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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/16390-h.zip b/16390-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4cb1a9d --- /dev/null +++ b/16390-h.zip diff --git a/16390-h/16390-h.htm b/16390-h/16390-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a30cc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/16390-h/16390-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3417 @@ +<!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> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple, by Sophie May. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + 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%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .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;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple, 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: Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple + +Author: Sophie May + +Release Date: July 30, 2005 [EBook #16390] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE PRUDY'S DOTTY DIMPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><a name="Page_0" id="Page_0"></a> + +<a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a href="./images/cover.jpg"><img src="./images/cover-tb.jpg" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /></a></div> + +<h1>LITTLE PRUDY'S</h1> +<h1>DOTTY DIMPLE</h1> + +<h3><i>By</i></h3> +<h2>SOPHIE MAY</h2> + +<p class="center">NEW YORK</p> + +<p class="center">HURST & COMPANY</p> + +<p class="center">PUBLISHERS</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="./images/dotty.jpg" alt="Dotty" title="Dotty" /></div> + +<p><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a></p> +<p class="center">DEDICATION.</p> + +<p class="center">TO</p> + +<h3><span class='smcap'>Little Nelly Clarke.</span></h3> +<p><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'><span class="smcap">chapter</span></td> +<td align='left'></td> +<td align='right'><span class="smcap">page</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dotty's Babyhood</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_7"><b>7</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Bone Man</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dotty's Verses</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Nestlings</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_52"><b>52</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Fanny Harlow's Party</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Little Teacher</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_83"><b>83</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Both Sides of a Story</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Water-Kelpie</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Brother Zip</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_137"><b>137</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dr. Prudy</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">Buying A Brother</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td> +<td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Wedding</span></td> +<td align='right'><a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>DOTTY DIMPLE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>DOTTY'S BABYHOOD.</h3> + + +<p>Alice was the youngest of the Parlin family. When Grandma Read called +the children into the kitchen, and told them about their new little +sister, Susy danced for joy; and Prudy, in her delight, opened the +cellar door, and fell down the whole length of the stairs. However, she +rolled as softly as a pincushion, and was not seriously hurt.</p> + +<p>"But you can't go into mother's room," said Susy, "you're crying so<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a> +hard."</p> + +<p>"Poh!" replied three-years-old Prudy, twinkling off the tears; "yes, I +can neither. I won't go <i>crying</i> in! I didn't hurt me velly bad. I'm +weller now!"</p> + +<p>So she had the first peep at the wee dot of a baby in the nurse's arms.</p> + +<p>"O, dear, dear," said she, "what shall I do? I <i>are</i> so glad! I wish I +could jump clear up to the <i>sky</i> of this room! How do you do, little +sister?"</p> + +<p>The baby made no reply.</p> + +<p>"Why! don't you love me? This is <i>me</i>: my name's Prudy. I've got a red +pocket dress;—Santa Claw bringed it."<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a></p> + +<p>Still the little stranger paid no heed,—only winked her small, bright +eyes, and at last closed them entirely.</p> + +<p>"O, my stars! she don't hear the leastest thing," sobbed Prudy, glad of +an excuse to cry again. "She can't hear the leastest mite of a thing! +Where's the holes in her ears gone to? O, dear, dear!"</p> + +<p>It seemed to Susy that this was the happiest day of her life. She stole +up to her mother and kissed her. "O, mamma," said she, "wasn't God good +to send this little sister?—Why, I'm crying," added Susy, greatly +surprised: "what do you suppose makes me cry, when I'm happy all +over—clear to the ends of my fingers?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, your eyes are sprinklin' down tears, but you're laughing all over<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a> +your face; and so 'm I," said little Prudy, delighted to see some one +else as foolish as herself.</p> + +<p>"Susan, I hope thee'll receive this new sister as a gift from God," said +grandma Read, wiping her spectacles.</p> + +<p>"It seems so funny," said Susy, gently stroking the baby's face; "so +funny for me to have a new sister."</p> + +<p>"Now you've tolled a story, Susy Parlin; she was sended to me,—isn't I +the littlest?" cried bruised and battered Prudy, shaking with another +tempest of tears, and kissing the baby violently.</p> + +<p>"O, mamma! O, grandma," said Susy, clasping her hands in alarm, "don't +let her kiss that soft baby so <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>hard! She'll draw the blood right +through her cheeks."</p> + +<p>The nurse who was a smiling woman, with a wart on her nose, began to +frown a little, and grandma Read, patting Prudy's head, whispered to her +that if she did not stop crying she must leave the room, as the noise +she made disturbed her mother.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll—I'll be—just as good as a lady, and I won't kiss her no +more," replied little Prudy between her sobs, at the same time prying +open baby's mouth with her busy fingers.</p> + +<p>"Why, where's her teef? When you goin' to put in her teef?"</p> + +<p>"O," said Susy, in an ecstasy, "isn't she such a velvet darling? What +cunning little footsie-tootsies! Shaped <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>just like a flatiron! But I +haven't seen her eyes yet."</p> + +<p>"There, look now," said Prudy, puffing in the baby's face; "her eyes has +came! I've <i>blowed</i> 'em open."</p> + +<p>"O, fie, Miss Prudy," said the nurse, biting her lips; "now you'll +certainly have to leave the room. It's not safe for you to come near +this tiny bit of a baby. Nobody ever knows what you are likely to do +next."</p> + +<p>Little Prudy hung her head in great dismay.</p> + +<p>"Then, if she goes, I'll have to go too, or there'll be a fuss," sighed +Susy, stroking the baby's hair, which was as soft as a mouse's fur.</p> + +<p>Both children cast a lingering look at the bewitching little figure, so +<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>daintily wrapped in a fleecy blanket. Prudy felt tempted to snatch her +up and give her a good hugging, but stood in mortal fear of the nurse. +There was something awful about Mrs. Fling: Prudy presumed it was the +wart on her nose.</p> + +<p>When the children were outside the door, and grandma had closed it +gently, they seated themselves on the upper step of the staircase, and +began to talk over this strange affair.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know what made me cry in there?" said Prudy. "The baby isn't +only a <i>girl</i>, and that's why I cried."</p> + +<p>For the moment Prudy fancied she was telling the truth.</p> + +<p>Susy laughed. "Just to think of <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>our keeping a boy in <span class="smcap">this</span> +house, Prudy Parlin!"</p> + +<p>"O, no! <i>course</i> not!" returned her little sister, quickly; "<i>we</i> +wouldn't keep a boy."</p> + +<p>"You see," argued Susy, "it's boys that fires all the popguns, and +whistle in your ears, and frighten you. Why, if this was a brother, we +couldn't but just live! What made you cry for a brother, Prudy?"</p> + +<p>"Poh, I didn't! I wouldn't have him for nothin' in my world! I'm glad +God sended a girl, and that's what made me <i>laugh</i>."</p> + +<p>"It seems so queer to think of it Prudy, I don't know what to do with +myself, I declare."</p> + +<p>"Well, I know what <i>I'm</i> goin' to do.<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a> I'll give her my red +pocket-dress. She's come clear down from God's house, and this is a +drefful cold world."</p> + +<p>Susy knew that little Prudy's heart must be overflowing with sisterly +love to the baby, or she would not be willing to give her the +pocket-dress.</p> + +<p>"She can tuck her candy in it," pursued Prudy; "'tisn't a believe-make, +you know; there's a hole clear through. She can tuck her candy in, and +her pyunes and pfigs, and teenty apples. Oho!"</p> + +<p>"'Twill be as mother says about giving her your dress, Prudy; but we +shall be glad to see you kind to the new sister," said Susy, who was +fond of giving small lectures to Prudy.<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a> "We ought to be kind to her, +for God sent her down on purpose. Of course it will be <span class="smcap">me</span> that +will take the most care of her; but maybe they'll let you watch her +sometimes when she's asleep. Don't blow open her eyes any more, Prudy; +that's very naughty. If we do just as we ought to, and are kind to her, +she'll be a comfort, and grow up a lady!"</p> + +<p>"O, will she?" asked Prudy, a little sadly. "I thought when she growed +up she'd be a gemplum, like papa."</p> + +<p>"What an idea! But that's just as much sense as you little bits o' +children have! When you don't know about anything, Prudy, you may come +and ask <i>me</i>; I'm most six."<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a></p> + +<p>The new baby was very wonderful indeed. The first thing she did was to +cry; the next was to sneeze. Prudy wished "all the people down street, +and all the ladies that lived in the whole o' the houses, could see the +new sister." Her heart swelled with pride when admiring ladies took the +unconscious little creature in their arms, saying, "Really, it is a +remarkably pretty child. What starry eyes! What graceful little fingers! +Isn't her mouth shaped like Prudy's?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin did not approve of cradles, and the nurse had a fashion of +rolling the baby in a blanket and laying her down in all sorts of +places. One day little Prudy flung herself into the big rocking chair, +not notic<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>ing the small bundle which lay there, under a silk +handkerchief.</p> + +<p>It was feared at first that the baby was crushed to death; but when she +was heard to cry, Mrs. Parlin said, "We have great cause for +thankfulness. So far as I can judge, it is only her <i>nose</i> that is +broken!"</p> + +<p>But the doctor pronounced the baby's bones as sound as ever.</p> + +<p>"It is only little Miss Prudy whose nose is out of joint," added he.</p> + +<p>Prudy ran to look in the glass, but could not see anything the matter +with her nose, or anything that looked like "a joint." But after this +she was as careful as a child of her heedless age can be, not to injure +her tender sister. She never again saw a silk <a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>handkerchief without +shaking it to make sure there was not a baby under it.</p> + +<p>It was a long while before the friends could decide upon a name for this +beautiful stranger.</p> + +<p>"For my part I have no choice," said Mr. Parlin, "and only one remark to +make; call the child by her right name, whatever it may be, for I am +very much opposed to pet names, of all sorts."</p> + +<p>After every one else had spoken, Mrs. Parlin suggested that she would +like to call the baby Alice Barrow, in honor of a dear friend, now in +heaven.</p> + +<p>She grew to be a fair, fat baby; and while her teeth were pricking +through, like little pointed pearls, Susy's front <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>teeth were dropping +out. Then she grew to be a toddling child; and while she was learning to +walk, Prudy was beginning to sew patchwork. For time does not stand +still; it passed, minute by minute, over the heads of Susy, Prudy, and +Alice, as well as all the rest of the world. And soon it brought an end +to Alice's babyhood.<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE BONE MAN.</h3> + + +<p>In spite of all Mr. Parlin had said against it, his little daughter was +called by various pet names,—such as Midge, and Ladybird, and +Forget-me-not. Very few were the people who seemed to remember that her +name was Alice.</p> + +<p>She had a pair of busy dimples, which were a constant delight to her +sisters.</p> + +<p>"They twinkle, twinkle like little stars, only they don't shine," cried +Prudy.</p> + +<p>"Why," said Susy, "it's just as if <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>her cheeks were made of water, and +we were skipping pebbles in 'em."</p> + +<p>And because of these tiny whirl pools, the child was usually called +Dotty Dimple. From the time she could stand on her own little feet, she +was a queen of a baby, and carried her small head very high. If she +chanced to fall over a chair she seldom shed a tear, but thought the +chair had treated her shamefully, and ought to be shut up in the closet. +She never liked to have any one kiss her little bruises and pity her. It +gave great offence if any one said, "Poor Alice!" She seemed to grow +half a head taller in a minute, and looked as if she would say, "Needn't +make a baby o' <i>me!</i>"</p> + +<p>Not that she really said so. Talking <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>was a thing she did not often +attempt, though she sang a great deal, with a voice as clear as a flute. +Prudy mourned because her tongue "did not grow fast enough." But where +was the need of speech? If she fancied she would like to be tossed to +the "sky of the room," she had only to pat her father's arm, and point +upward, and the next minute she was flying to the ceiling, in high glee, +and catching her breath. If she wished to go walking, it was enough to +point to the door, and then to her hat. Her little forefinger was as +good as most people's tongues, and served as a tolerably good +guide-post, for it pointed the way she meant to go herself, and the way +she wished others to go.<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a></p> + +<p>One day, while Mrs. Parlin was making currant jelly, she allowed Prudy +to stay in the kitchen, and see her strain the beautiful crimson juice. +But as for Alice, she had been found pounding eggs in a mortar, and must +be taken away. She was placed in care of Susy, who led her out upon the +piazza, where she could watch the people passing by. "<i>Pedadder!</i>" cried +Alice, showing her dimples. "Yes, <i>piazza</i>; so it is," said careless +Susy, beginning to read a fairy story, and soon forgetting her quiet +little charge.</p> + +<p>Looking up at last, there was nothing to be seen of Alice. She could not +have entered the house, for the front-door knob was above her reach.</p> + +<p>Susy ran out upon the pavement, <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>and looked up and down the street. +Which way to go she could not tell, but started down street at full +speed. "O, I'm sure I ought to be going <i>up street</i>," gasped she; "and +if I was, I shouldn't think <i>that</i> was right either. Wish I knew which +way I should <i>expect</i> Dotty to go, and then I'd know she'd gone just the +other way."</p> + +<p>After flitting hither and thither for some time, Susy ran home to give +the alarm. Without stopping to remove the jelly from the stove, Mrs. +Parlin, Norah, and Prudy ran out of doors, and taking different +directions, started in search of the missing child.</p> + +<p>On High Street Prudy met a soap-man, just reentering his wagon at some +one's door.<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a></p> + +<p>"O, have you seen my little sister?" cried Prudy, pressing her hand +against her heart.</p> + +<p>"Your little sister? And who may that be?" said the soap-man, in a deep +whisper; for he had such a severe cold on his lungs that for six months +he had not spoken a loud word.</p> + +<p>"O, her name is Alice Wheelbarrow Parlin, sir," whispered Prudy, in +reply; "and she had on a pink dress, and her hair curls down her neck, +and she has the brightest eyes, and two years and a half of age, sir. O, +where <i>do</i> you s'pose she's gone to?"</p> + +<p>In her concern for Dotty, Prudy had forgotten her usual fear of +strangers.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry you've lost your sister," whispered the soap-man; "but as you +<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>seem to be pretty well tired out, suppose you jump into my cart and +ride with me."</p> + +<p>Prudy wondered why the man still kept whispering, but presumed there was +some reason why the loss of Dotty aught to be kept secret. She looked at +the long lumber-wagon, partly filled with barrels, and was on the point +of replying, "No, thank you, sir," when a bright idea occurred to her.</p> + +<p>"Do you s'pose, sir, I can get to my sister any quicker if I ride?"</p> + +<p>"Well, can't say as to that, my dear," whispered the soap-man, shoving a +barrel to one side, "seeing as I don't know where your sister's to be +found; but there's one thing certain—you'll get over the ground a good +deal <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>quicker riding than you would on your feet. I'm going to Pearl +Street before I stop."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll ride, sir, if you'll please lift me in," whispered poor +Prudy, trembling with fear of the uncouth wagon and strange man, yet +resolved to risk anything for Dotty's sake.</p> + +<p>There was no seat in the wagon, and Prudy was obliged to stand up.</p> + +<p>"Hold on to me, sissy," said the kind-hearted soap-boiler. "I reckon you +ain't used to riding in this kind of shape. Why, lawful sakes, your face +is as white as a pond-lily!"</p> + +<p>"It's my heart," whispered Prudy, faintly; "it <i>whisks</i> just like the +eggs Norah beats in a bowl. But it's no matter, sir; I don't think I'm +afraid,—or <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>only a little speck," added she, in a lower whisper; for, +though anxious to be polite, she did not mean to tell anything but the +"white truth."</p> + +<p>The little girl's gentle ways won the soap-boiler's heart at once. +"What's your fathers name, little dear?" inquired he, as they went +clattering through the streets.</p> + +<p>"His name is Mr. Edward Parlin.—But O, I don't see a single thing of +Dotty!"</p> + +<p>"Dotty! Why, who is Dotty?" asked the man, turning about, and gazing at +his little passenger with a look of curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr.—, why, <i>sir</i>, don't you know?" replied the child, struck with +a sudden fear that her strange com<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>panion was a crazy man. "O, my stars! +don't you know what you took me up for? Didn't you hear? My little +sister ran off the piazza." Then Prudy repeated the words aloud, slowly +and on a high key, anxious this time to make her meaning very clear. +"She—ran—off—the—piazza, with a pink dress on, sir, and not a +speck—of—a—hat. And I was stirring jelly on the stove, and never knew +it till she was lost and gone. And we're all hunting,—me, and—mother, +and—all. I thought you knew, sir; but if you didn't I guess I'd better +get out!"</p> + +<p>The good-natured soap-man shook with laughter. "Excuse me, little miss," +said he, "but the fact is, I understood you to say your sister's <a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>name +was Alice Wheelbarrow Parlin, and that's why I was puzzled to know who +you meant by Dotty.—But here we are at Pearl Street. Here, in this +house, lives one of my best customers. Now, if you like, I'll lift you +out, and you can go with me and inquire for your little sister. Then you +can ride again, for I'm going as far as Munjoy."</p> + +<p>So saying, the man took Prudy out in his arms. She knew it was rather +odd for a little girl like her to be going around to people's back doors +with a stranger in a blue blouse; but it was all for Dotty's sake.</p> + +<p>The man knocked with the handle of his whip, and a neat-looking servant +girl appeared.<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a></p> + +<p>"Have you seen anything of a stray child?" was his first question.</p> + +<p>"My little sister," cried Prudy, in breathless haste. "She had on a pink +dress, and curls bareheaded."</p> + +<p>"We have seen no such child pass this way," replied the girl, civilly. +Prudy's eager face fell.</p> + +<p>"I supposed likely as not you hadn't," said the soap-man; "so now we'll +proceed to business. You see I'm here with my wagon and barrels, and I +suppose you perceive that I've come for your bones!"</p> + +<p>These whispered words fell on Prudy's ears with terrible force. A vague +terror seized her. "<i>I've come for your bones!</i>" What could he mean? Was +he an ogre, right out of <a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>a fairy-book? What did he want of that poor +woman's bones?</p> + +<p>Without stopping to think twice, Prudy ran off with trembling haste, and +by the time the astonished soap-boiler missed her she had reached +Congress Street, and was still running.</p> + +<p>The first thing she saw, as she entered her own door, was the fluttering +of Dotty's pink dress. The runaway was safe and sound. She had only +toddled off after a man with a basket of images, calling out, "baa, +baa," "moo, moo," "bow-wow." The end of it was, that the image man had +given her a toy lamb, for which she had said, "How do," instead of thank +you; and Florence Eastman had led her home.<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a></p> + +<p>Susy was heartily ashamed of her heedlessness.</p> + +<p>"Now, mother," said she, "do you think, if I should be kept on bread and +water for a whole day, I should learn to remember? You'll never trust +Dotty with me again."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Mrs. Parlin, with a meaning smile; "the trouble is, Susy, +you've made up your mind that your memory is good for nothing: you +<i>expect</i> to forget! I <i>shall</i> trust you again, and you must fully +resolve to do better."</p> + +<p>Dotty was very proud of her "baa, baa," and insisted upon putting it in +her bathing tub every morning, and scrubbing it with her own hands.</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed at Prudy's wild story of the soap-boiler.<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a></p> + +<p>"We were tired, my feet and I," said she, between laughing and crying; +"but I never'd have rode with that whispering man if I'd known he was a +<i>bone man!</i>"<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>DOTTY'S VERSES.</h3> + + +<p>By the time Alice Parlin was three years old she could prattle like a +bobolink, and thought herself quite as old and wise as either of her +sisters. Every Sunday morning it made her very wretched to see Susy and +Prudy set out, with bright faces, for Sabbath school!</p> + +<p>"Mayn't me go, too?" said she, plaintively. "Me's got the coop; <i>must</i> +go to Sabber school!"</p> + +<p>"O," replied Prudy, snatching a kiss from her pouting lips, "if you've +got the croup you certainly can't go."<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></p> + +<p>Dotty shook her curls. "Coop's went off now. Dotty'll go, all o' <i>you</i>."</p> + +<p>"O, no, little sister; you'll stay at home and look at your pictures. +That's the way <i>I</i> did when I was little."</p> + +<p>"You mustn't <i>contraspute</i>," cried Dotty, shaking her elbows. "I <i>is</i> +goin' to Sabber school." Then suddenly showing her dimples, she added +with a bright smile, "'Cause I's your comfort, you know, Prudy, your +darlin', precious little comfort; isn't I, Prudy?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me," thought tender Prudy, "the poor little thing always has to +stay at home. I'll ask mother to let her go with me next time. It is +right for me to ask, for I'm sure I don't <i>want</i> her to go; so it isn't +selfish!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin had a great many doubts <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>as to Dotty's good behavior, but at +last consented. She felt pretty safe to trust her with Prudy, who was +very patient, and had even now a memory longer than Susy's.</p> + +<p>Before the time came to start for Sabbath school, Dotty stood a long +while before the mirror, looking up at her gay hat and down at her +cunning gaiters. She liked nice clothes, and it pleased her to see +herself so prettily dressed.</p> + +<p>"Is that you, O you darlin' Dotty?" said she, nodding her vain little +head, and smiling till her dimples "twinkled." "Well, good by, Dotty; +I's goin' to Sabber school."</p> + +<p>"O, hurry, hurry!" cried Susy; "we'll surely be late."<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a></p> + +<p>They stepped out upon the pavement, Dotty walking between her sisters.</p> + +<p>"We can't hurry, you know," said Prudy, "because Dotty's feet are so +little."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> never should have thought of bringing her," exclaimed Susy. "Any +one would think she'd been eating snails. When she takes up her foot she +shakes it before she puts it down."</p> + +<p>"O, what a 'tory!" said Dotty Dimple, tossing her head. "I never shaked +my foot; did I, Prudy?"</p> + +<p>But Prudy had suddenly turned about, and gone back to the house, saying +she had forgotten something. She had left home without kissing <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>her +mother good by, and nothing could console Prudy for the loss of one of +her mother's caresses.</p> + +<p>"There, girls, I'm back again," said she, catching her breath. "Now, +Dotty, let's we see how fast we can walk."</p> + +<p>"Drefful dirty," said Dotty, scowling at her overshoes.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Susy, "this snow has been round on the ground a good +while. It's most time it went back to heaven to get clean."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by snow's going to heaven?" said Prudy, gazing at the +street, which was half white and half black.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see," answered Susy, "it says, 'God scattereth the snow <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>like +wool, and his hoar-frost like the shining pearls.' And my Sabbath school +teacher tells us that after a while the sun draws it back, and makes +clouds of it, as 'twas before. So, you see, the snow and the rain keep +sprinkling down, and then rising up to the sky again."</p> + +<p>"Why—ee!" said Prudy; "how does the snow go up? I never saw it going."</p> + +<p>"Indeed you have, Prudy. It goes puffing up in fog. Why, it's just as if +the snow was a teakettle, and it keeps steaming out clouds."</p> + +<p>"O, does it, Susy? Now, when it fogs, I shall know the snow's going up."</p> + +<p>"Please don't talk any more," re<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>turned Susy, suddenly lowering her +voice; "we must be very quiet on the street, for it's Sunday. You don't +mean any harm, Prudy, but you say so much that I'm afraid I shall forget +my lesson. I keep saying it over to myself, you know."</p> + +<p>Susy and Prudy belonged in different classes. Susy recited from a +question book, and Prudy learned verses from the Bible. Dotty Dimple +went with Prudy into Miss Carlisle's class, where eight or ten little +girls were already seated.</p> + +<p>"It's my little sister, Miss Carlisle," whispered blushing Prudy. +"Mother allowed her to come to-day because she isn't coming any more. +Will you please excuse her?"<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a></p> + +<p>Smiling, Miss Carlisle was very willing to "excuse" Dotty for her sweet +sister's sake. But Prudy felt rather nervous. She made a place beside +herself for Dotty, who folded her small hands and sat as still as a +marble cherub; but what odd thing she might take it into her busy brain +to do, no one could tell.</p> + +<p>When Prudy's turn came she repeated her verse: "Set a watch, O Lord, +before my mouth: keep the door of my lips."</p> + +<p>"An excellent text," said Miss Carlisle. "It would make me very happy if +I thought you would remember it all your life, darling. Do you think you +understand it?"</p> + +<p>"Mother says it means, 'Be careful <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>to say only what is true and good,'" +replied Prudy, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"That is right," said Miss Carlisle; "but do you understand what is +called the 'figure of speech' in the verse? Do you know what a watch +is?"</p> + +<p>"A little thing that ticks."</p> + +<p>"There is another kind, my dear. We have in cities <i>watchmen</i>, to guard +us and see that all goes right while we sleep."</p> + +<p>"O, I know," replied Prudy, quickly; "the verse asks God to give us a +<i>conscience</i> to walk back and forth before our lips while we talk!"</p> + +<p>Miss Carlisle went on to say more about the watch, while Dotty fixed her +bright eyes on her face, thinking, "What booful flowers those is <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>in her +bonnet! Where did she pick 'em?"</p> + +<p>The next verse was Sadie Bicknell's:—</p> + +<p>"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."</p> + +<p>Dotty listened to this, and Miss Carlisle's remarks upon it, with the +most solemn earnestness, hoping to learn why it was that people should +sit with a lamp shining on their feet. She thought she could now see why +Prudy loved to go to "Sabber school;" it was because she heard so many +funny things.</p> + +<p>Soon all the little girls had repeated their texts; but, to her great +surprise, Dotty had not been called upon to say or do a single thing. It +was a marked <a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>slight. She hardly knew whether to be angry or not. "I +guess the lady didn't see me," thought Dotty. So she cleared her throat +with a loud noise, which echoed across the room. Then Miss Carlisle +looked at her and smiled. She was off the seat, standing on her tiptoes, +Prudy tried to draw her back; but so much the more Dotty persisted. She +shook off her sister's hand.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't a 'peakin' to you," said she.</p> + +<p>"Never mind her, Prudy," said Miss Carlisle, for the poor girl was +crimson with shame; "let your little sister come to me; perhaps she +wishes to tell me something."</p> + +<p>Miss Carlisle bent forward, and let<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a> Dotty place her rosy lips close to +her face.</p> + +<p>"Now, what do you wish, little one?"</p> + +<p>"You didn't hear me say my <i>werse</i>," whispered Dotty, in a tone of +pique.</p> + +<p>"Your verse? Did you learn one, child?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'm, I did. I learned it all day yes'day."</p> + +<p>"O, very well! then say it, by all means, dear."</p> + +<p>Prudy's face expressed perfect despair. She tried to hush Dotty; but one +might as well coax the wind to stop blowing. The child's thoughts had +been like caged birds, and now out they must fly.</p> + +<p>"Shall I <i>whisper?</i>" asked Dotty.</p> + +<p>"No, say your verse aloud."<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a></p> + +<p>The child planted herself in front of the class, and recited, in a high +key, and with the greatest delight,—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"What you thpose um had for supper?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">B'ack-eyed beans, un bread un butter."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>It was not possible to help smiling. Prudy in spite of her shame and +distress, shook with laughter; but it was a laughter just ready to +tremble into tears.</p> + +<p>"I'll never ask mother to let her come again, if I once <i>do</i> get her +safe home," thought outraged Prudy.</p> + +<p>Dotty was not allowed to attend Sabbath school again that year; but it +was a long time before she forgot some of the things she had heard Miss<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a> +Carlisle say. Many of the strange words rang in her ears for weeks after +wards, though she said nothing about them.</p> + +<p>One day she rushed into the nursery out of breath. Prudy was kneeling +before her little trunk, putting in order the paper dolls, which Dotty +had scattered over the floor. They were a sad sight. Some of them had +lost their heads, and some had lost their fine clothes, which are worth +as much as heads any day—to dolls.</p> + +<p>But Dotty did not stop to look at the mischief she had made. Her +thoughts were of other matters. She had brought from the kitchen a "Tom +Thumb lamp" and a bunch of matches.</p> + +<p>Without a word she seated herself <a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>on the floor, behind her sister, and +drew off her shoes and stockings. She looked for a moment at her little +pink toes, then rubbed the whole bunch of matches on the carpet, saying +to herself, "A lamp to my feet."</p> + +<p>But, somehow, the lamp would not light itself. Dotty did not know how to +turn back the chimney, and, though there was certainly blaze enough in +the matches, it did not catch the wick. It leaped forward and caught the +skirt of Prudy's dress.</p> + +<p>"You're burnin' afire! You're burnin' afire!" shouted Dotty, dancing +around her sister. Prudy now felt the heat, and screamed too, bringing +her mother and Norah to the spot at once. The flames were soon smothered +<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>in a rug, and so Prudy's life was mercifully saved.</p> + +<p>It was sometime before any one understood what Dotty had been trying to +do with a light.</p> + +<p>"I was just only a-puttin' a lamp to my feet," sobbed she. "I learned it +to Sabber school."</p> + +<p>But the little one's rare tears were soon dried by a romp with Zip out +of doors.</p> + +<p>"It's queer how things always happen just right," said Prudy, still +trembling from her fright. "You said, if I'd been wearing my calico, +mother, I'd have been scorched. And you know it was only the littlest +while ago I put on this blue delaine, to go to auntie's in!"<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE NESTLINGS.</h3> + + +<p>An hour or two after this, Mrs. Parlin, Susy, Prudy, and Zip went to +visit Mrs. Eastman, who now lived a little way out of town.</p> + +<p>Dotty was driving ducks, and did not see her mother and sisters when +they started.</p> + +<p>"Where is they, Nono? And where's Prudy?"</p> + +<p>"Gone walking. Your mamma told you they were going," replied Norah, +setting a basin of water and a brush and comb on the stand.<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a></p> + +<p>"Well, Prudy's runned away," cried Dotty, "Naughty girl; made out o' +dirt!"</p> + +<p>"Come here, Miss Dimple, and let me brush your hair."</p> + +<p>"Well, here's my hair, Nono, but you mustn't pull it; 'tisn't <i>your</i> +hair! O, I want to kiss my mamma, I do!"</p> + +<p>"Your mamma will be back again this evening."</p> + +<p>"Don't want to kiss her in the evening—want to kiss her now!"</p> + +<p>"What makes you in such a hurry to kiss your mother?"</p> + +<p>"O, I just only want to tell her to whip Prudy. Naughty Prudy runned +away! Made out o' dirt!"</p> + +<p>Dotty always looked very low-spirited while her long hair was being +<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>curled over a stick, and now was more unhappy than usual, for it was +one of her "temper days."</p> + +<p>But at last cousin Percy Eastman happened to call in, and declared he +must take his pretty cousin home with him in the carriage.</p> + +<p>"I'll get her ready," said Norah; "but you're sure to be sorry if you +take her, for she's brimming over with mischief to-day."</p> + +<p>Dotty danced like a piece of thistledown. "There, Nono," said she, "I's +goin' to auntie's my own self; Prudy'll have to give up."</p> + +<p>All this time Mrs. Parlin and the two older children were having a fine +walk. It was a bright June day. Prudy said she had to sing to herself<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a> +for all the things she saw looked as happy as if they were alive. As +Prudy talked, she flew from flower to flower, like a honey-bee.</p> + +<p>"I can't wait for Prudy to walk so zigzag," said Susy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin suggested that Susy should keep on, and tell her aunt +Eastman they were coming. Then she allowed Prudy to walk as "zigzag" as +she pleased; for Mrs. Parlin had long patience with her children.</p> + +<p>"O, mamma," said Prudy, suddenly stopping short, and standing on one +foot; "if there isn't a cow!"</p> + +<p>"I see, my dear, she is eating the sweet grass."</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'm; but don't its horns flare out like a pitchfork? Do you s'pose +<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>he knows how easy he could toss folks right up in the air?"</p> + +<p>"I hope my little daughter is not afraid of a gentle cow."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," cried Prudy, clinging fast to her mother's hand. "Poh! if +I was afraid of a cow I'd be a cow—ard. I'd as lief he'd see me as not, +if you'll shake your parasol at him, mamma."</p> + +<p>Prudy breathed more freely when the cow was out of sight.</p> + +<p>Soon she saw something which caused her to forget her terror. Peeping in +among the branches of a small tree, she espied what she called a "live +bird's nest." Never having seen any young birds before, she wondered at +first "who had picked off their feathers." The wee things seemed to <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>be +left to themselves while their mother was away providing supper.</p> + +<p>"Haven't they very big stretchy mouths, for such small birdies?" said +Prudy. "Aren't you afraid they'll crack their mouths in two, gaping so, +mamma?"</p> + +<p>"They are only hungry, child. Suppose you feed them with a bit of a +berry."</p> + +<p>Prudy nipped a strawberry into three parts with her thumb and +forefinger, and dropped the pieces into their mouths.</p> + +<p>"O, mamma, they swallowed it whole! they swallowed it whole! Their teeth +haven't come!"</p> + +<p>Prudy's fresh delight and surprise were so pleasant to witness that her +<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>mother allowed her to linger for a while, mincing berries for the +nestlings supper.</p> + +<p>When, at last, they reached Mrs. Eastman's, Prudy eagerly described the +young wonders she had found.</p> + +<p>"It was like a story," said she, "of little widow-children,—how the +mother was dead, and the children had to stay alone."</p> + +<p>"Children are never widows," said Susy, laughing; "it isn't possible! +But if their parents die, they are orphans sometimes."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I meant," exclaimed Prudy, looking crestfallen. "I +should think you might know what I mean, 'thout laughing at me, +either."<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a></p> + +<p>Before long Dotty Dimple arrived, in great triumph. She threw her chubby +arms about her mother's neck, saying, "Is I your little comfort, mamma? +I camed in the hoss and carriage. S'an't give Prudy no supper—will you? +'Cause Prudy runned away!"</p> + +<p>"I should not have allowed this child to come," said Mrs. Parlin, at the +tea table; "but cousin Percy always picks up the stray babies, and gives +them a ride."</p> + +<p>Dotty looked as if she could easily forgive her cousin Percy. But there +was one thing that made her nice supper taste like "spoiled nectar," and +that was the sight of Prudy enjoying her strawberries and cream.<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a></p> + +<p>If she had runned away, as Dotty insisted upon believing, why was she +not shut up in the closet? Strange to say, dearly as Dotty loved this +kind sister, she enjoyed seeing her punished. She was vexed because +Prudy was allowed, after all, to sit at the table with the rest of the +family. The little creature was very tired, for she had driven ducks all +the long summer day. She was also a little sleepy; and, more than all, +it was one of her "temper days," when everything went wrong.</p> + +<p>After tea she had a serious quarrel with her little cousin Johnny, over +a dead squirrel, which they both tried to feed with sugared water, from +a teaspoon.<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a></p> + +<p>"Johnny," cried she, "don't you touch his mouf any more! If you do, I +s'an't w'ip you, Johnny, but I'll sp'inkle some ashes on your head! Yes, +I will."</p> + +<p>Johnny, heedless of the threat, tried again to force open Bunny's stiff +mouth, Dotty's beautiful eyes blazed.</p> + +<p>Without a word she walked off proudly to the kitchen, and came back with +a handful of cold ashes, which she freely sifted into Johnny's flaxen +hair. Mrs. Parlin saw that it was high time to take her youngest +daughter home.</p> + +<p>"O, mother," said Prudy, who always felt herself disgraced by her little +sister's bad conduct, "sometimes Dotty pretty nearly makes you cry! +Don't <a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>you almost wish you hadn't any such little girl?"</p> + +<p>"My dear child, I am her <i>mother</i>, and she could hardly do anything so +naughty that I should cast her out of my heart. When she has these +freaks of temper, I think, 'God bears with me, and I will try to bear +with my little one. I will wait. One of these days, when her reason +grows, she will be a real blessing to us all.'"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin proceeded to put on Dotty's outer wrappings, saying she must +be taken home. The child struggled and screamed, and declared she +"<i>would</i> be good, she <i>would</i> be a comfort;" but her mother was firm, +though her sweet temper never for a moment forsook her. Susy and Prudy +<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>looked on, and learned a lesson in patience which was worth twenty +lectures.</p> + +<p>Percy Eastman was as glad to carry his spirited little cousin back as he +had been to bring her to his house. Mrs. Parlin rode too; but Susy and +Prudy walked.</p> + +<p>When they came to the tree which contained the birds' nest, Prudy parted +the branches, but the nestlings were not to be seen; the mother-bird had +gathered them under her wings, out of sight.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" whispered Susy; "hear them peep! Let's go; we'll frighten the +old birdie out of her wits."</p> + +<p>"I wish you could see them, Susy; then you'd know how cunning they <a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>are; +and now you never'll know. But it doesn't seem a bit like orphan +children since their mother's got home."</p> + +<p>"Makes me think of <i>our</i> mamma, and <i>her</i> three little children," said +Susy, taking her sister's hand.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Prudy, her face radiant with a glow of love, warm from her +heart; "how good our mother always is, and always was, before ever our +<i>reasons</i> grew! Think what we'd do this night, Susy Parlin, if there +wasn't any <i>mother</i> to our house!"<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>FANNY HARLOW'S PARTY.</h3> + + +<p>"Kiss me, little sister," said Prudy, "and let me go, for I must get +ready for the party."</p> + +<p>"I know where you're goin'," said Dotty; "why can't I go too?"</p> + +<p>Little did innocent Prudy dream of the queer thoughts which were chasing +one another in her little sister's brain. After she and Susy had gone, +and the house was quite still, Dotty stood at the window, looking down +street. It was a lovely day; the clouds were "softer than sleep."</p> + +<p>"O, my suz!" said Dotty Dimple;<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a> "there they go, way off, way off, Susy +and Prudy. Bof of 'em are all gone. Nobody at home but me. Didn't ask me +to her party, Fanny Harlow didn't."</p> + +<p>Dotty heaved a deep sigh, took her black baby out of its cradle, and +shook it with all her might.</p> + +<p>"What you lookin' to me for, Phib? I wasn't a 'peakin' to you. I'm goin' +to cover you all up, Phib, so you won't hear me think."</p> + +<p>Then Dotty looked out of the window again. "What a good little girl I +am," thought she, "not to be a cryin'! Prudy'd cry! There goes the +blacksmif's shop." Dotty meant the blacksmith. "His mother lets him go +everywhere. Everybody's mother lets 'em go everywhere."<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a></p> + +<p>A prettily dressed little girl passed the window.</p> + +<p>"How do you do, little girl?" whispered Dotty, in a voice so low that +even the cat did not hear. "O, what a booful hat you've got! Would your +mamma make you wear a <i>rainy</i> dress, like mine? No, she wouldn't. Your +mamma lets you go to parties all the days only Sundays. My mamma has +sticked me into the nursery, and nothin' but a dar'needle to sew with! +O, hum! And I haven't runned away since forever'n ever! They don't 'low +me to run away. Wish Fanny Harlow'd asked me to her party. I know why +she never! 'Cause she forgot I was born."</p> + +<p>Presently there was a sound of <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>little feet. Dotty was pattering up +stairs.</p> + +<p>"Didn't know I was sewing with a dar'needle—did you, mamma? Mayn't I go +to Fanny Harlow's party?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin was busy with visitors, and did not pay much heed to her +little daughter. So Dotty crept close to her mother's side, and buried +her roguish face behind her head-dress.</p> + +<p>"Wish you'd please to punish me, mamma," said she; "punish me now; I'm +<i>a-goin</i>' to be naughty?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin smiled, and reminded Dotty that it was not polite to whisper +in company. Then she went on talking with her friends, and Miss Dimple +slipped quietly out of the room.</p> + +<p>"I know I don't ought to," mused <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>the child; "I'm a-goin' to do wicked, +and get punished; but I <i>want</i> to do wicked, and get punished. I've been +goody till I'm all tired up!"</p> + +<p>Having made this decision, she went to Prudy's closet, and looked at the +dresses hanging wrong side outward on the pegs.</p> + +<p>"This is a booful one," said she, pulling down a scarlet merino. She put +on the dress, forgetting, in her guilty haste, to take off her own blue +one.</p> + +<p>"O, my suz! I never did see!" said Dotty, puffing and tugging in her +efforts to fasten the frock. "My mother must make Prudy's clo'es +bigger'n this; yes, she must. It chokes."</p> + +<p>However, by dint of much hard <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>work she succeeded in squeezing her round +little figure into the red merino, and fastening two of the buttons. "O, +hum!" sighed she; "this dress is so tight I shan't grow to-day!"</p> + +<p>Dotty had a great admiration for her mother's purple breakfast shawl, +which she now threw over her little shoulders with tremulous delight. +Nono's Sunday bonnet she next laid her naughty hands upon. Very charming +was this bonnet in Dotty's eyes, as it was made of claret-colored silk, +and was all on fire inside with scorching red and yellow flames. It was +so huge and so deep that Dotty's small face under it looked as if it had +got lost in Mammoth Cave.</p> + +<p>"Now I've got every single clo'es <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>on me. Guess there won't anybody +think I'm a boy this time," mused she, giving a last glance at the +mirror; "there won't anybody laugh, and say, 'How d'ye do, my fine +little fellow?'"</p> + +<p>Very well pleased with herself, Dotty dressed "brother Zip" in Prudy's +water-proof cloak, and they both stole out by the side door, without +being seen. But which way to go Dotty could not tell.</p> + +<p>"Where <i>is</i> the-girl-that-has-the-party's house?" thought she, under her +bonnet. "Well, it's by the stone lions, 'most up to the North Pole. Now, +Zippy, if we keep a-goin' we shall get there, and we'll see some girls +out by the door."<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a></p> + +<p>Zip wagged his faithful tail, which was quite hidden under the cloak, +and they both trudged on, Dotty's heart quivering with wicked delight.</p> + +<p>She happened to go in the right direction, and at last did really reach +the "house by the stone lions." Several young girls were indeed playing +in the yard.</p> + +<p>"What little image is that, traveling this way?" cried Florence Eastman, +holding up both hands.</p> + +<p>"A beggar child, perhaps," replied Fanny Harlow. "'Sh! 'sh! don't +laugh!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything but a walking bonnet," tittered one of the girls; +"don't it look like a chaise top? O, look, look! as true as you live, +that <a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>thing that's hopping along beside her is a dog!"</p> + +<p>The little figure now approached very slowly, its head bent down, its +fingers in its mouth; though the girls saw nothing but a big, drooping +bonnet, a purple shawl, and a pair of tiny feet peeping out from a red +dress.</p> + +<p>"I guess she came from Farther India," suggested Susy, that being the +most foreign land she could think of.</p> + +<p>Dotty now gave a loud knock at the gate, and peeped in between the bars. +In doing so she had to push back the chaise-top, and the little girls +had a full view of her face.</p> + +<p>"O, Dotty Dimple Parlin!" screamed her sisters, in dismay.<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a></p> + +<p>Fanny Harlow hastened to open the gate.</p> + +<p>"Where did you come from, you naughty thing?" whispered Susy, with a +crimson face.</p> + +<p>Dotty's sole answer was a violent sneeze, which burst off two buttons, +the only ones which fastened the scarlet merino.</p> + +<p>"I've broke my dress," said Dotty, calmly.</p> + +<p>The little girls were greatly amused, but Dotty eyed them with such a +gaze of lofty disdain that they kept their faces as straight as +possible.</p> + +<p>"Poor thing," said cousin Florence; "how tired you must be! Don't you +want to sit right down in this iron chair?"<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a></p> + +<p>Dotty's bright eyes flashed. "Don't you pity <i>me</i>, Flossy! Now 'top it!"</p> + +<p>"How shall we ever get her home?" thought the two older sisters, in +alarm; for they saw by the motion of Dotty's elbows, that she had made +up her mind to queen it over the whole company.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Dotty," said Prudy, going up to her, and kissing her; "did +mother say you might come, darling?"</p> + +<p>Dotty rubbed off the kiss, and made no answer.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think 'twould be a nice plan," whispered Prudy, "for me and +Susy to draw you home in a little carriage? And I'll ask mother to +forgive you."<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a></p> + +<p>"O, yes," said Susy, in an agony of mortification; "now do!"</p> + +<p>Dotty looked as unmoved as one of the stone lions, and took no notice of +the request.</p> + +<p>"What made they put two trees 'side that one tree?" asked she, by way of +changing the subject.</p> + +<p>"Now, Dotty, you will go, that's a little love," said Susy, wringing her +hands. "Only think, if you don't you'll lose five kisses to-night, and I +dare say mamma will punish you, too."</p> + +<p>"There's a man goin' by—old all over, and a white whisker. Who is it?" +inquired Dotty, changing the subject again. "The whisker looks like +snow, 's if his chin's cold!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind the man," returned<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> Prudy. "If you'll go I'll spend my five +cents, and buy you some pep'mints."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather have pickled limes," said Dotty thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"So you shall," cried eager Susy; "and you'll be the sweetest little +pet, and ride home like a lady."</p> + +<p>"So I will," said Dotty, serenely, "when I've had my supper."</p> + +<p>Susy's face fell. If the little piece of obstinacy would stay, she +<i>would</i>; and Mrs. Harlow politely declared they should all be delighted. +But how would she behave at the table? Her manners were as yet unformed; +she needed line upon line and precept upon precept. It was dreadful to +think of her taking supper at one of <a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>the nicest houses in the city, in +that dress, and without her watchful mother too! It was a severe trial +to Susy. Prudy was also distressed, but her "sky-like spirit" brightened +again speedily.</p> + +<p>The little girls all crowded about Dotty, begging her to join in their +games; but she said it would "hurt her big bonnet," which she could not +be persuaded to take off, because she fancied it added something to her +importance.</p> + +<p>Fanny Harlow brought out a picture book for the little runaway.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid she'll tear it," said careful Prudy.</p> + +<p>Dotty looked at her sister with a withering glance, and, in her +eager<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>ness to prove that she knew how to handle books, suddenly tore one +of the leaves. She was surprised and mortified; but her self-esteem was +not easily crushed.</p> + +<p>"There, Prudy," said she, pertly; "what made you let me do it for? You +<i>said</i> I'd tear it!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harlow hastened supper, fearing that Mrs. Parlin might be anxious +about her little daughter. Dotty was placed between her two sisters. +Susy pinned a napkin about the child's neck, and in a whisper begged to +be allowed to spread her bread and butter for her. Dotty had worn the +air of a princess royal all the afternoon; but now, seated in a high +chair, and surrounded by a group of admiring little girls, she <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>felt +like a crowned queen. Taking her bread in both hands, she crumbed it +into her goblet of milk, and began to dip it out with the handle of her +fork. The girls looked on and smiled, and Dotty gave a little purr of +satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Everybody'll think mother doesn't teach her good manners," thought poor +Susy, hardly knowing whether she ate bread or ashes.</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear," said Prudy to herself; "Dotty may die some time, and then +I should be sorry, and cry. I'll keep thinking of that, so I can bear +her awful actions better."</p> + +<p>The little princess, from her throne in the high chair, did very rude +things; such as coughing and blowing crumbs <a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>into her plate, drumming +with her feet, and beating time with her fork and spoon. When bread was +offered, she said,—</p> + +<p>"I don't like <i>baker's</i> bread. I like <i>daily</i> bread."</p> + +<p>But this was all the remark she made during the whole meal. At last she +ceased eating, coughing, and drumming: there was a "flash of silence."</p> + +<p>Everybody looked up. Dotty's eyes were closed, and her head was swaying +from side to side, like a heavy apple stuck on a knitting needle—she +was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>She was wheeled home in a small carriage, followed by a guard of all the +girls. Next day she was duly <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>punished by being tied to the bedpost with +the clothes-line.</p> + +<p>"I wish her <i>reasons</i> would begin to grow," sighed Prudy. "I never can +feel happy when Dotty gets into a fuss."</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking it all over," replied Susy, "and I've made up my +mind that God allows her to mortify you and me. You know we must have +some kind of a trial, or we shouldn't grow gentle and sweet tempered."</p> + +<p>"As mother is," added Prudy.<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE TEACHER.</h3> + + +<p>At last Dotty's "reasons" did begin to grow. Her mother was too wise and +kind to allow her to have her own naughty way; and by the time she was +four years old she had very few "temper days," and seemed to be growing +quite lovely.</p> + +<p>But her sisters were troubled because she had not yet learned to read. +Prudy remembered how ashamed she herself had felt when she first set out +in earnest to go to school. For some time after her lameness she was so +<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>delicate that no pains had been taken to teach her to read.</p> + +<p>"My little sister must never be so stupid as I was," thought Prudy, +uneasily.</p> + +<p>Sometimes visitors inquired if Miss Dotty knew her letters, and poor +Prudy blushed with shame when Mrs. Parlin calmly replied that she did +not.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure mother feels mortified," thought Prudy; "but she holds up her +head, and tries to make the best of it. I'll not say a word to anybody, +but I mean to teach my little sister my own self!"</p> + +<p>So one Wednesday afternoon, when Susy was away, Prudy called Dotty into +the nursery, and shut the door.<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a></p> + +<p>"What you want me of?" asked the child.</p> + +<p>"I want to tell you something nice. Don't you wish you knew your A, B, +C's, darling? There, that's what it is."</p> + +<p>Dotty shook her head three or four times, and looked down at the carpet.</p> + +<p>"Why, Dotty Dimple, you oughtn't to do so. You must answer when a +question is asked. Wouldn't you like to learn your letters, like a goody +girl, so you can read the nice books? Now be polite, and speak."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to be polite, and speak, nor I don't want to learn my +letters, like a goody gell; so there!" replied Dotty, seizing the kitty, +and wrapping her in a shawl.<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a></p> + +<p>"O, Dotty Dimple!" said Prudy, in a tone of deep distress; "how old +you're getting to be! just think!"</p> + +<p>"I'm four years old, and I weigh four pounds," answered Dotty, drawing +out her little cab, and throwing the muffled kitty into it, as if she +had been a roll of cloth.</p> + +<p>"O, my stars, Dotty, I can't bear to have you talk so."</p> + +<p>Dotty tucked in the kitty's tail, and drew the carriage about the room, +to give "Pusheen" an airing. "Pusheen" was her kitty's name in Irish.</p> + +<p>"You can't think how dreadful it is, Dotty, to grow up and not know +anything!"</p> + +<p>Dotty turned a short corner. Pu<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>sheen had a fall; down came the little +cab, kitty and all.</p> + +<p>"To grow up and not know anything," continued Prudy. "O, it's enough to +break anybody's heart!"</p> + +<p>"Be you goin' to cry?" said Dotty, in a soft voice, kneeling, and +peeping up into Prudy's eyes, with some curiosity.</p> + +<p>Prudy was obliged to smile but hid her face in the sofa-pillow, and +hoped Dotty did not see her. She found she must hit upon some other +plan. Dotty could not be made to feel the terrors of growing up a dunce.</p> + +<p>"Now, little sister," said she, "if you'll let me be your teacher, and +keep school here in the nursery—"</p> + +<p>"O, hum! A <i>little gell</i> keep school!<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a> Would you send me to the bottom +of the foot?"</p> + +<p>"O, no! I'll do something for you—let's me see!"</p> + +<p>"Well, what?" cried Dotty, her eyes sparkling like blue gems; "what'll +you do for me, Prudy?"</p> + +<p>Prudy thought a minute. Meanwhile the muffled kitty slowly freed herself +from the shawl, and slyly leaped to the top of the bureau, out of reach +of her little mistress.</p> + +<p>"O, Prudy," said Dotty, dancing about; "do something quick."</p> + +<p>"Listen, dear! Will you promise to learn to read if I'll tell you a +story about every single letter there is on your blocks?"</p> + +<p>"How long a story? As long as <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>this room? Yes, I'll promige," cried +Dotty, with a gleeful laugh. "Go get the stories, and tell 'em this +minute!"</p> + +<p>"Now we'll begin," said Prudy, no less delighted, pouring the blocks out +of the box upon the floor. "I'll ring the little tea-bell, and call the +school to order. The school means <i>you</i>, and you must walk in and take +your seat."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you'll let me sit in the rocking-chair!"</p> + +<p>"O, but that is mine, because I'm the teacher."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm goin' off into the kitchen," said Dotty, loftily, "and I don't +know as I'll come back. I won't promige."</p> + +<p>"O, take the rocking-chair!" replied Prudy quickly. "I'll sit on the +ottoman; it's just as good. Glad you <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>spoke of it, Dotty; 'twouldn't be +proper for the teacher to rock. Hark! now I tingle the bell. School's +begun!"</p> + +<p>Dotty walked along, and very demurely seated herself in the big chair.</p> + +<p>"Here," said Prudy, showing her a block, "is your first letter; guess +what the picture means, and I'll tell you the name of the letter."</p> + +<p>"That?" said Dotty, glancing at it; "that's a monkey; what you s'pose?"</p> + +<p>"O, no! it's pretty near a monkey, not quite: it's what we call an +<i>ape</i>."</p> + +<p>"A nape!" echoed Dotty, pointing at it, and laughing. "O, my! you don' +know nothin' at all but just—do you, Prudy Parlin? Funny gell to keep +school! Didn't you never see <a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>a monkey? I've seen 'em dancing +tummy-tum-tum, and a man making music with a little mite of a churn."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps this is a monkey, and ape is its baby name," said Prudy, +doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Got a face like a dried apple—hasn't he?" said the young pupil, +admiringly. "Rally round the flag, boys!"</p> + +<p>"Hush! You mustn't sing in school. The name of this letter is A. Look at +it ever so long, and say it over."</p> + +<p>"A, A, A," repeated Dotty, to the tune of "John Brown."</p> + +<p>Prudy took courage. "All right, only you mustn't sing. I couldn't speak +the letter better myself than you do, <i>so</i> soon. A stands for ape."<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a></p> + +<p>"No, for monkey."</p> + +<p>The little teacher yielded the point. She had begun her school with +plenty of love and patience.</p> + +<p>"Now tell a story," said Dotty, settling herself in the chair.</p> + +<p>"Can't you say 'please'?" suggested Prudy, mildly. "'Please' is but a +little word, and 'thank you' is not long."</p> + +<p>"Well, please, and thank you,—'bout a ape."</p> + +<p>"I know a real nice one. Once there was a monkey—"</p> + +<p>"No, a ape."</p> + +<p>"Well, a ape, then. But I didn't start right. Once Mr. 'Gustus Allen +sailed round the world."</p> + +<p>"Did? Who sailed him?"<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></p> + +<p>"O, he went in one of those ships that go puffing out of the bay. And he +had a little ape, named Jacky."</p> + +<p>"How did you know? You wasn't there."</p> + +<p>"O, he told me about it. He was the brightest little creature, Jacky +was. When he was cold, Mr. Allen used to tuck him right in his bosom. +Sometimes he got into mischief, he knew so much."</p> + +<p>"Did he know as much as Zip? Did he ever talk in meetin'?"</p> + +<p>"No, he couldn't bark the way Zip did at the lecture, but he chattered, +as we do when our teeth are cold. When he'd been doing mischief he'd run +round the floor of the ship, wagging his head the way I do now, as <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>if +he was as innocent as a whole lot of kittens. Why, he acted as you did, +Dotty, when you was a little girl, and picked the inside out of that +custard pie."</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" said Dotty. "I guess you think you're talkin' to somebody else, +Prudy Parlin! I don't like your story; wish you'd stop."</p> + +<p>"But I was going to tell you how Jacky got sick, and there were ever so +many more monkeys on board—"</p> + +<p>"On what board?"</p> + +<p>"On the ship. And they took care of Jacky, and brought him his supper as +if they were folks."</p> + +<p>"What did he have for supper?"</p> + +<p>"O, nuts and things, on a wooden plate."<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a></p> + +<p>"I wish I was a monkey!"</p> + +<p>"O, Dotty Dimple, that's a horrid speech!"</p> + +<p>"Then I don't want to be a monkey; I want to be a ape. I wish I could go +puffing round the world in a ship."</p> + +<p>"Well, Dotty, this isn't keeping school. What letter have you learned?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't learn a letter; I learned a story. You're a funny gell to keep +a <i>story</i>-school!"</p> + +<p>Prudy held up the block.</p> + +<p>"O, that picked thing? You called it a ape!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Dotty Parlin! that's A."</p> + +<p>"A <i>what?</i>"</p> + +<p>"I said <i>A</i>," repeated Prudy, with emphasis, "only just <i>A</i>."<a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a></p> + +<p>"Why, 'tisn't A <i>nothing</i>—is it?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me," thought Prudy, "I don't see how folks do keep school. I'm +getting just as hungry—and cross!"</p> + +<p>When Dotty had learned A so well that she knew it at a glance, her +teacher proceeded to the next letter, which stood on the block for a +bat. Dotty said the picture looked "like Zip with an umbrella over him."</p> + +<p>After the second story, she was tired of the business.</p> + +<p>"Look out the window, Prudy. See that whale! O, you April fool!"</p> + +<p>The young sister sighed over her sister's light-minded behavior. When +they came to C, which stood for cat, Dotty seized her kitty and tried to +feed her with lozenges. But Pusheen <a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>turned away her head with a gesture +which signified,—</p> + +<p>"Candy isn't fit to touch. I'd eat a mouse with you, with pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Talk," said Dotty; "say 'thank you,' Pusheen! No, indeed, you needn't +do it; I's just in fun. God didn't give you any teef to talk with, +Pussy; so you can't talk."</p> + +<p>"Now, Dotty, this next letter is D."</p> + +<p>"O, Prudy, I wish you'd hush! I've got the earache."</p> + +<p>"Ah, well!" thought the gentle teacher, with a sigh; "I'll try again, +some other day. I'll not give it up. Grandma says, 'Time and patience +make the mulberry leaf into satin.' I don't know what that means, only +it's something about <i>perseverance</i>."<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>BOTH SIDES OF A STORY.</h3> + + +<p>The little school was not resumed for some time. Not that Prudy had +forgotten it, by any means; but the next Saturday she had visitors, and +the following Wednesday an exciting event occurred. It concerned Susy's +pony. Percy Eastman said he was called Wings "because he hadn't any +feet." Susy was vexed at this remark, and Prudy, taking her part, said, +"Percy is such a <i>pert</i> boy;" adding next moment, "What <i>is</i> pert?"</p> + +<p>But Percy only meant that the <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>pony sadly needed some new shoes; and +this was very true.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that Mr. Parlin, being too busy to go himself, sent Eddy +Johnson and Charley Piper with Wings to the blacksmith's shop. It seemed +to Susy that the boys were gone a long while, for it was Wednesday +afternoon, and she was impatient for a ride. She sat down to practise a +little, but her mind was out of doors, and the unwilling piano seemed +crying out to be let alone.</p> + +<p>"I can't play," said Susy, decidedly; "and that's the truth."</p> + +<p>At that moment a sweet little voice was heard, singing, "John's Brown +buddy;" and Dotty Dimple's head and shoulders were thrust into the +room.<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a></p> + +<p>"I've broked it," said she; "I've broked it all to smash."</p> + +<p>"Broke what, for pity's sakes?"</p> + +<p>"Your teapot," replied Dotty, in a very cheerful voice.</p> + +<p>"O, I never did, in all my life, see such a child," wailed Susy. "What +made you go and meddle with my dear little gold-edged tea-set?"</p> + +<p>Dotty looked like an injured lamb, brushed the wayward hair out of her +eyes, and gazed wistfully into her sister's face.</p> + +<p>"Is I your little comfort, Susy? Is I your little comfort?"</p> + +<p>"No," cried Susy, wavering between a smile and a tear; "no, indeed! To +think of <i>your</i> being a comfort! O, my stars!"<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a></p> + +<p>"Well, then," continued the little one, in a soothing, cooing tone, +"then I never broked it; it broked itself!"</p> + +<p>So saying, she produced from the depths of her pocket the fragments of +the gilt-edged toy. They were past the healing power even of Spalding's +glue, that was certain. At the painful sight, poor Susy's patience flew +into as many pieces as the teapot.</p> + +<p>"O, you naughty, naughty thing, to say it broke itself!"</p> + +<p>"Then it didn't," replied the little culprit, not a whit dismayed. "Then +'twas Prudy. We was playing 'thimble-coop.' <i>She</i> broked it all to +smash!"</p> + +<p>"O, mother," said Susy, running out to the kitchen; "Dotty's making <a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>up +fibs as fast as she can speak! You'll have to shut her up in the +closet."</p> + +<p>"Not so fast, my dear. Let us wait till we hear both sides of the +story."</p> + +<p>And, as it turned out, Dotty really did not deserve to be punished for +wrong stories. She and Prudy had each assisted in breaking the teapot; +one had knocked it off the bureau, and the other had stepped on it. But +Dotty, who gloried in "a fuss," had begged to be the one to tell Susy +the startling news. She wished to see her eyes flash, and hear her +expressions of surprise. She knew that, however angry Susy might be, +there was one magical sentence which would always <a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>her to terms: +"Dotty'll go out doors, 'out her hat, get cold, have the <i>coop</i>, and +<span class="smcap">die</span>!"</p> + +<p>At the bare mention of such a fearful thing, Susy's anger was sure to +cool at once. This time Dotty varied her method a little.</p> + +<p>"See," said she, looking out of the window; "the boys has came."</p> + +<p>Of course that was the last of Susy's thoughts about the teapot. She +rushed out of doors bareheaded, followed by Dotty. Eddy Johnson was just +hitching Wings to a post near the gate.</p> + +<p>"Have they <i>shoed</i> him?" said Susy.</p> + +<p>"<i>Shoed</i> him? I should think they had; all of that," replied Eddy, +indignantly.<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a></p> + +<p>"Booted him, more like," muttered Charley Piper, in the same tone.</p> + +<p>"Why, what do you mean, boys?" said Susy, patting the pony, and gazing +tenderly into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"O, we don't mean anything, as I know of. You must run into the house +and ask your mother to come out here," said Eddy, mysteriously.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's my own pony, that my own father gave me, and if there's +anything the matter with it I should think you might tell," cried Susy, +her voice shaking with a vague dread of some terrible mishap.</p> + +<p>"Well, may be there isn't anything ails him," returned Eddy, coolly. "I +never said there was; but your mother'll know!"<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a></p> + +<p>"O, Dotty Dimple, run into the house this very minute, please to," +exclaimed Susy, "and ask mother—if she's combing her hair, or +<i>anything</i>—to come right out here as quick as she can run, and not +wait! O, dear, dear, dear! Why, Dotty Dimple Parlin! you haven't started +yet! Quick! quick! quick!"</p> + +<p>Dotty, who had only waited to be spoken to the second time, now ran in +such haste that she stumbled on the piazza steps; but, nothing daunted, +jumped up and went on, delighted to know that this time something had +probably happened. She startled her mother, and called her away from her +toilet, with the sudden cry that the boys and pony were 'most killed.<a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a></p> + +<p>At the same time she had the pleasure of throwing Prudy into a +panic,—dear little Prudy, who had been for the last five minutes +searching her treasures in the hope of finding some toy which would +replace Susy's teapot.</p> + +<p>Prudy and Dotty appeared at the gate in a very brief space; Prudy with +her mouth in the shape of the letter O, and Mrs. Parlin not far off, in +the act of fastening her breastpin.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys, what is it?" said the good lady, smiling. "I hardly think +anything very serious has happened, either to you or the pony."</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> tell," said Eddy to Charley; "I <i>dassn't</i>. The blacksmith's man +may be mad if I do. But he's abused <a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>this hoss, though," continued Eddy, +not waiting to let Charley speak for him; "he's abused him awfully! It's +right up and down mean; and three of us boys seen him!"</p> + +<p>Susy clasped her hands, and performed a "stamp-act" on the pavement.</p> + +<p>"See there," said Eddy, pointing triumphantly to Wings' left hind leg; +"see that—will you?"</p> + +<p>True enough, there were two or three small wounds, out of which was +oozing thick dark blood. Susy looked as if her heart was breaking, but +not a word did she speak.</p> + +<p>"Pete Grimes did that with his hobnail, cowhide boots!" said Eddy, +sternly.<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a></p> + +<p>"With his hammer, you <i>mean</i>," interposed Charley.</p> + +<p>"With his <i>boot</i>, sir," persisted Eddy, with increasing eloquence. +"Didn't I see him, me and Dan Murphy? Didn't we stand there by the +coal-bin, sir? He booted him well, Mis' Parlin. I'll tell you where he +did it; here on the left side, ma'am. Look where the hair sticks up! +Pooty well mauled—ain't he, ma'am? Pete swore at him, too. Never heard +such talk—did you, Charley?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am, I never did," replied Master Charley, addressing Mrs. +Parlin, who fancied she could detect on Wings' glossy hide the marks of +a boot, though there were no traces of the wicked oaths.<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a></p> + +<p>"It is a most abusive thing—if it is so," said she, with much feeling; +for if anything could move her gentle heart to anger, it was cruelty to +animals. "What made Mr. Grimes behave so strangely, boys? Was the pony +restless?"</p> + +<p>"Restless? No, indeed, ma'am," replied Eddy, the orator; "as gentle as a +lamb, ma'am. It was Pete Grimes's wicked temper, and his wicked +disposition; that's what it was."</p> + +<p>It was well for Susy that her over-strained feelings now found vent in +words and tears. "There is no grief like the grief which does not +speak." Her dumb agony gave way, and she wept and raved like a little +wild thing.<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a></p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin ordered the boys to lead the pony around to the back door, +and there she washed out his wounds, trying all the while to soothe +Susy, whose heart was beating a quick-step, and who trembled in every +limb.</p> + +<p>"Old Grimes is dead, that good old man!" repeated Prudy, with angry +emphasis; "but it wasn't <i>his</i> father. No, indeed; with the old blue +buttons down the back! Why, Peter is an awful man! I saw him once, and +his face looked as if he'd been rubbing it on a pen-wiper! There, Susy, +don't you cry," she added, applying a moral lesson to her sister's +wounded feelings, like a healing plaster; "he's dreadful wicked, and one +of these <a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>days he'll get hurt his own self; a horse'll strike <i>him!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a horse'll strike <i>him!</i>" echoed Dotty Dimple.</p> + +<p>"But what good will that do Wings?" moaned Susy. "Evil for evil only +makes things worse."</p> + +<p>Her indignation did not lessen, but rather increased, the longer she +reflected upon the subject. What right had a man to abuse anybody's +horse—more especially hers?</p> + +<p>"Mr. Grimes ought to be 'dited, and sent to the Reform School or State's +Prison this very night," said she, in her wrath. Prudy thought precisely +the same; also Miss Dimple, who looked upon the whole affair as a joke, +intended for her amusement.<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a></p> + +<p>When Mr. Parlin came home to tea, and heard the story, he did not blame +Susy in the least for her indignation, but started off for the +blacksmith's with the limping pony, saying he meant to "inquire into the +business."</p> + +<p>"May I go with you?" cried Susy.</p> + +<p>"Me, too?" said Prudy, echoed by Dotty.</p> + +<p>"Only Susy," replied their father; "she may go if she likes."</p> + +<p>Susy very much wondered what her father was going to do. As they +approached the shop, she saw, standing at the door, the man whose face +looked as if it had been "rubbed on a pen-wiper."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Grimes," said Mr. Parlin, in a <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>pleasanter manner than Susy thought +was at all necessary, "Mr. Grimes, I believe I owe you for shoeing this +pony."</p> + +<p>While Mr. Grimes was making the change, Mr. Parlin added,—</p> + +<p>"How happens it, my friend, that this little animal bears such marks of +ill treatment? See how he limps. Look at this gash."</p> + +<p>"O," said Mr. Grimes, "he lamed himself by kicking out against the +coal-box; he's a nervous thing."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parlin then told the boys' story.</p> + +<p>"It is not so, upon my word and honor, sir," replied sooty-faced Mr. +Grimes, with great amazement. "I'll leave it to Mr. Fox."</p> + +<p>Mr. Fox, and two or three other <a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>men, declared very positively that they +had seen little Wings beating himself against the coal-box; and one of +them pointed out to Mr. Parlin the blood-stain on the edge of the wood.</p> + +<p>"You can't trust much to what boys say, especially such harum-scarum +fellows as Ed Johnson," added Mr. Fox. "I shouldn't wonder, now, Grimes, +if he and that Piper boy got their tempers up, and tried to spite you, +for ordering them out of the shop. They were troublesome, and he had to +speak sharp," added Mr. Fox, addressing Mr. Parlin again.</p> + +<p>"That's so!" exclaimed Mr. Grimes. "You take three little chaps, and +have 'em meddling with your nails, and sticking scraps of iron into the +coals, <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>and it makes a man cross—or it frets <i>me</i>, and I told 'em to +quit."</p> + +<p>"Saucy little rogues," chimed in Mr. Fox, anxious for the honor of his +workman.</p> + +<p>"As for my striking the pony," continued Mr. Grimes, "I might have +patted him once or twice with the <i>handle</i> of the hammer. I often do +that; but my blows wouldn't kill a fly."</p> + +<p>After a little more conversation Mr. Parlin was satisfied that no real +cruelty had been used towards Wings. Susy's heart rose like a feather.</p> + +<p>"<i>Always wait till you hear both sides of a story!</i>" said Mr. Parlin, as +he and his daughter walked home.</p> + +<p>"Just the words <i>mother</i> said this <a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>very day," cried Susy, skipping +lightly over the paving-stones. "It's so queer you and mother should +<i>both</i> talk so much alike."<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE WATER-KELPIE.</h3> + + +<p>It was nearly time for vacation. As the children were to start on the +next Monday for Willow-brook, their mother allowed them to spend their +last Wednesday afternoon with their cousin Florence. It fell to Prudy's +lot to dress her little sister.</p> + +<p>"I'm ever so glad," said Dotty, "that the barber snipped off my +<i>kyurls</i>. Don't you think I do look like a boy, now, Prudy? You may call +me Tommy, if you want to; I'm willin'."</p> + +<p>"There, now," she exclaimed, when <a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>her toilet was made, "say me my +lesson; please to, Prudy."</p> + +<p>"O, I forgot all about that" replied the little teacher, uneasily. "Susy +'ll be done practising in half an hour, and I thought I'd just have time +to make my doll's boots,—finish them, I mean. Can't you wait till +Saturday, Dotty?"</p> + +<p>"O, my suz, Prudy Parlin! When I get to be a great sister to you, I +won't treat you so. I want to get my letters all smooth done +to-day,—don't want to wait till Sat'day."</p> + +<p>At any other time Prudy would have been gratified to see Dotty show so +much eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Be kind to thy sister," hummed the gentle little teacher. "Yes, I +will.<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a> I'm always glad after I've been kind. Nothing makes me love Dotty +so well as to try to please her!"</p> + +<p>"Now," said she, calling her school to order, "you've learned as far as +S, which I think is doing finely, all alone, with nobody to help us. +This next letter stands, you see, for a <i>top</i>. What is it we drink out +of cups?"</p> + +<p>"I don't get anything but milk, and that's in a mug," replied Dotty in +an injured tone.</p> + +<p>"But what does mother drink? Now think."</p> + +<p>Dotty eyed the letter sharply. "Why, mamma drinks coffee sometimes, and +it has grounds; but they don't look like that thing, the grounds don't! +Why, that thing looks like a <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>spade, with the teeth out, wrong side up."</p> + +<p>"You mean a <i>rake</i>" laughed Prudy. "Well, dear, this is T."</p> + +<p>When Dotty came to X, she declared it stood "for your thumb. Susy said +so, and it was in the music-book."</p> + +<p>Now came an hour of triumph for the little pupil. Her mother was both +surprised and delighted to hear that her youngest daughter knew all her +letters.</p> + +<p>"She can say them skipping about," said Prudy, "and can spell a few +little words, too."</p> + +<p>"C, a, t, cat, d, o, g, Zip," laughed Dotty, showing her deepest +dimples, and frisking about the room.</p> + +<p>"My dear little ones," said Mrs. Par<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>lin, kissing both the children, "I +am really very much gratified. Both teacher and pupil have shown a great +deal of patience and perseverance."</p> + +<p>These words from her beloved mother were most precious to Prudy. Dotty, +though she did not know what was meant by patience and perseverance, +presumed it was something fine, and laughed and danced in great glee.</p> + +<p>Nothing remarkable happened during the visit to Florence Eastman, except +that Miss Dimple and Johnny were found running off the track of the +upper railroad just one second after the engine started. Everybody was +very much frightened when it was all safely over. But Dotty said,—<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a></p> + +<p>"O, my suz! Me an' Johnny has done that a hundred and a million +times—hasn't we, Johnny? We wait till the injin w'istles, then we run +on to the platform—don't we, Johnny?"</p> + +<p>It came out after a while, that these reckless children had also been in +the habit of crossing pins on the track, to make "scissors," the weight +of the cars pressing the two pins into a solid <i>x</i>.</p> + +<p>"I still tremble," said Mrs. Eastman, with white lips. "This Alice +Parlin is the most daring little creature I ever saw, more harum-scarum +than ever Susy was."</p> + +<p>Prudy was Mrs. Eastman's pet. "Prudy," she said, "was a natural lady: +the other two were romps."<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a></p> + +<p>The next Monday Mrs. Parlin and the three children started for +Willow-brook. Dotty wished to take her sweet Pusheen and her darling +Zip; but it was decided that Pusheen must stay at home, and help keep +house.</p> + +<p>"Be a good kitty," said her little mistress, embracing her, "and eat all +the mice in the mouse-chamber, 'fore they grow up <i>rats!</i>"</p> + +<p>But Zip was allowed to go to Willow-brook; and Dotty watched him all the +way, scarcely allowing him to stir from the seat beside her.</p> + +<p>"No," said she, holding him firmly by both ears; "Dotty'd be glad to let +you get down, but she doesn't think it's best. You is only a doggie, and +you'd get runned over and die. So <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>now, Zippy, you'll have to give up, +and it's no use to bark."</p> + +<p>But Zip, having the spirit of a dog, <i>would</i> bark.</p> + +<p>The whole party reached Willow-brook in safety, and had a joyful +welcome.</p> + +<p>"Prudy, my aunt Louise is the handsomest lady there is in this world," +said Dotty, privately.</p> + +<p>"O, Dotty, how can you think so," exclaimed Prudy, "when there's only +one woman can be <span class="smcap">that</span>!"</p> + +<p>"Who's <i>she?</i>"</p> + +<p>"Mother, <i>of course!</i>"</p> + +<p>When Dotty was called to supper, she was found beside Pincher's green +grave, telling her "brother Zip" the story of that dog's death, and +trying to <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>impress upon his mind the importance of keeping his paws out +of fox-traps.</p> + +<p>It was delightful to be at grandma Parlin's once more. The summer-house, +the seat in the tree, and the swing, were all in their old places, and +had been waiting a whole year for the children. A few things had been +added: a hennery,—called by Dotty "a henpeckery"—and a graceful white +boat, named the Water-Kelpie. This boat was kept chained to a stake on +the bank, and no one could have a sail in it without first obtaining the +key, which hung over the bird-cage, in the back parlor.</p> + +<p>Susy was charmed with the boat. It was lighter and nicer than the old +canoe, which had so long been used <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>by the family. She and Lonnie Adams, +her aunt Martha's nephew, took daily lessons in rowing; but Susy, who +had for years been accustomed to the water, knew how to manage a boat +far better than did Master Lonnie. The boy strained every nerve, to very +little purpose, while Susy would lightly dip in the paddle, and turn it +with perfect ease.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Lonnie; "guess you can't drive a nail any better +than I can, Susy Parlin, and I can row her some, anyhow. Now, Abner, +can't I row her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my boy, I think I've heard you <i>roar</i>," replied Abner, with a +provoking smile.</p> + +<p>"Well, can't I row her this way?"<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a></p> + +<p>"Middlin' well," returned Abner, cautiously; "but little Sue, here, is +the water-man for me."</p> + +<p>Susy's cheeks glowed, and there was a proud flash in her eyes as they +met Lonnie's. At that moment she felt equal to the task of steering a +ship across the Atlantic Ocean.</p> + +<p>Not long after this praise from Abner, aunt Martha said that she and +Master Lonnie were going over the river, after some wild-flower roots, +and would be glad to have the boat sent for them at five o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Mayn't I be the one to go?" asked Susy.</p> + +<p>"If you like," replied the grandmother; "that is, if Abner is willing."</p> + +<p>Susy knew perfectly well that her <a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>grandmother had no idea of allowing +her to go alone; but it so happened, when she reached the river-bank +with the boat-key, that Abner was nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me," thought Susy, "Abner is generally somewhere else."</p> + +<p>"Where you goin', all alone, 'thout me?" cried Dotty Dimple, from the +top of the bank.</p> + +<p>"You here? What did you come for?" said Susy.</p> + +<p>For answer, Dotty took a pair of rubber overshoes out of Zip's mouth.</p> + +<p>"Grandma says to put 'em right on, or you'll catch the hookin' cough; +the boat's wet."</p> + +<p>"There, now," said Susy, putting on the rubbers, "I've forgot the basket +for <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>those Jack-in-the-pulpit roots. Didn't grandma send it up?"</p> + +<p>"No, she sended up <i>me</i>," replied Dotty; adding, quickly, "and I'm goin' +where you go, you know; and if you don't go anywhere, I'm goin' there, +too."</p> + +<p>"That's just the way it is with you, Dotty Dimple; always coming when I +don't expect you."</p> + +<p>"Prudy coaxed me to," said Dotty, with one of her sweetest smiles and +deepest dimples.</p> + +<p>"Coaxed you?"</p> + +<p>"Well," faltered Dotty, "she wanted to come her own self. She said she +wished I'd stay to home,—so, <i>of course</i> I camed!"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you how it is," said Susy, <a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>thoughtfully. "That queer old +Abner's nowhere to be seen. I suppose he's in the cornfield, or the +meadow, or the barn. It's after five; and what will aunt Martha think? I +could row across the river well enough by myself, if you'd only run +home; you're <i>such</i> a bother!"</p> + +<p>"O, my darlin' sister Susy! I won't do nothin' but just sit still. Who's +your precious comfort?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know but I'll take you, then. Come, little Miss Trouble, +jump into the boat."</p> + +<p>So Dotty Dimple, being what Mr. Allen had called a "child-queen," had +her own way, as usual.</p> + +<p>"Why, where's the paddles?" said Susy. "The men must have hid <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>them. +Dear me, I can't stop to hunt; and here it is five o'clock long ago! O, +I'll take this good smooth shingle, I declare! I guess it washed ashore +on purpose; it's almost equal to a paddle.—Now we'll go, all so nice," +continued Susy, fearlessly dipping the chance-found shingle into the +water.</p> + +<p>"O, my suz," said Dotty, clapping her hands, which had any amount of +dimples on the backs; "we're goin'!"</p> + +<p>"Of course we're going!" said Susy, proudly. "What did you expect? I can +do five times as well with a shingle as Lonnie can with a paddle. What +do you suppose aunt Martha'll say? 'Bravo! those are smart children, to +be rowing all alone, by themselves'!"<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a></p> + +<p>"O, Susy, what a hubble-bubble we make in the water! Look at the bubbles +winkin' their eyes! See those pretty wrinkles, all puckered up in the +water!"</p> + +<p>"I see them," said Susy, steadily plying her shingle; "but why don't you +sit still? You'll tip us both over, as sure as this world; and if we get +drowned I guess grandma'll scold! I shall be the one to have all the +blame."</p> + +<p>"O, dear," said Dotty, reeling about from side to side, "the boat's +dizzy! My head's goin' to tip into the water. But don't you cry, Susy; +you catch hold of me, and I shan't go!"</p> + +<p>Susy was suddenly seized with mortal terror.<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a></p> + +<p>"Dotty Parlin, I'll never take you anywhere again, as long as I live! +You sit as still as ever you can, and fold your hands; fold them both!"</p> + +<p>Dotty obeyed at once, and sat up quite straight, looking very sweet, and +at the same time slightly acid, like a stick of lemon-candy. The Water +Kelpie, now that Dotty was quiet, floated on, safely and surely, towards +the opposite shore.</p> + +<p>It was a pretty picture—the white boat, the graceful children, and the +still, blue water. Susy's fair arms were bared to the elbows, and her +face was deeply flushed. Dotty's beautiful eyes danced, but she herself +was motionless and demure.</p> + +<p>When they landed, Susy called aloud <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>for her aunt Martha to come and +secure the boat. Her voice echoed from afar, waking "the sleep of the +hills," but no aunt Martha appeared. The children clambered out at last, +and Susy chained the boat to a stick, which she drove into the sand. But +the sand was light, and the boat was heavy, and the current strong; so +before the children had walked a dozen rods, the Water-Kelpie was +floating down stream of its own free will.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that although aunt Martha was certainly surprised, she +did not seem very much pleased. She did not say, "Bravo! my two nieces +are smart children, to be rowing all alone by themselves." Nothing of +the sort. She reproved Susy <a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>for her rash conduct, and sent her and +Lonnie around two miles, by the bridge, to ask Abner to come for them +with the canoe.</p> + +<p>Lonnie was very much comforted when he saw that Susy received no praise.</p> + +<p>"I can row her myself," said he; "but I wouldn't put Dotty in, and most +drown her, and dab along with that shingle."</p> + +<p>The runaway Water-Kelpie was caught a little way below the bridge, and +Abner slyly laid by the dripping shingle, and afterwards showed it to +everybody, as a proof that "our Sue was an amazin' smart little water +man."</p> + +<p>This famous boat-ride only had the <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>effect to make Dotty Dimple more +fearless than ever; but her next adventure on the water proved somewhat +serious.<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>BROTHER ZIP.</h3> + + +<p>There was to be a remarkable supper at grandma Parlin's, in honor of +Colonel Augustus Allen, who was expected in the cars. There had been a +grand excursion to welcome the soldiers, and the stage would probably be +very late. Susy and Prudy had the promise of sitting up till it got in, +if Dotty Dimple was only willing. But Dotty said,—</p> + +<p>"O, no; you better go to bed when I go, Prudy, or you'll hear somebody +scream."</p> + +<p>"Let's see," said Prudy. "I've <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a>thought of something nice. Wouldn't you +like to go to aunt Martha's, and stay all the afternoon and all night?"</p> + +<p>Dotty gave a little purr, like a happy kitten.</p> + +<p>"O, yes, if they'll let me drink choclid out o' that silver mug."</p> + +<p>"But who'll go with you?" said Prudy. "There, I know—Abby Grant! I'll +go ask mother."</p> + +<p>Prudy thought that she herself could not possibly be spared just now to +walk as far as aunt Martha's.</p> + +<p>Abby Grant, who was supposed to be a good child, was very glad to take +charge of Dotty, and called for her at two o'clock.</p> + +<p>Aunt Louise was in the kitchen, whipping cream. "O, my suz," said<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a> +Dotty, with shining eyes; "mayn't I taste o' those bubbles 'fore I go?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Louise poured the foaming cream over some jellies, which stood in +glasses.</p> + +<p>"You shall have some to-morrow," said she, pausing to kiss Dotty, her +favorite niece. Then she led the two little girls into the dining-room, +where the long table was already spread for Company. Dotty could hardly +keep her hands off the nice things.</p> + +<p>"There," said aunt Louise, giving each of the children an orange, "now +you may go. Abby, be sure to take good care of Dotty. Don't trust her +out of your sight one minute.—Hark! there's the door-bell. You may go +out of the house by the back-door."<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a></p> + +<p>Then Miss Louise hastened from the dining-room, without looking back to +see whether the children obeyed her or not. Dotty was, in general, +prompt to do as she was bidden by older people; but just now both the +children found it hard to leave that tempting table. They dared not +taste the dainties, but Abby thought it could surely do no harm just to +touch them. But when they had gone as far as that, Abby, who was a sly, +half-taught child, grew bolder, and a sudden impulse seized her to +pocket a few sweetmeats, if she could only do so without being seen by +Dotty's keen eyes.</p> + +<p>"Come, Dotty Parling," said she, "you just go ask somebody to brush your +hair; it's all over your head."<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a></p> + +<p>Dotty sighed as she cast a last glance at the table, and then, without a +word, went up stairs, unwilling to be seen by aunt Martha with her "hair +all over her head."</p> + +<p>Then Abby's heart beat fast. She heard voices in the parlor, and knew +that at any moment some one might enter the dining-room, and discover +her. So making a hasty choice of two large pieces of jelly-cake, and +half a dozen tarts, she swept out of the room just in time to escape +meeting grandma Parlin.</p> + +<p>Her pocket was stuffed quite full, and one end of a slice of cake peeped +out, though she tried her best to press it down. But Abby had a hope +that no one would notice it through her white apron.<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a></p> + +<p>As Dotty's hair was now in fine order, the two children set out on their +walk. They had gone but a few steps when Zip came trotting along, with +all speed, looking up in their faces as if to say, "What have I done, +that I can't go too?"</p> + +<p>"Queer what made <i>him</i> want to come," said Abby, tartly.</p> + +<p>"He loves his little sister," said Dotty, stroking his nose. "He shall +go, he shall; he's a darling."</p> + +<p>The dog kept beside the children, and every now and then Abby secretly +punched him with a stick, while Dotty was patting his head, and chatting +with him.</p> + +<p>It was a long way to aunt Martha's, and Abby, besides feeling guilty, +and <a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>ashamed of herself, was also very anxious to eat the goodies which +made such a bunch in her pocket. Zip seemed to know there was cake +somewhere, and sniffed about in a way which made her rather nervous.</p> + +<p>"Here, let's creep under this fence," said she; "what's the use to go +'round by the road? It's a great deal nearer to your aunt's house +through the field."</p> + +<p>"There, child," cried she, when they were on the other side of the +fence, "now I want to go behind this clump of trees, to—to find a book +I left here yesterday: but you mustn't come, Dotty."</p> + +<p>"What for can't I? Yes, I shall, Abby Grant; you shame yourself!<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a> I'm +goin' every single where you go; so, now, you'll have to give up!"</p> + +<p>"Dot Parling, you go right along with your doggie! I'll come in a +minute."</p> + +<p>Dotty thought a girl of Abby's age had no right to command her. She +stamped her little foot, but it made no sound in the soft grass.</p> + +<p>"I isn't a-goin' to go long with my doggie, Abby Grant; 'cause—so +there!"</p> + +<p>"But you must. You know, Dot Parling," said Abby, more gently, "your +grandma expects you to do just what I tell you. I'm afraid, dear, you +won't get any of that bubbled cream if you don't mind, nor any tarts."</p> + +<p>The child queen began to think it <a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>was wisest to obey; but she did so +with a very ill grace.</p> + +<p>"Well, Abby Grant, I will go long with my doggie; but it's cause I'm +tired, and don't want to help you find your old book—so, there!"</p> + +<p>"That's right. Dotty. Start quick—can't you?"</p> + +<p>Dotty took "high ground" at once. She looked Abby full in the face.</p> + +<p>"Do you like <i>yourself</i>, Abby Grant?"</p> + +<p>"I don' know. Yes: why?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I shouldn't think you would! I 'spise you!"</p> + +<p>Having freed her mind, Dotty walked on with Zip, only turning back once, +to exclaim,—</p> + +<p>"There, Abby, now you'll have to give up!"<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a></p> + +<p>Abby, naughty girl, ate her cake in secret, staining her white apron +with the jelly, while little Miss Dimple trudged on, thinking it very +strange Abby should be so long finding that book.</p> + +<p>Perhaps for the reason that she was rather out of sorts, and thinking +about Abby rather than about the road, she missed her way, and soon +found herself in a narrow lane she had never seen before.</p> + +<p>Zip looked rather uneasy, but followed close by her side. Dotty walked +on and on, till the track had faded quite away. This was not the road to +aunt Martha's. Why didn't Abby come?</p> + +<p>Dotty, too proud to cry, too angry <a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>to look back, wandered till she came +to the edge of the Parlin woods. Here was a little creek, tumbling over +some small gray rocks; the same "creek" where Horace had sometimes gone +fishing.</p> + +<p>"True as you live," said Dotty to herself, "here's a teenty-tonty +river."</p> + +<p>There was no way of crossing the creek, and the child felt as if she had +come to the very end of the world. Her courage began to fail.</p> + +<p>"Dotty Dimple," said she, stamping her foot, "don't you cry! If you do +cry, Dotty Dimple, I'll shut you up in the closet."</p> + +<p>But, in spite of these brave words, the unhappy child felt two or three +<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a>tears raining down her cheeks. She now seated herself on the grass, and +screamed for Abby.</p> + +<p>"When she comes," thought Dotty, "I'll tell her she's 'shamed herself!"</p> + +<p>At first it seemed as if Abby were answering her; but the sound proved +to be only the echo of Dotty's own voice. O, she might scream all the +afternoon, and Abby wouldn't try to hear! O, dear; before anybody would +come, a bear, or a wolf, or a whale might rush right out of the woods +and eat her up! Then how Abby would cry! Abby's mother would whip her +with a big stick, and say, "there, now; what made you go behind the +trees, and let that little Parlin girl lose herself, and get ate up! I +don't think <a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>you're very polite, you naughty girl!"—O, how everybody +would cry!</p> + +<p>But what was that little funny thing on the water? Forgetting her sudden +fear of bears and whales, a fear which Abby herself had put into her +little head, Dotty gazed at the "funny thing." Could it be a little +truly sailboat? Yes, it certainly was. How it got into the creek Dotty +never stopped to think; the question was, how could she get it out?</p> + +<p>She blew it with her breath, but it only floated farther away. She +waited, hoping it would turn about, and come towards her. She threw +sticks at it, but in vain. The boys, who had set it sailing had gone +into the woods for raspberries, would have laughed to <a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>see her efforts. +Presently she took off her hat, held it by one string, and flung it in, +as if it had been a fishing-net. It was all of no use; the boat acted as +if it were alive, and did not choose to be caught.</p> + +<p>Dotty had forgotten all about Abby and the visit to aunt Martha's.</p> + +<p>"I know what I'll do," thought she, winking very fast. "I'll catch that +boat; I will!"</p> + +<p>When Dotty had made up her mind, she never stopped for trifles. She drew +off her stockings and gaiters, and stepped into the creek. Boys waded in +the water, why couldn't she? There was nothing to bite her! She wasn't +afraid!</p> + +<p>She had supposed the water would <a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>only cover her feet, but she found +herself sadly mistaken. The creek was remarkably deep, and, more than +that, the bottom was so soft that she sank down, down, at every step.</p> + +<p>Poor child! It was hard enough to get lost; it was harder still to be +drowned!</p> + +<p>"O, papa!" she screamed; "O, mamma! O, Prudy! can't you come? I don't +want to drown, and not have <i>you</i> drown, Prudy. Can't you come, somebody +come!"</p> + +<p>But there were no human ears near enough to hear her piteous cries. She +must have drowned—there is no doubt of it—if Zip had not been close at +hand. The moment he saw her sinking, he gave a low bark and swam after +her.<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a></p> + +<p>Before he could reach the unfortunate child the water was up to her +waist, and she was wringing her little helpless hands, and saying, "Now +I lay me down to sleep!"</p> + +<p>Faithful old Zip lost not a moment, but seized her skirts and dragged +her to the bank, laying her on the ground as tenderly as her own mother +could have done.</p> + +<p>Now you see why it is that God had put it into Zip's loving heart to +"want to come with his little sister."</p> + +<p>Abner, who arrived a few minutes later, in order to cut some young +birches for his fence, said,—</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it lucky, that that dog <i>happened</i> to be right on the spot? And +lucky, too, that I <i>happened</i> along in <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>the nick of time, to carry the +poor little girl home in my arms?"</p> + +<p>But the truth is, in this world which our Heavenly Father watches over, +nothing ever comes by chance, and events do not <i>happen</i>.</p> + +<p>Abby shed many bitter tears, but they were not so much tears of sorrow +for her sin, as of shame for being found out. Such weeping does no good. +Indeed I am afraid it only hardened Abby's heart.</p> + +<p>But the day ended gloriously for Dotty. She was handed about to be +kissed by everybody, and was, after all, allowed to sit up till nine +o'clock, and actually ate a "bubbled cream," sitting as close as she +could beside Colonel Allen's elbow.<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>DR. PRUDY.</h3> + + +<p>The next day Dotty had a severe cold, and her mother, fearing the croup, +did not allow her to go out of doors. This was hard for the child. She +felt very restless, because she had to give up "housekeeping" with +Prudy, a very fascinating game, which could only be played on the +river-bank. She looked out of the kitchen window, and saw some +carpenters shingling the barn.</p> + +<p>"O, hum!" she murmured, "I wish grandpa wouldn't mend his barn!"<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a></p> + +<p>A white mist was creeping slowly over the river and the distant hills.</p> + +<p>"There, now," she sighed, "I wish the earth wouldn't <i>breave</i> so hard!"</p> + +<p>Then she went into the parlor, like a little gray cloud.</p> + +<p>"O, dear; I don't like this house, 'cause it's got a top to it! Wish I +was somewhere else!"</p> + +<p>"Poor child," said Colonel Allen, who was seated on the sofa, looking +out of the bay-window upon the garden; "do you love home better than +this beautiful spot?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the little one, shaking her head. "I don't love my home, +'cause I live there; I don't love nothin'. O, hum, suz!"</p> + +<p>Then Dotty wandered into the nur<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>sery, and stood all alone, leaning +against the lounge.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think my mother'd let me be so cross," mused she.</p> + +<p>She did not cry, for she had learned very young that crying is of no +use; and it may be, too, that she had only a small fountain of tears +back of her eyes. Prudy, entering the nursery in eager haste, for her +"bean-bags," was touched at sight of her sister's sad face.</p> + +<p>"There, now, I'll put back my bean-bags, and try to make her happy," +said Prudy to herself. "That will be following the Golden Rule; for it's +doing unto Dotty as I want Susy to do unto me, when <i>I'm</i> sick."</p> + +<p>She went quietly up to Dotty, who <a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>still stood leaning gloomily against +the lounge. The child turned around with a sudden smile. It cheered her +to see Prudy's sweet face, which was always sunny with a halo of happy +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Are you real sick, though, Dotty Dimple?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I are," replied Dotty, well pleased to be asked such a question. +"I got 'most drowned, you know. O, I wish you'd stayed out in the rain +the other day, and got cold; then you'd have been sick, too."</p> + +<p>Prudy smiled, for she knew that her little sister really had no such +unkind wish at heart. She was only trying, with her limited stock of +words, to say that she longed to have a little sym<a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>pathy. It was not +often that Dotty was willing to be pitied.</p> + +<p>"See here, Prudy darling, don't you want a piece of my cough-candy? It's +good! You may bite clear down to there, where I've scratched with a +pin."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, dear, I don't care a bit for it."</p> + +<p>Dotty's face beamed with joyous dimples. It was so pleasant to be +generous, and at the same time keep the candy! In her short life Dotty +Dimple had not quite learned that "the half is better than the whole."</p> + +<p>"Now," said Prudy, after thinking a while, "suppose we play that you're +sick,—as you are, you know,—and I'm the doctor."<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a></p> + +<p>Dotty gave a little scream of delight.</p> + +<p>"You may see my tongue," said she, running to the looking-glass; "it's +real rusty. Can't you scrape it with a knife, Brady?"</p> + +<p>"You must say <i>doctor</i>, when you speak to me. Now, my dear patient, it's +best for you to lie on the lounge, and take medicine in the chest. Poor +young lady, we shall be so glad when you get your health all well!—Do +you want me to extricate a tooth? Have you any headache, miss?"</p> + +<p>Prudy's voice was low and sympathetic. "Yes, Dr. Prudy," replied the +patient, with a stifled groan; "I've truly got the ache in my head; it +pricks through my hair." "I'll tell you the cause of that, my <a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>dear +patient; I suspect your pillow's made of pin-feathers. Let me feel your +pulse on the back of your hand—your wrist, I mean. Terrible," moaned +the young doctor, gazing mournfully at the ceiling; "it's stopped +beating. Can't expect your life now. O, no!"</p> + +<p>"Now you must put your hands behind you, and walk across the room," +suggested Dotty; "that's the way."</p> + +<p>"If my memory preserves me right," continued the young doctor, pacing +the floor, "you've got the—ahem!—pluribus unum." Here Dr. Prudy ran +her fingers through her hair. "But it goes light this year—with care, +ma'am, you know. So I'll go and stir you up some pills in my marble +mortar."<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a></p> + +<p>"O, dear me, doctor; don't you now! Bring me some lemonade and nuts, for +I'm drefful sick; but don't bring me no pills nor molters!"</p> + +<p>"Poh, only brown bread, Dotty! what do you suppose?"</p> + +<p>Upon the whole, Miss Dimple, being petted to her heart's content, had +quite a comfortable day of it.</p> + +<p>In the evening she asked,—</p> + +<p>"Mightn't I eat supper, all alone, in the parlor? Once, when I had the +sores all wrinkled out on my face, on my chin and round my eyes, all +round, <i>then</i> I ate in the parlor."</p> + +<p>Prudy, with her grandmother's consent, carried in a pretty salver, on +which were a little Wedgewood teapot with hot water, a tiny sugar-bowl +and <a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>creamer, a plate, and cup and saucer, some slices of toast, and a +glass of jelly.</p> + +<p>"Thank you a whole heart-full," said Dotty, springing off the sofa; +"that little waiter and so forth is real big enough for me."</p> + +<p>Dotty thought "and so forth" meant "cups and saucers." She had heard +Norah tell Prudy, when she wished to set the table, that she might put +on "the knives and forks, and so forth," and Dotty had noticed that it +was always cups and saucers after the knives and forks.</p> + +<p>"But, Dr. Prudy, there's one thing you've forgot," said the young +patient; "a little tea-bell, so I can tingle it, and call you in."<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a></p> + +<p>The bell was brought, and while the rest of the family ate in the +dining-room, Dotty took her "white tea" in the parlor, in queenly state.</p> + +<p>Prudy had eaten half a thin slice of toast, when the long and sharp +ringing of the tea-bell summoned her into the parlor.</p> + +<p>"And what would you like, Miss Dimple?" said the remarkably obliging +doctor, with a low bow.</p> + +<p>"More jelly," replied the patient, holding up the empty glass, "and some +squince marmalade."</p> + +<p>After obeying this request, Prudy went back to her supper, and had just +finished her slice of bread, when the bell struck again.</p> + +<p>This time there was "that old spin-<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>wheel in the chimney again,"—so the +patient said,—and a book in the what-not wrong side up, looking "as if +it would choke."</p> + +<p>The book was set right; but the noise in the chimney was too much for +the doctor's skill, since neither she nor any one else knew its cause.</p> + +<p>Next sounded a furious peal of the bell, and a series of loud screams +from the little sick girl. She had been dreadfully stung by a bee, which +had buzzed its way out from the fireboard. Strange to tell, there was a +swarm of bees in the chimney, instead of "a spin-wheel."</p> + +<p>Abner at once mounted to the roof of the house, and peeped into the +chimney. A nice, cosy beehive it <a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>made, filled to the throat with waxen +cells.</p> + +<p>Dotty bore her sufferings sweetly, being sustained by the promise of a +large box of honey, by and by.</p> + +<p>"Bees have a 'sweet, sweet home,' I think," said Susy.</p> + +<p>"So do ants when they get in the sugar-box," rejoined Prudy.</p> + +<p>As night approached, Dotty showed symptoms of croup.</p> + +<p>"I think," said her grandmother, "it will be the safest way to give her +some castor-oil and molasses; that is what her father used to take when +he was a little boy."</p> + +<p>Dotty pouted. "Dirty, slippy castor-oil," she cried, shaking her +elbows—a thing she seldom did now. "I shan't <a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>let it go in my throat. +I'll bite my teeth togedder tight."</p> + +<p>"Alice," said her grandmother, "is that the proper way to speak to me?"</p> + +<p>The child's face cleared in a moment.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't a-speakin' to you, grandma," said she, sweetly; "I was a +talkin' to the dust-pan."</p> + +<p>"O, Dotty Parlin!" cried Prudy, much distressed. "Nobody ever talked to +the dust-pan, in all the days of their lives! I always thought you were +a good girl, Dotty, but now I am afraid you tell false fibs!"</p> + +<p>Dotty clung about Prudy like a sweet pea, and peeped into her eyes with +a pleading look.</p> + +<p>"Say, do you love me, Prudy? For<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a> I'm goin' to let the oil slip right +down my throat, just as my papa did when <i>he</i> was a little boy."</p> + +<p>After swallowing the oil and molasses, Dotty grew very affectionate, and +kissed everybody twice, all around. Then she said her prayers, and went +to bed.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said she, "now smoove me up under my chin, please." She loved +to have the sheet laid straight. "Do you s'pose God will take care o' me +to-night, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, my darling; you may be very sure He will. Your heavenly +Father never sleeps. He watches over you always."</p> + +<p>"Now, truly, does he?" said the child, pressing her flushed cheek +<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>against the pillow. "Does he see me in my chubby bed, when the moon's +all dark?</p> + +<p>"O, my suz!" cried she, suddenly, raising her head; "God can take care +o' me most always, you know, but I'm drefful afraid something will catch +me while he's 'tending to <i>another</i> man!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Parlin explained to her little daughter, as well as she could, the +omnipresence and infinite goodness of God; and while she was still +talking, in low, soothing tones, the little one fell asleep.</p> + +<p>But about midnight there was a sudden alarm. Lights glanced here and +there over the house, and Susy and Prudy were wakened from a deep <a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>sleep +by the sound of voices. Dotty had a violent attack of croup.</p> + +<p>"Put me out doors," gasped the poor little sufferer, when she could +speak at all. "I can't breave if the window's <i>ever</i> so up. Get me +nearer to the moon. Then I can breave!"</p> + +<p>"It's so dreadful!" sobbed Susy. "I feel real sure she's going to die +this time."</p> + +<p>"O, no, I don't think she will," said Prudy, shaking the tears off her +eyelashes. "God took care of me when I had the lameness, and He'll take +care of her. He loves her as much as he loves me."</p> + +<p>"Now just listen to me," returned Susy, pacing the floor of the green +chamber, in her night-dress, while<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a> Prudy sat on the edge of the bed. +"God loves us all; but that's no sign we can't die! Little children, no +older than Dotty, have their breath snatched right away, and are covered +up in the ground, with gravestones at their heads and feet. O, you +haven't the least idea, Prudy. You never think anything can happen!"</p> + +<p>"Well, things don't happen very often, you know, Susy."</p> + +<p>"There, Prudy Parlin, don't talk so! I feel just as if Dotty was going +to die this very night."</p> + +<p>"O, I don't think she will, Susy. But she's God's little girl, and if He +wants her up in heaven He has a right to take her. He never'll take her, +though, unless it's best, now certainly."<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a></p> + +<p>"Sit still, Prudy, just as you are. The moon is shining into the window, +on your tears, and it seems as if I could almost see a rainbow in your +eyes!—There, it's gone now. What makes you talk so queer about God, +Prudy? as if you knew a great deal more than I do?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know half as much as you do," replied Prudy; "but I used to lie +and think about the Saviour when I had the lameness.—Hark! Is that +Dotty laughing? Let's go in and see if she isn't 'most well."</p> + +<p>The child was indeed better; but for the next three nights she suffered +from severe attacks of the croup. Her sisters had not known how they +loved her till she showed her frail side, and <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>they saw how slender was +the thread which bound her to earth. When she was strong, and roguish, +and wilful, they forgot that she was only a tender flower after all, and +might be nipped from the stem any time.</p> + +<p>When she was well again, Prudy said to her mother, in confidence, "It +didn't kill her, the croup didn't, but it might have killed her; and I'm +going to love her all the time as if she was really dead, and gone to +heaven."<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>BUYING A BROTHER.</h3> + + +<p>"One, two, buckle my slipper! no, my gaiters," repeated Miss Dimple, as +Prudy laced her boots. "I wish I was a horse, then my shoes would be +nailed on, and be done with it."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad," said Prudy, putting on her hat, "that we can go to +housekeeping again."</p> + +<p>They had built a shingle palace on the bank of the river. It was as +white as chalk could make it, and glared like a snowdrift out of a clump +of evergreens which were no taller than dandelions.<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a></p> + +<p>"Our house is shaded so much," said Prudy, "that it makes me think of a +lady with hair over her eyes."</p> + +<p>The entrance to the little palace was through a swinging door, of white +cloth, and from the roof fluttered a small flag. There were four rooms +in the house, all of them on the ground floor. The parlor was elegantly +furnished with a braided carpet, of striped grass, a piano, whose black +and white keys were put on with coal and chalk, not to mention other +articles of luxury. The table was spread with acorn-cups and poppy +teapots, the little housekeepers being advised not to make use of their +china dishes for this establishment.</p> + +<p>There was a very black stove in the <a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>kitchen, but the most of the +cooking was done out of doors, farther down the bank, in ovens shaped +like swallows' nests. Here were baked delicious mud cakes, tempting +currant tarts, and dainty custards.</p> + +<p>Nothing pleased Miss Dimple so well as to govern a household. She ruled +with a rod of iron.</p> + +<p>In the midst of a caution to her servant-maid, Prudy, "not to burn her +biscuits as black as so'-leather," she was surprised to see her +twinkling off a tear.</p> + +<p>"O, Prudy, I didn't mean to scold," said she, in the tenderest tones.</p> + +<p>"Poh, as if I minded your make-believe, Dotty! I was only thinking about +aunt Madge—that's all."</p> + +<p>"What has she done?" asked Dotty <a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>as she went on stamping her mud cake +with the head of a pin.</p> + +<p>"It isn't done yet, Dotty; but it will be. She's going to be married."</p> + +<p>Dotty dropped her mud-cake. "Why! who to? Abner?"</p> + +<p>"O, dear, no! To Mr.—I mean Colonel—Augustus Allen. Didn't you ever +hear of that?"</p> + +<p>"Was that why he sent his objections to mamma?" asked Dotty, in a low +voice.</p> + +<p>"He sent his <i>respects</i> to mother, if that's what you mean; and in the +same letter he said, 'Give oceans of love to Prudy.' As if it wasn't bad +enough to break my heart, without trying to drown me," murmured Prudy, +with dripping eyes.<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a></p> + +<p>"I don't see what you're crying for," broke in her little sister. "I +shall marry my papa one of these days. I should think you'd feel badder +about that. Who's <i>you</i> goin' to marry, Prudy?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody, Dotty, as long as I live! I shall stay at home with my mother, +and she'll be sitting in the rocking-chair, knitting, and father'll be +sitting by the window, reading the paper.—But there," added she, "aunt +Madge might be married three or four times, and I wouldn't care. It's +her going to New York that makes my heart ache so."</p> + +<p>"Well, shell come back bimeby," said Dotty, soothingly.</p> + +<p>"O," replied Prudy, with a wise <a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>smile; "seems to me when I was four +years old I knew a great deal more than you do, child! People that are +married stay away always."</p> + +<p>"I wish they wouldn't," cried Dotty, beginning to feel alarmed. "I'll +ask Colonel 'Gustus to marry Abby Grant after she gets growed, and let +my auntie stay at home."</p> + +<p>"The worst of it is," continued Prudy, glad of her sister's sympathy, +such as it was, "Colonel Allen is a lawyer."</p> + +<p>"Well, isn't lawyers as good as white folks?"</p> + +<p>"The only trouble with lawyers, Dotty, is, that they can't write so you +can read it. My father told me so. He said their writing was like +turkey's <a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>tracks. He said it looked as if a fly had got into the +inkstand, and crawled over the paper."</p> + +<p>Dotty's face was the picture of distress.</p> + +<p>"It's a drefful thing to grow up a nidiot," said she, drawing her mouth +down as she had seen Prudy do when beseeching her to learn the alphabet. +"Don't he know all the letters, skippin' about?"</p> + +<p>Here aunt Louise's voice was heard, from the piazza. She asked if the +children would like to go with her and see Mrs. Gray's baby. After a +little washing and brushing they were ready.</p> + +<p>"Auntie," said Dotty, as they walked along, "you've got my +porkmonnaie."<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a></p> + +<p>"Very true; so I have."</p> + +<p>"How much money is in my porkmonnaie?"</p> + +<p>"Two dollars and a half. Why?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I want to give it to Mr. Colonel Allen, to make him marry Abby +Grant when she gets growed. I 'spise her, and I want her to go to New +York. There's where the husbands and wives go."</p> + +<p>Miss Louise laughed.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said she; "you may give the money to 'Mr. Colonel,' and +I've no doubt you can persuade him to marry any one you please."</p> + +<p>Dotty smiled with entire satisfaction, but Prudy looked inquiringly into +her auntie's face, not believing it possible that Colonel Allen would +<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>really change his mind for two dollars and a half.</p> + +<p>The children went wild over the sleeping baby, Philip Gray.</p> + +<p>"He's a brother, isn't he?" said Dotty. "I wish he was mine. I haven't +any but Zip. I'd take my kitty out of the carriage, and put in this +brother, and give him all my sugar things."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Dr. Gray, with a flicker of fun in his eyes, "the baby is +not of the least use to me, and if you like him, my dear—"</p> + +<p>Dotty danced about the cradle.</p> + +<p>"He's nicer than a squir'l catched in a cage. O, he is!"</p> + +<p>"That's just as people may fancy," said Dr. Gray. "Now I think, for my +<a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>part, a squirrel would be less trouble, for he could get his own +living."</p> + +<p>Dotty peeped into the doctor's face with her bright eyes, to make sure +he really liked squirrels better than babies.</p> + +<p>"But," continued he, very gravely, "it may be his mother might object to +my giving him away. I don't know why it is, but she seems to value him +very highly. She would expect some money for him, I think. How much are +you willing to pay?"</p> + +<p>Dotty reflected. She possessed several dollies, a new tea-set, a box of +picture-books, and a red morocco ball. But what would Dr. Gray care for +these, or her various other toys? All her money was contained in her +porte<a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>monnaie, the money which she had meant should put a stop to her +aunt Madge's dreadful marriage. Should she save her auntie, and give up +the baby? Or should she buy the baby, and leave her auntie to her fate?</p> + +<p>The struggle in her mind was a severe one, but it did not last long.</p> + +<p>"O," thought she, looking at the little sleeper in the cradle, "I'd +rather have him than aunt Madge; for he'll stay to our house, and sleep +in my crib."</p> + +<p>"How now?" said Dr. Gray, pinching Dotty's cheek; "made up your mind?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the child, with her finger in her mouth; "I'm goin' +to buy him. I mean, I'm goin' to if I <a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a>can get him for two dollars and a +half."</p> + +<p>"A generous sum," laughed the doctor. "Well said. Now, the next thing +is, to obtain his mother's consent."</p> + +<p>This was very easily done, for Mrs. Gray, who was not strong, and had +only a young girl in the kitchen, declared that, dearly as she loved the +baby, she found him a deal of trouble.</p> + +<p>Dotty's face was radiant; but Prudy, who understood that the whole +conversation was merely a playful one, looked down upon her younger +sister with a sage smile.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think," whispered Dotty, clutching her auntie by the dress, +"don't you think we'd better be going?"<a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a></p> + +<p>"Why, dear, are you tired of your brother so soon?"</p> + +<p>"O, I want to get the carriage, you know, and the money to pay him for."</p> + +<p>Miss Louise, who knew that her little niece was terribly in earnest, now +tried to divert her with pictures; but Dotty was not to be wheedled by +any such arts.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Dr. Gray; "we'll keep little Phil +for you till he's as tall as a pair of tongs."</p> + +<p>Unfortunately there was a fireplace in the room, and Dotty's keen eyes +at once espied the tongs, leaning against a brass rester. As quick as a +thought she seized them, and laid them in the cradle beside the baby. +They were half an inch shorter than<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a> Phil—even the doctor was obliged +to confess it.</p> + +<p>"Bravo! Miss Bright Eyes," said he, catching up Dotty, and whirling her +over his shoulder; "you have a shrewd little brain of your own. I see +you can be trusted to make your own bargains."</p> + +<p>The baby had been for some moments nestling uneasily, and of course was +broad awake by this time, screaming lustily, as if to protest against +the inhuman proceeding of being bought and sold.</p> + +<p>Dotty had just time to see that her "brother" had "nut-blue" eyes, when +she was hurried away by her aunt Louise.</p> + +<p>For three days the expectant child <a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>was kept in suspense by mirthful Dr. +Gray, who pretended that he should bring the baby to her some time when +she did not expect it. She often rushed into the parlor, saying, "O, I +thought I heard somethin' cryin';" and almost cried herself because +there was no baby there. "I wish I could stop expecting my brother," +said Dotty, sorrowfully, "for then he might come."</p> + +<p>But, at last, after her young heart had throbbed again and again with +false hopes, she began to see that she had been cruelly deceived. Dr. +Gray did not mean, and never had meant, to sell his baby.</p> + +<p>"He tells too many fibs," said Dotty, stamping her foot, and looking +very <a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>much flushed; "he cheated me, he did."</p> + +<p>"Now, Susy, do you think it was right to cheat her so?" said Prudy, +sorry for Dotty's disappointment.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied the older sister, hesitating. "Dr. Gray is a +real good man. I don't believe he meant to cheat. Father wears paper +collars sometimes, and makes believe they are linen; but then, you know, +<i>father</i> wouldn't cheat! Dr. Gray was only joking. The trouble is, Dotty +is too little to understand jokes. Dr. Gray didn't mean to break his +word."</p> + +<p>"Well, if he didn't break it, he <i>bent</i> it," replied Prudy, positively.<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>A WEDDING.</h3> + + +<p>"I shan't buy any more brothers as long as I live—now you see if I do," +said Dotty Dimple, with quivering lips.</p> + +<p>"Come here, little one, and sit on my knee," said Colonel Augustus +Allen. "Can't you think of something next as good as a baby brother? How +would you fancy a grown-up uncle!"</p> + +<p>Dotty looked wonderingly into Colonel Allen's face.</p> + +<p>"Who's got any to sell?" said she.</p> + +<p>"Possibly the minister may have," said Colonel Allen, laughing. "You +<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>wait till this evening, and very likely he may be here. Then you can go +up to him and say, 'Please, Mr. Hayden, will you sell me an uncle?'"</p> + +<p>"But he'll cheat me—he will," said Dotty, shaking her finger.</p> + +<p>"O, no, never fear. Just try him, and see. Here's a sealed envelope +which Susy may keep for you till night."</p> + +<p>"And shan't I have to spend the money in my porkmonnaie?"</p> + +<p>"Not a cent of it, chickie."</p> + +<p>Something was going on which was called <i>a wedding</i>; though what a +wedding might be, Miss Dimple had no idea, having never attended one in +all her life. But it was something remarkable, no doubt, for the parlors +<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>ware glowing with flowers, and everybody was in a flutter. The three +children, dressed in their very best, were allowed to sit up for the +whole evening, or, at any rate, as long as they pleased.</p> + +<p>It was as lovely out of doors as "a Lapland night." The full moon and +the gay lamplight tried to outshine one another.</p> + +<p>"Do look at that great moon dripping down the juniper tree," cried +Prudy, growing poetical as she gazed. "Let me tell you, Susy, when the +moon is young and little, it makes me think of a smile, and when it's a +grown-up, full moon, it makes me think of a laugh."</p> + +<p>Just as Dotty was beginning to wonder whether she felt sleepy or not, +<a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a>the door-bell rang; and after that it kept ringing every few minutes +for an hour. By that time the fragrant parlors were almost filled with +guests. Everybody had a few kind words for the children, and Prudy +listened and answered with timid blushes: but Dotty Dimple was, as +usual, very fearless, and perfectly at ease.</p> + +<p>Presently Colonel Allen, and Miss Margaret, and Miss Louise entered the +room. Dotty had been wondering where they were.</p> + +<p>"Now," whispered aunt Louise, "now's the time to ask Mr. Hayden for that +new uncle."</p> + +<p>Dotty stepped briskly up to the minister.</p> + +<p>"Here's a letter for you," said she,<a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a> "and it says, 'Will you please +sell me an uncle, sir?'"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hayden smiled, and asked the little maiden what sort of an uncle she +would like.</p> + +<p>"A new one," she replied, bending her head one side, and peeping up in +his face like a tame canary, "and a soldier, too, if you've got any to +sell."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hayden said he certainly had, and laughed when he spoke, though +Dotty could not imagine why. Dr. Gray took her up in his arms, and +declared he would like to carry her home in his pocket. Such an idea! +And Dr. Gray was the man who had cheated her! When he set her down again +she stood on her dignity, and carried her head like a queen.<a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a></p> + +<p>She had hardly crossed the room, and taken her station beside Prudy, +when a hush fell upon the company. Dotty was inclined to think people +had paused in conversation to watch <i>her</i>. Colonel Allen and aunt Madge +were standing together, and Mr. Hayden in front of them. The guests were +looking at <i>them</i>, not at Miss Dotty Dimple!</p> + +<p>Mr. Hayden began to talk very solemnly—almost like preaching. No one +else spoke; no one smiled. Before Dotty could ask what they were doing, +Mr. Hayden was praying; and after the prayer, which was so hearty and +simple that Dotty could almost understand it, the whole room was in +motion again. Everybody seemed <a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a>suddenly bent on kissing aunt Madge, +though what that young lady had been doing which was better than usual +Dotty could not exactly make out. But this, she concluded, was in some +way connected with the entertainment called <i>a wedding</i>.</p> + +<p>"Come, now, little lady," said Mr. Hayden, taking Dotty's hand, and +leading her up to Colonel Allen, "here is the uncle you have bought. He +is new, and a soldier too. So you see I have done my best for you."</p> + +<p>"That?" said Dotty, pointing her index-finger at the bridegroom in +surprise. "I know <i>him</i>; he isn't <i>new</i>. He is Mr. Colonel. He isn't my +uncle a bit, sir."</p> + +<p>"True, he was not, five minutes <a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>ago, Miss Dimple; but the few little +words you heard me say to him have made a wonderful change. He is now +your uncle Augustus, and your aunt Margaret is Mrs. Allen."</p> + +<p>Dotty looked up bewildered. Her newly-married aunt was engaged in +talking to the guests; but Colonel Allen was gazing down upon his new +niece with an arch smile.</p> + +<p>"The minister did not cheat you, you see?" said he. "He has really given +you what he promised."</p> + +<p>"I didn't want you to marry my good auntie," was all Dotty's answer.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear, that is very sad! I was not aware that you had any dislike +for me."</p> + +<p>"O, I love you," exclaimed Dotty,<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a> "'cause you carry me pickaback; <i>but</i> +I wish you knew your letters skippin' about!"</p> + +<p>The minister and the bridegroom smiled at this absurd little speech, and +it was repeated to everybody in the room. Prudy felt very guilty, and +blushed like a damask rose, for she knew where Dotty had caught the idea +of Colonel Allen's extreme ignorance.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry, little Miss Dimple, that you object to me," said the +new uncle; "but by and by you and I will take the big dictionary, and +you may point out the letters to me. I think you will find I know them +'skippin' about.' Is there anything else you have against me?"<a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the child, earnestly; "you're a lawyer—my father +says so. You wrote to him once."</p> + +<p>"Did I? What did I write?"</p> + +<p>"A letter."</p> + +<p>"And where was the harm in that?"</p> + +<p>"O, it looked like turkeys' tracks—he said it did. You wrote the letter +with a fly. You dipped him in the inkstand, and stuck him on a pin, and +wrote with him. My father says so."</p> + +<p>"You surprise me, Dotty. I really don't remember it. Have you any other +reason for not wishing me to be your uncle?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted you to marry somebody else."<a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a></p> + +<p>"Indeed! You ought to have mentioned it before! What young lady had you +chosen for me, Miss Dimple?"</p> + +<p>"Abby Grant, the little girl that went behind the tree and let me lose +myself. I'd as lief she'd go to New York as not. If you'd only waited +for her she'd have growed up."</p> + +<p>By this time Mrs. Parlin, though somewhat amused by her little +daughter's sharp speeches, thought it best to put an end to them by +taking her away into a corner. She was too much inclined to pertness.</p> + +<p>The evening was very delightful; but like everything else in this world +it could not last always. After the guests had departed, and before the +doors were closed or the lights put <a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>out, the three tired children +slowly wound their way up stairs.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad it's over and done," said Prudy, resignedly. "I've cried just +all I'm going to."</p> + +<p>"I only wish Grace Clifford had been here," murmured Susy, clutching +hold of the baluster.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't wish nothing so there," said Dotty Dimple, dreamily.</p> + +<p>And this is the last word we are to hear from her. She is nearly asleep. +Let us bid her and her two older sisters a Good Night and Pleasant +Dreams.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple, by Sophie May + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE PRUDY'S DOTTY DIMPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 16390-h.htm or 16390-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/9/16390/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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: Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple + +Author: Sophie May + +Release Date: July 30, 2005 [EBook #16390] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE PRUDY'S DOTTY DIMPLE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +LITTLE PRUDY'S +DOTTY DIMPLE + +_By_ +SOPHIE MAY + +NEW YORK +HURST & COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + +[Illustration] + +DEDICATION. + +TO + +Little Nelly Clarke. + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER PAGE + I. DOTTY'S BABYHOOD 7 + II. THE BONE MAN 31 + III. DOTTY'S VERSES 36 + IV. THE NESTLINGS 52 + V. FANNY HARLOW'S PARTY 65 + VI. THE LITTLE TEACHER 83 + VII. BOTH SIDES OF A STORY 98 +VIII. THE WATER-KELPIE 117 + IX. BROTHER ZIP 137 + X. DR. PRUDY 154 + XI. BUYING A BROTHER 173 + XII. A WEDDING 189 + + + + +DOTTY DIMPLE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DOTTY'S BABYHOOD. + + +Alice was the youngest of the Parlin family. When Grandma Read called +the children into the kitchen, and told them about their new little +sister, Susy danced for joy; and Prudy, in her delight, opened the +cellar door, and fell down the whole length of the stairs. However, she +rolled as softly as a pincushion, and was not seriously hurt. + +"But you can't go into mother's room," said Susy, "you're crying so +hard." + +"Poh!" replied three-years-old Prudy, twinkling off the tears; "yes, I +can neither. I won't go _crying_ in! I didn't hurt me velly bad. I'm +weller now!" + +So she had the first peep at the wee dot of a baby in the nurse's arms. + +"O, dear, dear," said she, "what shall I do? I _are_ so glad! I wish I +could jump clear up to the _sky_ of this room! How do you do, little +sister?" + +The baby made no reply. + +"Why! don't you love me? This is _me_: my name's Prudy. I've got a red +pocket dress;--Santa Claw bringed it." + +Still the little stranger paid no heed,--only winked her small, bright +eyes, and at last closed them entirely. + +"O, my stars! she don't hear the leastest thing," sobbed Prudy, glad of +an excuse to cry again. "She can't hear the leastest mite of a thing! +Where's the holes in her ears gone to? O, dear, dear!" + +It seemed to Susy that this was the happiest day of her life. She stole +up to her mother and kissed her. "O, mamma," said she, "wasn't God good +to send this little sister?--Why, I'm crying," added Susy, greatly +surprised: "what do you suppose makes me cry, when I'm happy all +over--clear to the ends of my fingers?" + +"Yes, your eyes are sprinklin' down tears, but you're laughing all over +your face; and so 'm I," said little Prudy, delighted to see some one +else as foolish as herself. + +"Susan, I hope thee'll receive this new sister as a gift from God," said +grandma Read, wiping her spectacles. + +"It seems so funny," said Susy, gently stroking the baby's face; "so +funny for me to have a new sister." + +"Now you've tolled a story, Susy Parlin; she was sended to me,--isn't I +the littlest?" cried bruised and battered Prudy, shaking with another +tempest of tears, and kissing the baby violently. + +"O, mamma! O, grandma," said Susy, clasping her hands in alarm, "don't +let her kiss that soft baby so hard! She'll draw the blood right +through her cheeks." + +The nurse who was a smiling woman, with a wart on her nose, began to +frown a little, and grandma Read, patting Prudy's head, whispered to her +that if she did not stop crying she must leave the room, as the noise +she made disturbed her mother. + +"Then I'll--I'll be--just as good as a lady, and I won't kiss her no +more," replied little Prudy between her sobs, at the same time prying +open baby's mouth with her busy fingers. + +"Why, where's her teef? When you goin' to put in her teef?" + +"O," said Susy, in an ecstasy, "isn't she such a velvet darling? What +cunning little footsie-tootsies! Shaped just like a flatiron! But I +haven't seen her eyes yet." + +"There, look now," said Prudy, puffing in the baby's face; "her eyes has +came! I've _blowed_ 'em open." + +"O, fie, Miss Prudy," said the nurse, biting her lips; "now you'll +certainly have to leave the room. It's not safe for you to come near +this tiny bit of a baby. Nobody ever knows what you are likely to do +next." + +Little Prudy hung her head in great dismay. + +"Then, if she goes, I'll have to go too, or there'll be a fuss," sighed +Susy, stroking the baby's hair, which was as soft as a mouse's fur. + +Both children cast a lingering look at the bewitching little figure, so +daintily wrapped in a fleecy blanket. Prudy felt tempted to snatch her +up and give her a good hugging, but stood in mortal fear of the nurse. +There was something awful about Mrs. Fling: Prudy presumed it was the +wart on her nose. + +When the children were outside the door, and grandma had closed it +gently, they seated themselves on the upper step of the staircase, and +began to talk over this strange affair. + +"Don't you know what made me cry in there?" said Prudy. "The baby isn't +only a _girl_, and that's why I cried." + +For the moment Prudy fancied she was telling the truth. + +Susy laughed. "Just to think of our keeping a boy in THIS +house, Prudy Parlin!" + +"O, no! _course_ not!" returned her little sister, quickly; "_we_ +wouldn't keep a boy." + +"You see," argued Susy, "it's boys that fires all the popguns, and +whistle in your ears, and frighten you. Why, if this was a brother, we +couldn't but just live! What made you cry for a brother, Prudy?" + +"Poh, I didn't! I wouldn't have him for nothin' in my world! I'm glad +God sended a girl, and that's what made me _laugh_." + +"It seems so queer to think of it Prudy, I don't know what to do with +myself, I declare." + +"Well, I know what _I'm_ goin' to do. I'll give her my red +pocket-dress. She's come clear down from God's house, and this is a +drefful cold world." + +Susy knew that little Prudy's heart must be overflowing with sisterly +love to the baby, or she would not be willing to give her the +pocket-dress. + +"She can tuck her candy in it," pursued Prudy; "'tisn't a believe-make, +you know; there's a hole clear through. She can tuck her candy in, and +her pyunes and pfigs, and teenty apples. Oho!" + +"'Twill be as mother says about giving her your dress, Prudy; but we +shall be glad to see you kind to the new sister," said Susy, who was +fond of giving small lectures to Prudy. "We ought to be kind to her, +for God sent her down on purpose. Of course it will be ME that +will take the most care of her; but maybe they'll let you watch her +sometimes when she's asleep. Don't blow open her eyes any more, Prudy; +that's very naughty. If we do just as we ought to, and are kind to her, +she'll be a comfort, and grow up a lady!" + +"O, will she?" asked Prudy, a little sadly. "I thought when she growed +up she'd be a gemplum, like papa." + +"What an idea! But that's just as much sense as you little bits o' +children have! When you don't know about anything, Prudy, you may come +and ask _me_; I'm most six." + +The new baby was very wonderful indeed. The first thing she did was to +cry; the next was to sneeze. Prudy wished "all the people down street, +and all the ladies that lived in the whole o' the houses, could see the +new sister." Her heart swelled with pride when admiring ladies took the +unconscious little creature in their arms, saying, "Really, it is a +remarkably pretty child. What starry eyes! What graceful little fingers! +Isn't her mouth shaped like Prudy's?" + +Mrs. Parlin did not approve of cradles, and the nurse had a fashion of +rolling the baby in a blanket and laying her down in all sorts of +places. One day little Prudy flung herself into the big rocking chair, +not noticing the small bundle which lay there, under a silk +handkerchief. + +It was feared at first that the baby was crushed to death; but when she +was heard to cry, Mrs. Parlin said, "We have great cause for +thankfulness. So far as I can judge, it is only her _nose_ that is +broken!" + +But the doctor pronounced the baby's bones as sound as ever. + +"It is only little Miss Prudy whose nose is out of joint," added he. + +Prudy ran to look in the glass, but could not see anything the matter +with her nose, or anything that looked like "a joint." But after this +she was as careful as a child of her heedless age can be, not to injure +her tender sister. She never again saw a silk handkerchief without +shaking it to make sure there was not a baby under it. + +It was a long while before the friends could decide upon a name for this +beautiful stranger. + +"For my part I have no choice," said Mr. Parlin, "and only one remark to +make; call the child by her right name, whatever it may be, for I am +very much opposed to pet names, of all sorts." + +After every one else had spoken, Mrs. Parlin suggested that she would +like to call the baby Alice Barrow, in honor of a dear friend, now in +heaven. + +She grew to be a fair, fat baby; and while her teeth were pricking +through, like little pointed pearls, Susy's front teeth were dropping +out. Then she grew to be a toddling child; and while she was learning to +walk, Prudy was beginning to sew patchwork. For time does not stand +still; it passed, minute by minute, over the heads of Susy, Prudy, and +Alice, as well as all the rest of the world. And soon it brought an end +to Alice's babyhood. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE BONE MAN. + + +In spite of all Mr. Parlin had said against it, his little daughter was +called by various pet names,--such as Midge, and Ladybird, and +Forget-me-not. Very few were the people who seemed to remember that her +name was Alice. + +She had a pair of busy dimples, which were a constant delight to her +sisters. + +"They twinkle, twinkle like little stars, only they don't shine," cried +Prudy. + +"Why," said Susy, "it's just as if her cheeks were made of water, and +we were skipping pebbles in 'em." + +And because of these tiny whirl pools, the child was usually called +Dotty Dimple. From the time she could stand on her own little feet, she +was a queen of a baby, and carried her small head very high. If she +chanced to fall over a chair she seldom shed a tear, but thought the +chair had treated her shamefully, and ought to be shut up in the closet. +She never liked to have any one kiss her little bruises and pity her. It +gave great offence if any one said, "Poor Alice!" She seemed to grow +half a head taller in a minute, and looked as if she would say, "Needn't +make a baby o' _me_!" + +Not that she really said so. Talking was a thing she did not often +attempt, though she sang a great deal, with a voice as clear as a flute. +Prudy mourned because her tongue "did not grow fast enough." But where +was the need of speech? If she fancied she would like to be tossed to +the "sky of the room," she had only to pat her father's arm, and point +upward, and the next minute she was flying to the ceiling, in high glee, +and catching her breath. If she wished to go walking, it was enough to +point to the door, and then to her hat. Her little forefinger was as +good as most people's tongues, and served as a tolerably good +guide-post, for it pointed the way she meant to go herself, and the way +she wished others to go. + +One day, while Mrs. Parlin was making currant jelly, she allowed Prudy +to stay in the kitchen, and see her strain the beautiful crimson juice. +But as for Alice, she had been found pounding eggs in a mortar, and must +be taken away. She was placed in care of Susy, who led her out upon the +piazza, where she could watch the people passing by. "_Pedadder!_" cried +Alice, showing her dimples. "Yes, _piazza_; so it is," said careless +Susy, beginning to read a fairy story, and soon forgetting her quiet +little charge. + +Looking up at last, there was nothing to be seen of Alice. She could not +have entered the house, for the front-door knob was above her reach. + +Susy ran out upon the pavement, and looked up and down the street. +Which way to go she could not tell, but started down street at full +speed. "O, I'm sure I ought to be going _up street_," gasped she; "and +if I was, I shouldn't think _that_ was right either. Wish I knew which +way I should _expect_ Dotty to go, and then I'd know she'd gone just the +other way." + +After flitting hither and thither for some time, Susy ran home to give +the alarm. Without stopping to remove the jelly from the stove, Mrs. +Parlin, Norah, and Prudy ran out of doors, and taking different +directions, started in search of the missing child. + +On High Street Prudy met a soap-man, just reentering his wagon at some +one's door. + +"O, have you seen my little sister?" cried Prudy, pressing her hand +against her heart. + +"Your little sister? And who may that be?" said the soap-man, in a deep +whisper; for he had such a severe cold on his lungs that for six months +he had not spoken a loud word. + +"O, her name is Alice Wheelbarrow Parlin, sir," whispered Prudy, in +reply; "and she had on a pink dress, and her hair curls down her neck, +and she has the brightest eyes, and two years and a half of age, sir. O, +where _do_ you s'pose she's gone to?" + +In her concern for Dotty, Prudy had forgotten her usual fear of +strangers. + +"I'm sorry you've lost your sister," whispered the soap-man; "but as you +seem to be pretty well tired out, suppose you jump into my cart and +ride with me." + +Prudy wondered why the man still kept whispering, but presumed there was +some reason why the loss of Dotty aught to be kept secret. She looked at +the long lumber-wagon, partly filled with barrels, and was on the point +of replying, "No, thank you, sir," when a bright idea occurred to her. + +"Do you s'pose, sir, I can get to my sister any quicker if I ride?" + +"Well, can't say as to that, my dear," whispered the soap-man, shoving a +barrel to one side, "seeing as I don't know where your sister's to be +found; but there's one thing certain--you'll get over the ground a good +deal quicker riding than you would on your feet. I'm going to Pearl +Street before I stop." + +"Then I'll ride, sir, if you'll please lift me in," whispered poor +Prudy, trembling with fear of the uncouth wagon and strange man, yet +resolved to risk anything for Dotty's sake. + +There was no seat in the wagon, and Prudy was obliged to stand up. + +"Hold on to me, sissy," said the kind-hearted soap-boiler. "I reckon you +ain't used to riding in this kind of shape. Why, lawful sakes, your face +is as white as a pond-lily!" + +"It's my heart," whispered Prudy, faintly; "it _whisks_ just like the +eggs Norah beats in a bowl. But it's no matter, sir; I don't think I'm +afraid,--or only a little speck," added she, in a lower whisper; for, +though anxious to be polite, she did not mean to tell anything but the +"white truth." + +The little girl's gentle ways won the soap-boiler's heart at once. +"What's your fathers name, little dear?" inquired he, as they went +clattering through the streets. + +"His name is Mr. Edward Parlin.--But O, I don't see a single thing of +Dotty!" + +"Dotty! Why, who is Dotty?" asked the man, turning about, and gazing at +his little passenger with a look of curiosity. + +"Why, Mr.--, why, _sir_, don't you know?" replied the child, struck with +a sudden fear that her strange companion was a crazy man. "O, my stars! +don't you know what you took me up for? Didn't you hear? My little +sister ran off the piazza." Then Prudy repeated the words aloud, slowly +and on a high key, anxious this time to make her meaning very clear. +"She--ran--off--the--piazza, with a pink dress on, sir, and not a +speck--of--a--hat. And I was stirring jelly on the stove, and never knew +it till she was lost and gone. And we're all hunting,--me, and--mother, +and--all. I thought you knew, sir; but if you didn't I guess I'd better +get out!" + +The good-natured soap-man shook with laughter. "Excuse me, little miss," +said he, "but the fact is, I understood you to say your sister's name +was Alice Wheelbarrow Parlin, and that's why I was puzzled to know who +you meant by Dotty.--But here we are at Pearl Street. Here, in this +house, lives one of my best customers. Now, if you like, I'll lift you +out, and you can go with me and inquire for your little sister. Then you +can ride again, for I'm going as far as Munjoy." + +So saying, the man took Prudy out in his arms. She knew it was rather +odd for a little girl like her to be going around to people's back doors +with a stranger in a blue blouse; but it was all for Dotty's sake. + +The man knocked with the handle of his whip, and a neat-looking servant +girl appeared. + +"Have you seen anything of a stray child?" was his first question. + +"My little sister," cried Prudy, in breathless haste. "She had on a pink +dress, and curls bareheaded." + +"We have seen no such child pass this way," replied the girl, civilly. +Prudy's eager face fell. + +"I supposed likely as not you hadn't," said the soap-man; "so now we'll +proceed to business. You see I'm here with my wagon and barrels, and I +suppose you perceive that I've come for your bones!" + +These whispered words fell on Prudy's ears with terrible force. A vague +terror seized her. "_I've come for your bones!_" What could he mean? Was +he an ogre, right out of a fairy-book? What did he want of that poor +woman's bones? + +Without stopping to think twice, Prudy ran off with trembling haste, and +by the time the astonished soap-boiler missed her she had reached +Congress Street, and was still running. + +The first thing she saw, as she entered her own door, was the fluttering +of Dotty's pink dress. The runaway was safe and sound. She had only +toddled off after a man with a basket of images, calling out, "baa, +baa," "moo, moo," "bow-wow." The end of it was, that the image man had +given her a toy lamb, for which she had said, "How do," instead of thank +you; and Florence Eastman had led her home. + +Susy was heartily ashamed of her heedlessness. + +"Now, mother," said she, "do you think, if I should be kept on bread and +water for a whole day, I should learn to remember? You'll never trust +Dotty with me again." + +"Ah," said Mrs. Parlin, with a meaning smile; "the trouble is, Susy, +you've made up your mind that your memory is good for nothing: you +_expect_ to forget! I _shall_ trust you again, and you must fully +resolve to do better." + +Dotty was very proud of her "baa, baa," and insisted upon putting it in +her bathing tub every morning, and scrubbing it with her own hands. + +Everybody laughed at Prudy's wild story of the soap-boiler. + +"We were tired, my feet and I," said she, between laughing and crying; +"but I never'd have rode with that whispering man if I'd known he was a +_bone man_!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +DOTTY'S VERSES. + + +By the time Alice Parlin was three years old she could prattle like a +bobolink, and thought herself quite as old and wise as either of her +sisters. Every Sunday morning it made her very wretched to see Susy and +Prudy set out, with bright faces, for Sabbath school! + +"Mayn't me go, too?" said she, plaintively. "Me's got the coop; _must_ +go to Sabber school!" + +"O," replied Prudy, snatching a kiss from her pouting lips, "if you've +got the croup you certainly can't go." + +Dotty shook her curls. "Coop's went off now. Dotty'll go, all o' _you_." + +"O, no, little sister; you'll stay at home and look at your pictures. +That's the way _I_ did when I was little." + +"You mustn't _contraspute_," cried Dotty, shaking her elbows. "I _is_ +goin' to Sabber school." Then suddenly showing her dimples, she added +with a bright smile, "'Cause I's your comfort, you know, Prudy, your +darlin', precious little comfort; isn't I, Prudy?" + +"Dear me," thought tender Prudy, "the poor little thing always has to +stay at home. I'll ask mother to let her go with me next time. It is +right for me to ask, for I'm sure I don't _want_ her to go; so it isn't +selfish!" + +Mrs. Parlin had a great many doubts as to Dotty's good behavior, but at +last consented. She felt pretty safe to trust her with Prudy, who was +very patient, and had even now a memory longer than Susy's. + +Before the time came to start for Sabbath school, Dotty stood a long +while before the mirror, looking up at her gay hat and down at her +cunning gaiters. She liked nice clothes, and it pleased her to see +herself so prettily dressed. + +"Is that you, O you darlin' Dotty?" said she, nodding her vain little +head, and smiling till her dimples "twinkled." "Well, good by, Dotty; +I's goin' to Sabber school." + +"O, hurry, hurry!" cried Susy; "we'll surely be late." + +They stepped out upon the pavement, Dotty walking between her sisters. + +"We can't hurry, you know," said Prudy, "because Dotty's feet are so +little." + +"_I_ never should have thought of bringing her," exclaimed Susy. "Any +one would think she'd been eating snails. When she takes up her foot she +shakes it before she puts it down." + +"O, what a 'tory!" said Dotty Dimple, tossing her head. "I never shaked +my foot; did I, Prudy?" + +But Prudy had suddenly turned about, and gone back to the house, saying +she had forgotten something. She had left home without kissing her +mother good by, and nothing could console Prudy for the loss of one of +her mother's caresses. + +"There, girls, I'm back again," said she, catching her breath. "Now, +Dotty, let's we see how fast we can walk." + +"Drefful dirty," said Dotty, scowling at her overshoes. + +"Yes," replied Susy, "this snow has been round on the ground a good +while. It's most time it went back to heaven to get clean." + +"What do you mean by snow's going to heaven?" said Prudy, gazing at the +street, which was half white and half black. + +"Why, you see," answered Susy, "it says, 'God scattereth the snow like +wool, and his hoar-frost like the shining pearls.' And my Sabbath school +teacher tells us that after a while the sun draws it back, and makes +clouds of it, as 'twas before. So, you see, the snow and the rain keep +sprinkling down, and then rising up to the sky again." + +"Why--ee!" said Prudy; "how does the snow go up? I never saw it going." + +"Indeed you have, Prudy. It goes puffing up in fog. Why, it's just as if +the snow was a teakettle, and it keeps steaming out clouds." + +"O, does it, Susy? Now, when it fogs, I shall know the snow's going up." + +"Please don't talk any more," returned Susy, suddenly lowering her +voice; "we must be very quiet on the street, for it's Sunday. You don't +mean any harm, Prudy, but you say so much that I'm afraid I shall forget +my lesson. I keep saying it over to myself, you know." + +Susy and Prudy belonged in different classes. Susy recited from a +question book, and Prudy learned verses from the Bible. Dotty Dimple +went with Prudy into Miss Carlisle's class, where eight or ten little +girls were already seated. + +"It's my little sister, Miss Carlisle," whispered blushing Prudy. +"Mother allowed her to come to-day because she isn't coming any more. +Will you please excuse her?" + +Smiling, Miss Carlisle was very willing to "excuse" Dotty for her sweet +sister's sake. But Prudy felt rather nervous. She made a place beside +herself for Dotty, who folded her small hands and sat as still as a +marble cherub; but what odd thing she might take it into her busy brain +to do, no one could tell. + +When Prudy's turn came she repeated her verse: "Set a watch, O Lord, +before my mouth: keep the door of my lips." + +"An excellent text," said Miss Carlisle. "It would make me very happy if +I thought you would remember it all your life, darling. Do you think you +understand it?" + +"Mother says it means, 'Be careful to say only what is true and good,'" +replied Prudy, in a low voice. + +"That is right," said Miss Carlisle; "but do you understand what is +called the 'figure of speech' in the verse? Do you know what a watch +is?" + +"A little thing that ticks." + +"There is another kind, my dear. We have in cities _watchmen_, to guard +us and see that all goes right while we sleep." + +"O, I know," replied Prudy, quickly; "the verse asks God to give us a +_conscience_ to walk back and forth before our lips while we talk!" + +Miss Carlisle went on to say more about the watch, while Dotty fixed her +bright eyes on her face, thinking, "What booful flowers those is in her +bonnet! Where did she pick 'em?" + +The next verse was Sadie Bicknell's:-- + +"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." + +Dotty listened to this, and Miss Carlisle's remarks upon it, with the +most solemn earnestness, hoping to learn why it was that people should +sit with a lamp shining on their feet. She thought she could now see why +Prudy loved to go to "Sabber school;" it was because she heard so many +funny things. + +Soon all the little girls had repeated their texts; but, to her great +surprise, Dotty had not been called upon to say or do a single thing. It +was a marked slight. She hardly knew whether to be angry or not. "I +guess the lady didn't see me," thought Dotty. So she cleared her throat +with a loud noise, which echoed across the room. Then Miss Carlisle +looked at her and smiled. She was off the seat, standing on her tiptoes, +Prudy tried to draw her back; but so much the more Dotty persisted. She +shook off her sister's hand. + +"I wasn't a 'peakin' to you," said she. + +"Never mind her, Prudy," said Miss Carlisle, for the poor girl was +crimson with shame; "let your little sister come to me; perhaps she +wishes to tell me something." + +Miss Carlisle bent forward, and let Dotty place her rosy lips close to +her face. + +"Now, what do you wish, little one?" + +"You didn't hear me say my _werse_," whispered Dotty, in a tone of +pique. + +"Your verse? Did you learn one, child?" + +"Yes, 'm, I did. I learned it all day yes'day." + +"O, very well! then say it, by all means, dear." + +Prudy's face expressed perfect despair. She tried to hush Dotty; but one +might as well coax the wind to stop blowing. The child's thoughts had +been like caged birds, and now out they must fly. + +"Shall I _whisper_?" asked Dotty. + +"No, say your verse aloud." + +The child planted herself in front of the class, and recited, in a high +key, and with the greatest delight,-- + + "What you thpose um had for supper? + B'ack-eyed beans, un bread un butter." + +It was not possible to help smiling. Prudy in spite of her shame and +distress, shook with laughter; but it was a laughter just ready to +tremble into tears. + +"I'll never ask mother to let her come again, if I once _do_ get her +safe home," thought outraged Prudy. + +Dotty was not allowed to attend Sabbath school again that year; but it +was a long time before she forgot some of the things she had heard Miss +Carlisle say. Many of the strange words rang in her ears for weeks after +wards, though she said nothing about them. + +One day she rushed into the nursery out of breath. Prudy was kneeling +before her little trunk, putting in order the paper dolls, which Dotty +had scattered over the floor. They were a sad sight. Some of them had +lost their heads, and some had lost their fine clothes, which are worth +as much as heads any day--to dolls. + +But Dotty did not stop to look at the mischief she had made. Her +thoughts were of other matters. She had brought from the kitchen a "Tom +Thumb lamp" and a bunch of matches. + +Without a word she seated herself on the floor, behind her sister, and +drew off her shoes and stockings. She looked for a moment at her little +pink toes, then rubbed the whole bunch of matches on the carpet, saying +to herself, "A lamp to my feet." + +But, somehow, the lamp would not light itself. Dotty did not know how to +turn back the chimney, and, though there was certainly blaze enough in +the matches, it did not catch the wick. It leaped forward and caught the +skirt of Prudy's dress. + +"You're burnin' afire! You're burnin' afire!" shouted Dotty, dancing +around her sister. Prudy now felt the heat, and screamed too, bringing +her mother and Norah to the spot at once. The flames were soon smothered +in a rug, and so Prudy's life was mercifully saved. + +It was sometime before any one understood what Dotty had been trying to +do with a light. + +"I was just only a-puttin' a lamp to my feet," sobbed she. "I learned it +to Sabber school." + +But the little one's rare tears were soon dried by a romp with Zip out +of doors. + +"It's queer how things always happen just right," said Prudy, still +trembling from her fright. "You said, if I'd been wearing my calico, +mother, I'd have been scorched. And you know it was only the littlest +while ago I put on this blue delaine, to go to auntie's in!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE NESTLINGS. + + +An hour or two after this, Mrs. Parlin, Susy, Prudy, and Zip went to +visit Mrs. Eastman, who now lived a little way out of town. + +Dotty was driving ducks, and did not see her mother and sisters when +they started. + +"Where is they, Nono? And where's Prudy?" + +"Gone walking. Your mamma told you they were going," replied Norah, +setting a basin of water and a brush and comb on the stand. + +"Well, Prudy's runned away," cried Dotty, "Naughty girl; made out o' +dirt!" + +"Come here, Miss Dimple, and let me brush your hair." + +"Well, here's my hair, Nono, but you mustn't pull it; 'tisn't _your_ +hair! O, I want to kiss my mamma, I do!" + +"Your mamma will be back again this evening." + +"Don't want to kiss her in the evening--want to kiss her now!" + +"What makes you in such a hurry to kiss your mother?" + +"O, I just only want to tell her to whip Prudy. Naughty Prudy runned +away! Made out o' dirt!" + +Dotty always looked very low-spirited while her long hair was being +curled over a stick, and now was more unhappy than usual, for it was +one of her "temper days." + +But at last cousin Percy Eastman happened to call in, and declared he +must take his pretty cousin home with him in the carriage. + +"I'll get her ready," said Norah; "but you're sure to be sorry if you +take her, for she's brimming over with mischief to-day." + +Dotty danced like a piece of thistledown. "There, Nono," said she, "I's +goin' to auntie's my own self; Prudy'll have to give up." + +All this time Mrs. Parlin and the two older children were having a fine +walk. It was a bright June day. Prudy said she had to sing to herself +for all the things she saw looked as happy as if they were alive. As +Prudy talked, she flew from flower to flower, like a honey-bee. + +"I can't wait for Prudy to walk so zigzag," said Susy. + +Mrs. Parlin suggested that Susy should keep on, and tell her aunt +Eastman they were coming. Then she allowed Prudy to walk as "zigzag" as +she pleased; for Mrs. Parlin had long patience with her children. + +"O, mamma," said Prudy, suddenly stopping short, and standing on one +foot; "if there isn't a cow!" + +"I see, my dear, she is eating the sweet grass." + +"Yes, 'm; but don't its horns flare out like a pitchfork? Do you s'pose +he knows how easy he could toss folks right up in the air?" + +"I hope my little daughter is not afraid of a gentle cow." + +"No, indeed," cried Prudy, clinging fast to her mother's hand. "Poh! if +I was afraid of a cow I'd be a cow--ard. I'd as lief he'd see me as not, +if you'll shake your parasol at him, mamma." + +Prudy breathed more freely when the cow was out of sight. + +Soon she saw something which caused her to forget her terror. Peeping in +among the branches of a small tree, she espied what she called a "live +bird's nest." Never having seen any young birds before, she wondered at +first "who had picked off their feathers." The wee things seemed to be +left to themselves while their mother was away providing supper. + +"Haven't they very big stretchy mouths, for such small birdies?" said +Prudy. "Aren't you afraid they'll crack their mouths in two, gaping so, +mamma?" + +"They are only hungry, child. Suppose you feed them with a bit of a +berry." + +Prudy nipped a strawberry into three parts with her thumb and +forefinger, and dropped the pieces into their mouths. + +"O, mamma, they swallowed it whole! they swallowed it whole! Their teeth +haven't come!" + +Prudy's fresh delight and surprise were so pleasant to witness that her +mother allowed her to linger for a while, mincing berries for the +nestlings supper. + +When, at last, they reached Mrs. Eastman's, Prudy eagerly described the +young wonders she had found. + +"It was like a story," said she, "of little widow-children,--how the +mother was dead, and the children had to stay alone." + +"Children are never widows," said Susy, laughing; "it isn't possible! +But if their parents die, they are orphans sometimes." + +"That's just what I meant," exclaimed Prudy, looking crestfallen. "I +should think you might know what I mean, 'thout laughing at me, +either." + +Before long Dotty Dimple arrived, in great triumph. She threw her chubby +arms about her mother's neck, saying, "Is I your little comfort, mamma? +I camed in the hoss and carriage. S'an't give Prudy no supper--will you? +'Cause Prudy runned away!" + +"I should not have allowed this child to come," said Mrs. Parlin, at the +tea table; "but cousin Percy always picks up the stray babies, and gives +them a ride." + +Dotty looked as if she could easily forgive her cousin Percy. But there +was one thing that made her nice supper taste like "spoiled nectar," and +that was the sight of Prudy enjoying her strawberries and cream. + +If she had runned away, as Dotty insisted upon believing, why was she +not shut up in the closet? Strange to say, dearly as Dotty loved this +kind sister, she enjoyed seeing her punished. She was vexed because +Prudy was allowed, after all, to sit at the table with the rest of the +family. The little creature was very tired, for she had driven ducks all +the long summer day. She was also a little sleepy; and, more than all, +it was one of her "temper days," when everything went wrong. + +After tea she had a serious quarrel with her little cousin Johnny, over +a dead squirrel, which they both tried to feed with sugared water, from +a teaspoon. + +"Johnny," cried she, "don't you touch his mouf any more! If you do, I +s'an't w'ip you, Johnny, but I'll sp'inkle some ashes on your head! Yes, +I will." + +Johnny, heedless of the threat, tried again to force open Bunny's stiff +mouth, Dotty's beautiful eyes blazed. + +Without a word she walked off proudly to the kitchen, and came back with +a handful of cold ashes, which she freely sifted into Johnny's flaxen +hair. Mrs. Parlin saw that it was high time to take her youngest +daughter home. + +"O, mother," said Prudy, who always felt herself disgraced by her little +sister's bad conduct, "sometimes Dotty pretty nearly makes you cry! +Don't you almost wish you hadn't any such little girl?" + +"My dear child, I am her _mother_, and she could hardly do anything so +naughty that I should cast her out of my heart. When she has these +freaks of temper, I think, 'God bears with me, and I will try to bear +with my little one. I will wait. One of these days, when her reason +grows, she will be a real blessing to us all.'" + +Mrs. Parlin proceeded to put on Dotty's outer wrappings, saying she must +be taken home. The child struggled and screamed, and declared she +"_would_ be good, she _would_ be a comfort;" but her mother was firm, +though her sweet temper never for a moment forsook her. Susy and Prudy +looked on, and learned a lesson in patience which was worth twenty +lectures. + +Percy Eastman was as glad to carry his spirited little cousin back as he +had been to bring her to his house. Mrs. Parlin rode too; but Susy and +Prudy walked. + +When they came to the tree which contained the birds' nest, Prudy parted +the branches, but the nestlings were not to be seen; the mother-bird had +gathered them under her wings, out of sight. + +"Hush!" whispered Susy; "hear them peep! Let's go; we'll frighten the +old birdie out of her wits." + +"I wish you could see them, Susy; then you'd know how cunning they are; +and now you never'll know. But it doesn't seem a bit like orphan +children since their mother's got home." + +"Makes me think of _our_ mamma, and _her_ three little children," said +Susy, taking her sister's hand. + +"Yes," said Prudy, her face radiant with a glow of love, warm from her +heart; "how good our mother always is, and always was, before ever our +_reasons_ grew! Think what we'd do this night, Susy Parlin, if there +wasn't any _mother_ to our house!" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +FANNY HARLOW'S PARTY. + + +"Kiss me, little sister," said Prudy, "and let me go, for I must get +ready for the party." + +"I know where you're goin'," said Dotty; "why can't I go too?" + +Little did innocent Prudy dream of the queer thoughts which were chasing +one another in her little sister's brain. After she and Susy had gone, +and the house was quite still, Dotty stood at the window, looking down +street. It was a lovely day; the clouds were "softer than sleep." + +"O, my suz!" said Dotty Dimple; "there they go, way off, way off, Susy +and Prudy. Bof of 'em are all gone. Nobody at home but me. Didn't ask me +to her party, Fanny Harlow didn't." + +Dotty heaved a deep sigh, took her black baby out of its cradle, and +shook it with all her might. + +"What you lookin' to me for, Phib? I wasn't a 'peakin' to you. I'm goin' +to cover you all up, Phib, so you won't hear me think." + +Then Dotty looked out of the window again. "What a good little girl I +am," thought she, "not to be a cryin'! Prudy'd cry! There goes the +blacksmif's shop." Dotty meant the blacksmith. "His mother lets him go +everywhere. Everybody's mother lets 'em go everywhere." + +A prettily dressed little girl passed the window. + +"How do you do, little girl?" whispered Dotty, in a voice so low that +even the cat did not hear. "O, what a booful hat you've got! Would your +mamma make you wear a _rainy_ dress, like mine? No, she wouldn't. Your +mamma lets you go to parties all the days only Sundays. My mamma has +sticked me into the nursery, and nothin' but a dar'needle to sew with! +O, hum! And I haven't runned away since forever'n ever! They don't 'low +me to run away. Wish Fanny Harlow'd asked me to her party. I know why +she never! 'Cause she forgot I was born." + +Presently there was a sound of little feet. Dotty was pattering up +stairs. + +"Didn't know I was sewing with a dar'needle--did you, mamma? Mayn't I go +to Fanny Harlow's party?" + +Mrs. Parlin was busy with visitors, and did not pay much heed to her +little daughter. So Dotty crept close to her mother's side, and buried +her roguish face behind her head-dress. + +"Wish you'd please to punish me, mamma," said she; "punish me now; I'm +_a-goin_' to be naughty?" + +Mrs. Parlin smiled, and reminded Dotty that it was not polite to whisper +in company. Then she went on talking with her friends, and Miss Dimple +slipped quietly out of the room. + +"I know I don't ought to," mused the child; "I'm a-goin' to do wicked, +and get punished; but I _want_ to do wicked, and get punished. I've been +goody till I'm all tired up!" + +Having made this decision, she went to Prudy's closet, and looked at the +dresses hanging wrong side outward on the pegs. + +"This is a booful one," said she, pulling down a scarlet merino. She put +on the dress, forgetting, in her guilty haste, to take off her own blue +one. + +"O, my suz! I never did see!" said Dotty, puffing and tugging in her +efforts to fasten the frock. "My mother must make Prudy's clo'es +bigger'n this; yes, she must. It chokes." + +However, by dint of much hard work she succeeded in squeezing her round +little figure into the red merino, and fastening two of the buttons. "O, +hum!" sighed she; "this dress is so tight I shan't grow to-day!" + +Dotty had a great admiration for her mother's purple breakfast shawl, +which she now threw over her little shoulders with tremulous delight. +Nono's Sunday bonnet she next laid her naughty hands upon. Very charming +was this bonnet in Dotty's eyes, as it was made of claret-colored silk, +and was all on fire inside with scorching red and yellow flames. It was +so huge and so deep that Dotty's small face under it looked as if it had +got lost in Mammoth Cave. + +"Now I've got every single clo'es on me. Guess there won't anybody +think I'm a boy this time," mused she, giving a last glance at the +mirror; "there won't anybody laugh, and say, 'How d'ye do, my fine +little fellow?'" + +Very well pleased with herself, Dotty dressed "brother Zip" in Prudy's +water-proof cloak, and they both stole out by the side door, without +being seen. But which way to go Dotty could not tell. + +"Where _is_ the-girl-that-has-the-party's house?" thought she, under her +bonnet. "Well, it's by the stone lions, 'most up to the North Pole. Now, +Zippy, if we keep a-goin' we shall get there, and we'll see some girls +out by the door." + +Zip wagged his faithful tail, which was quite hidden under the cloak, +and they both trudged on, Dotty's heart quivering with wicked delight. + +She happened to go in the right direction, and at last did really reach +the "house by the stone lions." Several young girls were indeed playing +in the yard. + +"What little image is that, traveling this way?" cried Florence Eastman, +holding up both hands. + +"A beggar child, perhaps," replied Fanny Harlow. "'Sh! 'sh! don't +laugh!" + +"I don't see anything but a walking bonnet," tittered one of the girls; +"don't it look like a chaise top? O, look, look! as true as you live, +that thing that's hopping along beside her is a dog!" + +The little figure now approached very slowly, its head bent down, its +fingers in its mouth; though the girls saw nothing but a big, drooping +bonnet, a purple shawl, and a pair of tiny feet peeping out from a red +dress. + +"I guess she came from Farther India," suggested Susy, that being the +most foreign land she could think of. + +Dotty now gave a loud knock at the gate, and peeped in between the bars. +In doing so she had to push back the chaise-top, and the little girls +had a full view of her face. + +"O, Dotty Dimple Parlin!" screamed her sisters, in dismay. + +Fanny Harlow hastened to open the gate. + +"Where did you come from, you naughty thing?" whispered Susy, with a +crimson face. + +Dotty's sole answer was a violent sneeze, which burst off two buttons, +the only ones which fastened the scarlet merino. + +"I've broke my dress," said Dotty, calmly. + +The little girls were greatly amused, but Dotty eyed them with such a +gaze of lofty disdain that they kept their faces as straight as +possible. + +"Poor thing," said cousin Florence; "how tired you must be! Don't you +want to sit right down in this iron chair?" + +Dotty's bright eyes flashed. "Don't you pity _me_, Flossy! Now 'top it!" + +"How shall we ever get her home?" thought the two older sisters, in +alarm; for they saw by the motion of Dotty's elbows, that she had made +up her mind to queen it over the whole company. + +"Look here, Dotty," said Prudy, going up to her, and kissing her; "did +mother say you might come, darling?" + +Dotty rubbed off the kiss, and made no answer. + +"Don't you think 'twould be a nice plan," whispered Prudy, "for me and +Susy to draw you home in a little carriage? And I'll ask mother to +forgive you." + +"O, yes," said Susy, in an agony of mortification; "now do!" + +Dotty looked as unmoved as one of the stone lions, and took no notice of +the request. + +"What made they put two trees 'side that one tree?" asked she, by way of +changing the subject. + +"Now, Dotty, you will go, that's a little love," said Susy, wringing her +hands. "Only think, if you don't you'll lose five kisses to-night, and I +dare say mamma will punish you, too." + +"There's a man goin' by--old all over, and a white whisker. Who is it?" +inquired Dotty, changing the subject again. "The whisker looks like +snow, 's if his chin's cold!" + +"Never mind the man," returned Prudy. "If you'll go I'll spend my five +cents, and buy you some pep'mints." + +"I'd rather have pickled limes," said Dotty thoughtfully. + +"So you shall," cried eager Susy; "and you'll be the sweetest little +pet, and ride home like a lady." + +"So I will," said Dotty, serenely, "when I've had my supper." + +Susy's face fell. If the little piece of obstinacy would stay, she +_would_; and Mrs. Harlow politely declared they should all be delighted. +But how would she behave at the table? Her manners were as yet unformed; +she needed line upon line and precept upon precept. It was dreadful to +think of her taking supper at one of the nicest houses in the city, in +that dress, and without her watchful mother too! It was a severe trial +to Susy. Prudy was also distressed, but her "sky-like spirit" brightened +again speedily. + +The little girls all crowded about Dotty, begging her to join in their +games; but she said it would "hurt her big bonnet," which she could not +be persuaded to take off, because she fancied it added something to her +importance. + +Fanny Harlow brought out a picture book for the little runaway. + +"I'm afraid she'll tear it," said careful Prudy. + +Dotty looked at her sister with a withering glance, and, in her +eagerness to prove that she knew how to handle books, suddenly tore one +of the leaves. She was surprised and mortified; but her self-esteem was +not easily crushed. + +"There, Prudy," said she, pertly; "what made you let me do it for? You +_said_ I'd tear it!" + +Mrs. Harlow hastened supper, fearing that Mrs. Parlin might be anxious +about her little daughter. Dotty was placed between her two sisters. +Susy pinned a napkin about the child's neck, and in a whisper begged to +be allowed to spread her bread and butter for her. Dotty had worn the +air of a princess royal all the afternoon; but now, seated in a high +chair, and surrounded by a group of admiring little girls, she felt +like a crowned queen. Taking her bread in both hands, she crumbed it +into her goblet of milk, and began to dip it out with the handle of her +fork. The girls looked on and smiled, and Dotty gave a little purr of +satisfaction. + +"Everybody'll think mother doesn't teach her good manners," thought poor +Susy, hardly knowing whether she ate bread or ashes. + +"Dear, dear," said Prudy to herself; "Dotty may die some time, and then +I should be sorry, and cry. I'll keep thinking of that, so I can bear +her awful actions better." + +The little princess, from her throne in the high chair, did very rude +things; such as coughing and blowing crumbs into her plate, drumming +with her feet, and beating time with her fork and spoon. When bread was +offered, she said,-- + +"I don't like _baker's_ bread. I like _daily_ bread." + +But this was all the remark she made during the whole meal. At last she +ceased eating, coughing, and drumming: there was a "flash of silence." + +Everybody looked up. Dotty's eyes were closed, and her head was swaying +from side to side, like a heavy apple stuck on a knitting needle--she +was fast asleep. + +She was wheeled home in a small carriage, followed by a guard of all the +girls. Next day she was duly punished by being tied to the bedpost with +the clothes-line. + +"I wish her _reasons_ would begin to grow," sighed Prudy. "I never can +feel happy when Dotty gets into a fuss." + +"I've been thinking it all over," replied Susy, "and I've made up my +mind that God allows her to mortify you and me. You know we must have +some kind of a trial, or we shouldn't grow gentle and sweet tempered." + +"As mother is," added Prudy. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE LITTLE TEACHER. + + +At last Dotty's "reasons" did begin to grow. Her mother was too wise and +kind to allow her to have her own naughty way; and by the time she was +four years old she had very few "temper days," and seemed to be growing +quite lovely. + +But her sisters were troubled because she had not yet learned to read. +Prudy remembered how ashamed she herself had felt when she first set out +in earnest to go to school. For some time after her lameness she was so +delicate that no pains had been taken to teach her to read. + +"My little sister must never be so stupid as I was," thought Prudy, +uneasily. + +Sometimes visitors inquired if Miss Dotty knew her letters, and poor +Prudy blushed with shame when Mrs. Parlin calmly replied that she did +not. + +"I'm sure mother feels mortified," thought Prudy; "but she holds up her +head, and tries to make the best of it. I'll not say a word to anybody, +but I mean to teach my little sister my own self!" + +So one Wednesday afternoon, when Susy was away, Prudy called Dotty into +the nursery, and shut the door. + +"What you want me of?" asked the child. + +"I want to tell you something nice. Don't you wish you knew your A, B, +C's, darling? There, that's what it is." + +Dotty shook her head three or four times, and looked down at the carpet. + +"Why, Dotty Dimple, you oughtn't to do so. You must answer when a +question is asked. Wouldn't you like to learn your letters, like a goody +girl, so you can read the nice books? Now be polite, and speak." + +"I don't want to be polite, and speak, nor I don't want to learn my +letters, like a goody gell; so there!" replied Dotty, seizing the kitty, +and wrapping her in a shawl. + +"O, Dotty Dimple!" said Prudy, in a tone of deep distress; "how old +you're getting to be! just think!" + +"I'm four years old, and I weigh four pounds," answered Dotty, drawing +out her little cab, and throwing the muffled kitty into it, as if she +had been a roll of cloth. + +"O, my stars, Dotty, I can't bear to have you talk so." + +Dotty tucked in the kitty's tail, and drew the carriage about the room, +to give "Pusheen" an airing. "Pusheen" was her kitty's name in Irish. + +"You can't think how dreadful it is, Dotty, to grow up and not know +anything!" + +Dotty turned a short corner. Pusheen had a fall; down came the little +cab, kitty and all. + +"To grow up and not know anything," continued Prudy. "O, it's enough to +break anybody's heart!" + +"Be you goin' to cry?" said Dotty, in a soft voice, kneeling, and +peeping up into Prudy's eyes, with some curiosity. + +Prudy was obliged to smile but hid her face in the sofa-pillow, and +hoped Dotty did not see her. She found she must hit upon some other +plan. Dotty could not be made to feel the terrors of growing up a dunce. + +"Now, little sister," said she, "if you'll let me be your teacher, and +keep school here in the nursery--" + +"O, hum! A _little gell_ keep school! Would you send me to the bottom +of the foot?" + +"O, no! I'll do something for you--let's me see!" + +"Well, what?" cried Dotty, her eyes sparkling like blue gems; "what'll +you do for me, Prudy?" + +Prudy thought a minute. Meanwhile the muffled kitty slowly freed herself +from the shawl, and slyly leaped to the top of the bureau, out of reach +of her little mistress. + +"O, Prudy," said Dotty, dancing about; "do something quick." + +"Listen, dear! Will you promise to learn to read if I'll tell you a +story about every single letter there is on your blocks?" + +"How long a story? As long as this room? Yes, I'll promige," cried +Dotty, with a gleeful laugh. "Go get the stories, and tell 'em this +minute!" + +"Now we'll begin," said Prudy, no less delighted, pouring the blocks out +of the box upon the floor. "I'll ring the little tea-bell, and call the +school to order. The school means _you_, and you must walk in and take +your seat." + +"Yes, if you'll let me sit in the rocking-chair!" + +"O, but that is mine, because I'm the teacher." + +"Then I'm goin' off into the kitchen," said Dotty, loftily, "and I don't +know as I'll come back. I won't promige." + +"O, take the rocking-chair!" replied Prudy quickly. "I'll sit on the +ottoman; it's just as good. Glad you spoke of it, Dotty; 'twouldn't be +proper for the teacher to rock. Hark! now I tingle the bell. School's +begun!" + +Dotty walked along, and very demurely seated herself in the big chair. + +"Here," said Prudy, showing her a block, "is your first letter; guess +what the picture means, and I'll tell you the name of the letter." + +"That?" said Dotty, glancing at it; "that's a monkey; what you s'pose?" + +"O, no! it's pretty near a monkey, not quite: it's what we call an +_ape_." + +"A nape!" echoed Dotty, pointing at it, and laughing. "O, my! you don' +know nothin' at all but just--do you, Prudy Parlin? Funny gell to keep +school! Didn't you never see a monkey? I've seen 'em dancing +tummy-tum-tum, and a man making music with a little mite of a churn." + +"Well, perhaps this is a monkey, and ape is its baby name," said Prudy, +doubtfully. + +"Got a face like a dried apple--hasn't he?" said the young pupil, +admiringly. "Rally round the flag, boys!" + +"Hush! You mustn't sing in school. The name of this letter is A. Look at +it ever so long, and say it over." + +"A, A, A," repeated Dotty, to the tune of "John Brown." + +Prudy took courage. "All right, only you mustn't sing. I couldn't speak +the letter better myself than you do, _so_ soon. A stands for ape." + +"No, for monkey." + +The little teacher yielded the point. She had begun her school with +plenty of love and patience. + +"Now tell a story," said Dotty, settling herself in the chair. + +"Can't you say 'please'?" suggested Prudy, mildly. "'Please' is but a +little word, and 'thank you' is not long." + +"Well, please, and thank you,--'bout a ape." + +"I know a real nice one. Once there was a monkey--" + +"No, a ape." + +"Well, a ape, then. But I didn't start right. Once Mr. 'Gustus Allen +sailed round the world." + +"Did? Who sailed him?" + +"O, he went in one of those ships that go puffing out of the bay. And he +had a little ape, named Jacky." + +"How did you know? You wasn't there." + +"O, he told me about it. He was the brightest little creature, Jacky +was. When he was cold, Mr. Allen used to tuck him right in his bosom. +Sometimes he got into mischief, he knew so much." + +"Did he know as much as Zip? Did he ever talk in meetin'?" + +"No, he couldn't bark the way Zip did at the lecture, but he chattered, +as we do when our teeth are cold. When he'd been doing mischief he'd run +round the floor of the ship, wagging his head the way I do now, as if +he was as innocent as a whole lot of kittens. Why, he acted as you did, +Dotty, when you was a little girl, and picked the inside out of that +custard pie." + +"Ahem!" said Dotty. "I guess you think you're talkin' to somebody else, +Prudy Parlin! I don't like your story; wish you'd stop." + +"But I was going to tell you how Jacky got sick, and there were ever so +many more monkeys on board--" + +"On what board?" + +"On the ship. And they took care of Jacky, and brought him his supper as +if they were folks." + +"What did he have for supper?" + +"O, nuts and things, on a wooden plate." + +"I wish I was a monkey!" + +"O, Dotty Dimple, that's a horrid speech!" + +"Then I don't want to be a monkey; I want to be a ape. I wish I could go +puffing round the world in a ship." + +"Well, Dotty, this isn't keeping school. What letter have you learned?" + +"I didn't learn a letter; I learned a story. You're a funny gell to keep +a _story_-school!" + +Prudy held up the block. + +"O, that picked thing? You called it a ape!" + +"Why, Dotty Parlin! that's A." + +"A _what?_" + +"I said _A_," repeated Prudy, with emphasis, "only just _A_." + +"Why, 'tisn't A _nothing_--is it?" + +"Dear me," thought Prudy, "I don't see how folks do keep school. I'm +getting just as hungry--and cross!" + +When Dotty had learned A so well that she knew it at a glance, her +teacher proceeded to the next letter, which stood on the block for a +bat. Dotty said the picture looked "like Zip with an umbrella over him." + +After the second story, she was tired of the business. + +"Look out the window, Prudy. See that whale! O, you April fool!" + +The young sister sighed over her sister's light-minded behavior. When +they came to C, which stood for cat, Dotty seized her kitty and tried to +feed her with lozenges. But Pusheen turned away her head with a gesture +which signified,-- + +"Candy isn't fit to touch. I'd eat a mouse with you, with pleasure." + +"Talk," said Dotty; "say 'thank you,' Pusheen! No, indeed, you needn't +do it; I's just in fun. God didn't give you any teef to talk with, +Pussy; so you can't talk." + +"Now, Dotty, this next letter is D." + +"O, Prudy, I wish you'd hush! I've got the earache." + +"Ah, well!" thought the gentle teacher, with a sigh; "I'll try again, +some other day. I'll not give it up. Grandma says, 'Time and patience +make the mulberry leaf into satin.' I don't know what that means, only +it's something about _perseverance_." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BOTH SIDES OF A STORY. + + +The little school was not resumed for some time. Not that Prudy had +forgotten it, by any means; but the next Saturday she had visitors, and +the following Wednesday an exciting event occurred. It concerned Susy's +pony. Percy Eastman said he was called Wings "because he hadn't any +feet." Susy was vexed at this remark, and Prudy, taking her part, said, +"Percy is such a _pert_ boy;" adding next moment, "What _is_ pert?" + +But Percy only meant that the pony sadly needed some new shoes; and +this was very true. + +Now it happened that Mr. Parlin, being too busy to go himself, sent Eddy +Johnson and Charley Piper with Wings to the blacksmith's shop. It seemed +to Susy that the boys were gone a long while, for it was Wednesday +afternoon, and she was impatient for a ride. She sat down to practise a +little, but her mind was out of doors, and the unwilling piano seemed +crying out to be let alone. + +"I can't play," said Susy, decidedly; "and that's the truth." + +At that moment a sweet little voice was heard, singing, "John's Brown +buddy;" and Dotty Dimple's head and shoulders were thrust into the +room. + +"I've broked it," said she; "I've broked it all to smash." + +"Broke what, for pity's sakes?" + +"Your teapot," replied Dotty, in a very cheerful voice. + +"O, I never did, in all my life, see such a child," wailed Susy. "What +made you go and meddle with my dear little gold-edged tea-set?" + +Dotty looked like an injured lamb, brushed the wayward hair out of her +eyes, and gazed wistfully into her sister's face. + +"Is I your little comfort, Susy? Is I your little comfort?" + +"No," cried Susy, wavering between a smile and a tear; "no, indeed! To +think of _your_ being a comfort! O, my stars!" + +"Well, then," continued the little one, in a soothing, cooing tone, +"then I never broked it; it broked itself!" + +So saying, she produced from the depths of her pocket the fragments of +the gilt-edged toy. They were past the healing power even of Spalding's +glue, that was certain. At the painful sight, poor Susy's patience flew +into as many pieces as the teapot. + +"O, you naughty, naughty thing, to say it broke itself!" + +"Then it didn't," replied the little culprit, not a whit dismayed. "Then +'twas Prudy. We was playing 'thimble-coop.' _She_ broked it all to +smash!" + +"O, mother," said Susy, running out to the kitchen; "Dotty's making up +fibs as fast as she can speak! You'll have to shut her up in the +closet." + +"Not so fast, my dear. Let us wait till we hear both sides of the +story." + +And, as it turned out, Dotty really did not deserve to be punished for +wrong stories. She and Prudy had each assisted in breaking the teapot; +one had knocked it off the bureau, and the other had stepped on it. But +Dotty, who gloried in "a fuss," had begged to be the one to tell Susy +the startling news. She wished to see her eyes flash, and hear her +expressions of surprise. She knew that, however angry Susy might be, +there was one magical sentence which would always her to terms: +"Dotty'll go out doors, 'out her hat, get cold, have the _coop_, and +DIE!" + +At the bare mention of such a fearful thing, Susy's anger was sure to +cool at once. This time Dotty varied her method a little. + +"See," said she, looking out of the window; "the boys has came." + +Of course that was the last of Susy's thoughts about the teapot. She +rushed out of doors bareheaded, followed by Dotty. Eddy Johnson was just +hitching Wings to a post near the gate. + +"Have they _shoed_ him?" said Susy. + +"_Shoed_ him? I should think they had; all of that," replied Eddy, +indignantly. + +"Booted him, more like," muttered Charley Piper, in the same tone. + +"Why, what do you mean, boys?" said Susy, patting the pony, and gazing +tenderly into his eyes. + +"O, we don't mean anything, as I know of. You must run into the house +and ask your mother to come out here," said Eddy, mysteriously. + +"Why, it's my own pony, that my own father gave me, and if there's +anything the matter with it I should think you might tell," cried Susy, +her voice shaking with a vague dread of some terrible mishap. + +"Well, may be there isn't anything ails him," returned Eddy, coolly. "I +never said there was; but your mother'll know!" + +"O, Dotty Dimple, run into the house this very minute, please to," +exclaimed Susy, "and ask mother--if she's combing her hair, or +_anything_--to come right out here as quick as she can run, and not +wait! O, dear, dear, dear! Why, Dotty Dimple Parlin! you haven't started +yet! Quick! quick! quick!" + +Dotty, who had only waited to be spoken to the second time, now ran in +such haste that she stumbled on the piazza steps; but, nothing daunted, +jumped up and went on, delighted to know that this time something had +probably happened. She startled her mother, and called her away from her +toilet, with the sudden cry that the boys and pony were 'most killed. + +At the same time she had the pleasure of throwing Prudy into a +panic,--dear little Prudy, who had been for the last five minutes +searching her treasures in the hope of finding some toy which would +replace Susy's teapot. + +Prudy and Dotty appeared at the gate in a very brief space; Prudy with +her mouth in the shape of the letter O, and Mrs. Parlin not far off, in +the act of fastening her breastpin. + +"Well, boys, what is it?" said the good lady, smiling. "I hardly think +anything very serious has happened, either to you or the pony." + +"_You_ tell," said Eddy to Charley; "I _dassn't_. The blacksmith's man +may be mad if I do. But he's abused this hoss, though," continued Eddy, +not waiting to let Charley speak for him; "he's abused him awfully! It's +right up and down mean; and three of us boys seen him!" + +Susy clasped her hands, and performed a "stamp-act" on the pavement. + +"See there," said Eddy, pointing triumphantly to Wings' left hind leg; +"see that--will you?" + +True enough, there were two or three small wounds, out of which was +oozing thick dark blood. Susy looked as if her heart was breaking, but +not a word did she speak. + +"Pete Grimes did that with his hobnail, cowhide boots!" said Eddy, +sternly. + +"With his hammer, you _mean_," interposed Charley. + +"With his _boot_, sir," persisted Eddy, with increasing eloquence. +"Didn't I see him, me and Dan Murphy? Didn't we stand there by the +coal-bin, sir? He booted him well, Mis' Parlin. I'll tell you where he +did it; here on the left side, ma'am. Look where the hair sticks up! +Pooty well mauled--ain't he, ma'am? Pete swore at him, too. Never heard +such talk--did you, Charley?" + +"No, ma'am, I never did," replied Master Charley, addressing Mrs. +Parlin, who fancied she could detect on Wings' glossy hide the marks of +a boot, though there were no traces of the wicked oaths. + +"It is a most abusive thing--if it is so," said she, with much feeling; +for if anything could move her gentle heart to anger, it was cruelty to +animals. "What made Mr. Grimes behave so strangely, boys? Was the pony +restless?" + +"Restless? No, indeed, ma'am," replied Eddy, the orator; "as gentle as a +lamb, ma'am. It was Pete Grimes's wicked temper, and his wicked +disposition; that's what it was." + +It was well for Susy that her over-strained feelings now found vent in +words and tears. "There is no grief like the grief which does not +speak." Her dumb agony gave way, and she wept and raved like a little +wild thing. + +Mrs. Parlin ordered the boys to lead the pony around to the back door, +and there she washed out his wounds, trying all the while to soothe +Susy, whose heart was beating a quick-step, and who trembled in every +limb. + +"Old Grimes is dead, that good old man!" repeated Prudy, with angry +emphasis; "but it wasn't _his_ father. No, indeed; with the old blue +buttons down the back! Why, Peter is an awful man! I saw him once, and +his face looked as if he'd been rubbing it on a pen-wiper! There, Susy, +don't you cry," she added, applying a moral lesson to her sister's +wounded feelings, like a healing plaster; "he's dreadful wicked, and one +of these days he'll get hurt his own self; a horse'll strike _him_!" + +"Yes, a horse'll strike _him_!" echoed Dotty Dimple. + +"But what good will that do Wings?" moaned Susy. "Evil for evil only +makes things worse." + +Her indignation did not lessen, but rather increased, the longer she +reflected upon the subject. What right had a man to abuse anybody's +horse--more especially hers? + +"Mr. Grimes ought to be 'dited, and sent to the Reform School or State's +Prison this very night," said she, in her wrath. Prudy thought precisely +the same; also Miss Dimple, who looked upon the whole affair as a joke, +intended for her amusement. + +When Mr. Parlin came home to tea, and heard the story, he did not blame +Susy in the least for her indignation, but started off for the +blacksmith's with the limping pony, saying he meant to "inquire into the +business." + +"May I go with you?" cried Susy. + +"Me, too?" said Prudy, echoed by Dotty. + +"Only Susy," replied their father; "she may go if she likes." + +Susy very much wondered what her father was going to do. As they +approached the shop, she saw, standing at the door, the man whose face +looked as if it had been "rubbed on a pen-wiper." + +"Mr. Grimes," said Mr. Parlin, in a pleasanter manner than Susy thought +was at all necessary, "Mr. Grimes, I believe I owe you for shoeing this +pony." + +While Mr. Grimes was making the change, Mr. Parlin added,-- + +"How happens it, my friend, that this little animal bears such marks of +ill treatment? See how he limps. Look at this gash." + +"O," said Mr. Grimes, "he lamed himself by kicking out against the +coal-box; he's a nervous thing." + +Mr. Parlin then told the boys' story. + +"It is not so, upon my word and honor, sir," replied sooty-faced Mr. +Grimes, with great amazement. "I'll leave it to Mr. Fox." + +Mr. Fox, and two or three other men, declared very positively that they +had seen little Wings beating himself against the coal-box; and one of +them pointed out to Mr. Parlin the blood-stain on the edge of the wood. + +"You can't trust much to what boys say, especially such harum-scarum +fellows as Ed Johnson," added Mr. Fox. "I shouldn't wonder, now, Grimes, +if he and that Piper boy got their tempers up, and tried to spite you, +for ordering them out of the shop. They were troublesome, and he had to +speak sharp," added Mr. Fox, addressing Mr. Parlin again. + +"That's so!" exclaimed Mr. Grimes. "You take three little chaps, and +have 'em meddling with your nails, and sticking scraps of iron into the +coals, and it makes a man cross--or it frets _me_, and I told 'em to +quit." + +"Saucy little rogues," chimed in Mr. Fox, anxious for the honor of his +workman. + +"As for my striking the pony," continued Mr. Grimes, "I might have +patted him once or twice with the _handle_ of the hammer. I often do +that; but my blows wouldn't kill a fly." + +After a little more conversation Mr. Parlin was satisfied that no real +cruelty had been used towards Wings. Susy's heart rose like a feather. + +"_Always wait till you hear both sides of a story!_" said Mr. Parlin, as +he and his daughter walked home. + +"Just the words _mother_ said this very day," cried Susy, skipping +lightly over the paving-stones. "It's so queer you and mother should +_both_ talk so much alike." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE WATER-KELPIE. + + +It was nearly time for vacation. As the children were to start on the +next Monday for Willow-brook, their mother allowed them to spend their +last Wednesday afternoon with their cousin Florence. It fell to Prudy's +lot to dress her little sister. + +"I'm ever so glad," said Dotty, "that the barber snipped off my +_kyurls_. Don't you think I do look like a boy, now, Prudy? You may call +me Tommy, if you want to; I'm willin'." + +"There, now," she exclaimed, when her toilet was made, "say me my +lesson; please to, Prudy." + +"O, I forgot all about that" replied the little teacher, uneasily. "Susy +'ll be done practising in half an hour, and I thought I'd just have time +to make my doll's boots,--finish them, I mean. Can't you wait till +Saturday, Dotty?" + +"O, my suz, Prudy Parlin! When I get to be a great sister to you, I +won't treat you so. I want to get my letters all smooth done +to-day,--don't want to wait till Sat'day." + +At any other time Prudy would have been gratified to see Dotty show so +much eagerness. + +"Be kind to thy sister," hummed the gentle little teacher. "Yes, I +will. I'm always glad after I've been kind. Nothing makes me love Dotty +so well as to try to please her!" + +"Now," said she, calling her school to order, "you've learned as far as +S, which I think is doing finely, all alone, with nobody to help us. +This next letter stands, you see, for a _top_. What is it we drink out +of cups?" + +"I don't get anything but milk, and that's in a mug," replied Dotty in +an injured tone. + +"But what does mother drink? Now think." + +Dotty eyed the letter sharply. "Why, mamma drinks coffee sometimes, and +it has grounds; but they don't look like that thing, the grounds don't! +Why, that thing looks like a spade, with the teeth out, wrong side up." + +"You mean a _rake_" laughed Prudy. "Well, dear, this is T." + +When Dotty came to X, she declared it stood "for your thumb. Susy said +so, and it was in the music-book." + +Now came an hour of triumph for the little pupil. Her mother was both +surprised and delighted to hear that her youngest daughter knew all her +letters. + +"She can say them skipping about," said Prudy, "and can spell a few +little words, too." + +"C, a, t, cat, d, o, g, Zip," laughed Dotty, showing her deepest +dimples, and frisking about the room. + +"My dear little ones," said Mrs. Parlin, kissing both the children, "I +am really very much gratified. Both teacher and pupil have shown a great +deal of patience and perseverance." + +These words from her beloved mother were most precious to Prudy. Dotty, +though she did not know what was meant by patience and perseverance, +presumed it was something fine, and laughed and danced in great glee. + +Nothing remarkable happened during the visit to Florence Eastman, except +that Miss Dimple and Johnny were found running off the track of the +upper railroad just one second after the engine started. Everybody was +very much frightened when it was all safely over. But Dotty said,-- + +"O, my suz! Me an' Johnny has done that a hundred and a million +times--hasn't we, Johnny? We wait till the injin w'istles, then we run +on to the platform--don't we, Johnny?" + +It came out after a while, that these reckless children had also been in +the habit of crossing pins on the track, to make "scissors," the weight +of the cars pressing the two pins into a solid _x_. + +"I still tremble," said Mrs. Eastman, with white lips. "This Alice +Parlin is the most daring little creature I ever saw, more harum-scarum +than ever Susy was." + +Prudy was Mrs. Eastman's pet. "Prudy," she said, "was a natural lady: +the other two were romps." + +The next Monday Mrs. Parlin and the three children started for +Willow-brook. Dotty wished to take her sweet Pusheen and her darling +Zip; but it was decided that Pusheen must stay at home, and help keep +house. + +"Be a good kitty," said her little mistress, embracing her, "and eat all +the mice in the mouse-chamber, 'fore they grow up _rats_!" + +But Zip was allowed to go to Willow-brook; and Dotty watched him all the +way, scarcely allowing him to stir from the seat beside her. + +"No," said she, holding him firmly by both ears; "Dotty'd be glad to let +you get down, but she doesn't think it's best. You is only a doggie, and +you'd get runned over and die. So now, Zippy, you'll have to give up, +and it's no use to bark." + +But Zip, having the spirit of a dog, _would_ bark. + +The whole party reached Willow-brook in safety, and had a joyful +welcome. + +"Prudy, my aunt Louise is the handsomest lady there is in this world," +said Dotty, privately. + +"O, Dotty, how can you think so," exclaimed Prudy, "when there's only +one woman can be THAT!" + +"Who's _she_?" + +"Mother, _of course_!" + +When Dotty was called to supper, she was found beside Pincher's green +grave, telling her "brother Zip" the story of that dog's death, and +trying to impress upon his mind the importance of keeping his paws out +of fox-traps. + +It was delightful to be at grandma Parlin's once more. The summer-house, +the seat in the tree, and the swing, were all in their old places, and +had been waiting a whole year for the children. A few things had been +added: a hennery,--called by Dotty "a henpeckery"--and a graceful white +boat, named the Water-Kelpie. This boat was kept chained to a stake on +the bank, and no one could have a sail in it without first obtaining the +key, which hung over the bird-cage, in the back parlor. + +Susy was charmed with the boat. It was lighter and nicer than the old +canoe, which had so long been used by the family. She and Lonnie Adams, +her aunt Martha's nephew, took daily lessons in rowing; but Susy, who +had for years been accustomed to the water, knew how to manage a boat +far better than did Master Lonnie. The boy strained every nerve, to very +little purpose, while Susy would lightly dip in the paddle, and turn it +with perfect ease. + +"I don't care," said Lonnie; "guess you can't drive a nail any better +than I can, Susy Parlin, and I can row her some, anyhow. Now, Abner, +can't I row her?" + +"Yes, my boy, I think I've heard you _roar_," replied Abner, with a +provoking smile. + +"Well, can't I row her this way?" + +"Middlin' well," returned Abner, cautiously; "but little Sue, here, is +the water-man for me." + +Susy's cheeks glowed, and there was a proud flash in her eyes as they +met Lonnie's. At that moment she felt equal to the task of steering a +ship across the Atlantic Ocean. + +Not long after this praise from Abner, aunt Martha said that she and +Master Lonnie were going over the river, after some wild-flower roots, +and would be glad to have the boat sent for them at five o'clock. + +"Mayn't I be the one to go?" asked Susy. + +"If you like," replied the grandmother; "that is, if Abner is willing." + +Susy knew perfectly well that her grandmother had no idea of allowing +her to go alone; but it so happened, when she reached the river-bank +with the boat-key, that Abner was nowhere to be seen. + +"Seems to me," thought Susy, "Abner is generally somewhere else." + +"Where you goin', all alone, 'thout me?" cried Dotty Dimple, from the +top of the bank. + +"You here? What did you come for?" said Susy. + +For answer, Dotty took a pair of rubber overshoes out of Zip's mouth. + +"Grandma says to put 'em right on, or you'll catch the hookin' cough; +the boat's wet." + +"There, now," said Susy, putting on the rubbers, "I've forgot the basket +for those Jack-in-the-pulpit roots. Didn't grandma send it up?" + +"No, she sended up _me_," replied Dotty; adding, quickly, "and I'm goin' +where you go, you know; and if you don't go anywhere, I'm goin' there, +too." + +"That's just the way it is with you, Dotty Dimple; always coming when I +don't expect you." + +"Prudy coaxed me to," said Dotty, with one of her sweetest smiles and +deepest dimples. + +"Coaxed you?" + +"Well," faltered Dotty, "she wanted to come her own self. She said she +wished I'd stay to home,--so, _of course_ I camed!" + +"I'll tell you how it is," said Susy, thoughtfully. "That queer old +Abner's nowhere to be seen. I suppose he's in the cornfield, or the +meadow, or the barn. It's after five; and what will aunt Martha think? I +could row across the river well enough by myself, if you'd only run +home; you're _such_ a bother!" + +"O, my darlin' sister Susy! I won't do nothin' but just sit still. Who's +your precious comfort?" + +"Well, I don't know but I'll take you, then. Come, little Miss Trouble, +jump into the boat." + +So Dotty Dimple, being what Mr. Allen had called a "child-queen," had +her own way, as usual. + +"Why, where's the paddles?" said Susy. "The men must have hid them. +Dear me, I can't stop to hunt; and here it is five o'clock long ago! O, +I'll take this good smooth shingle, I declare! I guess it washed ashore +on purpose; it's almost equal to a paddle.--Now we'll go, all so nice," +continued Susy, fearlessly dipping the chance-found shingle into the +water. + +"O, my suz," said Dotty, clapping her hands, which had any amount of +dimples on the backs; "we're goin'!" + +"Of course we're going!" said Susy, proudly. "What did you expect? I can +do five times as well with a shingle as Lonnie can with a paddle. What +do you suppose aunt Martha'll say? 'Bravo! those are smart children, to +be rowing all alone, by themselves'!" + +"O, Susy, what a hubble-bubble we make in the water! Look at the bubbles +winkin' their eyes! See those pretty wrinkles, all puckered up in the +water!" + +"I see them," said Susy, steadily plying her shingle; "but why don't you +sit still? You'll tip us both over, as sure as this world; and if we get +drowned I guess grandma'll scold! I shall be the one to have all the +blame." + +"O, dear," said Dotty, reeling about from side to side, "the boat's +dizzy! My head's goin' to tip into the water. But don't you cry, Susy; +you catch hold of me, and I shan't go!" + +Susy was suddenly seized with mortal terror. + +"Dotty Parlin, I'll never take you anywhere again, as long as I live! +You sit as still as ever you can, and fold your hands; fold them both!" + +Dotty obeyed at once, and sat up quite straight, looking very sweet, and +at the same time slightly acid, like a stick of lemon-candy. The Water +Kelpie, now that Dotty was quiet, floated on, safely and surely, towards +the opposite shore. + +It was a pretty picture--the white boat, the graceful children, and the +still, blue water. Susy's fair arms were bared to the elbows, and her +face was deeply flushed. Dotty's beautiful eyes danced, but she herself +was motionless and demure. + +When they landed, Susy called aloud for her aunt Martha to come and +secure the boat. Her voice echoed from afar, waking "the sleep of the +hills," but no aunt Martha appeared. The children clambered out at last, +and Susy chained the boat to a stick, which she drove into the sand. But +the sand was light, and the boat was heavy, and the current strong; so +before the children had walked a dozen rods, the Water-Kelpie was +floating down stream of its own free will. + +Thus it happened that although aunt Martha was certainly surprised, she +did not seem very much pleased. She did not say, "Bravo! my two nieces +are smart children, to be rowing all alone by themselves." Nothing of +the sort. She reproved Susy for her rash conduct, and sent her and +Lonnie around two miles, by the bridge, to ask Abner to come for them +with the canoe. + +Lonnie was very much comforted when he saw that Susy received no praise. + +"I can row her myself," said he; "but I wouldn't put Dotty in, and most +drown her, and dab along with that shingle." + +The runaway Water-Kelpie was caught a little way below the bridge, and +Abner slyly laid by the dripping shingle, and afterwards showed it to +everybody, as a proof that "our Sue was an amazin' smart little water +man." + +This famous boat-ride only had the effect to make Dotty Dimple more +fearless than ever; but her next adventure on the water proved somewhat +serious. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +BROTHER ZIP. + + +There was to be a remarkable supper at grandma Parlin's, in honor of +Colonel Augustus Allen, who was expected in the cars. There had been a +grand excursion to welcome the soldiers, and the stage would probably be +very late. Susy and Prudy had the promise of sitting up till it got in, +if Dotty Dimple was only willing. But Dotty said,-- + +"O, no; you better go to bed when I go, Prudy, or you'll hear somebody +scream." + +"Let's see," said Prudy. "I've thought of something nice. Wouldn't you +like to go to aunt Martha's, and stay all the afternoon and all night?" + +Dotty gave a little purr, like a happy kitten. + +"O, yes, if they'll let me drink choclid out o' that silver mug." + +"But who'll go with you?" said Prudy. "There, I know--Abby Grant! I'll +go ask mother." + +Prudy thought that she herself could not possibly be spared just now to +walk as far as aunt Martha's. + +Abby Grant, who was supposed to be a good child, was very glad to take +charge of Dotty, and called for her at two o'clock. + +Aunt Louise was in the kitchen, whipping cream. "O, my suz," said +Dotty, with shining eyes; "mayn't I taste o' those bubbles 'fore I go?" + +Aunt Louise poured the foaming cream over some jellies, which stood in +glasses. + +"You shall have some to-morrow," said she, pausing to kiss Dotty, her +favorite niece. Then she led the two little girls into the dining-room, +where the long table was already spread for Company. Dotty could hardly +keep her hands off the nice things. + +"There," said aunt Louise, giving each of the children an orange, "now +you may go. Abby, be sure to take good care of Dotty. Don't trust her +out of your sight one minute.--Hark! there's the door-bell. You may go +out of the house by the back-door." + +Then Miss Louise hastened from the dining-room, without looking back to +see whether the children obeyed her or not. Dotty was, in general, +prompt to do as she was bidden by older people; but just now both the +children found it hard to leave that tempting table. They dared not +taste the dainties, but Abby thought it could surely do no harm just to +touch them. But when they had gone as far as that, Abby, who was a sly, +half-taught child, grew bolder, and a sudden impulse seized her to +pocket a few sweetmeats, if she could only do so without being seen by +Dotty's keen eyes. + +"Come, Dotty Parling," said she, "you just go ask somebody to brush your +hair; it's all over your head." + +Dotty sighed as she cast a last glance at the table, and then, without a +word, went up stairs, unwilling to be seen by aunt Martha with her "hair +all over her head." + +Then Abby's heart beat fast. She heard voices in the parlor, and knew +that at any moment some one might enter the dining-room, and discover +her. So making a hasty choice of two large pieces of jelly-cake, and +half a dozen tarts, she swept out of the room just in time to escape +meeting grandma Parlin. + +Her pocket was stuffed quite full, and one end of a slice of cake peeped +out, though she tried her best to press it down. But Abby had a hope +that no one would notice it through her white apron. + +As Dotty's hair was now in fine order, the two children set out on their +walk. They had gone but a few steps when Zip came trotting along, with +all speed, looking up in their faces as if to say, "What have I done, +that I can't go too?" + +"Queer what made _him_ want to come," said Abby, tartly. + +"He loves his little sister," said Dotty, stroking his nose. "He shall +go, he shall; he's a darling." + +The dog kept beside the children, and every now and then Abby secretly +punched him with a stick, while Dotty was patting his head, and chatting +with him. + +It was a long way to aunt Martha's, and Abby, besides feeling guilty, +and ashamed of herself, was also very anxious to eat the goodies which +made such a bunch in her pocket. Zip seemed to know there was cake +somewhere, and sniffed about in a way which made her rather nervous. + +"Here, let's creep under this fence," said she; "what's the use to go +'round by the road? It's a great deal nearer to your aunt's house +through the field." + +"There, child," cried she, when they were on the other side of the +fence, "now I want to go behind this clump of trees, to--to find a book +I left here yesterday: but you mustn't come, Dotty." + +"What for can't I? Yes, I shall, Abby Grant; you shame yourself! I'm +goin' every single where you go; so, now, you'll have to give up!" + +"Dot Parling, you go right along with your doggie! I'll come in a +minute." + +Dotty thought a girl of Abby's age had no right to command her. She +stamped her little foot, but it made no sound in the soft grass. + +"I isn't a-goin' to go long with my doggie, Abby Grant; 'cause--so +there!" + +"But you must. You know, Dot Parling," said Abby, more gently, "your +grandma expects you to do just what I tell you. I'm afraid, dear, you +won't get any of that bubbled cream if you don't mind, nor any tarts." + +The child queen began to think it was wisest to obey; but she did so +with a very ill grace. + +"Well, Abby Grant, I will go long with my doggie; but it's cause I'm +tired, and don't want to help you find your old book--so, there!" + +"That's right. Dotty. Start quick--can't you?" + +Dotty took "high ground" at once. She looked Abby full in the face. + +"Do you like _yourself_, Abby Grant?" + +"I don' know. Yes: why?" + +"'Cause I shouldn't think you would! I 'spise you!" + +Having freed her mind, Dotty walked on with Zip, only turning back once, +to exclaim,-- + +"There, Abby, now you'll have to give up!" + +Abby, naughty girl, ate her cake in secret, staining her white apron +with the jelly, while little Miss Dimple trudged on, thinking it very +strange Abby should be so long finding that book. + +Perhaps for the reason that she was rather out of sorts, and thinking +about Abby rather than about the road, she missed her way, and soon +found herself in a narrow lane she had never seen before. + +Zip looked rather uneasy, but followed close by her side. Dotty walked +on and on, till the track had faded quite away. This was not the road to +aunt Martha's. Why didn't Abby come? + +Dotty, too proud to cry, too angry to look back, wandered till she came +to the edge of the Parlin woods. Here was a little creek, tumbling over +some small gray rocks; the same "creek" where Horace had sometimes gone +fishing. + +"True as you live," said Dotty to herself, "here's a teenty-tonty +river." + +There was no way of crossing the creek, and the child felt as if she had +come to the very end of the world. Her courage began to fail. + +"Dotty Dimple," said she, stamping her foot, "don't you cry! If you do +cry, Dotty Dimple, I'll shut you up in the closet." + +But, in spite of these brave words, the unhappy child felt two or three +tears raining down her cheeks. She now seated herself on the grass, and +screamed for Abby. + +"When she comes," thought Dotty, "I'll tell her she's 'shamed herself!" + +At first it seemed as if Abby were answering her; but the sound proved +to be only the echo of Dotty's own voice. O, she might scream all the +afternoon, and Abby wouldn't try to hear! O, dear; before anybody would +come, a bear, or a wolf, or a whale might rush right out of the woods +and eat her up! Then how Abby would cry! Abby's mother would whip her +with a big stick, and say, "there, now; what made you go behind the +trees, and let that little Parlin girl lose herself, and get ate up! I +don't think you're very polite, you naughty girl!"--O, how everybody +would cry! + +But what was that little funny thing on the water? Forgetting her sudden +fear of bears and whales, a fear which Abby herself had put into her +little head, Dotty gazed at the "funny thing." Could it be a little +truly sailboat? Yes, it certainly was. How it got into the creek Dotty +never stopped to think; the question was, how could she get it out? + +She blew it with her breath, but it only floated farther away. She +waited, hoping it would turn about, and come towards her. She threw +sticks at it, but in vain. The boys, who had set it sailing had gone +into the woods for raspberries, would have laughed to see her efforts. +Presently she took off her hat, held it by one string, and flung it in, +as if it had been a fishing-net. It was all of no use; the boat acted as +if it were alive, and did not choose to be caught. + +Dotty had forgotten all about Abby and the visit to aunt Martha's. + +"I know what I'll do," thought she, winking very fast. "I'll catch that +boat; I will!" + +When Dotty had made up her mind, she never stopped for trifles. She drew +off her stockings and gaiters, and stepped into the creek. Boys waded in +the water, why couldn't she? There was nothing to bite her! She wasn't +afraid! + +She had supposed the water would only cover her feet, but she found +herself sadly mistaken. The creek was remarkably deep, and, more than +that, the bottom was so soft that she sank down, down, at every step. + +Poor child! It was hard enough to get lost; it was harder still to be +drowned! + +"O, papa!" she screamed; "O, mamma! O, Prudy! can't you come? I don't +want to drown, and not have _you_ drown, Prudy. Can't you come, somebody +come!" + +But there were no human ears near enough to hear her piteous cries. She +must have drowned--there is no doubt of it--if Zip had not been close at +hand. The moment he saw her sinking, he gave a low bark and swam after +her. + +Before he could reach the unfortunate child the water was up to her +waist, and she was wringing her little helpless hands, and saying, "Now +I lay me down to sleep!" + +Faithful old Zip lost not a moment, but seized her skirts and dragged +her to the bank, laying her on the ground as tenderly as her own mother +could have done. + +Now you see why it is that God had put it into Zip's loving heart to +"want to come with his little sister." + +Abner, who arrived a few minutes later, in order to cut some young +birches for his fence, said,-- + +"Wasn't it lucky, that that dog _happened_ to be right on the spot? And +lucky, too, that I _happened_ along in the nick of time, to carry the +poor little girl home in my arms?" + +But the truth is, in this world which our Heavenly Father watches over, +nothing ever comes by chance, and events do not _happen_. + +Abby shed many bitter tears, but they were not so much tears of sorrow +for her sin, as of shame for being found out. Such weeping does no good. +Indeed I am afraid it only hardened Abby's heart. + +But the day ended gloriously for Dotty. She was handed about to be +kissed by everybody, and was, after all, allowed to sit up till nine +o'clock, and actually ate a "bubbled cream," sitting as close as she +could beside Colonel Allen's elbow. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +DR. PRUDY. + + +The next day Dotty had a severe cold, and her mother, fearing the croup, +did not allow her to go out of doors. This was hard for the child. She +felt very restless, because she had to give up "housekeeping" with +Prudy, a very fascinating game, which could only be played on the +river-bank. She looked out of the kitchen window, and saw some +carpenters shingling the barn. + +"O, hum!" she murmured, "I wish grandpa wouldn't mend his barn!" + +A white mist was creeping slowly over the river and the distant hills. + +"There, now," she sighed, "I wish the earth wouldn't _breave_ so hard!" + +Then she went into the parlor, like a little gray cloud. + +"O, dear; I don't like this house, 'cause it's got a top to it! Wish I +was somewhere else!" + +"Poor child," said Colonel Allen, who was seated on the sofa, looking +out of the bay-window upon the garden; "do you love home better than +this beautiful spot?" + +"No," replied the little one, shaking her head. "I don't love my home, +'cause I live there; I don't love nothin'. O, hum, suz!" + +Then Dotty wandered into the nursery, and stood all alone, leaning +against the lounge. + +"I shouldn't think my mother'd let me be so cross," mused she. + +She did not cry, for she had learned very young that crying is of no +use; and it may be, too, that she had only a small fountain of tears +back of her eyes. Prudy, entering the nursery in eager haste, for her +"bean-bags," was touched at sight of her sister's sad face. + +"There, now, I'll put back my bean-bags, and try to make her happy," +said Prudy to herself. "That will be following the Golden Rule; for it's +doing unto Dotty as I want Susy to do unto me, when _I'm_ sick." + +She went quietly up to Dotty, who still stood leaning gloomily against +the lounge. The child turned around with a sudden smile. It cheered her +to see Prudy's sweet face, which was always sunny with a halo of happy +thoughts. + +"Are you real sick, though, Dotty Dimple?" + +"Yes, I are," replied Dotty, well pleased to be asked such a question. +"I got 'most drowned, you know. O, I wish you'd stayed out in the rain +the other day, and got cold; then you'd have been sick, too." + +Prudy smiled, for she knew that her little sister really had no such +unkind wish at heart. She was only trying, with her limited stock of +words, to say that she longed to have a little sympathy. It was not +often that Dotty was willing to be pitied. + +"See here, Prudy darling, don't you want a piece of my cough-candy? It's +good! You may bite clear down to there, where I've scratched with a +pin." + +"No, thank you, dear, I don't care a bit for it." + +Dotty's face beamed with joyous dimples. It was so pleasant to be +generous, and at the same time keep the candy! In her short life Dotty +Dimple had not quite learned that "the half is better than the whole." + +"Now," said Prudy, after thinking a while, "suppose we play that you're +sick,--as you are, you know,--and I'm the doctor." + +Dotty gave a little scream of delight. + +"You may see my tongue," said she, running to the looking-glass; "it's +real rusty. Can't you scrape it with a knife, Brady?" + +"You must say _doctor_, when you speak to me. Now, my dear patient, it's +best for you to lie on the lounge, and take medicine in the chest. Poor +young lady, we shall be so glad when you get your health all well!--Do +you want me to extricate a tooth? Have you any headache, miss?" + +Prudy's voice was low and sympathetic. "Yes, Dr. Prudy," replied the +patient, with a stifled groan; "I've truly got the ache in my head; it +pricks through my hair." "I'll tell you the cause of that, my dear +patient; I suspect your pillow's made of pin-feathers. Let me feel your +pulse on the back of your hand--your wrist, I mean. Terrible," moaned +the young doctor, gazing mournfully at the ceiling; "it's stopped +beating. Can't expect your life now. O, no!" + +"Now you must put your hands behind you, and walk across the room," +suggested Dotty; "that's the way." + +"If my memory preserves me right," continued the young doctor, pacing +the floor, "you've got the--ahem!--pluribus unum." Here Dr. Prudy ran +her fingers through her hair. "But it goes light this year--with care, +ma'am, you know. So I'll go and stir you up some pills in my marble +mortar." + +"O, dear me, doctor; don't you now! Bring me some lemonade and nuts, for +I'm drefful sick; but don't bring me no pills nor molters!" + +"Poh, only brown bread, Dotty! what do you suppose?" + +Upon the whole, Miss Dimple, being petted to her heart's content, had +quite a comfortable day of it. + +In the evening she asked,-- + +"Mightn't I eat supper, all alone, in the parlor? Once, when I had the +sores all wrinkled out on my face, on my chin and round my eyes, all +round, _then_ I ate in the parlor." + +Prudy, with her grandmother's consent, carried in a pretty salver, on +which were a little Wedgewood teapot with hot water, a tiny sugar-bowl +and creamer, a plate, and cup and saucer, some slices of toast, and a +glass of jelly. + +"Thank you a whole heart-full," said Dotty, springing off the sofa; +"that little waiter and so forth is real big enough for me." + +Dotty thought "and so forth" meant "cups and saucers." She had heard +Norah tell Prudy, when she wished to set the table, that she might put +on "the knives and forks, and so forth," and Dotty had noticed that it +was always cups and saucers after the knives and forks. + +"But, Dr. Prudy, there's one thing you've forgot," said the young +patient; "a little tea-bell, so I can tingle it, and call you in." + +The bell was brought, and while the rest of the family ate in the +dining-room, Dotty took her "white tea" in the parlor, in queenly state. + +Prudy had eaten half a thin slice of toast, when the long and sharp +ringing of the tea-bell summoned her into the parlor. + +"And what would you like, Miss Dimple?" said the remarkably obliging +doctor, with a low bow. + +"More jelly," replied the patient, holding up the empty glass, "and some +squince marmalade." + +After obeying this request, Prudy went back to her supper, and had just +finished her slice of bread, when the bell struck again. + +This time there was "that old spin-wheel in the chimney again,"--so the +patient said,--and a book in the what-not wrong side up, looking "as if +it would choke." + +The book was set right; but the noise in the chimney was too much for +the doctor's skill, since neither she nor any one else knew its cause. + +Next sounded a furious peal of the bell, and a series of loud screams +from the little sick girl. She had been dreadfully stung by a bee, which +had buzzed its way out from the fireboard. Strange to tell, there was a +swarm of bees in the chimney, instead of "a spin-wheel." + +Abner at once mounted to the roof of the house, and peeped into the +chimney. A nice, cosy beehive it made, filled to the throat with waxen +cells. + +Dotty bore her sufferings sweetly, being sustained by the promise of a +large box of honey, by and by. + +"Bees have a 'sweet, sweet home,' I think," said Susy. + +"So do ants when they get in the sugar-box," rejoined Prudy. + +As night approached, Dotty showed symptoms of croup. + +"I think," said her grandmother, "it will be the safest way to give her +some castor-oil and molasses; that is what her father used to take when +he was a little boy." + +Dotty pouted. "Dirty, slippy castor-oil," she cried, shaking her +elbows--a thing she seldom did now. "I shan't let it go in my throat. +I'll bite my teeth togedder tight." + +"Alice," said her grandmother, "is that the proper way to speak to me?" + +The child's face cleared in a moment. + +"I wasn't a-speakin' to you, grandma," said she, sweetly; "I was a +talkin' to the dust-pan." + +"O, Dotty Parlin!" cried Prudy, much distressed. "Nobody ever talked to +the dust-pan, in all the days of their lives! I always thought you were +a good girl, Dotty, but now I am afraid you tell false fibs!" + +Dotty clung about Prudy like a sweet pea, and peeped into her eyes with +a pleading look. + +"Say, do you love me, Prudy? For I'm goin' to let the oil slip right +down my throat, just as my papa did when _he_ was a little boy." + +After swallowing the oil and molasses, Dotty grew very affectionate, and +kissed everybody twice, all around. Then she said her prayers, and went +to bed. + +"Mamma," said she, "now smoove me up under my chin, please." She loved +to have the sheet laid straight. "Do you s'pose God will take care o' me +to-night, mamma?" + +"Certainly, my darling; you may be very sure He will. Your heavenly +Father never sleeps. He watches over you always." + +"Now, truly, does he?" said the child, pressing her flushed cheek +against the pillow. "Does he see me in my chubby bed, when the moon's +all dark? + +"O, my suz!" cried she, suddenly, raising her head; "God can take care +o' me most always, you know, but I'm drefful afraid something will catch +me while he's 'tending to _another_ man!" + +Mrs. Parlin explained to her little daughter, as well as she could, the +omnipresence and infinite goodness of God; and while she was still +talking, in low, soothing tones, the little one fell asleep. + +But about midnight there was a sudden alarm. Lights glanced here and +there over the house, and Susy and Prudy were wakened from a deep sleep +by the sound of voices. Dotty had a violent attack of croup. + +"Put me out doors," gasped the poor little sufferer, when she could +speak at all. "I can't breave if the window's _ever_ so up. Get me +nearer to the moon. Then I can breave!" + +"It's so dreadful!" sobbed Susy. "I feel real sure she's going to die +this time." + +"O, no, I don't think she will," said Prudy, shaking the tears off her +eyelashes. "God took care of me when I had the lameness, and He'll take +care of her. He loves her as much as he loves me." + +"Now just listen to me," returned Susy, pacing the floor of the green +chamber, in her night-dress, while Prudy sat on the edge of the bed. +"God loves us all; but that's no sign we can't die! Little children, no +older than Dotty, have their breath snatched right away, and are covered +up in the ground, with gravestones at their heads and feet. O, you +haven't the least idea, Prudy. You never think anything can happen!" + +"Well, things don't happen very often, you know, Susy." + +"There, Prudy Parlin, don't talk so! I feel just as if Dotty was going +to die this very night." + +"O, I don't think she will, Susy. But she's God's little girl, and if He +wants her up in heaven He has a right to take her. He never'll take her, +though, unless it's best, now certainly." + +"Sit still, Prudy, just as you are. The moon is shining into the window, +on your tears, and it seems as if I could almost see a rainbow in your +eyes!--There, it's gone now. What makes you talk so queer about God, +Prudy? as if you knew a great deal more than I do?" + +"I don't know half as much as you do," replied Prudy; "but I used to lie +and think about the Saviour when I had the lameness.--Hark! Is that +Dotty laughing? Let's go in and see if she isn't 'most well." + +The child was indeed better; but for the next three nights she suffered +from severe attacks of the croup. Her sisters had not known how they +loved her till she showed her frail side, and they saw how slender was +the thread which bound her to earth. When she was strong, and roguish, +and wilful, they forgot that she was only a tender flower after all, and +might be nipped from the stem any time. + +When she was well again, Prudy said to her mother, in confidence, "It +didn't kill her, the croup didn't, but it might have killed her; and I'm +going to love her all the time as if she was really dead, and gone to +heaven." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +BUYING A BROTHER. + + +"One, two, buckle my slipper! no, my gaiters," repeated Miss Dimple, as +Prudy laced her boots. "I wish I was a horse, then my shoes would be +nailed on, and be done with it." + +"I'm so glad," said Prudy, putting on her hat, "that we can go to +housekeeping again." + +They had built a shingle palace on the bank of the river. It was as +white as chalk could make it, and glared like a snowdrift out of a clump +of evergreens which were no taller than dandelions. + +"Our house is shaded so much," said Prudy, "that it makes me think of a +lady with hair over her eyes." + +The entrance to the little palace was through a swinging door, of white +cloth, and from the roof fluttered a small flag. There were four rooms +in the house, all of them on the ground floor. The parlor was elegantly +furnished with a braided carpet, of striped grass, a piano, whose black +and white keys were put on with coal and chalk, not to mention other +articles of luxury. The table was spread with acorn-cups and poppy +teapots, the little housekeepers being advised not to make use of their +china dishes for this establishment. + +There was a very black stove in the kitchen, but the most of the +cooking was done out of doors, farther down the bank, in ovens shaped +like swallows' nests. Here were baked delicious mud cakes, tempting +currant tarts, and dainty custards. + +Nothing pleased Miss Dimple so well as to govern a household. She ruled +with a rod of iron. + +In the midst of a caution to her servant-maid, Prudy, "not to burn her +biscuits as black as so'-leather," she was surprised to see her +twinkling off a tear. + +"O, Prudy, I didn't mean to scold," said she, in the tenderest tones. + +"Poh, as if I minded your make-believe, Dotty! I was only thinking about +aunt Madge--that's all." + +"What has she done?" asked Dotty as she went on stamping her mud cake +with the head of a pin. + +"It isn't done yet, Dotty; but it will be. She's going to be married." + +Dotty dropped her mud-cake. "Why! who to? Abner?" + +"O, dear, no! To Mr.--I mean Colonel--Augustus Allen. Didn't you ever +hear of that?" + +"Was that why he sent his objections to mamma?" asked Dotty, in a low +voice. + +"He sent his _respects_ to mother, if that's what you mean; and in the +same letter he said, 'Give oceans of love to Prudy.' As if it wasn't bad +enough to break my heart, without trying to drown me," murmured Prudy, +with dripping eyes. + +"I don't see what you're crying for," broke in her little sister. "I +shall marry my papa one of these days. I should think you'd feel badder +about that. Who's _you_ goin' to marry, Prudy?" + +"Nobody, Dotty, as long as I live! I shall stay at home with my mother, +and she'll be sitting in the rocking-chair, knitting, and father'll be +sitting by the window, reading the paper.--But there," added she, "aunt +Madge might be married three or four times, and I wouldn't care. It's +her going to New York that makes my heart ache so." + +"Well, shell come back bimeby," said Dotty, soothingly. + +"O," replied Prudy, with a wise smile; "seems to me when I was four +years old I knew a great deal more than you do, child! People that are +married stay away always." + +"I wish they wouldn't," cried Dotty, beginning to feel alarmed. "I'll +ask Colonel 'Gustus to marry Abby Grant after she gets growed, and let +my auntie stay at home." + +"The worst of it is," continued Prudy, glad of her sister's sympathy, +such as it was, "Colonel Allen is a lawyer." + +"Well, isn't lawyers as good as white folks?" + +"The only trouble with lawyers, Dotty, is, that they can't write so you +can read it. My father told me so. He said their writing was like +turkey's tracks. He said it looked as if a fly had got into the +inkstand, and crawled over the paper." + +Dotty's face was the picture of distress. + +"It's a drefful thing to grow up a nidiot," said she, drawing her mouth +down as she had seen Prudy do when beseeching her to learn the alphabet. +"Don't he know all the letters, skippin' about?" + +Here aunt Louise's voice was heard, from the piazza. She asked if the +children would like to go with her and see Mrs. Gray's baby. After a +little washing and brushing they were ready. + +"Auntie," said Dotty, as they walked along, "you've got my +porkmonnaie." + +"Very true; so I have." + +"How much money is in my porkmonnaie?" + +"Two dollars and a half. Why?" + +"'Cause I want to give it to Mr. Colonel Allen, to make him marry Abby +Grant when she gets growed. I 'spise her, and I want her to go to New +York. There's where the husbands and wives go." + +Miss Louise laughed. + +"Very well," said she; "you may give the money to 'Mr. Colonel,' and +I've no doubt you can persuade him to marry any one you please." + +Dotty smiled with entire satisfaction, but Prudy looked inquiringly into +her auntie's face, not believing it possible that Colonel Allen would +really change his mind for two dollars and a half. + +The children went wild over the sleeping baby, Philip Gray. + +"He's a brother, isn't he?" said Dotty. "I wish he was mine. I haven't +any but Zip. I'd take my kitty out of the carriage, and put in this +brother, and give him all my sugar things." + +"Well," said Dr. Gray, with a flicker of fun in his eyes, "the baby is +not of the least use to me, and if you like him, my dear--" + +Dotty danced about the cradle. + +"He's nicer than a squir'l catched in a cage. O, he is!" + +"That's just as people may fancy," said Dr. Gray. "Now I think, for my +part, a squirrel would be less trouble, for he could get his own +living." + +Dotty peeped into the doctor's face with her bright eyes, to make sure +he really liked squirrels better than babies. + +"But," continued he, very gravely, "it may be his mother might object to +my giving him away. I don't know why it is, but she seems to value him +very highly. She would expect some money for him, I think. How much are +you willing to pay?" + +Dotty reflected. She possessed several dollies, a new tea-set, a box of +picture-books, and a red morocco ball. But what would Dr. Gray care for +these, or her various other toys? All her money was contained in her +portemonnaie, the money which she had meant should put a stop to her +aunt Madge's dreadful marriage. Should she save her auntie, and give up +the baby? Or should she buy the baby, and leave her auntie to her fate? + +The struggle in her mind was a severe one, but it did not last long. + +"O," thought she, looking at the little sleeper in the cradle, "I'd +rather have him than aunt Madge; for he'll stay to our house, and sleep +in my crib." + +"How now?" said Dr. Gray, pinching Dotty's cheek; "made up your mind?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the child, with her finger in her mouth; "I'm goin' +to buy him. I mean, I'm goin' to if I can get him for two dollars and a +half." + +"A generous sum," laughed the doctor. "Well said. Now, the next thing +is, to obtain his mother's consent." + +This was very easily done, for Mrs. Gray, who was not strong, and had +only a young girl in the kitchen, declared that, dearly as she loved the +baby, she found him a deal of trouble. + +Dotty's face was radiant; but Prudy, who understood that the whole +conversation was merely a playful one, looked down upon her younger +sister with a sage smile. + +"Don't you think," whispered Dotty, clutching her auntie by the dress, +"don't you think we'd better be going?" + +"Why, dear, are you tired of your brother so soon?" + +"O, I want to get the carriage, you know, and the money to pay him for." + +Miss Louise, who knew that her little niece was terribly in earnest, now +tried to divert her with pictures; but Dotty was not to be wheedled by +any such arts. + +"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Dr. Gray; "we'll keep little Phil +for you till he's as tall as a pair of tongs." + +Unfortunately there was a fireplace in the room, and Dotty's keen eyes +at once espied the tongs, leaning against a brass rester. As quick as a +thought she seized them, and laid them in the cradle beside the baby. +They were half an inch shorter than Phil--even the doctor was obliged +to confess it. + +"Bravo! Miss Bright Eyes," said he, catching up Dotty, and whirling her +over his shoulder; "you have a shrewd little brain of your own. I see +you can be trusted to make your own bargains." + +The baby had been for some moments nestling uneasily, and of course was +broad awake by this time, screaming lustily, as if to protest against +the inhuman proceeding of being bought and sold. + +Dotty had just time to see that her "brother" had "nut-blue" eyes, when +she was hurried away by her aunt Louise. + +For three days the expectant child was kept in suspense by mirthful Dr. +Gray, who pretended that he should bring the baby to her some time when +she did not expect it. She often rushed into the parlor, saying, "O, I +thought I heard somethin' cryin';" and almost cried herself because +there was no baby there. "I wish I could stop expecting my brother," +said Dotty, sorrowfully, "for then he might come." + +But, at last, after her young heart had throbbed again and again with +false hopes, she began to see that she had been cruelly deceived. Dr. +Gray did not mean, and never had meant, to sell his baby. + +"He tells too many fibs," said Dotty, stamping her foot, and looking +very much flushed; "he cheated me, he did." + +"Now, Susy, do you think it was right to cheat her so?" said Prudy, +sorry for Dotty's disappointment. + +"I don't know," replied the older sister, hesitating. "Dr. Gray is a +real good man. I don't believe he meant to cheat. Father wears paper +collars sometimes, and makes believe they are linen; but then, you know, +_father_ wouldn't cheat! Dr. Gray was only joking. The trouble is, Dotty +is too little to understand jokes. Dr. Gray didn't mean to break his +word." + +"Well, if he didn't break it, he _bent_ it," replied Prudy, positively. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A WEDDING. + + +"I shan't buy any more brothers as long as I live--now you see if I do," +said Dotty Dimple, with quivering lips. + +"Come here, little one, and sit on my knee," said Colonel Augustus +Allen. "Can't you think of something next as good as a baby brother? How +would you fancy a grown-up uncle!" + +Dotty looked wonderingly into Colonel Allen's face. + +"Who's got any to sell?" said she. + +"Possibly the minister may have," said Colonel Allen, laughing. "You +wait till this evening, and very likely he may be here. Then you can go +up to him and say, 'Please, Mr. Hayden, will you sell me an uncle?'" + +"But he'll cheat me--he will," said Dotty, shaking her finger. + +"O, no, never fear. Just try him, and see. Here's a sealed envelope +which Susy may keep for you till night." + +"And shan't I have to spend the money in my porkmonnaie?" + +"Not a cent of it, chickie." + +Something was going on which was called _a wedding_; though what a +wedding might be, Miss Dimple had no idea, having never attended one in +all her life. But it was something remarkable, no doubt, for the parlors +ware glowing with flowers, and everybody was in a flutter. The three +children, dressed in their very best, were allowed to sit up for the +whole evening, or, at any rate, as long as they pleased. + +It was as lovely out of doors as "a Lapland night." The full moon and +the gay lamplight tried to outshine one another. + +"Do look at that great moon dripping down the juniper tree," cried +Prudy, growing poetical as she gazed. "Let me tell you, Susy, when the +moon is young and little, it makes me think of a smile, and when it's a +grown-up, full moon, it makes me think of a laugh." + +Just as Dotty was beginning to wonder whether she felt sleepy or not, +the door-bell rang; and after that it kept ringing every few minutes +for an hour. By that time the fragrant parlors were almost filled with +guests. Everybody had a few kind words for the children, and Prudy +listened and answered with timid blushes: but Dotty Dimple was, as +usual, very fearless, and perfectly at ease. + +Presently Colonel Allen, and Miss Margaret, and Miss Louise entered the +room. Dotty had been wondering where they were. + +"Now," whispered aunt Louise, "now's the time to ask Mr. Hayden for that +new uncle." + +Dotty stepped briskly up to the minister. + +"Here's a letter for you," said she, "and it says, 'Will you please +sell me an uncle, sir?'" + +Mr. Hayden smiled, and asked the little maiden what sort of an uncle she +would like. + +"A new one," she replied, bending her head one side, and peeping up in +his face like a tame canary, "and a soldier, too, if you've got any to +sell." + +Mr. Hayden said he certainly had, and laughed when he spoke, though +Dotty could not imagine why. Dr. Gray took her up in his arms, and +declared he would like to carry her home in his pocket. Such an idea! +And Dr. Gray was the man who had cheated her! When he set her down again +she stood on her dignity, and carried her head like a queen. + +She had hardly crossed the room, and taken her station beside Prudy, +when a hush fell upon the company. Dotty was inclined to think people +had paused in conversation to watch _her_. Colonel Allen and aunt Madge +were standing together, and Mr. Hayden in front of them. The guests were +looking at _them_, not at Miss Dotty Dimple! + +Mr. Hayden began to talk very solemnly--almost like preaching. No one +else spoke; no one smiled. Before Dotty could ask what they were doing, +Mr. Hayden was praying; and after the prayer, which was so hearty and +simple that Dotty could almost understand it, the whole room was in +motion again. Everybody seemed suddenly bent on kissing aunt Madge, +though what that young lady had been doing which was better than usual +Dotty could not exactly make out. But this, she concluded, was in some +way connected with the entertainment called _a wedding_. + +"Come, now, little lady," said Mr. Hayden, taking Dotty's hand, and +leading her up to Colonel Allen, "here is the uncle you have bought. He +is new, and a soldier too. So you see I have done my best for you." + +"That?" said Dotty, pointing her index-finger at the bridegroom in +surprise. "I know _him_; he isn't _new_. He is Mr. Colonel. He isn't my +uncle a bit, sir." + +"True, he was not, five minutes ago, Miss Dimple; but the few little +words you heard me say to him have made a wonderful change. He is now +your uncle Augustus, and your aunt Margaret is Mrs. Allen." + +Dotty looked up bewildered. Her newly-married aunt was engaged in +talking to the guests; but Colonel Allen was gazing down upon his new +niece with an arch smile. + +"The minister did not cheat you, you see?" said he. "He has really given +you what he promised." + +"I didn't want you to marry my good auntie," was all Dotty's answer. + +"Ah, my dear, that is very sad! I was not aware that you had any dislike +for me." + +"O, I love you," exclaimed Dotty, "'cause you carry me pickaback; _but_ +I wish you knew your letters skippin' about!" + +The minister and the bridegroom smiled at this absurd little speech, and +it was repeated to everybody in the room. Prudy felt very guilty, and +blushed like a damask rose, for she knew where Dotty had caught the idea +of Colonel Allen's extreme ignorance. + +"I am very sorry, little Miss Dimple, that you object to me," said the +new uncle; "but by and by you and I will take the big dictionary, and +you may point out the letters to me. I think you will find I know them +'skippin' about.' Is there anything else you have against me?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the child, earnestly; "you're a lawyer--my father +says so. You wrote to him once." + +"Did I? What did I write?" + +"A letter." + +"And where was the harm in that?" + +"O, it looked like turkeys' tracks--he said it did. You wrote the letter +with a fly. You dipped him in the inkstand, and stuck him on a pin, and +wrote with him. My father says so." + +"You surprise me, Dotty. I really don't remember it. Have you any other +reason for not wishing me to be your uncle?" + +"I wanted you to marry somebody else." + +"Indeed! You ought to have mentioned it before! What young lady had you +chosen for me, Miss Dimple?" + +"Abby Grant, the little girl that went behind the tree and let me lose +myself. I'd as lief she'd go to New York as not. If you'd only waited +for her she'd have growed up." + +By this time Mrs. Parlin, though somewhat amused by her little +daughter's sharp speeches, thought it best to put an end to them by +taking her away into a corner. She was too much inclined to pertness. + +The evening was very delightful; but like everything else in this world +it could not last always. After the guests had departed, and before the +doors were closed or the lights put out, the three tired children +slowly wound their way up stairs. + +"I'm glad it's over and done," said Prudy, resignedly. "I've cried just +all I'm going to." + +"I only wish Grace Clifford had been here," murmured Susy, clutching +hold of the baluster. + +"Well, I don't wish nothing so there," said Dotty Dimple, dreamily. + +And this is the last word we are to hear from her. She is nearly asleep. +Let us bid her and her two older sisters a Good Night and Pleasant +Dreams. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple, by Sophie May + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE PRUDY'S DOTTY DIMPLE *** + +***** This file should be named 16390.txt or 16390.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/9/16390/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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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