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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Carry's Rose, by Mrs. George Cupples
+
+
+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: Carry's Rose
+       or, the Magic of Kindness. A Tale for the Young
+
+
+Author: Mrs. George Cupples
+
+
+
+Release Date: March 25, 2007  [eBook #20896]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CARRY'S ROSE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Christine D., and the
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+
+
+CARRY'S ROSE;
+
+Or,
+
+The Magic of Kindness.
+
+A Tale for the Young.
+
+by
+
+MRS. GEORGE CUPPLES,
+
+Author of "The Story of Our Doll," "The Little Captain," Etc. Etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE BIRTHDAY PICNIC]
+
+
+London:
+T. Nelson and Sons, Paternoster Row.
+Edinburgh; and New York.
+1881.
+
+
+
+
+CARRY'S ROSE.
+
+
+Caroline Ashcroft stood by the trellised arbour on the lawn, along with
+Daisy, her pet lamb, watching for the approach of the carriage which had
+been sent to the railway-station to meet her papa and her only brother,
+Herbert. This was the first time that Caroline had been separated from her
+brother, who had been sent to school at a distance some months before
+this; and as she had no sister or companion of her own age, she had felt
+very lonely during his absence. In honour of his return nurse had dressed
+Caroline in her new white muslin; and Daisy, after being carefully washed
+till her soft fleece was as white as snow, had been decorated with a
+beautiful wreath of flowers. She was so anxious to pull it off, that
+Caroline was obliged to hold her head very firm, in case she should eat it
+up before Herbert arrived.
+
+[Illustration: THE PET LAMB.]
+
+"Now, Daisy," said Caroline to the lamb, "just have a few minutes more
+patience. I'm certain I hear the sound of wheels. There!" she cried,
+clapping her hands, as the carriage turned in at the avenue gate. Daisy,
+feeling herself at liberty, ran away across the lawn, tossing her head
+and tearing the wreath to pieces; but Caroline was so eager to catch the
+first glimpse of Herbert, who she felt sure would be looking out of the
+window for her, that she did not notice how soon her morning's labour had
+been destroyed.
+
+Caroline was a sweet-dispositioned child, affectionate and very
+warm-hearted; at least nurse thought so, as she dressed her that morning,
+and listened to her plans for Herbert's amusement during his holidays. She
+had banished from her mind all recollection of his wayward temper, and the
+delight he always seemed to take in tormenting her and teasing her in
+every way in his power, and only thought how nice it would be to have him
+at home once more.
+
+"Ah, Miss Caroline," nurse had said, "I'm thinking you will be even more
+pleased to see him set off for school again, unless he is much improved."
+
+"But Herbert is a big boy now, nurse," Caroline had replied; "only think
+what nice letters he writes from school, telling how he longs to be beside
+us again, and always speaks so kindly of me. I know he will be good."
+
+Nurse made no further remark, except to say "she hoped it would turn out
+so;" for she did not want to cast a shadow over Caroline's happiness.
+Certainly, when Herbert jumped out of the carriage, he seemed as glad to
+see his sister as she was to see him; and though the wreath on Daisy's
+neck was gone, he admired the white fleece very much, and said that they
+would go together some day to gather wild flowers to make another. Then he
+had so many amusing stories to relate about his adventures at school, that
+Caroline thought there could not be a better brother found anywhere. Her
+mamma had often said that Herbert had a good heart if he would just
+control his temper, and had often told Caroline to be very gentle with
+him, for nothing but gentleness would soften him.
+
+It was late in the afternoon when Herbert returned, so that bed-time
+arrived long before the stories were exhausted; and the brother and sister
+parted for the night with the understanding that they should set out early
+after breakfast for a long walk, and to pay some visits to old friends and
+neighbours. The next morning, when Caroline awoke, the first thing she did
+was to jump out of bed and run to the window to see what sort of a day it
+was; when, much to her vexation, she found the rain was descending in
+torrents. She was far more sorry for Herbert's disappointment than for her
+own; for she remembered how he disliked a wet day, and how difficult it
+always was for him to spend it comfortably. Still Herbert might not be so
+foolish now, she thought, and she would try all she could to amuse him.
+
+"Well, I must say this is too bad," said Herbert, as he entered the
+breakfast-room the next morning.
+
+"What is too bad?" inquired his mamma, as she poured out the coffee.
+
+"Why, the rain, to be sure, mamma," replied Herbert. "Hasn't it stopped
+our plans for the day?"
+
+"They were of such consequence, I suppose," said Mrs. Ashcroft, laughing.
+"Here have I been hearing from every quarter that rain is greatly needed
+to help on the crops; and now when it has come, and all the farmers'
+hearts will be filled with rejoicing, my boy is filled with dismay!"
+
+"Oh, but, mamma, you must own it is very provoking to have a wet day the
+very first one on my return," said Herbert.
+
+"Well, perhaps it is vexatious, when we think of you as an individual,
+and banish from our minds the thousands it will benefit."
+
+"Now, you are laughing at me, mamma," said Herbert sulkily.
+
+"Nay, my son," said Mrs. Ashcroft, "I am sorry for you. But let me see if
+nothing can be done to make a wet day pleasant in-doors. I'm sure Carry
+will do her best to help."
+
+"Might we make soap-bubbles, mamma?" said Caroline; "you said I might try
+to do it some day with the pipe uncle gave me."
+
+"Well, I daresay you may, dear, if you put on an apron, and don't wet
+yourself."
+
+After breakfast Caroline was not long in getting the soap and water ready,
+which she carried off to the school-room; and though Herbert at first
+called it a babyish game, and stood apart by the window watching the rain,
+he could not help joining his sister in the end.
+
+"Oh, if you had only seen what lovely ones uncle made," said Caroline,
+"and how beautifully he tossed them up, making them float up to the very
+roof without bursting sometimes!"
+
+"That is not a very difficult process, I should say," replied Herbert.
+"Give me the pipe, and I will show you I can do it as well as uncle."
+
+[Illustration: BLOWING BUBBLES.]
+
+Caroline at once gave up the pipe, and good-naturedly held the dish while
+Herbert blew the soap-bubbles; and even he became fascinated with the
+sport, and sat blowing away so long that lunch-hour arrived and poor
+Caroline hadn't had a chance to make another, though she wanted to do it
+ever so much.
+
+As the day advanced, and the novelty of being at home wore off, Herbert
+began to return to his old habit of teasing his inoffensive sister. They
+were sitting beside their mamma, who was sewing, while she listened with
+as much delight almost as Caroline did to Herbert's stories of his life at
+school. Caroline was on the floor dressing her doll, while Herbert sat on
+a low stool at his mother's feet; but unable to behave himself longer, he
+rolled over on to the floor, and, with his head in Caroline's lap,
+snatched the doll out of her hands.
+
+"Oh, do give me my doll," said Caroline, as gently as she could; "see, her
+poor arm is broken, and the sawdust is coming out."
+
+"What a baby you are, Carry!" said Herbert, paying no attention to her
+request. "No girl of your age plays with dolls nowadays. Stop; let me show
+you how the jugglers do. They toss up a ball on their feet so," and
+Herbert flung the doll up in the air and caught it upon his feet, then
+sent it spinning to the roof again, while he laughed at Caroline's look of
+distress.
+
+[Illustration: HERBERT TEASING HIS SISTER.]
+
+Their mamma now interposed, and bade Herbert give the doll back at once,
+telling him at the same time that he ought to be ashamed of himself for
+tormenting his sister in such a way, and warned him that though it was his
+holidays she would punish him most severely if he annoyed her again.
+Herbert went off to his own room and got into bed, where he lay till
+dinner-time. It was doubtful, however, whether he or Caroline really
+suffered most.
+
+"O mamma, it was my fault," she said, while the tears stood in her eyes;
+"I know Herbert was just in fun; I daresay he would not have done it any
+harm if I had trusted it to him. He has often said it was the sight of my
+frightened face that made him wish to go on; for it looks so funny to see
+me so frightened, he says, about such a trifle."
+
+"That may be all very true, dear," said her mamma, "but I do not like to
+see Herbert giving way to such a disposition. It has grieved both papa and
+me many a time to see our boy growing up with that constant wish to tease
+and torment any helpless creature he meets, more especially his own
+sister. We sent him to school to see if it would do him good; but I fear,
+if it has checked him it has not cured him. I should like to see my boy
+grow up manly and courageous; for it is only a cowardly disposition that
+tries to tease a little girl or torment a dumb animal."
+
+Still Caroline could not help being sorry for Herbert, and when she saw
+him looking, as she fancied, very dull during dinner, she slipped away
+after him, thinking that he must be very unhappy, though all the time he
+was just indulging himself in a fit of the sulks. At first he was
+inclined to treat Caroline's advances to friendship in a surly manner,
+but a glance at her earnest, gentle eyes made him feel ashamed of himself;
+and being at the same time tired of his solitude, he at length consented
+to play a game at bagatelle. He even went so far as to say, "Well, after
+all Carry, you are a good little thing; I do annoy you terribly, which is
+not fair, because you are so forgiving. Well, to make up for it, I'll be
+very kind to you to-morrow."
+
+When Herbert came to bid his mamma good-night in her room, he had quite
+forgotten that she had been angry with him during the day. He was very
+much surprised, therefore, when, instead of kissing him, she pushed him
+back from her knee, saying, "I fear I have no good-night kiss for you, my
+boy, at present."
+
+"Why, mamma, what have I done?" said Herbert, the tears starting to his
+eyes, for he knew that if his mamma refused to kiss him she must indeed be
+angry.
+
+"You surely have not forgotten how displeased I was with you this forenoon
+for teasing your sister!" said Mrs. Ashcroft in a tone of severity.
+
+"But, mamma, Carry has forgotten it now; and I told her I was sorry," said
+Herbert eagerly. "I'm sure all I did to her couldn't hurt her so very
+much."
+
+[Illustration: HERBERT AND HIS MAMMA.]
+
+"Perhaps not, my son," said Mrs. Ashcroft; "but you remember the reason
+why we sent you away to school was to see if this bad habit of teasing
+could be cured. If I had thought you were to begin the very first day you
+were at home, I should have allowed you to stay at school during the
+holidays also."
+
+"But there wasn't one boy stayed behind at school this half," said
+Herbert; "you surely wouldn't have left me all alone, mamma!"
+
+"Indeed I would, Herbert," replied his mamma firmly; "and what is more, if
+you persevere in this bad habit, I shall speak to papa as to whether it
+would not be advisable to send you back to school even yet."
+
+Herbert could not help seeing that his mamma really meant what she said,
+and this threat frightened him so much that he wept bitterly. "Mamma," he
+said, "if you will only forgive me this once, I will try very hard not to
+tease Carry all the time I am at home."
+
+"Well, my boy," said Mrs. Ashcroft kindly, "we will give you one more
+trial, and I hope you will not only try very hard, but ask God to help you
+to be a good boy."
+
+Herbert, before he went to his own room, opened his sister's door very
+carefully to see if she were in bed. Carry did not hear him, she was so
+intent looking out of the window at the rain. "I like to see the rain,"
+she was saying to herself; "but I do hope it will pour itself out during
+the night, for Herbert's sake; it is very hard for him, poor fellow."
+
+[Illustration: WATCHING THE RAIN.]
+
+Herbert pulled to the door very gently, and retired to his own room, with
+the feeling stronger than ever that his sister was really "a good little
+thing."
+
+[Illustration: NEPTUNE.]
+
+The next morning was as bright as a morning could well be, with everything
+out-of-doors looking fresh after the rain, so that when breakfast was
+over, Herbert and Caroline, with the large dog Neptune, lost not a moment
+in setting out for a long ramble into the country. At first Herbert seemed
+to remember his words of the previous evening, and was very kind to
+Caroline, helping her carefully over the stepping-stones at the river,
+instead of frightening her as he used to do. Then he always held open the
+gates of the different fields they passed through, shutting them after
+her, instead of making her do it. He even stopped throwing stones at a
+wounded bird in a field when he saw it distressed her, though he laughed
+at her for being such a simpleton as to care for a half-dead bird. This
+recalled to his mind a circumstance that had happened at school, when he
+and some of his schoolfellows had gone for a walk into the country one
+half-holiday; and he began to relate how they had caught a pigeon sitting
+on its nest up a tree, and how, regardless of its fluttering and piteous
+cries, they had carried it off, and its nest also. Then he told with much
+laughter how they had unearthed a mole, and how they had tied it to a
+stick and made it a target to fling stones at, till it had died by inches;
+no doubt, as Caroline supposed, having suffered great torture. Losing all
+command of herself, she cried out, "O Herbert, how could you, could you be
+so cruel! It is quite true what mamma says, you are nothing but a coward,
+to hunt a dumb creature, a poor blind animal, so."
+
+[Illustration: A MISCHIEVOUS PAIR.]
+
+At these words Herbert flew into a passion, and told Caroline she might
+find her way home the best way she could, for that he would not walk any
+more with her; and away he ran, with Neptune at his heels. When he was a
+few yards off, he turned and cried out, "I hope you won't meet with Farmer
+Brown's bull, that's all; and that you won't find the stepping-stones
+difficult, now that your coward isn't there to help you."
+
+Caroline thought that he was only doing this to frighten her, and
+expecting he would return in a short time, she sat down by the brink of
+the river, wondering how boys could be so cruel to God's creatures. Boys
+were taught by their parents to be kind to animals, just as their sisters
+were; yet, as they grew up, they forgot all about it,--at least, very many
+of them did; and they seemed to try who would do the most cruel thing.
+She sat trying to think of a plan to make her brother Herbert kind and
+gentle; and again it came into her mind how by her own hastiness she had
+made him angry just when he was doing everything to please her. "It was so
+very dreadful of him to hurt the poor blind mole," she said aloud; "I
+could not help speaking out; only I need not have called him a coward. I
+might have shown him how bad his conduct was in a gentler way; but, as
+nurse and mamma say, I am always so hasty."
+
+Caroline having sat a long time, began to think that Herbert really did
+not mean to come for her; and fearing her mamma would be alarmed if she
+did not return with Herbert in time for dinner, she turned back along the
+path they had come, walking as fast as she could. After passing through
+two fields, and managing to open and shut the gates with some difficulty,
+she was alarmed by hearing a loud roar, which she guessed must come from
+Farmer Brown's bull. She nearly fell down with terror, for the bull had a
+very bad character for goring people, and had only the week before hurt a
+little boy very seriously. Collecting all her courage, she crept round by
+the side of the hedge. Fortunately the bull had his head turned in the
+opposite direction, so that she managed to pass him and get out of the
+field without being seen by him. At the stepping-stones she stopped,
+afraid to venture over; but a man came up, who kindly offered to take her
+across.
+
+Going round by a field-path that led to her home past Farmer Brown's farm,
+she saw a little girl sitting under a tree, whom she at once guessed must
+be little Martha, the farmer's only child. She was gazing up at a flight
+of pigeons that went fluttering over the houses before they lighted down
+upon the roof of the barn. Caroline had often seen Martha at church, and
+once or twice nurse had taken her to the farm, when she had gone to see
+Mrs. Brown; so she stopped to ask the little girl what she was looking at
+so earnestly.
+
+"I'm looking at the pigeons, miss," said little Martha, rising to drop a
+courtesy to the young lady from the Hall.
+
+"They seem to be all pure white," said Caroline, sitting down on the roots
+of the tree, and bidding Martha take her seat again. "They are very
+pretty."
+
+[Illustration: LITTLE MARTHA.]
+
+"Yes, miss, they are pretty," said Martha, looking with pride at her
+favourites; "but they are not all white; there be two of them blue, and
+I'm so sorry for it."
+
+"Why, what makes you sorry for the blue ones?" said Caroline, smiling.
+"Don't you like blue ones?"
+
+"Oh yes, I like them very much," said Martha, "but father doesn't; and
+he's going to shoot them to-night."
+
+"Oh, how cruel of him," said Caroline; "you must ask him not to do it,
+Martha. They cannot help being blue, you know."
+
+Martha looked a little distressed at the idea of her kind father being
+considered cruel by the young lady, but she didn't know very well how to
+answer her. "Father doesn't mean to be cruel, miss," said Martha; "but he
+likes all the pigeons to be white; and if a blue one comes he shoots it. I
+will ask father not to shoot them, and perhaps he won't."
+
+"Oh yes, please do ask him," replied Caroline; "and tell him if he only
+could catch them, and send them down to me, I would give him my new
+shilling papa gave me on my birth-day. Tell him to be sure and not to
+shoot them."
+
+Martha went off at once to look for her father, but as he had gone away to
+a distant part of the farm, Caroline had to be content to await his
+return, and leaving the matter in Martha's hands for the present,
+proceeded on her way homewards.
+
+When she arrived at home, she was very glad to find that her mamma had not
+returned from town; so that, unless Caroline told her, she could not know
+of Herbert's bad behaviour; and Caroline was determined to keep it secret.
+
+If Mrs. Ashcroft saw that the children were not such good friends as they
+had been that morning, she took no notice of it, and during dinner spoke
+more to their papa than to them. But towards the end she turned to
+Caroline and said, "Who do you think is coming to pay you a visit of a few
+days? Well, I shall tell you, as I see you cannot guess. Your two cousins,
+Lizzie and Charles."
+
+Caroline was very much pleased to hear this, for she loved her cousins
+very much; but her brother did not, for Charles was a well-behaved boy,
+one or two years younger than Herbert, and would never join in any of his
+tricks against the girls. When they arrived next morning, they went off at
+once to see Caroline's pet hen and chickens; and though Herbert went with
+them, he stood aside with his hoop dangling on his arm, and with a look of
+contempt on his face at his cousin Charlie's delight at the sight of the
+chickens. Living in a town as Charles and Lizzie did, everything belonging
+to the country was new and delightful; and it was not till all the
+poultry-sheds, and rabbit-hutches, and the very stables and cow-houses had
+been visited, that Charles would consent to join Herbert in a game on the
+lawn.
+
+[Illustration: CHARLES AND THE CHICKENS.]
+
+"I never saw any one like you, Charles," said Herbert, with a sneer; "one
+would think you never had seen a hen or a cow before. If you were at our
+school they would call you 'lady;' for you clap your hands just as a girl
+does over these things. I like horses and dogs, but who cares for a hen
+and chicks?"
+
+"Well, now," said Charles, "can there be a prettier sight than a hen with
+her chickens peeping out under her wings?"
+
+Herbert made no reply, and the boys now set about having a game at
+cricket, the girls good-naturedly agreeing to join in it, though they ran
+some risk of being hurt; for Herbert often tried to strike the ball in
+their direction, that he might enjoy the fun of seeing them run out of its
+way lest it should hurt them. However, nothing of the kind happened; but
+both Lizzie and Caroline were very glad when their brothers proposed to
+put away the bat and wickets, and have a game at hide-and-seek down at the
+great stack-yard. All that day and the next Herbert made himself very
+agreeable, and a very happy time the four children had. On the third day
+they paid a visit to old Mary Watkins, who lived in a little cottage on
+the borders of Mr. Ashcroft's property, and was a great favourite both
+with the children and their parents. Old Mary had not been very well, and
+Caroline and Lizzie were to take her some strong soup and some jelly, and
+they were all to be allowed to stay and drink tea with her, if she was
+able to have them. This was always considered a great treat, and no one
+enjoyed it more than Herbert; for old Mary had such lots of stories to
+tell, especially about her two sons, who were both sailors, but who had
+not been heard of for some years. When they reached Mary's cottage, they
+found the old woman quite pleased to see them; and as she was not able to
+set her best cups out on the tray with the large ship in full sail painted
+on it, the girls were allowed to do it for her. The boys were very active
+also in getting water from the spring to fill the kettle, which they
+lifted up on to the large hook that hung so strangely down the chimney
+over the fire.
+
+Mrs. Ashcroft had taken care to send a good supply of provisions in
+another basket, in case Mary should not be prepared for such a large
+party; and they made a most hearty tea after their long walk. When the
+cups had been washed and put away, and the tray admired once more before
+it was placed up against the wall, there was still time to hear a good
+many of Mary's best stories before the hour fixed for their return home.
+
+The next day the children were obliged to keep within doors, as it was
+very wet; and, as usual, Herbert came in to breakfast looking as gloomy
+as the weather, while his cousin Charles evidently intended to make the
+best of matters, and was quite cheerful.
+
+"Come, girls," he cried, when they had gone up to the empty schoolroom,
+"let us have a game at playing at school. Don't you remember how we
+enjoyed it last time?"
+
+Herbert flung himself down on the floor in a pet at the idea of being
+asked to play such a childish game; but though he tried hard to enjoy his
+favourite book, and not to listen to their mirth, when Lizzie purposely
+made such absurd mistakes, he was compelled at last to join in the
+laughter, and then in the game itself. Afterwards they played a game at
+bagatelle, but it took all their patience to stand Herbert's whims and
+tricks. He did not interfere with Lizzie, for she was on his side, but
+when Caroline and Charles were going to play, he would stagger up against
+them and cause them to play badly; or, if he saw that the ball was likely
+to go into a large number, he would slyly lift up the board and make it
+roll away.
+
+"You said the other day that they would call me 'lady' at your school,"
+said Charles, "but I know what they would call you at ours."
+
+[Illustration: THE SCHOOLROOM]
+
+"What's that, pray?" replied Herbert, coming up close to his cousin with a
+scowl on his face and his hand clenched behind his back.
+
+Charles was not in the least afraid of Herbert's threatening appearance,
+but answered stoutly,--"They would call you 'cheat;' and of the two names
+I'd prefer 'lady.'"
+
+Herbert was neither restrained by the fact that his cousin was a guest in
+the house nor by the difference in their age, a double reason for treating
+him with forbearance.
+
+Before Caroline had time to prevent him, Herbert had struck Charles a
+severe blow on the head, which knocked him down; and as he lay for some
+minutes almost senseless, the girls thought he was going to die, and
+screamed out for help.
+
+Fortunately, nurse was passing the schoolroom door at the time, and
+hearing the noise, came in. Charles's face and head having been bathed, he
+soon recovered; and as Herbert seemed to have got a terrible fright, and
+to be truly sorry for his conduct, Charles was quite willing to forgive
+him, and to shake hands in token of friendship. During the remainder of
+their visit Herbert was very attentive to his cousins; and if any game was
+proposed by them, whether he thought it babyish or not, he never raised
+the least objection, but joined quite heartily in it.
+
+Yet he had not given up his bad habits altogether; for he still went on
+with his teasing ways to his sister Caroline, both before his cousins'
+face and behind their back, till she began to think that, after all, as
+nurse had said, she would be glad when his holidays came to an end.
+
+A few mornings after this, the children set out to fish in the river, and
+while walking round by the common they came upon a donkey standing all
+alone, without a bridle or even a rope on it. It was close to a large
+juicy thistle, but it did not seem to be eating it, and every minute or
+two it shook and trembled.
+
+[Illustration: THE DONKEY.]
+
+Lizzie was the first to notice it, and going closer, exclaimed, "I am
+afraid the poor beast must be ill."
+
+"Tuts, what nonsense!" said Herbert; "donkeys are never ill. Don't you
+know they live for ever, Cousin Lizzie?"
+
+"Well, I don't know about that," said Charles, going close up to the
+donkey and looking into its face; "all I can say is, if this poor beast
+isn't ill it looks very like it."
+
+"It's nothing but a stubborn fit," said Herbert; and before any one could
+stop him he gave the donkey a lash with a switch he held in his hand,
+calling out at the same time, "Gee up, Teddy! come, get out of your sulks,
+sir!"
+
+The donkey's flesh seemed to shiver, and he breathed harder, but his heavy
+eye never brightened.
+
+"I tell you what it is, Herbert, I'll not see that poor animal ill-used in
+that manner," said Charles; "he's not sulky, he's ill!"
+
+[Illustration: THE COWHERD.]
+
+Herbert felt inclined to quarrel with Charles for his reproof, but Charles
+had spied a little boy sitting on a gate herding a cow, and he ran over to
+him to make inquiries who the donkey belonged to.
+
+"Well, sir, the poor beast belongs to some travelling gipsies who are
+living t'other side of the common, and they left it here this morning
+because it couldn't go no further, and there it has stood before that 'ere
+thistle ever since."
+
+Caroline now came up, and hearing that the donkey was ill beyond a doubt,
+she proposed they should go home and ask their mamma to send the stable
+lad with a hot drink to the poor animal. "I know when our pony was ill one
+day he got a hot drink and some medicine, and he very soon was all right
+again."
+
+"I'm not going back, for one," said Herbert; "the idea of making such a
+fuss about a donkey; it's quite ridiculous!"
+
+"Nobody is forcing you, my dear cousin," replied Charles cheerily; "you
+may go on to the river by yourself; but I for one couldn't enjoy myself,
+unless I had done something to help this poor animal in its distress."
+
+"Well, I don't see why we all should stay because you choose to doctor an
+old donkey," said Herbert peevishly. "Come along, Lizzie and Carry; if you
+don't come at once we'll lose the best part of the day, and get no fish."
+
+The girls, however, were quite as anxious about the welfare of the poor
+donkey, and declared their intention to stay with Charlie. They even did
+more, for they volunteered to go back to the house to get what was
+necessary for the animal, while Charlie and the herd-boy watched by him,
+ready to render any assistance if he should turn worse.
+
+Caroline was fortunate in finding Stephens the gardener, who was
+considered very skilful in doctoring sick animals; at anyrate, he had set
+the leg of one of her chickens when it was broken, and managed to bring
+Neptune through a severe illness, therefore it was to be supposed he could
+cure the donkey also.
+
+"Well, miss, I'll come and see him," said Stephens; "but if he is as bad
+as you say, I fear it's little I can do." To their great delight, however,
+when Stephens had examined him, he gave it as his decided opinion that the
+animal was suffering from a severe cold and over-work. "If we had him put
+into a warm house for a night, and gave him something warm to eat, I think
+he would soon be all right," said Stephens. "I might manage to make him up
+a bed in the root-house, if your mamma would have no objections."
+
+[Illustration: THE GIPSY ENCAMPMENT.]
+
+Caroline and Lizzie ran back to the house again, and after telling the
+story, Mrs. Ashcroft gave permission that all attention should be paid to
+the sick animal; and while Charles and the herd-boy went over to the gipsy
+encampment to tell where their donkey had disappeared to, Caroline and
+Lizzie helped Stephens to make the donkey comfortable. Even in the short
+time they were beside him the poor animal seemed to be much relieved; and
+though at first he could scarcely open his mouth to eat the warm, soft
+mash Stephens had prepared for him, before they left he was beginning to
+nibble at a tuft of hay that had been placed for his use.
+
+"Oh, I do wish Herbert had stayed to help us," said Caroline; "I really
+cannot understand why he doesn't take an interest in dumb animals. I
+wonder why he is so different from Charles. Your brother is seldom cross
+with you, not even when you are cross with him."
+
+"No," said Lizzie; "he is really a good kind boy; but I know somebody, not
+very far off, who is just as good and gentle as my brother Charles,--and
+that is yourself, you patient little puss."
+
+"Oh, don't say that, Lizzie dear," said Caroline, with flushed cheeks.
+"I'm often hasty and ill-tempered, and make Herbert worse than he might be
+if I left him alone."
+
+"Well," replied Lizzie, "all I can say is, if Herbert were my brother, I
+should be twice as hasty and five times as ill-tempered, for he is about
+the most provoking boy I know."
+
+Charles returned in due time from the gipsy encampment, quite delighted
+with all he had seen of the people, and reported they had given up their
+donkey for lost; and, of course, they had been much gratified to hear it
+was likely to be restored to health and strength.
+
+"I made them promise to leave the poor animal with us for a week," said
+Charlie; "and they say that they are quite willing, and mean to go on to
+the market-town, and return again for him."
+
+"Oh, I was hoping they would remain in the wood for some time," said
+Lizzie. "I should like to see a gipsy encampment so much."
+
+"And so should I," said Carry. "Nurse is always so frightened for the
+gipsies, she won't allow us ever to go near them. But, perhaps, when we
+take the donkey back they will be civil, and not steal our clothes from
+us."
+
+"Does nurse say they will do that?" said Charlie. "Oh, what a shame! I
+wouldn't believe it. They were so polite to me; and one old woman insisted
+upon telling me my fortune, and when I offered her a sixpence she wouldn't
+have it."
+
+"And I suppose she told you some rubbish," said Herbert; "sent you riding
+off in a coach-and-four with your pockets full of money and your barrels
+full of beer?"
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," said Charlie, "she wasn't half so kind. She said
+I would grow up to be more than six feet high; that I would be a soldier
+or a sailor, which I don't intend to be; and that, after a great many
+difficulties, I would succeed in the world, and mumbled something about a
+clear opening and a straight uprising."
+
+"That's because you didn't give her any money," said Herbert, laughing.
+
+"Well, when they come back we'll have her to tell us ours," said Lizzie,
+"and see if the coach-and-four is to fall to our lot."
+
+"But I don't think mamma would like us to have our fortunes told. I know
+she was very much displeased with one of the servants allowing the gipsy
+woman to tell her hers. If we want to see the encampment, we had better
+not have anything to do with the fortune-teller. Mamma says it is not only
+silly but wicked to inquire into futurity."
+
+In about a week the gipsies returned; and the donkey being much better, he
+was taken over and restored to his rightful owners. He was so much
+improved with his rest and good treatment that they hardly knew him, and
+the whole of the gipsy children belonging to the encampment gathered round
+to see their old friend and companion. When the children from the Hall
+left, after inspecting the queer tents and everything else, they turned
+to look once more at the donkey and wave a good-bye to the gipsy man; and,
+as Carry said, poor Punch--that was the name of the donkey--was looking
+wistfully after them, and if the man hadn't held him firm, he seemed
+almost inclined to run after them. "Poor beast," as Charlie said, "after
+all his hard years of labour it was no wonder if he wanted a rest now."
+
+[Illustration: PUNCH AND HIS OWNERS.]
+
+The morning after Lizzie and Charles left, Caroline was unable to get out
+of bed with a sick headache, but was able to be down to dinner, where she
+found Herbert with rather a grave face, which did not escape the notice
+of his mamma; but as he always said, in answer to her question, there was
+nothing the matter, she thought he was only in one of his bad humours. She
+then told Caroline that she had seen little blind Susan, who was asking
+when she was to get another flower.
+
+"I was just waiting for my china-rose to come out," said Caroline; "there
+is one bud on it, and you know I said Susan was to have the first rose,
+mamma."
+
+If Caroline had looked at Herbert she would have been surprised to see his
+face become suddenly red; for the truth was, the rose-bud that Caroline
+had watched so carefully was hanging from the stem broken; and more than
+that, a great many flowers in her garden had been destroyed. It had
+happened in this way. Finding that his mamma had gone out, Herbert went
+into the garden with Neptune following closely at his heels. He had been
+forbidden to take the dog into the garden, but, trusting to Neptune's
+obedient disposition, he thought he could keep him on the walks. He did
+not expect to find a cat lying asleep under one of the garden-seats, else
+he would have acted differently; for Neptune had a terrible hatred to
+cats, and nothing could cure him of it. Therefore, when his eye fell upon
+the cat, he bounded off after it, and, regardless of the flowers, chased
+it right through Caroline's little border.
+
+Herbert was very sorry, more so when he remembered how his sister had not
+told of his bad treatment during their walk by the river; but he was so
+afraid of his papa's displeasure, when it became known that he had taken
+the dog into the garden, that he made up his mind he would deny all
+knowledge of it. He was startled to hear his mamma telling Caroline it
+would be better to pull the rosebud now, as it would come out just as well
+in water, and last longer than if it were full-blown; so that if she liked
+to get it now, she might go with nurse, who was going to take some
+medicine to Susan's sick mother.
+
+Caroline, who was always glad to pay a visit to blind Susan, went away at
+once into the garden, where she found Stephens the gardener leaning on his
+spade and rake, and gazing down in dismay at the broken and crushed
+flowers.
+
+"O Stephens, who has done this?" said Caroline, almost ready to cry. "My
+beautiful rosebud broken, my poor flowers destroyed!"
+
+[Illustration: THE BROKEN ROSEBUD.]
+
+Then Stephens told how he had seen Master Herbert walking about the garden
+with Neptune, and that, as he was at a distance, the flowers had been
+destroyed before he got up to the place. "But Master Herbert shall suffer
+for this," said Stephens; "I mean to tell his papa about it this very
+night."
+
+Caroline knew well how severely Herbert would be punished, and her heart
+softened towards her brother. "Has Neptune done any harm to the other
+flowers?" she asked Stephens.
+
+"No, miss," said Stephens; "for, do you see, the cat ran up that tree
+there, and got over the wall, and the dog kept dancing about among the
+flowers, trying to get his heavy body up after it."
+
+"Well, Stephens," said Caroline, "since only my flowers have suffered,
+will you please not tell papa this time? I can get up early in the morning
+and tie them up a little, if you could help to rake it smooth for me."
+
+"That is very kind of you, miss," replied Stephens, admiringly; "but what
+about the rose you have been watching so carefully all this week?"
+
+"Isn't it strange?" said Caroline; "I came to pull it at mamma's request,
+and see, it is only broken with quite a long stem to it."
+
+To Herbert's great surprise, Caroline returned with a bright smiling face,
+and said nothing about the state she had found her garden in.
+
+The next morning Caroline got up much earlier than her usual time for
+rising, but not so early as she intended, for there was a good deal of
+hard work before her garden could be made neat again. Dressing herself
+quickly, she ran out, not even taking time to put on her bonnet, so eager
+was she to begin; when to her surprise, there was Herbert busy at work
+with a trowel smoothing the ground and propping up the earth round the
+crushed flowers. She stood for some time scarcely believing it possible,
+half thinking she must be dreaming; for Herbert was so fond of his bed,
+once he was in it, that it was always a very difficult matter to get him
+out of it. Now here he was, at six o'clock in the morning, hard at work,
+as if his very life depended upon it. She ventured at last to step close
+up to him, and tapped him on the shoulder, not very sure whether he would
+feel angry or pleased to be caught at his novel employment. She did not
+notice that her mamma was standing by the garden gate; for Mrs. Ashcroft,
+having a bad headache, had got up early also, and had come out, in the
+hope that the morning air would take it away.
+
+"It is very good of you, dear Herbert," said Caroline, while their mamma
+paused to look at her children. "I was just coming to arrange them, when I
+find you, like that kind fairy-man in my new book, setting everything in
+order."
+
+[Illustration: SURPRISED AT WORK.]
+
+The idea passed through Herbert's mind for a moment that perhaps Caroline
+did not know how her flowers had been broken, and so he need not tell her
+he had had anything to do with it. He had felt very miserable ever since
+it happened, thinking that his papa would be certain to find it out and
+punish him, and at the same time he was ashamed when he thought of his
+unkind treatment of his sister. It was only for a moment he hesitated,
+however; then turning frankly round, he said, "I am very sorry, Carry,
+your garden has been destroyed. It was all my fault, but I did not mean
+it. I took--"
+
+"Yes, I know," said Caroline, interrupting him; "but don't say any more
+about it, we can easily get it put right again; indeed, you have done a
+great deal already. How early you must have been up!"
+
+"Yes," said Herbert, with a smile; "I was down here when the clock struck
+four. I was up even before the sun. But I must say, Carry, it is good of
+you to pass it over. I won't forget it in a hurry, I can tell you."
+
+Caroline asked him not to say another word about it, and, as she turned to
+go to the tool-house, she saw her mamma looking at them very seriously.
+
+Herbert, with downcast face, was compelled to tell how disobedient he had
+been in breaking through his papa's express order not to take Neptune into
+the garden. His mamma was very angry with him, but after giving him a
+severe scolding, she said she would not punish him this time, as he had
+tried to repair the damage done by getting up so early, and also because
+Carry had made the request after being the chief sufferer.
+
+As it was still early, their mamma bade them run for their hats, and she
+would take them a walk till breakfast was ready. Before they set out, she
+gave each of them a drink of milk and some biscuits, as they were not
+accustomed to be out so early. It was a lovely morning, and the children
+enjoyed the walk very much. As they were returning home, they passed by a
+part of the park where their papa allowed a number of sheep to graze; and
+as they were looking over the paling, one of the sheep came close up to
+them and began to bleat.
+
+"I am sure, mamma," cried Caroline, "that must be my pet lamb's mother;
+can she be wanting me to bring Daisy back again to her, do you think?"
+
+"Well, I scarcely think it is likely, dear," replied her mamma; "but how
+do you know it is Daisy's mother?"
+
+"Because she has a queer sort of tuft of wool on her forehead," said
+Caroline, while both her mamma and Herbert laughed at her for supposing
+that no other sheep but Daisy's mother had a tuft. "It really is," she
+said decidedly, though joining in the laugh. "Oh," she continued, "what a
+pity a pet lamb grows up into a sheep. Only think of my poor Daisy's white
+face getting dirty and torn like that great stupid-looking sheep over
+there!"
+
+[Illustration: THE SHEEP.]
+
+"Yes, I used to think so too," said her mamma, "when I had a pet lamb."
+
+As they came round by the wood on their way home, Caroline said she would
+like so much to get some of the beautiful wild-flowers for her garden.
+Herbert did not say anything at the time, but he determined to get up
+early the next morning also, and give her a pleasant surprise by getting a
+basketful for her. One might have expected that before the next morning
+came he would have quite forgotten all about it; but no; when the servant
+called him at six o'clock, as he had requested her to do the night before,
+he jumped out of bed at once. He knew of a deep dingle at some distance
+from the house, where many kinds of wild-flowers were to be found; so he
+made up his mind to go there instead of to the wood. The dingle was down
+in a woody hollow, such as the "Babes in the Wood" might have been lost
+in; and there were so many plants and ferns, that Herbert was often at a
+loss what to choose. However, his basket was full at last, and he hurried
+home, hoping to have them all planted before Caroline came down-stairs.
+When he was planting them it came into his mind how much improved
+Caroline's garden would be if there were a small arbour at the side of it;
+and he determined to ask his mamma's permission to get the wood, and make
+it during his holidays. When he went into the dining-room, after carefully
+washing his face and hands and changing his muddy boots, he found his
+mamma standing with an open letter in her hand, reading it aloud to his
+papa.
+
+[Illustration: GATHERING THE WILD-FLOWERS.]
+
+It was from his grandmamma, who lived some miles from them, and who had
+written to ask if Caroline might be allowed to spend a few days with her,
+to help to entertain their two cousins, Harry and Maud, who had just
+arrived from Australia. Herbert had got into disgrace during the last
+visit he paid his grandmamma; but still he felt vexed at being left out of
+the invitation, as he was curious to see these new cousins. His regret
+was softened, however, when he thought there would now be a good
+opportunity for making the arbour, so as to repay Carry for the injury
+done to her garden. This thought made him very glad. It was decided that
+Caroline should go that same day, and as she had a great deal to do in
+helping nurse to pack her little trunk, and give directions about her
+numerous pets, she did not once go near her garden.
+
+Herbert could not help saying before she left, "I am so sorry I am not a
+kinder brother to you, Carry; I do mean, however, to be better to you in
+the future."
+
+"Oh, don't say that, Herbert," replied Carry; "I know it's just in fun,
+and I am so stupid to look vexed. I love you dearly, for you are my own
+kind good brother," and she clasped her arms round him in a fond embrace.
+
+"That's all very well," said Herbert, returning the affectionate pressure;
+"but I am sure I am not like Cousin Charlie. He is a kind brother really,
+and always seems to be able to do and say the right thing at the proper
+time; and as for being cross with Lizzie, he would sooner think of
+flying."
+
+"Well, we shall say nothing more about it, dear," said Caroline kindly.
+"All I have to say is, I'd rather have you for my brother, though Charlie
+is as good a boy as ever lived, I do think. Let us forget everything
+disagreeable to-day, as I am to leave home so soon. Oh dear! I was
+forgetting; I promised Daisy, my lamb, I would have a romp with her before
+dinner, and the bell will ring very soon!"
+
+They at once ran off, and getting the lamb from its snug house, proceeded
+to the wood, their favourite resort.
+
+"I wonder whether she will know you when you return," said Herbert, as he
+stood watching his sister tying a bright piece of ribbon round her lamb's
+neck.
+
+"O Herbert, please don't say that!--what a dreadful idea!" replied
+Caroline. "I really don't think she will ever be so ungrateful!--indeed, I
+am sure she will know me if I stayed away ever so long. Now, Daisy, am I
+not right?" she continued, kneeling down before her pet; "you will love me
+always, even after you are a great fat sheep, and I have grown up into
+quite a big girl."
+
+Daisy seemed to be quite impressed with the solemnity of the occasion,
+and put out her black tongue to lick her mistress's hand, as much as to
+say, I will never forget you--never.
+
+[Illustration: CAROLINE AND HERBERT.]
+
+"Now, Herbert, you see I have tied the little bell round her neck, and if
+Miss Daisy goes where she ought not to go, you will hear her and can put
+her out; but I hope she will be a very good lamb, and trouble nobody."
+
+"I'll look after her, never you fear," said Herbert cheerily; and hearing
+the dinner-bell, they returned to the house.
+
+When she was safely off, Herbert told his mamma of the plan he had in his
+mind; and as she was very much pleased to see that her boy was trying to
+"turn over a new leaf," she gave her consent at once, and said that
+Stephens might take the pony-cart and help him to get the poles and wood
+he required from the saw-mill. Early and late Herbert was at work, and so
+diligent was he that his mamma had often to stop him, in case he should
+hurt himself.
+
+"I am afraid," he would say, "Carry will be home before it is done. I do
+so wish to surprise her. I can't help thinking, as I work here by myself,
+mamma, what a kind-hearted, good little thing Carry is; and I hate myself
+when I think how I have vexed and teased her all her life."
+
+His mamma spoke very seriously to him, pointing out how much happier he
+must feel by trying to please his sister than by vexing her; and saying
+that poor Carry's sweet, gentle disposition might have been spoiled
+altogether, if he had not been sent away from her to school. "Ah," said
+Mrs. Ashcroft, "you ought to have seen how she missed you, and how she
+wandered about for days after you left, with such an unhappy little face!
+You ought indeed to love her, Herbert, and be proud to do her a service,
+because she is a good sister to you."
+
+Herbert manfully said he meant to be a good brother for the future, and
+never to tease her any more, for he saw he had been nothing but a coward
+all along.
+
+The day before Caroline returned, the arbour was quite finished--a perfect
+model of its kind. There was a walk up to it, and a little flight of
+steps; and Stephens had transplanted a beautiful clematis, and, as the
+weather was very favourable, it had grown quite large, and gave Herbert a
+great deal of work training it. There was a seat inside all round, and a
+little table in the centre for Caroline to put her work-basket on; and on
+the table was painted, in bright red letters, "A token of love to my
+gentle sister."
+
+[Illustration: THE ARBOUR.]
+
+And now it was Herbert's turn to watch for the arrival of the carriage;
+and when it drew up at the front steps, he found not only Carry's face
+looking out for him, but there were his new cousins, Maud and Harry also;
+and, though he could not see him, he heard the well-known voice of his
+cousin Charles, and the merry laughter of Lizzie also. There never was a
+happier meeting of girls and boys, and while Charles as usual ran off to
+pay a visit to the various animals, taking Harry with him, Herbert
+carried the three girls away to see the new arbour. Though Herbert had not
+done it for praise, he got plenty of it, for every one pronounced it a
+perfect beauty; and Maud, who did not of course know Herbert, said he must
+be the kindest of brothers, to take so much trouble; and though Lizzie
+might have told her it was quite a new thing for Herbert to be kind, she
+kept her knowledge to herself, only saying it was a perfect beauty.
+Stephens, of course, was praised for his share in the labour; and the two
+boys were as delighted with it as the girls were, and only wished they
+could make one also when they went home.
+
+[Illustration: BROTHER AND SISTER.]
+
+When Caroline got Herbert by himself for a few minutes she thanked him
+very much for his gift, for she alone knew what had prompted him to make
+it; and ever after the warm affection Herbert showed for his sister was
+remarked upon by all who knew them.
+
+While Caroline had been staying with her grandmamma, the gardener had
+caught a young starling, which he had tamed, and seeing that the young
+lady was very fond of birds and beasts, he asked her if she would accept
+of the starling to take home with her. Caroline, as may be supposed, was
+delighted with the offer, and thanking the gardener for his kindness, ran
+off to ask her grandmamma if she might be allowed to take it. Of course it
+was a mere form, for she might have known her kind grandmamma would never
+say No to any request of the kind. Only Caroline was a polite little girl,
+and always asked her parents' permission first. She did not, when they
+considered it necessary to refuse any request she made, keep saying, "Ah!
+you might, mamma," or, "But why, papa?" as I have heard many children do.
+No; she was certain the refusal came for some wise object, and she tried
+to bear the disappointment bravely.
+
+"Oh, certainly, dear," said her grandmamma on this occasion; "you may
+have the bird, if you can manage to find time to take care of it; but I
+think you have too many pets already."
+
+"What a funny idea, grandma," said Caroline. "I couldn't have too many
+pets. But I will tell you what I mean to do with it. I am going to take
+great care of it till Herbert's birth-day, and then I am going to give it
+to him."
+
+"But you will have to look after it all the same," said her grandmamma,
+laughing; "for Herbert will go to school immediately after his birth-day."
+
+"I shall like to do it, though, very much, grandma. I take care of his
+rabbits, and Neptune, you know," said Caroline; "and he said I had managed
+them beautifully."
+
+Carry got the bird, it was taken home, and every day she hung the cage out
+of her bed-room window, and gave him a bit of nice sugar, and the starling
+became very tame. At night it was always taken into the housekeeper's
+room, and hung upon the wall there; and the good Mrs. Trigg was very kind
+to it, though a starling was by no means the cleanest bird that one could
+have. "You don't think Tom will touch it?" said Caroline, the first night
+the bird was there. Tom was Mrs. Trigg's favourite tabby cat; and really,
+to look at him lying on the rug, winking and blinking before the fire,
+paying more attention to the kettle hissing and boiling away than to any
+bird, Caroline could not help feeling a little ashamed of the question.
+
+[Illustration: CARRY AND THE STARLING.]
+
+"Oh, Tom has got over all that kind of wild pranks, Miss Carry," said Mrs.
+Trigg. "He is wondering why I am delaying to infuse my tea, for Tom likes
+his drop tea as well as his mistress."
+
+"Then I must not detain you longer," said Caroline, knowing that Mrs.
+Trigg did not like to be put past her tea-hour. "Mamma says that, if
+convenient, we are to drink tea with you some night soon, and my cousins
+are quite anxious to be invited also."
+
+[Illustration: TOM AT HIS EASE.]
+
+"I would be a little nervous, miss, at entertaining such a large party,"
+said Mrs. Trigg, but looking quite pleased nevertheless.
+
+"Oh, you must ask us all," said Caroline, laughing; "when shall I come to
+write the invitations for you? To-morrow night?"
+
+"Well, miss, if you think you could be happy in my room, we will say
+to-morrow night."
+
+The invitations were duly sent out, Mrs. Trigg requesting the pleasure of
+their company on the next week; and each of the children received a
+separate note of invitation--and each, of course, had to reply, accepting
+the invitation, in the same manner. But on the very morning of the
+tea-party, when Caroline rose from her bed a little earlier than usual--as
+she had promised to help Mrs. Trigg to prepare for the great event--and
+when she had dressed and gone down to the housekeeper's room, what was her
+horror to see Tom, the tabby cat, on the top of the table, ready to spring
+upon the cage where the unfortunate bird was. She gave a terrible scream,
+which had the effect of scaring away the wicked cat; but the poor bird had
+evidently been so frightened at the glaring green eyes that tried to
+fascinate it and lure it to its ruin as a serpent does its prey, that it
+fell down to the bottom of its cage in a fit.
+
+"Oh, my poor bird," cried Caroline; "it's dead. Oh, do come quick and help
+me."
+
+Mrs. Trigg was not far distant, and hearing the cries of distress,
+hastened to her room, crying, "What's the matter, Miss Carry? Oh, have you
+hurt yourself?"
+
+"No, no," said Caroline; "it's my bird. Tom has killed the poor thing. Oh,
+what am I to do?"
+
+[Illustration: AFTER PREY.]
+
+The bird fluttered at this moment, and Mrs. Trigg took it out of the cage,
+and holding it before the fire, declared it was still alive, and might
+recover. Everything was done for it that could be thought of to restore
+the poor bird, but all to no effect, for during luncheon it died. Caroline
+was terribly grieved, and declared that the tea-party must be put off, for
+it was impossible she could join in any game after such a sad event. But
+then, when Mrs. Trigg mentioned that she had made a great many cakes, and
+that they would be quite spoiled even if allowed to stay till the next
+night, and also that she was going to be very busy preserving her fruit
+for the winter, Caroline thought she must try to go to the party. "I
+needn't play, you know, Mrs. Trigg," she had said. "I can just sit and
+look on; for, of course, the others didn't know what a dear good bird my
+starling was."
+
+After tea, Caroline curled herself up into Mrs. Trigg's chair, and sat
+watching the others while they played. Pincher, Maud's dog, who had come
+with them, was very troublesome, and would hunt after the slipper as
+eagerly as the boys did, poking his nose into their faces, and sometimes
+even licking their ears with his tongue; and as they had their hands
+tucked under them, they could not stop him. Then, when Herbert flung the
+slipper over to the other side, and Harry made a grasp at it to get it out
+of sight before Charlie could get round, Pincher made a rush after it too,
+barking and yelping in his determination to catch this extraordinary rat
+or rabbit.
+
+"I tell you what it is," said Herbert, "we must have Pincher put out of
+the room."
+
+"Oh, don't put him out," pleaded Maud; "let us tie him up with his
+ribbons. Perhaps, Carry dear, you wouldn't mind holding him?"
+
+[Illustration: PINCHER.]
+
+Caroline was very happy to be of use, and held Pincher very securely. The
+poor dog often looked up in her face as if to say, Are you being punished
+too? and then, while still looking at her, made little springs and barked,
+as if to encourage her to rise in rebellion and escape from her
+persecutors. He was really so droll that Caroline could not help laughing
+very heartily at him, and Herbert and her cousins were so glad when they
+heard it, that they left off their game at once, and came over beside
+her.
+
+"I say, Carry, do come and play," said Charlie; "we can't feel happy
+without you."
+
+"It is very sad about the bird," said Harry. "I know when my green
+parrakeets died on the voyage home from Australia, I was so sorry that I
+actually went to bed. But I'll tell you what we shall do: Herbert and
+Charlie and I will catch another starling, and then you can tame him, and
+keep him out of Tom's reach for the future. Mrs. Trigg says there are lots
+to be had in the steeple of the old church."
+
+It was not till next morning that Harry discovered why Caroline wanted to
+have the starling; and no sooner did he understand that she wanted it for
+a present for her brother, than he said in his prompt way, "Will nothing
+else do? I tell you what, I saw a splendid thing that I am sure he will
+like quite as well. If aunt would only let us go to the town we could get
+it without him knowing."
+
+Caroline gladly promised to ask her mamma's consent, but when she inquired
+what this wonderful thing was, Harry only laughed and said, "No; I'll keep
+it secret till to-morrow. It is enough to ask a girl to keep one thing
+secret at a time. Remember, if aunt consents, we must set out to-morrow
+before anybody is up."
+
+[Illustration: THE JOURNEY.]
+
+Mrs. Ashcroft having given her consent, Harry and Caroline set out the
+next morning, followed by Neptune, who insisted upon accompanying them.
+"You had better take my arm, Caroline," said Harry; "and let me carry your
+basket, too. We have rather a long walk."
+
+At the town, Harry went straight to a shop where they sold all sorts of
+animals both alive and stuffed, and when they had gone inside, Harry
+pointed to a beautiful stuffed squirrel, and said, "That's the thing that
+will please Herbert."
+
+[Illustration: THE SQUIRREL.]
+
+Though the squirrel was only stuffed, it looked so like a real live one,
+that Caroline too was quite delighted with it, and said she would be so
+glad to have it, only she hadn't so much money of her own. "Oh, never mind
+about money," said Harry, "To tell you the truth, I meant to have bought
+it for you the other day when I was here with Charlie. Now, if you like
+to give it to Herbert on his birth-day, why, there's nobody will find
+fault."
+
+Accordingly the squirrel was bought, and carried home without any of the
+other children having seen it, and with Harry's assistance it was safely
+hidden away till Herbert's birth-day; and Caroline ceased to mourn for the
+bird, though she was often sorry for its sad end.
+
+Herbert's birth-day happened during the time their cousins were with them,
+and, as was the custom, they had a picnic to a ruined castle a few miles
+distant. The day was beautiful all throughout, and a happier company of
+children could not have been found than those that set out that morning
+along with Mr. and Mrs. Ashcroft in the waggonette. The table-cloth was
+laid on the bright green turf before the castle, under the shade of a
+large sycamore, and when the ruins had been inspected they all sat down
+and enjoyed a hearty meal. Then, while the girls gathered wild-flowers,
+the boys went off with Mr. Ashcroft on what Charles called "an exploring
+expedition;" and on their return they climbed up the wild cherry-trees
+that grew in abundance in the neighbourhood, and shook down the ripe fruit
+upon the girls' heads, who managed to fill their baskets amidst much fun.
+
+After this, and while Mrs. Ashcroft rested, the children joined hands and
+danced round in a ring, as may be seen by turning over to the first
+picture in this book, which is called "the frontispiece." There had been
+much laughter before the ring could be formed so that each girl should be
+separated from her brother, and stand between two cousins; but once this
+was arranged, off they danced, round and round, till their feet could not
+dance any longer. They then flung themselves down where Mrs. Ashcroft was
+sitting, and had a quiet but happy hour's rest before going home. The day
+had passed so pleasantly as to be long remembered by them all; and Herbert
+experienced during these holidays, for the first time in his life, that
+the truest pleasure consists, not in gratifying one's own wishes, but in
+trying to make others happy.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CARRY'S ROSE***
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