +<p>"That's great," said Jimmy.</p> + +<p>The watch was found and the world looked +bright once more. True, he was deeply in +debt; but with such a grand helper as Aunt +Vi he was sure the debt would very soon be +paid.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XI" id="XI" /><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147" />XI</h3> + +<h2>BEGGING PARDON</h2> + + +<p>Next morning Jimmy walked to school +with "the little two," whistling as he went. +Lucy had tortured her hair into a "cue," +and</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"The happy wind upon her played,<br /></span> +<span>Blowing the ringlet from the braid."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"I've got the snarling-est, flying-est hair," +scolded she. "I never'll braid it again as +long as I live; so there!"</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Jimmy. "It has looked +like fury ever since we came up here."</p> + +<p>Here Nate overtook the children. He had +not been very social since the accident, but +seemed now to want to talk.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148" />How do you do, Jimmy?" he said: and +Jimmy responded, "How d'ye do yourself?"</p> + +<p>The little girls ran on in advance, and +Jimmy would have joined them, but Nate +said:—-</p> + +<p>"Hold on! What's your hurry?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy turned then and saw that Nate was +scowling and twisting his watch-chain.</p> + +<p>"I've got something to say to you—I +mean papa wants me to say something."</p> + +<p>"Oh ho!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see any need of it, but papa says +I must."</p> + +<p>Jimmy waited, curious to hear what was +coming.</p> + +<p>"Papa says I jollied you the other day."</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, fooled you."</p> + +<p>"So you did, Nate Pollard, and 'twas +awful mean."</p> + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-160' id='illus-160'></a> +<img src="images/illus-160.jpg" +alt=""'James S. Dunlee, will—you—forgive me?'"" +title=""'James S. Dunlee, will—you—forgive me?'"" /> +<h4><b>"'James S. Dunlee, will you forgive me?'"</b></h4> +</div> + +<p>"<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149" />It wasn't either. What made you climb +that ridge-pole? You needn't have done it +just because I did. But papa says I've got +to—to—ask your pardon."</p> + +<p>"H'm! I should think you'd better! +Tore my clothes to pieces. Smashed a gold +watch."</p> + +<p>"You hadn't any business taking that +watch."</p> + +<p>There was a pause.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Jimmy Dunlee, why don't +you speak?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't anything to say."</p> + +<p>"Can't you say, 'I forgive you'?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I can't. You never asked me."</p> + +<p>"Well, I ask you now. James S. Dunlee, +will—you—forgive me?"</p> + +<p>"H'm! I suppose I'll have to," replied +Jimmy, firing a pebble at nothing in particular. +"I forgive you all right because we've +<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150" />found the watch. If we hadn't found it, I +wouldn't! But don't you 'jolly' me again, +Nate Pollard, or you'll catch it!"</p> + +<p>This did not sound very forgiving; but +neither had Nate's remark sounded very penitent. +Nate smiled good-naturedly and seemed +satisfied. The fact was, he and Jimmy were +both of them trying, after the manner of boys, +to hide their real feelings. Nate knew that +his conduct had been very shabby and contemptible, +and he was ashamed of it, but did +not like to say so. Jimmy, for his part, was +glad to make up, but did not wish to seem +too glad.</p> + +<p>Then they each tried to think of something +else to say. They were fully agreed that +they had talked long enough about their foolish +quarrel and would never allude to it +again.</p> + +<p>"Glad that watch has come," said Nate.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151" />So am I. It has come, but it won't <i>go</i>," +said Jimmy. And they laughed as if this +were a great joke.</p> + +<p>Next Jimmy inquired about "the colonel," +and Nate asked: "What colonel? Oh, you +mean the mining engineer. He'll be here +next week with his men."</p> + +<p>By this time the boys were feeling so friendly +that Jimmy asked Nate to go with him before +school next morning to see the knitting-woman's +pets and hear the blind canary sing.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose the magpie will be there?" +returned Nate. "I want to catch her some +time and wring her old neck."</p> + +<p>"Wish you would," said Jimmy. "Hello, +there's Chicken Little crying again. He's +more of a baby than our Eddo."</p> + +<p>Henry was crying now because Dave Blake +had called him a coward. So very, very +unjust! He stood near the schoolhouse door, +<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152" />wiping his eyes on his checked apron and +saying:—</p> + +<p>"I'll go tell the teacher, Dave Blake!"</p> + +<p>"Well, go along and tell her then. Fie, +for shame!"</p> + +<p>Henry, a feeble, petted child, was always +falling into trouble and always threatening to +tell the teacher. Kyzie considered him very +tiresome; but to-day when he came to her +with his tale of woe, she listened patiently, +because she had done him a wrong and wished +to atone for it. She had "really and truly" +suspected this simple child of a crime! He +would not take so much as a pin without +leave; neither would Joseph Rolfe. Yet in +her heart she had been accusing these innocent +children of stealing her father's watch!</p> + +<p>"Miserable me!" thought Kyzie. "I must +be very good to both of them now, to make +up for my dreadful injustice!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153" />She went to Joe and sweetly offered to +lend him her knife to whittle his lead pencil. +He looked surprised. He did not know she +had ever wronged him in her heart.</p> + +<p>She wiped Henry's eyes on her own pocket handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Poor little cry-baby!" thought she. "I +told my mother I would try to make a man +of him, and now I mean to begin."</p> + +<p>She walked part of the way home with +him that afternoon. He considered it a great +honor. She looked like a little girl, but her +wish to help the child made her feel quite +grown-up and very wise.</p> + +<p>"Henry," said she, "how nice you look +when you are not crying. Why, now you're +smiling, and you look like a darling!"</p> + +<p>He laughed.</p> + +<p>"There! laugh again. I want to tell you +something, Henry. You'd be a great deal +<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154" />happier if you didn't cry so much; do you +know it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Dunlee,"—Kyzie liked extremely +to be called Miss Dunlee,—"well, +Miss Dunlee, you see, the boys keep a-plaguing +me. And when they plague me I have to +cry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie, don't you do it! If I were a +little black-eyed boy about your age I'd laugh, +and I'd say to those boys: 'You needn't try +to plague me; you just can't do it. The +more you try, the more I'll laugh.'"</p> + +<p>Henry's eyes opened wide in surprise, and +he laughed before he knew it.</p> + +<p>"There! that's the way, Henry. If you do +that they'll stop right off. There's no fun +in plaguing a little boy that laughs."</p> + +<p>Henry laughed again and threw back his +shoulders. Why, this was something new. +This wasn't the way his mamma talked to +<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155" />him. She always said, "Mamma's boy is +sick and mustn't be plagued."</p> + +<p>"Another thing," went on the little girl, +pleased to see that her words had had some +effect; "whatever else you may do, Henry, +<i>don't</i> 'run and tell,' Do you suppose George +Washington ever crept along to his teacher, +rubbing his eyes this way on his jacket +sleeve, and said 'Miss Dunlee—ah, the boys +have been a-making fun of me—ah! They +called me names, they did!'"</p> + +<p>Henry dropped his chin into his neck.</p> + +<p>"Never mind! You're a good little boy, +after all. <i>You</i> wouldn't steal anything, would +you, Henry?"</p> + +<p>This sudden question was naturally rather +startling. He had no answer ready.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know you wouldn't! But sometimes +little <i>birds</i> steal. Did you hear that a +magpie stole a watch the other day?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156" />Yes, I heard."</p> + +<p>"Well, here's some candy for you, Henry."</p> + +<p>The boy held out his hand eagerly, though +looking rather bewildered. Was the candy +given because George Washington didn't "run +and tell"? Or because magpies steal watches?</p> + +<p>"Now, good night, Henry, and don't forget +what: I've been saying to you."</p> + +<p>Henry walked on, feeling somewhat ashamed, +but enjoying the candy nevertheless. If his +pretty teacher didn't want him to tell tales, he +wouldn't do it any more. He would act just +like George Washington; and then how would +the big boys feel?</p> + +<p>He did not forget his resolve. Next morning +when Dave Blake ran out his tongue +at him and Joe Rolfe said, "Got any chickens +to sell?" he laughed with all his might, +just to see how it would seem. Both +the boys stared; they didn't understand it.<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157" /> +"Hello, Chicken Little, what's the matter with +you?"</p> + +<p>Henry could see the eyes of his young +teacher twinkling from between the slats of +the window-blinds, and he spoke up with a +courage quite unheard-of:—</p> + +<p>"Nothing's the matter with <i>me!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Hear that chicken," cried Joe Rolfe. +"He's beginning to crow!"</p> + +<p>Henry felt the tears starting; but as Miss +Katharine at that moment opened the blind +far enough to shake her finger at him privately +he thought better of it, and faltered +out:—</p> + +<p>"See here, boys, I like to be called Chicken +Little first rate! Say it again. Say it fi-ive +thousand times if you want to!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're too willing," said Joe. "We'll +try it some other time when you get over +being so willing!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158" />The bell rang; it sounded to Henry like +a peal of joy. He walked in in triumph, and +as he passed by the little teacher she patted +him on the head. She did not need to wipe +his eyes with her handkerchief, there were +no tears to be seen. He was not a brave +boy yet by any means, but he had made a +beginning; yes, that very morning he had +made a beginning.</p> + +<p>"Don't you tease Henry Small any more, +I don't like it at all," said Katharine to +Joseph Rolfe.</p> + +<p>And then she slipped a paper of choice +candy into Joe's hand, charging him "not to +eat it in school, now remember." It was a +queer thing to do; but then this was a queer +school; and besides Kyzie had her own reasons +for thinking she ought to be very kind +to Joe.</p> + +<p>"How silly I was to suspect those little +<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159" />boys! I'm afraid I never shall have much +judgment. Still, on the whole, I believe I'm +doing pretty well," thought she, looking +proudly at Henry Small's bright face, and +remembering too how Mr. Pollard had told +her that very morning that his son Nate was +learning more arithmetic at her little school +than he had ever learned in the city schools. +"Oh, I'm so glad," mused the little teacher.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee thought Kyzie did not get +time enough for play. And just now the +little girl was unusually busy. They were +talking at home of the new entertainment to +be given for Jimmy-boy's benefit, and she +was to act a part in it as well as Edith. It +was "Jimmy's play," but Jimmy was not to +appear in it at all. Kyzie and Edith together +were to print the tickets with a pen. The +white pasteboard had been cut into strips for +this purpose; but as it was not decided yet +<a name="Page_160" id="Page_160" />whether the play would be enacted on the +tailings or in the schoolhouse, the young +printers had got no farther than to print +these words very neatly at the bottom of the +tickets:</p> + +<p>"ADMIT THE BEARER."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XII" id="XII" /><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161" />XII</h3> + +<h2>"THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE"</h2> + + +<p>There were only ten days in which to prepare +for the play called "Granny's Quilting." +The children met Wednesday morning in +Aunt Vi's room, all but Bab, who was off +riding. So unfortunate, Lucy thought; for +how could any plans be made without Bab?</p> + +<p>The play was very old-fashioned, requiring +four people, all clad in the style of one hundred +and fifty years ago. Uncle James would +wear a gray wig and "small clothes" and +personate "Grandsir Whalen"; Kyzie Dunlee, +Grandsir's old wife, in white cap, "short gown," +and petticoat, was to be "Granny Whalen" +of course.</p> + +<p>A grandson and granddaughter were needed +<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162" />for this aged couple. Edith would make a +lovely granddaughter and pretend to spin flax. +Who would play the grandson and shell the +corn? Jimmy thought Nate Pollard was just +the one, he was "so good at speaking pieces." +They decided to ask Nate at once, and have +that matter settled.</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi showed a collection of articles which +"the knitting-woman" had kindly offered +for their use; a three-legged light stand, +two fiddle-backed chairs, and a very old hour-glass.</p> + +<p>"I should call it a pair of glasses," said +Edith, as they watched the sand drip slowly +from one glass into the other.</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi said it took exactly an hour for +it to drain out, and our forefathers used to +tell the time of day by hour-glasses before +clocks were invented.</p> + +<p>"What <i>are</i> forefathers?" Lucy asked Edith.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163" />Oh, Adam and Eve and all those old +people," was the careless reply.</p> + +<p>"And didn't they have any clocks?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not. What do you suppose?"</p> + +<p>There was a knock at the door. Nate had +come to find Jimmy and go with him to see +the blind canary.</p> + +<p>"We were just talking about you," said +Aunt Vi. "Are you willing to be Katharine's +grandson in the play?"</p> + +<p>Nate replied laughing that he would do +whatever was wanted of him, and he could +send home and get some knee-buckles and +a cocked hat.</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi said "Capital!" and gave Jimmy +a look which said, "Everything seems to be +going on famously for our new play."</p> + +<p>Jimmy led the way to Mrs. McQuilken's +room, his face wreathed with smiles.</p> + +<p>"Ah, good morning; how do you all do?"<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164" /> +said the lady, meeting the children with courteous +smiles." I see you've brought your +kitten, Edith."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; will you please look at her +wounds again?"</p> + +<p>"They are pretty well healed, dear. I've +never felt much concerned about Zee's wounds. +She makes believe half of her sufferings for +the sake of being petted."</p> + +<p>"Does she, though? I'm so glad."</p> + +<p>"Yes; that 'prize tail' will soon be waving +as proudly as ever. But I suppose you all +came to see the canary. Mag, you naughty +girl," she added, turning to the magpie, +"hide under the bed. They didn't come to +see you. Here, Job, you are the one that's +wanted."</p> + +<p>Little Job, the canary, was standing on the +rug. He came forward now to greet his +visitors, putting out a foot to feel his way, +<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165" />like a blind man with a cane. Then he began +to sing joyously.</p> + +<p>"Don't you call that good music?" asked +his mistress, knitting as she spoke. "He came +from Germany; there's where you get the +best singers. Some canaries won't sing before +company and some won't sing alone; they +are fussy,—I call it <i>pernickitty</i>. Why, I +had one with a voice like a flute; but I happened +to buy some new wall-paper, and she +didn't like the looks of it, and after that she +never would sing a note."</p> + +<p>"Are you in earnest?" asked Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's a fact. But Job never was pernickitty, +bless his little heart!"</p> + +<p>She brought a tiny bell and let him take +it in his claws.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll go out of the room, and you +all keep still and see if he'll ring to call me +back."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166" />She went, closing the door after her. No +one spoke. Job moved his head from side +to side, and, apparently making up his little +mind that he was all alone, he shook the bell +peal after peal. Presently his mistress appeared. +"Did you think mamma had gone +and left you, Job darling? Mamma can't +stay away from her baby."</p> + +<p>The cooing tone pleased the little creature, and +he sang again even more sweetly than before.</p> + +<p>"Let me show you another of his tricks. +You see this little gun? Well, when he fires +it off that will be the end of poor Job!"</p> + +<p>The gun was about two inches long and as +large around as a lead pencil. Inside was a +tiny spring; and when Job's claw touched the +spring the gun went off with a loud report. +Job fell over at once as if shot and lay +perfectly still and stiff on the rug. Lucy +screamed out:—-</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167" />Oh, I'm so sorry he is dead!"</p> + +<p>But next moment he roused himself and +sat up and shook his feathers as if he +relished the joke.</p> + +<p>The children had a delightful half hour +with the captain's widow and her pets; only +Lucy could not be satisfied because Bab was +away.</p> + +<p>"Too bad you went off riding yesterday," +said she as they sat next morning playing +with their dolls. "You never saw that blind +canary that shoots himself, and comes to life +and rings a bell."</p> + +<p>"But can't I see him sometime, Auntie +Lucy?"</p> + +<p>"You can, oh, yes, and I'll go with you. +But, Bab, you ought to have heard our talk +about the play! Kyzie is going to be as +much as a hundred years old, and I guess +Uncle James will be a hundred and fifty.<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168" /> +And they've got a pair of old glasses with +sand inside—the same kind that Adam and +Eve used to have."</p> + +<p>"Why-ee! Did Adam and Eve wear +glasses? 'Tisn't in their pictures; <i>I</i> never saw +'em with glasses on!"</p> + +<p>"No, no, I don't mean glasses <i>wear</i>! I +said glasses with sand inside; <i>that's</i> what +Uncle James has got. Runs out every hour. +Sits on the table."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know what you mean, auntie! You +mean an <i>hour-glass!</i> Grandpa Hale has one +and I've seen lots of 'em in France."</p> + +<p>Lucy felt humbled. Though pretending to +be Bab's aunt, she often found that her little +niece knew more than she knew herself!</p> + +<p>"Seems queer about Adam and Eve," said +she, hastening to change the subject; "who +do you s'pose took care of 'em when they +were little babies?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169" />Why, Auntie Lucy, there wasn't ever any +<i>babiness</i> about Adam and Eve! Don't you +remember, they stayed just exactly as they +were made!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, so they did. I forgot."</p> + +<p>Lucy had made another mistake. This +was not like a "truly auntie"; still it did +not matter so very much, for Bab never +laughed at her and they loved each other +"dearilee."</p> + +<p>"You know a great many things, don't +you, Bab? And <i>I</i> keep forgetting 'em."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know all about the world and the +garden of Eden; <i>that's</i> easy enough," replied +the wise niece.</p> + +<p>And then they went back to their dolls.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later Kyzie Dunlee was +standing in the schoolhouse door with a group +of children about her when Nate Pollard +appeared. As he looked at her he remem<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170" />bered +"Jimmy's play," and the parts they were +both to take in it; and the thought of little +Kyzie as his poor old grandmother seemed +so funny to Nate that he began to laugh and +called out, "Good morning, grandmother!"</p> + +<p>He meant no harm; but Kyzie thought +him very disrespectful to accost her in that +way before the children, and she tossed her +head without answering him.</p> + +<p>Nate was angry. How polite he had always +been to her, never telling her what a +queer school she kept! And now that he +had consented to be her grandson in Jimmy's +play, just to please her and the rest of the +family, it did seem as if she needn't put on +airs in this way!</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" said he; "did you hear about +that dreadful earthquake in San Diego?"</p> + +<p>There had been a very slight one, but he +was trying to tease her.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171" />No, oh, no!" she replied, throwing up +both hands. "When was it?"</p> + +<p>"Last night. I'm afraid of 'em myself, +and if we get one here to-day you needn't +be surprised to see me cut and run right +out of the schoolhouse."</p> + +<p>The children looked at him in alarm. Kyzie +could not allow this.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wouldn't do that!" said she, with +another toss of the head. "Before I'd run +away from an earthquake! Besides, what +good would it do?"</p> + +<p>By afternoon the news had spread about +among the children that there was to be a +terrible earthquake that day. They huddled +together like frightened lambs. The little +teacher, wishing to reassure them, planted +herself against the wall, and made what Edith +would have called a "little preach."</p> + +<p>She pointed out of the window to the clear +<a name="Page_172" id="Page_172" />sky and said she "could not see the least +sign of an earthquake." But even if one +should come they need not be afraid, for +their heavenly Father would take care of +them.</p> + +<p>"And you mustn't think for a moment of +running away! No, children, be quiet! Look +at me, <i>I</i> am quiet. I wouldn't run away +if there were fifty earthquakes!"</p> + +<p>Strange to say, she had hardly spoken these +words when the house began to shake! They +all knew too well what it meant, that frightful +rocking and rumbling; the ground was +opening under their feet!</p> + +<p>Kyzie, though she may have feared it +vaguely all along, was taken entirely by surprise, +and did—what do you think? As +quick as a flash, without waiting for a second +thought, she turned and jumped out of the +window!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173" />Next moment, remembering the children, +she screamed for them to follow her, and +they poured out of the house, some by the +window, some by the door, all shrieking like +mad.</p> + +<p>It was a wild scene,—the frantic teacher, +the terrified children,—and Kyzie will never +cease to blush every time she recalls it. For +there was no earthquake after all! It was +only the new "colonel" and his men blasting +a rock in the mine!</p> + +<p>Of course this escapade of the young teacher +amused the people of Castle Cliff immensely. +They called it "the little schoolma'am's earthquake"; +and the little schoolma'am heard +of it and almost wished it had been a real +earthquake and had swallowed her up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Papa Dunlee! Oh, Mamma Dunlee!" +she cried, her cheeks crimson, her eyelids +swollen from weeping. "I keep finding out +<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174" />that I'm not half so much of a girl as I +thought I was! What does make me do such +ridiculous things?"</p> + +<p>"You are only very young, you dear child," +replied her parents.</p> + +<p>They pitied her sincerely and did their +best to console her. But they were wise +people, and perhaps they knew that their +eldest daughter needed to be humbled just a +little. It was hard, very hard, yet sometimes +it is the hard things which do us most good.</p> + +<p>"O mamma, don't ask me to go down to +dinner. I can't, I can't!"</p> + +<p>"No indeed, darling, your dinner shall be +sent up to you. What would you like?"</p> + +<p>"No matter what, mamma—I don't care +for eating. I can't ever hold up my head +any more. And as for going into that school +again, I never, never, never will do it."</p> + +<p>"I think you will, my daughter," said Mr.<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175" /> +Dunlee, quietly. "I think you'll go back and +live this down and 'twill soon be all forgotten."</p> + +<p>"O papa, do you really, really think 'twill +ever be forgotten? Do you think so, mamma? +A silly, disgraceful, foolish, outrageous, abominable,—there, +I can't find words bad enough!"</p> + +<p>As her parents were leaving the room she +revived a little and added:—</p> + +<p>"Remember, mamma, just soup and chicken +and celery. But a full saucer of ice-cream. +I hope 'twill be vanilla."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XIII" id="XIII" /><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176" />XIII</h3> + +<h2>NATE'S CAVE</h2> + + +<p>The little teacher went back to her school +the very next day. It was a hard thing, but +she knew her parents desired it. Her proud +head was lowered; she could not meet the +eyes of the children, who seemed to be trying +their best not to laugh. At last she spoke:—</p> + +<p>"I got frightened yesterday. I was not +very brave; now was I? Hark! The people +in the mine are blasting rocks again, but we +won't run away, will we?"</p> + +<p>They laughed, and she tried to laugh, too. +Then she called the classes into the floor; +and no more did she ever say to the scholars +about the earthquake. She helped Nate in +his arithmetic, and he treated her like a +<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177" />queen. He was coming to Aunt Vi's room +that evening to show his knee-buckles and +cocked hat and find out just what he was to +do on the stage.</p> + +<p>Kyzie wanted to see the cocked hat and +felt interested in her own white cap which +Mrs. McQuilken was making. It was a good +thing for Katharine that she had "Jimmy's +play" to think of just now. It helped her +through that long forenoon. After this the +forenoons did not drag; school went on as +usual, and Kyzie was glad she had had the +courage to go back and "live down" her +foolish behavior.</p> + +<p>When they met in Aunt Vi's room that +evening it was decided not to have "Jimmy's +play" on the tailings, for that was a place +free to all. People would not buy tickets for +an entertainment out of doors.</p> + +<p>"My tent is the thing," said Uncle James, +<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178" />and so they all thought It was a large +white one, and the children agreed to decorate +it with evergreens. It would hold all the +people who were likely to come and many more.</p> + +<p>During the week Uncle James set up the +tent not far from the hotel and in one corner +of it built a staging. He did not mind taking +trouble for his beloved namesake, James Sanford +Dunlee. The stage was made to look +like a room in an old-fashioned house. It +had a make-believe door and window and a +make-believe fireplace with andirons and wood +and shovel and tongs. There was a rag rug +on the floor, and on the three-legged stand +stood the hour-glass with candles in iron +candlesticks. The fiddle-backed chairs were +there and two <i>hard</i> "easy-chairs" and an +old wooden "settle." Lucy and Bab said it +looked "like somebody's house," and they +wanted to go and live in it.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179" />On the Saturday afternoon appointed the +play had been well learned by the four actors. +Everything being ready, this cosy little sitting-room +was now shut off from view by a calico +curtain which was stretched across the stage +by long strings run through brass rings.</p> + +<p>The play would begin at half-past two. +Jimmy was dressed neatly in his very best +clothes. He had a roll of paper and a pencil +in one of his pockets and during the play he +meant to add up the number of people present +and find out how much money had been +taken.</p> + +<p>"But Jimmy-boy, it won't be very much," +said Edith. "This is an empty town, and so +queer too. Something may happen at the last +minute that will spoil the whole thing."</p> + +<p>She was right. Something did happen which +no one could have foreseen. For an "empty" +town Castle Cliff was famous for events.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180" />As Jimmy left the hotel just after luncheon +he overtook Nate Pollard and Joe Rolfe standing +near a big sand bank, talking together +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Jimmum," said Nate; "we've +got a spade for you. We're going to dig a +cave in the side of this bank."</p> + +<p>"What's the use of a cave?"</p> + +<p>"Why, for one thing, we can run into it +in time of an earthquake."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Jimmy. "Or we could +stay in and be cave-dwellers."</p> + +<p>But as he took up the spade he chanced to +look down at his new clothes. He had spoiled +one nice suit already and had promised his +mother he would be more careful of this one.</p> + +<p>"Wait till I put on my old clothes, will +you?"</p> + +<p>Nate laughed and snapped his fingers. +"We're in a hurry. I've got to be in the +<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181" />tent in half an hour. Go along, you little +dude! We'll dig the cave without you."</p> + +<p>The laugh cut Jimmy to the heart. And +he had been learning to like Nate so well. +A dude? Not he! Besides, what harm would +dry sand do? It's "clean dirt."</p> + +<p>Then all in a minute he thought of that +wild journey on the roof. It had made a +deeper impression upon him than any other +event of his life.</p> + +<p>"Poh! Am I going to dig dirt in my +best clothes just because Nate Pollard laughs +at me? I don't 'take stumps' any more; +there's no sense in it, so there!"</p> + +<p>And off he started, afraid to linger lest he +should fall into temptation. Jimmy might +be heedless, no doubt he often was; but when +he really stopped to think, he always respected +his mother's wishes and always kept his word +to her.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182" />This was the trait in Jimmy which marked +him off as a highly bred little fellow. For let +me tell you, boys, respect for your elders is +the first point of high breeding all the world +over.</p> + +<p>Jimmy sauntered on slowly toward the +door of the tent. There were a great many +benches inside, but it was not time yet for +the audience to arrive. Uncle James and +Katharine and Edith were on the stage, and +Aunt Vi was adding a few touches to Edith's +dress.</p> + +<p>"O dear," said Grandmamma Graymouse, +"I hope I shan't forget my part. Tell me, +Uncle James, do I look old enough?"</p> + +<p>"You look too old to be alive," he answered; +"fifty years older than I do, certainly! Mrs. +Mehitable Whalen, are you my wife or my +very great grandmamma?"</p> + +<p>"But where's Nate Pollard?" Aunt Vi +<a name="Page_183" id="Page_183" />asked. "I told him to come early to rehearse."</p> + +<p>"He said he'd be here in half an hour," +said Jimmy. "He's off playing."</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall not have to punish my +young grandson," said Uncle James, solemnly, +as he began to peel a sycamore switch.</p> + +<p>Uncle James's name was now "Ichabod +Whalen," and he and "Mehitable Whalen," +his wife, were such droll objects in their old-fashioned +clothes that they could not look at +each other without laughing.</p> + +<p>Their absent grandson, "Ezekiel Whalen" +(or Nate Pollard), was a fine specimen of a +boy of ancient times, and Aunt Vi had been +much pleased with the way in which he acted +his part. But where was he? Aunt Vi and +the grandparents grew impatient. It was +now half-past two; people were flocking into +the tent; but the curtain could not rise, for +<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184" />nothing was yet to be seen of young Master +"Ezekiel Whalen " and his small clothes and +his cocked hat. The house was pretty well +filled; really there were far more people than +had been expected, Jimmy, with pencil and +paper in hand, was figuring up the grown +people and children, and multiplying these +numbers by twenty-five and by fifteen. When +he found that the sum amounted to nearly +nine dollars he almost whistled for joy.</p> + +<p>But all this while the audience was waiting. +People looked around in surprise; the +Dimlee family grew more and more anxious. +Aunt Lucy pinched Bab and Bab pinched +Aunt Lucy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there were loud voices at the +entrance of the tent. The tent curtain was +pushed aside violently, and Mr. Templeton +and Mr. Rolfe rushed in exclaiming:—</p> + +<p>"Two boys lost! All hands to the rescue!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185" />The people were on their feet in a moment +and there was a grand rush for the outside. +The panic, so it was said afterward, was +about equal to "the little schoolma'am's earthquake."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XIV" id="XIV" /><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186" />XIV</h3> + +<h2>JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK</h2> + + +<p>"It's the Pollard and Rolfe boys," explained +Mr. Templeton.</p> + +<p>"Ho! I know where <i>they</i> are!" cried +Jimmy, "They're all right. They're only +digging a cave in the side of a sand-bank."</p> + +<p>"Show us where! Run as fast as you +can!" exclaimed Mr. Rolfe and Mr. Pollard. +Mr. Pollard had been hunting for the last +half-hour. He knew Nate was deeply interested +in "Jimmy's play" and would not have +kept away from the tent unless something +unusual had happened.</p> + +<p>Jimmy ran, followed by several men who +could not possibly keep up with him. But +when they all reached the sand-bank, where +<a name="Page_187" id="Page_187" />were the "cave-dwellers"? They had burrowed +in the sand till completely out of sight!</p> + +<p>"Hello! Where are you"? screamed Jimmy.</p> + +<p>There was no answer. In enlarging the +cave they had loosened the very dry earth, +and thus caused the roof over their heads to +fall in upon them, actually burying them as +far as their arm-pits! They tried to scream, +but their muffled voices could not be heard. +The "cave" looked like a great pile of sand +and nothing more. Nobody would have +dreamed that there was any one inside it if it +had not been for Jimmy's story.</p> + +<p>"Courage, boys, we're after you, we'll soon +have you out!" said the men cheerily; though +how could they tell whether the boys heard +or not? Indeed, how did they know the boys +were still alive?</p> + +<p>Two men went for shovels. The other +men, not waiting for them to come back +<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188" />thrust their arms into the bank and scooped +out the sand with their hands. The sand +was loose and they worked very fast. Before +the shovels arrived a moan was heard. At +any rate one of the boys was alive. And +before long they had unearthed both the +young prisoners and dragged them out of +the cave.</p> + +<p>Not a minute too soon, Joe gasped for +breath and looked wildly about; but Nate +lay perfectly still; it could hardly be seen +at first that he breathed. His father and +mother, the doctor and plenty of other people +were ready and eager to help; but it +was some time before he showed signs of life. +When at last he opened his eyes the joy +of his parents was something touching to +witness.</p> + +<p>Jimmy, who had been standing about with +the other children, watching and waiting, +<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189" />caught his mother by the sleeve and whispered:—</p> + +<p>"I should have been in there too, mamma, +if it hadn't been for you!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, my son? In that +cave? I never knew the boys were trying +to make a cave. I did not forbid your digging +in the sand, did I?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma; but I knew you wouldn't +want me to do it in these clothes—after all +my actions! And I had promised to be more +careful."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee smiled, but there were tears +in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"How glad I am that my little boy respected +his mother's wishes," said she, stooping +to kiss his earnest face.</p> + +<p>She dared not think what might have happened +if he had disregarded her wishes!</p> + +<p>It was a time of rejoicing. Mr. Templeton +<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190" />ordered out the brass band and the Hindoo +tam tam. The horse Thistleblow seemed to +think he must be wanted too, and came and +danced in circles before the groups of happy +people.</p> + +<p>"I could believe I was in some foreign +country," said Mrs. McQuilken, smiling under +her East Indian puggaree, as she had not +been seen to smile before, and dropping a +kiss on the cheek of her favorite Edith.</p> + +<p>After dinner the Dunlees met in Aunt Vi's +room, and Aunt Vi observed that Mrs. Dunlee +kept Jimmy close by her side, looking at +him in the way mothers look at good little +sons, her eyes shining with happy love and +pride.</p> + +<p>They were talking over "Jimmy's play," +which had not been played. The money must +all be given back to the people who had +sat and looked so long at that calico curtain.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191" />We'll try 'Granny's Quilting' again next +Saturday," said Aunt Vi.</p> + +<p>They did try it again. There were no +caves to dig this time, and young Master +"Ezekiel Whalen" was on the stage promptly +at half-past one, eager to show his grandparents +that he was a boy to be relied upon +after all. The play was a remarkable success. +All the "summer boarders and campers" +came to it, and everybody said:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, do give us some more entertainments, +Mrs. Sanford! Let us have one every +Saturday."</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi, being the kindest soul in the +world, promised to do what she could. She +gave the play of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin," +with children for rats; and Eddo was +dressed as a mouse, and squealed so perfectly +that Edith's cat could hardly be restrained +from rushing headlong upon the stage.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192" />Later there were tableaux. Edith wore +red, white, and blue and was the Goddess of +Liberty. Jimmy was a cowboy with cartridge-belt +and pistols. Lucy and Barbara were +Night and Morning, with stars on their heads. +Mr. Sanford was Uncle Jonathan. Mr. Hale +was an Indian chief.</p> + +<p>Jimmy's debts were more than paid, and a +happier boy was not to be found in the state +of California.</p> + +<p>After this there were plenty of free entertainments +on the tailings. At one of these, +when the audience was watching a flight of +rockets, Katharine heard two women not far +away talking together. One of them asked:—</p> + +<p>"Where's that little Dunlee girl, the one +that keeps the play-school?"</p> + +<p>"Over there in the corner," replied the +other, "She hasn't any hat on. She's sitting +beside the girl with a cat in her lap."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_193" id="Page_193" />Oh, is that the one? So young as that? +Well, she's a good girl, yes, she is. I +guess she <i>is</i> a good girl," said the first +speaker heartily. "My little Henry thinks +there's nothing like her. He never learned +much of anything till he went to that play-school. +He never behaved so well as he +does now, never gave me so little trouble +at home. She's a <i>good</i> girl."</p> + +<p>A world of comfort fell on Kyzie. Young +as she was and full of faults, she had really +done a wee bit of good.</p> + +<p>"And they didn't say a word about my jumping +out of the window," thought she, with +deep satisfaction. "Wait till I grow up, just +wait till I grow up, and as true as I live I'll +be something and do something in this world!"</p> + +<p>She did not say this aloud, you may be +sure; but there was a look on her face of +high resolve.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194" />Uncle James had often said to Aunt Vi:—</p> + +<p>"Our Katharine is very much in earnest. +I know you agree with me that "little Prudy's" +eldest daughter is a golden girl!"</p> + +<p>The "play-school" closed a few days later, +and it was Henry Small who received the +medal for good spelling. He wasn't so much +of a cry-baby nowadays and the boys had +stopped calling him "Chicken Little."</p> + +<p>The Dunlee party went home the last week +in August, declaring they had had delightful +times at Castle Cliff.</p> + +<p>"Only I never went down that mine in a +bucket," said Lucy. "How could I when the +men were blowing up rocks just like an earthquake?"</p> + +<p>"And I wanted to wait till they found that +vein," said Jimmy.</p> + +<p>A few days before they left, Uncle James +went hunting and shot a deer. I wish there +<a name="Page_195" id="Page_195" />were space to tell of the barbecue to which +all the neighbors were invited a little later.</p> + +<p>As it is, my young readers are not likely +to hear any more of the adventures of the +"bonnie Dunlees," either at home or abroad.</p> + +<p>But during their stay in the mountains that +summer Lucy begged Aunt Vi to write some +stories, with the little friends, Bab and Lucy, +for the heroines.</p> + +<p>"Some 'once-upon-a-time stories,' Auntie Vi. +Make believe we two girls go all about among +the fairies, just as Alice did in Wonderland; +only there are two of us together, and we +shall have a better time!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie! How could I take real live little +girls into the kingdom of the elves and gnomes +and pixies? I shouldn't know how!"</p> + +<p>But she was so obliging as to try. The +week before they left for home she had completed +a book of "once-upon-a-time stories,"<a name="Page_196" id="Page_196" /> +which she read aloud to all the children as +they clustered around her in the "air-castle." +She called it "Lucy in Fairyland," though +she meant Bab just as much as Lucy. If +the little public would like to see this book it +may be offered them by and by; together +with the comments which were made upon +each story by the whole Dunlee family,—Jimmy, +wee Lucy, and all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-210.jpg" +alt="Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"" +title="Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-211.jpg" +alt="Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"" +title="Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-212.jpg" +alt="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"" +title="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-213.jpg" +alt="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"" +title="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"</h4> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14608 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-001.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..469e2b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-001.jpg diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-078.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-078.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..922b062 --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-078.jpg diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-108.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-108.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..80ce708 --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-108.jpg diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-160.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-160.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf1a427 --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-160.jpg diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-210.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-210.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e5e237b --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-210.jpg diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-211.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-211.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..507058d --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-211.jpg diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-212.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-212.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bc7f74 --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-212.jpg diff --git a/14608-h/images/illus-213.jpg b/14608-h/images/illus-213.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8c12ce --- /dev/null +++ b/14608-h/images/illus-213.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9869a52 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14608 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14608) diff --git a/old/14608-h.zip b/old/14608-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc5f319 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14608-h.zip diff --git a/old/14608-h/14608-h.htm b/old/14608-h/14608-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..788c344 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14608-h/14608-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5341 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jimmy, Lucy, and All, by Sophie May. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jimmy, Lucy, and All, by Sophie May + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jimmy, Lucy, and All + +Author: Sophie May + +Release Date: January 5, 2005 [EBook #14608] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-001' id='illus-001'></a> +<img src="images/illus-001.jpg" +alt=""Edith was busy taking their photographs"!" +title=""Edith was busy taking their photographs"" /> +<h4><b>"Edith was busy taking their photographs"</b></h4> +</div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h3>LITTLE PRUDY'S CHILDREN</h3> + +<h1>JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>SOPHIE MAY</h2> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF "LITTLE PRUDY STORIES" "DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES" +"LITTLE PRUDY'S FLYAWAY SERIES" "FLAXIE FRIZZLE +SERIES" "THE QUINNEBASSET SERIES" ETC.</h5> + +<h6>BOSTON +LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS +1900</h6> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4>COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY LEE AND SHEPARD.</h4> + +<h4><i>All Rights Reserved.</i></h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL.</h1> + +<h4>Norwood Press +J.S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith +Norwood Mass. U.S.A.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> + <a href="#I"><b>I. THE TALLYHO</b></a><br /> + <a href="#II"><b>II. THE FIRST DINNER</b></a><br /> + <a href="#III"><b>III. LUCY'S GOLD MINE</b></a><br /> + <a href="#IV"><b>IV. "THE KNITTING-WOMAN"</b></a><br /> + <a href="#V"><b>V. THE AIR-CASTLE</b></a><br /> + <a href="#VI"><b>VI. "GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE"</b></a><br /> + <a href="#VII"><b>VII. THE ZEBRA KITTEN</b></a><br /> + <a href="#VIII"><b>VIII. STEALING A CHIMNEY</b></a><br /> + <a href="#IX"><b>IX. "CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE</b></a><br /> + <a href="#X"><b>X. THE THIEF FOUND</b></a><br /> + <a href="#XI"><b>XI. BEGGING PARDON</b></a><br /> + <a href="#XII"><b>XII. "THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE"</b></a><br /> + <a href="#XIII"><b>XIII. NATE'S CAVE </b></a><br /> + <a href="#XIV"><b>XIV. JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK</b></a><br /> + </p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<p> +<a href="#illus-001">"Edith was busy taking their photographs"</a><br /> +<a href="#illus-078">"'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"</a><br /> +<a href="#illus-108">Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken</a><br /> +<a href="#illus-160">"'James S. Dunlee, will you forgive me?'"</a><br /> +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I" /><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1" /></h2> + +<h3>I</h3> + +<h2>THE TALLYHO</h2> + + +<p>"I never saw a gold mine in my life; and +now I'm going to see one," cried Lucy, skipping +along in advance of the others. It was +quite a large party; the whole Dunlee family, +with the two Sanfords,—Uncle James and +Aunt Vi,—making ten in all, counting Maggie, +the maid. They had alighted from the cars +at a way-station, and were walking along the +platform toward the tallyho coach which was +waiting for them. Lucy was firmly impressed +with the idea that they were starting for the +gold mines. The truth was, they were on +<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2" />their way to an old mining-town high up in +the Cuyamaca Mountains, called Castle Cliff; +but there had been no gold there for a great +many years.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee was in rather poor health, and +had been "ordered" to the mountains. The +others were perfectly well and had not been +"ordered" anywhere: they were going merely +because they wanted to have a good time.</p> + +<p>"Papa would be so lonesome without us +children," said Edith, "he needs us all for +company."</p> + +<p>He was to have still more company. Mr. +and Mrs. Hale were coming to-morrow to +join the party, bringing their little daughter +Barbara, Lucy's dearest friend. They could +not come to-day; there would have been +hardly room for them in the tallyho. With all +"the bonnie Dunlees,"—as Uncle James called +the children,—and all the boxes, baskets, and +<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3" />bundles, the carriage was about as full as it +could hold.</p> + +<p>It was seldom that the driver used this tallyho. +He was quite choice of it, and generally +drove an old stage, unless, as happened +just now, he was taking a large party. It was +a very gay tallyho, as yellow as the famous +pumpkin coach of Cinderella, only that the +spokes of the wheels were striped off with +scarlet. There were four white horses, and +every horse sported two tiny American flags, +one in each ear.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" called out the driver, a +brown-faced, broad-shouldered man, with a +twinkle in his eye.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" responded Mr. Sanford, +echoed by Jimmy-boy.</p> + +<p>Whereupon crack went the driver's long +whip, round went the red and yellow wheels, +and off sped the white horses as freely as if +<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4" />they were thinking of Lucy's gold mine and +longing to show it to her, and didn't care how +many miles they had to travel to reach it. +But this was all Lucy's fancy. They were +thinking of oats, not gold mines. These bright +horses knew they were not going very far up +the mountain. They would soon stop to rest +in a good stable, and other horses not so +handsome would take their places. It was a +very hard road, and grew harder and harder, +and the driver always changed horses twice +before he got to the end of the journey.</p> + +<p>As the tallyho rattled along, the older people +in it fell to talking; and the children looked +at the country they were passing, sang +snatches of songs, and gave little exclamations +of delight. Edith threw one arm around her +older sister Katharine, saying:—</p> + +<p>"O Kyzie, aren't you glad you live in California? +How sweet the air is, and how high +<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5" />the mountains look all around! When we +were East last summer didn't you pity the +people? Only think, they never saw any +lemons and oranges growing! They don't +know much about roses either; they only +have roses once a year."</p> + +<p>"That's true," replied Kyzie. "Let me +button your gloves, Edy, you'll be dropping +them off."</p> + +<p>"See those butterflies! I'd be happy if Bab +was only in here," murmured a little voice +from under Lucy's hat. "Bab didn't want to +come with her papa and mamma; she wanted +to come with <i>me</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Now, Lucy, don't be foolish," said Edith. +"Where could we have put Bab? There's +not room enough in this coach, unless one of +the rest of us had got out. You'll see Bab +to-morrow, and she'll be in Castle Cliff all +summer; so you needn't complain."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6" /><i>I</i> wasn't complaining, no indeed! Only I +don't want to go down in the gold mine till +Bab comes. I s'pose they'll put us down in +a bucket, won't they? I want Uncle James +to go with us."</p> + +<p>Jimmy-boy laughed and threw himself about +in quite a gale. He often found his little +sister very amusing.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Lucy," said he; "but I do +think you're very ignorant! That mine up +there is all played out, and Uncle James has +told us so ever so many times. Didn't you +hear him? The shaft is more than half full +of muddy water. I'd like to see you going +down in a bucket!"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, Jimmy Dunlee, what <i>shall</i> we +do at Castle Cliff?"</p> + +<p>"We've brought a tent with us, and for one +thing I'm going to camp out," replied Jimmy. +"That's a grand thing, they say."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7" />Don't! There'll be something come and +eat you up, sure as you live," said Lucy, who +had a vague notion that camping out was connected +in some way with wild animals, such +as coyotes and mountain lions.</p> + +<p>"Poh! you don't know the least thing +about Castle Cliff, Lucy! And Uncle James +has talked and talked! Tell me what he said, +now do."</p> + +<p>Uncle James was seated nearly opposite, +for the two long seats of the tallyho faced +each other. Lucy spoke in a low tone, not +wishing him to overhear.</p> + +<p>"He said we were going to board at a big +house pretty near the old mine."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Templeton's."</p> + +<p>"And he said somebody had a white Spanish +rabbit with reddish brown eyes and its +mouth all a-quiver."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard him say that about the rab<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8" />bit. +And what are those things that come +and walk on top of the house in the morning?"</p> + +<p>"I know. They are woodpeckers. They +tap on the roof, and the noise sounds like +'Jacob, Jacob, wake up, Jacob!' Uncle James +says when strangers hear it they think somebody +is calling, and they say, 'Oh, yes, we're +coming!' I shan't say that; I shall know it's +woodpeckers. Tell some more, Jimmy."</p> + +<p>"Yes" said Eddo, leaving Maggie and +wedging himself between Lucy and Jimmy. +"Tell some more, Jimmum!"</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a post-office in town and +there's a telephone, and Mr. Templeton has +lots of things brought up to Castle Cliff from +the city; so we shall have plenty to eat; +chicken and ice-cream and things. That +makes me think, I'm hungry. Wouldn't they +let us open a luncheon basket?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9" />Kyzie thought not; so Jimmy went on +telling Lucy what he knew of Castle Cliff. +"It's named for an air-castle there is up there; +it's a thing they <i>call</i> an air-castle anyway. A +man built it in the hollow of some trees, away +up, up, up. I'm going to climb up there to +see it."</p> + +<p>"So'm I," said Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Ho, you can't climb worth a cent; you're +only a girl!"</p> + +<p>"But she has an older brother; and sometimes +older brothers are kind enough to help +their little sisters," remarked Kyzie, with a +meaning smile toward Jimmy; but Jimmy was +looking another way.</p> + +<p>"Uncle James told a funny story about +that air-castle," went on Kyzie. "Did you +hear him tell of sitting up there one day and +seeing a little toad help another toad—a lame +one—up the trunk of the tree?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10" />No, I didn't hear," said Lucy. "How did +the toad do it?"</p> + +<p>"I'll let you all guess."</p> + +<p>"Pushed him?" said Edith.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Took him up pickaback," suggested Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort. He just took his +friend's lame foot in his mouth, and the two +toads hopped along together! Uncle James +said it probably wasn't the first time, for they +kept step as if they were used to it."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't that cunning?" said Edith. And +Jimmy remarked after a pause, "If Lucy +wants to go up to that castle, maybe I could +steady her along; only there's Bab. She'd +have to go too. And I don't believe it's any +place for girls!"</p> + +<p>The ride was a long one, forty miles at least. +The passengers had dinner at a little inn, the +elegant horses were placed in a stable; and the +<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11" />tallyho started again at one o'clock with a black +horse, a sorrel horse, and two gray ones.</p> + +<p>The afternoon wore on. The horses climbed +upward at every step; and though the journey +was delightful, the passengers were growing +rather tired.</p> + +<p>"Wish I could sit on the seat with the +king-ductor," besought little Eddo, moving +about uneasily.</p> + +<p>"That isn't a conductor, it's a driver. Conductors +are the men that go on the steam-cars,—the +'choo choo cars,'" explained Jimmum. +Then in a lower tone, "They don't have any +cars up at Castle Cliff, and I'm glad of it."</p> + +<p>Lucy did not understand why he should be +glad, and Jimmy added in a lower tone:—</p> + +<p>"Because—don't you remember how some +little folks used to act about steam-engines? +They might do it again, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I 'member now. But that was a +<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12" />long time ago, Jimmy. He wouldn't run after +engines now."</p> + +<p>"Who wouldn't?" inquired young Master +Eddo, forgetting the "king-ductor" and turning +about to face his elder brother. "Who +wouldn't run after the engine, Jimmum?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody—I mean <i>you</i> wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"No, no, not me," assented Eddo, shaking +his flaxen head.</p> + +<p>And there the matter would have ended, if +Lucy had not added most unluckily: "'Twas +when you were only a baby that you did it, +Eddo. You said to the engine, 'Come here, +little choo choo, Eddo won't hurt oo.' <i>You</i> +didn't know any better."</p> + +<p>"<i>'Course</i> I knew better," said Eddo, shaking +his head again, but this time with an air +of bewilderment. "<i>I</i> didn't say, 'Come here, +little choo choo.' No, no, not me!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you did, darling," persisted Lucy.<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13" /> +"You were just a tiny bit of a boy. You +stood right on the track, and the engine was +coming, 'puff, puff,' and you said, 'Come +here, little choo choo, Eddo won't hurt oo!'"</p> + +<p>"I didn't! Oh! Oh! Oh! <i>When'd</i> I say +that? <i>Did</i> the engine hurt me? <i>Where</i> did it +hurt me? Say, Jimmum, where did the engine +hurt me?" putting his hand to his throat, to +his ears, to his side.</p> + +<p>The more he thought of it, the worse he +felt; till appalled by the idea of what he +must have suffered he finally fell to sobbing +in his mother's arms, and she soothed his +imaginary woes with kisses and cookies. For +the remainder of the journey he was in pretty +good spirits and found much diversion in +watching the gambols of the two dogs following +the tallyho. One was a Castle Cliff dog, +black and shaggy, named Slam; the other, +yellow and smooth, belonged to the "king-<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14" />ductor" +or driver, and was called Bang. Slam +and Bang often darted off for a race and +Eddo nearly gave them up for lost; but they +always came back wagging their tails and +capering about as if to say:—</p> + +<p>"Hello, Eddo, we ran away just to scare +you, and we'll do it again if we please!"</p> + +<p>It was a great day for dogs. Ever so many +dogs ran out to meet Slam and Bang. They +always bit their ears for a "How d'ye do?" +and then trotted along beside them just for +company. Eddo found it quite exciting. One +was a Mexican dog, without a particle of hair, +but he did not seem to be in the least +ashamed of his singular appearance.</p> + +<p>Edith said it was an "empty country," and +indeed there were few houses; but there must +have been more dogs than houses, for the +whole journey had a running accompaniment +of "bow-wow-wows."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15" />The farther up hill the road wound the +steeper it grew; and Jimmy exclaimed more +than once:—</p> + +<p>"This coach is standing up straight on its +hind feet, papa! Just look! 'Twill spill us +all out backward!"</p> + +<p>But it did nothing of the sort. It took them +straight to Castle Cliff, "nearly six thousand +feet above the level of the sea," and there +it stopped, before the front door of the hotel. +It was about half-past five o'clock in the +afternoon, and Mr. Templeton, who had been +looking out for the tallyho, came down the +steps to meet his guests.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="II" id="II" /><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16" />II</h3> + +<h2>THE FIRST DINNER</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Templeton's wife was just behind +him. They both greeted the party as if they +had all been old friends. The house, a large +white one, stood as if in the act of climbing +the hill. In front was a sloping lawn full +of brilliant flowers, bordered with house-leek, +or "old hen and chickens," a plant running +over with pink blossoms. Kyzie had not +expected to see a garden like this on the +mountain.</p> + +<p>At one side of the house, between two +black oak trees, was a hammock, and near +it a large stone trough, into which water +dripped from a faucet. Two birds, called +red-hammers, were sipping the water with +<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17" />their bills, not at all disturbed by the arrival +of strangers.</p> + +<p>It was a small settlement. The hotel, by +far the largest house in Castle Cliff, looked +down with a grand air upon the few cottages +in sight. These tiny cottages were not at all +pretty, and had no grass or lawns in front, +but people from the city were keeping house in +them for the summer; and besides there were +tents scattered all about, full of "campers."</p> + +<p>As the "bonnie Dunlees" and their elders +entered the hotel, a merry voice called out:—</p> + +<p>"A hearty welcome to you, my friends, +and three cheers for Castle Cliff!"</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Dunlee and the Sanfords +walked on smiling, and the children lingered +awhile outside; but it was a full minute +before any of them discovered that the +cheery voice belonged to a parrot, whose +cage swung from a tall sycamore overhead.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18" />Polly's pretty sociable," laughed Mr. Templeton. +"Do you like animals, young ladies? +If so, please stand up here in a group, and +you shall have another welcome."</p> + +<p>Then he clapped his hands and called out +"Thistleblow!" and immediately a pretty red +pony came frisking along and began to caper +around the young people with regular dancing +steps, making at the same time the most +graceful salaams, pausing now and then to +sway himself as if he were courtesying. It +was a charming performance. The little +creature had once belonged to a band of +gypsies, who had given him a regular course +of training.</p> + +<p>"He is trying to tell you how glad he is +to see you," said Mr. Templeton, as the children +shouted and clapped their hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh, won't Bab like it, though!" cried +Lucy. "Seems as if I couldn't wait till +<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19" />to-morrow for Bab to get here, for then the +good times will begin."</p> + +<p>But for Kyzie and Edith and Jimmy the +good times had begun already. The five +Dunlees entered the house, little Eddo clinging +fast to Jimmum's forefinger. They +passed an old lady who sat on the veranda +knitting. She gazed after them through her +spectacles, and said to Mr. Templeton in a +tone of inquiry:—</p> + +<p>"Boarders?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied, rubbing his chin, "and +they have lots of jingle in 'em too; they're +just the kind I like."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope they won't get into any +mischief up here, that's all I've got to say. +Nobody wants to take children to board +anyway, but you can't always seem to help +it."</p> + +<p>And then the old lady turned to her knit<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20" />ting +again; indeed her fingers had been flying +all the while she talked. Mr. Templeton +looked at her curiously, and wondered if she +disliked children.</p> + +<p>"I'd as lief have 'em 'round the house as +her birds and kittens anyway," he reflected; +for she kept a magpie, three cats and a canary; +and these pets had not been always +agreeable guests at the hotel.</p> + +<p>It was now nearly six o'clock, and savory +odors from the kitchen mingled with the +balmy breath of the flowers stealing in from +the lawn. The Dunlee party had barely time +for hasty toilets when the gong sounded for +dinner. The Templeton dining-room was large +and held several tables. The Dunlees had +the longest of these, the one near the west +window. There were twelve plates set, though +only nine were needed to-night. The three +extra plates had been placed there for the<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21" /> +Hale family, who were expected to-morrow. +Mrs. Dunlee had told the landlord that she +would like the Hales at her table.</p> + +<p>"And Bab will sit side o' me," said Lucy. +"Oh, won't we be happy?"</p> + +<p>As the Dunlees took their seats to-night +and looked around the room they saw a droll +sight. The old lady, who had been knitting +on the veranda, was seated at a small table +in one corner; and on each side of her in a +chair sat a cat! One cat was a gray "coon," +the other an Angora; and both of them sat +up as grave as judges, nibbling bits of cheese. +Mrs. McQuilken herself, dressed in a very +odd style, was knitting again. She was a remarkably +industrious woman, and as it would +be perhaps three or four minutes before the +soup came in, she could not bear to waste the +time in idleness. Her head-dress was odd +enough. It was just a strip of white muslin +<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22" />wound around the head like an East Indian +puggaree. Mrs. McQuilken had many outlandish +fashions. She was the widow of a +sea-captain and had been abroad most of her +life. The children could hardly help staring +at her. Even after they had learned to know +her pretty well they still wanted to stare; and +not being able to remember her name they +spoke of her as "the knitting-woman."</p> + +<p>"Look, Lucy," whispered Jimmy; "there's +a boy I know over there at that little table. +It's Nate Pollard."</p> + +<p>He waved his hand toward him and Nate +waved in reply. At home Jimmy had not +known Nate very well, for he was older than +himself and in higher classes; but here among +strangers Jimmy-boy was glad to see a familiar +face. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard were with their +son. Perhaps they had all come for the summer. +Jimmy hoped so.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23" />There were two colored servants gliding +about the room, and a pretty waiting-maid.</p> + +<p>"O dear, no cook from Cathay," whispered +Kyzie to Edith.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you mean."</p> + +<p>"I mean I wanted a cook from Cathay or +Cipango," went on Kyzie, laughing behind her +napkin.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to shake you," said Edith, who +suddenly bethought herself that Cathay and +Cipango were the old names for China and +Japan. This had been part of her history +lesson a few days ago. How Kyzie did remember +everything!</p> + +<p>At that moment the colored man from +Georgia stood at her elbow with a steaming +plate of soup. Lucy looked at him askance. +Why couldn't he have been a Chinaman with +a pigtail? She had told Bab she was almost +sure there would be a "China cook" at the +<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24" />mountains, and when he passed the soup he +would say, "Have soup-ee?" Bab had been +in Europe and in Maine and in California, +but knew very little of Chinamen and had +often said she "wanted to eat China cooking."</p> + +<p>The dinner was excellent. Eddo enjoyed +it very much for a while; then his head +began to nod over his plate, his spoon waved +uncertainly in the air, and Maggie had to be +sent for to take him away from the table.</p> + +<p>The ride up the mountain had been so +fatiguing that by eight o'clock all the Dunlees, +little and big, were glad to find themselves +snugly in bed. They slept late, every +one of them, and even the woodpeckers, tapping +on the roof next morning, failed to arouse +them with their "Jacob, Jacob, wake up, +wake up, Jacob!"</p> + +<p>After breakfast Edith happened to leave +the dining-room just behind Mrs. McQuilken, +<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25" />who held her two cats cuddled up in her +arms like babies, and was kissing their foreheads +and calling them "mamma's precious +darlings." As Edith heard this she could +not help smiling, and Mrs. McQuilken paused +in the entry a moment to say:—</p> + +<p>"I guess you like cats."</p> + +<p>"I do, ma'am. Oh, yes, very much."</p> + +<p>"That's right. I like to see children fond +of animals. Now, I've got a new kitty upstairs, +a zebra kitty, that you'd be pleased +with. It's a beauty, and <i>such</i> a tail! Come +up to my room and see it if you want to. +My room's Number Five. But don't you +come now; I shall be busy an hour and a +half. Remember, an hour and a half."</p> + +<p>Edith thanked her and ran to tell Kyzie +what the "knitting-woman" had been saying.</p> + +<p>"Go get your kodak," said Kyzie. "Nate +Pollard is going to take us all out on an +<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26" />exploring expedition. You know he has been +in Castle Cliff a whole week, and knows +the places."</p> + +<p>"First thing I want to see is that mine," +said Lucy, as they all met outside the hotel.</p> + +<p>"The mine?" repeated Kyzie, and looked +at Eddo. "I'm afraid it isn't quite safe to +take little bits of people to such a place as +that. Do you think it is, Nate?"</p> + +<p>"Rather risky," replied Nate.</p> + +<p>Eddo had caught the words, "little bits of +people," and his eyes opened wide.</p> + +<p>"What does <i>mine</i> mean, Jimmum?"</p> + +<p>"A great big hole, I guess. See here, +Eddo, let's go in the house and find Maggie."</p> + +<p>"Yes," chimed in Edith, "let's go find +Maggie. There's a <i>beau</i>-tiful picture book in +mamma's drawer. You just ask Maggie and +she'll show you the picture of those nice +little guinea-pigs."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27" />Though very young, Eddo was acute enough +to see through this little manoeuvre. It was +not the first time the other children had tried +to get him out of the way. They wanted to +go to see a charming "great big hole" somewhere, +and they thought he would fall into +it and get hurt. They were always thinking +such things—so stupid of them! They +thought he used to run after "choo choos" +and talk to them, when of course he never +did it; 'twas some other little boy.</p> + +<p>"I want to go with Jimmum," said he, +stoutly. "You ought to not go 'thout me! +<i>I</i> shan't talk to that mine. <i>I</i> shan't say, +'Come, little mine, Eddo won't hurt oo.' No, +no, not me! I shan't say nuffin', and I +shan't fall in the hole needer. So there! +H'm! 'm! 'm!"</p> + +<p>It was not easy to resist his pleading. +Perhaps Aunt Vi saw how matters were, for +<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28" />she appeared just then, bearing the news that +she and Uncle James were going to drive, +and would like to take one of the children.</p> + +<p>"And Eddo is the one we want. He is +so small that he can sit on the seat between +us. Aren't the rest of you willing to give +him up just for this morning? He can go +to walk with you another time."</p> + +<p>So they all said they would try to give +him up, and he bounded away with Aunt +Vi, his dear little face beaming with proud +satisfaction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="III" id="III" /><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29" />III</h3> + +<h2>LUCY'S GOLD MINE</h2> + + +<p>The other children strolled leisurely along +toward a place that looked like a long strip +of sand.</p> + +<p>"A sand beach," said Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"No," said Nate; "it isn't a beach and it +isn't sand."</p> + +<p>"What <i>can</i> you mean? What else is it, +pray?"</p> + +<p>She stooped and took up a handful of something +that certainly looked like sand. The +others did the same.</p> + +<p>"What do you call that?" they all asked, +as they sifted it through their fingers.</p> + +<p>Nate smiled in a superior way.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30" />Well, I don't call it sand, because it isn't +sand. I thought it was when I first saw it; +I got cheated, same as you. But there's no +sand to it; it's just <i>tailings</i>."</p> + +<p>"What in the world is tailings?" asked +Kyzie, taking up another handful and looking +it over very carefully. Strange if she, a +girl in her teens, couldn't tell sand when she +saw it! But she politely refrained from making +any more remarks, and waited for Nate +to answer her question. He was an intelligent +boy, between eleven and twelve.</p> + +<p>"Well, tailings are just powdered rocks," +said Nate.</p> + +<p>"Powdered rocks? Who powdered them? +What for?" asked Edith.</p> + +<p>"Why, the miners did it years ago. They +ground up the rocks in the mine into powder +just as fine as they could, and then washed +the powder to get the gold out."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31" />Oh, I see," said Edith. "So these tailings +are what's left after the gold's washed out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they brought 'em and spread 'em +'round here to get rid of 'em I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Is the gold all washed out, every bit?" +asked Jimmy. "Seems as if I could see a +little shine to it now."</p> + +<p>"Well, they got out all they could. There +may be a little dust of it left though. Mr. +Templeton says the folks in 'Frisco that own +the mine think there's <i>some</i> left, and the tailings +ought to be sent to San Diego and +worked over."</p> + +<p>Jimmy took up another handful. Yes, +there was a faint shine to it; it began to +look precious.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a heap of it anyway. It +goes ever so far down," said he, thrusting in +a stick.</p> + +<p>"It's from ten to twelve feet deep," re<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32" />plied +Nate, proud of his knowledge; "and +see how long and wide!"</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> don't see how they ever ground up rocks +so fine," said Kyzie. "Exactly like sand. +And it stretches out so far that you'd think +'twas a sand beach by the sea,—only there +isn't any sea."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's just as good as a beach anyway," +said Nate. "Just as good for picnics +and the like of that. When there's +anything going on, they get out the brass +band and have fireworks and bring chairs +and benches and sit round here. I tell you +it's great!"</p> + +<p>"There are lots of benches here now," +remarked Edith. "And what's that long +wooden thing?"</p> + +<p>"That's a staging. That's where they have +the brass band sit; that's where they send up +the fireworks."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33" />Oh, I hope they'll have fireworks while +we're here, and picnics."</p> + +<p>"Of course they will. They're always having +'em. And I heard somebody say they're +talking of a barbecue."</p> + +<p>Edith clapped her hands. She did not know +what a barbecue might be, but it sounded wild +and jolly.</p> + +<p>"What a long stretch of mud-puddle right +here by the tailings," said Kyzie.</p> + +<p>Nate laughed. "It <i>is</i> a damp spot, that's +a fact!"</p> + +<p>They all wondered what he was laughing +at. "I guess there used to be water here +once," said Jimmy at a venture. "There's +water here now standing round in spots. +And,—why, it's <i>fishes</i>!"</p> + +<p>Lucy stooped all of a sudden and picked +up a dead fish.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! I never caught a fish before!"<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34" /> +But next moment she threw it away in disgust.</p> + +<p>"How did dead fishes ever get into this +mud-puddle?" queried Edith.</p> + +<p>"Well, they used to live in it before it dried +up," replied Nate. "Fact is, this is a <i>lake</i>!"</p> + +<p>Everybody exclaimed in surprise; and Kyzie +said:—</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem possible; but then things +are so queer up here that you can believe +almost anything."</p> + +<p>"Really it is a lake. It's all right in the +winter, and swells tremendously then; but this +is a dry year, you know, and it's all dried +up." Kyzie forgave the lake for drying up, +but pitied the fishes. Edith thought Castle +Cliff was "a funny place anyway."</p> + +<p>"What little bits of houses! Did they dry +up too?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, those are just the cabins and bunk-<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35" />houses +that were built for the miners, ever so +long ago when the mine was going. Fixed +up into cottages now for summer boarders. +Do you want to see the mine?"</p> + +<p>They went around behind the shaft-house +and beyond the old saw-mill.</p> + +<p>"O my senses!" cried Edith, "is that the +old gold mine, that monstrous great thing? +Isn't it horrid?"</p> + +<p>They all agreed that it was "perfectly awful +and dreadful," and that it made you shudder +to look into it; and that they were glad baby +Eddo was safely out of the way. The mine +was a deep, irregular chasm, full of dirty water +and rocks. It had a hungry, cruel look; you +could almost fancy it was waiting in wicked +glee to swallow up thoughtless little children.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem as if anybody could ever +have dug for gold in that horrid ditch," +exclaimed Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36" />You'd better believe they did, though," +said the young guide. "They used to get it +out in nuggets, cart-loads of it."</p> + +<p>He was not quite sure of the nuggets, but +liked the sound of the word.</p> + +<p>"Yes, cart-loads of it. I tell you 'twas the +richest mine in the whole Cuyamaca Mountains."</p> + +<p>"Too bad the gold gave out," said Kyzie, +gazing regretfully into the watery depths.</p> + +<p>"But it didn't give out! Why, there's gold +enough left down there to buy up the whole +United States! They lost the vein, that's +all"</p> + +<p>"The vein? What's a vein?" asked Edith.</p> + +<p>"Well, you see," replied the guide, "gold +goes along underground in streaks; they call +it veins. The miners had to stop digging here +because they lost track of the streak. But +they'll find it again."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37" />How do <i>you</i> know?" asked Jimmy-boy, +who thought Nate was putting on too many +airs.</p> + +<p>"Because Mr. Templeton said so. They've +sent for Colonel Somebody from I—forget +where. He's a splendid mining engineer, great +for finding lost veins. He'll be here next +week and bring a lot of men."</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee!" cried Jimmy, "he'll find the +vein and things, and we'll be having gold as +plenty as blackberries!"</p> + +<p>"Just what I was talking about yesterday +when you laughed," broke in Lucy. "I said +I'd go down in a bucket; don't you know I +did?"</p> + +<p>Edith was gazing spellbound at the yawning +chasm.</p> + +<p>"Look at those rickety steps! The men +will get killed! 'Twill all cave in!"</p> + +<p>"No danger," said Nate, "there are walls +<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38" />down there, stone walls, papa says, that keep +it all safe."</p> + +<p>He meant "galleries," but had forgotten +the word.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care if there are five hundred +stone walls, I guess the men could drown +all the same!" said Edith. "That water +ought to be let out, Nate Pollard! If the +colonel is coming next week why don't they +let out the water this very day and give the +place a chance to dry off."</p> + +<p>She spoke in a tone of the gravest anxiety, +as if she understood the matter perfectly, and +felt the whole care of the mine. Indeed, +the mine had become suddenly very interesting +to all the children. It certainly looked +like a rough, wild, frightful hole; nothing +more than a hole; but if there were gold +down there in "nuggets," why, that was +quite another matter; it became at once an +<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39" />enchanted hole; it was as delightful as a +fairy story.</p> + +<p>"I hope it's true that they've sent for that +colonel," said Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"Of course it's true," replied Nate, who +did not like to have his word doubted.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose there are buckets 'round here. +Oh, aren't you glad we came to Castle +Cliff?" said Lucy, pirouetting around Jimmy.</p> + +<p>"Bab will be glad, too," she thought. For +Lucy never could look forward to any pleasure +without wishing her darling "niece" to +share it with her.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess we've seen everything there +is to see," remarked Nate, who had now told +all he knew and was ready to go.</p> + +<p>While they still wandered about, talking of +"tailings" and "nuggets," they were startled +by the peal of a bell.</p> + +<p>"Twelve o'clock! Two minutes ahead of +<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40" />time though," said Nate, taking from his +pocket a handsome gold watch which Jimmy +had always admired.</p> + +<p>"What bell is that? Where is it?" they +all asked. "And what is it ringing for?"</p> + +<p>"It's on top of the schoolhouse and it's +ringing for noon. 'Twill ring again in the +evening at nine o'clock. But I can tell 'em +they ought to set it back two minutes."</p> + +<p>"A nine o'clock bell? Why, that's a <i>curfew</i> +bell! How romantic!" cried Kyzie. She had +read of "the mellow lin-lan-lone of evening +bells," but had never heard it. "Let's go to +the schoolhouse."</p> + +<p>As luncheon at the Templeton House would +not be served for an hour yet, they kept on +to the hollow where the schoolhouse stood. +It was a small, unpainted building in the +shade of three pine trees.</p> + +<p>"Just wait a minute right here," said Edith, +<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41" />the young artist, unstrapping her kodak. "I +want a snap-shot at it. Stand there by that +tree, Jimmum. Put your foot out just so. I +wish you were barefooted!"</p> + +<p>Just then, as if they had overheard the wish, +two little boys came running down the hill, and +one of them was barefooted. Moreover, when +Kyzie asked if they would stand for a picture, +they consented at once.</p> + +<p>"My name's Joseph Rolfe," said the elder, +twitching off his hat, "and his name,"—pointing +to his companion with a chuckle,—"his +name is Chicken Little."</p> + +<p>"No such a thing! Now you quit!" +retorted the younger lad in a choked voice, +digging his toes into the dirt, "quit a-plaguing +me! My name's Henry Small and you know +it!"</p> + +<p>While Edith was busy taking their photographs, +Kyzie thanked the urchins very +<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42" />pleasantly. They both gazed at her with +admiration.</p> + +<p>"See here," said Joe Rolfe, twitching off his +hat again very respectfully, "Are you going +to keep school in the schoolhouse? I wish you +would!"</p> + +<p>At this remarkable speech Jimmy and Edith +fell to laughing; but Kyzie only blushed a little, +and smiled. How very grown-up she must +seem to Joe if he could think of her as a +teacher! She was now a tall girl of fourteen, +with a fine strong face and an earnest manner. +She was beginning to tire of being classed +among little girls, and it was delightful to find +herself looked upon for the first time in her +life as a young lady. But she only said:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, Joe, people don't teach school in +summer! Summer is vacation."</p> + +<p>"Well, but they do sometimes," persisted +Joe; "there was a girl kep' this school last +<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43" />summer. She called it 'vacation school.' But +we didn't like her; she licked like fury."</p> + +<p>"So she did," echoed Chicken Little, "licked +and pulled ears. Kep' a stick on the desk."</p> + +<p>And with these last words both the little +boys took their leave, running up hill with +great speed, as if they thought that standing +for a picture had been a great waste of +time.</p> + +<p>"That Chicken boy is the biggest cry-baby," +said Nate. "The boys like to plague him to +see him cry. Joe Rolfe has some sense."</p> + +<p>As the little party walked on, Miss Katharine +turned her head more than once for another +look at the schoolhouse.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be fun, Edy, to teach school +in there and ring that 'lin-lan-lone bell' to call +in the scholars? I'd make you study botany +harder'n you ever did before."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, Miss Dunlee," replied<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44" /> +Edith, courtesying. "You'll not get me to +worrying over botany. I studied it a month +once, but when I go up in the mountains I +go to have a good time."</p> + +<p>She pursed her pretty mouth as she spoke. +Her sister Katharine was by far the best +botanist in her class, and was always tearing +up flowers in the most wasteful manner. +Worse than that, she expected Edith to do the +same thing and learn the hard names of the +poor little withered pieces.</p> + +<p>"You don't love flowers as well as I do, +Kyzie, or you couldn't abuse them so!"</p> + +<p>This is what she often said to her learned +sister after Kyzie had made "a little preach" +about the beauties of botany.</p> + +<p>As they entered the hotel for luncheon, +Kyzie was still thinking of the schoolhouse +and the sweet-toned bell and the singular +speech of Joe Rolfe, about wanting her for a +<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45" />teacher. What came of these thoughts you +shall hear later on.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare, I forgot all about that +zebra kitty," said Edith. "What will the +knitting-woman think of such actions?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="IV" id="IV" /><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46" />IV</h3> + +<h2>THE "KNITTING-WOMAN"</h2> + + +<p>The "knitting-woman" met Edith at the +dining-room door after luncheon, and said to +her rather sharply:—</p> + +<p>"Well, little girl, I thought you liked kittens?"</p> + +<p>"I do, Mrs.—madam, I certainly do," replied +Edith feeling guilty and ashamed. "But +Nate Pollard took us to see the gold mine and +the schoolhouse and we've just got back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's it! I thought 'twas very still +around here—I missed the noise of the +<i>boyoes</i>.—You don't know what I mean by +boyoes," she added, smiling. "I picked up +<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47" />the word in Ireland. I'm always picking up +words. It means <i>boys</i>."</p> + +<p>"I understand; oh, yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, 'twas a little trouble to me, your not +coming when I expected you; but you may +come this afternoon. I'll be ready in ten +minutes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, madam, thank you."</p> + +<p>Edith ran to her mother laughing. "Oh, +mamma, she is the queerest woman! Calls +boys <i>boyoes</i>! I must go to see her kitten +whether I want to or not—in just ten minutes! +I wish I could take Kyzie with me; +would you dare?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. Katharine has not been +invited. And don't make a long call, Edith."</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, I'll not even sit down. I'll +just look at the zebra kitty and come right +away."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee smiled. If there were many +<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48" />pets at Number Five it was not likely +that Edith would hasten away. "Remember, +daughter, fifteen minutes is long enough +for a call on an entire stranger. You don't +wish to annoy Mrs. McQuilken; but if you +should happen to forget, you'll hear this +little bell tinkle, and that will remind you to +leave."</p> + +<p>Number Five was a very interesting room, +about as full as it could hold of oddities +from various countries, together with four cats, +a canary, and a mocking-bird.</p> + +<p>"If you had come this morning you would +have seen Mag, that's the magpie," said Mrs. +McQuilken. "She's off now, pretty creature. +She likes to be picking a fuss with the +chickens."</p> + +<p>The good lady had been knitting, but she +dropped her work into the large pocket of +her black apron, and moved up an easy-chair +<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49" />for her guest. Edith forgot to take it. Her +eyes were roving about the room, attracted by +the curiosities, though she dared not ask a +single question.</p> + +<p>"That nest on the wall looks odd to you, +I dare say," said Mrs. McQuilken. "The +twigs are woven together so closely that it +looks nice enough for a lady's work-bag, now +doesn't it?"</p> + +<p>Edith said she thought it did.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the magpie's nest. She laid +seven eggs in it once. I keep it now for her +to sleep in; it's Mag's cot-bed."</p> + +<p>Edith's eyes, still roving, espied a handsome +kitty asleep on the lounge. It must be the +zebra kitty because of its black and dove-colored +stripes. Most remarkable stripes, so +regular and distinct, yet so softly shaded. +The face was black, with whiskers snow-white. +How odd! Edith had never seen white whis<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50" />kers +on a kitten. And then the long, sweeping +black tail!</p> + +<p>Mrs. McQuilken watched the little girl's +face and no longer doubted her fondness for +kittens.</p> + +<p>"I call her Zee for short. Look at that +now!" And Mrs. McQuilken straightened +out the tail which was coiled around Zee's +back.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how beautifully long!" cried Edith.</p> + +<p>"Long? I should say so! There was a cat-show +at Los Angeles last fall, and one cat took +a prize for a tail not so long as this by three-quarters +of an inch! And Zee only six +months old!"</p> + +<p>The kitty, wide awake by this time, was +holding high revel with a ball of yarn which +the tortoise-shell cat had purloined from her +mistress's basket.</p> + +<p>"Dear thing! Oh, isn't she sweet?" said<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51" /> +Edith, dropping on her knees before the +graceful creature.</p> + +<p>Mrs. McQuilken enjoyed seeing the child +go off into small raptures; Edith was fast +winning her heart.</p> + +<p>"Does your mother like cats?" she suddenly +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Not particularly," replied Edith, clapping +her hands, as Zee with a quick dash bore away +the ball out of the very paws of the coon cat. +"Mamma thinks cats are cold-hearted," said +she, hugging Zee to her bosom. "She says +they don't love anybody."</p> + +<p>"I deny it!" exclaimed Mrs. McQuilken, +indignantly. "Tell your mother to make a +study of cats and she'll know better."</p> + +<p>Edith looked rather frightened. "Yes'm, +I'll tell her."</p> + +<p>"They have very deep feelings and folks ought +to know it. Now, listen, little girl. I had two +<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52" />maltese kittens once. They were sisters and +loved each other better than any girl sisters <i>you</i> +ever saw. One of the kittens got caught in a +trap and we had to kill her. And the other one +went round mewing and couldn't be comforted. +She pined away, that kitty did, and in three +days she died. Now I know that for a fact."</p> + +<p>"Poor child!" said Edith, much touched. +"<i>She</i> wasn't cold-hearted, I'll tell mamma +about that."</p> + +<p>"Well, if she doesn't like 'em perhaps it +wouldn't do any good; but while you're about +it you might tell her of two tortoise-shell cats +I had. They were sisters too. Whiff had four +kittens and Puff had one and lost it. And the +way Whiff comforted Puff! She took her right +home into her own basket and they brought up +the four kittens together. Wasn't that lovely?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, wasn't it, though?" said Edith. "Cats +have hearts, I always knew they did."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53" />That shows you're a sensible little girl," +returned the old lady approvingly. "But you +haven't told me yet what your name is?"</p> + +<p>"Edith Dunlee."</p> + +<p>"I knew 'twas Dunlee—that's a Scotch +name; but I didn't know about the Edith. +Well, Edith, so you've been to see the gold +mine? Pokerish place, isn't it? I hear they're +going to bring down the engine from the big +plant and try to start it up again."</p> + +<p>Edith had no idea what she meant by the +"big plant," so made no reply. Mrs. McQuilken +went back to the subject of cats.</p> + +<p>"Did you know the Egyptians used to +worship cats? Well, sometimes they did. +And when their cats died they went into +mourning for them."</p> + +<p>"How queer!"</p> + +<p>"It does seem so, but it's just as you look +at it, Edith. Cats are a sight of company.<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54" /> +I didn't care so much about them or about +birds either when my husband was alive and +my little children, but now—"</p> + +<p>Again she paused, and this time she did +not go on again. Some one out of doors +laughed; it was Jimmy Dunlee, and the mocking-bird +took up the merry sound and echoed +it to perfection.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't that seem human?" cried Mrs. +McQuilken. And really it did. It was +exactly the laugh of a human boy, though +it came from the throat of a tiny bird.</p> + +<p>"My little boys, Pitt and Roscoe, liked to +hear him do that," said Mrs. McQuilken.</p> + +<p>Edith observed that she did not say "my +boyoes." "Pitt, the one that died in Japan, +doted on the mocking-bird. The other boy, +Roscoe, was all bound up in the canary."</p> + +<p>"Does the canary sing?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he's a grand singer. Just you wait +<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55" />till he pipes up. You'll be surprised. But +you remember what I was saying a little +while ago about your mother? That zebra +kitty—"</p> + +<p>Before she could finish the sentence Edith +heard the warning tinkle of the tea-bell, and +sprang up suddenly, exclaiming: "Good-by, +Mrs.—good-by, <i>madam</i>, I must go now. +You've been very kind, thank you. Good-by."</p> + +<p>And out of the door and away she skipped, +leaving her hostess, who had not heard the +bell, to wonder at her haste. "She went like +a shot off a shovel," said the good lady, taking +up her knitting-work. "She seemed to +be such a well-mannered little girl, too! What +got into her all at once? She acted as if she +was 'possessed of the fox.'"</p> + +<p>This is a common expression in Japan, and +naturally Mrs. McQuilken had caught it up, +as she had caught up other odd things in her +<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56" />travels. She was something of a mocking-bird +in her way, was the captain's widow.</p> + +<p>"I've taken quite a fancy to Edith," she +added, "a minute more and I should have +offered to give her the zebra kitty. But +there, I shouldn't want to make a fuss in the +family. That woman, her mother, to think +of her talking so hard about cats! She +doesn't <i>look</i> like that kind of a woman. I'm +surprised."</p> + +<p>Edith ran back to her mother breathless.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, I was having such a good +time! And she didn't appear to be 'annoyed,' +she talked just as fast all the time! But the +bell rang while she was saying something +and I had to run."</p> + +<p>"Had to run? I hope you were not +abrupt, my child?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, mamma, not at all. I said 'good-by' +twice, and thanked her and told her she +<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57" />had been very kind. That wasn't abrupt, was +it? But oh, that kitty's tail! I forget how +many inches and a quarter longer than any +other kitty's tail in this state! And they are +not cold-hearted,—I mean cats,—I promised +to tell you."</p> + +<p>Here followed an account of the two cat-sisters, +who loved each other better than girl-sisters.</p> + +<p>"And think of one of them dying of grief, +the sweet thing! Human people don't die of +grief, do they, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Not often, Edith. Such instances have +been known, but they are very rare."</p> + +<p>"Well," struck in wee Lucy, who had been +listening to the touching story, "well, I guess +some folks would! Bab would die for grief +of me, and I would die for grief of Bab; we +<i>said</i> we would!"</p> + +<p>She made this absurd little speech with +<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58" />tears in her eyes; but Kyzie and Edith dared +not laugh, for mamma's forefinger was raised. +Mamma never allowed them to ridicule the +friendship of the two little girls, who had made +believe for more than a year that they were +"aunt" and "niece." The play might be rather +foolish, but the love was very sweet and true.</p> + +<p>Lucy had been thinking all day of Barbara +and longing for her arrival. A full hour +before it was time for the stage she went a +little way up the mountain with Jimmy, and +they took turns gazing down the winding, +dusty road through a spy-glass. "I shan't +wait here any longer. What's the use?" +declared Jimmy.</p> + +<p>"She's coming! she's coming! I saw her +first!" was Lucy's glad cry. And she ran +down the mountain in haste, though the +stage, a grayish green one, was just turning +a curve at least a mile away.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59" />Well, you <i>have</i> been parted a good while," +said Uncle James, as the two dear friends +met and embraced on the coach steps; "a +day and a half!"</p> + +<p>"I'd have 'most died if I'd waited any +longer," said Aunt Lucy, putting her arm +around her niece and leading her up the +gravel path with the pink "old hen and +chickens" on either side.</p> + +<p>The little girls were entirely unlike, and +the contrast was pleasant to see. Lucy was +very fair, with light curling hair:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Blue were her eyes as the fairy flax,<br /></span> +<span>Her cheeks like the dawn of day,<br /></span> +<span>And her bosom white as the hawthorn buds<br /></span> +<span>That ope in the month of May."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Bab was quite as pretty, but in another +way. She had brilliant dark eyes and straight +dark hair with a satin gloss. She was half +a head shorter than her "auntie," though their +<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60" />ages were about the same. People liked to +see them together, for they were always +sociable and happy, and loved each other +"dearilee."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bab," said wee Lucy, "I had such +a <i>loneness</i> without you!"</p> + +<p>"I had a loneness too, Auntie Lucy. +Seemed as if the time never would go."</p> + +<p>And then the dark head and the fair head +met again for more kisses, while both the +mammas looked on and said, in low tones +and with smiles, as they always did:—</p> + +<p>"How sweet! Now we shall hear them +singing about the place like two little birds."</p> + +<p>This was Tuesday. The days went on +happily until Thursday afternoon, when "the +Dunlee party," which always included the +Hales and Sanfords, set forth up the mountain +for a sight of the famous "air-castle." +Of course Nate was with them, but this +<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61" />time not as a guide; the guide was Uncle +James.</p> + +<p>The road, though rather steep, was not a +hard one. Mr. Dunlee had his alpenstock, +and Uncle James walked beside him, holding +little Eddo by the hand. Bab and Lucy, or +"the little two," as Aunt Vi called them, were +side by side as usual, and Lucy had asked +Bab to repeat the story of "Little Bo-Peep" +in French, for Nate wanted to hear it. Bab +could speak French remarkably well.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Petit beau bouton<br /></span> +<span>A perde ses moutons,<br /></span> +<span>Il ne sais pas que les a pris.<br /></span> +<span>O laissez les tranquille!<br /></span> +<span>Ils se retournerons,<br /></span> +<span>Chacun sa queue apres lui."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee and Kyzie were just behind +the children, and while Bab was repeating +the verse Kyzie said in a low tone:—</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62" />Oh, mamma, let me walk with you all the +way, please. There's something I want to +talk about."</p> + +<p>She looked so earnest that Mrs. Dunlee +wondered not a little what it was her eldest +daughter had to say.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="V" id="V" /><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63" />V</h3> + +<h2>THE AIR-CASTLE</h2> + + +<p>"A vacation school, Katharine? And pray +what may that be?"</p> + +<p>Kyzie's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining. +She held her mother's hand and talked +fast, though plainly she did not feel quite at +her ease.</p> + +<p>"Why, mamma, you've certainly heard of +vacation schools—summer schools? They're +very common nowadays. In the summer, you +know; so that college people can go to them, +and business people."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Like the one at Coronado Beach? +Now I understand. But it didn't occur to me +that my little daughter would know enough to +teach college people!"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64" />Now, mamma, don't laugh at me! Of +course I mean children, the little ignorant +children right around here," making a sweeping +gesture toward the cottages and "bunk +houses" that dotted the country lower down +the mountain, "I know enough to teach +little children, I should hope, mamma."</p> + +<p>"Possibly!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee's tone was so doubtful that her +daughter felt crushed.</p> + +<p>"Possibly you may know enough about +books; but book-knowledge is not all that +is required in a teacher. Could you keep +the children in order? Would they obey +you?"</p> + +<p>The little girl's head drooped a little.</p> + +<p>"Let me see, you are only fourteen?"</p> + +<p>"Fourteen last April, mamma. But everybody +says, don't you know, that I'm very large +for my age."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65" />She tried to speak bravely, but the look of +quiet amusement on her listener's face made +it rather hard for her to go on.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," said she, dropping her eyes +again, "I suppose they don't know much +here, mamma,—the families that live here all +the time. Some of the boys actually go barefooted."</p> + +<p>"So I have observed. A great saving of +shoes."</p> + +<p>"And they had a school last summer," +went on Kyzie, resolutely. "A young girl +taught it who boarded where we do. Mr. +Templeton said she did it for fun."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!"</p> + +<p>"But they didn't like her a bit. I could +teach as well as she did anyway, mamma, for +she just went around the room boxing their +ears."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible, Katharine?" Mrs. Dunlee +<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66" />was serious enough now. "To box a child's +ears is simply brutal!"</p> + +<p>"I knew you'd say so, mamma; but that +was just what Miss Severance did. Of course +I wouldn't touch their ears any more than I +would fly!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee turned now and regarded her +daughter attentively.</p> + +<p>"But how did you ever happen to take up +this sudden fancy for teaching, dear? It's all +new to me. What first made you think of it—at +your age? Can you tell?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, I've been thinking about it, +off and on, for a year. Ever since I was at +Willowbrook last summer and heard Grandma +Parlin talk about <i>her</i> first school. Why, don't +you remember, she was just fourteen, she said, +nearly three months younger than I am."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now, and +said to herself:—</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67" />Dear old Grandma Parlin! Little did she +imagine she was filling her great grand-daughter's +head with mischievous notions!"</p> + +<p>They walked on a short way in silence. +"But you must remember, Katharine, that was +seventy years ago. Grandma Parlin wouldn't +advise a girl of fourteen to do in these days as +she did then. Schools are very different now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, mamma, very, very different. +Isn't it too bad? I'd like to 'board 'round' the +way grandma did, and rap on the window +with a ferule, and 'choose sides' and all that! +But there's one thing I could do!" exclaimed +the little girl, brightening. "I could make +the children 'toe the mark'; wouldn't that be +fun? I mean stand in a line on a crack in the +floor. How grandma would laugh! I'll write +her all about it, and send her a photograph, +bare feet and all."</p> + +<p>In her eagerness Kyzie spoke as if the +<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68" />matter were all arranged and she could almost +see the children "toeing the mark."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, my daughter. Remember +there are three points to be settled before we +can discuss the matter seriously. First, would +your papa consent? Second, would your +mamma consent? Third, do the people of +Castle Cliff want a summer school anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Three points? I see, oh, yes," said Kyzie, +meekly.</p> + +<p>"But now, Katharine, let us walk a little +faster and join the others. And not a word +more of this to-day."</p> + +<p>"What did keep you two so long?" asked +Edith, coming to meet them with a bright +face. If her happy thoughts had not been +dwelling on the zebra cat just presented her +by the "knitting-woman," she would have +observed at once that mamma and Kyzie had +been "talking secrets"; though she might not +<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69" />have suspected that this had anything to do +with the vacation school.</p> + +<p>"Do hurry along," she added. I want to +show you the funniest sight! I don't believe +you've seen Barbara Hale, have you?"</p> + +<p>Edith could hardly speak for laughing; +and her mother and Kyzie did not wonder +when they beheld the figure that little Bab +had made of herself, by a new style of +dressing her hair. The two little girls were, +as I have told you, as different as possible, +but had an intense desire to look "just alike"; +and when they tried their best the result was +very funny.</p> + +<p>I will mention here that Lucy "despised" +her own hair for not being straight like Bab's, +and had often tried to braid it down her +back; but as the braid always came out and +the ribbon came off, the attempt had been +forbidden.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70" />Now, however, as the children had left +their city home and come to a place where +everybody was "on holiday," the mammas +decided that they might have a little more +liberty.</p> + +<p>Their dresses were off the same piece,—good, +strong brown ones; their hats were +alike; and, as for their hair, they were +allowed to wear it as they pleased "just for +this summer."</p> + +<p>"We'll look exactly alike up there in the +mountains," the little souls had said to each +other; and this was perhaps one reason why +they had been so overjoyed at the prospect +of going.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-078' id='illus-078'></a> +<img src="images/illus-078.jpg" +alt=""'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"" +title=""'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"" /> +<h4><b>"'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy"</b></h4> +</div> + +<p>But to-day, ah! who would have dreamed +that sweet little Bab could become such a +fright? She had done up her hair the night +before on as many as twenty curl-papers. +Before starting for the air-castle she had +<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71" />taken out some of the papers and found—not +ringlets, but wisps of very unruly hair. +It would not curl any more than water will +run up hill.</p> + +<p>She went to Aunt Lucy in her trouble to +seek advice. Aunt Lucy looked her over +with great care and then announced:—</p> + +<p>"It is perfectly awful! Don't take out +any more papers, Bab. Let 'em be, so you +can have something to stick the curls on +to."</p> + +<p>And so it was done. The "curls," as Lucy +was pleased to call them, were drawn up and +looped and twisted and fastened by hair-pins +to the other curls left in the papers. The effect +was most surprising. It made Bab's head so +much higher than usual that she was as tall +now as auntie, and that in itself was a great +gain. Besides, this style, as Lucy said, was +the "pompy-doo," and very fashionable!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72" />If Bab could have kept her hat on! But +she couldn't, and the moment it came off +they all cried out:—</p> + +<p>"Why-ee, Barbara!" and turned away to +laugh.</p> + +<p>If Mrs. McQuilken had been there she +would have said the child looked "as if she +was possessed of the fox."</p> + +<p>"The little goosies! Let them enjoy it!" +whispered Mrs. Hale to Mrs. Dunlee. " But +those topknots will have to come down before +the child can go to the dinner-table."</p> + +<p>And then both the ladies laughed privately +behind a large tree. The mountain air was +doing them good, and they often had as +merry times together as the young people.</p> + +<p>"Hear the boyoes," cried Edith, meaning +Jimmy and Nate, who had now reached the +air-castle and were shouting with all their +might. The children ran, and so indeed did +<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73" />the older ones, for there was an excellent +path all the way.</p> + +<p>"So that is the air-castle," exclaimed +Kyzie, when they were all within sight of it. +"It's a real house, built right in the mountain."</p> + +<p>She was right. There happened to be a +great crack right here in the rocky side of +the mountain, and a cunning little house had +been tucked into the crack. It was built of +small stones. It had two real windows with +glass panes, and a real door with a brass +knocker, which the children declared was "too +cute for anything."</p> + +<p>"The house is as strong as a fort," said +Uncle James. "Do you observe it is walled +all around with stones?"</p> + +<p>"Do you know who built it?" asked Aunt +Vi; "and why he built it?"</p> + +<p>"A rich Mexican named Bandini. He ad<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74" />mired +the view from the mountain, and I +don't blame him, do you? He wanted a nice, +quiet place where he could read and write; +that was why he came here. He has been +here every summer for years."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Dunlee, "if you call this +an air-castle I must say it is the most solid +one I ever heard of! It doesn't look dreamy +at all. Why, an earthquake could hardly +shake it."</p> + +<p>"The steps that lead up to it are not +dreamy either," said Mrs. Dunlee. "Real +granite; and there's a large flag up there +floating from the evergreen tree."</p> + +<p>The "boyoes" had already climbed the +steps, and Nate called down to Mrs. Dunlee, +"It's the Mexican flag!" But she had known +that at a glance. The colors were red, white, +and green, and the device was an eagle on a +prickly pear with a snake in his mouth.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75" />I wonder if there's anybody at home," +said Nate, and would have lifted the knocker +if Jimmy had not said, "Wait for Uncle +James."</p> + +<p>Jimmy thought as Uncle James was the +leader of the expedition he should be the one +to do the knocking, or at any rate to tell +them when to knock. Nate himself had not +thought of this. He was not so refined as +Jimmy, either by nature or by training.</p> + +<p>Everybody had climbed the steps now. +The older people were enjoying the magnificent +view; but Bab and Lucy were looking +for the two toads who had been seen going +up to the castle together, the well toad taking +the lame toad's foot in his mouth.</p> + +<p>"I wish they were both here," said Uncle +James, "for you would like to see them take +that little journey."</p> + +<p>"And the Mexican who built this air-<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76" />castle," +said Aunt Vi, "is he here this summer?"</p> + +<p>"No, he died last spring."</p> + +<p>"Died?" echoed little Eddo, who had heard +that dying means "going up in the sky." +"What made him die, mamma? Didn't he +like it down here?"</p> + +<p>Then without waiting for a reply he added +most tenderly and unexpectedly, "Isn't it nice +that <i>you're</i> not dead, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you think that, my son?" she +asked, wondering what he would say.</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>be</i>-cause I <i>am</i> so glad about it." And +at this sweet little speech his mother caught +him up in her arms and kissed him. How +could she help it?</p> + +<p>"Now," said Uncle James, "let us see if +we can enter the castle. 'Open locks whoever +knocks.' Try it, boys."</p> + +<p>Nate lifted the knocker and pounded with +<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77" />a will. There was no answer or sign of +life.</p> + +<p>"Let's see if this will help us," said Uncle +James, taking a key from his vest pocket:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"For I'm the keeper of the keys,<br /></span> +<span>And I do whatever I please."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The key actually fitted the lock, the door +opened at once, and they all entered the +castle.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Templeton lent me the key," explained +Mr. Sanford. "He said the castle +was as empty as a last year's bird's nest, but +I thought we might like to take a look at +it."</p> + +<p>"We do, oh, we do," said Lucy. "Isn't it +queer? Just two rooms and nothing in 'em +at all! Oh, Bab, let's you and I bring some +dishes up here and keep house! Here's a +cupboard right in the wall."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78" />I guess it's Mother Hubbard's cupboard, +it looks bare enough. Just a table in the room +and one old chair," exclaimed Edith.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad we came in, though," said Kyzie. +"Isn't it beautiful to stand in the door and +look down, down, and see Castle Cliff right +at your feet? And off there a city—Why, +what's that noise?"</p> + +<p>No one answered. The older people knew +the sound: it was that of an angry rattlesnake +out of doors shaking his rattle.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee said:—</p> + +<p>"Stay in the house, please, you ladies, and +keep the children here. James and I will go +out and attend to this."</p> + +<p>He had an alpenstock, Uncle James a cane. +The ladies and Mr, Hale and the children +watched the two gentlemen from the window,—all +but little Eddo, whose mother was playing +bo-peep with him to prevent him from +<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79" />looking out. A handsome rattlesnake was +winding his way up the mountain in pursuit +of a tiny baby rabbit. The little "cotton-tail" +was running for the castle as fast as he +could, intending to hide in a hole under the +door-stone. But he never would have reached +the door-stone alive, poor little trembling creature, +if Mr. Dunlee and Uncle James had not +come up just in time to finish the cruel snake +with cane and alpenstock. Bunny got away +safe, without even stopping to say, "Thank +you." The snake wore seven rattles, of which +he was very proud; but Eddo had them next +day for a plaything, and made as much noise +with them as ever the snake had done; +though Eddo never knew where they came +from.</p> + +<p>It had been a delightful day, and when the +friends all met again at table they kept saying, +"Didn't we have a good time?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80" />It was to be noticed that Barbara's "topknots" +had disappeared; and I am glad to +say that she never wore her lovely hair +"pompy-doo" again.</p> + +<p>Kyzie's face was alight. In passing the +door of her mother's room she had heard her +father say, laughing:—</p> + +<p>"What, our Katharine? Why, how that +would amuse Mr. Templeton!"</p> + +<p>Kyzie had hurried away for fear of listening; +but now she kept thinking:—</p> + +<p>"Papa laughed. He always laughs when he +is going to say 'yes.' He'll talk to Mr. +Templeton, and I just know I shall have the +school Isn't it splendid?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="VI" id="VI" /><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81" />VI</h3> + +<h2>"GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE"</h2> + + +<p>"Hoopty-Doo!" shouted Jimmy, alighting +on the piazza on all fours. "A little girl like +that keep school!"</p> + +<p>"Well, she is going to," returned Edith, +looking up from the picture she was drawing +of a cherub in the clouds, "she's going to; +and Mr. Templeton says the Castle Cliff people +are as pleased as they can be."</p> + +<p>"I heard what he said," struck in Nate. +"He said they jumped at it like a dolphin at +a silver spoon."</p> + +<p>"He's always talking about that dolphin +and that silver spoon," laughed Edith. "If I +knew how a dolphin looks, I'd draw one and +give it to him just for fun. But mamma, you +<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82" />don't expect me to go to school to that little +girl; now do you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Edith; oh, no."</p> + +<p>"Must <i>I</i> go to Grandmother Graymouse?" +whined Jimmy, "She's only my sister. And +I came up here to play."</p> + +<p>"Play all you like, my son. No one will +ask you to go school."</p> + +<p>"But <i>I</i> really want to go," said Nate. "I +wouldn't miss it for anything. A girl's school +like that will be larks. Only four hours anyway, +two in the forenoon and two in the +afternoon. Time enough left for play."</p> + +<p>"H'm, if that's all, let's go," cried Jimmy. +"We can leave off any time we get tired of +it."</p> + +<p>Kyzie heard this as she was crossing the +hall.</p> + +<p>"Why, boys," she said, "you don't live in +Castle Cliff! It's the Castle Cliff children<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83" /> +I'm going to teach—the little ones, you +know."</p> + +<p>"But papa said if you'd show me about +my arithmetic—" began Nate.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I don't know so much as you do, +Nate. But if you go you'll be good, won't +you—you and Jimmy both?"</p> + +<p>She spoke with some concern. "For if +you're naughty, the other boys will think they +can be naughty too; and I shan't know what +in the world to do with them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll sit up as straight as ninepins; +we'll show 'em how city boys behave," said +Nate, making a bow to Kyzie.</p> + +<p>He could be a perfect little gentleman when +he chose. He liked to tease Jimmy, younger +than himself, but had always been polite to +Kyzie. Still Kyzie did not altogether like the +thought of having a boy of twelve for a pupil. +What if he should laugh at her behind his slate?</p> + +<p><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84" />Here Barbara and Lucy appeared upon the +veranda, holding Edith's new kitty between +them.</p> + +<p>"We're going. We'll sit together and cut +out paper dolls and eat figs under the seat," +declared Lucy, never doubting that this would +be pleasing news to the young teacher.</p> + +<p>Before Kyzie had time to say, "Why, +Lucy!" little Eddo ran up the steps to ask in +haste:—</p> + +<p>"Where's Lucy going? I fink I'll go +too."</p> + +<p>Kyzie could bear no more. She ran and +hid in the hammock and cried. They all +thought she was to have a sort of play-school; +did they? They were going just for +fun. She must talk to mamma. Mamma +thought the school was foolish business; but +mamma always knew what ought to be done, +and how to help do it. Or if mamma ever +<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85" />felt puzzled, there was papa to go to,—papa, +who could not possibly make a mistake. +Between them they would see that their eldest +daughter was treated fairly.</p> + +<p>Monday morning came. Kyzie's courage had +revived. Eddo would be kept at home; Lucy +and Bab had been informed that they were +not to cut paper dolls, though they might +write on their slates. All that they thought of +just now, the dear "little two," was of dressing +to "look exactly alike." As Bab had +learned once for all that her hair would not +curl, she spent half an hour that morning +braiding her auntie's ringlets down her back, +and tying the cue with a pink ribbon like her +own. But for all the little barber could do +the flaxen cue would not lie flat. It was an +old story, but very provoking.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear," wailed Lucy, "'most school-time +and my hair is all <i>over</i> my head!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86" />It did look wild. You could almost fancy +it was angry because it had not been allowed +to curl after its own graceful fashion.</p> + +<p>The "little two" started off in good season, +hoping not to be seen by Eddo; but he +espied them from the window, and they heard +him calling till his baby voice was lost in the +distance:—</p> + +<p>"You ought to not leave me! You ought +to not leave m-e-e!"</p> + +<p>"He wants to go everywhere big people +go."</p> + +<p>"Yes," responded Bab. "Such babies think +they are as old as anybody. Oh, see that +Mexican dog, how straight his tail stands up!"</p> + +<p>"Like your hair," sighed Lucy. "If my +hair would only be straight like that!"</p> + +<p>And neither of them smiled at this droll +remark.</p> + +<p>"But there's one thing we must remember,<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87" /> +Bab. I'm glad I thought of it. We must say, +'Miss' to Kyzie."</p> + +<p>"Miss what?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Dunlee. If we forget it, she'll feel +dreadfully." And then they began to hum +a tune and keep step to the music. They +often did this as they walked.</p> + +<p>Kyzie had gone on before them. Her +father was with her, but she had the key in +her hand and opened the schoolhouse door. +They walked in together, and Kyzie locked +the door behind them, for several children +were waiting about who must not enter till +the bell rang.</p> + +<p>The schoolhouse floor was very clean; the +new teacher herself had swept it. On the +walls were large wreaths of holly, which had +been left over from last Christmas, when the +Sunday-school had had a celebration here. At +one end of the room was a raised platform +<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88" />with a large desk on it. On the wall over +the desk was a motto made of red pepper +berries, only the words were so close together +that you could not make them out unless you +knew beforehand what they were.</p> + +<p>"That means, 'Christ is risen,'" explained +Kyzie. "It looks dreadfully, but they didn't +want it taken down, I'll make another by +and by."</p> + +<p>There were blackboards on three sides of +the room; quite clean they looked now. The +desks and benches were rude ones of black +oak, and had been hacked by jack-knives. +Kyzie regretted this, but supposed the boys +had not been taught any better. There was +only one chair in the room, a large armed +chair for the little teacher, and it stood +solemnly on the platform before the desk.</p> + +<p>"You see, papa, I've brought a big blank-book +to write the names in. The pen and +<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89" />inkstand belong here. Ahem, I begin to +tremble," said she, and looked at her +mother's watch which she wore in her belt. +"It's five minutes of nine."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll do famously," said Mr. Dunlee. +"And now, daughter, I'll wish you good-by +and the very best luck in the world."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, papa," said Kyzie, and locked +the door after him. "I wish I'd asked him +to stay till I called them in and took their +names. Papa is so dignified that it would +have been a great help. My, I feel as if I +weren't more than six years old!"</p> + +<p>She walked the floor, watch in hand. +"Fifty seconds of nine."</p> + +<p>She went to the bell-rope and pulled with +both hands. It was quite needless to use so +much force. The bell was directly over her +head; and instead of the "mellow lin-lan-lone" +she expected, it made a din so tre<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90" />mendous +that it almost seemed as if the roof +were about to fall upon her. At the same +time there was a scrambling and pounding at +the door. The children were trying to get in.</p> + +<p>"Oh, miserable me, I've locked them out!" +thought the little teacher in dismay.</p> + +<p>She hastened to the door and opened it, +and they rushed in with a shout. This was +an odd beginning; but Kyzie said not a word. +She remembered that she was now Miss Dunlee, +so she threw back her shoulders and +looked her straightest and tallest, and as +much as possible like Miss Prince, her favorite +teacher. She had intended all along to +imitate Miss Prince—whenever she could +think of it.</p> + +<p>Only fourteen years old! Well, what of +that? Grandma Parlin had been only fourteen +when she taught <i>her</i> first school. Keep a +brave heart, Katharine Dunlee!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91" />Joe Rolfe walked in as stiffly as a wooden +soldier. Behind him came a few boys and +girls, some of them with their fingers in +their mouths. There were twelve in all. +The last ones to enter were Nate and Jimmy, +followed by Aunt Lucy and her niece arm in +arm.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if Nate is laughing at me for +locking the door?" thought Kyzie, not daring +to look at him, as she waved her hands and +said in a loud voice to be heard above the +noise:—</p> + +<p>"All please be seated."</p> + +<p>Being seated was a work of time; and +what a din it made! The children wandered +about, trying one bench after another to see +which they liked best.</p> + +<p>"You would think they were getting settled +for life," whispered Nate to Jimmy.</p> + +<p>The "little two" chose a place near the +<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92" />west window and began at once to write on +their slates.</p> + +<p>"I'm scared of Miss Dunlee," wrote Aunt +Lucy.</p> + +<p>"Stop making me laugh," replied the niece.</p> + +<p>When at last everybody was "settled for +life," Kyzie did not know what to do next. +"What would Miss Prince do? Why she +would read in the Bible. I forgot that."</p> + +<p>The new teacher took her stand on the +platform behind the desk, opened her Bible, +and read aloud the twenty-third Psalm. Her +voice shook, partly from fright, partly from +trying so hard not to laugh. But she did not +even smile—far from it. Nate and Jimmy +who were watching her could have told you +that. If she had been at a funeral she could +hardly have looked more solemn.</p> + +<p>Jimmy touched Nate's foot under the bench; +Nate gave Jimmy a shove; Bab gazed hard +<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93" />at Lucy's flaxen cue; Lucy gazed straight at +her thumb.</p> + +<p>After the reading "Miss Dunlee" walked +about with her blank-book in one hand and her +pen in the other to take down the children's +names.</p> + +<p>"I'm Joseph Rolfe; don't you remember +me?" said the boy with red hair. "And +this boy next seat is Chicken Little."</p> + +<p>"No, I ain't either, I'm Henry Small," +corrected the little fellow, ready to cry.</p> + +<p>Kyzie shook her finger at both the boys +and resolved that "Joe should stop calling +names, and Henry should stop being such a +cry-baby."</p> + +<p>Annie Farrell was a dear little girl in a blue +and white gingham gown, and the new teacher +loved her at once. Dorothy Pratt was little +more than a baby, and when spoken to she put +her apron to her eyes and wanted to go home.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94" />She can't go home," said her older sister +Janey, "mamma's cookin' for company!"</p> + +<p>Kyzie patted the baby's tangled hair and +sent Janey to get her some water.</p> + +<p>"I'll go," spoke up Jack Whiting, aged +seven. "Janey isn't big enough. Besides +the pail leaks."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad Edith isn't here," thought +Kyzie, "or we should both get to giggling. +There, it's time now to call them out to read. +Let me see, where is the best crack in the +floor for them to stand on? Why didn't I +bring a quarter of a dollar with a hole in it +for a medal? Oh, the medal will be for the +spelling-class; that was what Grandma Parlin +said."</p> + +<p>It seemed a "ling-long" forenoon, and the +little teacher rejoiced when eleven o'clock +came. The family at home looked at her +curiously, and Uncle James asked outright,<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95" /> +"Tell us, Grandmother Graymouse, how do +the scholars behave?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose they behaved as well as +they knew how; but oh, it makes me so +hungry!"</p> + +<p>She could not say whether she liked teaching +or not.</p> + +<p>"Wait till Friday night, Uncle James, and +then I'll tell you."</p> + +<p>"Well said, Grandmother Graymouse! You +couldn't have made a wiser remark. We'll +ask no further questions till Friday night."</p> + +<p>But when Friday night came they were all +thinking of something else, something quite +out of the common; and "Grandmother Graymouse" +and her school were forgotten.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="VII" id="VII" /><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96" />VII</h3> + +<h2>THE ZEBRA KITTEN</h2> + + +<p>It began with Zee. By this time her young +mistress had become very much attached to +her; and so indeed had all the "Dunlee +party." Even Mrs. Dunlee petted the kitten +and said she was the most graceful creature +she had ever seen, except, perhaps, the dancing +horse, Thistleblow. Eddo loved her because +"she hadn't any pins in her feet" and +did not resent his rough handling. The "little +two" loved her because she allowed them to +play all sorts of games with her. They could +make believe she was very ill and tuck her +up in bed, and she would swallow meekly +such medicine as alum with salt and water +without even a mew.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97" />She is so amiable," said Edith. "And +then that wonderful tail of hers, mamma! +'Twould bring, I don't know how much +money, at a cat fair. It's a regular <i>prize</i> +tail, you see!"</p> + +<p>An animal like this merited extra care. +She was not to be put off like an everyday +cat with saucers of milk and scraps of meat; +she must have the choicest bits from the +table.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. McQuilken says the best-fed cats +make the best mousers," said Edith.</p> + +<p>"Is that so, Miss Edith? Then the mice +here at Castle Cliff haven't long to live!" +laughed good-natured Mr. Templeton, as he +handed Zee's little mistress a pitcher of excellent +cream.</p> + +<p>Edith was very grateful to Mrs. McQuilken +for this remarkable kitten. She had taken +much pains with her pencil drawing of a +<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98" />cherub in the clouds, intending it as a present +for the eccentric old lady.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose she'll like it, mamma? +You know she's so odd that one never can +tell."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee was sure the picture would be +appreciated. The cherub's sweet face looked +like Eddo's, and the clouds lay about him +very softly, leaving bare his pretty dimpled +feet, and hands, and arms, and neck. On +Friday afternoon Edith took the picture in her +hand and knocked with a beating heart at the +door of Number Five.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Me—McQuilken," said she, in a +timid voice, on entering the room, "you're so +fond of pictures that I thought I'd bring you +one I drew myself. I'm afraid it's not so +very, very good; but I hope you'll like it +just a little."</p> + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-108' id='illus-108'></a> +<img src="images/illus-108.jpg" +alt="Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken" +title="Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken" /> +<h4><b>Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken</b></h4> +</div> + +<p>Mrs. McQuilken was much surprised as well +<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99" />as gratified; and actually there were tears in +her eyes as she took the offering from Edith's +hand. She was a lonely old body, and never +expected much attention from any one, especially +from children.</p> + +<p>"Why, how kind of you, my dear! It's a +beauty!" she exclaimed, gazing at the cherub +through her spectacles. She was a good +judge of pictures. "That face is well drawn, +and the clouds are fleecy. Did you really do +it your own self—and for me? Thank you, +dear child!"</p> + +<p>Edith blushed with pleasure. She had by +no means counted on such praise.</p> + +<p>"I'll always be kind to old people after +this," she thought. "I believe they care more +about it than you think they do."</p> + +<p>But here they were interrupted by the very +loud mewing of a cat out of doors. They +both ran downstairs to see what it meant.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100" />I do hope and trust it isn't my Zee," cried +Edith in alarm.</p> + +<p>But it was. They did not see her at +first; she was in the back yard behind the +hotel. It seems a pan of clams had been +left standing on the back door-step; and +Zee must have been frolicking about the +pan, never dreaming any live creature was +in it, when one of the clams, attracted by +her black waving tail, had caught the tip +of the tail in his mouth and was holding it +fast!</p> + +<p>This was pretty severe. Being only an +ignorant bivalve, the clam did not know that +what he had in his mouth was a very precious +article, the "prize tail" of a beautiful cat. +But having once taken hold of it, the clam +was too obstinate to let go.</p> + +<p>Poor Zee jumped up and down, and ran +around in circles, mewing with all her might.<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101" /> +What had happened she did not know; she +only knew some heavy thing was dragging at +her tail and pinching it fearfully. Every one +in the back of the house was busy; no one +but Eddo heard Zee's cries. He ran to the +maid to ask "what made the kitty sing so +sorry?" Whenever she mewed he called it +singing.</p> + +<p>The maid looked out then and threw down +her mixing-spoon for laughing. It was an +odd sight to see a cat prancing about, waving +her plume-like tail with a clam at the end of +it! Nancy was sorry for the kitten, but did +not know how in the world to get off the +clam.</p> + +<p>"Take an axe! Take a hatchet!" cried +Mrs. McQuilken.</p> + +<p>And without waiting for Nancy she seized +a hatchet herself, split the shell of the clam, +and let poor kitty free.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102" />When Kyzie got home from school, Mrs. +McQuilken had just mended Zee's bleeding +member with a piece of court-plaster. All +the boarders were grouped about on the lawn +and veranda talking it over. Mrs. Dunlee +held in her lap a very forlorn and crumpled +little bundle of kitty; and Edith and Eddo +were crying as if their hearts would break.</p> + +<p>"That beautiful, beautiful tail!" sobbed +Edith.</p> + +<p>"Don't be unhappy about it, darling," said +Aunt Vi, "it will heal in time."</p> + +<p>"I know 't will heal, auntie; but what I'm +thinking of is, won't it be stiff? Aren't you +afraid 'twill lose the—the—<i>expression of the +wiggle?</i>"</p> + +<p>No one even smiled at the question; everybody +tried to comfort Edith. And right in +the midst of this trying scene another event +occurred of a different sort, but far more se<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103" />rious. +It was little wonder that nobody once +thought of saying to Kyzie:—</p> + +<p>"Well, Grandma Graymouse, you promised +to tell us to-night how you like your school."</p> + +<p>The school was quite forgotten, and so was +the injured kitten. It happened in this way: +As soon as the kitten had been placed in a +basket of cotton and seemed tolerably comfortable, +Jimmy and "the little two" went +along the road as they often did to watch for +the stage. "The colonel" might be coming now +at almost any time, to find the lost vein of the +gold mine, and they wanted to see him first of +any one. Lucy had her papa's watch fastened +to the waist of her dress, and took great pleasure +in seeing the hands move. This was not +the first time she had been allowed to carry the +watch, and she was very proud because papa +had just said, "See how I trust my little girl."</p> + +<p>Jimmy had Uncle James's spy-glass.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104" />Nate thinks the colonel won't come till +to-morrow; but I expect him to-night. Let's +go farther up," said Jimmy-boy.</p> + +<p>They all climbed a little way and stood on +a rock gazing down toward the dusty road. +They could see the roofs of several houses, +and Lucy asked why there was so much wire +on them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's to hold the chimneys on," was +Jimmy's reply.</p> + +<p>"How queer!"</p> + +<p>"Not queer at all. I've seen lots of chimneys +tied on that way."</p> + +<p>Bab doubted this, but Lucy was proud to +think how much Jimmy knew.</p> + +<p>"Six minutes past five," said she, looking at +the watch again. "It takes these little hands +just as long to go round this little face as it +takes a clock's hands to go round a clock's +face. How funny!"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105" />Not funny at all," said Jimmy. "They're +made that way. But be careful, Lucy Dunlee, +or you'll drop that watch. I shouldn't have +thought papa would have let you bring it up +here. Did you tell him where we were going?"</p> + +<p>"No, I never," replied Lucy with a sudden +prick of conscience. "I didn't know we'd +go so far. 'Twas you that spoke and said +we'd go higher up."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better let me take it, Lucy. +I'm older than you are, and I've got a little +pocket, too, just the right size to hold it."</p> + +<p>Lucy hesitated, not wishing to part with +the watch, and not at all sure that it would +be safer with Jimmy than with herself. He +was not a famous care-taker.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you want to get it away +when papa lent it to me and it's fastened on +so tight. How do I know papa would be +willing?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106" />As she spoke, however, Jimmy was fingering +the little chain to see if he could undo +the clasp which held it to her dress.</p> + +<p>"There, I don't believe you could have got +it off, Lucy, you didn't know how."</p> + +<p>"Why, I never tried—papa fastened it on +himself—oh, Jimmy-boy, you will be so +careful of it, now won't you?"</p> + +<p>For the watch lay in his hand, and she did +not know how to get it back again. When he +had set his heart on anything Lucy usually +gave up. Barbara looked on in disapproval +as the big brother put the watch in his +pocket.</p> + +<p>It had long been Jimmy's unspoken wish +to have a watch of his very own like Nate +Pollard and various other boys. How rich +and handsome the short gold chain looked! +What a bright spot it made as it dangled +down his new jacket. He gazed at it admir<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107" />ingly, +while Bab and Lucy took turns in looking +through the spy-glass.</p> + +<p>"The stage is coming," they cried. Then +they all started and ran down the mountain; +but as the stage drove up to the hotel no +colonel alighted, or at least, no one who +looked like a colonel. Jimmy was playing +with the short gold chain which made a bright +spot on his jacket. He meant to restore the +watch to its owner at dinner-time; but it was +early, he was not going in yet. And there +was Nate Pollard throwing up his cap and +looking ready for a frolic.</p> + +<p>"I stump you to catch me!" said Nate.</p> + +<p>"Poh, I can catch you and not half try."</p> + +<p>Jimmy-boy was agile, Nate rather heavily +built and clumsy. But if Jimmy had suspected +what a foolhardy project was in Nate's +mind he would have held back from the +race.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108" />As it was, they both planted themselves +against a tree, shouted, "One, two, three!" +and off they started. No one was watching, +no one remembered afterward which way +they were going.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="VIII" id="VIII" /><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109" />VIII</h3> + +<h2>STEALING A CHIMNEY</h2> + + +<p>The "knitting-woman" sat knitting in her +chamber that looked up the mountain side, and +thinking how the zebra kitten had suffered +from her enemy, the clam. Mrs. McQuilken's +own cats were most of them asleep; the blind +canary was eating her supper of hemp-seed; +and the noisy magpie had run off to chat +with the dog and hens. The room seemed +remarkably quiet. Mrs. McQuilken narrowed +two stitches and glanced out of the window.</p> + +<p>"Mercy upon us!" she exclaimed, though +there was not a soul to hear her. "Mercy +upon us, what are those boyoes doing atop of +that house?"</p> + +<p>In her astonishment she actually dropped +<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110" />her knitting-work on the floor and rushed out +of the room crying, "Fire!" though there was +not a spark of fire to be seen.</p> + +<p>The "boyoes" were Nate and Jimmy. +Nate had said to Jimmy just as they started +on the race:—</p> + +<p>"You won't dare follow where I lead;" +and Jimmy, stung by the defiant tone, had +answered:—</p> + +<p>"Poh, yes, I will! Who's afraid?" never +once suspecting that Nate was going to climb +the ridge-pole of a house!</p> + +<p>The house was a small cabin painted green, +but there were people living in it, and nothing +could be ruder than to storm it in this +way, as both boys knew.</p> + +<p>"Why, Nate why, <i>Nate</i>, what are you +doing?"</p> + +<p>"Ho, needn't come if you're scared," retorted +Nate.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111" />Who said I was scared? But I'm not +your 'caddy,' I won't go another step," +gasped Jimmy.</p> + +<p>Still he did not stop climbing. Hadn't +Nate "stumped" him; and hadn't he "taken +the stump," agreeing to follow his lead? +Besides, Nate was already on the roof, and it +was necessary to catch him at once.</p> + +<p>Jimmy reached the roof easily enough and +darted toward Nate with both arms out-stretched. +But by that time Nate had turned +around and begun to slide down another +ridge-pole, shouting:—</p> + +<p>"Here, my caddy, here I am; catch me, +caddy!"</p> + +<p>It was most exasperating. Jimmy saw that +he had been outwitted. On the solid earth, +running a fair race, the chances were that he +could have beaten Nate. But was this a fair +race?</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112" />No, I'll leave it out to anybody if it's fair! +Nate Pollard is the meanest boy in California," +thought angry Jimmy, as he started to follow +his leader down the ridge-pole.</p> + +<p>At this moment something hit him just +below the knee and held him fast. In his +haste he had not stopped to notice that the +chimney was of the very sort he had just +described to Lucy—built of tiles and held on +to the roof by wires. He was caught in +these wires; and whenever he tried to move +he found he was actually pulling the chimney +after him! Nate, safely landed on the ground, +called back to him in triumph:—</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jimmy-cum-jim! Hello, my caddy! +Where are you? Why don't you come +along?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy was coming as fast as he could. +He lay face downward, sliding along toward +the edge of the roof, and carrying with him +<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113" />that most undesirable chimney! What would +become of him if he should fall head-first +with the chimney on his back?</p> + +<p>It was a rough scramble; but he managed +to turn over before he reached the ground—so +that he landed on his feet. The chimney +landed near him, a wreck. Jimmy was unhurt +except for a few scratches. But oh, it +was dreadful to hear himself laughed at, not +only by that mischievous Nate, but by +half a dozen other boys and a few grown +people, who had collected on the spot; among +them the landlord and Mrs. McQuilken.</p> + +<p>Not that any one could be blamed for +laughing. Jimmy was a comical object. In +carrying away a chimney which did not +belong to him, he had of course torn his +clothes frightfully and left big pieces sticking +on the broken wires of the roof. A more +"raggety" boy never was seen.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114" />Wouldn't he make a good scarecrow?" +said the landlord, shaking his sides. "Jimmum, +chimney, and all!"</p> + +<p>It was necessary to tear his clothes still +more in order to get them free from the +tangle of wires. As the poor young culprit +crept unwillingly back to the hotel all the +cats, dogs, donkeys, and chickens in Castle +Cliff seemed to combine in a chorus of mewing, +barking, braying, and cackling to inform +the whole world that here was a boy who had +stolen a chimney!</p> + +<p>What wretched little beggar was this coming +to the house? No one thought of its being +Jimmy Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"We caught this young rogue stealing a +chimney," said Mr. Templeton.</p> + +<p>It seemed funny at first, and the Dunlees +and Sanfords and Hales all laughed heartily, +till it occurred to them that the dear child +<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115" />had been in actual danger; and then they +drew long breaths and shuddered, thinking +how he might have pitched headlong to the +ground and been crushed by the weight of +the chimney.</p> + +<p>"But my little son," asked Mrs. Dunlee +presently, when the child was once more +respectably clad, and was walking down to +dinner between herself and Aunt Vi, "but +my little son, what could have possessed you +to climb a roof? Was that a nice thing to +do?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, of course not. But 'twas all +Nate Pollard's fault. Nate stumped me to it +and I took the stump."</p> + +<p>"What <i>do</i> you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he said, 'You won't dare follow me,' +and I said, 'Yes, I would.' And I never mistrusted +where he was going. Who'd have +thought of his climbing top of a house?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116" />Why, Jamie Dunlee, you did not follow +Nate without knowing where he was going?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, mamma; if I <i>had</i> known I wouldn't +have followed. But you see he had stumped +me and I'd taken the stump, so I was <i>obliged</i> +to go!"</p> + +<p>"Obliged to go!" repeated Aunt Vi, laughing, +"Isn't that characteristic of Jimmy?"</p> + +<p>The little fellow felt guiltier than ever. +When Aunt Vi used that word of five syllables +it always meant that people had done very +wrong, so he thought.</p> + +<p>"Jamie," said his mother very seriously, "I +am surprised that you should have promised +to follow Nate without knowing where he was +going! And you never even asked him where +he was going! Is that the way you play, you +boys?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma, it isn't. Nate makes you +play his way because he's the oldest. He's +<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117" />just as mean! But I couldn't back out after +I was stumped."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie! Backing out is exactly the thing +to do when a boy is trying to lead you into +mischief! But we'll talk more of this by and +by."</p> + +<p>As they entered the dining-room, Jimmy +squared his shoulders and would not look +toward Nate's table; and Nate, who had been +severely reproved by his parents, never once +raised his eyes from his plate. No one felt +very happy. Jimmy's new suit was ruined; +and Mr. Dunlee had already learned that +it would cost ten dollars to restore the tile +chimney. Nor was this all. While Jimmy was +trying to console himself with ice-cream he +suddenly thought of his father's watch! It +must have dropped out of his pocket when +he slid down the roof; but where, oh, where +was it now? Was it still on the ground, or +<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118" />had some one picked it up? Joe Rolfe had +been there, so had Chicken Little and a dozen +others. He must go and look for that watch, +he must go this minute.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," he murmured, pushing aside his +saucer of ice-cream, "may I—may I be +excused?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer; his mother had not +heard him.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," in a louder tone, "oh, mamma!"</p> + +<p>"What is it, my son?"</p> + +<p>Seeing by his unhappy face that something +was wrong, she nodded permission for him to +leave the table; and at the same time arose +and followed him into the hall.</p> + +<p>"Dear child, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Papa's watch," he moaned. "I'm afraid +somebody will steal it."</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Dunlee knew nothing whatever +about the watch this sounded very strange.<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119" /> +She wondered if Jimmy had really been hurt +by his fall and was out of his head.</p> + +<p>"Why, my precious little boy," said she, taking +his hot hand in hers. "Papa's watch is safe +in his vest pocket. Nobody is going to steal it."</p> + +<p>Jimmy looked immensely relieved.</p> + +<p>"Oh, has he got it back again? I'm so +glad! Where did he find it?"</p> + +<p>"Darling," said Mrs. Dunlee, now really +alarmed. "Come upstairs with mamma. Does +your head ache? I think it will be best for +you to go right to bed."</p> + +<p>But Jimmy persisted in talking about the +watch.</p> + +<p>"Where did papa find it? He let Lucy +have it; don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"No, I did not know."</p> + +<p>"And I took it away from Lucy. I was +afraid she'd lose it. And then,—oh, dear, +oh, dear,—then I went and lost it myself!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120" />Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now. Jimmy's +head was clear enough; he knew perfectly +well what he was talking about. The +watch was gone, a very valuable one. Search +must be made for it at once. Without waiting +to speak to her husband, Mrs. Dunlee put +on her hat and went with Jimmy up the hill. +He limped a little from the bruise of his fall +and she steadied him with her arm as they +walked.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="IX" id="IX" /><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121" />IX</h3> + +<h2>"CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE</h2> + + +<p>The man and woman who lived in the +green cottage had gone to a neighbor's to +stay till their chimney should be fastened on +again. There was no one in sight.</p> + +<p>"Here's the place where I went up," said +Jimmy, laying his hand on one of the ridge-poles. +"And here's the place where I came +down," pointing to another ridge-pole.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee was stooping and looking around +carefully. There was not a tuft of grass or a +clump of weeds behind which even a small +article could be hidden, much less a large +bright object like a gold watch. She took a +wooden pencil from her pocket and scraped +the earth with it; but only disturbed a few +<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122" />ants and beetles. If the watch had ever been +dropped here, it certainly was not here now. +She and Jimmy turned and walked home in +the twilight,—or as Mrs. McQuilken called +it, "the dimmets," and poor Jimmy drew a +cloud of gloom about him like a cloak.</p> + +<p>They looked on the ground at every step +of the way.</p> + +<p>"There's a piece of chaparral over there. +Did you go through that?" asked Mrs. +Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"No, I never, I'm sure I never. I walked +in the road right straight along. Oh, +mamma, if I've lost that watch 'twill break +my heart. But I'll pay papa for it, you see +if I don't! I'll save every penny I get and +put it together and pay papa!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee did not reply for a moment; +she took time to reflect. Jimmy was a dear +boy, but very heedless. He had done wrong +<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123" />in the first place to take the watch from +Lucy without his father's permission. He +must be taught to respect other people's +property and other people's rights. He must +learn to think, and learn to be careful. Here +was a chance for a lesson.</p> + +<p>"Jamie," said she at last, "I am glad you +wish to atone for the wrong you have done; +it shows a proper spirit. I agree with you +that if the watch isn't found you ought to +give papa what you can toward paying for it. +That is no more than fair."</p> + +<p>"I want to, mamma, I just want to!" burst +forth Jimmy. "I wish I was little like Eddo, +before 'twas wrong for me to be naughty."</p> + +<p>His mother took him in her arms and +kissed him, for he was so tired and miserable +that he could not keep the tears back +another moment.</p> + +<p>Friday night passed and most of Saturday; +<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124" />and though diligent search was made, the +watch was not found.</p> + +<p>"Poor papa!" said Kyzie. "He doesn't +say much; but how sober he looks! Grandma +Dunlee gave him that watch, Jimmy, when he +was a young man; and he did love it so!"</p> + +<p>"I know it. Oh, dear, how can he stand +it?" responded jimmy, who had been deeply +touched from the first by his father's forbearance. +"Mr, Pollard punished Nate dreadfully, +you know; but here's Papa Dunlee, +why, he hasn't even scolded!"</p> + +<p>Papa Dunlee was a wise man. He saw +that his little son was suffering enough +already; he was learning a hard lesson, and +perhaps would learn it all the better for being +left alone with his own conscience.</p> + +<p>On Sunday afternoon the boy was very disconsolate, +and Mr. Dunlee patted him on the +head, saying:—</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125" />Maybe we'll find the watch yet, my son. +And anyway, I know Jimmum didn't mean to +lose it."</p> + +<p>Then he sat down to read, and Jimmy +gazed at him reverently. The sunshine about +his head seemed almost like a halo, and the +boy thought of the angels, and wondered if +they could possibly be any better than papa!</p> + +<p>"Papa is the best man! Never was cross +in his life. I should be cross as fury! I +should shake <i>my</i> boy all to pieces if he +should carry off my gold watch and drop it +in the sand!"</p> + +<p>Monday morning came and the missing +article did not appear. Everybody looked +troubled. Edith walked about, carrying her +lame kitten in a basket, and saying:—</p> + +<p>"Zee is getting better all the while, but +how can I be happy when papa's watch is +lost!"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126" />Who knows but I shall be the one to +find it?" returned Katharine with a mysterious +smile, as she was leaving the house.</p> + +<p>"You forgot to tell us, and we forgot to +ask you, How do you like your school?" +said Aunt Vi.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ever so much, auntie. I'm making it +just as old-fashioned as I can. I'm going to +write Grandma Parlin this week and ask her +if what I do is old-fashioned enough. Good-by."</p> + +<p>Jimmy was waiting for her down the path.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think you'll find the +watch, Kyzie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know, myself, what I meant. +I just said it for fun."</p> + +<p>"Well, do you think Joe Rolfe has got it, +or Chicken Little? That's what I want to +know."</p> + +<p>"Hush, Jimmy! Papa wouldn't allow you +<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127" />to speak names in that way. Somebody stole +it, I suppose, but we don't know who it +was."</p> + +<p>Still Kyzie's face wore a stern look that +morning. It was a thing not to be spoken +of, but she had resolved to "keep an eye" +on two or three of the boys, and see if there +was anything peculiar in their appearance. +Should one of them blush or turn pale when +spoken to, it would be a sure sign of guilt, +and she should go home and announce with +triumph to her father:—</p> + +<p>"Papa, I've found out the thief!"</p> + +<p>The scholars all appeared pretty much as +usual; raising their hands very often to ask, +"May I speak?" or, "May I have a drink of +water?" The little teacher had always wished +they would not do so, but how could she help +it? It was "an old-fashioned school," perhaps +that was why it was so noisy. Whatever went +<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128" />wrong, Kyzie always said to herself, "Oh, it's +just an old-fashioned school."</p> + +<p>Nate Pollard and Jimmy sat to-day as far +apart as possible, almost turning their backs +upon each other. At the bottom of his heart +Nate was truly ashamed of himself, though he +would not have owned it. There were five +new scholars, and Katharine wrote down their +names with much pride. Best of all, some of +the children really seemed to be trying to get +their lessons.</p> + +<p>She had never known Joe Rolfe to study +like this. "Is it because he is guilty?" +thought the little teacher watching him from +under her eyebrows. She walked along toward +him so softly that he did not hear her footsteps.</p> + +<p>"Joseph!" she exclaimed, suddenly. Her +voice startled him; he looked up in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to see you studying, Joseph."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129" />Did he blush? His face was of a brownish +red hue at any time, being much tanned; she +could not be quite sure of the blush. But +why did he look so sober? Children generally +smile when they are praised.</p> + +<p>She had been to Bab and Lucy and said, +"How still you are, darlings!" and they had +seemed delighted.</p> + +<p>Next she tried Chicken Little. He certainly +jumped when she spoke his name close +to his ear, "Henry." Now why should he +jump and seem so confused unless he knew +he had done something wrong? She forgot +that he was a very timid boy.</p> + +<p>"Henry, what is the matter with you?" she +asked, frowning severely.</p> + +<p>She had never frowned on him before, for +she liked the little fellow, and was trying her +best to "make a man of him."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Henry?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130" />By this time he was scared nearly out of +his wits, and stole a side glance at her to see +if she had a switch in her hand.</p> + +<p>"Don't whip me," he pleaded in a trembling +voice. "Don't whip me, teacher; and +I'll give you f-i-v-e thousand dollars!"</p> + +<p>As he offered this modest sum to save +himself from her wrath, the little teacher +nearly laughed aloud, Henry did not know +it, however; her face was hidden behind a +book.</p> + +<p>"What made you think, you silly boy, that +I was going to punish you?" she asked as +soon as she could find her voice. "Have +you done something wicked?"</p> + +<p>She spoke in a low tone for his ear alone, +but he writhed under it as if it had been a +blow.</p> + +<p>"I—don'—know."</p> + +<p>"He is the thief," thought Kyzie. "Oh,<a name="Page_131" id="Page_131" /> +Henry, if you've done something wrong you +must know it. Tell me what it was."</p> + +<p>"I—can't!"</p> + +<p>She put her lips nearer his ear. "Was it +you and Joseph Rolfe together? Perhaps +you <i>both</i> did something wicked?"</p> + +<p>"I—don'—know."</p> + +<p>"Was it last Friday?"</p> + +<p>"I—don'—know!"</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me after school?"</p> + +<p>Henry was unable to answer. Worn out +with contending emotions he put his head +down on the seat and cried.</p> + +<p>This did not seem like innocence. Joseph +Rolfe was looking on from across the aisle, +as if he wished very much to know what +she and Henry were talking about.</p> + +<p>"I'll make them tell me the whole +story, the wicked boys," thought Kyzie, +indignantly. "But I can't hurry about it;<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132" /> +I must be very careful. I think I'll wait +till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>So she calmed herself and called out her +classes. Katharine was a "golden girl," and +had a strong sense of justice. She would +say nothing yet to her father, for the boys +might possibly be innocent; still she went +home that afternoon feeling that she had +almost made a discovery.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Grandmother Graymouse," +said Uncle James, as they were all seated +on the veranda after dinner, "do I understand +that you are hunting for a watch?"</p> + +<p>"I'm hunting for it, oh, yes," replied +Kyzie, trying not to look too triumphant; +"but I haven't found it yet. Just wait till +to-morrow, Uncle James."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe we'll wait another minute!" +declared Mr. Sanford, looking around with +a roguish smile. "I see the Dunlee people +<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133" />are all here, Jimmum, Lucy, and all. Attention, +my friends! The thief has been +found!"</p> + +<p>"What thief?" asked Mrs. Hale and Mrs. +Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"Why, <i>the</i> thief! The one we're looking +for! The one that stole the watch!"</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it?" asked the ladies +again. "Did he bring it back?"</p> + +<p>"Come and see," said Uncle James, leading +the way upstairs.</p> + +<p>"Of course it's Joe Rolfe," thought Kyzie. +"I suppose he was frightened by what I said +to Henry Small."</p> + +<p>"Is the thief in your room, Uncle James?" +said Jimmy. "Why didn't you put him in +jail?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Jimmum, do you think all thieves +ought to go to jail? I once knew a little +boy who stole a chimney right off a house; +<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134" />yet I never heard a word said about putting +<i>him</i> in jail!</p> + +<p>"But here we are at the chamber door. +Stand behind me, all of you, in single file."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="X" id="X" /><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135" />X</h3> + +<h2>THE THIEF FOUND</h2> + + +<p>"I don't know so much as I thought I +did," said Kyzie to herself. "Joe Rolfe +wouldn't be in this room."</p> + +<p>For Uncle James was knocking at the door +of Number Five.</p> + +<p>"Walk right in," said Mrs. McQuilken, +coming to meet her guests. She had her +knitting in one hand. "Come in, all of you. +Why, Mr. Templeton, are you here too? You +wouldn't have taken me into your house if +you'd known I was a thief; now would you, +Mr. Templeton?"</p> + +<p>And laughing, she put her right hand in +her apron pocket and drew out a gold watch +and chain.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_136" id="Page_136" />If this belongs to anybody present, let +him step up and claim his property."</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee came forward in amazement, +while Jimmy gave a little squeal of delight.</p> + +<p>"This is mine, thank you, madam," said +Mr. Dunlee, looking at the watch closely. It +seemed very much battered.</p> + +<p>"Dreadfully smashed up, isn't it, sir? I +can't tell you how sorry I am."</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunlee shook it, and held it to his +ear.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it won't go," said Mrs. McQuilken. +"The inside seems worse off, if anything, +than the outside. 'Twill have to have new +works."</p> + +<p>"Very likely. But it is so precious to me, +madam, that even in this condition I'm glad +to get it back again. Pray, where has it +been?"</p> + +<p>"Right here in this room. Didn't you +<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137" />understand me to confess to stealing it? +Why, you're shaking your head as if you +doubted my word."</p> + +<p>They were all laughing now, and the old +lady's eyes twinkled with fun.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I didn't steal it myself, one of my +family did, so it amounts to the same thing. +Come out here, you unprincipled girl, and beg +the gentleman's pardon," she added, kneeling +and dragging forth from under the bed a +beautiful bird.</p> + +<p>It was her own magpie, chattering and +scolding.</p> + +<p>"Now tell the gentleman who stole his +watch? Speak up loud and clear!"</p> + +<p>The bird flapped her wings, and cawed out +very crossly:—</p> + +<p>"Mag! Mag! Mag!"</p> + +<p>"Hear her! Hear that!" cried her mistress. +"So you did steal it, Mag—I'm glad +<a name="Page_138" id="Page_138" />to hear you tell the truth for once in your +life."</p> + +<p>"Did she take the watch? Did she really +and truly?" cried the children in chorus.</p> + +<p>"To be sure she did, the bad girl. She +has done such things before, and I have +always found her out; but this time she was +too sly for me. She went and put it in my +mending-basket; and who would have thought +of looking for it there?"</p> + +<p>Mag tipped her head to one side saucily, +and kept muttering to herself.</p> + +<p>"Well, I happened to go to the basket this +afternoon and take up a pair of stockings to +mend. They felt amazingly heavy. There was +a hard wad in them, and I wondered what it +could be. I put in my hand and pulled out +the watch. Yes, 'twas tucked right into the +stockings."</p> + +<p>"I wonder we didn't any of us mistrust +<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139" />her at the time of it," said Mr. Templeton; +"those magpies are dreadful thieves."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose you thought 'twas my +business to take care of her, and it was. I'm +ashamed of myself," said Mrs. McQuilken. +"I was looking out of the window when the +boys shied over that roof, but my mind +wasn't on jewelry then. All I thought of was +to run and call for help."</p> + +<p>Yes, and it was her screams which had +aroused the whole neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"And at that very time my Mag was roaming +at large. No doubt she saw the watch +the moment it fell; and to use your expression, +Mr. Templeton, she jumped at it like a +dolphin at a silver spoon."</p> + +<p>The landlord laughed. "But the mystery is," +said he, "how she got back to the house without +being seen. She must have been pretty spry."</p> + +<p>"O Mag, Mag, to think I never once +<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140" />thought to look after you!" exclaimed Mrs. +McQuilken, penitently.</p> + +<p>The bird was scolding all the while, and +running about with short, jerky movements, +trying her best to get out of the room; but +the door was closed.</p> + +<p>"Pretty thing," said Edith. "What a shame +she should be a thief!"</p> + +<p>"She is pretty, now isn't she?" returned +her mistress, fondly. "My husband brought +her from China. You don't often see a +Chinese magpie, with blue plumage,—cobalt +blue."</p> + +<p>"She's a perfect oddity," said Mrs. Hale. +"See those two centre tail-feathers, so very +long, barred with black and tipped with +white."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Dunlee, "and the red bill +and red legs. She's a brilliant creature, Mrs. +McQuilken."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141" />Well, you'll try to forgive her, won't you, +sir? I mean to bring her up as well as I +know how; but what are you going to do +with a girl that can't sense the ten commandments?"</p> + +<p>"What indeed!" laughed Mr. Dunlee.</p> + +<p>"You see she's naturally light-fingered. Yes, +you are, Mag, you needn't deny it. Those +red claws of yours are just pickers and +stealers."</p> + +<p>Here Edith called attention to Mag's nest +on the wall, and they all admired it; and +Mrs. McQuilken said the canary liked to have +Mag near him at night, he was apt to be +lonesome.</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd come in the daytime," said +she. "Come any and all of you, and hear +him sing. He does sing so sweetly, poor +blind thing; it's as good as a sermon to hear +him."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142" />On leaving Mrs. McQuilken the children +went to Aunt Vi's room and Jimmy kept +repeating joyously:—</p> + +<p>"We've found the watch, we've found the +watch!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Aunt Vi; "but what a wreck +it is! Your papa will have to spend a deal +of money in repairing it."</p> + +<p>"Too bad!" said Lucy, "I 'spect 'twould +cost him cheaper to buy a new one."</p> + +<p>"'Twouldn't cost him so much; that's what +you mean," corrected Jimmy. "But I'm +going to pay for mending it anyway."</p> + +<p>"How can you?" asked Kyzie. "All you +have is just your tin box with silver in it."</p> + +<p>"Well, but don't I keep having presents? +And can't I ask folks to stop giving me toys +and books and give me money? And they'll +do it every time."</p> + +<p>"But that would be begging."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143" />Jimmy's face fell. Yes, on the whole it +did seem like begging. He had not thought +of that.</p> + +<p>"Why can't it ever snow in this country?" +he exclaimed suddenly. "Then I could shovel +it. That's the way boys make money 'back +East'"</p> + +<p>Then after a pause he burst forth again, +"Or, I might pick berries—if there were +any berries!"</p> + +<p>"It's not so very easy for little boys to earn +money; is it, dear?" said Aunt Vi, putting +her arm around her young nephew and drawing +him toward her. "But when they've done +wrong—you still think you did wrong, don't +you, Jimmy?"</p> + +<p>"He knows he did," broke in Lucy. "My +papa lent me the watch."</p> + +<p>"She wasn't talking to you," remonstrated +Jimmy. "Yes, auntie, I did wrong; but<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144" /> +Lucy needn't twit me of it! I won't be +<i>characteristic</i> any more as long as I live."</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi smiled and patted his head lovingly.</p> + +<p>"No, dear, I think you'll be more thoughtful +in future. But now let us try to +think what can be done to pay for the +watch."</p> + +<p>"I'll let him have some of the money I +get for teaching. I always meant to," said +Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"Very kind of you," returned Aunt Vi; +"but we'll not take it if we can help it, will +we, Jimmy? I've been thinking it over for +some days, children; and a little plan has +occurred to me. Would you like to know +what it is?"</p> + +<p>They all looked interested. If Aunt Vi +had a plan, it was sure to be worth hearing.</p> + +<p>"It is this: mightn't we get up some +<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145" />entertainments,—good ones that would be +worth paying for?"</p> + +<p>"And sell the tickets? Oh, auntie, that's +just the thing! That's capital!" cried Edith +and Kyzie. "You'd do it beautifully."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure of that, girls. But we +might join together and act a little play that +I've been writing; that is, we might try. +What have you to say, Jimmy? Could you +help?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I can't speak pieces worth +a cent," replied the boy, writhing and shuffling +his feet. "Look here!" he said, brightening. +"Don't you want some nails driven? I can +do that first rate."</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi laughed and said nails might be +needed in putting up a staging, and she was +sure that he could use a hammer better than +she could.</p> + +<p>Jimmy-boy, much gratified, struck an atti<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146" />tude, +and pounding his left palm with his +thumb, repeated the rhyme:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Drive the nail straight, boys,<br /></span> +<span>Hit it on the head;<br /></span> +<span>Work with your might, boys,<br /></span> +<span>Ere the day has fled."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"There, he can speak, I knew he could +speak!" cried Lucy, in admiration.</p> + +<p>It was settled that they were all to meet +Wednesday morning, and their mother with +them, to talk over the matter.</p> + +<p>"That's great," said Jimmy.</p> + +<p>The watch was found and the world looked +bright once more. True, he was deeply in +debt; but with such a grand helper as Aunt +Vi he was sure the debt would very soon be +paid.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XI" id="XI" /><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147" />XI</h3> + +<h2>BEGGING PARDON</h2> + + +<p>Next morning Jimmy walked to school +with "the little two," whistling as he went. +Lucy had tortured her hair into a "cue," +and</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"The happy wind upon her played,<br /></span> +<span>Blowing the ringlet from the braid."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"I've got the snarling-est, flying-est hair," +scolded she. "I never'll braid it again as +long as I live; so there!"</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Jimmy. "It has looked +like fury ever since we came up here."</p> + +<p>Here Nate overtook the children. He had +not been very social since the accident, but +seemed now to want to talk.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148" />How do you do, Jimmy?" he said: and +Jimmy responded, "How d'ye do yourself?"</p> + +<p>The little girls ran on in advance, and +Jimmy would have joined them, but Nate +said:—-</p> + +<p>"Hold on! What's your hurry?"</p> + +<p>Jimmy turned then and saw that Nate was +scowling and twisting his watch-chain.</p> + +<p>"I've got something to say to you—I +mean papa wants me to say something."</p> + +<p>"Oh ho!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see any need of it, but papa says +I must."</p> + +<p>Jimmy waited, curious to hear what was +coming.</p> + +<p>"Papa says I jollied you the other day."</p> + +<p>"What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, fooled you."</p> + +<p>"So you did, Nate Pollard, and 'twas +awful mean."</p> + +<div class="center"> +<a name='illus-160' id='illus-160'></a> +<img src="images/illus-160.jpg" +alt=""'James S. Dunlee, will—you—forgive me?'"" +title=""'James S. Dunlee, will—you—forgive me?'"" /> +<h4><b>"'James S. Dunlee, will you forgive me?'"</b></h4> +</div> + +<p>"<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149" />It wasn't either. What made you climb +that ridge-pole? You needn't have done it +just because I did. But papa says I've got +to—to—ask your pardon."</p> + +<p>"H'm! I should think you'd better! +Tore my clothes to pieces. Smashed a gold +watch."</p> + +<p>"You hadn't any business taking that +watch."</p> + +<p>There was a pause.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Jimmy Dunlee, why don't +you speak?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't anything to say."</p> + +<p>"Can't you say, 'I forgive you'?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I can't. You never asked me."</p> + +<p>"Well, I ask you now. James S. Dunlee, +will—you—forgive me?"</p> + +<p>"H'm! I suppose I'll have to," replied +Jimmy, firing a pebble at nothing in particular. +"I forgive you all right because we've +<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150" />found the watch. If we hadn't found it, I +wouldn't! But don't you 'jolly' me again, +Nate Pollard, or you'll catch it!"</p> + +<p>This did not sound very forgiving; but +neither had Nate's remark sounded very penitent. +Nate smiled good-naturedly and seemed +satisfied. The fact was, he and Jimmy were +both of them trying, after the manner of boys, +to hide their real feelings. Nate knew that +his conduct had been very shabby and contemptible, +and he was ashamed of it, but did +not like to say so. Jimmy, for his part, was +glad to make up, but did not wish to seem +too glad.</p> + +<p>Then they each tried to think of something +else to say. They were fully agreed that +they had talked long enough about their foolish +quarrel and would never allude to it +again.</p> + +<p>"Glad that watch has come," said Nate.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151" />So am I. It has come, but it won't <i>go</i>," +said Jimmy. And they laughed as if this +were a great joke.</p> + +<p>Next Jimmy inquired about "the colonel," +and Nate asked: "What colonel? Oh, you +mean the mining engineer. He'll be here +next week with his men."</p> + +<p>By this time the boys were feeling so friendly +that Jimmy asked Nate to go with him before +school next morning to see the knitting-woman's +pets and hear the blind canary sing.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose the magpie will be there?" +returned Nate. "I want to catch her some +time and wring her old neck."</p> + +<p>"Wish you would," said Jimmy. "Hello, +there's Chicken Little crying again. He's +more of a baby than our Eddo."</p> + +<p>Henry was crying now because Dave Blake +had called him a coward. So very, very +unjust! He stood near the schoolhouse door, +<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152" />wiping his eyes on his checked apron and +saying:—</p> + +<p>"I'll go tell the teacher, Dave Blake!"</p> + +<p>"Well, go along and tell her then. Fie, +for shame!"</p> + +<p>Henry, a feeble, petted child, was always +falling into trouble and always threatening to +tell the teacher. Kyzie considered him very +tiresome; but to-day when he came to her +with his tale of woe, she listened patiently, +because she had done him a wrong and wished +to atone for it. She had "really and truly" +suspected this simple child of a crime! He +would not take so much as a pin without +leave; neither would Joseph Rolfe. Yet in +her heart she had been accusing these innocent +children of stealing her father's watch!</p> + +<p>"Miserable me!" thought Kyzie. "I must +be very good to both of them now, to make +up for my dreadful injustice!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153" />She went to Joe and sweetly offered to +lend him her knife to whittle his lead pencil. +He looked surprised. He did not know she +had ever wronged him in her heart.</p> + +<p>She wiped Henry's eyes on her own pocket handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Poor little cry-baby!" thought she. "I +told my mother I would try to make a man +of him, and now I mean to begin."</p> + +<p>She walked part of the way home with +him that afternoon. He considered it a great +honor. She looked like a little girl, but her +wish to help the child made her feel quite +grown-up and very wise.</p> + +<p>"Henry," said she, "how nice you look +when you are not crying. Why, now you're +smiling, and you look like a darling!"</p> + +<p>He laughed.</p> + +<p>"There! laugh again. I want to tell you +something, Henry. You'd be a great deal +<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154" />happier if you didn't cry so much; do you +know it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Dunlee,"—Kyzie liked extremely +to be called Miss Dunlee,—"well, +Miss Dunlee, you see, the boys keep a-plaguing +me. And when they plague me I have to +cry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie, don't you do it! If I were a +little black-eyed boy about your age I'd laugh, +and I'd say to those boys: 'You needn't try +to plague me; you just can't do it. The +more you try, the more I'll laugh.'"</p> + +<p>Henry's eyes opened wide in surprise, and +he laughed before he knew it.</p> + +<p>"There! that's the way, Henry. If you do +that they'll stop right off. There's no fun +in plaguing a little boy that laughs."</p> + +<p>Henry laughed again and threw back his +shoulders. Why, this was something new. +This wasn't the way his mamma talked to +<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155" />him. She always said, "Mamma's boy is +sick and mustn't be plagued."</p> + +<p>"Another thing," went on the little girl, +pleased to see that her words had had some +effect; "whatever else you may do, Henry, +<i>don't</i> 'run and tell,' Do you suppose George +Washington ever crept along to his teacher, +rubbing his eyes this way on his jacket +sleeve, and said 'Miss Dunlee—ah, the boys +have been a-making fun of me—ah! They +called me names, they did!'"</p> + +<p>Henry dropped his chin into his neck.</p> + +<p>"Never mind! You're a good little boy, +after all. <i>You</i> wouldn't steal anything, would +you, Henry?"</p> + +<p>This sudden question was naturally rather +startling. He had no answer ready.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know you wouldn't! But sometimes +little <i>birds</i> steal. Did you hear that a +magpie stole a watch the other day?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156" />Yes, I heard."</p> + +<p>"Well, here's some candy for you, Henry."</p> + +<p>The boy held out his hand eagerly, though +looking rather bewildered. Was the candy +given because George Washington didn't "run +and tell"? Or because magpies steal watches?</p> + +<p>"Now, good night, Henry, and don't forget +what: I've been saying to you."</p> + +<p>Henry walked on, feeling somewhat ashamed, +but enjoying the candy nevertheless. If his +pretty teacher didn't want him to tell tales, he +wouldn't do it any more. He would act just +like George Washington; and then how would +the big boys feel?</p> + +<p>He did not forget his resolve. Next morning +when Dave Blake ran out his tongue +at him and Joe Rolfe said, "Got any chickens +to sell?" he laughed with all his might, +just to see how it would seem. Both +the boys stared; they didn't understand it.<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157" /> +"Hello, Chicken Little, what's the matter with +you?"</p> + +<p>Henry could see the eyes of his young +teacher twinkling from between the slats of +the window-blinds, and he spoke up with a +courage quite unheard-of:—</p> + +<p>"Nothing's the matter with <i>me!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Hear that chicken," cried Joe Rolfe. +"He's beginning to crow!"</p> + +<p>Henry felt the tears starting; but as Miss +Katharine at that moment opened the blind +far enough to shake her finger at him privately +he thought better of it, and faltered +out:—</p> + +<p>"See here, boys, I like to be called Chicken +Little first rate! Say it again. Say it fi-ive +thousand times if you want to!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're too willing," said Joe. "We'll +try it some other time when you get over +being so willing!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158" />The bell rang; it sounded to Henry like +a peal of joy. He walked in in triumph, and +as he passed by the little teacher she patted +him on the head. She did not need to wipe +his eyes with her handkerchief, there were +no tears to be seen. He was not a brave +boy yet by any means, but he had made a +beginning; yes, that very morning he had +made a beginning.</p> + +<p>"Don't you tease Henry Small any more, +I don't like it at all," said Katharine to +Joseph Rolfe.</p> + +<p>And then she slipped a paper of choice +candy into Joe's hand, charging him "not to +eat it in school, now remember." It was a +queer thing to do; but then this was a queer +school; and besides Kyzie had her own reasons +for thinking she ought to be very kind +to Joe.</p> + +<p>"How silly I was to suspect those little +<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159" />boys! I'm afraid I never shall have much +judgment. Still, on the whole, I believe I'm +doing pretty well," thought she, looking +proudly at Henry Small's bright face, and +remembering too how Mr. Pollard had told +her that very morning that his son Nate was +learning more arithmetic at her little school +than he had ever learned in the city schools. +"Oh, I'm so glad," mused the little teacher.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee thought Kyzie did not get +time enough for play. And just now the +little girl was unusually busy. They were +talking at home of the new entertainment to +be given for Jimmy-boy's benefit, and she +was to act a part in it as well as Edith. It +was "Jimmy's play," but Jimmy was not to +appear in it at all. Kyzie and Edith together +were to print the tickets with a pen. The +white pasteboard had been cut into strips for +this purpose; but as it was not decided yet +<a name="Page_160" id="Page_160" />whether the play would be enacted on the +tailings or in the schoolhouse, the young +printers had got no farther than to print +these words very neatly at the bottom of the +tickets:</p> + +<p>"ADMIT THE BEARER."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XII" id="XII" /><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161" />XII</h3> + +<h2>"THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE"</h2> + + +<p>There were only ten days in which to prepare +for the play called "Granny's Quilting." +The children met Wednesday morning in +Aunt Vi's room, all but Bab, who was off +riding. So unfortunate, Lucy thought; for +how could any plans be made without Bab?</p> + +<p>The play was very old-fashioned, requiring +four people, all clad in the style of one hundred +and fifty years ago. Uncle James would +wear a gray wig and "small clothes" and +personate "Grandsir Whalen"; Kyzie Dunlee, +Grandsir's old wife, in white cap, "short gown," +and petticoat, was to be "Granny Whalen" +of course.</p> + +<p>A grandson and granddaughter were needed +<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162" />for this aged couple. Edith would make a +lovely granddaughter and pretend to spin flax. +Who would play the grandson and shell the +corn? Jimmy thought Nate Pollard was just +the one, he was "so good at speaking pieces." +They decided to ask Nate at once, and have +that matter settled.</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi showed a collection of articles which +"the knitting-woman" had kindly offered +for their use; a three-legged light stand, +two fiddle-backed chairs, and a very old hour-glass.</p> + +<p>"I should call it a pair of glasses," said +Edith, as they watched the sand drip slowly +from one glass into the other.</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi said it took exactly an hour for +it to drain out, and our forefathers used to +tell the time of day by hour-glasses before +clocks were invented.</p> + +<p>"What <i>are</i> forefathers?" Lucy asked Edith.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163" />Oh, Adam and Eve and all those old +people," was the careless reply.</p> + +<p>"And didn't they have any clocks?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not. What do you suppose?"</p> + +<p>There was a knock at the door. Nate had +come to find Jimmy and go with him to see +the blind canary.</p> + +<p>"We were just talking about you," said +Aunt Vi. "Are you willing to be Katharine's +grandson in the play?"</p> + +<p>Nate replied laughing that he would do +whatever was wanted of him, and he could +send home and get some knee-buckles and +a cocked hat.</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi said "Capital!" and gave Jimmy +a look which said, "Everything seems to be +going on famously for our new play."</p> + +<p>Jimmy led the way to Mrs. McQuilken's +room, his face wreathed with smiles.</p> + +<p>"Ah, good morning; how do you all do?"<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164" /> +said the lady, meeting the children with courteous +smiles." I see you've brought your +kitten, Edith."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am; will you please look at her +wounds again?"</p> + +<p>"They are pretty well healed, dear. I've +never felt much concerned about Zee's wounds. +She makes believe half of her sufferings for +the sake of being petted."</p> + +<p>"Does she, though? I'm so glad."</p> + +<p>"Yes; that 'prize tail' will soon be waving +as proudly as ever. But I suppose you all +came to see the canary. Mag, you naughty +girl," she added, turning to the magpie, +"hide under the bed. They didn't come to +see you. Here, Job, you are the one that's +wanted."</p> + +<p>Little Job, the canary, was standing on the +rug. He came forward now to greet his +visitors, putting out a foot to feel his way, +<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165" />like a blind man with a cane. Then he began +to sing joyously.</p> + +<p>"Don't you call that good music?" asked +his mistress, knitting as she spoke. "He came +from Germany; there's where you get the +best singers. Some canaries won't sing before +company and some won't sing alone; they +are fussy,—I call it <i>pernickitty</i>. Why, I +had one with a voice like a flute; but I happened +to buy some new wall-paper, and she +didn't like the looks of it, and after that she +never would sing a note."</p> + +<p>"Are you in earnest?" asked Kyzie.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's a fact. But Job never was pernickitty, +bless his little heart!"</p> + +<p>She brought a tiny bell and let him take +it in his claws.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'll go out of the room, and you +all keep still and see if he'll ring to call me +back."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166" />She went, closing the door after her. No +one spoke. Job moved his head from side +to side, and, apparently making up his little +mind that he was all alone, he shook the bell +peal after peal. Presently his mistress appeared. +"Did you think mamma had gone +and left you, Job darling? Mamma can't +stay away from her baby."</p> + +<p>The cooing tone pleased the little creature, and +he sang again even more sweetly than before.</p> + +<p>"Let me show you another of his tricks. +You see this little gun? Well, when he fires +it off that will be the end of poor Job!"</p> + +<p>The gun was about two inches long and as +large around as a lead pencil. Inside was a +tiny spring; and when Job's claw touched the +spring the gun went off with a loud report. +Job fell over at once as if shot and lay +perfectly still and stiff on the rug. Lucy +screamed out:—-</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167" />Oh, I'm so sorry he is dead!"</p> + +<p>But next moment he roused himself and +sat up and shook his feathers as if he +relished the joke.</p> + +<p>The children had a delightful half hour +with the captain's widow and her pets; only +Lucy could not be satisfied because Bab was +away.</p> + +<p>"Too bad you went off riding yesterday," +said she as they sat next morning playing +with their dolls. "You never saw that blind +canary that shoots himself, and comes to life +and rings a bell."</p> + +<p>"But can't I see him sometime, Auntie +Lucy?"</p> + +<p>"You can, oh, yes, and I'll go with you. +But, Bab, you ought to have heard our talk +about the play! Kyzie is going to be as +much as a hundred years old, and I guess +Uncle James will be a hundred and fifty.<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168" /> +And they've got a pair of old glasses with +sand inside—the same kind that Adam and +Eve used to have."</p> + +<p>"Why-ee! Did Adam and Eve wear +glasses? 'Tisn't in their pictures; <i>I</i> never saw +'em with glasses on!"</p> + +<p>"No, no, I don't mean glasses <i>wear</i>! I +said glasses with sand inside; <i>that's</i> what +Uncle James has got. Runs out every hour. +Sits on the table."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know what you mean, auntie! You +mean an <i>hour-glass!</i> Grandpa Hale has one +and I've seen lots of 'em in France."</p> + +<p>Lucy felt humbled. Though pretending to +be Bab's aunt, she often found that her little +niece knew more than she knew herself!</p> + +<p>"Seems queer about Adam and Eve," said +she, hastening to change the subject; "who +do you s'pose took care of 'em when they +were little babies?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169" />Why, Auntie Lucy, there wasn't ever any +<i>babiness</i> about Adam and Eve! Don't you +remember, they stayed just exactly as they +were made!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, so they did. I forgot."</p> + +<p>Lucy had made another mistake. This +was not like a "truly auntie"; still it did +not matter so very much, for Bab never +laughed at her and they loved each other +"dearilee."</p> + +<p>"You know a great many things, don't +you, Bab? And <i>I</i> keep forgetting 'em."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know all about the world and the +garden of Eden; <i>that's</i> easy enough," replied +the wise niece.</p> + +<p>And then they went back to their dolls.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later Kyzie Dunlee was +standing in the schoolhouse door with a group +of children about her when Nate Pollard +appeared. As he looked at her he remem<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170" />bered +"Jimmy's play," and the parts they were +both to take in it; and the thought of little +Kyzie as his poor old grandmother seemed +so funny to Nate that he began to laugh and +called out, "Good morning, grandmother!"</p> + +<p>He meant no harm; but Kyzie thought +him very disrespectful to accost her in that +way before the children, and she tossed her +head without answering him.</p> + +<p>Nate was angry. How polite he had always +been to her, never telling her what a +queer school she kept! And now that he +had consented to be her grandson in Jimmy's +play, just to please her and the rest of the +family, it did seem as if she needn't put on +airs in this way!</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" said he; "did you hear about +that dreadful earthquake in San Diego?"</p> + +<p>There had been a very slight one, but he +was trying to tease her.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171" />No, oh, no!" she replied, throwing up +both hands. "When was it?"</p> + +<p>"Last night. I'm afraid of 'em myself, +and if we get one here to-day you needn't +be surprised to see me cut and run right +out of the schoolhouse."</p> + +<p>The children looked at him in alarm. Kyzie +could not allow this.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wouldn't do that!" said she, with +another toss of the head. "Before I'd run +away from an earthquake! Besides, what +good would it do?"</p> + +<p>By afternoon the news had spread about +among the children that there was to be a +terrible earthquake that day. They huddled +together like frightened lambs. The little +teacher, wishing to reassure them, planted +herself against the wall, and made what Edith +would have called a "little preach."</p> + +<p>She pointed out of the window to the clear +<a name="Page_172" id="Page_172" />sky and said she "could not see the least +sign of an earthquake." But even if one +should come they need not be afraid, for +their heavenly Father would take care of +them.</p> + +<p>"And you mustn't think for a moment of +running away! No, children, be quiet! Look +at me, <i>I</i> am quiet. I wouldn't run away +if there were fifty earthquakes!"</p> + +<p>Strange to say, she had hardly spoken these +words when the house began to shake! They +all knew too well what it meant, that frightful +rocking and rumbling; the ground was +opening under their feet!</p> + +<p>Kyzie, though she may have feared it +vaguely all along, was taken entirely by surprise, +and did—what do you think? As +quick as a flash, without waiting for a second +thought, she turned and jumped out of the +window!</p> + +<p><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173" />Next moment, remembering the children, +she screamed for them to follow her, and +they poured out of the house, some by the +window, some by the door, all shrieking like +mad.</p> + +<p>It was a wild scene,—the frantic teacher, +the terrified children,—and Kyzie will never +cease to blush every time she recalls it. For +there was no earthquake after all! It was +only the new "colonel" and his men blasting +a rock in the mine!</p> + +<p>Of course this escapade of the young teacher +amused the people of Castle Cliff immensely. +They called it "the little schoolma'am's earthquake"; +and the little schoolma'am heard +of it and almost wished it had been a real +earthquake and had swallowed her up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Papa Dunlee! Oh, Mamma Dunlee!" +she cried, her cheeks crimson, her eyelids +swollen from weeping. "I keep finding out +<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174" />that I'm not half so much of a girl as I +thought I was! What does make me do such +ridiculous things?"</p> + +<p>"You are only very young, you dear child," +replied her parents.</p> + +<p>They pitied her sincerely and did their +best to console her. But they were wise +people, and perhaps they knew that their +eldest daughter needed to be humbled just a +little. It was hard, very hard, yet sometimes +it is the hard things which do us most good.</p> + +<p>"O mamma, don't ask me to go down to +dinner. I can't, I can't!"</p> + +<p>"No indeed, darling, your dinner shall be +sent up to you. What would you like?"</p> + +<p>"No matter what, mamma—I don't care +for eating. I can't ever hold up my head +any more. And as for going into that school +again, I never, never, never will do it."</p> + +<p>"I think you will, my daughter," said Mr.<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175" /> +Dunlee, quietly. "I think you'll go back and +live this down and 'twill soon be all forgotten."</p> + +<p>"O papa, do you really, really think 'twill +ever be forgotten? Do you think so, mamma? +A silly, disgraceful, foolish, outrageous, abominable,—there, +I can't find words bad enough!"</p> + +<p>As her parents were leaving the room she +revived a little and added:—</p> + +<p>"Remember, mamma, just soup and chicken +and celery. But a full saucer of ice-cream. +I hope 'twill be vanilla."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XIII" id="XIII" /><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176" />XIII</h3> + +<h2>NATE'S CAVE</h2> + + +<p>The little teacher went back to her school +the very next day. It was a hard thing, but +she knew her parents desired it. Her proud +head was lowered; she could not meet the +eyes of the children, who seemed to be trying +their best not to laugh. At last she spoke:—</p> + +<p>"I got frightened yesterday. I was not +very brave; now was I? Hark! The people +in the mine are blasting rocks again, but we +won't run away, will we?"</p> + +<p>They laughed, and she tried to laugh, too. +Then she called the classes into the floor; +and no more did she ever say to the scholars +about the earthquake. She helped Nate in +his arithmetic, and he treated her like a +<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177" />queen. He was coming to Aunt Vi's room +that evening to show his knee-buckles and +cocked hat and find out just what he was to +do on the stage.</p> + +<p>Kyzie wanted to see the cocked hat and +felt interested in her own white cap which +Mrs. McQuilken was making. It was a good +thing for Katharine that she had "Jimmy's +play" to think of just now. It helped her +through that long forenoon. After this the +forenoons did not drag; school went on as +usual, and Kyzie was glad she had had the +courage to go back and "live down" her +foolish behavior.</p> + +<p>When they met in Aunt Vi's room that +evening it was decided not to have "Jimmy's +play" on the tailings, for that was a place +free to all. People would not buy tickets for +an entertainment out of doors.</p> + +<p>"My tent is the thing," said Uncle James, +<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178" />and so they all thought It was a large +white one, and the children agreed to decorate +it with evergreens. It would hold all the +people who were likely to come and many more.</p> + +<p>During the week Uncle James set up the +tent not far from the hotel and in one corner +of it built a staging. He did not mind taking +trouble for his beloved namesake, James Sanford +Dunlee. The stage was made to look +like a room in an old-fashioned house. It +had a make-believe door and window and a +make-believe fireplace with andirons and wood +and shovel and tongs. There was a rag rug +on the floor, and on the three-legged stand +stood the hour-glass with candles in iron +candlesticks. The fiddle-backed chairs were +there and two <i>hard</i> "easy-chairs" and an +old wooden "settle." Lucy and Bab said it +looked "like somebody's house," and they +wanted to go and live in it.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179" />On the Saturday afternoon appointed the +play had been well learned by the four actors. +Everything being ready, this cosy little sitting-room +was now shut off from view by a calico +curtain which was stretched across the stage +by long strings run through brass rings.</p> + +<p>The play would begin at half-past two. +Jimmy was dressed neatly in his very best +clothes. He had a roll of paper and a pencil +in one of his pockets and during the play he +meant to add up the number of people present +and find out how much money had been +taken.</p> + +<p>"But Jimmy-boy, it won't be very much," +said Edith. "This is an empty town, and so +queer too. Something may happen at the last +minute that will spoil the whole thing."</p> + +<p>She was right. Something did happen which +no one could have foreseen. For an "empty" +town Castle Cliff was famous for events.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180" />As Jimmy left the hotel just after luncheon +he overtook Nate Pollard and Joe Rolfe standing +near a big sand bank, talking together +earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Jimmum," said Nate; "we've +got a spade for you. We're going to dig a +cave in the side of this bank."</p> + +<p>"What's the use of a cave?"</p> + +<p>"Why, for one thing, we can run into it +in time of an earthquake."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Jimmy. "Or we could +stay in and be cave-dwellers."</p> + +<p>But as he took up the spade he chanced to +look down at his new clothes. He had spoiled +one nice suit already and had promised his +mother he would be more careful of this one.</p> + +<p>"Wait till I put on my old clothes, will +you?"</p> + +<p>Nate laughed and snapped his fingers. +"We're in a hurry. I've got to be in the +<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181" />tent in half an hour. Go along, you little +dude! We'll dig the cave without you."</p> + +<p>The laugh cut Jimmy to the heart. And +he had been learning to like Nate so well. +A dude? Not he! Besides, what harm would +dry sand do? It's "clean dirt."</p> + +<p>Then all in a minute he thought of that +wild journey on the roof. It had made a +deeper impression upon him than any other +event of his life.</p> + +<p>"Poh! Am I going to dig dirt in my +best clothes just because Nate Pollard laughs +at me? I don't 'take stumps' any more; +there's no sense in it, so there!"</p> + +<p>And off he started, afraid to linger lest he +should fall into temptation. Jimmy might +be heedless, no doubt he often was; but when +he really stopped to think, he always respected +his mother's wishes and always kept his word +to her.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182" />This was the trait in Jimmy which marked +him off as a highly bred little fellow. For let +me tell you, boys, respect for your elders is +the first point of high breeding all the world +over.</p> + +<p>Jimmy sauntered on slowly toward the +door of the tent. There were a great many +benches inside, but it was not time yet for +the audience to arrive. Uncle James and +Katharine and Edith were on the stage, and +Aunt Vi was adding a few touches to Edith's +dress.</p> + +<p>"O dear," said Grandmamma Graymouse, +"I hope I shan't forget my part. Tell me, +Uncle James, do I look old enough?"</p> + +<p>"You look too old to be alive," he answered; +"fifty years older than I do, certainly! Mrs. +Mehitable Whalen, are you my wife or my +very great grandmamma?"</p> + +<p>"But where's Nate Pollard?" Aunt Vi +<a name="Page_183" id="Page_183" />asked. "I told him to come early to rehearse."</p> + +<p>"He said he'd be here in half an hour," +said Jimmy. "He's off playing."</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall not have to punish my +young grandson," said Uncle James, solemnly, +as he began to peel a sycamore switch.</p> + +<p>Uncle James's name was now "Ichabod +Whalen," and he and "Mehitable Whalen," +his wife, were such droll objects in their old-fashioned +clothes that they could not look at +each other without laughing.</p> + +<p>Their absent grandson, "Ezekiel Whalen" +(or Nate Pollard), was a fine specimen of a +boy of ancient times, and Aunt Vi had been +much pleased with the way in which he acted +his part. But where was he? Aunt Vi and +the grandparents grew impatient. It was +now half-past two; people were flocking into +the tent; but the curtain could not rise, for +<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184" />nothing was yet to be seen of young Master +"Ezekiel Whalen " and his small clothes and +his cocked hat. The house was pretty well +filled; really there were far more people than +had been expected, Jimmy, with pencil and +paper in hand, was figuring up the grown +people and children, and multiplying these +numbers by twenty-five and by fifteen. When +he found that the sum amounted to nearly +nine dollars he almost whistled for joy.</p> + +<p>But all this while the audience was waiting. +People looked around in surprise; the +Dimlee family grew more and more anxious. +Aunt Lucy pinched Bab and Bab pinched +Aunt Lucy.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there were loud voices at the +entrance of the tent. The tent curtain was +pushed aside violently, and Mr. Templeton +and Mr. Rolfe rushed in exclaiming:—</p> + +<p>"Two boys lost! All hands to the rescue!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185" />The people were on their feet in a moment +and there was a grand rush for the outside. +The panic, so it was said afterward, was +about equal to "the little schoolma'am's earthquake."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="XIV" id="XIV" /><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186" />XIV</h3> + +<h2>JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK</h2> + + +<p>"It's the Pollard and Rolfe boys," explained +Mr. Templeton.</p> + +<p>"Ho! I know where <i>they</i> are!" cried +Jimmy, "They're all right. They're only +digging a cave in the side of a sand-bank."</p> + +<p>"Show us where! Run as fast as you +can!" exclaimed Mr. Rolfe and Mr. Pollard. +Mr. Pollard had been hunting for the last +half-hour. He knew Nate was deeply interested +in "Jimmy's play" and would not have +kept away from the tent unless something +unusual had happened.</p> + +<p>Jimmy ran, followed by several men who +could not possibly keep up with him. But +when they all reached the sand-bank, where +<a name="Page_187" id="Page_187" />were the "cave-dwellers"? They had burrowed +in the sand till completely out of sight!</p> + +<p>"Hello! Where are you"? screamed Jimmy.</p> + +<p>There was no answer. In enlarging the +cave they had loosened the very dry earth, +and thus caused the roof over their heads to +fall in upon them, actually burying them as +far as their arm-pits! They tried to scream, +but their muffled voices could not be heard. +The "cave" looked like a great pile of sand +and nothing more. Nobody would have +dreamed that there was any one inside it if it +had not been for Jimmy's story.</p> + +<p>"Courage, boys, we're after you, we'll soon +have you out!" said the men cheerily; though +how could they tell whether the boys heard +or not? Indeed, how did they know the boys +were still alive?</p> + +<p>Two men went for shovels. The other +men, not waiting for them to come back +<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188" />thrust their arms into the bank and scooped +out the sand with their hands. The sand +was loose and they worked very fast. Before +the shovels arrived a moan was heard. At +any rate one of the boys was alive. And +before long they had unearthed both the +young prisoners and dragged them out of +the cave.</p> + +<p>Not a minute too soon, Joe gasped for +breath and looked wildly about; but Nate +lay perfectly still; it could hardly be seen +at first that he breathed. His father and +mother, the doctor and plenty of other people +were ready and eager to help; but it +was some time before he showed signs of life. +When at last he opened his eyes the joy +of his parents was something touching to +witness.</p> + +<p>Jimmy, who had been standing about with +the other children, watching and waiting, +<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189" />caught his mother by the sleeve and whispered:—</p> + +<p>"I should have been in there too, mamma, +if it hadn't been for you!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, my son? In that +cave? I never knew the boys were trying +to make a cave. I did not forbid your digging +in the sand, did I?"</p> + +<p>"No, mamma; but I knew you wouldn't +want me to do it in these clothes—after all +my actions! And I had promised to be more +careful."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dunlee smiled, but there were tears +in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"How glad I am that my little boy respected +his mother's wishes," said she, stooping +to kiss his earnest face.</p> + +<p>She dared not think what might have happened +if he had disregarded her wishes!</p> + +<p>It was a time of rejoicing. Mr. Templeton +<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190" />ordered out the brass band and the Hindoo +tam tam. The horse Thistleblow seemed to +think he must be wanted too, and came and +danced in circles before the groups of happy +people.</p> + +<p>"I could believe I was in some foreign +country," said Mrs. McQuilken, smiling under +her East Indian puggaree, as she had not +been seen to smile before, and dropping a +kiss on the cheek of her favorite Edith.</p> + +<p>After dinner the Dunlees met in Aunt Vi's +room, and Aunt Vi observed that Mrs. Dunlee +kept Jimmy close by her side, looking at +him in the way mothers look at good little +sons, her eyes shining with happy love and +pride.</p> + +<p>They were talking over "Jimmy's play," +which had not been played. The money must +all be given back to the people who had +sat and looked so long at that calico curtain.</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191" />We'll try 'Granny's Quilting' again next +Saturday," said Aunt Vi.</p> + +<p>They did try it again. There were no +caves to dig this time, and young Master +"Ezekiel Whalen" was on the stage promptly +at half-past one, eager to show his grandparents +that he was a boy to be relied upon +after all. The play was a remarkable success. +All the "summer boarders and campers" +came to it, and everybody said:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, do give us some more entertainments, +Mrs. Sanford! Let us have one every +Saturday."</p> + +<p>Aunt Vi, being the kindest soul in the +world, promised to do what she could. She +gave the play of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin," +with children for rats; and Eddo was +dressed as a mouse, and squealed so perfectly +that Edith's cat could hardly be restrained +from rushing headlong upon the stage.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192" />Later there were tableaux. Edith wore +red, white, and blue and was the Goddess of +Liberty. Jimmy was a cowboy with cartridge-belt +and pistols. Lucy and Barbara were +Night and Morning, with stars on their heads. +Mr. Sanford was Uncle Jonathan. Mr. Hale +was an Indian chief.</p> + +<p>Jimmy's debts were more than paid, and a +happier boy was not to be found in the state +of California.</p> + +<p>After this there were plenty of free entertainments +on the tailings. At one of these, +when the audience was watching a flight of +rockets, Katharine heard two women not far +away talking together. One of them asked:—</p> + +<p>"Where's that little Dunlee girl, the one +that keeps the play-school?"</p> + +<p>"Over there in the corner," replied the +other, "She hasn't any hat on. She's sitting +beside the girl with a cat in her lap."</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_193" id="Page_193" />Oh, is that the one? So young as that? +Well, she's a good girl, yes, she is. I +guess she <i>is</i> a good girl," said the first +speaker heartily. "My little Henry thinks +there's nothing like her. He never learned +much of anything till he went to that play-school. +He never behaved so well as he +does now, never gave me so little trouble +at home. She's a <i>good</i> girl."</p> + +<p>A world of comfort fell on Kyzie. Young +as she was and full of faults, she had really +done a wee bit of good.</p> + +<p>"And they didn't say a word about my jumping +out of the window," thought she, with +deep satisfaction. "Wait till I grow up, just +wait till I grow up, and as true as I live I'll +be something and do something in this world!"</p> + +<p>She did not say this aloud, you may be +sure; but there was a look on her face of +high resolve.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194" />Uncle James had often said to Aunt Vi:—</p> + +<p>"Our Katharine is very much in earnest. +I know you agree with me that "little Prudy's" +eldest daughter is a golden girl!"</p> + +<p>The "play-school" closed a few days later, +and it was Henry Small who received the +medal for good spelling. He wasn't so much +of a cry-baby nowadays and the boys had +stopped calling him "Chicken Little."</p> + +<p>The Dunlee party went home the last week +in August, declaring they had had delightful +times at Castle Cliff.</p> + +<p>"Only I never went down that mine in a +bucket," said Lucy. "How could I when the +men were blowing up rocks just like an earthquake?"</p> + +<p>"And I wanted to wait till they found that +vein," said Jimmy.</p> + +<p>A few days before they left, Uncle James +went hunting and shot a deer. I wish there +<a name="Page_195" id="Page_195" />were space to tell of the barbecue to which +all the neighbors were invited a little later.</p> + +<p>As it is, my young readers are not likely +to hear any more of the adventures of the +"bonnie Dunlees," either at home or abroad.</p> + +<p>But during their stay in the mountains that +summer Lucy begged Aunt Vi to write some +stories, with the little friends, Bab and Lucy, +for the heroines.</p> + +<p>"Some 'once-upon-a-time stories,' Auntie Vi. +Make believe we two girls go all about among +the fairies, just as Alice did in Wonderland; +only there are two of us together, and we +shall have a better time!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie! How could I take real live little +girls into the kingdom of the elves and gnomes +and pixies? I shouldn't know how!"</p> + +<p>But she was so obliging as to try. The +week before they left for home she had completed +a book of "once-upon-a-time stories,"<a name="Page_196" id="Page_196" /> +which she read aloud to all the children as +they clustered around her in the "air-castle." +She called it "Lucy in Fairyland," though +she meant Bab just as much as Lucy. If +the little public would like to see this book it +may be offered them by and by; together +with the comments which were made upon +each story by the whole Dunlee family,—Jimmy, +wee Lucy, and all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-210.jpg" +alt="Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"" +title="Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-211.jpg" +alt="Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"" +title="Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-212.jpg" +alt="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"" +title="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus-213.jpg" +alt="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"" +title="LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"" /> +</div> +<h4>LITTLE PRUDY SERIES: Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"</h4> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jimmy, Lucy, and All, by Sophie May + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL *** + +***** This file should be named 14608-h.htm or 14608-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/0/14608/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jimmy, Lucy, and All + +Author: Sophie May + +Release Date: January 5, 2005 [EBook #14608] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + +[Illustration: "Edith was busy taking their photographs". Page 41.] + + + +LITTLE PRUDY'S CHILDREN + + + +JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL + +BY + +SOPHIE MAY + +AUTHOR OF "LITTLE PRUDY STORIES" "DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES" +"LITTLE PRUDY'S FLYAWAY SERIES" "FLAXIE FRIZZLE +SERIES" "THE QUINNEBASSET SERIES" ETC. + +BOSTON +LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS +1900 + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY LEE AND SHEPARD. + +_All Rights Reserved._ + +JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL. + +Norwood Press +J.S. Cushing & Co.--Berwick & Smith +Norwood Mass. U.S.A. + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. THE TALLYHO + II. THE FIRST DINNER + III. LUCY'S GOLD MINE + IV. "THE KNITTING-WOMAN" + V. THE AIR-CASTLE + VI. "GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE" + VII. THE ZEBRA KITTEN +VIII. STEALING A CHIMNEY + IX. "CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE + X. THE THIEF FOUND + XI. BEGGING PARDON + XII. "THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE" +XIII. NATE'S CAVE + XIV. JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +"Edith was busy taking their photographs" +"'It is perfectly awful!' said Aunt Lucy" +Edith painting the Cherub for Mrs. McQuilken +"'James S. Dunlee, will--you--forgive me?'" + + + + +JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL + +I + +THE TALLYHO + + +"I never saw a gold mine in my life; and now I'm going to see one," +cried Lucy, skipping along in advance of the others. It was quite a +large party; the whole Dunlee family, with the two Sanfords,--Uncle +James and Aunt Vi,--making ten in all, counting Maggie, the maid. They +had alighted from the cars at a way-station, and were walking along the +platform toward the tallyho coach which was waiting for them. Lucy was +firmly impressed with the idea that they were starting for the gold +mines. The truth was, they were on their way to an old mining-town high +up in the Cuyamaca Mountains, called Castle Cliff; but there had been no +gold there for a great many years. + +Mr. Dunlee was in rather poor health, and had been "ordered" to the +mountains. The others were perfectly well and had not been "ordered" +anywhere: they were going merely because they wanted to have a good +time. + +"Papa would be so lonesome without us children," said Edith, "he needs +us all for company." + +He was to have still more company. Mr. and Mrs. Hale were coming +to-morrow to join the party, bringing their little daughter Barbara, +Lucy's dearest friend. They could not come to-day; there would have been +hardly room for them in the tallyho. With all "the bonnie Dunlees,"--as +Uncle James called the children,--and all the boxes, baskets, and +bundles, the carriage was about as full as it could hold. + +It was seldom that the driver used this tallyho. He was quite choice of +it, and generally drove an old stage, unless, as happened just now, he +was taking a large party. It was a very gay tallyho, as yellow as the +famous pumpkin coach of Cinderella, only that the spokes of the wheels +were striped off with scarlet. There were four white horses, and every +horse sported two tiny American flags, one in each ear. + +"All aboard!" called out the driver, a brown-faced, broad-shouldered +man, with a twinkle in his eye. + +"All aboard!" responded Mr. Sanford, echoed by Jimmy-boy. + +Whereupon crack went the driver's long whip, round went the red and +yellow wheels, and off sped the white horses as freely as if they were +thinking of Lucy's gold mine and longing to show it to her, and didn't +care how many miles they had to travel to reach it. But this was all +Lucy's fancy. They were thinking of oats, not gold mines. These bright +horses knew they were not going very far up the mountain. They would +soon stop to rest in a good stable, and other horses not so handsome +would take their places. It was a very hard road, and grew harder and +harder, and the driver always changed horses twice before he got to the +end of the journey. + +As the tallyho rattled along, the older people in it fell to talking; +and the children looked at the country they were passing, sang snatches +of songs, and gave little exclamations of delight. Edith threw one arm +around her older sister Katharine, saying:-- + +"O Kyzie, aren't you glad you live in California? How sweet the air is, +and how high the mountains look all around! When we were East last +summer didn't you pity the people? Only think, they never saw any lemons +and oranges growing! They don't know much about roses either; they only +have roses once a year." + +"That's true," replied Kyzie. "Let me button your gloves, Edy, you'll be +dropping them off." + +"See those butterflies! I'd be happy if Bab was only in here," murmured +a little voice from under Lucy's hat. "Bab didn't want to come with her +papa and mamma; she wanted to come with _me_!" + +"Now, Lucy, don't be foolish," said Edith. "Where could we have put Bab? +There's not room enough in this coach, unless one of the rest of us had +got out. You'll see Bab to-morrow, and she'll be in Castle Cliff all +summer; so you needn't complain." + +"_I_ wasn't complaining, no indeed! Only I don't want to go down in the +gold mine till Bab comes. I s'pose they'll put us down in a bucket, +won't they? I want Uncle James to go with us." + +Jimmy-boy laughed and threw himself about in quite a gale. He often +found his little sister very amusing. + +"Excuse me, Lucy," said he; "but I do think you're very ignorant! That +mine up there is all played out, and Uncle James has told us so ever so +many times. Didn't you hear him? The shaft is more than half full of +muddy water. I'd like to see you going down in a bucket!" + +"Well, then, Jimmy Dunlee, what _shall_ we do at Castle Cliff?" + +"We've brought a tent with us, and for one thing I'm going to camp out," +replied Jimmy. "That's a grand thing, they say." + +"Don't! There'll be something come and eat you up, sure as you live," +said Lucy, who had a vague notion that camping out was connected in some +way with wild animals, such as coyotes and mountain lions. + +"Poh! you don't know the least thing about Castle Cliff, Lucy! And Uncle +James has talked and talked! Tell me what he said, now do." + +Uncle James was seated nearly opposite, for the two long seats of the +tallyho faced each other. Lucy spoke in a low tone, not wishing him to +overhear. + +"He said we were going to board at a big house pretty near the old +mine." + +"Yes, Mr. Templeton's." + +"And he said somebody had a white Spanish rabbit with reddish brown eyes +and its mouth all a-quiver." + +"Yes, I heard him say that about the rabbit. And what are those things +that come and walk on top of the house in the morning?" + +"I know. They are woodpeckers. They tap on the roof, and the noise +sounds like 'Jacob, Jacob, wake up, Jacob!' Uncle James says when +strangers hear it they think somebody is calling, and they say, 'Oh, +yes, we're coming!' I shan't say that; I shall know it's woodpeckers. +Tell some more, Jimmy." + +"Yes" said Eddo, leaving Maggie and wedging himself between Lucy and +Jimmy. "Tell some more, Jimmum!" + +"Well, there's a post-office in town and there's a telephone, and Mr. +Templeton has lots of things brought up to Castle Cliff from the city; +so we shall have plenty to eat; chicken and ice-cream and things. That +makes me think, I'm hungry. Wouldn't they let us open a luncheon +basket?" + +Kyzie thought not; so Jimmy went on telling Lucy what he knew of Castle +Cliff. "It's named for an air-castle there is up there; it's a thing +they _call_ an air-castle anyway. A man built it in the hollow of some +trees, away up, up, up. I'm going to climb up there to see it." + +"So'm I," said Lucy. + +"Ho, you can't climb worth a cent; you're only a girl!" + +"But she has an older brother; and sometimes older brothers are kind +enough to help their little sisters," remarked Kyzie, with a meaning +smile toward Jimmy; but Jimmy was looking another way. + +"Uncle James told a funny story about that air-castle," went on Kyzie. +"Did you hear him tell of sitting up there one day and seeing a little +toad help another toad--a lame one--up the trunk of the tree?" + +"No, I didn't hear," said Lucy. "How did the toad do it?" + +"I'll let you all guess." + +"Pushed him?" said Edith. + +"No." + +"Took him up pickaback," suggested Lucy. + +"Nothing of the sort. He just took his friend's lame foot in his mouth, +and the two toads hopped along together! Uncle James said it probably +wasn't the first time, for they kept step as if they were used to it." + +"Wasn't that cunning?" said Edith. And Jimmy remarked after a pause, "If +Lucy wants to go up to that castle, maybe I could steady her along; only +there's Bab. She'd have to go too. And I don't believe it's any place +for girls!" + +The ride was a long one, forty miles at least. The passengers had dinner +at a little inn, the elegant horses were placed in a stable; and the +tallyho started again at one o'clock with a black horse, a sorrel +horse, and two gray ones. + +The afternoon wore on. The horses climbed upward at every step; and +though the journey was delightful, the passengers were growing rather +tired. + +"Wish I could sit on the seat with the king-ductor," besought little +Eddo, moving about uneasily. + +"That isn't a conductor, it's a driver. Conductors are the men that go +on the steam-cars,--the 'choo choo cars,'" explained Jimmum. Then in a +lower tone, "They don't have any cars up at Castle Cliff, and I'm glad +of it." + +Lucy did not understand why he should be glad, and Jimmy added in a +lower tone:-- + +"Because--don't you remember how some little folks used to act about +steam-engines? They might do it again, you know." + +"Yes, I 'member now. But that was a long time ago, Jimmy. He wouldn't +run after engines now." + +"Who wouldn't?" inquired young Master Eddo, forgetting the "king-ductor" +and turning about to face his elder brother. "Who wouldn't run after the +engine, Jimmum?" + +"Nobody--I mean _you_ wouldn't." + +"No, no, not me," assented Eddo, shaking his flaxen head. + +And there the matter would have ended, if Lucy had not added most +unluckily: "'Twas when you were only a baby that you did it, Eddo. You +said to the engine, 'Come here, little choo choo, Eddo won't hurt oo.' +_You_ didn't know any better." + +"_'Course_ I knew better," said Eddo, shaking his head again, but this +time with an air of bewilderment. "_I_ didn't say, 'Come here, little +choo choo.' No, no, not me!" + +"Oh, but you did, darling," persisted Lucy. "You were just a tiny bit +of a boy. You stood right on the track, and the engine was coming, +'puff, puff,' and you said, 'Come here, little choo choo, Eddo won't +hurt oo!'" + +"I didn't! Oh! Oh! Oh! _When'd_ I say that? _Did_ the engine hurt me? +_Where_ did it hurt me? Say, Jimmum, where did the engine hurt me?" +putting his hand to his throat, to his ears, to his side. + +The more he thought of it, the worse he felt; till appalled by the idea +of what he must have suffered he finally fell to sobbing in his mother's +arms, and she soothed his imaginary woes with kisses and cookies. For +the remainder of the journey he was in pretty good spirits and found +much diversion in watching the gambols of the two dogs following the +tallyho. One was a Castle Cliff dog, black and shaggy, named Slam; the +other, yellow and smooth, belonged to the "king-ductor" or driver, and +was called Bang. Slam and Bang often darted off for a race and Eddo +nearly gave them up for lost; but they always came back wagging their +tails and capering about as if to say:-- + +"Hello, Eddo, we ran away just to scare you, and we'll do it again if we +please!" + +It was a great day for dogs. Ever so many dogs ran out to meet Slam and +Bang. They always bit their ears for a "How d'ye do?" and then trotted +along beside them just for company. Eddo found it quite exciting. One +was a Mexican dog, without a particle of hair, but he did not seem to be +in the least ashamed of his singular appearance. + +Edith said it was an "empty country," and indeed there were few houses; +but there must have been more dogs than houses, for the whole journey +had a running accompaniment of "bow-wow-wows." + +The farther up hill the road wound the steeper it grew; and Jimmy +exclaimed more than once:-- + +"This coach is standing up straight on its hind feet, papa! Just look! +'Twill spill us all out backward!" + +But it did nothing of the sort. It took them straight to Castle Cliff, +"nearly six thousand feet above the level of the sea," and there it +stopped, before the front door of the hotel. It was about half-past five +o'clock in the afternoon, and Mr. Templeton, who had been looking out +for the tallyho, came down the steps to meet his guests. + + + + +II + +THE FIRST DINNER + + +Mr. Templeton's wife was just behind him. They both greeted the party as +if they had all been old friends. The house, a large white one, stood as +if in the act of climbing the hill. In front was a sloping lawn full of +brilliant flowers, bordered with house-leek, or "old hen and chickens," +a plant running over with pink blossoms. Kyzie had not expected to see a +garden like this on the mountain. + +At one side of the house, between two black oak trees, was a hammock, +and near it a large stone trough, into which water dripped from a +faucet. Two birds, called red-hammers, were sipping the water with +their bills, not at all disturbed by the arrival of strangers. + +It was a small settlement. The hotel, by far the largest house in Castle +Cliff, looked down with a grand air upon the few cottages in sight. +These tiny cottages were not at all pretty, and had no grass or lawns in +front, but people from the city were keeping house in them for the +summer; and besides there were tents scattered all about, full of +"campers." + +As the "bonnie Dunlees" and their elders entered the hotel, a merry +voice called out:-- + +"A hearty welcome to you, my friends, and three cheers for Castle +Cliff!" + +Mr. and Mrs. Dunlee and the Sanfords walked on smiling, and the children +lingered awhile outside; but it was a full minute before any of them +discovered that the cheery voice belonged to a parrot, whose cage swung +from a tall sycamore overhead. + +"Polly's pretty sociable," laughed Mr. Templeton. "Do you like animals, +young ladies? If so, please stand up here in a group, and you shall have +another welcome." + +Then he clapped his hands and called out "Thistleblow!" and immediately +a pretty red pony came frisking along and began to caper around the +young people with regular dancing steps, making at the same time the +most graceful salaams, pausing now and then to sway himself as if he +were courtesying. It was a charming performance. The little creature had +once belonged to a band of gypsies, who had given him a regular course +of training. + +"He is trying to tell you how glad he is to see you," said Mr. +Templeton, as the children shouted and clapped their hands. + +"Oh, won't Bab like it, though!" cried Lucy. "Seems as if I couldn't +wait till to-morrow for Bab to get here, for then the good times will +begin." + +But for Kyzie and Edith and Jimmy the good times had begun already. The +five Dunlees entered the house, little Eddo clinging fast to Jimmum's +forefinger. They passed an old lady who sat on the veranda knitting. She +gazed after them through her spectacles, and said to Mr. Templeton in a +tone of inquiry:-- + +"Boarders?" + +"Yes," he replied, rubbing his chin, "and they have lots of jingle in +'em too; they're just the kind I like." + +"Well, I hope they won't get into any mischief up here, that's all I've +got to say. Nobody wants to take children to board anyway, but you can't +always seem to help it." + +And then the old lady turned to her knitting again; indeed her fingers +had been flying all the while she talked. Mr. Templeton looked at her +curiously, and wondered if she disliked children. + +"I'd as lief have 'em 'round the house as her birds and kittens anyway," +he reflected; for she kept a magpie, three cats and a canary; and these +pets had not been always agreeable guests at the hotel. + +It was now nearly six o'clock, and savory odors from the kitchen mingled +with the balmy breath of the flowers stealing in from the lawn. The +Dunlee party had barely time for hasty toilets when the gong sounded for +dinner. The Templeton dining-room was large and held several tables. The +Dunlees had the longest of these, the one near the west window. There +were twelve plates set, though only nine were needed to-night. The three +extra plates had been placed there for the Hale family, who were +expected to-morrow. Mrs. Dunlee had told the landlord that she would +like the Hales at her table. + +"And Bab will sit side o' me," said Lucy. "Oh, won't we be happy?" + +As the Dunlees took their seats to-night and looked around the room they +saw a droll sight. The old lady, who had been knitting on the veranda, +was seated at a small table in one corner; and on each side of her in a +chair sat a cat! One cat was a gray "coon," the other an Angora; and +both of them sat up as grave as judges, nibbling bits of cheese. Mrs. +McQuilken herself, dressed in a very odd style, was knitting again. She +was a remarkably industrious woman, and as it would be perhaps three or +four minutes before the soup came in, she could not bear to waste the +time in idleness. Her head-dress was odd enough. It was just a strip of +white muslin wound around the head like an East Indian puggaree. Mrs. +McQuilken had many outlandish fashions. She was the widow of a +sea-captain and had been abroad most of her life. The children could +hardly help staring at her. Even after they had learned to know her +pretty well they still wanted to stare; and not being able to remember +her name they spoke of her as "the knitting-woman." + +"Look, Lucy," whispered Jimmy; "there's a boy I know over there at that +little table. It's Nate Pollard." + +He waved his hand toward him and Nate waved in reply. At home Jimmy had +not known Nate very well, for he was older than himself and in higher +classes; but here among strangers Jimmy-boy was glad to see a familiar +face. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard were with their son. Perhaps they had all +come for the summer. Jimmy hoped so. + +There were two colored servants gliding about the room, and a pretty +waiting-maid. + +"O dear, no cook from Cathay," whispered Kyzie to Edith. + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"I mean I wanted a cook from Cathay or Cipango," went on Kyzie, laughing +behind her napkin. + +"I'm going to shake you," said Edith, who suddenly bethought herself +that Cathay and Cipango were the old names for China and Japan. This had +been part of her history lesson a few days ago. How Kyzie did remember +everything! + +At that moment the colored man from Georgia stood at her elbow with a +steaming plate of soup. Lucy looked at him askance. Why couldn't he have +been a Chinaman with a pigtail? She had told Bab she was almost sure +there would be a "China cook" at the mountains, and when he passed the +soup he would say, "Have soup-ee?" Bab had been in Europe and in Maine +and in California, but knew very little of Chinamen and had often said +she "wanted to eat China cooking." + +The dinner was excellent. Eddo enjoyed it very much for a while; then +his head began to nod over his plate, his spoon waved uncertainly in the +air, and Maggie had to be sent for to take him away from the table. + +The ride up the mountain had been so fatiguing that by eight o'clock all +the Dunlees, little and big, were glad to find themselves snugly in bed. +They slept late, every one of them, and even the woodpeckers, tapping on +the roof next morning, failed to arouse them with their "Jacob, Jacob, +wake up, wake up, Jacob!" + +After breakfast Edith happened to leave the dining-room just behind Mrs. +McQuilken, who held her two cats cuddled up in her arms like babies, +and was kissing their foreheads and calling them "mamma's precious +darlings." As Edith heard this she could not help smiling, and Mrs. +McQuilken paused in the entry a moment to say:-- + +"I guess you like cats." + +"I do, ma'am. Oh, yes, very much." + +"That's right. I like to see children fond of animals. Now, I've got a +new kitty upstairs, a zebra kitty, that you'd be pleased with. It's a +beauty, and _such_ a tail! Come up to my room and see it if you want to. +My room's Number Five. But don't you come now; I shall be busy an hour +and a half. Remember, an hour and a half." + +Edith thanked her and ran to tell Kyzie what the "knitting-woman" had +been saying. + +"Go get your kodak," said Kyzie. "Nate Pollard is going to take us all +out on an exploring expedition. You know he has been in Castle Cliff a +whole week, and knows the places." + +"First thing I want to see is that mine," said Lucy, as they all met +outside the hotel. + +"The mine?" repeated Kyzie, and looked at Eddo. "I'm afraid it isn't +quite safe to take little bits of people to such a place as that. Do you +think it is, Nate?" + +"Rather risky," replied Nate. + +Eddo had caught the words, "little bits of people," and his eyes opened +wide. + +"What does _mine_ mean, Jimmum?" + +"A great big hole, I guess. See here, Eddo, let's go in the house and +find Maggie." + +"Yes," chimed in Edith, "let's go find Maggie. There's a _beau_-tiful +picture book in mamma's drawer. You just ask Maggie and she'll show you +the picture of those nice little guinea-pigs." + +Though very young, Eddo was acute enough to see through this little +manoeuvre. It was not the first time the other children had tried to get +him out of the way. They wanted to go to see a charming "great big hole" +somewhere, and they thought he would fall into it and get hurt. They +were always thinking such things--so stupid of them! They thought he +used to run after "choo choos" and talk to them, when of course he never +did it; 'twas some other little boy. + +"I want to go with Jimmum," said he, stoutly. "You ought to not go +'thout me! _I_ shan't talk to that mine. _I_ shan't say, 'Come, little +mine, Eddo won't hurt oo.' No, no, not me! I shan't say nuffin', and I +shan't fall in the hole needer. So there! H'm! 'm! 'm!" + +It was not easy to resist his pleading. Perhaps Aunt Vi saw how matters +were, for she appeared just then, bearing the news that she and Uncle +James were going to drive, and would like to take one of the children. + +"And Eddo is the one we want. He is so small that he can sit on the seat +between us. Aren't the rest of you willing to give him up just for this +morning? He can go to walk with you another time." + +So they all said they would try to give him up, and he bounded away with +Aunt Vi, his dear little face beaming with proud satisfaction. + + + + +III + +LUCY'S GOLD MINE + + +The other children strolled leisurely along toward a place that looked +like a long strip of sand. + +"A sand beach," said Kyzie. + +"No," said Nate; "it isn't a beach and it isn't sand." + +"What _can_ you mean? What else is it, pray?" + +She stooped and took up a handful of something that certainly looked +like sand. The others did the same. + +"What do you call that?" they all asked, as they sifted it through their +fingers. + +Nate smiled in a superior way. + +"Well, I don't call it sand, because it isn't sand. I thought it was +when I first saw it; I got cheated, same as you. But there's no sand to +it; it's just _tailings_." + +"What in the world is tailings?" asked Kyzie, taking up another handful +and looking it over very carefully. Strange if she, a girl in her teens, +couldn't tell sand when she saw it! But she politely refrained from +making any more remarks, and waited for Nate to answer her question. He +was an intelligent boy, between eleven and twelve. + +"Well, tailings are just powdered rocks," said Nate. + +"Powdered rocks? Who powdered them? What for?" asked Edith. + +"Why, the miners did it years ago. They ground up the rocks in the mine +into powder just as fine as they could, and then washed the powder to +get the gold out." + +"Oh, I see," said Edith. "So these tailings are what's left after the +gold's washed out." + +"Yes, they brought 'em and spread 'em 'round here to get rid of 'em I +suppose." + +"Is the gold all washed out, every bit?" asked Jimmy. "Seems as if I +could see a little shine to it now." + +"Well, they got out all they could. There may be a little dust of it +left though. Mr. Templeton says the folks in 'Frisco that own the mine +think there's _some_ left, and the tailings ought to be sent to San +Diego and worked over." + +Jimmy took up another handful. Yes, there was a faint shine to it; it +began to look precious. + +"Well, there's a heap of it anyway. It goes ever so far down," said he, +thrusting in a stick. + +"It's from ten to twelve feet deep," replied Nate, proud of his +knowledge; "and see how long and wide!" + +"_I_ don't see how they ever ground up rocks so fine," said Kyzie. +"Exactly like sand. And it stretches out so far that you'd think 'twas a +sand beach by the sea,--only there isn't any sea." + +"Well, it's just as good as a beach anyway," said Nate. "Just as good +for picnics and the like of that. When there's anything going on, they +get out the brass band and have fireworks and bring chairs and benches +and sit round here. I tell you it's great!" + +"There are lots of benches here now," remarked Edith. "And what's that +long wooden thing?" + +"That's a staging. That's where they have the brass band sit; that's +where they send up the fireworks." + +"Oh, I hope they'll have fireworks while we're here, and picnics." + +"Of course they will. They're always having 'em. And I heard somebody +say they're talking of a barbecue." + +Edith clapped her hands. She did not know what a barbecue might be, but +it sounded wild and jolly. + +"What a long stretch of mud-puddle right here by the tailings," said +Kyzie. + +Nate laughed. "It _is_ a damp spot, that's a fact!" + +They all wondered what he was laughing at. "I guess there used to be +water here once," said Jimmy at a venture. "There's water here now +standing round in spots. And,--why, it's _fishes_!" + +Lucy stooped all of a sudden and picked up a dead fish. + +"Ugh! I never caught a fish before!" But next moment she threw it away +in disgust. + +"How did dead fishes ever get into this mud-puddle?" queried Edith. + +"Well, they used to live in it before it dried up," replied Nate. "Fact +is, this is a _lake_!" + +Everybody exclaimed in surprise; and Kyzie said:-- + +"It doesn't seem possible; but then things are so queer up here that you +can believe almost anything." + +"Really it is a lake. It's all right in the winter, and swells +tremendously then; but this is a dry year, you know, and it's all dried +up." Kyzie forgave the lake for drying up, but pitied the fishes. Edith +thought Castle Cliff was "a funny place anyway." + +"What little bits of houses! Did they dry up too?" + +"Oh, those are just the cabins and bunk-houses that were built for the +miners, ever so long ago when the mine was going. Fixed up into cottages +now for summer boarders. Do you want to see the mine?" + +They went around behind the shaft-house and beyond the old saw-mill. + +"O my senses!" cried Edith, "is that the old gold mine, that monstrous +great thing? Isn't it horrid?" + +They all agreed that it was "perfectly awful and dreadful," and that it +made you shudder to look into it; and that they were glad baby Eddo was +safely out of the way. The mine was a deep, irregular chasm, full of +dirty water and rocks. It had a hungry, cruel look; you could almost +fancy it was waiting in wicked glee to swallow up thoughtless little +children. + +"It doesn't seem as if anybody could ever have dug for gold in that +horrid ditch," exclaimed Kyzie. + +"You'd better believe they did, though," said the young guide. "They +used to get it out in nuggets, cart-loads of it." + +He was not quite sure of the nuggets, but liked the sound of the word. + +"Yes, cart-loads of it. I tell you 'twas the richest mine in the whole +Cuyamaca Mountains." + +"Too bad the gold gave out," said Kyzie, gazing regretfully into the +watery depths. + +"But it didn't give out! Why, there's gold enough left down there to buy +up the whole United States! They lost the vein, that's all" + +"The vein? What's a vein?" asked Edith. + +"Well, you see," replied the guide, "gold goes along underground in +streaks; they call it veins. The miners had to stop digging here because +they lost track of the streak. But they'll find it again." + +"How do _you_ know?" asked Jimmy-boy, who thought Nate was putting on +too many airs. + +"Because Mr. Templeton said so. They've sent for Colonel Somebody from +I--forget where. He's a splendid mining engineer, great for finding lost +veins. He'll be here next week and bring a lot of men." + +"Whoop-ee!" cried Jimmy, "he'll find the vein and things, and we'll be +having gold as plenty as blackberries!" + +"Just what I was talking about yesterday when you laughed," broke in +Lucy. "I said I'd go down in a bucket; don't you know I did?" + +Edith was gazing spellbound at the yawning chasm. + +"Look at those rickety steps! The men will get killed! 'Twill all cave +in!" + +"No danger," said Nate, "there are walls down there, stone walls, papa +says, that keep it all safe." + +He meant "galleries," but had forgotten the word. + +"Well, I don't care if there are five hundred stone walls, I guess the +men could drown all the same!" said Edith. "That water ought to be let +out, Nate Pollard! If the colonel is coming next week why don't they let +out the water this very day and give the place a chance to dry off." + +She spoke in a tone of the gravest anxiety, as if she understood the +matter perfectly, and felt the whole care of the mine. Indeed, the mine +had become suddenly very interesting to all the children. It certainly +looked like a rough, wild, frightful hole; nothing more than a hole; but +if there were gold down there in "nuggets," why, that was quite another +matter; it became at once an enchanted hole; it was as delightful as a +fairy story. + +"I hope it's true that they've sent for that colonel," said Kyzie. + +"Of course it's true," replied Nate, who did not like to have his word +doubted. + +"I s'pose there are buckets 'round here. Oh, aren't you glad we came to +Castle Cliff?" said Lucy, pirouetting around Jimmy. + +"Bab will be glad, too," she thought. For Lucy never could look forward +to any pleasure without wishing her darling "niece" to share it with +her. + +"Well, I guess we've seen everything there is to see," remarked Nate, +who had now told all he knew and was ready to go. + +While they still wandered about, talking of "tailings" and "nuggets," +they were startled by the peal of a bell. + +"Twelve o'clock! Two minutes ahead of time though," said Nate, taking +from his pocket a handsome gold watch which Jimmy had always admired. + +"What bell is that? Where is it?" they all asked. "And what is it +ringing for?" + +"It's on top of the schoolhouse and it's ringing for noon. 'Twill ring +again in the evening at nine o'clock. But I can tell 'em they ought to +set it back two minutes." + +"A nine o'clock bell? Why, that's a _curfew_ bell! How romantic!" cried +Kyzie. She had read of "the mellow lin-lan-lone of evening bells," but +had never heard it. "Let's go to the schoolhouse." + +As luncheon at the Templeton House would not be served for an hour yet, +they kept on to the hollow where the schoolhouse stood. It was a small, +unpainted building in the shade of three pine trees. + +"Just wait a minute right here," said Edith, the young artist, +unstrapping her kodak. "I want a snap-shot at it. Stand there by that +tree, Jimmum. Put your foot out just so. I wish you were barefooted!" + +Just then, as if they had overheard the wish, two little boys came +running down the hill, and one of them was barefooted. Moreover, when +Kyzie asked if they would stand for a picture, they consented at once. + +"My name's Joseph Rolfe," said the elder, twitching off his hat, "and +his name,"--pointing to his companion with a chuckle,--"his name is +Chicken Little." + +"No such a thing! Now you quit!" retorted the younger lad in a choked +voice, digging his toes into the dirt, "quit a-plaguing me! My name's +Henry Small and you know it!" + +While Edith was busy taking their photographs, Kyzie thanked the urchins +very pleasantly. They both gazed at her with admiration. + +"See here," said Joe Rolfe, twitching off his hat again very +respectfully, "Are you going to keep school in the schoolhouse? I wish +you would!" + +At this remarkable speech Jimmy and Edith fell to laughing; but Kyzie +only blushed a little, and smiled. How very grown-up she must seem to +Joe if he could think of her as a teacher! She was now a tall girl of +fourteen, with a fine strong face and an earnest manner. She was +beginning to tire of being classed among little girls, and it was +delightful to find herself looked upon for the first time in her life as +a young lady. But she only said:-- + +"Oh, no, Joe, people don't teach school in summer! Summer is vacation." + +"Well, but they do sometimes," persisted Joe; "there was a girl kep' +this school last summer. She called it 'vacation school.' But we didn't +like her; she licked like fury." + +"So she did," echoed Chicken Little, "licked and pulled ears. Kep' a +stick on the desk." + +And with these last words both the little boys took their leave, running +up hill with great speed, as if they thought that standing for a picture +had been a great waste of time. + +"That Chicken boy is the biggest cry-baby," said Nate. "The boys like to +plague him to see him cry. Joe Rolfe has some sense." + +As the little party walked on, Miss Katharine turned her head more than +once for another look at the schoolhouse. + +"Wouldn't it be fun, Edy, to teach school in there and ring that +'lin-lan-lone bell' to call in the scholars? I'd make you study botany +harder'n you ever did before." + +"No, thank you, Miss Dunlee," replied Edith, courtesying. "You'll not +get me to worrying over botany. I studied it a month once, but when I go +up in the mountains I go to have a good time." + +She pursed her pretty mouth as she spoke. Her sister Katharine was by +far the best botanist in her class, and was always tearing up flowers in +the most wasteful manner. Worse than that, she expected Edith to do the +same thing and learn the hard names of the poor little withered pieces. + +"You don't love flowers as well as I do, Kyzie, or you couldn't abuse +them so!" + +This is what she often said to her learned sister after Kyzie had made +"a little preach" about the beauties of botany. + +As they entered the hotel for luncheon, Kyzie was still thinking of the +schoolhouse and the sweet-toned bell and the singular speech of Joe +Rolfe, about wanting her for a teacher. What came of these thoughts you +shall hear later on. + +"Well, I declare, I forgot all about that zebra kitty," said Edith. +"What will the knitting-woman think of such actions?" + + + + +IV + +THE "KNITTING-WOMAN" + + +The "knitting-woman" met Edith at the dining-room door after luncheon, +and said to her rather sharply:-- + +"Well, little girl, I thought you liked kittens?" + +"I do, Mrs.--madam, I certainly do," replied Edith feeling guilty and +ashamed. "But Nate Pollard took us to see the gold mine and the +schoolhouse and we've just got back." + +"Oh, that's it! I thought 'twas very still around here--I missed the +noise of the _boyoes_.--You don't know what I mean by boyoes," she +added, smiling. "I picked up the word in Ireland. I'm always picking up +words. It means _boys_." + +"I understand; oh, yes." + +"Well, 'twas a little trouble to me, your not coming when I expected +you; but you may come this afternoon. I'll be ready in ten minutes." + +"Yes, madam, thank you." + +Edith ran to her mother laughing. "Oh, mamma, she is the queerest woman! +Calls boys _boyoes_! I must go to see her kitten whether I want to or +not--in just ten minutes! I wish I could take Kyzie with me; would you +dare?" + +"Certainly not. Katharine has not been invited. And don't make a long +call, Edith." + +"No, mamma, I'll not even sit down. I'll just look at the zebra kitty +and come right away." + +Mrs. Dunlee smiled. If there were many pets at Number Five it was not +likely that Edith would hasten away. "Remember, daughter, fifteen +minutes is long enough for a call on an entire stranger. You don't wish +to annoy Mrs. McQuilken; but if you should happen to forget, you'll hear +this little bell tinkle, and that will remind you to leave." + +Number Five was a very interesting room, about as full as it could hold +of oddities from various countries, together with four cats, a canary, +and a mocking-bird. + +"If you had come this morning you would have seen Mag, that's the +magpie," said Mrs. McQuilken. "She's off now, pretty creature. She likes +to be picking a fuss with the chickens." + +The good lady had been knitting, but she dropped her work into the large +pocket of her black apron, and moved up an easy-chair for her guest. +Edith forgot to take it. Her eyes were roving about the room, attracted +by the curiosities, though she dared not ask a single question. + +"That nest on the wall looks odd to you, I dare say," said Mrs. +McQuilken. "The twigs are woven together so closely that it looks nice +enough for a lady's work-bag, now doesn't it?" + +Edith said she thought it did. + +"Well, that's the magpie's nest. She laid seven eggs in it once. I keep +it now for her to sleep in; it's Mag's cot-bed." + +Edith's eyes, still roving, espied a handsome kitty asleep on the +lounge. It must be the zebra kitty because of its black and dove-colored +stripes. Most remarkable stripes, so regular and distinct, yet so softly +shaded. The face was black, with whiskers snow-white. How odd! Edith had +never seen white whiskers on a kitten. And then the long, sweeping +black tail! + +Mrs. McQuilken watched the little girl's face and no longer doubted her +fondness for kittens. + +"I call her Zee for short. Look at that now!" And Mrs. McQuilken +straightened out the tail which was coiled around Zee's back. + +"Oh, how beautifully long!" cried Edith. + +"Long? I should say so! There was a cat-show at Los Angeles last fall, +and one cat took a prize for a tail not so long as this by +three-quarters of an inch! And Zee only six months old!" + +The kitty, wide awake by this time, was holding high revel with a ball +of yarn which the tortoise-shell cat had purloined from her mistress's +basket. + +"Dear thing! Oh, isn't she sweet?" said Edith, dropping on her knees +before the graceful creature. + +Mrs. McQuilken enjoyed seeing the child go off into small raptures; +Edith was fast winning her heart. + +"Does your mother like cats?" she suddenly inquired. + +"Not particularly," replied Edith, clapping her hands, as Zee with a +quick dash bore away the ball out of the very paws of the coon cat. +"Mamma thinks cats are cold-hearted," said she, hugging Zee to her +bosom. "She says they don't love anybody." + +"I deny it!" exclaimed Mrs. McQuilken, indignantly. "Tell your mother to +make a study of cats and she'll know better." + +Edith looked rather frightened. "Yes'm, I'll tell her." + +"They have very deep feelings and folks ought to know it. Now, listen, +little girl. I had two maltese kittens once. They were sisters and +loved each other better than any girl sisters _you_ ever saw. One of the +kittens got caught in a trap and we had to kill her. And the other one +went round mewing and couldn't be comforted. She pined away, that kitty +did, and in three days she died. Now I know that for a fact." + +"Poor child!" said Edith, much touched. "_She_ wasn't cold-hearted, I'll +tell mamma about that." + +"Well, if she doesn't like 'em perhaps it wouldn't do any good; but +while you're about it you might tell her of two tortoise-shell cats I +had. They were sisters too. Whiff had four kittens and Puff had one and +lost it. And the way Whiff comforted Puff! She took her right home into +her own basket and they brought up the four kittens together. Wasn't +that lovely?" + +"Oh, wasn't it, though?" said Edith. "Cats have hearts, I always knew +they did." + +"That shows you're a sensible little girl," returned the old lady +approvingly. "But you haven't told me yet what your name is?" + +"Edith Dunlee." + +"I knew 'twas Dunlee--that's a Scotch name; but I didn't know about the +Edith. Well, Edith, so you've been to see the gold mine? Pokerish place, +isn't it? I hear they're going to bring down the engine from the big +plant and try to start it up again." + +Edith had no idea what she meant by the "big plant," so made no reply. +Mrs. McQuilken went back to the subject of cats. + +"Did you know the Egyptians used to worship cats? Well, sometimes they +did. And when their cats died they went into mourning for them." + +"How queer!" + +"It does seem so, but it's just as you look at it, Edith. Cats are a +sight of company. I didn't care so much about them or about birds +either when my husband was alive and my little children, but now--" + +Again she paused, and this time she did not go on again. Some one out of +doors laughed; it was Jimmy Dunlee, and the mocking-bird took up the +merry sound and echoed it to perfection. + +"Doesn't that seem human?" cried Mrs. McQuilken. And really it did. It +was exactly the laugh of a human boy, though it came from the throat of +a tiny bird. + +"My little boys, Pitt and Roscoe, liked to hear him do that," said Mrs. +McQuilken. + +Edith observed that she did not say "my boyoes." "Pitt, the one that +died in Japan, doted on the mocking-bird. The other boy, Roscoe, was all +bound up in the canary." + +"Does the canary sing?" + +"Yes, he's a grand singer. Just you wait till he pipes up. You'll be +surprised. But you remember what I was saying a little while ago about +your mother? That zebra kitty--" + +Before she could finish the sentence Edith heard the warning tinkle of +the tea-bell, and sprang up suddenly, exclaiming: "Good-by, +Mrs.--good-by, _madam_, I must go now. You've been very kind, thank you. +Good-by." + +And out of the door and away she skipped, leaving her hostess, who had +not heard the bell, to wonder at her haste. "She went like a shot off a +shovel," said the good lady, taking up her knitting-work. "She seemed to +be such a well-mannered little girl, too! What got into her all at once? +She acted as if she was 'possessed of the fox.'" + +This is a common expression in Japan, and naturally Mrs. McQuilken had +caught it up, as she had caught up other odd things in her travels. She +was something of a mocking-bird in her way, was the captain's widow. + +"I've taken quite a fancy to Edith," she added, "a minute more and I +should have offered to give her the zebra kitty. But there, I shouldn't +want to make a fuss in the family. That woman, her mother, to think of +her talking so hard about cats! She doesn't _look_ like that kind of a +woman. I'm surprised." + +Edith ran back to her mother breathless. + +"Oh, mamma, I was having such a good time! And she didn't appear to be +'annoyed,' she talked just as fast all the time! But the bell rang while +she was saying something and I had to run." + +"Had to run? I hope you were not abrupt, my child?" + +"Oh, no, mamma, not at all. I said 'good-by' twice, and thanked her and +told her she had been very kind. That wasn't abrupt, was it? But oh, +that kitty's tail! I forget how many inches and a quarter longer than +any other kitty's tail in this state! And they are not cold-hearted,--I +mean cats,--I promised to tell you." + +Here followed an account of the two cat-sisters, who loved each other +better than girl-sisters. + +"And think of one of them dying of grief, the sweet thing! Human people +don't die of grief, do they, mamma?" + +"Not often, Edith. Such instances have been known, but they are very +rare." + +"Well," struck in wee Lucy, who had been listening to the touching +story, "well, I guess some folks would! Bab would die for grief of me, +and I would die for grief of Bab; we _said_ we would!" + +She made this absurd little speech with tears in her eyes; but Kyzie +and Edith dared not laugh, for mamma's forefinger was raised. Mamma +never allowed them to ridicule the friendship of the two little girls, +who had made believe for more than a year that they were "aunt" and +"niece." The play might be rather foolish, but the love was very sweet +and true. + +Lucy had been thinking all day of Barbara and longing for her arrival. A +full hour before it was time for the stage she went a little way up the +mountain with Jimmy, and they took turns gazing down the winding, dusty +road through a spy-glass. "I shan't wait here any longer. What's the +use?" declared Jimmy. + +"She's coming! she's coming! I saw her first!" was Lucy's glad cry. And +she ran down the mountain in haste, though the stage, a grayish green +one, was just turning a curve at least a mile away. + +"Well, you _have_ been parted a good while," said Uncle James, as the +two dear friends met and embraced on the coach steps; "a day and a +half!" + +"I'd have 'most died if I'd waited any longer," said Aunt Lucy, putting +her arm around her niece and leading her up the gravel path with the +pink "old hen and chickens" on either side. + +The little girls were entirely unlike, and the contrast was pleasant to +see. Lucy was very fair, with light curling hair:-- + + "Blue were her eyes as the fairy flax, + Her cheeks like the dawn of day, + And her bosom white as the hawthorn buds + That ope in the month of May." + +Bab was quite as pretty, but in another way. She had brilliant dark eyes +and straight dark hair with a satin gloss. She was half a head shorter +than her "auntie," though their ages were about the same. People liked +to see them together, for they were always sociable and happy, and loved +each other "dearilee." + +"Oh, Bab," said wee Lucy, "I had such a _loneness_ without you!" + +"I had a loneness too, Auntie Lucy. Seemed as if the time never would +go." + +And then the dark head and the fair head met again for more kisses, +while both the mammas looked on and said, in low tones and with smiles, +as they always did:-- + +"How sweet! Now we shall hear them singing about the place like two +little birds." + +This was Tuesday. The days went on happily until Thursday afternoon, +when "the Dunlee party," which always included the Hales and Sanfords, +set forth up the mountain for a sight of the famous "air-castle." Of +course Nate was with them, but this time not as a guide; the guide was +Uncle James. + +The road, though rather steep, was not a hard one. Mr. Dunlee had his +alpenstock, and Uncle James walked beside him, holding little Eddo by +the hand. Bab and Lucy, or "the little two," as Aunt Vi called them, +were side by side as usual, and Lucy had asked Bab to repeat the story +of "Little Bo-Peep" in French, for Nate wanted to hear it. Bab could +speak French remarkably well. + + "Petit beau bouton + A perde ses moutons, + Il ne sais pas que les a pris. + O laissez les tranquille! + Ils se retournerons, + Chacun sa queue apres lui." + +Mrs. Dunlee and Kyzie were just behind the children, and while Bab was +repeating the verse Kyzie said in a low tone:-- + +"Oh, mamma, let me walk with you all the way, please. There's something +I want to talk about." + +She looked so earnest that Mrs. Dunlee wondered not a little what it was +her eldest daughter had to say. + + + + +V + +THE AIR-CASTLE + + +"A vacation school, Katharine? And pray what may that be?" + +Kyzie's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shining. She held her mother's +hand and talked fast, though plainly she did not feel quite at her ease. + +"Why, mamma, you've certainly heard of vacation schools--summer schools? +They're very common nowadays. In the summer, you know; so that college +people can go to them, and business people." + +"Ah! Like the one at Coronado Beach? Now I understand. But it didn't +occur to me that my little daughter would know enough to teach college +people!" + +"Now, mamma, don't laugh at me! Of course I mean children, the little +ignorant children right around here," making a sweeping gesture toward +the cottages and "bunk houses" that dotted the country lower down the +mountain, "I know enough to teach little children, I should hope, +mamma." + +"Possibly!" + +Mrs. Dunlee's tone was so doubtful that her daughter felt crushed. + +"Possibly you may know enough about books; but book-knowledge is not all +that is required in a teacher. Could you keep the children in order? +Would they obey you?" + +The little girl's head drooped a little. + +"Let me see, you are only fourteen?" + +"Fourteen last April, mamma. But everybody says, don't you know, that +I'm very large for my age." + +She tried to speak bravely, but the look of quiet amusement on her +listener's face made it rather hard for her to go on. + +"I suppose," said she, dropping her eyes again, "I suppose they don't +know much here, mamma,--the families that live here all the time. Some +of the boys actually go barefooted." + +"So I have observed. A great saving of shoes." + +"And they had a school last summer," went on Kyzie, resolutely. "A young +girl taught it who boarded where we do. Mr. Templeton said she did it +for fun." + +"Indeed!" + +"But they didn't like her a bit. I could teach as well as she did +anyway, mamma, for she just went around the room boxing their ears." + +"Is it possible, Katharine?" Mrs. Dunlee was serious enough now. "To +box a child's ears is simply brutal!" + +"I knew you'd say so, mamma; but that was just what Miss Severance did. +Of course I wouldn't touch their ears any more than I would fly!" + +Mrs. Dunlee turned now and regarded her daughter attentively. + +"But how did you ever happen to take up this sudden fancy for teaching, +dear? It's all new to me. What first made you think of it--at your age? +Can you tell?" + +"Oh, mamma, I've been thinking about it, off and on, for a year. Ever +since I was at Willowbrook last summer and heard Grandma Parlin talk +about _her_ first school. Why, don't you remember, she was just +fourteen, she said, nearly three months younger than I am." + +Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now, and said to herself:-- + +"Dear old Grandma Parlin! Little did she imagine she was filling her +great grand-daughter's head with mischievous notions!" + +They walked on a short way in silence. "But you must remember, +Katharine, that was seventy years ago. Grandma Parlin wouldn't advise a +girl of fourteen to do in these days as she did then. Schools are very +different now." + +"Yes, indeed, mamma, very, very different. Isn't it too bad? I'd like to +'board 'round' the way grandma did, and rap on the window with a ferule, +and 'choose sides' and all that! But there's one thing I could do!" +exclaimed the little girl, brightening. "I could make the children 'toe +the mark'; wouldn't that be fun? I mean stand in a line on a crack in +the floor. How grandma would laugh! I'll write her all about it, and +send her a photograph, bare feet and all." + +In her eagerness Kyzie spoke as if the matter were all arranged and she +could almost see the children "toeing the mark." + +"Not so fast, my daughter. Remember there are three points to be settled +before we can discuss the matter seriously. First, would your papa +consent? Second, would your mamma consent? Third, do the people of +Castle Cliff want a summer school anyway?" + +"Three points? I see, oh, yes," said Kyzie, meekly. + +"But now, Katharine, let us walk a little faster and join the others. +And not a word more of this to-day." + +"What did keep you two so long?" asked Edith, coming to meet them with a +bright face. If her happy thoughts had not been dwelling on the zebra +cat just presented her by the "knitting-woman," she would have observed +at once that mamma and Kyzie had been "talking secrets"; though she +might not have suspected that this had anything to do with the vacation +school. + +"Do hurry along," she added. "I want to show you the funniest sight! I +don't believe you've seen Barbara Hale, have you?" + +Edith could hardly speak for laughing; and her mother and Kyzie did not +wonder when they beheld the figure that little Bab had made of herself, +by a new style of dressing her hair. The two little girls were, as I +have told you, as different as possible, but had an intense desire to +look "just alike"; and when they tried their best the result was very +funny. + +I will mention here that Lucy "despised" her own hair for not being +straight like Bab's, and had often tried to braid it down her back; but +as the braid always came out and the ribbon came off, the attempt had +been forbidden. + +Now, however, as the children had left their city home and come to a +place where everybody was "on holiday," the mammas decided that they +might have a little more liberty. + +Their dresses were off the same piece,--good, strong brown ones; their +hats were alike; and, as for their hair, they were allowed to wear it as +they pleased "just for this summer." + +"We'll look exactly alike up there in the mountains," the little souls +had said to each other; and this was perhaps one reason why they had +been so overjoyed at the prospect of going. + +[Illustration] + +But to-day, ah! who would have dreamed that sweet little Bab could +become such a fright? She had done up her hair the night before on as +many as twenty curl-papers. Before starting for the air-castle she had +taken out some of the papers and found--not ringlets, but wisps of +very unruly hair. It would not curl any more than water will run up +hill. + +She went to Aunt Lucy in her trouble to seek advice. Aunt Lucy looked +her over with great care and then announced:-- + +"It is perfectly awful! Don't take out any more papers, Bab. Let 'em be, +so you can have something to stick the curls on to." + +And so it was done. The "curls," as Lucy was pleased to call them, were +drawn up and looped and twisted and fastened by hair-pins to the other +curls left in the papers. The effect was most surprising. It made Bab's +head so much higher than usual that she was as tall now as auntie, and +that in itself was a great gain. Besides, this style, as Lucy said, was +the "pompy-doo," and very fashionable! + +If Bab could have kept her hat on! But she couldn't, and the moment it +came off they all cried out:-- + +"Why-ee, Barbara!" and turned away to laugh. + +If Mrs. McQuilken had been there she would have said the child looked +"as if she was possessed of the fox." + +"The little goosies! Let them enjoy it!" whispered Mrs. Hale to Mrs. +Dunlee. "But those topknots will have to come down before the child can +go to the dinner-table." + +And then both the ladies laughed privately behind a large tree. The +mountain air was doing them good, and they often had as merry times +together as the young people. + +"Hear the boyoes," cried Edith, meaning Jimmy and Nate, who had now +reached the air-castle and were shouting with all their might. The +children ran, and so indeed did the older ones, for there was an +excellent path all the way. + +"So that is the air-castle," exclaimed Kyzie, when they were all within +sight of it. "It's a real house, built right in the mountain." + +She was right. There happened to be a great crack right here in the +rocky side of the mountain, and a cunning little house had been tucked +into the crack. It was built of small stones. It had two real windows +with glass panes, and a real door with a brass knocker, which the +children declared was "too cute for anything." + +"The house is as strong as a fort," said Uncle James. "Do you observe it +is walled all around with stones?" + +"Do you know who built it?" asked Aunt Vi; "and why he built it?" + +"A rich Mexican named Bandini. He admired the view from the mountain, +and I don't blame him, do you? He wanted a nice, quiet place where he +could read and write; that was why he came here. He has been here every +summer for years." + +"Well," said Mr. Dunlee, "if you call this an air-castle I must say it +is the most solid one I ever heard of! It doesn't look dreamy at all. +Why, an earthquake could hardly shake it." + +"The steps that lead up to it are not dreamy either," said Mrs. Dunlee. +"Real granite; and there's a large flag up there floating from the +evergreen tree." + +The "boyoes" had already climbed the steps, and Nate called down to Mrs. +Dunlee, "It's the Mexican flag!" But she had known that at a glance. The +colors were red, white, and green, and the device was an eagle on a +prickly pear with a snake in his mouth. + +"I wonder if there's anybody at home," said Nate, and would have lifted +the knocker if Jimmy had not said, "Wait for Uncle James." + +Jimmy thought as Uncle James was the leader of the expedition he should +be the one to do the knocking, or at any rate to tell them when to +knock. Nate himself had not thought of this. He was not so refined as +Jimmy, either by nature or by training. + +Everybody had climbed the steps now. The older people were enjoying the +magnificent view; but Bab and Lucy were looking for the two toads who +had been seen going up to the castle together, the well toad taking the +lame toad's foot in his mouth. + +"I wish they were both here," said Uncle James, "for you would like to +see them take that little journey." + +"And the Mexican who built this air-castle," said Aunt Vi, "is he here +this summer?" + +"No, he died last spring." + +"Died?" echoed little Eddo, who had heard that dying means "going up in +the sky." "What made him die, mamma? Didn't he like it down here?" + +Then without waiting for a reply he added most tenderly and +unexpectedly, "Isn't it nice that _you're_ not dead, mamma?" + +"Why do you think that, my son?" she asked, wondering what he would say. + +"Oh, _be_-cause I _am_ so glad about it." And at this sweet little +speech his mother caught him up in her arms and kissed him. How could +she help it? + +"Now," said Uncle James, "let us see if we can enter the castle. 'Open +locks whoever knocks.' Try it, boys." + +Nate lifted the knocker and pounded with a will. There was no answer or +sign of life. + +"Let's see if this will help us," said Uncle James, taking a key from +his vest pocket:-- + + "For I'm the keeper of the keys, + And I do whatever I please." + +The key actually fitted the lock, the door opened at once, and they all +entered the castle. + +"Mr. Templeton lent me the key," explained Mr. Sanford. "He said the +castle was as empty as a last year's bird's nest, but I thought we might +like to take a look at it." + +"We do, oh, we do," said Lucy. "Isn't it queer? Just two rooms and +nothing in 'em at all! Oh, Bab, let's you and I bring some dishes up +here and keep house! Here's a cupboard right in the wall." + +"I guess it's Mother Hubbard's cupboard, it looks bare enough. Just a +table in the room and one old chair," exclaimed Edith. + +"I'm glad we came in, though," said Kyzie. "Isn't it beautiful to stand +in the door and look down, down, and see Castle Cliff right at your +feet? And off there a city--Why, what's that noise?" + +No one answered. The older people knew the sound: it was that of an +angry rattlesnake out of doors shaking his rattle. + +Mr. Dunlee said:-- + +"Stay in the house, please, you ladies, and keep the children here. +James and I will go out and attend to this." + +He had an alpenstock, Uncle James a cane. The ladies and Mr, Hale and +the children watched the two gentlemen from the window,--all but little +Eddo, whose mother was playing bo-peep with him to prevent him from +looking out. A handsome rattlesnake was winding his way up the mountain +in pursuit of a tiny baby rabbit. The little "cotton-tail" was running +for the castle as fast as he could, intending to hide in a hole under +the door-stone. But he never would have reached the door-stone alive, +poor little trembling creature, if Mr. Dunlee and Uncle James had not +come up just in time to finish the cruel snake with cane and alpenstock. +Bunny got away safe, without even stopping to say, "Thank you." The +snake wore seven rattles, of which he was very proud; but Eddo had them +next day for a plaything, and made as much noise with them as ever the +snake had done; though Eddo never knew where they came from. + +It had been a delightful day, and when the friends all met again at +table they kept saying, "Didn't we have a good time?" + +It was to be noticed that Barbara's "topknots" had disappeared; and I +am glad to say that she never wore her lovely hair "pompy-doo" again. + +Kyzie's face was alight. In passing the door of her mother's room she +had heard her father say, laughing:-- + +"What, our Katharine? Why, how that would amuse Mr. Templeton!" + +Kyzie had hurried away for fear of listening; but now she kept +thinking:-- + +"Papa laughed. He always laughs when he is going to say 'yes.' He'll +talk to Mr. Templeton, and I just know I shall have the school Isn't it +splendid?" + + + + +VI + +"GRANDMA GRAYMOUSE" + + +"Hoopty-Doo!" shouted Jimmy, alighting on the piazza on all fours. "A +little girl like that keep school!" + +"Well, she is going to," returned Edith, looking up from the picture she +was drawing of a cherub in the clouds, "she's going to; and Mr. +Templeton says the Castle Cliff people are as pleased as they can be." + +"I heard what he said," struck in Nate. "He said they jumped at it like +a dolphin at a silver spoon." + +"He's always talking about that dolphin and that silver spoon," laughed +Edith. "If I knew how a dolphin looks, I'd draw one and give it to him +just for fun. But mamma, you don't expect me to go to school to that +little girl; now do you?" + +"Certainly not, Edith; oh, no." + +"Must _I_ go to Grandmother Graymouse?" whined Jimmy, "She's only my +sister. And I came up here to play." + +"Play all you like, my son. No one will ask you to go school." + +"But _I_ really want to go," said Nate. "I wouldn't miss it for +anything. A girl's school like that will be larks. Only four hours +anyway, two in the forenoon and two in the afternoon. Time enough left +for play." + +"H'm, if that's all, let's go," cried Jimmy. "We can leave off any time +we get tired of it." + +Kyzie heard this as she was crossing the hall. + +"Why, boys," she said, "you don't live in Castle Cliff! It's the Castle +Cliff children I'm going to teach--the little ones, you know." + +"But papa said if you'd show me about my arithmetic--" began Nate. + +"Perhaps I don't know so much as you do, Nate. But if you go you'll be +good, won't you--you and Jimmy both?" + +She spoke with some concern. "For if you're naughty, the other boys will +think they can be naughty too; and I shan't know what in the world to do +with them." + +"Oh, we'll sit up as straight as ninepins; we'll show 'em how city boys +behave," said Nate, making a bow to Kyzie. + +He could be a perfect little gentleman when he chose. He liked to tease +Jimmy, younger than himself, but had always been polite to Kyzie. Still +Kyzie did not altogether like the thought of having a boy of twelve for +a pupil. What if he should laugh at her behind his slate? + +Here Barbara and Lucy appeared upon the veranda, holding Edith's new +kitty between them. + +"We're going. We'll sit together and cut out paper dolls and eat figs +under the seat," declared Lucy, never doubting that this would be +pleasing news to the young teacher. + +Before Kyzie had time to say, "Why, Lucy!" little Eddo ran up the steps +to ask in haste:-- + +"Where's Lucy going? I fink I'll go too." + +Kyzie could bear no more. She ran and hid in the hammock and cried. They +all thought she was to have a sort of play-school; did they? They were +going just for fun. She must talk to mamma. Mamma thought the school was +foolish business; but mamma always knew what ought to be done, and how +to help do it. Or if mamma ever felt puzzled, there was papa to go +to,--papa, who could not possibly make a mistake. Between them they +would see that their eldest daughter was treated fairly. + +Monday morning came. Kyzie's courage had revived. Eddo would be kept at +home; Lucy and Bab had been informed that they were not to cut paper +dolls, though they might write on their slates. All that they thought of +just now, the dear "little two," was of dressing to "look exactly +alike." As Bab had learned once for all that her hair would not curl, +she spent half an hour that morning braiding her auntie's ringlets down +her back, and tying the cue with a pink ribbon like her own. But for all +the little barber could do the flaxen cue would not lie flat. It was an +old story, but very provoking. + +"Oh dear," wailed Lucy, "'most school-time and my hair is all _over_ my +head!" + +It did look wild. You could almost fancy it was angry because it had +not been allowed to curl after its own graceful fashion. + +The "little two" started off in good season, hoping not to be seen by +Eddo; but he espied them from the window, and they heard him calling +till his baby voice was lost in the distance:-- + +"You ought to not leave me! You ought to not leave m-e-e!" + +"He wants to go everywhere big people go." + +"Yes," responded Bab. "Such babies think they are as old as anybody. Oh, +see that Mexican dog, how straight his tail stands up!" + +"Like your hair," sighed Lucy. "If my hair would only be straight like +that!" + +And neither of them smiled at this droll remark. + +"But there's one thing we must remember, Bab. I'm glad I thought of it. +We must say, 'Miss' to Kyzie." + +"Miss what?" + +"Miss Dunlee. If we forget it, she'll feel dreadfully." And then they +began to hum a tune and keep step to the music. They often did this as +they walked. + +Kyzie had gone on before them. Her father was with her, but she had the +key in her hand and opened the schoolhouse door. They walked in +together, and Kyzie locked the door behind them, for several children +were waiting about who must not enter till the bell rang. + +The schoolhouse floor was very clean; the new teacher herself had swept +it. On the walls were large wreaths of holly, which had been left over +from last Christmas, when the Sunday-school had had a celebration here. +At one end of the room was a raised platform with a large desk on it. +On the wall over the desk was a motto made of red pepper berries, only +the words were so close together that you could not make them out unless +you knew beforehand what they were. + +"That means, 'Christ is risen,'" explained Kyzie. "It looks dreadfully, +but they didn't want it taken down, I'll make another by and by." + +There were blackboards on three sides of the room; quite clean they +looked now. The desks and benches were rude ones of black oak, and had +been hacked by jack-knives. Kyzie regretted this, but supposed the boys +had not been taught any better. There was only one chair in the room, a +large armed chair for the little teacher, and it stood solemnly on the +platform before the desk. + +"You see, papa, I've brought a big blank-book to write the names in. The +pen and inkstand belong here. Ahem, I begin to tremble," said she, and +looked at her mother's watch which she wore in her belt. "It's five +minutes of nine." + +"Oh, you'll do famously," said Mr. Dunlee. "And now, daughter, I'll wish +you good-by and the very best luck in the world." + +"Good-by, papa," said Kyzie, and locked the door after him. "I wish I'd +asked him to stay till I called them in and took their names. Papa is so +dignified that it would have been a great help. My, I feel as if I +weren't more than six years old!" + +She walked the floor, watch in hand. "Fifty seconds of nine." + +She went to the bell-rope and pulled with both hands. It was quite +needless to use so much force. The bell was directly over her head; and +instead of the "mellow lin-lan-lone" she expected, it made a din so +tremendous that it almost seemed as if the roof were about to fall upon +her. At the same time there was a scrambling and pounding at the door. +The children were trying to get in. + +"Oh, miserable me, I've locked them out!" thought the little teacher in +dismay. + +She hastened to the door and opened it, and they rushed in with a shout. +This was an odd beginning; but Kyzie said not a word. She remembered +that she was now Miss Dunlee, so she threw back her shoulders and looked +her straightest and tallest, and as much as possible like Miss Prince, +her favorite teacher. She had intended all along to imitate Miss +Prince--whenever she could think of it. + +Only fourteen years old! Well, what of that? Grandma Parlin had been +only fourteen when she taught _her_ first school. Keep a brave heart, +Katharine Dunlee! + +Joe Rolfe walked in as stiffly as a wooden soldier. Behind him came a +few boys and girls, some of them with their fingers in their mouths. +There were twelve in all. The last ones to enter were Nate and Jimmy, +followed by Aunt Lucy and her niece arm in arm. + +"I wonder if Nate is laughing at me for locking the door?" thought +Kyzie, not daring to look at him, as she waved her hands and said in a +loud voice to be heard above the noise:-- + +"All please be seated." + +Being seated was a work of time; and what a din it made! The children +wandered about, trying one bench after another to see which they liked +best. + +"You would think they were getting settled for life," whispered Nate to +Jimmy. + +The "little two" chose a place near the west window and began at once +to write on their slates. + +"I'm scared of Miss Dunlee," wrote Aunt Lucy. + +"Stop making me laugh," replied the niece. + +When at last everybody was "settled for life," Kyzie did not know what +to do next. "What would Miss Prince do? Why she would read in the Bible. +I forgot that." + +The new teacher took her stand on the platform behind the desk, opened +her Bible, and read aloud the twenty-third Psalm. Her voice shook, +partly from fright, partly from trying so hard not to laugh. But she did +not even smile--far from it. Nate and Jimmy who were watching her could +have told you that. If she had been at a funeral she could hardly have +looked more solemn. + +Jimmy touched Nate's foot under the bench; Nate gave Jimmy a shove; Bab +gazed hard at Lucy's flaxen cue; Lucy gazed straight at her thumb. + +After the reading "Miss Dunlee" walked about with her blank-book in one +hand and her pen in the other to take down the children's names. + +"I'm Joseph Rolfe; don't you remember me?" said the boy with red hair. +"And this boy next seat is Chicken Little." + +"No, I ain't either, I'm Henry Small," corrected the little fellow, +ready to cry. + +Kyzie shook her finger at both the boys and resolved that "Joe should +stop calling names, and Henry should stop being such a cry-baby." + +Annie Farrell was a dear little girl in a blue and white gingham gown, +and the new teacher loved her at once. Dorothy Pratt was little more +than a baby, and when spoken to she put her apron to her eyes and wanted +to go home. + +"She can't go home," said her older sister Janey, "mamma's cookin' for +company!" + +Kyzie patted the baby's tangled hair and sent Janey to get her some +water. + +"I'll go," spoke up Jack Whiting, aged seven. "Janey isn't big enough. +Besides the pail leaks." + +"I'm so glad Edith isn't here," thought Kyzie, "or we should both get to +giggling. There, it's time now to call them out to read. Let me see, +where is the best crack in the floor for them to stand on? Why didn't I +bring a quarter of a dollar with a hole in it for a medal? Oh, the medal +will be for the spelling-class; that was what Grandma Parlin said." + +It seemed a "ling-long" forenoon, and the little teacher rejoiced when +eleven o'clock came. The family at home looked at her curiously, and +Uncle James asked outright, "Tell us, Grandmother Graymouse, how do the +scholars behave?" + +"Well, I suppose they behaved as well as they knew how; but oh, it makes +me so hungry!" + +She could not say whether she liked teaching or not. + +"Wait till Friday night, Uncle James, and then I'll tell you." + +"Well said, Grandmother Graymouse! You couldn't have made a wiser +remark. We'll ask no further questions till Friday night." + +But when Friday night came they were all thinking of something else, +something quite out of the common; and "Grandmother Graymouse" and her +school were forgotten. + + + + +VII + +THE ZEBRA KITTEN + + +It began with Zee. By this time her young mistress had become very much +attached to her; and so indeed had all the "Dunlee party." Even Mrs. +Dunlee petted the kitten and said she was the most graceful creature she +had ever seen, except, perhaps, the dancing horse, Thistleblow. Eddo +loved her because "she hadn't any pins in her feet" and did not resent +his rough handling. The "little two" loved her because she allowed them +to play all sorts of games with her. They could make believe she was +very ill and tuck her up in bed, and she would swallow meekly such +medicine as alum with salt and water without even a mew. + +"She is so amiable," said Edith. "And then that wonderful tail of hers, +mamma! 'Twould bring, I don't know how much money, at a cat fair. It's a +regular _prize_ tail, you see!" + +An animal like this merited extra care. She was not to be put off like +an everyday cat with saucers of milk and scraps of meat; she must have +the choicest bits from the table. + +"Mrs. McQuilken says the best-fed cats make the best mousers," said +Edith. + +"Is that so, Miss Edith? Then the mice here at Castle Cliff haven't long +to live!" laughed good-natured Mr. Templeton, as he handed Zee's little +mistress a pitcher of excellent cream. + +Edith was very grateful to Mrs. McQuilken for this remarkable kitten. +She had taken much pains with her pencil drawing of a cherub in the +clouds, intending it as a present for the eccentric old lady. + +"Do you suppose she'll like it, mamma? You know she's so odd that one +never can tell." + +Mrs. Dunlee was sure the picture would be appreciated. The cherub's +sweet face looked like Eddo's, and the clouds lay about him very softly, +leaving bare his pretty dimpled feet, and hands, and arms, and neck. On +Friday afternoon Edith took the picture in her hand and knocked with a +beating heart at the door of Number Five. + +"Mrs. Me--McQuilken," said she, in a timid voice, on entering the room, +"you're so fond of pictures that I thought I'd bring you one I drew +myself. I'm afraid it's not so very, very good; but I hope you'll like +it just a little." + +[Illustration] + +Mrs. McQuilken was much surprised as well as gratified; and actually +there were tears in her eyes as she took the offering from Edith's hand. +She was a lonely old body, and never expected much attention from any +one, especially from children. + +"Why, how kind of you, my dear! It's a beauty!" she exclaimed, gazing at +the cherub through her spectacles. She was a good judge of pictures. +"That face is well drawn, and the clouds are fleecy. Did you really do +it your own self--and for me? Thank you, dear child!" + +Edith blushed with pleasure. She had by no means counted on such praise. + +"I'll always be kind to old people after this," she thought. "I believe +they care more about it than you think they do." + +But here they were interrupted by the very loud mewing of a cat out of +doors. They both ran downstairs to see what it meant. + +"I do hope and trust it isn't my Zee," cried Edith in alarm. + +But it was. They did not see her at first; she was in the back yard +behind the hotel. It seems a pan of clams had been left standing on the +back door-step; and Zee must have been frolicking about the pan, never +dreaming any live creature was in it, when one of the clams, attracted +by her black waving tail, had caught the tip of the tail in his mouth +and was holding it fast! + +This was pretty severe. Being only an ignorant bivalve, the clam did not +know that what he had in his mouth was a very precious article, the +"prize tail" of a beautiful cat. But having once taken hold of it, the +clam was too obstinate to let go. + +Poor Zee jumped up and down, and ran around in circles, mewing with all +her might. What had happened she did not know; she only knew some heavy +thing was dragging at her tail and pinching it fearfully. Every one in +the back of the house was busy; no one but Eddo heard Zee's cries. He +ran to the maid to ask "what made the kitty sing so sorry?" Whenever she +mewed he called it singing. + +The maid looked out then and threw down her mixing-spoon for laughing. +It was an odd sight to see a cat prancing about, waving her plume-like +tail with a clam at the end of it! Nancy was sorry for the kitten, but +did not know how in the world to get off the clam. + +"Take an axe! Take a hatchet!" cried Mrs. McQuilken. + +And without waiting for Nancy she seized a hatchet herself, split the +shell of the clam, and let poor kitty free. + +When Kyzie got home from school, Mrs. McQuilken had just mended Zee's +bleeding member with a piece of court-plaster. All the boarders were +grouped about on the lawn and veranda talking it over. Mrs. Dunlee held +in her lap a very forlorn and crumpled little bundle of kitty; and Edith +and Eddo were crying as if their hearts would break. + +"That beautiful, beautiful tail!" sobbed Edith. + +"Don't be unhappy about it, darling," said Aunt Vi, "it will heal in +time." + +"I know 't will heal, auntie; but what I'm thinking of is, won't it be +stiff? Aren't you afraid 'twill lose the--the--_expression of the +wiggle?_" + +No one even smiled at the question; everybody tried to comfort Edith. +And right in the midst of this trying scene another event occurred of a +different sort, but far more serious. It was little wonder that nobody +once thought of saying to Kyzie:-- + +"Well, Grandma Graymouse, you promised to tell us to-night how you like +your school." + +The school was quite forgotten, and so was the injured kitten. It +happened in this way: As soon as the kitten had been placed in a basket +of cotton and seemed tolerably comfortable, Jimmy and "the little two" +went along the road as they often did to watch for the stage. "The +colonel" might be coming now at almost any time, to find the lost vein +of the gold mine, and they wanted to see him first of any one. Lucy had +her papa's watch fastened to the waist of her dress, and took great +pleasure in seeing the hands move. This was not the first time she had +been allowed to carry the watch, and she was very proud because papa had +just said, "See how I trust my little girl." + +Jimmy had Uncle James's spy-glass. + +"Nate thinks the colonel won't come till to-morrow; but I expect him +to-night. Let's go farther up," said Jimmy-boy. + +They all climbed a little way and stood on a rock gazing down toward the +dusty road. They could see the roofs of several houses, and Lucy asked +why there was so much wire on them. + +"Oh, that's to hold the chimneys on," was Jimmy's reply. + +"How queer!" + +"Not queer at all. I've seen lots of chimneys tied on that way." + +Bab doubted this, but Lucy was proud to think how much Jimmy knew. + +"Six minutes past five," said she, looking at the watch again. "It takes +these little hands just as long to go round this little face as it takes +a clock's hands to go round a clock's face. How funny!" + +"Not funny at all," said Jimmy. "They're made that way. But be careful, +Lucy Dunlee, or you'll drop that watch. I shouldn't have thought papa +would have let you bring it up here. Did you tell him where we were +going?" + +"No, I never," replied Lucy with a sudden prick of conscience. "I didn't +know we'd go so far. 'Twas you that spoke and said we'd go higher up." + +"Well, you'd better let me take it, Lucy. I'm older than you are, and +I've got a little pocket, too, just the right size to hold it." + +Lucy hesitated, not wishing to part with the watch, and not at all sure +that it would be safer with Jimmy than with herself. He was not a famous +care-taker. + +"I don't see why you want to get it away when papa lent it to me and +it's fastened on so tight. How do I know papa would be willing?" + +As she spoke, however, Jimmy was fingering the little chain to see if +he could undo the clasp which held it to her dress. + +"There, I don't believe you could have got it off, Lucy, you didn't know +how." + +"Why, I never tried--papa fastened it on himself--oh, Jimmy-boy, you +will be so careful of it, now won't you?" + +For the watch lay in his hand, and she did not know how to get it back +again. When he had set his heart on anything Lucy usually gave up. +Barbara looked on in disapproval as the big brother put the watch in his +pocket. + +It had long been Jimmy's unspoken wish to have a watch of his very own +like Nate Pollard and various other boys. How rich and handsome the +short gold chain looked! What a bright spot it made as it dangled down +his new jacket. He gazed at it admiringly, while Bab and Lucy took +turns in looking through the spy-glass. + +"The stage is coming," they cried. Then they all started and ran down +the mountain; but as the stage drove up to the hotel no colonel +alighted, or at least, no one who looked like a colonel. Jimmy was +playing with the short gold chain which made a bright spot on his +jacket. He meant to restore the watch to its owner at dinner-time; but +it was early, he was not going in yet. And there was Nate Pollard +throwing up his cap and looking ready for a frolic. + +"I stump you to catch me!" said Nate. + +"Poh, I can catch you and not half try." + +Jimmy-boy was agile, Nate rather heavily built and clumsy. But if Jimmy +had suspected what a foolhardy project was in Nate's mind he would have +held back from the race. + +As it was, they both planted themselves against a tree, shouted, "One, +two, three!" and off they started. No one was watching, no one +remembered afterward which way they were going. + + + + +VIII + +STEALING A CHIMNEY + + +The "knitting-woman" sat knitting in her chamber that looked up the +mountain side, and thinking how the zebra kitten had suffered from her +enemy, the clam. Mrs. McQuilken's own cats were most of them asleep; the +blind canary was eating her supper of hemp-seed; and the noisy magpie +had run off to chat with the dog and hens. The room seemed remarkably +quiet. Mrs. McQuilken narrowed two stitches and glanced out of the +window. + +"Mercy upon us!" she exclaimed, though there was not a soul to hear her. +"Mercy upon us, what are those boyoes doing atop of that house?" + +In her astonishment she actually dropped her knitting-work on the floor +and rushed out of the room crying, "Fire!" though there was not a spark +of fire to be seen. + +The "boyoes" were Nate and Jimmy. Nate had said to Jimmy just as they +started on the race:-- + +"You won't dare follow where I lead;" and Jimmy, stung by the defiant +tone, had answered:-- + +"Poh, yes, I will! Who's afraid?" never once suspecting that Nate was +going to climb the ridge-pole of a house! + +The house was a small cabin painted green, but there were people living +in it, and nothing could be ruder than to storm it in this way, as both +boys knew. + +"Why, Nate why, _Nate_, what are you doing?" + +"Ho, needn't come if you're scared," retorted Nate. + +"Who said I was scared? But I'm not your 'caddy,' I won't go another +step," gasped Jimmy. + +Still he did not stop climbing. Hadn't Nate "stumped" him; and hadn't he +"taken the stump," agreeing to follow his lead? Besides, Nate was +already on the roof, and it was necessary to catch him at once. + +Jimmy reached the roof easily enough and darted toward Nate with both +arms out-stretched. But by that time Nate had turned around and begun to +slide down another ridge-pole, shouting:-- + +"Here, my caddy, here I am; catch me, caddy!" + +It was most exasperating. Jimmy saw that he had been outwitted. On the +solid earth, running a fair race, the chances were that he could have +beaten Nate. But was this a fair race? + +"No, I'll leave it out to anybody if it's fair! Nate Pollard is the +meanest boy in California," thought angry Jimmy, as he started to follow +his leader down the ridge-pole. + +At this moment something hit him just below the knee and held him fast. +In his haste he had not stopped to notice that the chimney was of the +very sort he had just described to Lucy--built of tiles and held on to +the roof by wires. He was caught in these wires; and whenever he tried +to move he found he was actually pulling the chimney after him! Nate, +safely landed on the ground, called back to him in triumph:-- + +"Hello, Jimmy-cum-jim! Hello, my caddy! Where are you? Why don't you +come along?" + +Jimmy was coming as fast as he could. He lay face downward, sliding +along toward the edge of the roof, and carrying with him that most +undesirable chimney! What would become of him if he should fall +head-first with the chimney on his back? + +It was a rough scramble; but he managed to turn over before he reached +the ground--so that he landed on his feet. The chimney landed near him, +a wreck. Jimmy was unhurt except for a few scratches. But oh, it was +dreadful to hear himself laughed at, not only by that mischievous Nate, +but by half a dozen other boys and a few grown people, who had collected +on the spot; among them the landlord and Mrs. McQuilken. + +Not that any one could be blamed for laughing. Jimmy was a comical +object. In carrying away a chimney which did not belong to him, he had +of course torn his clothes frightfully and left big pieces sticking on +the broken wires of the roof. A more "raggety" boy never was seen. + +"Wouldn't he make a good scarecrow?" said the landlord, shaking his +sides. "Jimmum, chimney, and all!" + +It was necessary to tear his clothes still more in order to get them +free from the tangle of wires. As the poor young culprit crept +unwillingly back to the hotel all the cats, dogs, donkeys, and chickens +in Castle Cliff seemed to combine in a chorus of mewing, barking, +braying, and cackling to inform the whole world that here was a boy who +had stolen a chimney! + +What wretched little beggar was this coming to the house? No one thought +of its being Jimmy Dunlee. + +"We caught this young rogue stealing a chimney," said Mr. Templeton. + +It seemed funny at first, and the Dunlees and Sanfords and Hales all +laughed heartily, till it occurred to them that the dear child had been +in actual danger; and then they drew long breaths and shuddered, +thinking how he might have pitched headlong to the ground and been +crushed by the weight of the chimney. + +"But my little son," asked Mrs. Dunlee presently, when the child was +once more respectably clad, and was walking down to dinner between +herself and Aunt Vi, "but my little son, what could have possessed you +to climb a roof? Was that a nice thing to do?" + +"No, mamma, of course not. But 'twas all Nate Pollard's fault. Nate +stumped me to it and I took the stump." + +"What _do_ you mean?" + +"Why, he said, 'You won't dare follow me,' and I said, 'Yes, I would.' +And I never mistrusted where he was going. Who'd have thought of his +climbing top of a house?" + +"Why, Jamie Dunlee, you did not follow Nate without knowing where he +was going?" + +"Yes, mamma; if I _had_ known I wouldn't have followed. But you see he +had stumped me and I'd taken the stump, so I was _obliged_ to go!" + +"Obliged to go!" repeated Aunt Vi, laughing, "Isn't that characteristic +of Jimmy?" + +The little fellow felt guiltier than ever. When Aunt Vi used that word +of five syllables it always meant that people had done very wrong, so he +thought. + +"Jamie," said his mother very seriously, "I am surprised that you should +have promised to follow Nate without knowing where he was going! And you +never even asked him where he was going! Is that the way you play, you +boys?" + +"No, mamma, it isn't. Nate makes you play his way because he's the +oldest. He's just as mean! But I couldn't back out after I was +stumped." + +"Oh, fie! Backing out is exactly the thing to do when a boy is trying to +lead you into mischief! But we'll talk more of this by and by." + +As they entered the dining-room, Jimmy squared his shoulders and would +not look toward Nate's table; and Nate, who had been severely reproved +by his parents, never once raised his eyes from his plate. No one felt +very happy. Jimmy's new suit was ruined; and Mr. Dunlee had already +learned that it would cost ten dollars to restore the tile chimney. Nor +was this all. While Jimmy was trying to console himself with ice-cream +he suddenly thought of his father's watch! It must have dropped out of +his pocket when he slid down the roof; but where, oh, where was it now? +Was it still on the ground, or had some one picked it up? Joe Rolfe had +been there, so had Chicken Little and a dozen others. He must go and +look for that watch, he must go this minute. + +"Mamma," he murmured, pushing aside his saucer of ice-cream, "may I--may +I be excused?" + +There was no answer; his mother had not heard him. + +"Mamma," in a louder tone, "oh, mamma!" + +"What is it, my son?" + +Seeing by his unhappy face that something was wrong, she nodded +permission for him to leave the table; and at the same time arose and +followed him into the hall. + +"Dear child, what is the matter?" + +"Papa's watch," he moaned. "I'm afraid somebody will steal it." + +As Mrs. Dunlee knew nothing whatever about the watch this sounded very +strange. She wondered if Jimmy had really been hurt by his fall and was +out of his head. + +"Why, my precious little boy," said she, taking his hot hand in hers. +"Papa's watch is safe in his vest pocket. Nobody is going to steal it." + +Jimmy looked immensely relieved. + +"Oh, has he got it back again? I'm so glad! Where did he find it?" + +"Darling," said Mrs. Dunlee, now really alarmed. "Come upstairs with +mamma. Does your head ache? I think it will be best for you to go right +to bed." + +But Jimmy persisted in talking about the watch. + +"Where did papa find it? He let Lucy have it; don't you know?" + +"No, I did not know." + +"And I took it away from Lucy. I was afraid she'd lose it. And +then,--oh, dear, oh, dear,--then I went and lost it myself!" + +Mrs. Dunlee understood it all now. Jimmy's head was clear enough; he +knew perfectly well what he was talking about. The watch was gone, a +very valuable one. Search must be made for it at once. Without waiting +to speak to her husband, Mrs. Dunlee put on her hat and went with Jimmy +up the hill. He limped a little from the bruise of his fall and she +steadied him with her arm as they walked. + + + + +IX + +"CHICKEN LITTLE" AND JOE + + +The man and woman who lived in the green cottage had gone to a +neighbor's to stay till their chimney should be fastened on again. There +was no one in sight. + +"Here's the place where I went up," said Jimmy, laying his hand on one +of the ridge-poles. "And here's the place where I came down," pointing +to another ridge-pole. + +Mrs. Dunlee was stooping and looking around carefully. There was not a +tuft of grass or a clump of weeds behind which even a small article +could be hidden, much less a large bright object like a gold watch. She +took a wooden pencil from her pocket and scraped the earth with it; but +only disturbed a few ants and beetles. If the watch had ever been +dropped here, it certainly was not here now. She and Jimmy turned and +walked home in the twilight,--or as Mrs. McQuilken called it, "the +dimmets," and poor Jimmy drew a cloud of gloom about him like a cloak. + +They looked on the ground at every step of the way. + +"There's a piece of chaparral over there. Did you go through that?" +asked Mrs. Dunlee. + +"No, I never, I'm sure I never. I walked in the road right straight +along. Oh, mamma, if I've lost that watch 'twill break my heart. But +I'll pay papa for it, you see if I don't! I'll save every penny I get +and put it together and pay papa!" + +Mrs. Dunlee did not reply for a moment; she took time to reflect. Jimmy +was a dear boy, but very heedless. He had done wrong in the first place +to take the watch from Lucy without his father's permission. He must be +taught to respect other people's property and other people's rights. He +must learn to think, and learn to be careful. Here was a chance for a +lesson. + +"Jamie," said she at last, "I am glad you wish to atone for the wrong +you have done; it shows a proper spirit. I agree with you that if the +watch isn't found you ought to give papa what you can toward paying for +it. That is no more than fair." + +"I want to, mamma, I just want to!" burst forth Jimmy. "I wish I was +little like Eddo, before 'twas wrong for me to be naughty." + +His mother took him in her arms and kissed him, for he was so tired and +miserable that he could not keep the tears back another moment. + +Friday night passed and most of Saturday; and though diligent search +was made, the watch was not found. + +"Poor papa!" said Kyzie. "He doesn't say much; but how sober he looks! +Grandma Dunlee gave him that watch, Jimmy, when he was a young man; and +he did love it so!" + +"I know it. Oh, dear, how can he stand it?" responded jimmy, who had +been deeply touched from the first by his father's forbearance. "Mr, +Pollard punished Nate dreadfully, you know; but here's Papa Dunlee, why, +he hasn't even scolded!" + +Papa Dunlee was a wise man. He saw that his little son was suffering +enough already; he was learning a hard lesson, and perhaps would learn +it all the better for being left alone with his own conscience. + +On Sunday afternoon the boy was very disconsolate, and Mr. Dunlee patted +him on the head, saying:-- + +"Maybe we'll find the watch yet, my son. And anyway, I know Jimmum +didn't mean to lose it." + +Then he sat down to read, and Jimmy gazed at him reverently. The +sunshine about his head seemed almost like a halo, and the boy thought +of the angels, and wondered if they could possibly be any better than +papa! + +"Papa is the best man! Never was cross in his life. I should be cross as +fury! I should shake _my_ boy all to pieces if he should carry off my +gold watch and drop it in the sand!" + +Monday morning came and the missing article did not appear. Everybody +looked troubled. Edith walked about, carrying her lame kitten in a +basket, and saying:-- + +"Zee is getting better all the while, but how can I be happy when papa's +watch is lost!" + +"Who knows but I shall be the one to find it?" returned Katharine with +a mysterious smile, as she was leaving the house. + +"You forgot to tell us, and we forgot to ask you, How do you like your +school?" said Aunt Vi. + +"Oh, ever so much, auntie. I'm making it just as old-fashioned as I can. +I'm going to write Grandma Parlin this week and ask her if what I do is +old-fashioned enough. Good-by." + +Jimmy was waiting for her down the path. + +"What makes you think you'll find the watch, Kyzie?" + +"Oh, I don't know, myself, what I meant. I just said it for fun." + +"Well, do you think Joe Rolfe has got it, or Chicken Little? That's what +I want to know." + +"Hush, Jimmy! Papa wouldn't allow you to speak names in that way. +Somebody stole it, I suppose, but we don't know who it was." + +Still Kyzie's face wore a stern look that morning. It was a thing not to +be spoken of, but she had resolved to "keep an eye" on two or three of +the boys, and see if there was anything peculiar in their appearance. +Should one of them blush or turn pale when spoken to, it would be a sure +sign of guilt, and she should go home and announce with triumph to her +father:-- + +"Papa, I've found out the thief!" + +The scholars all appeared pretty much as usual; raising their hands very +often to ask, "May I speak?" or, "May I have a drink of water?" The +little teacher had always wished they would not do so, but how could she +help it? It was "an old-fashioned school," perhaps that was why it was +so noisy. Whatever went wrong, Kyzie always said to herself, "Oh, it's +just an old-fashioned school." + +Nate Pollard and Jimmy sat to-day as far apart as possible, almost +turning their backs upon each other. At the bottom of his heart Nate was +truly ashamed of himself, though he would not have owned it. There were +five new scholars, and Katharine wrote down their names with much pride. +Best of all, some of the children really seemed to be trying to get +their lessons. + +She had never known Joe Rolfe to study like this. "Is it because he is +guilty?" thought the little teacher watching him from under her +eyebrows. She walked along toward him so softly that he did not hear her +footsteps. + +"Joseph!" she exclaimed, suddenly. Her voice startled him; he looked up +in surprise. + +"I'm glad to see you studying, Joseph." + +Did he blush? His face was of a brownish red hue at any time, being +much tanned; she could not be quite sure of the blush. But why did he +look so sober? Children generally smile when they are praised. + +She had been to Bab and Lucy and said, "How still you are, darlings!" +and they had seemed delighted. + +Next she tried Chicken Little. He certainly jumped when she spoke his +name close to his ear, "Henry." Now why should he jump and seem so +confused unless he knew he had done something wrong? She forgot that he +was a very timid boy. + +"Henry, what is the matter with you?" she asked, frowning severely. + +She had never frowned on him before, for she liked the little fellow, +and was trying her best to "make a man of him." + +"What is the matter, Henry?" + +By this time he was scared nearly out of his wits, and stole a side +glance at her to see if she had a switch in her hand. + +"Don't whip me," he pleaded in a trembling voice. "Don't whip me, +teacher; and I'll give you f-i-v-e thousand dollars!" + +As he offered this modest sum to save himself from her wrath, the little +teacher nearly laughed aloud, Henry did not know it, however; her face +was hidden behind a book. + +"What made you think, you silly boy, that I was going to punish you?" +she asked as soon as she could find her voice. "Have you done something +wicked?" + +She spoke in a low tone for his ear alone, but he writhed under it as if +it had been a blow. + +"I--don'--know." + +"He is the thief," thought Kyzie. "Oh, Henry, if you've done something +wrong you must know it. Tell me what it was." + +"I--can't!" + +She put her lips nearer his ear. "Was it you and Joseph Rolfe together? +Perhaps you _both_ did something wicked?" + +"I--don'--know." + +"Was it last Friday?" + +"I--don'--know!" + +"Will you tell me after school?" + +Henry was unable to answer. Worn out with contending emotions he put his +head down on the seat and cried. + +This did not seem like innocence. Joseph Rolfe was looking on from +across the aisle, as if he wished very much to know what she and Henry +were talking about. + +"I'll make them tell me the whole story, the wicked boys," thought +Kyzie, indignantly. "But I can't hurry about it; I must be very +careful. I think I'll wait till to-morrow." + +So she calmed herself and called out her classes. Katharine was a +"golden girl," and had a strong sense of justice. She would say nothing +yet to her father, for the boys might possibly be innocent; still she +went home that afternoon feeling that she had almost made a discovery. + +"Good evening, Grandmother Graymouse," said Uncle James, as they were +all seated on the veranda after dinner, "do I understand that you are +hunting for a watch?" + +"I'm hunting for it, oh, yes," replied Kyzie, trying not to look too +triumphant; "but I haven't found it yet. Just wait till to-morrow, Uncle +James." + +"I don't believe we'll wait another minute!" declared Mr. Sanford, +looking around with a roguish smile. "I see the Dunlee people are all +here, Jimmum, Lucy, and all. Attention, my friends! The thief has been +found!" + +"What thief?" asked Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Dunlee. + +"Why, _the_ thief! The one we're looking for! The one that stole the +watch!" + +"Do you really mean it?" asked the ladies again. "Did he bring it back?" + +"Come and see," said Uncle James, leading the way upstairs. + +"Of course it's Joe Rolfe," thought Kyzie. "I suppose he was frightened +by what I said to Henry Small." + +"Is the thief in your room, Uncle James?" said Jimmy. "Why didn't you +put him in jail?" + +"Ah, Jimmum, do you think all thieves ought to go to jail? I once knew a +little boy who stole a chimney right off a house; yet I never heard a +word said about putting _him_ in jail! + +"But here we are at the chamber door. Stand behind me, all of you, in +single file." + + + + +X + +THE THIEF FOUND + + +"I don't know so much as I thought I did," said Kyzie to herself. "Joe +Rolfe wouldn't be in this room." + +For Uncle James was knocking at the door of Number Five. + +"Walk right in," said Mrs. McQuilken, coming to meet her guests. She had +her knitting in one hand. "Come in, all of you. Why, Mr. Templeton, are +you here too? You wouldn't have taken me into your house if you'd known +I was a thief; now would you, Mr. Templeton?" + +And laughing, she put her right hand in her apron pocket and drew out a +gold watch and chain. + +"If this belongs to anybody present, let him step up and claim his +property." + +Mr. Dunlee came forward in amazement, while Jimmy gave a little squeal +of delight. + +"This is mine, thank you, madam," said Mr. Dunlee, looking at the watch +closely. It seemed very much battered. + +"Dreadfully smashed up, isn't it, sir? I can't tell you how sorry I am." + +Mr. Dunlee shook it, and held it to his ear. + +"Oh, it won't go," said Mrs. McQuilken. "The inside seems worse off, if +anything, than the outside. 'Twill have to have new works." + +"Very likely. But it is so precious to me, madam, that even in this +condition I'm glad to get it back again. Pray, where has it been?" + +"Right here in this room. Didn't you understand me to confess to +stealing it? Why, you're shaking your head as if you doubted my word." + +They were all laughing now, and the old lady's eyes twinkled with fun. + +"Well, if I didn't steal it myself, one of my family did, so it amounts +to the same thing. Come out here, you unprincipled girl, and beg the +gentleman's pardon," she added, kneeling and dragging forth from under +the bed a beautiful bird. + +It was her own magpie, chattering and scolding. + +"Now tell the gentleman who stole his watch? Speak up loud and clear!" + +The bird flapped her wings, and cawed out very crossly:-- + +"Mag! Mag! Mag!" + +"Hear her! Hear that!" cried her mistress. "So you did steal it, +Mag--I'm glad to hear you tell the truth for once in your life." + +"Did she take the watch? Did she really and truly?" cried the children +in chorus. + +"To be sure she did, the bad girl. She has done such things before, and +I have always found her out; but this time she was too sly for me. She +went and put it in my mending-basket; and who would have thought of +looking for it there?" + +Mag tipped her head to one side saucily, and kept muttering to herself. + +"Well, I happened to go to the basket this afternoon and take up a pair +of stockings to mend. They felt amazingly heavy. There was a hard wad in +them, and I wondered what it could be. I put in my hand and pulled out +the watch. Yes, 'twas tucked right into the stockings." + +"I wonder we didn't any of us mistrust her at the time of it," said Mr. +Templeton; "those magpies are dreadful thieves." + +"Well, I suppose you thought 'twas my business to take care of her, and +it was. I'm ashamed of myself," said Mrs. McQuilken. "I was looking out +of the window when the boys shied over that roof, but my mind wasn't on +jewelry then. All I thought of was to run and call for help." + +Yes, and it was her screams which had aroused the whole neighborhood. + +"And at that very time my Mag was roaming at large. No doubt she saw the +watch the moment it fell; and to use your expression, Mr. Templeton, she +jumped at it like a dolphin at a silver spoon." + +The landlord laughed. "But the mystery is," said he, "how she got back +to the house without being seen. She must have been pretty spry." + +"O Mag, Mag, to think I never once thought to look after you!" +exclaimed Mrs. McQuilken, penitently. + +The bird was scolding all the while, and running about with short, jerky +movements, trying her best to get out of the room; but the door was +closed. + +"Pretty thing," said Edith. "What a shame she should be a thief!" + +"She is pretty, now isn't she?" returned her mistress, fondly. "My +husband brought her from China. You don't often see a Chinese magpie, +with blue plumage,--cobalt blue." + +"She's a perfect oddity," said Mrs. Hale. "See those two centre +tail-feathers, so very long, barred with black and tipped with white." + +"Yes," said Mr. Dunlee, "and the red bill and red legs. She's a +brilliant creature, Mrs. McQuilken." + +"Well, you'll try to forgive her, won't you, sir? I mean to bring her +up as well as I know how; but what are you going to do with a girl that +can't sense the ten commandments?" + +"What indeed!" laughed Mr. Dunlee. + +"You see she's naturally light-fingered. Yes, you are, Mag, you needn't +deny it. Those red claws of yours are just pickers and stealers." + +Here Edith called attention to Mag's nest on the wall, and they all +admired it; and Mrs. McQuilken said the canary liked to have Mag near +him at night, he was apt to be lonesome. + +"I wish you'd come in the daytime," said she. "Come any and all of you, +and hear him sing. He does sing so sweetly, poor blind thing; it's as +good as a sermon to hear him." + +On leaving Mrs. McQuilken the children went to Aunt Vi's room and Jimmy +kept repeating joyously:-- + +"We've found the watch, we've found the watch!" + +"Yes," said Aunt Vi; "but what a wreck it is! Your papa will have to +spend a deal of money in repairing it." + +"Too bad!" said Lucy, "I 'spect 'twould cost him cheaper to buy a new +one." + +"'Twouldn't cost him so much; that's what you mean," corrected Jimmy. +"But I'm going to pay for mending it anyway." + +"How can you?" asked Kyzie. "All you have is just your tin box with +silver in it." + +"Well, but don't I keep having presents? And can't I ask folks to stop +giving me toys and books and give me money? And they'll do it every +time." + +"But that would be begging." + +Jimmy's face fell. Yes, on the whole it did seem like begging. He had +not thought of that. + +"Why can't it ever snow in this country?" he exclaimed suddenly. "Then I +could shovel it. That's the way boys make money 'back East'" + +Then after a pause he burst forth again, "Or, I might pick berries--if +there were any berries!" + +"It's not so very easy for little boys to earn money; is it, dear?" said +Aunt Vi, putting her arm around her young nephew and drawing him toward +her. "But when they've done wrong--you still think you did wrong, don't +you, Jimmy?" + +"He knows he did," broke in Lucy. "My papa lent me the watch." + +"She wasn't talking to you," remonstrated Jimmy. "Yes, auntie, I did +wrong; but Lucy needn't twit me of it! I won't be _characteristic_ any +more as long as I live." + +Aunt Vi smiled and patted his head lovingly. + +"No, dear, I think you'll be more thoughtful in future. But now let us +try to think what can be done to pay for the watch." + +"I'll let him have some of the money I get for teaching. I always meant +to," said Kyzie. + +"Very kind of you," returned Aunt Vi; "but we'll not take it if we can +help it, will we, Jimmy? I've been thinking it over for some days, +children; and a little plan has occurred to me. Would you like to know +what it is?" + +They all looked interested. If Aunt Vi had a plan, it was sure to be +worth hearing. + +"It is this: mightn't we get up some entertainments,--good ones that +would be worth paying for?" + +"And sell the tickets? Oh, auntie, that's just the thing! That's +capital!" cried Edith and Kyzie. "You'd do it beautifully." + +"I'm not so sure of that, girls. But we might join together and act a +little play that I've been writing; that is, we might try. What have you +to say, Jimmy? Could you help?" + +"I don't know. I can't speak pieces worth a cent," replied the boy, +writhing and shuffling his feet. "Look here!" he said, brightening. +"Don't you want some nails driven? I can do that first rate." + +Aunt Vi laughed and said nails might be needed in putting up a staging, +and she was sure that he could use a hammer better than she could. + +Jimmy-boy, much gratified, struck an attitude, and pounding his left +palm with his thumb, repeated the rhyme:-- + + "Drive the nail straight, boys, + Hit it on the head; + Work with your might, boys, + Ere the day has fled." + +"There, he can speak, I knew he could speak!" cried Lucy, in admiration. + +It was settled that they were all to meet Wednesday morning, and their +mother with them, to talk over the matter. + +"That's great," said Jimmy. + +The watch was found and the world looked bright once more. True, he was +deeply in debt; but with such a grand helper as Aunt Vi he was sure the +debt would very soon be paid. + + + + +XI + +BEGGING PARDON + + +Next morning Jimmy walked to school with "the little two," whistling as +he went. Lucy had tortured her hair into a "cue," and + + "The happy wind upon her played, + Blowing the ringlet from the braid." + +"I've got the snarling-est, flying-est hair," scolded she. "I never'll +braid it again as long as I live; so there!" + +"Good!" cried Jimmy. "It has looked like fury ever since we came up +here." + +Here Nate overtook the children. He had not been very social since the +accident, but seemed now to want to talk. + +"How do you do, Jimmy?" he said: and Jimmy responded, "How d'ye do +yourself?" + +The little girls ran on in advance, and Jimmy would have joined them, +but Nate said:--- + +"Hold on! What's your hurry?" + +Jimmy turned then and saw that Nate was scowling and twisting his +watch-chain. + +"I've got something to say to you--I mean papa wants me to say +something." + +"Oh ho!" + +"I don't see any need of it, but papa says I must." + +Jimmy waited, curious to hear what was coming. + +"Papa says I jollied you the other day." + +"What's that?" + +"Why, fooled you." + +"So you did, Nate Pollard, and 'twas awful mean." + +[Illustration] + +"It wasn't either. What made you climb that ridge-pole? You needn't +have done it just because I did. But papa says I've got to--to--ask your +pardon." + +"H'm! I should think you'd better! Tore my clothes to pieces. Smashed a +gold watch." + +"You hadn't any business taking that watch." + +There was a pause. + +"Look here, Jimmy Dunlee, why don't you speak?" + +"Haven't anything to say." + +"Can't you say, 'I forgive you'?" + +"Of course I can't. You never asked me." + +"Well, I ask you now. James S. Dunlee, will--you--forgive me?" + +"H'm! I suppose I'll have to," replied Jimmy, firing a pebble at nothing +in particular. "I forgive you all right because we've found the watch. +If we hadn't found it, I wouldn't! But don't you 'jolly' me again, Nate +Pollard, or you'll catch it!" + +This did not sound very forgiving; but neither had Nate's remark sounded +very penitent. Nate smiled good-naturedly and seemed satisfied. The fact +was, he and Jimmy were both of them trying, after the manner of boys, to +hide their real feelings. Nate knew that his conduct had been very +shabby and contemptible, and he was ashamed of it, but did not like to +say so. Jimmy, for his part, was glad to make up, but did not wish to +seem too glad. + +Then they each tried to think of something else to say. They were fully +agreed that they had talked long enough about their foolish quarrel and +would never allude to it again. + +"Glad that watch has come," said Nate. + +"So am I. It has come, but it won't _go_," said Jimmy. And they laughed +as if this were a great joke. + +Next Jimmy inquired about "the colonel," and Nate asked: "What colonel? +Oh, you mean the mining engineer. He'll be here next week with his men." + +By this time the boys were feeling so friendly that Jimmy asked Nate to +go with him before school next morning to see the knitting-woman's pets +and hear the blind canary sing. + +"Do you suppose the magpie will be there?" returned Nate. "I want to +catch her some time and wring her old neck." + +"Wish you would," said Jimmy. "Hello, there's Chicken Little crying +again. He's more of a baby than our Eddo." + +Henry was crying now because Dave Blake had called him a coward. So +very, very unjust! He stood near the schoolhouse door, wiping his eyes +on his checked apron and saying:-- + +"I'll go tell the teacher, Dave Blake!" + +"Well, go along and tell her then. Fie, for shame!" + +Henry, a feeble, petted child, was always falling into trouble and +always threatening to tell the teacher. Kyzie considered him very +tiresome; but to-day when he came to her with his tale of woe, she +listened patiently, because she had done him a wrong and wished to atone +for it. She had "really and truly" suspected this simple child of a +crime! He would not take so much as a pin without leave; neither would +Joseph Rolfe. Yet in her heart she had been accusing these innocent +children of stealing her father's watch! + +"Miserable me!" thought Kyzie. "I must be very good to both of them now, +to make up for my dreadful injustice!" + +She went to Joe and sweetly offered to lend him her knife to whittle +his lead pencil. He looked surprised. He did not know she had ever +wronged him in her heart. + +She wiped Henry's eyes on her own pocket handkerchief. + +"Poor little cry-baby!" thought she. "I told my mother I would try to +make a man of him, and now I mean to begin." + +She walked part of the way home with him that afternoon. He considered +it a great honor. She looked like a little girl, but her wish to help +the child made her feel quite grown-up and very wise. + +"Henry," said she, "how nice you look when you are not crying. Why, now +you're smiling, and you look like a darling!" + +He laughed. + +"There! laugh again. I want to tell you something, Henry. You'd be a +great deal happier if you didn't cry so much; do you know it?" + +"Well, Miss Dunlee,"--Kyzie liked extremely to be called Miss +Dunlee,--"well, Miss Dunlee, you see, the boys keep a-plaguing me. And +when they plague me I have to cry." + +"Oh, fie, don't you do it! If I were a little black-eyed boy about your +age I'd laugh, and I'd say to those boys: 'You needn't try to plague me; +you just can't do it. The more you try, the more I'll laugh.'" + +Henry's eyes opened wide in surprise, and he laughed before he knew it. + +"There! that's the way, Henry. If you do that they'll stop right off. +There's no fun in plaguing a little boy that laughs." + +Henry laughed again and threw back his shoulders. Why, this was +something new. This wasn't the way his mamma talked to him. She always +said, "Mamma's boy is sick and mustn't be plagued." + +"Another thing," went on the little girl, pleased to see that her words +had had some effect; "whatever else you may do, Henry, _don't_ 'run and +tell,' Do you suppose George Washington ever crept along to his teacher, +rubbing his eyes this way on his jacket sleeve, and said 'Miss +Dunlee--ah, the boys have been a-making fun of me--ah! They called me +names, they did!'" + +Henry dropped his chin into his neck. + +"Never mind! You're a good little boy, after all. _You_ wouldn't steal +anything, would you, Henry?" + +This sudden question was naturally rather startling. He had no answer +ready. + +"Oh, I know you wouldn't! But sometimes little _birds_ steal. Did you +hear that a magpie stole a watch the other day?" + +"Yes, I heard." + +"Well, here's some candy for you, Henry." + +The boy held out his hand eagerly, though looking rather bewildered. Was +the candy given because George Washington didn't "run and tell"? Or +because magpies steal watches? + +"Now, good night, Henry, and don't forget what: I've been saying to +you." + +Henry walked on, feeling somewhat ashamed, but enjoying the candy +nevertheless. If his pretty teacher didn't want him to tell tales, he +wouldn't do it any more. He would act just like George Washington; and +then how would the big boys feel? + +He did not forget his resolve. Next morning when Dave Blake ran out his +tongue at him and Joe Rolfe said, "Got any chickens to sell?" he laughed +with all his might, just to see how it would seem. Both the boys stared; +they didn't understand it. "Hello, Chicken Little, what's the matter +with you?" + +Henry could see the eyes of his young teacher twinkling from between the +slats of the window-blinds, and he spoke up with a courage quite +unheard-of:-- + +"Nothing's the matter with _me!_" + +"Hear that chicken," cried Joe Rolfe. "He's beginning to crow!" + +Henry felt the tears starting; but as Miss Katharine at that moment +opened the blind far enough to shake her finger at him privately he +thought better of it, and faltered out:-- + +"See here, boys, I like to be called Chicken Little first rate! Say it +again. Say it fi-ive thousand times if you want to!" + +"Oh, you're too willing," said Joe. "We'll try it some other time when +you get over being so willing!" + +The bell rang; it sounded to Henry like a peal of joy. He walked in in +triumph, and as he passed by the little teacher she patted him on the +head. She did not need to wipe his eyes with her handkerchief, there +were no tears to be seen. He was not a brave boy yet by any means, but +he had made a beginning; yes, that very morning he had made a beginning. + +"Don't you tease Henry Small any more, I don't like it at all," said +Katharine to Joseph Rolfe. + +And then she slipped a paper of choice candy into Joe's hand, charging +him "not to eat it in school, now remember." It was a queer thing to do; +but then this was a queer school; and besides Kyzie had her own reasons +for thinking she ought to be very kind to Joe. + +"How silly I was to suspect those little boys! I'm afraid I never shall +have much judgment. Still, on the whole, I believe I'm doing pretty +well," thought she, looking proudly at Henry Small's bright face, and +remembering too how Mr. Pollard had told her that very morning that his +son Nate was learning more arithmetic at her little school than he had +ever learned in the city schools. "Oh, I'm so glad," mused the little +teacher. + +Mrs. Dunlee thought Kyzie did not get time enough for play. And just now +the little girl was unusually busy. They were talking at home of the new +entertainment to be given for Jimmy-boy's benefit, and she was to act a +part in it as well as Edith. It was "Jimmy's play," but Jimmy was not to +appear in it at all. Kyzie and Edith together were to print the tickets +with a pen. The white pasteboard had been cut into strips for this +purpose; but as it was not decided yet whether the play would be +enacted on the tailings or in the schoolhouse, the young printers had +got no farther than to print these words very neatly at the bottom of +the tickets: + +"ADMIT THE BEARER." + + + + +XII + +"THE LITTLE SCHOOLMA'AM'S EARTHQUAKE" + + +There were only ten days in which to prepare for the play called +"Granny's Quilting." The children met Wednesday morning in Aunt Vi's +room, all but Bab, who was off riding. So unfortunate, Lucy thought; for +how could any plans be made without Bab? + +The play was very old-fashioned, requiring four people, all clad in the +style of one hundred and fifty years ago. Uncle James would wear a gray +wig and "small clothes" and personate "Grandsir Whalen"; Kyzie Dunlee, +Grandsir's old wife, in white cap, "short gown," and petticoat, was to +be "Granny Whalen" of course. + +A grandson and granddaughter were needed for this aged couple. Edith +would make a lovely granddaughter and pretend to spin flax. Who would +play the grandson and shell the corn? Jimmy thought Nate Pollard was +just the one, he was "so good at speaking pieces." They decided to ask +Nate at once, and have that matter settled. + +Aunt Vi showed a collection of articles which "the knitting-woman" had +kindly offered for their use; a three-legged light stand, two +fiddle-backed chairs, and a very old hour-glass. + +"I should call it a pair of glasses," said Edith, as they watched the +sand drip slowly from one glass into the other. + +Aunt Vi said it took exactly an hour for it to drain out, and our +forefathers used to tell the time of day by hour-glasses before clocks +were invented. + +"What _are_ forefathers?" Lucy asked Edith. + +"Oh, Adam and Eve and all those old people," was the careless reply. + +"And didn't they have any clocks?" + +"Of course not. What do you suppose?" + +There was a knock at the door. Nate had come to find Jimmy and go with +him to see the blind canary. + +"We were just talking about you," said Aunt Vi. "Are you willing to be +Katharine's grandson in the play?" + +Nate replied laughing that he would do whatever was wanted of him, and +he could send home and get some knee-buckles and a cocked hat. + +Aunt Vi said "Capital!" and gave Jimmy a look which said, "Everything +seems to be going on famously for our new play." + +Jimmy led the way to Mrs. McQuilken's room, his face wreathed with +smiles. + +"Ah, good morning; how do you all do?" said the lady, meeting the +children with courteous smiles. "I see you've brought your kitten, +Edith." + +"Yes, ma'am; will you please look at her wounds again?" + +"They are pretty well healed, dear. I've never felt much concerned about +Zee's wounds. She makes believe half of her sufferings for the sake of +being petted." + +"Does she, though? I'm so glad." + +"Yes; that 'prize tail' will soon be waving as proudly as ever. But I +suppose you all came to see the canary. Mag, you naughty girl," she +added, turning to the magpie, "hide under the bed. They didn't come to +see you. Here, Job, you are the one that's wanted." + +Little Job, the canary, was standing on the rug. He came forward now to +greet his visitors, putting out a foot to feel his way, like a blind +man with a cane. Then he began to sing joyously. + +"Don't you call that good music?" asked his mistress, knitting as she +spoke. "He came from Germany; there's where you get the best singers. +Some canaries won't sing before company and some won't sing alone; they +are fussy,--I call it _pernickitty_. Why, I had one with a voice like a +flute; but I happened to buy some new wall-paper, and she didn't like +the looks of it, and after that she never would sing a note." + +"Are you in earnest?" asked Kyzie. + +"Yes, it's a fact. But Job never was pernickitty, bless his little +heart!" + +She brought a tiny bell and let him take it in his claws. + +"Now, I'll go out of the room, and you all keep still and see if he'll +ring to call me back." + +She went, closing the door after her. No one spoke. Job moved his head +from side to side, and, apparently making up his little mind that he was +all alone, he shook the bell peal after peal. Presently his mistress +appeared. "Did you think mamma had gone and left you, Job darling? Mamma +can't stay away from her baby." + +The cooing tone pleased the little creature, and he sang again even more +sweetly than before. + +"Let me show you another of his tricks. You see this little gun? Well, +when he fires it off that will be the end of poor Job!" + +The gun was about two inches long and as large around as a lead pencil. +Inside was a tiny spring; and when Job's claw touched the spring the gun +went off with a loud report. Job fell over at once as if shot and lay +perfectly still and stiff on the rug. Lucy screamed out:--- + +"Oh, I'm so sorry he is dead!" + +But next moment he roused himself and sat up and shook his feathers as +if he relished the joke. + +The children had a delightful half hour with the captain's widow and her +pets; only Lucy could not be satisfied because Bab was away. + +"Too bad you went off riding yesterday," said she as they sat next +morning playing with their dolls. "You never saw that blind canary that +shoots himself, and comes to life and rings a bell." + +"But can't I see him sometime, Auntie Lucy?" + +"You can, oh, yes, and I'll go with you. But, Bab, you ought to have +heard our talk about the play! Kyzie is going to be as much as a hundred +years old, and I guess Uncle James will be a hundred and fifty. And +they've got a pair of old glasses with sand inside--the same kind that +Adam and Eve used to have." + +"Why-ee! Did Adam and Eve wear glasses? 'Tisn't in their pictures; _I_ +never saw 'em with glasses on!" + +"No, no, I don't mean glasses _wear_! I said glasses with sand inside; +_that's_ what Uncle James has got. Runs out every hour. Sits on the +table." + +"Oh, I know what you mean, auntie! You mean an _hour-glass!_ Grandpa +Hale has one and I've seen lots of 'em in France." + +Lucy felt humbled. Though pretending to be Bab's aunt, she often found +that her little niece knew more than she knew herself! + +"Seems queer about Adam and Eve," said she, hastening to change the +subject; "who do you s'pose took care of 'em when they were little +babies?" + +"Why, Auntie Lucy, there wasn't ever any _babiness_ about Adam and Eve! +Don't you remember, they stayed just exactly as they were made!" + +"Yes, so they did. I forgot." + +Lucy had made another mistake. This was not like a "truly auntie"; still +it did not matter so very much, for Bab never laughed at her and they +loved each other "dearilee." + +"You know a great many things, don't you, Bab? And _I_ keep forgetting +'em." + +"Oh, I know all about the world and the garden of Eden; _that's_ easy +enough," replied the wise niece. + +And then they went back to their dolls. + +Half an hour later Kyzie Dunlee was standing in the schoolhouse door +with a group of children about her when Nate Pollard appeared. As he +looked at her he remembered "Jimmy's play," and the parts they were +both to take in it; and the thought of little Kyzie as his poor old +grandmother seemed so funny to Nate that he began to laugh and called +out, "Good morning, grandmother!" + +He meant no harm; but Kyzie thought him very disrespectful to accost her +in that way before the children, and she tossed her head without +answering him. + +Nate was angry. How polite he had always been to her, never telling her +what a queer school she kept! And now that he had consented to be her +grandson in Jimmy's play, just to please her and the rest of the family, +it did seem as if she needn't put on airs in this way! + +"Ahem!" said he; "did you hear about that dreadful earthquake in San +Diego?" + +There had been a very slight one, but he was trying to tease her. + +"No, oh, no!" she replied, throwing up both hands. "When was it?" + +"Last night. I'm afraid of 'em myself, and if we get one here to-day you +needn't be surprised to see me cut and run right out of the +schoolhouse." + +The children looked at him in alarm. Kyzie could not allow this. + +"Oh, you wouldn't do that!" said she, with another toss of the head. +"Before I'd run away from an earthquake! Besides, what good would it +do?" + +By afternoon the news had spread about among the children that there was +to be a terrible earthquake that day. They huddled together like +frightened lambs. The little teacher, wishing to reassure them, planted +herself against the wall, and made what Edith would have called a +"little preach." + +She pointed out of the window to the clear sky and said she "could not +see the least sign of an earthquake." But even if one should come they +need not be afraid, for their heavenly Father would take care of them. + +"And you mustn't think for a moment of running away! No, children, be +quiet! Look at me, _I_ am quiet. I wouldn't run away if there were fifty +earthquakes!" + +Strange to say, she had hardly spoken these words when the house began +to shake! They all knew too well what it meant, that frightful rocking +and rumbling; the ground was opening under their feet! + +Kyzie, though she may have feared it vaguely all along, was taken +entirely by surprise, and did--what do you think? As quick as a flash, +without waiting for a second thought, she turned and jumped out of the +window! + +Next moment, remembering the children, she screamed for them to follow +her, and they poured out of the house, some by the window, some by the +door, all shrieking like mad. + +It was a wild scene,--the frantic teacher, the terrified children,--and +Kyzie will never cease to blush every time she recalls it. For there was +no earthquake after all! It was only the new "colonel" and his men +blasting a rock in the mine! + +Of course this escapade of the young teacher amused the people of Castle +Cliff immensely. They called it "the little schoolma'am's earthquake"; +and the little schoolma'am heard of it and almost wished it had been a +real earthquake and had swallowed her up. + +"Oh, Papa Dunlee! Oh, Mamma Dunlee!" she cried, her cheeks crimson, her +eyelids swollen from weeping. "I keep finding out that I'm not half so +much of a girl as I thought I was! What does make me do such ridiculous +things?" + +"You are only very young, you dear child," replied her parents. + +They pitied her sincerely and did their best to console her. But they +were wise people, and perhaps they knew that their eldest daughter +needed to be humbled just a little. It was hard, very hard, yet +sometimes it is the hard things which do us most good. + +"O mamma, don't ask me to go down to dinner. I can't, I can't!" + +"No indeed, darling, your dinner shall be sent up to you. What would you +like?" + +"No matter what, mamma--I don't care for eating. I can't ever hold up my +head any more. And as for going into that school again, I never, never, +never will do it." + +"I think you will, my daughter," said Mr. Dunlee, quietly. "I think +you'll go back and live this down and 'twill soon be all forgotten." + +"O papa, do you really, really think 'twill ever be forgotten? Do you +think so, mamma? A silly, disgraceful, foolish, outrageous, +abominable,--there, I can't find words bad enough!" + +As her parents were leaving the room she revived a little and added:-- + +"Remember, mamma, just soup and chicken and celery. But a full saucer of +ice-cream. I hope 'twill be vanilla." + + + + +XIII + +NATE'S CAVE + + +The little teacher went back to her school the very next day. It was a +hard thing, but she knew her parents desired it. Her proud head was +lowered; she could not meet the eyes of the children, who seemed to be +trying their best not to laugh. At last she spoke:-- + +"I got frightened yesterday. I was not very brave; now was I? Hark! The +people in the mine are blasting rocks again, but we won't run away, will +we?" + +They laughed, and she tried to laugh, too. Then she called the classes +into the floor; and no more did she ever say to the scholars about the +earthquake. She helped Nate in his arithmetic, and he treated her like a +queen. He was coming to Aunt Vi's room that evening to show his +knee-buckles and cocked hat and find out just what he was to do on the +stage. + +Kyzie wanted to see the cocked hat and felt interested in her own white +cap which Mrs. McQuilken was making. It was a good thing for Katharine +that she had "Jimmy's play" to think of just now. It helped her through +that long forenoon. After this the forenoons did not drag; school went +on as usual, and Kyzie was glad she had had the courage to go back and +"live down" her foolish behavior. + +When they met in Aunt Vi's room that evening it was decided not to have +"Jimmy's play" on the tailings, for that was a place free to all. People +would not buy tickets for an entertainment out of doors. + +"My tent is the thing," said Uncle James, and so they all thought It +was a large white one, and the children agreed to decorate it with +evergreens. It would hold all the people who were likely to come and +many more. + +During the week Uncle James set up the tent not far from the hotel and +in one corner of it built a staging. He did not mind taking trouble for +his beloved namesake, James Sanford Dunlee. The stage was made to look +like a room in an old-fashioned house. It had a make-believe door and +window and a make-believe fireplace with andirons and wood and shovel +and tongs. There was a rag rug on the floor, and on the three-legged +stand stood the hour-glass with candles in iron candlesticks. The +fiddle-backed chairs were there and two _hard_ "easy-chairs" and an old +wooden "settle." Lucy and Bab said it looked "like somebody's house," +and they wanted to go and live in it. + +On the Saturday afternoon appointed the play had been well learned by +the four actors. Everything being ready, this cosy little sitting-room +was now shut off from view by a calico curtain which was stretched +across the stage by long strings run through brass rings. + +The play would begin at half-past two. Jimmy was dressed neatly in his +very best clothes. He had a roll of paper and a pencil in one of his +pockets and during the play he meant to add up the number of people +present and find out how much money had been taken. + +"But Jimmy-boy, it won't be very much," said Edith. "This is an empty +town, and so queer too. Something may happen at the last minute that +will spoil the whole thing." + +She was right. Something did happen which no one could have foreseen. +For an "empty" town Castle Cliff was famous for events. + +As Jimmy left the hotel just after luncheon he overtook Nate Pollard +and Joe Rolfe standing near a big sand bank, talking together earnestly. + +"Come on, Jimmum," said Nate; "we've got a spade for you. We're going to +dig a cave in the side of this bank." + +"What's the use of a cave?" + +"Why, for one thing, we can run into it in time of an earthquake." + +"That's so," said Jimmy. "Or we could stay in and be cave-dwellers." + +But as he took up the spade he chanced to look down at his new clothes. +He had spoiled one nice suit already and had promised his mother he +would be more careful of this one. + +"Wait till I put on my old clothes, will you?" + +Nate laughed and snapped his fingers. "We're in a hurry. I've got to be +in the tent in half an hour. Go along, you little dude! We'll dig the +cave without you." + +The laugh cut Jimmy to the heart. And he had been learning to like Nate +so well. A dude? Not he! Besides, what harm would dry sand do? It's +"clean dirt." + +Then all in a minute he thought of that wild journey on the roof. It had +made a deeper impression upon him than any other event of his life. + +"Poh! Am I going to dig dirt in my best clothes just because Nate +Pollard laughs at me? I don't 'take stumps' any more; there's no sense +in it, so there!" + +And off he started, afraid to linger lest he should fall into +temptation. Jimmy might be heedless, no doubt he often was; but when he +really stopped to think, he always respected his mother's wishes and +always kept his word to her. + +This was the trait in Jimmy which marked him off as a highly bred +little fellow. For let me tell you, boys, respect for your elders is the +first point of high breeding all the world over. + +Jimmy sauntered on slowly toward the door of the tent. There were a +great many benches inside, but it was not time yet for the audience to +arrive. Uncle James and Katharine and Edith were on the stage, and Aunt +Vi was adding a few touches to Edith's dress. + +"O dear," said Grandmamma Graymouse, "I hope I shan't forget my part. +Tell me, Uncle James, do I look old enough?" + +"You look too old to be alive," he answered; "fifty years older than I +do, certainly! Mrs. Mehitable Whalen, are you my wife or my very great +grandmamma?" + +"But where's Nate Pollard?" Aunt Vi asked. "I told him to come early to +rehearse." + +"He said he'd be here in half an hour," said Jimmy. "He's off playing." + +"I hope I shall not have to punish my young grandson," said Uncle James, +solemnly, as he began to peel a sycamore switch. + +Uncle James's name was now "Ichabod Whalen," and he and "Mehitable +Whalen," his wife, were such droll objects in their old-fashioned +clothes that they could not look at each other without laughing. + +Their absent grandson, "Ezekiel Whalen" (or Nate Pollard), was a fine +specimen of a boy of ancient times, and Aunt Vi had been much pleased +with the way in which he acted his part. But where was he? Aunt Vi and +the grandparents grew impatient. It was now half-past two; people were +flocking into the tent; but the curtain could not rise, for nothing was +yet to be seen of young Master "Ezekiel Whalen" and his small clothes +and his cocked hat. The house was pretty well filled; really there were +far more people than had been expected, Jimmy, with pencil and paper in +hand, was figuring up the grown people and children, and multiplying +these numbers by twenty-five and by fifteen. When he found that the sum +amounted to nearly nine dollars he almost whistled for joy. + +But all this while the audience was waiting. People looked around in +surprise; the Dunlee family grew more and more anxious. Aunt Lucy +pinched Bab and Bab pinched Aunt Lucy. + +Suddenly there were loud voices at the entrance of the tent. The tent +curtain was pushed aside violently, and Mr. Templeton and Mr. Rolfe +rushed in exclaiming:-- + +"Two boys lost! All hands to the rescue!" + +The people were on their feet in a moment and there was a grand rush +for the outside. The panic, so it was said afterward, was about equal to +"the little schoolma'am's earthquake." + + + + +XIV + +JIMMY'S GOOD LUCK + + +"It's the Pollard and Rolfe boys," explained Mr. Templeton. + +"Ho! I know where _they_ are!" cried Jimmy, "They're all right. They're +only digging a cave in the side of a sand-bank." + +"Show us where! Run as fast as you can!" exclaimed Mr. Rolfe and Mr. +Pollard. Mr. Pollard had been hunting for the last half-hour. He knew +Nate was deeply interested in "Jimmy's play" and would not have kept +away from the tent unless something unusual had happened. + +Jimmy ran, followed by several men who could not possibly keep up with +him. But when they all reached the sand-bank, where were the +"cave-dwellers"? They had burrowed in the sand till completely out of +sight! + +"Hello! Where are you"? screamed Jimmy. + +There was no answer. In enlarging the cave they had loosened the very +dry earth, and thus caused the roof over their heads to fall in upon +them, actually burying them as far as their arm-pits! They tried to +scream, but their muffled voices could not be heard. The "cave" looked +like a great pile of sand and nothing more. Nobody would have dreamed +that there was any one inside it if it had not been for Jimmy's story. + +"Courage, boys, we're after you, we'll soon have you out!" said the men +cheerily; though how could they tell whether the boys heard or not? +Indeed, how did they know the boys were still alive? + +Two men went for shovels. The other men, not waiting for them to come +back thrust their arms into the bank and scooped out the sand with +their hands. The sand was loose and they worked very fast. Before the +shovels arrived a moan was heard. At any rate one of the boys was alive. +And before long they had unearthed both the young prisoners and dragged +them out of the cave. + +Not a minute too soon, Joe gasped for breath and looked wildly about; +but Nate lay perfectly still; it could hardly be seen at first that he +breathed. His father and mother, the doctor and plenty of other people +were ready and eager to help; but it was some time before he showed +signs of life. When at last he opened his eyes the joy of his parents +was something touching to witness. + +Jimmy, who had been standing about with the other children, watching and +waiting, caught his mother by the sleeve and whispered:-- + +"I should have been in there too, mamma, if it hadn't been for you!" + +"What do you mean, my son? In that cave? I never knew the boys were +trying to make a cave. I did not forbid your digging in the sand, did +I?" + +"No, mamma; but I knew you wouldn't want me to do it in these +clothes--after all my actions! And I had promised to be more careful." + +Mrs. Dunlee smiled, but there were tears in her eyes. + +"How glad I am that my little boy respected his mother's wishes," said +she, stooping to kiss his earnest face. + +She dared not think what might have happened if he had disregarded her +wishes! + +It was a time of rejoicing. Mr. Templeton ordered out the brass band +and the Hindoo tam tam. The horse Thistleblow seemed to think he must be +wanted too, and came and danced in circles before the groups of happy +people. + +"I could believe I was in some foreign country," said Mrs. McQuilken, +smiling under her East Indian puggaree, as she had not been seen to +smile before, and dropping a kiss on the cheek of her favorite Edith. + +After dinner the Dunlees met in Aunt Vi's room, and Aunt Vi observed +that Mrs. Dunlee kept Jimmy close by her side, looking at him in the way +mothers look at good little sons, her eyes shining with happy love and +pride. + +They were talking over "Jimmy's play," which had not been played. The +money must all be given back to the people who had sat and looked so +long at that calico curtain. + +"We'll try 'Granny's Quilting' again next Saturday," said Aunt Vi. + +They did try it again. There were no caves to dig this time, and young +Master "Ezekiel Whalen" was on the stage promptly at half-past one, +eager to show his grandparents that he was a boy to be relied upon after +all. The play was a remarkable success. All the "summer boarders and +campers" came to it, and everybody said:-- + +"Oh, do give us some more entertainments, Mrs. Sanford! Let us have one +every Saturday." + +Aunt Vi, being the kindest soul in the world, promised to do what she +could. She gave the play of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin," with children +for rats; and Eddo was dressed as a mouse, and squealed so perfectly +that Edith's cat could hardly be restrained from rushing headlong upon +the stage. + +Later there were tableaux. Edith wore red, white, and blue and was the +Goddess of Liberty. Jimmy was a cowboy with cartridge-belt and pistols. +Lucy and Barbara were Night and Morning, with stars on their heads. Mr. +Sanford was Uncle Jonathan. Mr. Hale was an Indian chief. + +Jimmy's debts were more than paid, and a happier boy was not to be found +in the state of California. + +After this there were plenty of free entertainments on the tailings. At +one of these, when the audience was watching a flight of rockets, +Katharine heard two women not far away talking together. One of them +asked:-- + +"Where's that little Dunlee girl, the one that keeps the play-school?" + +"Over there in the corner," replied the other, "She hasn't any hat on. +She's sitting beside the girl with a cat in her lap." + +"Oh, is that the one? So young as that? Well, she's a good girl, yes, +she is. I guess she _is_ a good girl," said the first speaker heartily. +"My little Henry thinks there's nothing like her. He never learned much +of anything till he went to that play-school. He never behaved so well +as he does now, never gave me so little trouble at home. She's a _good_ +girl." + +A world of comfort fell on Kyzie. Young as she was and full of faults, +she had really done a wee bit of good. + +"And they didn't say a word about my jumping out of the window," thought +she, with deep satisfaction. "Wait till I grow up, just wait till I grow +up, and as true as I live I'll be something and do something in this +world!" + +She did not say this aloud, you may be sure; but there was a look on her +face of high resolve. + +Uncle James had often said to Aunt Vi:-- + +"Our Katharine is very much in earnest. I know you agree with me that +"little Prudy's" eldest daughter is a golden girl!" + +The "play-school" closed a few days later, and it was Henry Small who +received the medal for good spelling. He wasn't so much of a cry-baby +nowadays and the boys had stopped calling him "Chicken Little." + +The Dunlee party went home the last week in August, declaring they had +had delightful times at Castle Cliff. + +"Only I never went down that mine in a bucket," said Lucy. "How could I +when the men were blowing up rocks just like an earthquake?" + +"And I wanted to wait till they found that vein," said Jimmy. + +A few days before they left, Uncle James went hunting and shot a deer. I +wish there were space to tell of the barbecue to which all the +neighbors were invited a little later. + +As it is, my young readers are not likely to hear any more of the +adventures of the "bonnie Dunlees," either at home or abroad. + +But during their stay in the mountains that summer Lucy begged Aunt Vi +to write some stories, with the little friends, Bab and Lucy, for the +heroines. + +"Some 'once-upon-a-time stories,' Auntie Vi. Make believe we two girls +go all about among the fairies, just as Alice did in Wonderland; only +there are two of us together, and we shall have a better time!" + +"Oh, fie! How could I take real live little girls into the kingdom of +the elves and gnomes and pixies? I shouldn't know how!" + +But she was so obliging as to try. The week before they left for home +she had completed a book of "once-upon-a-time stories," which she read +aloud to all the children as they clustered around her in the +"air-castle." She called it "Lucy in Fairyland," though she meant Bab +just as much as Lucy. If the little public would like to see this book +it may be offered them by and by; together with the comments which were +made upon each story by the whole Dunlee family,--Jimmy, wee Lucy, and +all. + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Sister Susie"] + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Dotty Dimple"] + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Cousin Grace"] + + + + +[Illustration: LITTLE PRUDY'S CHILDREN SERIES +Specimen illustration from "Wee Lucy's Secret"] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jimmy, Lucy, and All, by Sophie May + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JIMMY, LUCY, AND ALL *** + +***** This file should be named 14608.txt or 14608.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/0/14608/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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