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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* - - - - - -Prepared by David Reed haradda@aol.com or davidr@inconnect.com - - - - - -Five Little Peppers And How They Grew - -by Margaret Sidney - - - - -To the Memory of MY MOTHER; -wise in counsel--tender in judgment, and in all charity--strengthful -in Christian faith and purpose--I dedicate, with reverence, this -simple book. - - - - -CONTENTS - -A HOME VIEW -MAKING HAPPINESS FOR MAMSIE -MAMSIE'S BIRTHDAY -TROUBLE FOR THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE -MORE TROUBLE -HARD DAYS FOR POLLY -THE CLOUD OVER THE L1TI'LE BROWN HOUSE -JOEL'S TURN -SUNSHINE AGAIN -A THREATENED BLOW -SAFE -NEW FRIENDS -PHRONSIE PAYS A DEBT OF GRATITUDE -A LETTER TO JASPER -JOLLY DAYS -GETTING A CHRISTMAS FOR THE LITTLE ONES -CHRISTMAS BELLS! -EDUCATION AHEAD -BRAVE WORK AND THE REWARD -POLLY IS COMFORTED -PHRONSIE -GETTING READY FOR MAMSIE AND THE BOYS -WHICH TREATS OF A GOOD MANY MATTERS -POLLY'S DISMAL MORNING -POLLY'S BIG BUNDLE - - - - -FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS - - - -A HOME VIEW - - -The little old kitchen had quieted down from the bustle and -confusion of mid-day; and now, with its afternoon manners on, -presented a holiday aspect, that as the principal room in the brown -house, it was eminently proper it should have. It was just on the -edge of the twilight; and the little Peppers, all except Ben, the -oldest of the flock, were enjoying a "breathing spell," as their -mother called it, which meant some quiet work suitable for the -hour. All the "breathing spell" they could remember however, -poor things; for times were always hard with them nowadays; and -since the father died, when Phronsie was a baby, Mrs. Pepper had -had hard work to scrape together money enough to put bread into -her children's mouths, and to pay the rent of the little brown house. - -But she had met life too bravely to be beaten down now. So with a -stout heart and a cheery face, she had worked away day after day at -making coats, and tailoring and mending of all descriptions; and -she had seen with pride that couldn't be concealed, her noisy, -happy brood growing up around her, and filling her heart with -comfort, and making the little brown house fairly ring with jollity -and fun. - -"Poor things!" she would say to herself, "they haven't had any -bringing up; they've just scrambled up!" And then she would set -her lips together tightly, and fly at her work faster than ever. "I -must get schooling for them some way, but I don't see how!" - -Once or twice she had thought, "Now the time is coming!" but it -never did: for winter shut in very cold, and it took so much more to -feed and warm them, that the money went faster than ever. And -then, when the way seemed clear again, the store changed hands, -so that for a long time she failed to get her usual supply of sacks -and coats to make; and that made sad havoc in the quarters and -half-dollars laid up as her nest egg. But---- "Well, it'll come some -time," she would say to herself; "because it must!" And so at it -again she would fly, brisker than ever. - -"To help mother," was the great ambition of all the children, older -and younger; but in Polly's and Ben's souls, the desire grew so -overwhelmingly great as to absorb all lesser thoughts. Many and -vast were their secret plans, by which they were to astonish her at -some future day, which they would only confide--as they did -everything else--to one another. For this brother and sister were -everything to each other, and stood loyally together through "thick -and thin." - -Polly was ten, and Ben one year older; and the younger three of the -"Five Little Peppers," as they were always called, looked up to -them with the intensest admiration and love. What they failed to -do, couldn't very well be done by any One! - -"Oh dear!" exclaimed Polly as she sat over in the corner by the -window helping her mother pull out basting threads from a coat -she had just finished, and giving an impatient twitch to the sleeve, -"I do wish we could ever have any light--just as much as we want!" - -"You don't need any light to see these threads," said Mrs. Pepper, -winding up hers carefully, as she spoke, on an old spool. "Take -care, Polly, you broke that; thread's dear now." - -"I couldn't help it," said Polly, vexedly; "it snapped; everything's -dear now, it seems to me! I wish we could have--oh! ever an' ever -so many candles; as many as we wanted. I'd light 'em all, so there! -and have it light here one night, anyway!" - -"Yes, and go dark all the rest of the year, like as anyway," -observed Mrs. Pepper, stopping to untie a knot. "Folks who do so -never have any candles," she added, sententiously. - -"How many'd you have, Polly?" asked Joel, curiously, laying down -his hammer, and regarding her with the utmost anxiety. - -"Oh, two hundred!" said Polly, decidedly. "I'd have two hundred, -all in a row!" - -"Two hundred candles!" echoed Joel, in amazement. "My -whockety! what a lot!" - -"Don't say such dreadful words, Joel," put in Polly, nervously, -stopping to pick up her spool of basting thread that was racing -away all by itself; "tisn't nice." - -"Tisn't worse than to wish you'd got things you haven't," retorted -Joel. "I don't believe you'd light 'em all at once," he added, -incredulously. - -"Yes, I would too!" replied Polly, reckessly; "two hundred of 'em, -if I had a chance; all at once, so there, Joey Pepper!" - -"Oh," said little Davie, drawing a long sigh. "Why, 'twould be just -like heaven, Polly! but wouldn't it cost money, though!" - -"I don't care," said Polly, giving a flounce in her chair, which -snapped another thread; "oh dear me! I didn't mean to, mammy; -well, I wouldn't care how much money it cost, we'd have as much -light as we wanted, for once; so!" - - -"Mercy!" said Mrs. Pepper, "you'd have the house afire! Two -hundred candles! who ever heard of such a thing!" - -"Would they burn?" asked Phronsie, anxiously, getting up from the -floor where she was crouching with David, overseeing Joel nail on -the cover of an old box; and going to Polly's side she awaited her -answer patiently. - -"Burn?" said Polly. "There, that's done now, mamsie dear!" And -she put the coat, with a last little pat, into her mother's lap. "I guess -they would, Phronsie pet." And Polly caught up the little girl, and -spun round and round the old kitchen till they were both glad to -stop. - -"Then," said Phronsie, as Polly put her down, and stood breathless -after her last glorious spin, "I do so wish we might, Polly; oh, just -this very one minute!" - -And Phronsie clasped her fat little hands in rapture at the thought. - -"Well," said Polly, giving a look up at the old clock in the corner; -"deary me! it's half-past five; and most time for Ben to come -home!" - -Away she flew to get supper. So for the next few moments nothing -was heard but the pulling out of the old table into the middle of the -floor, the laying the cloth, and all the other bustle attendant upon -the being ready for Ben. Polly went skipping around, cutting the -bread, and bringing dishes; only stopping long enough to fling -some scraps of reassuring nonsense to the two~ys, who were -thoroughly dismayed at being obliged to remove their traps into a -corner. - -Phronsie still stood just where Polly left her. Two hundred -candles! -oh! what could it mean! She gazed up to the old beams overhead, -and around the dingy walls, and to the old black stove, with the -fire nearly out, and then over everything the kitchen contained, -trying to think how it would seem. To have it bright and winsome -and warm! to suit Polly--"ohl" she screamed. - -"Goodness!" said Polly, taking her head out of the old cupboard in -the corner, "how you scared me, Phronsie!" - -"Would they ever go out?" asked the child gravely, still standing -where Polly left her. - -"What?" asked Polly, stopping with a dish of cold potatoes in her -hand. "What, Phronsie?" - -"Why, the candles," said the child, "the ever-an'-ever so many -pretty lights!" - -"Oh, my senses!" cried Polly, with a little laugh, "haven't you -forgotten that! Yes--no, that is, Phronsie, if we could have 'em at -all, we wouldn't ever let 'em go out!" - -"Not once?" asked Phronsie, coming up to Polly with a little skip, -and nearly upsetting her, potatoes and all--"not once, Polly, truly?" - -"No, not forever-an'-ever," said Polly; "take care, Phronsie! there -goes a potato; no, we'd keep 'em always!" - -"No, you don't want to," said Mrs. Pepper, coming out of the -bedroom in time to catch the last words; "they won't be good -to-morrow; better have them to-night, Polly." - -"Ma'am!" said Polly, setting down her potato-dish on the table, and -staring at her mother with all her might--"have what, mother?" - -"Why, the potatoes, to be sure," replied Mrs. Pepper; "didn't you -say you better keep them, child?" - -"Twasn't potatoes--at all," said Polly, with a little gasp; "twas--dear -me! here's Ben!" For the door opened, and Phronsie, with a scream -of delight, bounded into Ben's arms. - -"It's just jolly," said Ben, coming in, his chubby face all aglow, and -his big blue eyes shining so honest and true; "it's just jolly to get -home! supper ready, Polly?" - -"Yes," said Polly; "that is--all but--" and she dashed off for -Phronsie's eating apron. - -"Sometime," said Phronsie, with her mouth half full, when the -meal was nearly over, "we're going to be awful rich; we are, Ben, -truly!" - -"No?" said Ben, affecting the most hearty astonishment; "you don't -say so, Chick!" - -"Yes," said Phronsie, shaking her yellow head very wisely at him, -and diving down into her cup of very weak milk and water to see if -Polly had put any sugar in by mistake--a proceeding always -expectantly observed. "Yes, we are really, Bensie, very dreadful -rich!" - -"I wish we could be rich now, then," said Ben, taking another -generous slice of the brown bread; "in time for mamsic's birthday," -and he cast a sorrowful glance at Polly. - -"I know," said Polly; "oh dear! if we only could celebrate it!" - -"I don't want any other celebration," said Mrs. Pepper, beaming on -them so that a little flash of sunshine seemed to hop right down on -the table, "than to look round on you all; I'm rich now, and that's a -fact!" - -"Mamsie don't mind her five bothers," cried Polly, jumping up and -running to hug her mother; thereby producing a like desire in all -the others, who immediately left their seats and followed her -example. - -"Mother's rich enough," ejaculated Mrs. Pepper; her bright, black -eyes glistening with delight, as the noisy troop filed back to their -bread and potatoes; "if we can only keep together, dears, and grow -up good, so that the little brown house won't be ashamed of us, -that's all I ask." - -"Well," said Polly, in a burst of confidence to Ben, after the table -had been pushed back against the wall, the dishes nicely washed, -wiped, and set up neatly in the cupboard, and all traces of the meal -cleared away; "I don't care; let's try and get a celebration, -somehow, for mamsie!" - -"How are you going to do it?" asked Ben, who was of a decidedly -practical turn of mind, and thus couldn't always follow Polly in her -ffights of imagination. - -"I don't know," said Polly; "but we must some way." - -"Phohi that's no good," said Ben, disdainfully; then seeing Polly's -face, he added kindly: "let's think, though; and perhaps there'll be -some way." - -"Oh, I know," cried Polly, in delight; "I know the very thing, Ben! -let's make her a cake; a big one, you know, and"-- "She'll see you -bake it," said Ben; "or else she'll smell it, and that'd be just as bad." - -"No, she won't either," replied Polly. "Don't you know she's going -to help Mrs. Henderson to-morrow; so there!" - -"So she is," said Ben; "good for you, Polly, you always think of -everything!" - -"And then," said Polly, with a comfortable little feeling at her heart -at Ben's praise, "why, we can have it all out of the way splendidly, -you know, when she comes home--and besides, Grandma -Bascom'll tell me how. You know we've only got brown flour, -Ben; I mean to go right over and ask her now." - -"Oh, no, you mustn't," cried Ben, catching hold of her arm as she -was preparing to fly off. "Mammy'll find it out; better wait till -to-morrow; and besides Polly--" And Ben stopped, unwilling to -dampen this propitious beginning. "The stove'll act like everything, -to-morrow! I know 'twill; then what'll you do!" - -"It sha'n't!" said Polly, running up to look it in the face; "if it does, -I'll shake it; the mean old thing!" - -The idea of Polly's shaking the lumbering old black affair, sent -Ben into such a peal of laughter that it brought all the other -children running to the spot; and nothing would do but they must -one and all, be told the reason. So Polly and Ben took them into -confidence, which so elated them that half an hour after, when -long past her bedtime, Phronsie declared, "I'm not going to bed! I -want to sit up like Polly!" - -"Don't tease her," whispered Polly to Ben, who thought she ought -to go; so she sat straight up on her little stool, winking like -everything to keep awake. - -At last, as Polly was in the midst of one of her liveliest sallies, -over tumbled Phronsie, a sleepy little heap, upon the floor. - -"I want--to go--to bed!" she said; "take me--Polly!" - -"I thought so," laughed Polly, and bundled her off into the -bedroom. - -MAKING HAPPINESS FOR MAMSIE - -And so, the minute her mother had departed for the minister's -house next morning, and Ben had gone to his day's work, chopping -wood for Deacon Blodgett, Polly assembled her force around the -old stove, and proceeded to business. She and the children had -been up betimes that morning to get through with the work; and -now, as they glanced around with a look of pride on the neatly -swept floor, the dishes all done, and everything in order, the -moment their mother's back was turned they began to implore -Polly to huny and begin. - -"It's most 'leven o'clock," said Joel, who, having no work to do -outside, that day, was prancing around, wild to help along the -festivities; "it's most 'leven o'clock, Polly Pepper! you won't have it -done." - -"Oh, no; 'tisn't either, Joe;" said Polly, with a very flushed face, -and her arms full of kindlings, glancing up at the old clock as she -spoke; "tisn't but quarter of nine; there, take care, Phronsie! you -can't lift off the cover; do help her, Davie." - -"No; let me!" cried Joel, springing forward; "it's my turn; Dave got -the shingles; it's my turn, Polly." - -"So 'tis," said Polly; "I forgot; there," as she flung in the wood, and -poked it all up in a nice little heap coaxingly. "It can't help but -burn; what a cake we'll have for mamsie!" - -"It'll be so big," cried Phronsie, hopping around on one set of toes, -"that mamsie won't know what to do, will she, Polly?" - -"No, I don't believe she will," said Polly, gayly, stuffing in more -wood; "Oh, dear! there goes Ben's putty; it's all come out!" - -"So it has," said Joel, going around back of the stove to explore; -and then he added cheerfully, "it's bigger'n ever; oh! it's an awful -big hole, Polly!" - -"Now, whatever shall we do!" said Polly, in great distress; "that -hateful old crack! and Ben's clear off to Deacon Blodgett's!" - -"I'll run and get him," cried Joel, briskly; "I'll bring him right home -in ten minutes." - -"Oh, no, you must not, Joe," cried Polly in alarm; "it wouldn't ever -be right to take him off from his work; manisie wouldn't like it." - -"What will you do, then?" asked Joel, pausing on his way to the -door. - -"I'm sure I don't know," said Polly, getting down on her knees to -examine the crack; "I shall have to stuff it with paper, I s'pose." - -"'Twon't stay in," said Joel, scornfully; "don't you know you stuffed -it before, last week?" - -"I know," said Polly, with a small sigh; and sitting down on the -floor, she remained quite still for a minute, with her two black -hands thrust out straight before her. - -"Can't you fix it?" asked Davie, soberly, coming up; "then we can't -have the cake." - -"Dear me!" exclaimed Polly, springing up quickly; "don't be afraid; -we're going to have that cake! There, you ugly old thing, you!" -(this to the stove) "see what you've done!" as two big tears flew out -of Phronsie's brown eyes at the direful prospect; and the sorrowful -faces of the two boys looked up into Polly's own, for comfort. "I -can fix it, I most know; do get some paper, Joe, as quick as you -can." - -"Don't know where there is any," said Joel, rummaging around; -"it's all tore up; 'xcept the almanac; can't I take that?" - -"Oh dear, no!" cried Polly; "put it right back, Joe; I guess there's -some in the wood-shed." - -"There isn't either," said little Davie, quickly; "Joel and I took it to -make kites with." - -"Oh dear," groaned Polly; "I don't know what we shall do; unless," -as a bright thought struck her, "you let me have the kites, boys." - -"Can't," said Joel; "they're all flew away; and torn up." - -"Well, now, children," said Polly, turning round impressively upon -them, the effect of which was heightened by the extremely crocky -appearance she had gained in her explorations, "we must have -some paper, or something to stop up that old hole with--some way, -there!" - -"I know," said little Davie, "where we'll get it; it's upstairs;" and -without another word he flew out of the room, and in another -minute he put into Polly's hand an old leather boottop, one of his -most treasured possessions. "You can chip it," he said, "real fine, -and then 'twill go in." - -"So we can," said Polly; "and you're a real good boy, Davie, to give -it; that's a splendid present to help celebrate for mamsic!" - -"I'd a-given a boot-top," said Joel, looking grimly at the precious -bit of leather which Polly was rapidly stripping into little bits, "if -I'd a-hed it; I don't have anything!" - -"I know you would, Joey," said Polly, kindly; "there now, you'll -stay, I guess!" as with the united efforts of the two boys, cheered -on by Phronsie's enthusiastic little crow of delight, the leather was -crowded into place, and the fire began to burn. - -"Now, boys," said Polly, getting up, and drawing a long breath, -"I'm going over to Grandma Bascom's to get her to tell me how to -make the cake; and you must stay and keep house." - -"I'm going to nail," said Joel; "I've got lots to do." - -"All right," said Polly, tying on her hood; "Phronsie'll love to watch -you; I won't be gone long," and she was off. - -"Grandma Bascom," wasn't really the children's grandmother; only -everybody in the village called her so by courtesy. Her cottage was -over across the lane, and just a bit around the corner; and Polly -flew along and up to the door, fully knowing that now she would -be helped out of her difliculty. She didn't stop to knock, as the old -lady was so deaf she knew she wouldn't hear her, but opened the -door and walked in. Grandma was sweeping up the floor, already -as neat as a pin; when she saw Polly coming, she stopped, and -leaned on her broom. - -"How's your ma?" she asked, when Polly had said "good morning," -and then hesitated. - -"Oh, mammy's pretty well," shouted Polly into the old lady's ear; -"and to-morrow's her birthday!" - -"To-morrow'll be a bad day!" said grandma. "Oh, don't never say -that. You mustn't borrow trouble, child." - -"I didn't," said Polly; "I mean--it's her birthday, grandma!" this last -so loud that grandma's cap-border vibrated perceptibly. - -"The land's sakes 'tis!" cried Mrs. Bascom, delightedly; "you don't -say so!" - -"Yes," said Polly, skipping around the old lady, and giving her a -small hug; "and we're going to give her a surprise." - -"What is the matter with her eyes?" asked grandma, sharply, -turning around and facing her; "she's been a-sewin' too stiddy, -hain't she?" - -"A surprise!" shouted Polly, standing upon tiptoe, to bring her -mouth on a level with the old lady's ear; "a cake, grandma, a big -one!" - -"A cake!" exclaimed grandma, dropping the broom to settle her -cap, which Polly in her extreme endeavors to carry on the -conversation, had knocked slightly awry; "well, that'll be fine." - -"Yes," said Polly, picking up the broom, and ffinging off her hood -at the same time; "and, oh! won't you please tell me how to make -it, grandma!" - -"To be sure; to be sure;" cried the old lady, delighted beyond -measure to give advice; "I've got splendid receets; I'll go get 'em -right off," and she ambled to the door of the pantry. - -"And I'll finish sweeping up," said Polly, which grandma didn't -hear; so she took up the broom, and sent it energetically, and -merrily flying away to the tune of her own happy thoughts. - -"Yes, they're right in here," said grandma, waddling back with an -old tin teapot in her hand;--"goodness, child! what a dust you've -kicked up! that ain't the way to sweep." And she took the broom -out of Polly's hand, who stood quite still in mortification. - -"There," she said, drawing it mildly over the few bits she could -scrape together, and gently coaxing them into a little heap; "that's -the way; and then they don't go all over the room. - -"I'm sorry," began poor Polly. - -"'Tain't any matter," said Mrs. Bascom kindly, catching sight of -Polly's discomfited face; "tain't a mite of matter; you'll sweep -better next time; now let's go to the cake;" and putting the broom -into the corner, she waddled back again to the table, followed by -Polly, and proceeded to turn out the contents of the teapot, in -search of just the right "receet." - -But the right one didn't seem to appear; not even after the teapot -was turned upside down and shaken by both grandma's and Polly's -anxious hands. Every other "receet" seemed to tumble out gladly, -and stare them in the face--little dingy rolls of yellow paper, with -an ancient odor of spice still clinging to them; but all efforts to -find this particular one failed utterly. - -"Won't some other one do?" asked Polly, in the interval of fruitless -searching, when grandma bewailed and lamented, and wondered, -"where I could a put it!" - -"No, no, child," answered the old lady; "now, where do you s'pose -'tis!" and she clapped both hands to her head, to see if she could -possibly remember; "no, no, child," she repeated. "Why, thcy had it -down to my niece Mirandy's weddin'--'twas just elegant! light as a -feather; and 'twan't rich either," she added; "no eggs, nor"-- "Oh, I -couldn't have eggs;" cried Polly, in amazement at the thought of -such luxury; "and we've only brown flour, grandma, you know." - -"Well, you can make it of brown," said Mrs. Bascom, kindly; -"when the raisins is in 'twill look quite nice." - -"Oh, we haven't any raisins," answered Polly. - -"Haven't any raisins!" echoed grandma, looking at her over her -spectacles; "what are you goin' to put in?" - -"Oh--cinnamon," said Polly, briskly; "we've got plenty of that, -and--it'll be good, I guess, grandma!" she finished, anxiously; -"anyway, we must have a cake; there isn't any other way to -celebrate mamsie's birthday." - -"Well, now," said grandma, bustling around; "I shouldn't be -surprised if you had real good luck, Polly. And your ma'll set ever -so much by it; now, if we only could find that receet!" and -returning to the charge she commenced to fumble among her bits -of paper again; "I never shall forget how they eat on it; why, there -wasn't a crumb left, Polly!" - -"Oh, dear," said Polly, to whom "Mirandy's wedding cake" now -became the height of her desires; "if you only can find it! can't I -climb up and look on the pantry shelves?" - -"Maybe 'tis there," said Mrs. Bascom, slowly; "you might try; -sometimes I do put things away, so's to have 'em safe." - -So Polly got an old wooden chair, according to direction, and then -mounted up on it, with grandma below to direct, she handed down -bowl after bowl, interspersed at the right intervals with cracked -teacups and handleless pitchers. But at the end of these -explorations, "Mirandy's wedding cake" was further off than ever. - -"Tain't a mite o' use," at last said the old lady, sinking down in -despair, while Polly perched on the top of the chair and looked at -her; "I must a-give it away." - -"Can't I have the next best one, then?" asked Polly, despairingly, -feeling sure that "Mirandy's wedding cake" would have celebrated -the day just right; "and I must hurry right home, please," she -added, getting down from the chair, and tying on her hood; "or -Phronsie won't know what to do." - -So another "receet" was looked over, and selected; and with many -charges, and bits of advice not to let the oven get too hot, etc., etc., -Polly took the precious bit in her hand, and flew over home. - -"Now, we've got to--" she began, bounding in merrily, with -dancing eyes; but her delight had a sudden stop, as she brought up -so suddenly at the sight within, that she couldn't utter another -word. Phronsie was crouching, a miserable little heap of woe, in -one corner of the mother's big calico-covered rocking-chair, and -crying bitterly, while Joel hung over her in the utmost concern. - -"What's the matter?" gasped Polly. Flinging the "receet" on the -table, she rushed up to the old chair and was down on her knees -before it, her arms around the little figure. Phronsie turned, and -threw herself into Polly's protecting arms, who gathered her up, -and sitting down in the depths of the chair, comforted her as only -she could. - -"What is it?" she asked of Joel, who was nervously begging -Phronsie not to cry; "now, tell me all that's happened." - -"I was a-nailing," began Joel; "oh dear! don't cry, Phronsie! do stop -her, Polly." - -"Go on," said Polly, hoarsely. - -"I was a-nailing," began Joel, slowly; "and--and--Davie's gone to -get the peppermint," he added, brightening up. - -"Tell me, Joe," said Polly, "all that's been going on," and she -looked sternly into his face; "or I'll get Davie to," as little Davie -came running back, with a bottle of castor oil, which in his flurry -he had mistaken for peppermint. This he presented with a flourish -to Polly, who was too excited to see it. - -"Oh, no!" cried Joel, in intense alarm; "Davie isn't going to! I'll -tell, Polly; I will truly." - -"Go on, then," said Polly; "tell at once;" (feeling as if somebody -didn't tell pretty quick, she should tumble over.) - -"Well," said Joel, gathering himself up with a fresh effort, "the old -hammer was a-shaking and Phronsie stuck her foot in the -way--and--I couldn't help it, Polly--no, I just couldn't, Polly." - -Quick as a flash, Polly tore off the little old shoe, and well-worn -stocking, and brought to light Phronsie's fat little foot. Tenderly -taking hold of the white toes, the boys clustering around in the -greatest anxiety, she worked them back and forth, and up and -down. "Nothing's broken," she said at last, and drew a long breath. - -"It's there," said Phronsie, through a rain of tears; "and it hurts, -Polly;" and she began to wiggle the big toe, where around the nail -was settling a small black spot. - -"Poor little toe," began Polly, cuddling up the suffering foot. Just -then, a small and peculiar noise struck her ear; and looking up she -saw Joel, with a very distorted face, making violent efforts to keep -from bursting out into a loud cry. All his attempts, however, failed; -and he flung himself into Polly's lap in a perfect torrent of tears. "I -didn't--mean to--Polly," he cried; "'twas the--ugly, old hammer! oh -dear!" - -"There, there, Joey, dear," said Polly, gathering him up in the other -corner of the old chair, close to her side; "don't feel bad; I know -you didn't mean to," and she dropped a kiss on his stubby black -hair. - -When Phronsie saw that anybody else could cry, she stopped -immediately, and leaning over Polly, put one little fat hand on -Joel's neck. "Don't cry," she said; "does your toe ache?" - -At this, Joel screamed louder than ever; and Polly was at her wit's -end to know what to do; for the boy's heart was almost broken. -That he should have hurt Phronsie! the baby, the pet of the whole -house, upon whom all their hearts centered--it was too much. So -for the next few moments, Polly had all she could do by way of -comforting and consoling him. Just as she had succeeded, the door -opened, and Grandma Bascom walked in. - -"Settin' down?" said she; "I hope your cake ain't in, Polly," looking -anxiously at the stove, "for I've found it;" and she waved a small -piece of paper triumphantly towards the rocking-chair as she -spoke. - -"Do tell her," said Polly to little David, "what's happened; for I -can't get up." - -So little Davie went up to the old lady, and standing on tiptoe, -screamed into her ear all the particulars he could think of, -concerning the accident that had just happened. - -"Hey?" said grandma, in a perfect bewilderment; "what's he -a-sayin', Polly--I can't make it out." - -"You'll have to go all over it again, David," said Polly, -despairingly; "she didn't hear one word, I don't believe." - -So David tried again; this time with better success. And then he -got down from his tiptoes, and escorted grandma to Phronsie, in -flushed triumph. - -"Land alive!" said the old lady, sitting down in the chair which he -brought her; "you got pounded, did you?" looking at Phronsie, as -she took the little foot in her ample hand. - -"Yes'm," said Polly, quickly; "twasn't any one's fault; what'll we do -for it, grandma?" - -"Wormwood," said the old lady, adjusting her spectacles in -extreme deliberation, and then examining the little black and blue -spot, which was spreading rapidly, "is the very best thing; and I've -got some to home--you run right over," she said, turning round on -David, quickly, "an' get it; it's a-hang-in' by the chimbley." - -"Let me; let me!" cried Joel, springing out of the old chair, so -suddenly that grandma's spectacles nearly dropped off in fright; -"oh! I want to do it for Phronsie!" - -"Yes, let Joel, please," put in Polly; "he'll find it, grandma." So -Joel departed with great speed; and presently returned, with a -bunch of dry herbs, which dangled comfortingly by his side, as he -came in. - -"Now I'll fix it," said Mrs. Bascom, getting up and taking off her -shawl; "there's a few raisins for you, Polly; I don't want 'em, and -they'll make your cake go better," and she placed a little parcel on -the table as she spoke. "Yes, I'll put it to steep; an' after it's put on -real strong, and tied up in an old cloth, Phronsie won't know as -she's got any toes!" and grandma broke up a generous supply of the -herb, and put it into an old tin cup, which she covered up with a -saucer, and placed on the stove. - -"Oh!" said Polly; "I can't thank you! for the raisins and all--you're -so good!" - -"They're awful hard," said Joel, investigating into the bundle with -Davie, which, however, luckily the old lady didn't hear. - -"There, don't try," she said cheerily; "an' I found cousin Mirandy's -weddin' cake receet, for--" - -"Did you?" cried Polly; "oh! I'm so glad!" feeling as if that were -comfort enough for a good deal. - -"Yes, 'twas in my Bible," said Mrs. Bascom; "I remember now; I -put it there to be ready to give John's folks when they come in; -they wanted it; so you'll go all straight now; and I must get home, -for I left some meat a-boilin'." So grandma put on her shawl, and -waddled off, leaving a great deal of comfort behind her. - -"Now, says I," said Polly to Phronsie, when the little foot was -snugly tied up in the wet wormwood, "you've got to have one of -mamsie's old slippers." - -"Oh, ho," laughed Phronsie; "won't that be funny, Polly!" - -"I should think it would," laughed Polly, back again, pulling on the -big cloth slipper, which Joel produced from the bedroom, the two -boys joining uproariously, as the old black thing flapped dismally -up and down, and showed strong symptoms of flying off. "We -shall have to tie it on." - -"It looks like a pudding bag," said Joel, as Polly tied it securely -through the middle with a bit of twine; "an old black pudding -bag!" he finished. - -"Old black pudding bag!" echoed Phronsie, with a merry little -crow; and then all of a sudden she grew very sober, and looked -intently at the foot thrust out straight before her, as she still sat in -the chair. - -"What is it, Phronsie?" asked Polly, who was bustling around, -making preparations for the cake-making. - -"Can I ever wear my new shoes again?" asked the child, gravely, -looking dismally at the black bundle before her. - -"Oh, yes; my goodness, yes!" cried Polly; "as quick again as ever; -you'll be around again as smart as a cricket in a week --see if you -aren't!" - -"Will it go on?" asked Phronsie, still looking incredulously at the -bundle, "and button up?" - -"Yes, indeed!" cried Polly, again; "button into every one of the -little holes, Phronsie Pepper; just as elegant as ever!" - -"Oh!" said Phronsie; and then she gave a sigh of relief, and thought -no more of it, because Polly had said that all would be right. - -MAMSIE'S BIRTHDAY - -"Run down and get the cinnamon, will you, Joey?" said Polly; "it's -in the 'Provision Room." - -The "Provision Room" was a little shed that was tacked on to the -main house, and reached by a short ffight of rickety steps; so -called, because as Polly said, "'twas a good place to keep -provisions in, even if we haven't any; and besides," she always -finished, "it sounds nice!" - -"Come on, Dave! then we'll get something to eat!" - -So the cinnamon was handed up, and then Joel flew back to Davie. - -And now, Polly's cake was done, and ready for the oven. With -many admiring glances from herself, and Phronsie, who with -Seraphina, an extremely old but greatly revered doll, tightly -hugged in her arms was watching everything with the biggest of -eyes from the depths of the old chair, it was placed in the oven, the -door shut to with a happy little bang, then Polly gathered Phronsie -up in her arms, and sat down in the chair to have a good time with -her and to watch the process of cooking. - -There was a bumping noise that came from the "Provision Room" -that sounded ominous, and then a smothered sound of words, -followed by a scuffling over the old floor. - -"Boys!" called Polly. No answer; everything was just as still as a -mouse. "Joel and David!" called Polly again, in her loudest tones. - -"Yes," came up the crooked stairs, in Davie's voice. - -"Come up here, right away!" went back again from Polly. So up -the -stairs trudged the two boys, and presented themselves rather -sheepishly before the big chair. - -"What was that noise?" she asked; "what have you been doing?" - -"Twasn't anything but the pail," answered Joel, not looking at her. - -"We had something to eat," said Davie, by way of explanation; -"you always let us." - -"I know," said Polly; "that's right, you can have as much bread as -you want to; but what you been doing with the pail?" - -"Nothing," said Joel; "'twouldn't hangup, that's all." - -"And you've been bumping it," said Polly; "oh! Joel, how could -you! You might have broken it; then what would mamsie say?" - -"I didn't," said Joel, stoutly, with his hands in his pockets, "bump it -worse'n Davie, so there!" - -"Why, Davie," said Polly, turning to him sorrowfully, "I shouldn't -have thought you would!" - -"Well, I'm tired of hanging it up," said little Davie, vehemently; -"and I said I wasn't a-goin' to; Joel always makes me; I've done it -for two million times, I guess!" - -"Oh, dear," said Polly, sinking back into the chair, "I don't know -what I ever shall do; here's Phronsie hurt; and we want to celebrate -to-morrow; and you two boys are bumping and banging out the -bread pail, and"-- "Oh! we won't!" cried both of the children, -perfectly overwhelined with remorse; "we'll hang it right up." - -"I'll hang it," said Davie, clattering off down the stairs with a will. - -"No, I will!" shouted Joel, going after him at double pace; and -presently both came up with shining faces, and reported it nicely -done. - -"And now," said Polly, after they had all sat around the stove -another half-hour, watching and sniffing expectantly, "the cake's -done!--dear me! it's turning black!" - -And quickly as possible Polly twitched it out with energy, and set -it on the table. - -Oh, dear; of all things in the world! The beautiful cake over which -so many hopes had been formed, that was to have given so much -happiness on the morrow to the dear mother, presented a forlorn -appearance as it stood there in anything but holiday attire. It was -quite black on the top, in the center of which was a depressing -little dump, as if to say, "My feelings wouldn't allow me to rise to -the occasion." - -"Now," said Polly, turning away with a little ffing, and looking at -the stove, "I hope you're satisfied, you old thing; you've spoiled our -mamsie's birthday!" and without a bit of warning, she sat right -down in the middle of the floor and began to cry as hard as she -could. - -"Well, I never!" said a cheery voice, that made the children skip. - -"It's Mrs. Beebe; oh, it's Mrs. Beebe!" cried Davie; "see, Polly." - -Polly scrambled up to her feet, ashamed to be caught thus, and -whisked away the tears; the others explaining to their new visitor -the sad disappointment that had befallen them; and she was soon -oh-ing, and ah-ing enough to suit even their distressed little souls. - -"You poor creeters, you!" she exclaimed at last, for about the -fiftieth time. "Here, Polly, here's some posies for you, and"-- "Oh, -thank you!" cried Polly, with a radiant face, "why, Mrs. Beebe, we -can put them in here, can't we? the very thing!" - -And she set the little knot of flowers in the hollow of the cake, and -there they stood and nodded away to the delighted children, like -brave little comforters, as they were. - -"The very thing!" echoed Mrs. Beebe, tickled to death to see their -delight; "it looks beautiful, I declare! and now, I must run right -along, or pa'll be worrying;" and so the good woman trotted out to -her waiting husband, who was impatient to be off. Mr. Beebe kept -a little shoe shop in town; and always being of the impression if he -left it for ten minutes that crowds of customers would visit it. He -was the most restless of companions on any pleasure excursion. - -"And Phronsie's got hurt," said Mrs. Beebe, telling him the news, -as he finished tucking her up, and started the old horse. - -"Ho? you don't say so!" he cried; "whoa!" - -"Dear me!" said Mrs. Beebe; "how you scat me, pal what's the -matter?" - -"What?--the little girl that bought the shoes?" asked her husband. - -"Yes," replied his wife, "she's hurt her foot." - -"Sho, now," said the old gentleman; "that's too bad," and he began -to feel in all his pockets industriously; "there, can you get out -again, and take her that?" and he laid a small piece of peppermint -candy, thick and white, in his wife's lap. - -"Oh, yes," cried Mrs. Beebe, good-naturedly, beginning to clamber -over the wheel. - -So the candy was handed in to Phronsie, who insisted that Polly -should hold her up to the window to thank Mr. Beebe. So amid -nods, and shakings of hands, the Beebes drove off, and quiet -settled down over the little brown house again. - -"Now, children," said Polly, after Phronsie had made them take a -bite of her candy all around, "let's get the cake put away safe, for -mamsie may come home early. - -"Where'll you put it?" asked Joel, wishing the world was all -peppermint candy. - -"Oh--in the cupboard," said Polly, taking it up; "there, Joe, you can -climb up, and put it clear back in the corner, oh! wait; I must take -the posies off, and keep them fresh in water;" so the cake was -finally deposited in a place of safety, followed by the eyes of all -the children. - -"Now," said Polly, as they shut the door tight, "don't you go to -looking at the cupboard, Joey, or mammy'll guess something." - -"Can't I just open it a little crack, and take one smell when she isn't -looking?" asked Joel; "I should think you might, Polly; just one." - -"No," said Polly, firmly; "not one, Joe; she'll guess if you do." But -Mrs. Pepper was so utterly engrossed with her baby when she -came home and heard the account of the accident, that she -wouldn't have guessed if there'd been a dozen cakes in the -cupboard. Joel was consoled, as his mother assured him in a -satisfactory way that she never should think of blaming him; and -Phronsie was comforted and coddled to her heart's content. And so -the evening passed rapidly and happily away; Ben smuggling -Phronsie off into a corner, where she told him all the doings of the -day--the disappointment of the cake, and how it was finally -crowned with flowers; all of which Phronsie, with no small pride -in being the narrator, related gravely to her absorbed listener. "And -don't you think, Bensie," she said, clasping her little hand in a -convincing way over his two bigger, stronger ones, "that Polly's -stove was very naughty to make poor Polly cry?" - -"Yes, I do," said Ben, and he shut his lips tightly together. - -To have Polly cry, hurt him more than he cared to have Phronsie -see. - -"What are you staring at, Joe?" asked Polly, a few minutes later, as -her eyes fell upon Joel, who sat with his back to the cupboard, -persistently gazing at the opposite wall. - -"Why, you told me yourself not to look at the cupboard," said Joel, -in the loudest of stage whispers. - -"Dear me; that'll make mammy suspect worse'n anything else if -you look like that," said Polly. - -"What did you say about the cupboard?" asked Mrs. Pepper, who -caught Joe's last word. - -"We can't tell," said Phronsie, shaking her head at her mother; -"cause there's a ca"-- "Ugh!" and Polly clapped her hand on the -child's mouth; "don't you want Ben to tell us a stoty?" - -"Oh, yes!" cried little Phronsie, in which all the others joined with -a whoop of delight; so a most wonderful story, drawn up in Ben's -best style, followed till bedtime. - -The first thing Polly did in the morning, was to run to the old -cupboard, followed by all the others, to see if the cake was safe; -and then it had to be drawn out, and dressed anew with the -flowers, for they had decided to have it on the breakfast table. - -"It looks better," whispered Polly to Ben, "than it did yesterday; -and aren't the flowers pretty?" - -"It looks good enough to eat, anyway," said Ben, smacking his lips. - -"Well, we tried," said Polly, stilling a sigh; "now, boys, call -marnsie; everything's ready." - -Oh! how surprised their mother appeared when she was ushered -out to the feast, and the full glory of the table burst upon her. Her -delight in the cake was fully enough to satisfy the most exacting -mind. She admired and admired it on every side, protesting that -she shouldn't have supposed Polly could possibly have baked it as -good in the old stove; and then she cut it, and gave a piece to every -child, with a little posy on top. Wasn't it good, though! for like -many other things, the cake proved better on trial than it looked, -and so turned out to be really quite a good surprise all around. - -"Why can't I ever have a birthday?" asked Joel, finishing the last -crumb of his piece; "I should think I might," he added, reflectively. - -"Why, you have, Joe," said Ben; "eight of 'em." - -"What a story!" ejaculated Joel; "when did I have 'em? I never had -a cake; did I, Polly?" - -"Not a cake-birthday, Joel," said his mother; "you haven't got to -that yet." - -"When's it coming?" asked Joel, who was decidedly of a -matter-of-fact turn of mind. - -"I don't know," said Mrs. Pepper, laughing; "but there's plenty of -time ahead." - -TROUBLE FOR THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE - -"Oh, I do wish," said Joel, a few mornings after, pushing back his -chair and looking discontentedly at his bowl of mush and -molasses, "that we could ever have something new besides this -everlasting old breakfast! Why can't we, mammy?" - -"Better be glad you've got that, Joe," said Mrs. Pepper, taking -another cold potato, and sprinkling on a little salt; "folks shouldn't -complain so long as they've anything to eat." - -"But I'm so tired of it--same old thing!" growled Joel; "seems as if -I sh'd turn into a meal-bag or a molasses jug!" - -"Well, hand it over, then," proposed Ben, who was unusually -hungry, and had a hard day's work before him. - -"No," said Joel, alarmed at the prospect, and putting in an -enormous mouthful; "it's better than nothing." - -"Oh, dear," said little Phronsie, catching Joel's tone, "it isn't nice; -no, it isn't." And she put down her spoon so suddenly that the -molasses spun off in a big drop, that trailed off the corner of the -table, and made Polly jump up and run for the floor-cloth. - -"Oh, Phronsie," she said, reprovingly; "you ought not to. Never -mind, pet," as she caught sight of two big tears trying to make a -path in the little molasses-streaked face, "Polly'll wipe it up." - -"Sha'n't we ever have anything else to eat, Polly?" asked the child, -gravely, getting down from her high chair to watch the operation -of cleaning the floor. - -"Oh, yes," said Polly, cheerfully, "lots and lots--when our ship -comes in." - -"What'll they be?" asked Phronsie, in the greatest delight, prepared -for anything. - -"Oh, I don't know," said Polly; "ice cream for one thing, Phronsie, -and maybe, little cakes." - -"With pink on top?" interrupted Phronsie, getting down by Polly's -side. - -"Oh, yes," said Polly, warming with her subject; "ever and ever so -much pink, Phronsie Pepper; more than you could eat!" - -Phronsie just clasped her hands and sighed. More than she could -eat was beyond her! - -"Hohi" said Joel, who caught the imaginary bill of fare, "that's -nothing, Polly. I'd speak for a plum-puddin'." - -"Like the one mother made us for Thanksgiving?" asked Polly, -getting up and waiting a minute, cloth in hand, for the answer. - -"Yes, sir," said Joel, shutting one eye and looking up at the ceiling, -musingly, while he smacked his lips in remembrance; "wasn't that -prime, though!" - -"Yes," said Polly, thoughtfully; "would you have 'em all like that, -Joe?" - -"Every one," replied Joe, promptly; "I'd have seventy-five of 'em." - -"Seventy-five what?" asked Mrs. Pepper, who had gone into the -bedroom, and now came out, a coat in hand, to sit down in the -west window, where she began to sew rapidly. "Better clear up the -dishes, Polly, and set the table back--seventy-five what, Joel?" - -"Flum-puddings," said Joel, kissing Phronsie. - -"Dear me!" ejaculated Mrs. Pepper; "you don't know what you're -saying, Joel Pepper; the house couldn't hold 'em!" - -"Wouldn't long," responded Joel; "we'd eat 'em." - -"That would be foolish," interposed Ben; "I'd have roast beef and -fixings--and oysters--and huckleberry pie." - -"Oh, dear," cried Polly; "how nice, Ben! you always do think of the -very best things." - -But Joel phoohed and declared he wouldn't waste his time "over -old beef; he'd have something like!" And then he cried: - -"Come on, Dave, what'd you choose?" - -Little Davie had been quietly eating his breakfast amid all this -chatter, and somehow thinking it might make the mother feel -badly, he had refrained from saying just how tiresome he had -really found this "everlasting breakfast" as Joel called it. But now -he looked up eagerly, his answer all ready. "Oh, I know," he cried, -"what would be most beautiful! toasted bread--white bread--and -candy." - -"What's candy?" asked Phronsie. - -"Oh, don't you know, Phronsie," cried Polly, "what Mrs. Beebe -gave you the day you got your shoes--the pink sticks; and"-- "And -the peppermint stick Mr. Beebe gave you, Phronsie," finished Joel, -his mouth watering at the remembrance. - -"That day, when you got your toe pounded," added Davie, looking -at Joel. - -"Oh!" cried Phronsie; "I want some now, I do!" - -"Well, Davie," said Polly, "you shall have that for breakfast when -our ship comes in then." - -"Your ships aren't ever coming," broke in Mrs. Pepper, wisely, "if -you sit there talking--folks don't ever make any fortunes by -wishing." - -"True enough," laughed Ben, jumping up and setting back his -chair. "Come on, Joe; you've got to pile to-day." - -"Oh, dear," said Joel, dismally; "I wish Mr. Blodgett's wood was -all a-fire." - -"Never say that, Joel," said Mrs. Pepper, looking up sternly; "it's -biting your own nose off to wish that wood was a-fire-- and -besides it's dreadfully wicked." - -Joel hung his head, for his mother never spoke in that way unless -she was strongly moved; but he soon recovered, and hastened off -for his jacket. - -"I'm sorry I can't help you do the dishes, Polly," said David, -running after Joel. - -"I'm going to help her," said Phronsie; "I am." - -So Polly got the little wooden tub that she always used, gave -Phronsie the well-worn cup-napkin, and allowed her to wipe the -handleless cups and cracked saucers, which afforded the little one -intense delight. - -"Don't you wish, Polly," said little Phronsie, bustling around with a -very important air, nearly smothered in the depths of a big brown -apron that Polly had carefully tied under her chin, "that you didn't -ever-an'-ever have so many dishes to do?" - -"Urn--maybe," said Polly, thoughtlessly. She was thinking of -something else besides cups and saucers just then; of how nice it -would be to go off for just one day, and do exactly as she had a -mind to in everything. She even envied Ben and the boys who were -going to work hard at Deacon Blodgett's woodpile. - -"Well, I tell you," said Phronsie, confidentially, setting down a cup -that she had polished with great care, "I'm going to do 'em all -to-morrow, for you, Polly--I can truly; let me now, Polly, do." - -"Nonsense!" said Polly, giving a great splash with her mop in the -tub, ashamed of her inward repinings. "Phronsie, you're no bigger -than a mouse!" - -"Yes, I am," retorted Phronsie, very indignantly. Her face began to -get very red, and she straightened up so suddenly to show Polly -just how very big she was that her little head came up against the -edge of the tub--over it went! a pile of saucers followed. - -"There now," cried Polly, "see what you've done!" - -"Ow!" whimpered Phronsie, breaking into a subdued roar; "oh, -Polly! it's all running down my back." - -"Is it?" said Polly, bursting out into a laugh; "never mind, Phronsie, -I'll dry you." - -"Dear me, Polly!" said Mrs. Pepper, who had looked up in time to -see the tub racing along by itself towards the "Provision Room" -door, a stream of dish-water following in its wake, "she will be wet -clear through; do get off her things, quick." - -"Yes'm," cried Polly, picking up the tub, and giving two or three -quick sops to the floor. "Here you are, Pussy," grasping Phronsie, -crying as she was, and carrying her into the bedroom. - -"Oh, dear," wailed the child, still holding the wet dish towel; "I -won't ever do it again, if you'll only let me do 'em all to-morrow." - -"When you're big and strong," said Polly, giving her a hug, "you -shall do 'em every day." - -"May I really?" said little Phronsie, blinking through the tears, and -looking radiant. - -"Yes, truly--every day." - -"Then I'll grow right away, I will," said Phronsie, bursting out -merrily; and she sat down and pulled off the well-worn shoes, into -which a big pool of dish-water had run, while Polly went for dry -stockings. - -"So you shall," said Polly, coming back, a big piece of gingerbread -in her hand; "and this'll make you grow, Phronsie." - -"O-o-h!" and Phronsie's little white teeth shut down quickly on the -comforting morsel. Gingerbread didn't come often enough into the -Pepper household to be lightly esteemed. - -"Now," said Mrs. Pepper, when order was restored, the floor -washed up brightly, and every cup and platter in place, hobnobbing -away to themselves on the shelves of the old corner cupboard, and -Polly had come as usual with needle and thread to help mother-- -Polly was getting so that she could do the plain parts on the coats -and jackets, which filled her with pride at the very thought--"now," -said Mrs. Pepper, "you needn't help me this morning, Polly: I'm -getting on pretty smart; but you may just run down to the parson's, -and see how he is." - -"Is he sick?" asked Polly, in awe. - -To have the parson sick, was something quite different from an -ordinary person's illness. - -"He's taken with a chill," said Mrs. Pepper, biting off a thread, "so -Miss Huldy Folsom told me last night, and I'm afraid he's going to -have a fever." - -"Oh, dear," said Polly, in dire distress; "whatever'd we do, -mammy!" - -"Don't know, I'm sure," replied Mrs. Pepper, setting her stitches -firmly; "the Lord'll provide. So you run along, child, and see how -he is." - -"Can't Phronsie go?" asked Polly, pausing half-way to the bedroom -door. - -"Well, yes, I suppose she might," said Mrs. Pepper, assentingly. - -"No, she can't either," said Polly, coming back with her sun-bonnet -in her hand, and shutting the door carefully after her, "cause she's -fast asleep on the floor." - -"Is she?" said Mrs. Pepper; "well, she's been running so this -morning, she's tired out, I s'pose." - -"And her face is dreadfully red," continued Polly, tying on her -bonnet; "now, what'll I say, mammy?" - -"Well, I should think 'twould be," said Mrs. Pepper, replying to the -first half of Polly's speech; "she cried so. Well, you just tell Mrs. -Henderson your ma wants to know how Mr. Flenderson is this -morning, and if 'twas a chill he had yesterday, and how he slept -last night, and"-- "Oh, ma," said Polly, "I can't ever remember all -that." - -"Oh, yes, you can," said Mrs. Pepper, encouragingly; "just put your -mind on it, Polly; 'tisn't anything to what I used to have to -remember--when I was a little girl, no bigger than you are. - -Polly sighed, and feeling sure that something must be the matter -with her mind, gave her whole attention to the errand; till at last -after a multiplicity of messages and charges not to forget any one -of them, Mrs. Pepper let her depart. - -Up to the old-fashioned green door, with its brass knocker, Polly -went, running over in her mind just which of the messages she -ought to give first. She couldn't for her life think whether "if 'twas -a chill he had yesterday?" ought to come before "how he slept?" -She knocked timidly, hoping Mrs. Henderson would help her out -of her difficulty by telling her without the asking. All other front -doors in Badgertown were ornaments, only opened on grand -occasions, like a wedding or a funeral. But the minister's was -accessible alike to all. So Polly let fall the knocker, and awaited -the answer. - -A scuffling noise sounded along the passage; and then Polly's soul -sank down in dire dismay. It was the minister's sister, and not -gentle little Mrs. Henderson. She never could get on with Miss -Jerusha in the least. She made her feel as she told her mother -once--"as if I don't know what my name is." And now here she -was; and all those messages. - -Miss Jerusha unbolted the door, slid back the great bar, opened the -upper half, and stood there. She was a big woman, with sharp -black eyes, and spectacles--over which she looked--which to Polly -was much worse, for that gave her four eyes. - -"Well, and what do you want?" she asked. - -"I came to see--I mean my ma sent me," stammered poor Polly. - -"And who is your ma?" demanded Miss Jerusha, as much like a -policeman as anything; "and where do you live?" - -"I live in Primrose Lane," replied Polly, wishing very much that -she was back there. - -"I don't want to know where you live, before I know who you are," -said Miss Jerusha; "you should answer the question I asked first; -always remember that." - -"My ma's Mrs. Pepper," said Polly. - -"Mrs. who?" repeated Miss Jerusha. - -By this time Polly was so worn that she came very near turning and -fleeing, but she thought of her mother's disappointment in her, and -the loss of the news, and stood quite still. - -"What is it, Jerusha?" a gentle voice here broke upon Polly's ear. - -"I don't know," responded Miss Jerusha, tartly, still holding the -door much as if Polly were a robber; "it's a little girl, and I can't -make out what she wants." - -"Why, it's Polly Pepper!" exclaimed Mrs. Henderson, pleasantly. -"Come in, child." She opened the other half of the big door, and -led the way through the wide hail into a big, old-fashioned room, -with painted floor, and high, old side-board, and some stiff-backed -rocking-chairs. - -Miss Jerusha stalked in also and seated herself by the window, and -began to knit. Polly had just opened her mouth to tell her errand, -when the door also opened suddenly and Mr. Henderson walked -in. - -"Oh!" said Polly, and then she stopped, and the color flushed up -into her face. - -"What is it, my dear?" and the minister took her hand kindly, and -looked down into her flushed face. - -"You are not going to have a fever, and be sick and die!" she cried. - -"I hope not, my little girl," he smiled back, encouragingly; and -then Polly gave her messages, which now she managed easily -enough. - -"There," broke in Miss Jerusha, "a cat can't sneeze in this town but -everybody'll know it in quarter of an hour." - -And then Mrs. Henderson took Polly out to see a brood of new -little chicks, that had just popped their heads out into the world; -and to Polly, down on her knees, admiring, the time passed very -swiftly indeed. - -"Now I must go, ma'am," she said at last, looking up into the lady's -face, regretfully, "for mammy didn't say I was to stay." - -"Very well, dear; do you think you could carry a little pat of -butter? I have some very nice my sister sent me, and I want your -mother to share it." - -"Oh, thank you, ma'am!" cried Polly, thinking, "how glad Davie'll -be, for he does so love butter! only"-- "Wait a bit, then," said Mrs. -Henderson, who didn't seem - -to notice the objection. So she went into the house, and Polly went -down again in admiration before the fascinating little puff-balls. - -But she was soon on the way, with a little pat of butter in a blue -bowl, tied over with a clean cloth; happy in her gift for mammy, -and in the knowledge of the minister being all well. - -"I wonder if Phronsie's awake," she thought to herself, turning in at -the little brown gate; "if she is, she shall have a piece of bread with -lots of butter." - -"Hush!" said Mrs. Pepper, from the rocking-chair in the middle of -the floor. She had something in her arms. Polly stopped suddenly, -almost letting the bowl fall. - -"It's Phronsie," said the mother, "and I don't know what the matter -is with her; you'll have to go for the doctor, Polly, and just as fast -as you can." - -Polly still stood, holding the bowl, and staring with all her might. -Phronsie sick! - -"Don't wake her," said Mrs. Pepper. - -Poor Polly couldn't have stirred to save her life, for a minute; then -she said--"Where shall I go?" - -"Oh, run to Dr. Fisher's; and don't be gone long." - -Polly set down the bowl of butter, and sped on the wings of the -wind for the doctor. Something dreadful was the matter, she felt, -for never had a physician been summoned to the hearty Pepper -family since she could remember, only when the father died. Fear -lent speed to her feet; and soon the doctor came, and bent over -poor little Phronsie, who still lay in her mother's arms, in a burning -fever. - -"It's measles," he pronounced, "that's all; no cause for alarm; you -ever had it?" he asked, turning suddenly around on Polly, who was -watching with wide-open eyes for the verdict. - -"No, sir," answered Polly, not knowing in the least what "measles" -was. - -"What shall we do!" said Mrs. Pepper; "there haven't any of them -had it." - -The doctor was over by the little old table under the window, -mixing up some black-looking stuff in a tumbler, and he didn't -hear her. - -"There," he said, putting a spoonful into Phronsie's mouth, "she'll -get along well enough; only keep her out of the cold." Then he -pulled out a big silver watch. He was a little thin man, and the -watch was immense. Polly for her life couldn't keep her eyes off -from it; if Ben could only have one so fine! - -"Polly," whispered Mrs. Pepper, "run and get my purse; it's in the -top bureau drawer." - -"Yes'm," said Polly, taking her eyes off, by a violent wrench, from -the fascinating watch; and she ran quickly and got the little old -stocking-leg, where the hard earnings that staid long enough to be -put anywhere, always found refuge. She put it into her mother's -lap, and watched while Mrs. Pepper counted out slowly one dollar -in small pieces. - -"Here sir," said Mrs. Pepper, holding them out towards the doctor; -"and thank you for coming." - -"Hey!" said the little man, spinning round; "that dollar's the -Lord's!" - -Mrs. Pepper looked bewildered, and still sat holding it out. "And -the Lord has given it to you to take care of these children with; see -that you do it." And without another word he was gone. - -"Wasn't he good, mammy?" asked Polly, after the first surprise was -over. - -"I'm sure he was," said Mrs. Pepper. "Well, tie it up again, Polly, -tie it up tight; we shall want it, I'm sure," sighing at her little sick -girl. - -"Mayn't I take Phronsie, ma?" asked Polly. - -"No, no," said Phronsie. She had got mammy, and she meant to -improve the privilege. - -"What is 'measles' anyway, mammy?" asked Polly, sitting down on -the floor at their feet. - -"Oh, 'tis something children always have," replied Mrs. Pepper; -"but I'm sure I hoped it wouldn't come just yet." - -"I sha'n't have it," said Polly, decisively; "I know I sha'n't! nor -Ben--nor Joe--nor--nor Davie--I guess," she added, hesitatingly, -for Davie was the delicate one of the family; at least not nearly so -strong as the others. - -Mrs. Pepper looked at her anxiously; but Polly seemed as bright -and healthy as ever, as she jumped up and ran to put the kettle on -the stove. - -"What'll the boys say, I wonder!" she thought to herself, feeling -quite important that they really had sickness in the house. As long -as Phronsie wasn't dangerous, it seemed quite like rich folks; and -she forgot the toil, and the grind of poverty. She looked out from -time to time as she passed the window, but no boys came. - -"I'll put her in bed, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, in a whisper, as -Phronsie closed her eyes and breathed regularly. - -"And then will you have your dinner, ma?" - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper, "I don't care--if the boys come." - -"The boys'll never come," said Polly, impatiently; "I don't -believe--why! here they are now!" - -"Oh, dear," said Joel, coming in crossly, "I'm so hungry--oh-- -butter! where'd you get it? I thought we never should get here!" - -"I thought so too," said Polly. "Hush! why, where's Ben?" - -"He's just back," began Joel, commencing to eat, "and Davie; -something is the matter with Ben--he says he feels funny." - -"Something the matter with Ben!" repeated Polly. She dropped the -cup she held, which broke in a dozen pieces. - -"Oh, whocky!" cried Joel; "see what you've done, Polly Pepper!" - -But Polly didn't hear; over the big, flat door-stone she sped, and -met Ben with little David, coming in the gate. His face was just -like Phronsie's! And with a cold, heavy feeling at her heart, Polly -realized that this was no play. - -"Oh, Ben!" she cried, ffinging her arms around his neck, and -bursting into tears; "don't! please--I wish you wouldn't; Phronsie's -got 'em, and that's enough!" - -"Got what?" asked Ben, while Davie's eyes grew to their widest -proportions. - -"Oh, measles!" cried Polly, bursting out afresh; "the hate-fullest, -horridest measles! and now you're taken!" - -"Oh no, I'm not," responded Ben, cheerfully, who knew what -measles were; "wipe up, Polly; I'm all right; only my head aches, -and my eyes feel funny." - -But Polly, only half-reassured, controlled her sobs; and the -sorrowful trio repaired to mother. - -"Oh, dear!" ejaculated Mrs. Pepper, sinking in a chair in dismay, at -sight of Ben's red face; "whatever'll we do now!" - -The prop and stay of her life would be taken away if Ben should be -laid aside. No more stray half or quarter dollars would come to -help her out when she didn't know where to turn. - -Polly cleared off the deserted table--for once Joel had all the bread -and butter he wanted. Ben took some of Phronsie's medicine, and -crawled up into the loft, to bed; and quiet settled down on the little -household. - -"Polly," whispered Ben, as she tucked him in, "it'll be hard -buckling-to now, for you, but I guess you'll do it." - -MORE TROUBLE - -"Oh, dear," said Polly to herself, the next morning, trying to get a -breakfast for the sick ones out of the inevitable mush; "everything's -just as bad as it can be! they can't ever eat this; I wish I had an -ocean of toast!" - -"Toast some of the bread in the pail, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper. - -She looked worn and worried; she had been up nearly all night, -back and forth from Ben's bed in the loft to restless, fretful little -Phronsie in the big four-poster in the bedroom; for Phronsie -wouldn't get into the crib. Polly had tried her best to help her, and -had rubbed her eyes diligently to keep awake, but she was wholly -unaccustomed to it, and her healthy, tired little body succumbed-- -and then when she awoke, shame and remorse filled her very heart. - -"That isn't nice, ma," she said, glancing at the poor old pail, which -she had brought out of the "Provision Room." "Old brown bread! I -want to fix 'em something nice." - -"Well, you can't, you know," said Mrs. Pepper, with a sigh; "but -you've got butter now; that'll be splendid!" - -"I know it," said Polly, running to the corner cupboard where the -precious morsel in the blue bowl remained; "whatever ~hou1d we -do without it, mummy?" - -"Do without it!" said Mrs. Pepper; "same's we have done." - -"Well, 'twas splendid in Mrs. Henderson to give it to us, anyway," -said Polly, longing for just one taste; "seems as if 'twas a year since -I was there--oh, ma!" and here Polly took up the thread that had -been so rudely snapped; "don't you think, she's got ten of the -prettiest--yes, the sweetest little chickens you ever saw! Why can't -we have some, mammy?" - -"Costs money," replied Mrs. Pepper. "We've got too many in the -house to have any outside." - -"Oh, dear," said Polly, with a red face that was toasting about as -much as the bread she was holding on the point of an old fork; "we -never have had anything. There," she added at last; "that's the best -I can do; now I'll put the butter on this little blue plate; ain't that -cunning, ma?" - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper, approvingly; "it takes you, Polly." So -Polly trotted first to Ben, up the crooked, low stairs to the loft; and -while she regaled him with the brown toast and butter, she kept her -tongue flying on the subject of the little chicks, and all that she -saw on the famous Henderson visit. Poor Ben pretended hard to -eat, but ate nothing really; and Polly saw it all, and it cut her to the -heart--so she talked faster than ever. - -"Now," she said, starting to go back to Phronsie; "Ben Pepper, just -as soon as you get well, we'll have some chickens--so there!" - -"Guess we sha'n't get 'em very soon," said Ben, despondently, "if -I've got to lie here; and, besides, Polly, you know every bit we can -save has got to go for the new stove." - -"Oh, dear," said Polly, "I forgot that; so it has; seems to me -everything's giving out!" - -"You can't bake any longer in the old thing," said Ben, turning over -and looking at her; "poor girl, I don't see how you've stood it so -long." - -"And we've been stuffing it," cried Polly merrily, "till 'twon't stuff -any more." - -"No," said Ben, turning back again, "that's all worn out." - -"Well, you must go to sleep," said Polly, "or mammy'll be up here; -and Phronsie hasn't had her breakfast either." - -Phronsie was wailing away dismally, sitting up in the middle of the -old bed. Her face pricked, she said, and she was rubbing it -vigorously with both fat little hands, and then crying worse than -ever. - -"Oh me! oh my!" cried Polly; "how you look, Phronsie!" - -"I want my mammy!" cried poor Phronsie. - -"Mammy can't come now, Phronsie dear; she's sewing. See what -Polly's got for you--butter: isn't that splendid!" - -Phronsie stopped for just one moment, and took a mouthful; but -the toast was hard and dry, and she cried harder than before. - -"Now," said Polly, curling up on the bed beside her, "if you'll stop -crying, Phronsie Pepper, I'll tell you about the cunningest, yes, the -very cunningest little chickens you ever saw. One was white, and -he looked just like this," said Polly, tumbling over on the bed in a -heap; "he couldn't stand up straight, he was so fat." - -"Did he biteP" asked Phronsie, full of interest. - -"No, he didn't bite me," said Polly; "but his mother put a bug in his -mouth--just as I'm doing you know," and she broke off a small -piece of the toast, put on a generous bit of butter, and held it over -Phronsie's mouth. - -"Did he swallow it?" asked the child, obediently opening her little -red lips. - -"Oh, snapped it," answered Polly, "quick as ever he could, I tell -you; but 'twasn't good like this, Phronsie." - -"Did he have two bugs?" asked Phronsie, eying suspiciously the -second morsel of dry toast that Polly was conveying to her mouth. - -"Well, he would have had," replied Polly, "if there'd been bugs -enough; but there were nine other chicks, Phronsie." - -"Poor chickies," said Phronsie, and looked lovingly at the rest of -the toast and butter on the plate; and while Polly fed it to her, -listened with absorbed interest to all the particulars concerning -each and every chick in the Henderson hen-coop. - -"Mother," said Polly, towards evening, "I'm going to sit up with -Ben to-night; say I may, do, mother." - -"Oh no, you can't," replied Mrs. Pepper; "you'll get worn out; and -then what shall I do? Joel can hand him his medicine." - -"Oh, Joe would tumble to sleep, mammy," said Polly, "the first -thing--let me." - -"Perhaps Phronsie'll let me go to-night," said Mrs. Pepper, -reflectively. - -"Oh, no she won't, I know," replied Polly, decisively; "she wants -you all the time." - -"I will, Polly," said Davie, coming in with an annful of wood, in -time to hear the conversation. "I'll give him his medicine, mayn't I, -mammy?" and David let down his load, and came over where his -mother and Polly sat sewing, to urge his rights. - -"I don't know," said his mother, smiling on him. "Can you, do you -think?" - -"Yes, ma'am!" said Davie, straightening himself up. - -When they told Ben, he said he knew a better way than for Davie -to watch; he'd have a string tied to Davie's arm, and the end he'd -hold in bed, and when 'twas time for medicine, he'd pull the string, -and that would wake Davie up! - -Polly didn't sleep much more on her shake-down on the floor than -if she had watched with Ben; for Phronsie cried and moaned, and -wanted a drink of water every two minutes, it seemed to her. As -she went back into her nest after one of these travels, Polly -thought: "Well, I don't care, if nobody else gets sick; if Ben'll only -get well. To-morrow I'm goin' to do mammy's sack she's begun for -Mr. Jackson; it's all plain sew-in', just like a bag; and I can do it, I -know----" and so she fell into a troubled sleep, only to be -awakened by Phronsie's fretful little voice: "I want a drink of -water, Polly, I do." - -"Don't she drink awfully, mammy?" asked Polly, after one of these -excursions out to the kitchen after the necessary draught. - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper; "and she mustn't have any more; 'twill -hurt her." But Phronsie fell into a delicious sleep after that, and -didn't want any more, luckily. - -"Here, Joe," said Mrs. Pepper, the next morning, "take this coat up -to Mr. Peterses; and be sure you get the money for it." - -"How'll I get it?" asked Joe, who didn't relish the long, hot walk. - -"Why, tell 'em we're sick--Ben's sick," added Mrs. Pepper, as the -most decisive thing; "and we must have it; and then wait for it." - -"Tisn't pleasant up at the Peterses," grumbled Joel, taking the -parcel and moving slowly off. - -"No, no, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, "you needn't do that," seeing -Polly take up some sewing after doing up the room and finishing -the semi-weekly bake; "you're all beat out with that tussle over the -stove; that sack'll have to go till next week." - -"It can't, mammy," said Polly, snipping off a basting thread; "we've -got to have the money; how much'll he give you for it?" - -"Thirty cents," replied Mrs. Pepper. - -"Well," said Poily, "we've got to get all the thirty centses we can, -mammy dear; and I know I can do it, truly--try me once," she -implored. - -"Well." Mrs. Pepper relented, slowly. - -"Don't feel bad, mammy dear," comforted Polly, sewing away -briskly; "Ben'll get well pretty soon, and then we'll be all right." - -"Maybe," said Mrs. Pepper; and went back to Phronsie, who could -scarcely let her out of her sight. - -Polly stitched away bravely. "Now if I do this good, mammy'll let -me do it other times," she said to herself. - -Davie, too, worked patiently out of doors, trying to do Ben's -chores. The little fellow blundered over things that Ben would -have accomplished in half the time, and he had to sit down often -on the steps of the little old shed where the tools were kept, to -wipe his hot face and rest. - -"Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, "hadn't you better stop a little? Dear me! -how fast you sew, child!" - -Polly gave a delighted little hum at her mother's evident approval. - -"I'm going to do 'em all next week, mammy," she said; "then Mr. -Atkins won't take 'em away from us, I guess." - -Mr. Atkins kept the store, and gave out coats and sacks of coarse -linen and homespun to Mrs. Pepper to make; and it was the fear of -losing the work that had made the mother's heart sink. - -"I don't believe anybody's got such children as I have," she said; -and she gave Polly a motherly little pat that the little daughter felt -clear to the tips of her toes with a thrill of delight. - -About half-past two, long after dinner, Joe came walking in, -hungry as a beaver, but flushed and triumphant. - -"Why, where have you been all this time?" asked his mother. - -"Oh, Joe, you didn't stop to play?" asked Polly, from her perch -where she sat sewing, giving him a reproachful glance. - -"Stop to play!" retorted Joe, indignantly; "no, I guess I didn't! I've -been to Old Peterses." - -"Not all this time!" exclaimed Mrs. Pepper. - -"Yes, I have too," replied Joel, sturdily marching up to her. "And -there's your money, mother;" and he counted out a quarter of a -dollar in silver pieces and pennies, which he took from a dingy -wad of paper, stowed away in the depths of his pocket. - -"Oh, Joe," said Mrs. Pepper, sinking back in her chair and looking -at him; "what do you mean?" - -Polly put her work in her lap, and waited to hear. - -"Where's my dinner, Polly?" asked Joel; "I hope it's a big one. - -"Yes, 'tis," said Polly; "you've got lots to-day, it's in the corner of -the cupboard, covered up with the plate--so tell on, Joe." - -"That's elegant!" said Joel, coming back with the well-filled plate, -Ben's and his own share. - -"Do tell us, Joey," implored Polly; "mother's waiting." - -"Well," said Joel, his mouth half full, "I waited--and he said the -coat was all right;--and---and--Mrs. Peters said 'twas all right;--and -Mirandy Peters said 'twas all right; but they didn't any of 'em say -anythin' about payin', so I didn't think 'twas all right--and--and-- -can't I have some more butter, Polly?" - -"No," said Polly, sorry to refuse him, he'd been so good about the -money; "the butter's got to be saved for Ben and Phronsie." - -"Oh," said Joe, "I wish Miss Henderson would send us some more, -I do! I think she might!" - -"For shame, Joe," said Mrs. Pepper; "she was very good to send -this, I think; now what else did you say?" she asked. - -"Well," said Joel, taking another mouthful of bread, "so I waited; -you told me to, mother, you know--and they all went to work; and -they didn't mind me at all, and--there wasn't anything to look at, so -I sat--and sat--Polly, can't I have some gingerbread?" - -"No," said Polly, "it's all gone; I gave the last piece to Phronsie the -day she was taken sick." - -"Oh, dear," said Joel, "everything's gone." - -"Well, do go on, Joe, do." - -"And--then they had dinner; and Mr. Peters said, 'Hasn't that boy -gone home yet?' and Mrs. Peters said, 'no'--and he called me in, -and asked me why I didn't run along home; and I said, Phronsie -was sick, and Ben had the squeezles----" - -"The what?" said Polly. - -"The squeezles," repeated Joel, irritably; "that's what you said." - -"It's measles, Joey," corrected Mrs. Pepper; "never mind, I -wouldn't feel bad." - -"Well, they all laughed, and laughed, and then I said you told me -to wait till I diii get the money." - -"Oh, Joe," began Mrs. Pepper, "you shouldn't have told 'em -so--what did he say?" - -"Well, he laughed, and said I was a smart boy, and he'd see; and -Mirandy said, 'do pay him, pa, he must be tired to death'--and don't -you think, he went to a big desk in the corner, and took out a box, -and 'twas full most of money-- lots! oh! and he gave me -mine--and--that's all; and I'm tired to death." And Joel flung -himself down on the floor, expanded his legs as only Joel could, -and took a comfortable roll. - -"So you must be," said Polly, pityingly, "waiting at those Peterses." - -"Don't ever want to see any more Feterses," said Joel; never, never, -never! - -"Oh, dear," thought Polly, as she sewed on into the afternoon, "I -wonder what does all my eyes! feels just like sand in 'em;" and she -rubbed and rubbed to thread her needle. But she was afraid her -mother would see, so she kept at her sewing. Once in awhile the -bad feeling would go away, and then she would forget all about it. -"There now, who says I can't do it! that's most done," she cried, -jumping up, and spinning across the room, to stretch herself a bit, -"and to-morrow I'll finish it." - -"Well," said Mrs. Pepper, "if you can do that, Polly, you'll be the -greatest help I've had yet." - -So Polly tucked herself into the old shake-down with a thankful -heart that night, hoping for morning. - -Alas! when morning did come, Polly could hardly move. The -measles! what should she do! A faint hope of driving them off -made her tumble out of bed, and stagger across the room to look in -the old cracked looking-glass. All hope was gone as the red -reflection met her gaze. Polly was on the sick list now! - -"I won't be sick," she said; "at any rate, I'll keep around." An awful -feeling made her clutch the back of a chair, but she managed -somehow to get into her clothes, and go groping blindly into the -kitchen. Somehow, Polly couldn't see very well. She tried to set the -table, but 'twas no use. "Oh, dear," she thought, "whatever'll -mammy do?" - -"Hulloa!" said Joel, coming in, "what's the matter, Polly?" Polly -started at his sudden entrance, and, wavering a minute, fell over in -a heap. - -"Oh ma! ma!" screamed Joel, running to the foot of the stairs -leading to the loft, where Mrs. Pepper was with Ben; "something's -taken Polly! and she fell; and I guess she's in the wood-box!" - -HARD DAYS FOR POLLY - -"Ma," said David, coming softly into the bedroom, where poor -Polly lay on the bed with Phronsie, her eyes bandaged with a soft -old handkerchief, "I'll set the table." - -"There isn't any table to set," said Mrs. Pepper, sadly; "there isn't -anybody to eat anything, Davie; you and Joel can get something -out of the cupboard." - -"Can we get whatever we've a mind to, ma?" cried Joel, who -followed Davie, rubbing his face with a towel after his morning -ablutions. - -"Yes," replied his mother, absently. - -"Come on, Dave!" cried Joel; "we'll have a breakfast!" - -"We mustn't," said little Davie, doubtfully, "eat the whole, Joey." - -But that individual already had his head in the cupboard, which -soon engrossed them both. - -Dr. Fisher was called in the middle of the morning to see what was -the matter with Polly's eyes. The little man looked at her keenly -over his spectacles; then he said, "When were you taken?" - -"This morning," answered Polly, her eyes smarting. - -"Didn't you feel badly before?" questioned the doctor. Polly -thought back; and then she remembered that she had felt very -badly; that when she was baking over the old stove the day before -her back had ached dreadfully; and that, somehow, when she sat -down to sew, it didn't stop; only her eyes had bothered her so; she -didn't mind her back so much. - -"I thought so," said the doctor, when Polly answered. "And those -eyes of yours have been used too much; what has she been doing, -ma'am?" He turned around sharply on Mrs. Pepper as he asked -this. - -"Sewing," said Mrs. Pepper, "and everything; Polly does -everything, sir." - -"Humphl" said the doctor; "well, she won't again in one spell; her -eyes are very bad." - -At this a whoop, small but terrible to hear, came from the middle -of the bed; and Phronsie sat bolt upright. Everybody started; while -Phronsie broke out, "Don't make my Polly sick! oh! please don't!" - -"Hey!" said the doctor; and he looked kindly at the small object -with a very red face in the middle of the bed. Then he added, -gently, "We're going to make Polly well, little girl; so that she can -see splendidly." - -"Will you, really?" asked the child, doubtfully. - -"Yes," said the doctor; "we'll try hard; and you mustn't cry; 'cause -then Polly'll cry, and that will make her eyes very bad; very bad -indeed," he repeated, impressively. - -"I won't cry," said Phronsie; "no, not one bit." And she wiped off -the last tear with her fat little hand, and watched to see what next -was to be done. - - - -And Polly was left, very rebellious indeed, in the big bed, with a -cooling lotion on the poor eyes, that somehow didn't cool them one -bit. - -"If 'twas anythin' but my eyes, mammy, I could stand it," she -bewailed, flouncing over and over in her impatience; "and who'll -do all the work now?" - -"Don't think of the work, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper. - -"I can't do anything but think," said poor Polly. - -Just at that moment a queer noise out in the kitchen was heard. - -"Do go out, mother, and see what 'tis," said Polly. - -"I've come," said a cracked voice, close up by the bedroom door, -followed by a big black cap, which could belong to no other than -Grandma Bascom, "to set by you a spell; what's the matter?" she -asked, and stopped, amazed to see Polly in bed. - -"Oh, Polly's taken," screamed Mrs. Pepper in her ear. - -"Taken!" repeated the old lady, "what is it--a fit?" - -"No," said Mrs. Pepper; "the same as Ben's got; and Phronsie; the -measles." - -"The measles, has she?" said grandma; "well, that's bad; and Ben's -away, you say." - -"No, he isn't either," screamed Mrs. Pepper, "he's got them, too!" - -"Got two what?" asked grandma. - -"Measles! he's got the measles too," repeated Mrs. Pepper, loud as -she could; so loud that the old lady's cap trembled at the noise. - -"Oh! the dreadful!" said grandma; "and this girl too?" laying her -hand on Phronsie's head. - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper, feeling it a little relief to tell over her -miseries; "all three of them!" - -"I haven't," said Joel, coming in in hopes that grandma had a stray -peppermint or two in her pocket, as she sometimes did; "and I'm -not going to, either." - -"Oh, dear," groaned his mother; "that's what Polly said; and she's -got 'em bad. It's her eyes," she screamed to grandma, who looked -inquiringly. - -"Her eyes, is it?" asked Mrs. Bascom; "well, I've got a receet that -cousin Samanthy's folks had when John's children had 'em; and I'll -run right along home and get it," and she started to go. - -"No, you needn't," screamed Mrs. Pepper; "thank you, Mrs. -Bascom; but Dr. Fisher's been here; and he put something on -Polly's eyes; and he said it mustn't be touched." - -"Hey?" said the old lady; so Mrs. Pepper had to go all over it again, -till at last she made her understand that Polly's eyes were taken -care of, and they must wait for time to do the rest. - -"You come along of me," whispered grandma, when at last her call -was done, to Joel who stood by the door. "I've got some -peppermints to home; I forgot to bring 'em." - -"Yes'm," said Joel, brightening up. - -"Where you going, Joe?" asked Mrs. Pepper, seeing him move off -with Mrs. Bascom; "I may want you." - -"Oh, I've got to go over to grandma's," said Joel briskly; "she wants -me." - -"Well, don't be gone long then," replied his mother. - -"There," said grandma, going into her "keeping-room" to an -old-fashioned chest of drawers; opening one, she took therefrom a -paper, from which she shook out before Joe's delighted eyes some -red and white peppermint drops. "There now, you take these home; -you may have some, but be sure you give the most to the sick ones; -and Polly--let Polly have the biggest." - -"She won't take 'em," said Joel, wishing he had the measles. "Well, -you try her," said grandma; "run along now." But it was useless to -tell Joel that, for he was half-way home already. He carried out -grandma's wishes, and distributed conscientiously the precious -drops. But when he came to Polly, she didn't answer; and looking -at her in surprise he saw two big tears rolling out under the -bandage and wetting the pillow. - -"I don't want 'em, Joe," said Polly, when he made her understand -that "twas peppermints, real peppermints;" "you may have 'em." - -"Try one, Polly; they're real good," said Joel, who had an -undefined -wish to comfort; "there, open your mouth." - -So Polly opened her mouth, and Joel put one in with satisfaction. - -"Isn't it good?" he asked, watching her crunch it. - -"Yes," said Polly, "real good; where'd you get 'em?" - -"Over to Grandma Bascom's," said Joel; "she gave me lots for all -of us; have another, Polly?" - -"No," said Polly, "not yet; you put two on my pillow where I can -reach 'em; and then you keep the rest, Joel." - -"I'll put three," said Joel, counting out one red and two white ones, -and laying them on the pillow; "there!" - -"And I want another, Joey, I do," said Phronsie from the other side -of the bed. - -"Well, you may have one," said Joel; "a red one, Phronsie; yes, you -may have two. Now come on, Dave; we'll have the rest out by the -wood-pile." - -How they ever got through that day, I don't know. But late in the -afternoon carriage wheels were heard; and then they stopped right -at the Peppers' little brown gate. - -"Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, running to the bedroom door, "it's Mrs. -Henderson!" - -"Is it?" said Polly, from the darkened room, "oh! I'm so glad! is -Miss Jerushy with her?" she asked, fearfully. - -"No," said Mrs. Pepper, going back to ascertain; "why, it's the -parson himself! Deary! how we look!" - -"Never mind, mammy," called back Polly, longing to spring out of -bed and fix up a bit. - -"I'm sorry to hear the children are sick," said Mrs. Henderson, -coming in, in her sweet, gentle way. - -"We didn't know it," said the minister, "until this morning--can we -see them?" - -"Oh yes, sir," said Mrs. Pepper; "Ben's upstairs; and Polly and -Phronsie are in here." - -"Poor little things!" said Mrs. Henderson, compassionately; "hadn't -you better," turning to the minister, "go up and see Ben first, while -I will visit the little girls?" - -So the minister mounted the crooked stairs; and Mrs. Henderson -went straight up to Polly's side; and the first thing Polly knew, a -cool, gentle hand was laid on her hot head, and a voice said, "I've -come to see my little chicken now I" - -"Oh, ma'am," said Polly, bursting into a sob, "I don't care about my -eyes--only maminy--" and she broke right down. - -"I know," said the minister's wife, soothingly; "but it's for you to -bear patiently, Polly--what do you suppose the chicks were doing -when I came away?" And Mrs. Henderson, while she held Polly's -hand, smiled and nodded encouragingly to Phronsie, who was -staring at her from the other side of the bed. - -"I don't know, ma'am," said Polly; "please tell us." - -"Well, they were all fighting over a grasshopper--yes, ten of them." - -"Which one got it?" asked Polly in intense interest; "oh! I hope the -white one did!" - -"Well, he looked as much like winning as any of them," said the -lady, laughing. - -"Bless her!" thought Mrs. Pepper to herself out in the kitchen, -finishing the sack Polly had left; "she's a parson's wife, I say!" - -And then the minister came down from Ben's room, and went into -the bedroom; and Mrs. Henderson went up-stairs into the loft. - -"So," he said kindly, as after patting Phronsie's head he came over -and sat down by Polly, "this is the little girl who came to see me -when I was sick." - -"Oh, sir," said Polly, "I'm so glad you wasn't!" - -"Well, when I come again," said Mr. Henderson, rising after a -merry chat, "I see I shall have to slip a book into my pocket, and -read for those poor eyes." - -"Oh, thank you!" cried Polly; and then she stopped and blushed. - -"Well, what is it?" asked the minister, encouragingly. - -"Ben loves to hear reading," said Polly. - -"Does he? well, by that time, my little girl, I guess Ben will be -down-stairs; he's all right, Polly; don't you worry about him--and -I'll sit in the kitchen, by the bedroom door, and you can hear -nicely." - -So the Hendersons went away. But somehow, before they went, a -good many things found their way out of the old-fashioned chaise -into the Peppers' little kitchen. - -But Polly's eyes didn't get any better, with all the care; and the -lines of worry on Mrs. Pepper's face grew deeper and deeper. At -last, she just confronted Dr. Fisher in the kitchen, one day after his -visit to Polly, and boldly asked him if they ever could be cured. "I -know she's--and there isn't any use keeping it from me," said the -poor woman--"she's going to be stone-blind!" - -"My good woman"--Dr. Fisher's voice was very gentle; and he took -the hard, brown hand in his own--"your little girl will not be blind; -I tell you the truth; but it will take some time to make her eyes -quite strong--time, and rest. She has strained them in some way, -but she will come out of it." - -"Praise the Lord!" cried Mrs. Pepper, throwing her apron over her -head; and then she sobbed on, "and thank you, sir--I can't ever -thank you--for--for--if Polly was blind, we might as well give up!" - -The next day, Phronsie, who had the doctor's permission to sit up, -only she was to be kept from taking cold, scampered around in -stocking-feet in search of her shoes, which she hadn't seen since -she was first taken sick. - -"Oh, I want on my very best shoes," she cried; "can't I, mammy?" - -"Oh, no, Phronsie; you must keep them nice," remonstrated her -mother; "you can't wear 'em every-day, you know." - -"'Tisn't every-day," said Phronsie, slowly; it's only one day." - -"Well, and then you'll want 'em on again tomorrow," said her -mother. - -"Oh, no, I won't!" cried Phronsie; "never, no more to-morrow, if I -can have 'em to-day; please, mammy dear!" - -Mrs. Pepper went to the lowest drawer in the high bureau, and -took therefrom a small parcel done up in white tissue paper. -Slowly unrolling this before the delighted eyes of the child, who -stood patiently waiting, she disclosed the precious red-topped -shoes which Phronsie immediately clasped to her bosom. - -"My own, very own shoes! whole mine!" she cried, and trudged out -into the kitchen to put them on herself. - -"Hulloa!" cried Dr. Fisher, coming in about a quarter of an hour -later to find her tugging laboriously at the buttons-- "new shoes! I -declare!" - -"My own!" cried Phronsie, sticking out one foot for inspection, -where every button was in the wrong button-hole, "and they've got -red tops, too!" - -"So they have," said the doctor, getting down on the floor beside -her; "beautiful red tops, aren't they?" - -"Be-yew-ti-ful," sang the child delightedly. - -"Does Polly have new shoes every day?" asked the doctor in a iow -voice, pretending to examine the other foot. - -Phronsie opened her eyes very wide at this. - -"Oh, no, she don't have anything, Polly don't." - -"And what does Polly want most of all--do you know? see if you -can tell me." And the doctor put on the most alluring expression -that he could muster. - -"Oh, I know!" cried Phronsie, with a very wise look. "There now," -cried the doctor, "you're the girl for me! to think you know! so, -what is it?" - -Phronsie got up very gravely, and with one shoe half on, she -leaned over and whispered in the doctor's ear: - -"A stove!" - -"A what?" said the doctor, looking at her, and then at the old, black -thing in the corner, that looked as if it were ashamed of itself; -"why, she's got one." - -"Oh," said the child, "it won't burn; and sometimes Polly cries, she -does, when she's all alone--and I see her." - -"Now," said the doctor, very sympathetically, "that's too bad; that -is! and then what does she do?" - -"Oh, Ben stuffs it up," said the child, laughing; "and so does Polly -too, with paper; and then it all tumbles out quick; oh! just as -quick!" And Phronsie shook her yellow head at the dismal -remembrance. - -"Do you suppose," said the doctor, getting up, "that you know of -any smart little girl around here, about four years old and that -knows how to button on her own red-topped shoes, that would like -to go to ride to-morrow morning in my carriage with me? - -"Oh, I do!" cried Phronsie, hopping on one toe; "it's me!" - -"Very well, then," said Dr. Fisher, going to the bedroom door, -"we'll lookout for to-morrow, then." - -To poor Polly, lying in the darkened room, or sitting up in the big -rocking-chair--for Polly wasn't really very sick in other respects, -the disease having all gone into the merry brown eyes--the time -seemed interminable. Not to do anything! The very idea at any -time would have filled her active, wide-awake little body with -horror; and now, here she was! - -"Oh, dear, I can't bear it!" she said, when she knew by the noise in -the kitchen that everybody was out there; so nobody heard, except -a fat, old black spider in the corner, and he didn't tell anyone! - -"I know it's a week," she said, "since dinnertime! If Ben were only -well, to talk to me." - -"Oh, I say, Polly," screamed Joel at that moment running in, "Ben's -a-comin' down the stairs!" - -"Stop, Joe," said Mrs. Pepper; "you shouldn't have told; he wanted -to surprise Polly." - -"Oh, is he!" cried Polly, clasping her hands in rapture; "mainmy, -can't! take off this horrid bandage, and see him?" - -"Dear me, no!" said Mrs. Pepper, springing forward; "not for the -world, Polly! Dr. Fisher'd have our ears off!" - -"Well, I can hear, any way," said Polly, resigning herself to the -remaining comfort; "here he is! oh, Ben!" - -"There," said Ben, grasping Polly, bandage and all; "now we're all -right; and! say, Polly, you're a brick!" - -"Mammy told me not to say that the other day," said Joel, with a -very virtuous air. - -"Can't help it," said Ben, who was a little wild over Polly, and -besides, he had been sick himself, and had borne a good deal too. - -"Now," said Mrs. Pepper, after the first excitement was over, -"you're so comfortable together, and Phronsie don't want me now, -I'll go to the store; I must get some more work if Mr. Atkins'll give -it to me." - -"I'll be all right now, mammy, that Ben's here," cried Polly, settling -back into her chair, with Phronsie on the stool at her feet. - -"I'm goin' to tell her stories, ma," cried Ben, "so you needn't worry -about us." - -"Isn't it funny, Ben," said Polly, as the gate clicked after the -mother, "to be sitting still, and telling stories in the daytime?" - -"Rather funny!" replied Ben. - -"Well, do go on," said Joel, as usual, rolling on the floor, in a -dreadful hurry for the story to begin. Little David looked up -quietly, as he sat on Ben's other side, his hands clasped tight -together, just as eager, though he said nothing. - -"Well; once upon a time," began Ben delightfully, and launched -into one of the stories that the children thought perfectly lovely. - -"Oh, Bensie," cried Polly, entranced, as they listened with bated -breath, "however do you think of such nice things!" - -"I've had time enough to think, the last week," said Ben, laughing, -"to last a life-time!" - -"Do go on," put in Joel, impatient at the delay. - -"Don't hurry him so," said Polly, reprovingly; "he isn't strong." - -"Ben," said David, drawing a long breath, his eyes very big--."did -he really see a bear?" - -"No," said Ben; "oh! where was I?" - -"Why, you said Tommy heard a noise," said Polly, "and he thought -it was a bear." - -"Oh, yes," said Ben; "I remember; 'twasn't a--" - -"Oh, make it a bear, Ben!" cried Joel, terribly disappointed; "don't -let it be not a bear." - -"Why, I can't," said Ben; "twouldn't sound true." - -"Never mind, make it sound true," insisted Joel; "you can make -anything true." - -"Very well," said Ben, laughing; "I suppose I must." - -"Make it two bears, Ben," begged little Phronsie. - -"Oh, no, Phronsie, that's too much," cried Joel; "that'll spoil it; but -make it a big bear, do Ben, and have him bite him somewhere, and -most kill him." - -"Oh, Joel!" cried Polly, while David's eyes got bigger than ever. - -So Ben drew upon his powers as story-teller, to suit his exacting -audience, and was making his bear work havoc upon poor Tommy -in a way captivating to all, even Joel, when---- "Well, I declare," -sounded Mrs. Pepper's cheery voice coming in upon them, "if this -isn't comfortable!" - -"Oh, mammy!" cried Phronsie, jumping out of Polly's arms, -whither she had taken refuge during the thrilling tale, and running -to her mother who gathered her baby up, "we've had a bear! a real, -live bear, we have! Ben made him!" - -"Have you!" said Mrs. Pepper, taking off her shawl, and laying her -parcel of work down on the table, "now, that's nice!" - -"Oh, mammy!" cried Polly, "it does seem so good to be all together -again!" - -"And I thank the Lord!" said Mrs. Pepper, looking down on her -happy little group; and the tears were in her eyes-- "and children, -we ought to be very good and please Him, for He's been so good to -us." - -THE CLOUD OVER THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE - -When Phronsie, with many crows of delight, and much chattering, -had gotten fairly started the following morning on her -much-anticipated drive with the doctor, the whole family -excepting Polly drawn up around the door to see them off, Mrs. -Pepper resolved to snatch the time and run down for an hour or -two to one of her customers who had long been waiting for a little -"tailoring" to be done for her boys. - -"Now, Joel," she said, putting on her bonnet before the cracked -looking-glass, "you stay along of Polly; Ben must go up to bed, the -doctor said; and Davie's going to the store for some molasses; so -you and Polly must keep house." - -"Yes'm," said Joel; "may I have somethin' to eat, ma?" - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper; "but don't you eat the new bread; you may -have as much as you want of the old." - -"Isn't there any molasses, mammy?" asked Joel, as she bade Polly -good-bye! and gave her numberless charges "to be careful of your -eyes," and "not to let a crack of light in through the curtain," as the -old green paper shade was called. - -"No; if you're very hungry, you can eat bread," said Mrs. Pepper, -sensibly. - -"Joel," said Polly, after the mother had gone, "I do wish you could -read to me." - -"Well, I can't," said Joel, glad he didn't know how; "I thought the -minister was comin'." - -"Well, he was," said Polly, "but mammy said he had to go out of -town to a consequence." - -"A what!" asked Joel, very much impressed. - -"A con--" repeated Polly. "Well, it began with a con--and I am -sure--yes, very sure it was consequence." - -"That must be splendid," said Joel, coming up to her chair, and -slowly drawing a string he held in his hand back and forth, "to go -to consequences, and everything! When I'm a man, Polly Pepper, -I'm going to be a minister, and have a nice time, and go--just -everywhere!" - -"Oh, Joel!" exclaimed Polly, quite shocked; "you couldn't be one; -you aren't good enough." - -"I don't care," said Joel, not at all dashed by her plainness, "I'll be -good then--when I'm a big man; don't you suppose, Polly," as a -new idea struck him, "that Mr. Henderson ever is naughty?" - -"No," said Polly, very decidedly; "never, never, never!" - -"Then, I don't want to be one," said Joel, veering round with a sigh -of relief, "and besides I'd rather have a pair of horses like Mr. -Slocum's, and then I could go everywheres, I guess!" - -"And sell tin?" asked Polly, "just like Mr. Slocum?" - -"Yes," said Joel; "this is the way I'd go--Gee-whop! gee-whoa!" -and Joel pranced with his imaginary steeds all around the room, -making about as much noise as any other four boys, as he brought -up occasionally against the four-poster or the high old bureau. - -"Well!" said a voice close up by Polly's chair, that made her skip -with apprehension, it was so like Miss Jerusha Henderson's--Joel -was whooping away behind the bedstead to his horses that had -become seriously entangled, so he didn't hear anything. But when -Polly said, bashfully, "I can't see anything, ma'am," he came up red -and shining to the surface, and stared with all his might. - -"I came to see you, little girl," said Miss Jerusha severely, seating -herself stiffly by Polly's side. - -"Thank you, ma'am," said Polly, faintly. - -"Who's this boy?" asked the lady, turning around squarely on Joel, -and eying him from head to foot. - -"He's my brother Joel," said Polly. - -Joel still stared. - -"Which brother?" pursued Miss Jerusha, like a census-taker. - -"He is next to me," said Polly, wishing her mother was home; "he's -nine, Joel is." - -"He's big enough to do something to help his mother," said Miss -Jerusha, looking him through and through. "Don't you think you -might do something, when the others are sick, and your poor -mother is working so hard?" she continued, in a cold voice. - -"I do something," blurted out Joel, sturdily, "lots and lots!" - -"You shouldn't say 'lots," reproved Miss Jerusha, with a sharp look -over her spectacles, "tisn't proper for boys to talk so; what do you -do all day long?" she asked, turning back to Polly, after a withering -glance at Joel, who still stared. - -"I can't do anything, ma'am," replied Polly, sadly, "I can't see to do -anything." - -"Well, you might knit, I should think," said her visitor, "it's -dreadful for a girl as big as you are to sit all day idle; I had sore -eyes once when I was a little girl--how old are you?" she asked, -abruptly. - -"Eleven last month," said Polly. - -"Well, I wasn't only nine when I knit a stocking; and I had sore -eyes, too; you see I was a very little girl, and--" - -"Was you ever little?" interrupted Joel, in extreme incredulity, -drawing near, and looking over the big square figure. - -"Hey?" said Miss Jerusha; so Joel repeated his question before -Polly could stop him. - -"Of course," answered Miss Jerusha; and then she added, tartly, -"little boys shouldn't speak unless they're spoken to. Now," and she -turned back to Polly again, "didn't you ever knit a stocking?" - -"No, ma'am," said Polly, "not a whole one." - -"Dear me!" exclaimed Miss Jerusha; "did I ever!" And she raised -her black mitts in intense disdain. "A big girl like you never to knit -a stocking! to think your mother should bring you up so! and--" - -"She didn't bring us up," screamed Joel, in indignation, facing her -with blazing eyes. - -"Joel," said Polly, "be still." - -"And you're very impertinent, too," said Miss Jerusha; "a good -child never is impertinent." - -Polly sat quite still; and Miss Jerusha continued: - -"Now, I hope you will learn to be industrious; and when I come -again, I will see what you have done." - -"You aren't ever coming again," said Joel, defiantly; "no, never!" - -"Joel!" implored Polly, and in her distress she pulled up her -bandage as she looked at him; "you know mammy'll be so sorry at -you! Oh, ma'am, and" she turned to Miss Jerusha, who was now -thoroughly aroused to the duty she saw before her of doing these -children good, "I don't know what is the reason, ma'am; Joel never -talks so; he's real good; and--" - -"It only shows," said the lady, seeing her way quite clear for a little -exhortation, "that you've all had your own way from infancy; and -that you don't do what you might to make your mother's life a -happy one." - -"Oh, ma'am," cried Polly, and she burst into a flood of tears, -"please, please don't say that!" - -"And I say," screamed Joel, stamping his small foot, "if you make -Polly cry you'll kill her! Don't Polly, don't!" and the boy put both -arms around her neck, and soothed and comforted her in every way -he could think of. And Miss Jerusha, seeing no way to make -herself heard, disappeared feeling pity for children who would turn -away from good advice. - -But still Polly cried On; all the pent-up feelings that had been so -long controlled had free vent now. She really couldn't stop! Joel, -frightened to death, at last said, "I'm going to wake up Ben." - -That brought Polly to; and she sobbed out, "Oh, no, Jo--ey--I'll -stop." - -"I will," said Joel, seeing his advantage; "I'm going, Polly," and he -started to the foot of the stairs. - -"No, I'm done now, Joe," said Polly, wiping her eyes, and choking -back her thoughts--"oh, Joe! I must scream! my eyes aches so!" -and poor Polly fairly writhed all over the chair. - -"What'll I do?" said Joel, at his wits' end, running back, "do you -want some water?" - -"Oh, no," gasped Polly; "doctor wouldn't let me; oh! I wish -mammy'd come!" - -"I'll go and look for her," suggested Joel, feeling as if he must do -something; and he'd rather be out at the gate, than to see Polly -suffer. - -"That won't bring her," said Polly; trying to keep still; "I'll try to -wait." - -"Here she is now!" cried Joel, peeping out of the window; "oh! -goody!" - -JOEL'S TURN - -"Well"--Mrs. Pepper's tone was unusually blithe as she stepped -into the kitchen--"you've had a nice time, I suppose--what in the -world!" and she stopped at the bedroom door. - -"Oh, mammy, if you'd been here!" said Joel, while Polly sat still, -only holding on to her eyes as if they were going to fly out; "there's -been a big woman here; she came right in--and she talked awfully! -and Polly's been a-cryin', and her eyes ache dreadfully--and"-- -"Been crying!" repeated Mrs. Pepper, coming up to poor - -Polly. "Polly been crying!" she still repeated. - -"Oh, mammy, I couldn't help it," said Polly; "she said"-- and in -spite of all she could do, the rain of tears began again, which bade -fair to be as uncontrolled as before. But Mrs. Pepper took her up -firmly in her arms, as if she were Phronsie, and sat down in the old -rocking-chair and just patted her back. - -"There, there," she whispered, soothingly, "don't think of it, Polly; -mother's got home." - -"Oh, mammy," said Polly, crawling up to the comfortable neck for -protection, "I ought not to mind; but 'twas Miss Jerusha -Henderson; and she said--" - -"What did she say?" asked Mrs. Pepper, thinking perhaps it to be -the wiser thing to let Polly free her mind. - -"Oh, she said that we ought to be doing something; and I ought to -knit, and"-- "Go on," said her mother. - -"And then Joel got naughty; oh, mammy, he never did so before; -and I couldn't stop him," cried Polly, in great distress; "I really -couldn't, mammy--and he talked to her; and he told her she wasn't -ever coming here again." - -"Joel shouldn't have said that," said Mrs. Pepper, and under her -breath something was added that Polly even failed to hear--"but no -more she isn't!" - -"And, mammy," cried Polly--and she flung her arms around her -mother's neck and gave her a grasp that nearly choked Mrs. -Pepper, "ain't I helpin' you some, mammy? Oh! I wish I could do -something big for you? Ain't you happy, mammy?" - -"For the land's sakes!" cried Mrs. Pepper, straining Polly to her -heart, "whatever has that woman--whatever could she have said to -you? Such a girl as you are, too!" cried Mrs. Pepper, hugging Polly, -and covering her with kisses so tender, that Polly, warmed and -cuddled up to her heart's content, was comforted to the full. - -"Well," said Mrs. Pepper, when at last she thought she had formed -between Polly and Joel about the right idea of the visit, "well, now -we won't think of it, ever any more; 'tisn't worth it, Polly, you -know." - -But poor Polly! and poor mother! They both were obliged to think -of it. Nothing could avert the suffering of the next few days, -caused by that long flow of burning tears. - -"Nothing feels good on 'em, mammy," said Polly, at last, twisting -her hands in the vain attempt to keep from rubbing the aching, -inflamed eyes that drove her nearly wild with their itching, "there -isn't any use in trying anything." - -"There will be use," energetically protested Mrs. Pepper, bringing -another cool bandage, "as long as you've got an eye in your head, -Polly Pepper!" - -Dr. Fisher's face, when he first saw the change that the fateful visit -had wrought, and heard the accounts, was very grave indeed. -Everything had been so encouraging on his last visit, that he had -come very near promising Polly speedy freedom from the hateful -bandage. - -But the little Pepper household soon had something else to think of -more important even than Polly's eyes, for now the heartiest, the -jolliest of all the little group was down-- Joel. How he fell sick, -they scarcely knew, it all came so suddenly. The poor, bewildered -family had hardly time to think, before delirium and, perhaps, -death stared them in the face. - -When Polly first heard it, by Phronsie's pattering downstairs and -screaming: "Oh, Polly, Joey's dre-ad-ful sick, he is!" she jumped -right up, and tore off the bandage. - -"Now, I will help mother! I will, so there!" and in another minute -she would have been up in the sick room. But the first thing she -knew, a gentle but firm hand was laid upon hers; and she found -herself back again in the old rocking-chair, and listening to the -Doctor's words which were quite stern and decisive. - -"Now, I tell you," he said, "you must not take off that bandage -again; do you know the consequences? You will be blind! and then -you will be a care to your mother all your life!" - -"I shall be blind, anyway," said Polly, despairingly; "so 'twon't -make any difference." - -"No; your eyes will come out of it all right, only I did hope"--and -the good doctor's face fell--"that the other two boys would escape; -but"--and he brightened up at sight of Polly's forlorn visage--"see -you do your part by keeping still." - -But there came a day soon when everything was still around the -once happy little brown house--when oniy whispers were heard -from white lips; and thoughts were fearfully left unuttered. - -On the morning of one of these days, when Mrs. Pepper felt she -could not exist an hour longer without sleep, kind Mrs. Beebe -came to stay until things were either better or worse. - -Still the cloud hovered, dark and forbidding. At last, one -afternoon, when Polly was all alone, she could endure it no longer. -She flung herself down by the side of the old bed, and buried her -face in the gay patched bed-quilt. - -"Dear God," she said, "make me willing to have anything"--she -hesitated--"yes, anything happen; to be blind forever, and to have -Joey sick, only make me good." - -How long she staid there she never knew; for she fell asleep--the -first sleep she had had since Joey was taken sick. And little Mrs. -Beebe coming in found her thus. - -"Polly," the good woman said, leaning over her, "you poor, pretty -creeter, you; I'm goin' to tell you somethin'--there, there, just to -think! Joel's goin' to get well!" - -"Oh, Mrs. Beebe!" cried Polly, tumbling over in a heap on the -floor, her face, as much as could be seen under the bandage, in a -perfect glow, "Is he, really?" - -"Yes, to be sure; the danger's all over now," said the little old lady, -inwardly thinking--"If I hadn't a-come!" - -"Well, then, the Lord wants him to," cried Polly, in rapture; "don't -he, Mrs. Beebe?" - -"To be sure--to be sure," repeated the kind friend, only half -understanding. - -"Well, I don't care about my eyes, then," cried Polly; and to Mrs. -Beebe's intense astonishment and dismay, she spun round and -round in the middle of the floor. - -"Oh, Polly, Polly!" the little old lady cried, running up to her, "do -stop! the doctor wouldn't let you! he wouldn't really, you know! it'll -all go to your eyes." - -"I don't care," repeated Polly, in the middle of a spin; but she -stopped obediently; "seems as if I just as soon be blind as not; it's -so beautiful Joey's going to get well!" - -SUNSHINE AGAIN - -But as Joel was smitten down suddenly, so he came up quickly, -and his hearty nature asserted itself by rapid strides toward -returning health; and one morning he astonished them all by -turning over suddenly and exclaiming: - -"I want something to eat!" - -"Bless the Lord!" cried Mrs. Pepper, "now he's going to live!" - -"But he mustn't eat," protested Mrs. Beebe, in great alarm, trotting -for the cup of gruel. "Here, you pretty creeter you, here's -something nice." And she temptingly held the spoon over Joel's -mouth; but with a grimace he turned away. - -"Oh, I want something to eat! some gingerbread or some bread and -butter." - -"Dear me!" ejaculated Mrs. Beebe. "Gingerbread!" Poor Mrs. -Pepper saw the hardest part of her trouble now before her, as she -realized that the returning appetite must be fed only on -strengthening food; for where it was to come from she couldn't -tell. - -"The Lord only knows where we'll get it," she groaned within -herself. - -Yes, He knew. A rap at the door, and little David ran down to find -the cause. - -"Oh, mammy," he said, "Mrs. Henderson sent it--see! see!" And in -the greatest excitement he placed in her lap a basket that smelt -savory and nice even before it was opened. When it was opened, -there lay a little bird delicately roasted, and folded in a clean -napkin; also a glass of jelly, crimson and clear. - -"Oh, Joey," cried Mrs. Pepper, almost overwhelmed with joy, "see -what Mrs. Henderson sent you! now you can eat fit for a king!" - -That little bird certainly performed its mission in life; for as Mrs. -Beebe said, "It just touched the spot!" and from that very moment -Joel improved so rapidly they could hardly believe their eyes. - -"Hoh! I haven't been sick!" he cried on the third day, true to his -nature. "Mammy, I want to get up." - -"Oh, dear, no! you mustn't, Joel," cried Mrs. Pepper in a fright, -running up to him as he was preparing to give the bedclothes a -lusty kick; "you'll send 'em in." - -"Send what in?" asked Joel, looking up at his mother in terror, as -the dreadful thought made him pause. - -"Why, the measles, Joey; they'll all go in if you get out." - -"How they goin' to get in again, I'd like to know?" asked Joel, -looking at the little red spots on his hands in incredulity; say, ma! - -"Well, they will," said his mother, "as you'll find to your sorrow if -you get out of bed." - -"Oh, dear," said Joel, beginning to whimper, as he drew into bed -again, "when can I get up, mammy!" - -"Oh, in a day or two," responded Mrs. Pepper, cheerfully; "you're -getting on so finely you'll be as smart as a cricket! Shouldn't you -say he might get up in a day or two, Mrs. Beebe?" she appealed to -that individual who was knitting away cheerily in the corner. - -"Well, if he keeps on as he's begun, I shouldn't know what to -think," replied Mrs. Beebe. "It beats all how quick he's picked up. I -never see anything like it, I'm sure!" - -And as Mrs. Beebe was a great authority in sickness, the old, sunny -cheeriness began to creep into the brown house once more, and to -bubble over as of yore. - -"Seems as if 'twas just good to live," said Mrs. Pepper, thankfully -once, when her thoughts were too much for her. "I don't believe I -shall ever care how poor we are," she continued, "as long as we're -together." - -"And that's just what the Lord meant, maybe," replied good Mrs. -Beebe, who was preparing to go home. - -Joel kept the house in a perfect uproar all through his getting well. -Mrs. Pepper observed one day, when he had been more turbulent -than usual, that she was "almost worn to a thread." - -"Twasn't anything to take care of you, Joe," she added, "when you -were real sick, because then I knew where you were; but--well, -you won't ever have the measles again, I s'pose, and that's some -comfort!" - -Little David, who had been nearly stunned by the sickness that had -laid aside his almost constant companion, could express his -satisfaction and joy in no other way than by running every third -minute and begging to do something for him. And Joel, who loved -dearly to be waited on, improved every opportunity that offered; -which Mrs. Pepper observing, soon put a stop to. - -"You'll run his legs off, Joel," at last she said, when he sent David -the third time down to the wood-pile for a stick of just the exact -thickness, and which the little messenger declared wasn't to be -found. "Haven't you any mercy? You've kept him going all day, -too," she added, glancing at David's pale face. - -"Oh, mammy," panted David, "don't; I love to go. Here Joe, is the -best I could find," handing him a nice smooth stick. - -"I know you do," said his mother; "but Joe's getting better now, and -he must learn to spare you." - -"I don't want to spare folks," grumbled Joel, whittling away with -energy; "I've been sick--real sick," he added, lifting his chubby -face to his mother to impress the fact. - -"I know you have," she cried, running to kiss her boy; "but now, -Joe, you're most well. To-morrow I'm going to let you go -down-stairs; what do you think of that!" - -"Hooray!" screamed Joel, throwing away the stick and clapping his -hands, forgetting all about his serious illness, "that'll be prime!" - -"Aren't you too sick to go, Joey?" asked Mrs. Pepper, -mischievously. - -"No, I'm not sick," cried Joel, in the greatest alarm, fearful his -mother meant to take back the promise; "I've never been sick. Oh, -mammy! you know you'll let me go, won't your?" - -"I guess so," laughed his mother. - -"Come on, Fhron," cried Joel, giving her a whirl. - -David, who was too tired for active sport, sat on the floor and -watched them frolic in great delight. - -"Mammy," said he, edging up to her side as the sport went on, "do -you know, I think it's just good--it's--oh, it's so frisky since Joe got -well, isn't it, mammy?" - -"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Pepper, giving him a radiant look in -return for his; "and when Polly's around again with her two eyes all -right--well, I don't know what we shall do, I declare!" - -"Boo!" cried a voice, next morning, close to Polly's elbow, -unmistakably Joel's. - -"Oh, Joel Pepper!" she cried, whirling around, "is that really you!" - -"Yes," cried that individual, confidently, "it's I; oh, I say, Polly, I've -had fun up-stairs, I tell you what!" - -"Poor boy!" said Polly, compassionately. - -"I wasn't a poor boy," cried Joel, indignantly; "I had splendid -things to eat; oh, my!" and he closed one eye and smacked his lips -in the delightful memory. - -"I know it," said Polly, "and I'm so glad, Joel." - -"I don't suppose I'll ever get so many again," observed Joel, -reflectively, after a minute's pause, as one and another of the -wondrous delicacies rose before his mind's eye; "not unless I have -the measles again--say, Polly, can't I have 'em again?" - -"Mercy, no!" cried Polly, in intense alarm, "I hope not." - -"Well, I don't," said Joel, "I wish I could have 'em sixty--no--two -hundred times, so there!" - -"Well, mammy couldn't take care of you," said Ben; "you don't -know what you're sayin', Joe." - -"Well, then, I wish I could have the things without the measles," -said Joel, willing to accommodate; "only folks won't send 'em," he -added, in an injured tone. - -"Polly's had the hardest time of all," said her mother, affectionately -patting the bandage. - -"I think so too," put in Ben; "if my eyes were hurt I'd give up.', - -"So would I," said David; and Joel, to be in the fashion, cried also, -"I know I would;" while little Phronsie squeezed up to Polly's side, -"And I, too." - -"Would what, Puss?" asked Ben, tossing her up high. "Have good -things," cried the child, in delight at understanding the others, "I -would really, Ben," she cried, gravely, when they all screamed. - -"Well, I hope so," said Ben, tossing her higher yet. "Don't laugh at -her, boys," put in Polly; "we're all going to have good times now, -Phronsie, now we've got well." - -"Yes," laughed the child from her high perch; "we aren't ever goin' -to be sick again, ever--any more," she added impressively. - -The good times were coming for Polly--coming pretty near, and -she didn't know it! All the children were in the secret; for as Mrs. -Pepper declared, "They'd have to know it; and if they were let into -the secret they'd keep it better." - -So they had individually and collectively been intrusted with the -precious secret, and charged with the extreme importance of -"never letting any one know," and they had been nearly bursting -ever since with the wild desire to impart their knowledge. - -'Tm afraid I shall tell," said David, running to his mother at last; -"oh, mammy, I don't dare stay near Polly, I do want to tell so bad ." - -"Oh, no, you won't, David," said his mother encouragingly, "when -you know mother don't want you to; and besides, think how Polly'll -look when she sees it." - -"I know," cried David in the greatest rapture, "I wouldn't tell for all -the world! I guess she'll look nice, don't you mother?" and he -laughed in glee at the thought. - -"Poor child! I guess she will!" and then Mrs. Pepper laughed too, -till the little old kitchen rang with delight at the accustomed sound, - -The children all had to play "clap in and clap out" in the bedroom -while it came; and "stage coach," too--"anything to make a noise," -Ben said. And then after they got nicely started in the game, he -would be missing to help about the mysterious thing in the kitchen, -which was safe since Polly couldn't see him go on account of her -bandage. So she didn't suspect in the least. And although the rest -were almost dying to be out in the kitchen, they conscientiously -stuck to their bargain to keep Polly occupied. Only Joel would -open the door and peep once; and then Phronsie behind him -began-- "Oh, I see the sto--" but David swooped down on her in a -twinkling, and smothered the rest by tickling her. - -Once they came very near having the whole thing pop out. -"Whatever is that noise in the kitchen?" asked Polly, as they all -stopped to take breath after the scuffle of "stage coach." "It sounds -just like grating." - -"I'll go and see," cried Joel, promptly; and then he flew out where -his mother and Ben and two men were at work on a big, black -thing in the corner. The old stove, strange to say, was nowhere to -be seen! Something else stood in its place, a shiny, black affair, -with a generous supply of oven doors, and altogether such a -comfortable, home-like look about it, as if it would say--"I'm going -to make sunshine in this house!" - -"Oh, Joel," cried his mother, turning around on him with very -black hands, "you haven't told!" - -"No," said Joel, "but she's hearin' the noise, Polly is." - -"Hush!" said Ben, to one of the men. - -"We can't put it up without some noise," the man replied, "but we'll -be as still as we can." - -"Isn't it a big one, ma?" asked Joel, in the loudest of stage -whispers, that Polly on the other side of the door couldn't have -failed to hear if Phronsie hadn't laughed just then. - -"Go back, Joe, do," said Ben, "play tag--anything," he implored, -"we'll be through in a few minutes." - -"It takes forever!" said Joel, disappearing within the bedroom door. -Luckily for the secret, Phronsie just then ran a pin sticking up on -the arm of the old chair, into her finger; and Polly, while -comforting her, forgot to question Joel. And then the mother came -in, and though she had ill-concealed hilarity in her voice, she kept -chattering and bustling around with Polly's supper to such an -extent that there was no chance for a word to be got in. - -Next morning it seemed as if the "little brown house," would turn -inside out with joy. - -"Oh, mammy!" cried Polly, jumping into her anns the first thing, as -Dr. Fisher untied the bandage, "my eyes are new! just the same as -if I'd just got 'em! Don't they look different?" she asked, earnestly, -running to the cracked glass to see for herself. - -"No," said Ben, "I hope not; the same brown ones, Polly." - -"Well," said Polly, hugging first one and then another, "everybody -looks different through them, anyway." - -"Oh," cried Joel, "come out into the kitchen, Polly; it's a great deal -better out there." - -"May I?" asked Polly, who was in such a twitter looking at -everything that she didn't know which way to turn. - -"Yes," said the doctor, smiling at her. - -"Well, then," sang Polly, "come mammy, we'll go first; isn't it just -lovely--oh, MAMMY!"--and Polly turned so very pale, and looked -as if she were going to tumble right over, that Mrs. Pepper grasped -her arm in dismay. - -"What is it?" she asked, pointing to the corner, while all the -children stood round in the greatest excitement. - -"Why," cried Phronsie, "it's a stove--don't you know, Polly?" But -Polly gave one plunge across the room, and before anybody could -think, she was down on her knees with her arms flung right around -the big, black thing, and laughing and crying over it, all in the -same breath! - -And then they all took hold of hands and danced around it like -wild little things; while Dr. Fisher stole out silently-- and Mrs. -Pepper laughed till she wiped her eyes to see them ' go. - -"We aren't ever goin' to have any more burnt bread," sang Polly, all -out of breath. - -"Nor your back isn't goin' to break any more," panted Ben, with a -very red face. - -"Hooray!" screamed Joel and David, to fill any pause that might -occur, while Phronsie gurgled and laughed at everything just as it -came along. And then they all danced and capered again; all but -Polly, who was down before the precious stove examining and -exploring into ovens and everything that belonged to it. - -"Oh, ma," she announced, coming up to Mrs. Pepper, who had -been obliged to fly to her sewing again, and exhibiting a very -crocky face and a pair of extremely smutty hands, "it's most all -ovens, and it's just splendid!" - -"I know it," answered her mother, delighted in the joy of her child. -"My! how black you are, Polly!" - -"Oh, I wish," cried Polly, as the thought struck her, "that Dr. Fisher -could see it! Where did he go to, ma?" - -"I guess Dr. Fisher has seen it before," said Mrs. Pepper, and then -she began to laugh. "You haven't ever asked where the stove came -from, Polly." - -And to be sure, Polly had been so overwhelmed that if the stove -had really dropped from the clouds it would have been small -matter of astonishment to her, as long as it had come; that was the -main thing! - -"Mammy," said Polly, turning around slowly, with the stove-lifter -in her hand, "did Dr. Fisher bring that stove?" - -"He didn't exactly bring it," answered her mother, "but I guess he -knew something about it." - -"Oh, he's the splendidest, goodest man!" cried Polly, "that ever -breathed! Did he really get us that stove?" - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper, "he would; I couldn't stop him. I don't -know how he found out you wanted one so bad; but he said it must -be kept as a surprise when your eyes got well." - -"And he saved my eyes!" cried Polly, full of gratitude. "I've got a -stove and two new eyes, mammy, just to think!" - -"We ought to be good after all our mercies," said Mrs. Pepper -thankfully, looking around on her little group. Joel was engaged in -the pleasing occupation of seeing how far he could run his head -into the biggest oven, and then pulling it out to exhibit its -blackness, thus engrossing the others in a perfect hubbub. - -"I'm going to bake my doctor some little cakes," declared Polly, -when there was comparative quiet. - -"Do, Polly," cried Joel, "and then leave one or two over." - -"No," said Polly; "we can't have any, because these must be very -nice. Mammy, can't I have some white on top, just once?" she -pleaded. - -"I don't know," dubiously replied Mrs. Pepper; ~eggs are dreadful -dear, and--" - -"I don't care," said Polly, recklessly; "I must just once for Dr. -Fisher." - -"I tell you, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, "what you might do; you -might make him some little apple tarts--most every one likes them, -you know." - -"Well," said Polly, with a sigh, "I s'pose they'll have to do; but -some time, mammy, I'm going to bake him a big cake, so there!" - -A THREATENED BLOW - -One day, a few weeks after, Mrs. Pepper and Polly were busy in -the kitchen. Phronsie was out in the "orchard," as the one scraggy -apple-tree was called by courtesy, singing her rag doll to sleep -under its sheltering branches. But "Baby" was cross and wouldn't -go to sleep, and Phronsie was on the point of giving up, and -returning to the house, when a strain of music made her pause with -dolly in her apron. There she stood with her finger in her mouth, in -utter astonishment, wondering where the sweet sounds came from. - -"Oh, Phronsie!" screamed Polly, from the back door, "where -are--oh, here, come quick! it's the beau-ti-fullest!" - -"What is it?" eagerly asked the little one, hopping over the stubby -grass, leaving poor, discarded "Baby" on its snubby nose where it -dropped in her hurry. - -"Oh, a monkey!" cried Polly; "do hurry! the sweetest little monkey -you ever saw!" - -"What is a monkey?" asked Phronsie, skurrying after Polly to the -gate where her mother was waiting for them. - -"Why, a monkey's--a--monkey," explained Polly, "I don't know any -better'n that. Here he is! Isn't he splendid!" and she lifted Phronsie -up to the big post where she could see finely. - -"O-oh! ow!" screamed little Phronsie, "see him, Polly! just see -him!" - -A man with an organ was standing in the middle of the road -playing away with all his might, and at the end of a long rope was -a lively little monkey in a bright red coat and a smart cocked hat. -The little creature pulled off his hat, and with one long jump -coming on the fence, he made Phronsie a most magnificent bow. -Strange to say, the child wasn't in the least frightened, but put out -her little fat hand, speaking in gentle tones, "Poor little monkey! -come here, poor little monkey!" - -Turning up his little wrinkled face, and glancing fearfully at his -master, Jocko began to grimace and beg for something to eat. The -man pulled the string and struck up a merry tune, and in a minute -the monkey spun around and around at such a lively pace, and put -in so many queer antics that the little audience were fairly -convulsed with laughter. - -"I can't pay you," said Mrs. Pepper, wiping her eyes, when at last -the man pulled up the strap whistling to Jocko to jump up, "but I'll -give you something to eat; and the monkey, too, he shall have -something for his pains in amusing my children." - -The man looked very cross when she brought him out only brown -bread and two cold potatoes. - -"Haven't you got nothin' better'n that?" - -"It's as good as we have," answered Mrs. Pepper. - -The man threw down the bread in the road. But Jocko thankfully -ate his share, Polly and Phronsie busily feeding him; and then he -turned and snapped up the portion his master had left in the dusty -road. - -Then they moved on, Mrs. Pepper and Polly going back to their -work in the kitchen. A little down the road the man struck up -another tune. Phronsie who had started merrily to tell "Baby" all -about it, stopped a minute to hear, and--she didn't go back to the -orchard! - -About two hours after, Polly said merrily: - -"I'm going to call Phronsie in, mammy; she must be awfully tired -and hungry by this time." - -She sang gayly on the way, "I'm coming, Phronsie, coming--why, -where!--" peeping under the tree. - -"Baby" lay on its face disconsolately on the ground--and the -orchard was empty! Phronsie was gone! - -"It's no use," said Ben, to the distracted household and such of the -neighbors as the news had brought hurriedly to the scene, "to look -any more around here--but somebody must go toward Hingham; -he'd be likely to go that way." - -"No one could tell where he would go," cried Polly, wringing her -hands. - -"But he'd change, Ben, if he thought folks would think he'd gone -there," said Mrs. Pepper. - -"We must go all roads," said Ben, firmly; "one must take the stage -to Boxville, and I'll take Deacon Brown's wagon on the Hingham -road, and somebody else must go to Toad Hollow." - -"I'll go in the stage," screamed Joel, who could scarcely see out of -his eyes, he had cried so; "I'll find--find her--I know. - -"Be spry, then, Joe, and catch it at the corner!" - -Everybody soon knew that little Phronsie Pepper had gone off with -"a cross organ man and an awful monkey!" and in the course of an -hour dozens of people were out on the hot, dusty roads in search. - -"What's the matter?" asked a testy old gentleman in the stage, of -Joel who, in his anxiety to see both sides of the road at once, -bobbed the old gentleman in the face so often as the stage lurched, -that at last he knocked his hat over his eyes. - -"My sister's gone off with a monkey," explained Joel, bobbing over -to the other side, as he thought he caught sight of something pink -that he felt sure must be Phronsie's apron. "Stop! stop! there she -is!" he roared, and the driver, who had his instructions and was -fully in sympathy, pulled up so suddenly that the old gentleman -flew over into the opposite seat. - -"Where?" - -But when they got up to it Joel saw that it was only a bit of pink -calico flapping on a clothes-line; so he climbed back and away -they rumbled again. - -The others were having the same luck. No trace could be found of -the child. To Ben, who took the Hingham road, the minutes -seemed like hours. - -"I won't go back," he muttered, "until I take her. I can't see -mother's face!" - -But the ten miles were nearly traversed; almost the last hope was -gone. Into every thicket and lurking place by the road-side had he -peered--but no Phronsie! Deacon Brown's horse began to lag. - -"Go on!" said Ben hoarsely; "oh, dear Lord, make me find her!" - -The hot sun poured down on the boy's face, and he had no cap. -What cared he for that? On and on he went. Suddenly the horse -stopped. Ben doubled up the reins to give him a cut, when -"WHOA!" he roared so loud that the horse in very astonishment -gave a lurch that nearly flung him headlong. But he was over the -wheel in a twinkling, and up with a bound to a small thicket of -scrubby bushes on a high hill by the road-side. Here lay a little -bundle on the ground, and close by it a big, black dog; and over the -whole, standing guard, was a boy a little bigger than Ben, with -honest gray eyes. And the bundle was Phronsie! - -"Don't wake her up," said the boy, warningly, as Ben, with a -hungry look in his eyes, leaped up the hill, "she's tired to death!" - -"She's my sister!" cried Ben, "our Phronsie!" - -"I know it," said the boy kindly; "but I wouldn't wake her up yet if I -were you. I'll tell you all about it," and he took Ben's hand which -was as cold as ice. - -SAFE - -"It's all right, Prince," the boy added, encouragingly to the big dog -who, lifting his noble head, had turned two big eyes steadily on -Ben. "He's all right! lie down again!" - -Then, flinging himself down on the grass, he told Ben how he -came to rescue Phronsie. - -"Prince and I were out for a stroll," said he. "I live over in -Hingham," pointing to the pretty little town just a short distance -before them in the hollow; "that is," laughing, "I do this summer. -Well, we were out strolling along about a mile below here on the -cross-road; and all of a sudden, just as if they sprung right up out -of the ground, I saw a man with an organ, and a monkey, and a -little girl, coming along the road. She was crying, and as soon as -Prince saw that, he gave a growl, and then the man saw us, and he -looked so mean and cringing I knew there must be something -wrong, and I inquired of him what he was doing with that little -girl, and then she looked up and begged so with her eyes, and all of -a sudden broke away from him and ran towards me screaming--'I -want Polly!' Well, the man sprang after her; then I tell you"--here -the boy forgot his caution about waking Phronsie--"we went for -him, Prince and I! Prince is a noble fellow," (here the dog's ears -twitched very perceptibly) "and he kept at that man; oh! how he bit -him! till he had to run for fear the monkey would get killed." - -"Was Phronsie frightened?" asked Ben; "she's never seen -strangers." - -"Not a bit," said the boy, cheerily; "she just clung to me like -everything--I only wish she was my sister," he added impulsively. - -"What were you going to do with her if I hadn't come along?" -asked Ben. - -"Well, I got out on the main road," said the boy, "because I thought -anybody who had lost her, would probably come through this way; -but if somebody hadn't come, I was going to carry her in to -Hingham; and the father and I'd had to contrive some way to do." - -"Well," said Ben, as the boy finished and fastened his bright eyes -on him, "somebody did come along; and now I must get her home -about as fast as I can for poor mammy-- and Polly!" - -"Yes," said the boy, "I'll help you lift her; perhaps she won't wake -up." - -The big dog moved away a step or two, but still kept his eye on -Phronsie. - -"There," said the boy, brightly, as they laid the child on the wagon -seat; "now when you get in you can hold her head; that's it," he -added, seeing them both fixed to his satisfaction. But still Ben -lingered. - -"Thank you," he tried to say. - -"I know," laughed the boy; "only it's Prince instead of me," and he -pulled forward the big black creature, who had followed faithfully -down the hill to see the last of it. "To the front, sir, there! We're -coming to see you," he continued, "if you will let us--where do you -live?" - -"Do come," said Ben, lighting up, for he was just feeling he -couldn't bear to look his last on the merry, honest face; "anybody'll -tell you where Mrs. Pepper lives." - -"Is she a Pepper?" asked the boy, laughing, and pointing to the -unconscious little heap in the wagon; "and are you a Pepper?" - -"Yes," said Ben, laughing too. "There are five of us besides -mother. - -"Jolly! that's something like! Good-bye! Come on, Prince!" Then -away home to mother! Phronsie never woke up or turned over once -till she was put, a little pink sleepy heap, into her mother's arms. -Joel was there, crying bitterly at his forlorn search. The testy old -gentleman in the seat opposite had relented and ordered the coach -about and brought him home in an outburst of grief when all hope -was gone. And one after another they all had come back, -disheartened, to the distracted mother. Polly alone, clung to hope! - -"Ben will bring her, mammy; I know God will let him," she -whispered. - -But when Ben did bring her, Polly, for the second time in her life, -tumbled over with a gasp, into old Mrs. Bascom's lap. - -Home and mother! Little Phronsie slept all that night straight -through. The neighbors came in softly, and with awestruck visages -stole into the bedroom to look at the child; and as they crept out -again, thoughts of their own little ones tugging at their hearts, the -tears would drop unheeded. - -NEW FRIENDS - -Up the stairs of the hotel, two steps at a time, ran a boy with a big, -black dog at his heels. "Come on, Prince; soft, now," as they -neared a door at the end of the corridors - -It opened into a corner room overlooking "the Park," as the small -open space in front of the hotel was called. Within the room there -was sunshine and comfort, it being the most luxurious one in the -house, which the proprietor bad placed at the disposal of thi5 most -exacting guest. He didn't look very happy, however--the gentleman -who sat in an easy chair by the window; a large, handsome old -gentleman, whose whole bearing showed plainly that personal -comfort had always been his, and was, therefore, neither a matter -of surprise nor thankfulness. - -"Where have you been?" he asked, turning around to greet the boy -who came in, followed by Prince. - -"Oh, such a long story, father!" he cried, flushed; his eyes -sparkling as he flung back the dark hair from his forehead. "You -can't even guess!" - -"Never mind now," said the old gentleman, testily; "your stories -are always long; the paper hasn't come--strange, indeed, that one -must needs be so annoyed! do ring that bell again. - -So the bell was pulled; and a porter popped in his head. - -"What is it, sir?" - -"The paper," said the old gentleman, irritably; "hasn't it come yet?" - -"No, sir," said the man; and then he repeated, "taint in yet, please, -sir." - -"Very well--you said so once; that's all," waving his hand; then as -the door closed, he said to his son, "That pays one for coming to -such an out-of-the-way country place as this, away from papers--I -never will do it again." - -As the old gentleman, against the advice of many friends who -knew his dependence on externals, had determined to come to this -very place, the boy was not much startled at the decisive words. He -stood very quietly, however, until his father finished. Then he said: - -"It's too bad, father! supposing I tell you my story? Perhaps you'll -enjoy hearing it while you wait--it's really quite newspaperish." - -"Well, you might as well tell it now, I suppose," said the old -gentleman; "but it is a great shame about that paper! to advertise -that morning papers are to be obtained--it's a swindle, Jasper! a -complete swindle!" and the old gentleman looked so very irate that -the boy exerted himself to soothe him. - -"I know," he said; "but they can't help the trains being late." - -"They shouldn't have the trains late," said his father, unreasounbly. -"There's no necessity for all this prating about 'trains late.' I'm -convinced it's because they forgot to send down for the papers till -they were all sold." - -"I don't believe that's it, father," said the boy, trying to change the -subject; "but you don't know how splendid Frince has been, nor"-- -"And then such a breakfast!" continued the old gentleman. - -"My liver certainly will be in a dreadful state if these things -continue!" And he got up, and going to the corner of the room, -opened his medicine chest, and taking a box of pills therefrom, he -swallowed two, which done, he came back with a somewhat easier -expression to his favorite chair. - -"He was just splendid, father," began the boy; "he went for him, I -tell you!" - -"I hope, Jasper, your dog has not been doing anything violent," -said the old gentleman. "I must caution you; he'll get you into -trouble some day; and then there'll be a heavy bill to pay; he grows -more irritable every day." - -"Irritable!" cried the boy, flinging his arms around the dog's neck, -who was looking up at the old gentleman in high disdain. "He's -done the most splendid thing you ever saw! Why, he saved a little -girl, father, from a cross old organ-man, and he drove that -man--oh! you ought to have seen him run!" - -And now that it was over, Jasper put back his head and laughed -long and loud as he remembered the rapid transit of the musical -pair. - -"Well, how do you know she wasn't the man's daughter?" asked his -father, determined to find fault someway. "You haven't any -business to go around the country setting your dog on people. I -shall have an awful bill to pay some day, Jasper--an awful bill!" he -continued, getting up and commencing to pace up and down the -floor in extreme irritation. - -"Father," cried the boy, half laughing, half vexed, springing to his -side, and keeping step with him, "we found her brother; he came -along when we were by the side of the road. We couldn't go any -further, for the poor little thing was all tired out. And don't you -think they live over in Badgertown, and"-- "Well," said the old -gentleman, pausing in his walk, and taking out his watch to -wonder if that paper would ever come, "she had probably followed -the organ-man; so it served her right after all." - -"Well, but father," and the boy's dark eyes glowed, "she was such a -cunning little thing! she wasn't more than four years old; and she -had such a pretty little yellow head; and she said so funny--'I want -Polly." - -"Did she?" said the old gentleman, getting interested in spite of -himself; "what then?" - -"Why, then, sir," said Jasper, delighted at his success in diverting -his thoughts, "Prince and I waited--and waited; and I was just -going to bring her here to ask you what we should do, when"-- -"Dear me!" said the old gentleman, instinctively starting back as if -he actually saw the forlorn little damsel, "you needn't ever bring -such people here, Jasper! I don't know what to do with them, I'm -sure!" - -"Well," said the boy, laughing, "we didn't have to, did we, Prince?" -stroking the big head of the dog who was slowly following the two -as they paced up and down, but keeping carefully on the side of his -master; "for just as we really didn't know what to do, don't you -think there was a big wagon came along, drawn by the ricketiest -old horse, and a boy in the wagon looking both sides of the road, -and into every bush, just as wild as he could be, and before I could -think, hardly, he spied us, and if he didn't jump! I thought he'd -broken his leg"-- - -"And I suppose he just abused you for what you had done," -observed the old gentleman, petulantly; "that's about all the -gratitude there is in this world." - -"He didn't seem to see me at all," said the boy. "I thought he'd eat -the little girl up." - -"Ought to have looked out for her better then," grumbled the old -gentleman, determined to find fault with somebody. - -"And he's a splendid fellow, I just know," cried Jasper, waxing -enthusiastic; "and his name is Pepper." - -"Pepper!" repeated his father; "no nice family ever had the name of -Pepper!" - -"Well, I don't care," and Jasper's laugh was loud and merry; "he's -nice anyway,--I know; and the little thing's nice; and I'm going to -see them--can't I, father?" - -"Dear me!" said his father; "how can you, Jasper? You do have the -strangest tastes I ever saw!" - -"It's dreadful dull here," pleaded the boy, touching the right string; -"you know that yourself, father, and I don't know any boys around -here; and Prince and I are so lonely on our walks--do permit me, -father!" - -The old gentleman, who really cared very little about it, turned -away, muttering, "Well, I'm sure I don't care; go where you like," -when a knock was heard at the door, and the paper was handed in, -which broke up the conversation, and restored good humor. - -The next day but one, Ben was out by the wood-pile, trying to -break up some kindlings for Polly who was washing up the dishes, -and otherwise preparing for the delights of baking day. - -"Hulloa!" said a voice bethought he knew. - -He turned around to see the merry-faced boy, and the big, black -dog who immediately began to wag his tail as if willing to -recognize him. - -"You see I thought you'd never look round," said the boy with a -laugh. "How's the little girl?" - -"Oh! you have come, really," cried Ben, springing over the -wood-pile with a beaming face. "Polly!" - -But Polly was already by the door, with dish-cloth in hand. "This is -my sister, Polly," began Ben--and then stopped, not knowing the -boy's name. - -"I'm Jasper King," said the boy, stepping upon the flat stone by -Polly's side; and taking off his cap, he put out his hand. "And this -is Prince," he added. - -Polly put her hand in his, and received a hearty shake; and then she -sprang over the big stove, dish-cloth and all, and just flung her -arms around the dog's neck. - -"Oh, you splendid fellow, you!" said she. "Don't you know we all -think you're as good as gold?" - -The dog submitted to the astonishing proceeding as if he liked it, -while Jasper, delighted with Polly's appreciation, beamed down on -them, and struck up friendship with her on the instant. - -"Now, I must call Phronsie," said Polly, getting up, her face as red -as a rose. - -"Is her name Phronsie?" asked the boy with interest. "No, it's -Sophronia," said Polly, "but we call her Phronsie." "What a very -funny name," said Jasper, "Sophronia is, for such a little thing--and -yours is Polly, is it not?" he asked, turning around suddenly on her. - -"Yes," said Polly; "no, not truly Polly; it's Mary, my real name -is--but I've always been Polly." - -"I like Polly best, too," declared Jasper, "it sounds so nice." - -"And his name is Ben," said Polly. - -"Ebenezer, you mean," said Ben, correcting her. - -"Well, we call him Ben," said Polly; "it don't ever seem as if there -was any Ebenezer about it." - -"I should think not," laughed Jasper. - -"Well, I must get Phronsie," again said Polly, running back into the -bedroom, where that small damsel was busily engaged in washing -"Baby" in the basin of water that she had with extreme difficulty -succeeded in getting down on the floor. She had then, by means of -a handful of soft soap, taken from Polly's soap-bowl during the -dish-washing, and a bit of old cotton, plastered both herself and -"Baby" to a comfortable degree of stickiness. - -"Phronsie," said Polly--"dear me! what you doing? the big dog's out -there, you know, that scared the naughty organ-man; and the -boy"--but before the words were half out, Phronsie had slipped -from under her hands, and to Polly's extreme dismay, clattered out -into the kitchen. - -"Here she is!" cried Jasper, meeting her at the door. The little -soapy hands were grasped, and kissing her--"Ugh!" he said, as the -soft soap plentifully spread on her face met his mouth. - -"Oh, Phronsie! you shouldn't," cried Polly, and then they all burst -out into a peal of laughter at Jasper's funny grimaces. - -"She's been washing 'Baby," explained Polly, wiping her eyes, and -looking at Phronsie who was hanging over Prince in extreme -affection. Evidently Prince still regarded her as his especial -property. - -"Have you got a baby?" asked Jasper. "I thought she was the baby," -pointing to Phronsie. - -"Oh, I mean her littlest dolly; she always calls her 'Baby," said -Polly. "Come, Phronsie, and have your face washed, and a clean -apron on." - -When Phronsie could be fairly persuaded that Prince would not -run away during her absence, she allowed herself to be taken off; -and soon re-appeared, her own, dainty little self. Ben, in the -meantime, had been initiating Jasper into the mysteries of cutting -the wood, the tool-house, and all the surroundings of the "little -brown house." They had received a re-inforcement in the advent of -Joel and David, who stared delightedly at Phronsie's protector, -made friends with the dog, and altogether had had such a -thoroughly good time, that Phronsie, coming back, clapped her -hands in glee to hear them. - -"I wish mammy was home," said Polly, polishing up the last cup -carefully. - -"Let me put it up," said Jasper, taking it from her, "it goes up here, -don't it, with the rest?" reaching up to the upper-shelf of the old -cupboard. - -"Yes," said Polly. - -"Oh, I should think you'd have real good times!" said the boy, -enviously. "I haven't a single sister or brother." - -"Haven't you?" said Polly, looking at him in extreme pity. "Yes, we -do have real fun," she added, answering his questioning look; "the -house is just brimful sometimes, even if we are poor." - -"We aren't poor," said Joel, who never could bear to be pitied. -Then, with a very proud air, he said in a grand way-- "At any rate, -we aren't going to be, long, for something's coming!" - -"What do you mean, Joey?" asked Ben, while the rest looked -equally amazed. - -"Our ships," said Joel confidently, as if they were right before their -eyes; at which they all screamed! - -"See Polly's stove!" cried Phronsie, wishing to entertain in her turn. -"Here 'tis," running up to it, and pointing with her fat little finger. - -"Yes, I see," cried Jasper, pretending to be greatly surprised; "it's -new, isn't it?" - -"Yes," said the child; "it's very all new; four yesterdays ago!" - -And then Polly stopped in sweeping up and related, with many -additions and explanations from the others, the history of the -stove, and good Dr. Fisher (upon whom they all dilated at great -length), and the dreadful measles, and everything. And Jasper -sympathized, and rejoiced with them to their hearts content, and -altogether got so very home-like, that they all felt as if they had -known him for a year. Ben neglected his work a little, but then -visitors didn't come every day to the Peppers; so while Polly -worked away at her bread, which she was "going to make like -biscuits," she said, the audience gathered in the little old kitchen -was in the merriest mood, and enjoyed everything to the fullest -extent. - -"Do put in another stick, Bensie dear," said Polly; "this bread won't -befit for anything!" - -"Isn't this fun, though!" cried Jasper, running up to try the oven; "I -wish I could ever bake," and he looked longingly at the little -brown biscuits waiting their turn out on the table. - -"You come out some day," said Polly, sociably, "and we'll all try -baking--mammy'd like to have you, I know," feeling sure that -nothing would be too much for Mrs. Pepper to do for the protector -of little Phronsie. - -"I will!" cried Jasper, perfectly delighted. "You can't think how -awfully dull it is out in Hingham!" - -"Don't you live there?" asked Polly, with a gasp, almost dropping a -tin full of little brown lumps of dough she was carrying to the -oven. - -"Live there!" cried Jasper; and then he burst out into a merry laugh. -"No, indeed! I hope not! Why, we're only spending the summer -there, father and I, in the hotel." - -"Where's your mother?" asked Joel, squeezing in between Jasper -and his audience. And then they all felt instinctively that a very -wrong question had been asked. - -"I haven't any mother," said the boy, in a low voice. - -They all stood quite still for a moment; then Polly said, "I wish -you'd come out sometime; and you may bake--or anything else," -she added; and there was a kinder ring to her voice than ever. - -No mother! Polly for her life, couldn't imagine how anybody could -feel without a mother, but the very words alone smote her heart; -and there was nothing she wouldn't have done to give pleasure to -one who had done so much for them. - -"I wish you could see our mother," she said, gently. "Why, here she -comes now! oh, mamsie, dear," she cried. "Do, Joe, run and take -her bundle." - -Mrs. Pepper stopped a minute to kiss Phronsie--her baby was -dearer than ever to her now. Then her eye fell on Jasper, who stood -respectfully waiting and watching her with great interest. - -"Is this," she asked, taking it all in at the first glance--the boy with -the honest eyes as Ben had described him--and the big, black -dog--"is this the boy who saved my little girl?" - -"Oh, ma'am," cried Jasper, "1 didn't do much; 'twas Prince." - -"I guess you never'll know how much you did do," said Mrs. -Pepper. Then looking with a long, keen gaze into the boy's eyes -that met her own so frankly and kindly: "I'll trust him," she said to -herself; "a boy with those eyes can't help but be good." - -"Her eyes are just the same as Polly's," thought Jasper, "just such -laughing ones, only Polly's are brown," and he liked her on the -spot. - -And then, somehow, the hubbub ceased. Polly went on with her -work, and the others separated, and Mrs. Pepper and Jasper had a -long talk. When the mother's eyes fell on Phronsie playing around -on the floor, she gave the boy a grateful smile that he thought was -beautiful. - -"Well, I declare," said Jasper, at last, looking up at the old clock in -the corner by the side of the cupboard, "I'm afraid I'll miss the -stage, and then father never'll let me come again. Come, Prince." - -"Oh, don't go," cried Phronsie, wailing. "Let doggie stay! Oh, make -him stay, mammy!" - -"I can't, Phronsie," said Mrs. Pepper, smiling, "if he thinks he -ought to go." - -"I'll come again," said Jasper, eagerly, "if I may, ma'am." - -He looked up at Mrs. Pepper as he stood cap in hand, waiting for -the answer. - -"I'm sure we should be glad if your father'll be willing," she added; -thinking, proudly, "My children are an honor to anybody, I'm sure," -as she glanced around on the bright little group she could call her -own. "But be sure, Jasper," and she laid her hand on his arm as she -looked down into his eyes, "that you father is willing, that's all." - -"Oh, yes, ma'am," said the boy; "but he will be, I guess, if he feels -well." - -"Then come on Thursday," said Polly; "and can't we bake -something then, mammy?" - -"I'm sure I don't care," laughed Mrs. Pepper; "but you won't find -much but brown flour and meal to bake with." - -"Well, we can pretend," said Polly; "and we can cut the cakes with -the heart-shape, and they II do for anything. - -"Oh, I'll come," laughed Jasper, ready for such lovely fun in the old -kitchen; "look out for me on Thursday, Ben!" - -So Jasper and Prince took their leave, all the children -accompanying them to the gate; and then after seeing him fairly -started on a smart run to catch the stage, Prince scampering at his -heels, they all began to sing his praises and to wish for Thursday to -come. - -But Jasper didn't come! Thursday came and went; a beautiful, -bright, sunny day, but with no signs of the merry boy whom all had -begun to love, nor of the big black dog. The children had made all -the needful preparations with much ostentation and bustle, and -were in a state of excited happiness, ready for any gale. But the -last hope had to be given up, as the old clock ticked away hour -after hour. And at last Polly had to put Phronsie to bed, who -wouldn't stop crying enough to eat her supper at the dreadful -disappointment. - -"He couldn't come, I know," said both Ben and Polly, standing -staunchly up for their new friend; but Joel and David felt that he -had broken his word. - -"He promised," said Joel, vindictively. - -"I don't believe his father'd let him," said Polly, wiping away a sly -tear; "I know Jasper'd come, if he could." - -Mrs. Pepper wisely kept her own counsel, simply giving them a -kindly caution: - -"Don't you go to judging him, children, till you know." - -"Well, he promised," said Joel, as a settler. - -"Aren't you ashamed, Joel," said his mother, "to talk about any one -whose back is turned? Wait till he tells you the reason himself." - -Joel hung his head, and then began to tease David in the corner, to -make up for his disappointment. - -The next morning Ben had to go to the store after some more meal. -As he was going out rather dismally, the storekeeper, who was also -postmaster, called out, "Oh, halloa, there!" - -"What is it?" asked Ben, turning back, thinking perhaps Mr. Atkins -hadn't given him the right change. - -"Here," said Mr. Atkins, stepping up to the Post-office department, -quite smart with its array of boxes and official notices, where Ben -had always lingered, wishing there might be sometime a letter for -him--or some of them. "You've got a sister Polly, haven't you?" - -"Yes," said Ben, wondering what was coming next. - -"Well, she's got a letter," said the postmaster, holding up a nice big -envelope, looking just like those that Ben had so many times -wished for. That magic piece of white paper danced before the -boy's eyes for a minute; then he said-- "It can't be for her, Mr. -Atkins; why, she's never had one." "Well, she's got one now, sure -enough," said Mr. Atkins; "here 'tis, plain enough," and he read -what he had no need to study much as it had already passed -examination by his own and his wife's faithful eyes: "Miss Polly -Pepper, near the Turnpike, Badgertown'--that's her, isn't it?" he -added, laying it down before Ben's eyes. "Must be a first time for -everything, you know, my boy!" and he laughed long over his own -joke; "so take it and run along home." For Ben still stood looking -at it, and not offering to stir. - -"If you say so," said the boy, as if Mr. Atkins had given him -something out of his own pocket; "but I'm afraid 'tisn't for Polly." -Then buttoning up the precious letter in his jacket, he spun along -home as never before. - -"Polly! Polly!" he screamed. "Where is she, mother?" - -"I don't know," said Mrs. Pepper, coming out of the bedroom. -"Dear me! is anybody hurt, Ben?" - -"I don't know," said Ben, in a state to believe anything, "but Polly's -got a letter." - -"Polly got a letter!" cried Mrs. Pepper; "what do you mean, Ben?" - -"I don't know," repeated the boy, still holding out the precious -letter; "but Mr. Atkins gave it to me; where is Polly?" - -"I know where she is," said Joel; "she's up-stairs." And he flew out -in a twinkling, and just as soon reappeared with Polly scampering -after him in the wildest excitement. - -And then the kitchen was in an uproar as the precious missive was -put into Polly's hand; and they all gathered around her, wondering -and examining, till Ben thought he would go wild with the delay. - -"I wonder where it did come from," said Polly, in the greatest -anxiety, examining again the address. - -"Where does the postmark say?" asked Mrs. Pepper, looking over -her shoulder. - -"It's all rubbed out," said Polly, peering at it "you can't see -anything." - -"Do open it," said Ben, "and then you'll find out." - -"But p'raps 'tisn't for me," said Polly, timidly. - -"Well, Mr. Atkins says 'tis," said Ben, impatiently; "here, I'll open -it for you, Polly." - -"No, let her open it for herself, Ben," protested his mother. - -"But she won't," said Ben; "do tear it open, Polly." - -"No, I'm goin' to get a knife," she said. - -"I'll get one," cried Joel, running up to the table drawer; "here's -one, Polly." - -"Oh, dear," groaned Ben; "you never'll get it open at this rate!" - -But at last it was cut; and they all holding their breath, gazed -awe-struck, while Polly drew out the mysterious missive. - -"What does it say?" gasped Mrs. Pepper. - -"Dear Miss Polly," began both Ben and Polly in a breath. "Let -Polly read," said Joel, who couldn't hear in the confusion. - -"Well, go on Polly," said Ben; "hurry!" - -"Dear Miss Polly, I was so sorry I couldn't come on Thursday' "-- - -"Oh, it's Jasper! it's Jasper!" cried all the children in a breath. - -"I told you so!" cried Ben and Polly, perfectly delighted to find -their friend vindicated fully--"there! Joey Pepper!" - -"Well, I don't care," cried Joe, nothing daunted, "he didn't come, -anyway--do go on, Polly." - -"I was so sorry I couldn't come' "--began Polly. - -"You read that," said Joel. - -"I know it," said Polly, "but it's just lovely; 'on Thursday; but my -father was sick, and I couldn't leave him. If you don't mind I'll -come again--I mean I'll come some other day, if it's just as -convenient for you, for I do so want the baking, and the nice time. -I forgot to say that I had a cold, to,' (here Jasper had evidently had -a struggle in his mind whether there should be two 0's or one, and -he had at last decided it, by crossing out one) but my father is -willing I should come when I get well. Give my love to all, and -especially remember me respectfully to your mother. Your friend, - -JASPER ELYOT KING." - -"Oh, lovely! lovely!" cried Polly, flying around with the letter in -her hand; "so he is coming!" - -Ben was just as wild as she was, for no one knew but Polly just -how the new friend had stepped into his heart. Phronsie went to -sleep happy, hugging "Baby." - -"And don't you think, Baby, dear," she whispered sleepily, and -Polly heard her say as she was tucking her in, "that Japser is really -comin'; really--and the big, be-you-ti-ful doggie, too!" - -PHRONSIE PAYS A DEBT OF GRATITUDE - -"And now I tell you," said Polly, the next day, "let's make Jasper -something; can't we, ma?" - -"Oh, do! do!" cried all the other children, "let's; but what'll it be, -Polly?" - -"I don't know about this," interrupted Mrs. Pepper; "I don't see how -you could get anything to him if you could make it." - -"Oh, we could, mamsie," said Polly, eagerly, running up to her; -"for Ben knows; and he says we can do it." - -"Oh, well, if Ben and you have had your heads together, I suppose -it's all right," laughed Mrs. Pepper, "but I don't see how you can do -it." - -"Well, we can, mother, truly," put in Ben. "I'll tell you how, and -you'll say it'll be splendid. You see Deacon Blodgett's goin' over to -Hingham, to-morrow; I heard him tell Miss Blodgett so; and he -goes right past the hotel; and we can do it up real nice--and it'll -please Jasper so--do, mammy!" - -"And it's real dull there, Jasper says," put in Polly, persuasively; -"and just think, mammy, no brothers and sisters!" And Polly -looked around on the others. - -After that there was no need to say anything more; her mother -would have consented to almost any plan then. - -"Well, go on, children," she said; "you may do it; I don't see but -what you can get 'em there well enough; but I'm sure I don't know -what you can make." - -"Can't we," said Polly--and she knelt down by her mother's side -and put her face in between the sewing in Mrs. Pepper's lap, and -the eyes bent kindly down on her--"make some little cakes, real -cakes I mean? now don't say no, mammy!" she said, alarmed, for -she saw a "no" slowly coming in the eyes above her, as Mrs. -Pepper began to shake her head. - -"But we haven't any white flour, Polly," began her mother. "I -know," said Polly; "but we'll make 'em of brown, it'll do, if you'll -give us some raisins--you know there's some in the bowl, mammy." - -"I was saving them for a nest egg," said Mrs. Pepper; meaning at -some future time to indulge in another plum-pudding that the -children so loved. - -"Well, do give 'em to us," cried Polly; "do, ma!" - -"I want 'em for a plum-pudding sometime," said Mrs. Pepper. - -"Ow!"--and Joel with a howl sprung up from the floor where he -had been trying to make a cart for "Baby" out of an old box, and -joined Mrs. Pepper and Polly. "No, don't give 'em away, ma!" he -screamed; "let's have our plum-pudding-- now, Polly Pepper, -you're a-goin' to bake up all our raisins in nasty little cakes--and"-- - -"Joey!" commanded Mrs. Pepper, "hush! what word did you say!" - -"Well," blubbered Joel, wiping his tears away with his grimy little -hand, "Polly's --a-goin'--to give"-- "I should rather you'd never have -a plum-pudding than to say such words," said Mrs. Pepper, sternly, -taking up her work again. "And besides, do you think what Jasper -has done for you?" and her face grew very white around the lips. - -"Well, he can have plum-puddings," said Joel, whimpering, -"forever an' ever, if he wants them--and--and"-- "Well, Joey," said -Polly, "there, don't feel bad," and she put her arms around him, and -tried to wipe away the tears that still rolled down his cheeks. "We -won't give 'em if you don't want us to; but Jasper's sick, and there -isn't anything for him to do, and"--here she whispered slyly up into -his ear --"don't you remember how you liked folks to send you -things when you had the measles?" - -"Yes, I know," said Joel, beginning to smile through his tears; -"wasn't it fun, Polly?" - -"I guess 'twas," laughed Polly back again, pleased at the return of -sunshine. "Well, Jasper'll be just as pleased as you were, 'cause we -love him and want to do somethin' for him, he was so good to -Phronsie." - -"I will, Polly, I will," cried Joel, completely won over; "do let's -make 'em for him; and put 'em in thick; oh! thick as you can;" and -determined to do nothing by halves, Joel ran generously for the -precious howl of raisins, and after setting it on the table, began to -help Polly in all needful preparations. - -Mrs. Pepper smiled away to herself to see happiness restored to the -little group. And soon a pleasant hum and bustle went on around -the baking table, the centre of attraction. - -"Now," said Phronsie, coming up to the table and standing on -tip-toe to see Polly measure out the flour, "I'm a-goin' to bake -something for my sick man, lam." - -"Oh, no, Phronsie, you can't," began Polly. - -"Hey?" asked Joel, with a daub of flour on the tip of his chubby -nose, gained by too much peering into Polly's flour-bag. "What did -she say, Polly?" watching her shake the clouds of flour in the sieve. - -"She said she was goin' to bake something for Jasper," said Polly. -"There," as she whisked in the flour, "now that's done." - -"No, I didn't say Japser," said Phronsie; "I didn't say Japser," she -repeated, emphatically. - -"Why, what did you say, Fet?" asked Polly, astonished, while little -Davie repeated, "What did you say, Phronsie?" - -"I said my sick man," said Phronsie, shaking her yellow head; -"poor sick man." - -"Who does she mean?" said Polly in despair, stopping a moment -her violent stirring that threatened to overturn the whole -cake-bowl. - -"I guess she means Frince," said Joel. "Can't I stir, Polly?" - -"Oh, no," said Polly; "only one person must stir cake." - -"Why?" asked Joel; "why, Polly?" - -"Oh, I don't know," said Polly, "cause 'tis so; never mind now, Joel. -Do you mean Prince, Phronsie?" - -"No, I don't mean Princey," said the child decisively; "I mean my -sick man." - -"It's Jasper's father, I guess she means," said Mrs. Pepper over in -the corner; "but what in the world!" - -"Yes, yes," cried Phronsie, perfectly delighted at being at last -understood, and hopping on one toe; "my sick man." - -"I shall give up!" said Polly, tumbling over in a chair, with the cake -spoon in her hand, from which a small sticky lump fell on her -apron, which Joel immediately pounced upon and devoured. -"What do you want to bake, Phronsie?" she gasped, holding the -spoon sticking up straight, and staring at the child. - -"A gingerbread boy," said the child, promptly; "he'd like that best; -poor, sick man!" and she commenced to climb up to active -preparations. - -A LETTER TO JASPER - -"Mamsie, what shall we do?" implored Polly of her mother. - -"I don't know," said her mother; "however did that get into her -head, do you suppose?" - -"I am sure I can't tell," said Polly, jumping up and beginning to stir -briskly to make up for lost time. "P'r'aps she heard us talking about -Jasper's having to take care of his sick father, and how hard it must -be to he sick away from home." - -"Yes," said Phronsie, "but he'll be glad to see my gingerbread boy, -I guess; poor, sick man." - -"Oh, Phronsie," cried Polly, in great distress, "you aren't ever going -to make a 'gingerbread boy' to-day! see, we'll put in a cunning little -cake for Mr. King--full of raisins, Phronsie; won't that be lovely!" -and Polly began to fill a little scalloped tin with some of the cake -mixture. - -"N-no," said the child, eying it suspiciously; "that isn't like a -'gingerbread boy,' Polly; he'll like that best." - -"Mamsie," said Polly, "we can't let her make a dreadful, horrid -'gingerbread boy' to send Mr. King! he never'll let Jasper come -here again." - -"Oh, let her," cried Joel; "she can bake it, and Dave an' I'll eat it," -and he picked up a raisin that had fallen under the table and began -crunching it with great gusto. - -"That wouldn't be fair," said Polly, gloomily. "Do get her off from -it, mammy." - -"Phronsie," said Mrs. Pepper, going up back of the child, who sat -patiently in her high chair waiting for Polly to let her begin, "hadn't -you rather wait and give your 'gingerbread boy' to Jasper for his -father, when he comes?" - -"Oh, no, no," cried Phronsie, twisting in her chair in great -apprehension, "I want to send it now, I do." - -"Well, Polly," said her mother, laughing, "after all it's best, I think, -to let her; it can't do any harm anyway--and instead of Mr. King's -not letting Jasper come, if he's a sensible man that won't make any -difference; and if he isn't, why, then there'd be sure to something -come up sometime to make trouble." - -"Well," said Polly, "I suppose she's got to; and perhaps," as a -consoling idea struck her, "perhaps she'll want to eat it up herself -when it's done. Here, Phronsie," giving her a handful of the cake -mixture, which she stiffened with flour to the right thickness, -"there, you can call that a 'gingerbread boy;' see, won't it make a -beautiful one!" - -"You needn't think," said Mrs. Pepper, seeing Phronsie's delighted -face, and laughing as she went back to her work, "but what that -gingerbread boy'll go." - -When the little cakes were done, eight of them, and set upon the -table for exhibition, they one and all protested that they never saw -so fine a lot. Polly was delighted with the praise they received, and -her mother's commendation that she was "growing a better cook -every day." "How glad Jasper'll be, won't he, mamsie?" said she. - -The children walked around and around the table, admiring and -pointing out the chief points of attraction, as they appeared before -their discriminating eyes. - -"I should choose that one," said Joel, pointing at one which was -particularly plummy, with a raisin standing up on one end with a -festive air, as if to say, "there's lots of us inside, you better -believe!" - -"I wouldn't," said Davie, "I'd have that--that's cracked so pretty." - -"So 'tis," said Mrs. Pepper; "they're all as light as a feather, Polly." - -"But my 'gingerbread boy," cried Phronsie, running eagerly along -with a particularly ugly looking specimen of a cake figure in her -hand, "is the be-yew-tifullest, isn't it, Polly?" - -"Oh, dear," groaned Polly, "it looks just awfully, don't it, Ben!" - -"Hoh, hoh!" laughed Joel in derision; "his leg is crooked, see -Phronsie--you better let Davie an' me have it." - -"No, no," screamed the child in terror; "that's my sick man's -'gingerbread boy,' it W" - -"Joe, put it down," said Ben. "Yes, Phronsie, you shall have it; -there, it's all safe;" and he put it carefully into Phronsie's apron, -when she breathed easier. - -"And he hasn't but one eye," still laughed Joel, while little Davie -giggled too. - -"He did have two," said Polly, "but she punched the other in with -her thumb; don't, boys," she said, aside, "you'll make her feel bad; -do stop laughing. Now, how'll we send the things?" - -"Put 'em in a basket," said Ben; "that's nicest." - -"But we haven't got any basket," said Polly, "except the potato -basket, and they'd be lost in that." - -"Can't we take your work-basket, mamsie?" asked Ben; "they'd -look so nice in that." - -"Oh," said Mrs. Pepper, "that wouldn't do; I couldn't spare it, and -besides, it's all broken at the side, Ben; that don't look nice." - -"Oh, dear," said Polly, sitting down on one of the hard wooden -chairs to think, "I do wish we had things nice to send to sick -people." And her forehead puckered up in a little hard knot. - -"We'll have to do 'em up in a paper, Polly," said Ben; "there isn't -any other way; they'll look nice in anything, 'cause they are nice," -he added, comfortingly. - -"If we only had some flowers," said Polly, "that would set 'em off." - -"You're always a-thinkin' of flowers, Polly," said Ben. "I guess the -cakes'll have to go without 'em." - -"I suppose they will," said Polly, stifling a little sigh. "Where's the -paper?" - -"I've got a nice piece up-stairs," said Ben, "just right; I'll get it." - -"Fut my 'gingerbread boy' on top," cried Phronsie, handing himup. - -So Polly packed the little cakes neatly in two rows, and laid the -'gingerbread boy' in a fascinating attitude across the top. - -"He looks as if he'd been struck by lightning!" said Ben, viewing -him critically as he came in the door with the paper. - -"Be still," said Polly, trying not to laugh; "that's because he baked -so funny; it made his feet stick out." - -"Children," said Mrs. Pepper, "how'll Jasper know where the cakes -come from?" - -"Why, he'll know it's us," said Polly, "of course; 'cause it'll make -him think of the baking we're going to have when he gets well." - -"Well, but you don't say so," said Mrs. Pepper, smiling; "tisn't -polite to send it this way." - -"Whatever'll we do, mammy!" said all four children in dismay, -while Phronsie simply stared. "Can't we send 'em at all?" - -"Why yes," said their mother; "I hope so, I'm sure, after you've got -'em baked; but you might answer Jasper's letter I should think, and -tell him about 'em, and the 'gingerbread boy'." - -"Oh dear," said Polly, ready to fly, "I couldn't mamsie; I never -wrote a letter." - -"Well, you never had one before, did your said her mother, -composedly biting her thread. "Never say you can't, Polly, 'cause -you don't know what you can do till you've tried." - -"You write, Ben," said Polly, imploringly. - -"No," said Ben, "I think the nicest way is for all to say somethin', -then 'twon't be hard for any of us." - -"Where's the paper," queried Polly, "coming from, I wonder!" - -"Joel," said Mrs. Pepper, "run to the bureau in the bedroom, and -open the top drawer, and get a green box there." - -So Joel, quite important at the errand, departed, and presently put -the designated box into his mother's hand. - -"There, now I'm going to give you this," and she took out a small -sheet of paper slightly yellowed by age; but being gilt-edged, it -looked very magnificent to the five pairs of eyes directed to it. - -"Now Ben, you get the ink bottle and the pen, and then go to -work." - -So Ben reached down from the upper shelf in the cupboard the ink -bottle, and a pen in a black wooden penholder. - -"Oh, mamsie," cried Polly, "that's where Phronsie bit it off when -she was a baby, isn't it?" holding up the stubby end where the little -ball had disappeared. - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper, "and now you're going to write about her -'gingerbread boy' with it--well, time goes, to be sure." And she bent -over her work again, harder than ever. Poor woman! if she could -only scrape together enough money to get her children into -school--that was the earnest wish of her heart. She must do it soon, -for Ben was twelve years old; but with all her strivings and -scrimpings she could only manage to put bread into their mouths, -and live from day to day. "I know I ought to be thankful for that," -she said to herself, not taking time even to cry over her troubles. -"But oh, the learning! they must have that!" - -"Now," said Polly, "how'll we do it Ben?" as they ranged -themselves around the table, on which reposed the cakes; "you -begin." - -"How do folks begin a letter?" asked Ben in despair, of his mother. - -"How did Jasper begin his?" asked Mrs. Pepper back again. "Oh," -cried Polly, running into the bedroom to get the precious missive. -"Dear Miss Polly'--that's what it says." - -"Well," said Mrs. Pepper, "then you'd better say, 'Dear Mister -Jasper'--or you might say, 'Dear Mr. King.'" - -"Oh, dear!" cried Polly, "that would be the father then-- s'pose he -should think we wrote to him!" and Polly looked horror-stricken to -the last degree. - -"There, there 'tis," said Ben: 'Dear Mister Jasper'--now what'll we -say?" - -"Why, say about the cakes," replied Polly. - -"And the 'gingerbread boy," cried Phronsie. "Oh, tell about him, -Polly, do." - -"Yes, yes, Phronsie," said Polly, "we will--why, tell him how we -wish he could have come, and that we baked him some cakes, and -that we do so want him to come just as soon as he can." - -"All right!" said Ben; so he went to work laboriously; only his hard -breathing showing what a hard task it was, as the stiff old pen -scratched up and down the paper. - -"There, that's done," he cried at length in great satisfaction, -holding it up for inspection. - -"Oh, I do wish," cried Polly in intense admiration, "I could write so -nice and so fast as you can, Ben." - -"Read it, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, in pride. - -So Polly began: "Dear Mister Jasper we were all dreadfully sorry -that you didn't come and so we baked you some cakes.'--You didn't -say anything about his being sick, Ben." - -"I forgot it," said Ben, "but I put it in farther down--you'll see if -you read on." - -"Baked you some cakes--that is, Polly did, for this is Ben that's -writing." - -"You needn't said that, Ben," said Polly, dissatisfied; "we all baked -'em, I'm sure. 'And just as soon as you get well we do want you to -come over and have the baking. We're real sorry you're -sick--boneset's good for colds." - -"Oh, Ben!" said Mrs. Pepper, "I guess his father knows what to -give him." - -"And oh! the bitter stuff!" cried Polly, with a wry face. "Well, it's -hard work to write," said Ben, yawning. "I'd rather chop wood." - -"I wish I knew how," exclaimed Joel, longingly. - -"Just you try every day; Ben'll teach you, Joe," said his mother, -eagerly, "and then I'll let you write." - -"I will!" cried Joe; "then, Dave, you'll see how I'll write-- I tell -you!" - -"And I'm goin' to--ma, can't I?" said Davie, unwilling to be -outdone. - -"Yes, you may, be sure," said Mrs. Pepper, delighted; "that'll make -a man of you fast." - -"Oh, boys," said Polly, lifting a very red face, "you joggle the table -so I can't do anything." - -"I wasn't jogglin'," said Joel; "the old thing tipped. Look!" he -whispered to Davie, "see Pofly, she's writing crooked." - -So while the others hung around her and looked over her shoulder -while they made their various comments, Polly finished her part, -and also held it up for inspection. - -"Let us see," said Ben, taking it up. - -"It's after, 'boneset's good for colds,'" said Polly, puckering up her -face again at the thought. - -"We most of us knew you were sick--I'm Polly now--because you -didn't come; and we liked your letter telling us so, -- "Oh, Polly! -we weren't glad to hear he was sick!" cried Ben, in horror. - -"I didn't say so!" cried Polly, starting up. "Why, Ben Pepper, I -never said so!" and she looked ready to cry. - -"It sounds something like it, don't it, mainmy?" said Ben, unwilling -to give her pain, but appealing to Mrs. Pepper. - -"You needn't said that, Ben," said Polly, dissatisfied; "we all baked -'em, I'm sure. 'And just as soon as you get well we do want you to -come over and have the baking. We're real sorry you're -sick--boneset's good for colds." - -"Oh, Ben!" said Mrs. Pepper, "I guess his father knows what to -give him." - -"And oh! the bitter stuff!" cried Polly, with a wry face. "Well, it's -hard work to write," said Ben, yawning. "I'd rather chop wood." - -"I wish! knew how," exclaimed Joel, longingly. - -"Just you try every day; Ben'll teach you, Joe," said his mother, -eagerly, "and then I'll let you write." - -"I will!" cried Joe; "then, Dave, you'll see how I'll write-- I -tellyou!" - -"And I'm goin' to--ma, can't I?" said Davie, unwilling to be -outdone. - -"Yes, you may, be sure," said Mrs. Pepper, delighted; "that'll make -a man of you fast." - -"Oh, boys," said Polly, lifting a very red face, "you joggle the table -so I can't do anything." - -"I wasn't jogglin'," said Joel; "the old thing tipped. Look!" he -whispered to Davie, "see Polly, she's writing crooked." - -So while the others hung around her and looked over her shoulder -while they made their various comments, Polly finished her part, -and also held it up for inspection. - -"Let us see," said Ben, taking it up. - -"It's after, 'boneset's good for colds,'" said Polly, puckering up her -face again at the thought. - -"We most of us knew you were sick--I'm Polly now--because you -didn't come; and we liked your letter telling us so, -- "Oh, Polly! -we weren't glad to hear he was sick!" cried Ben, in horror. - -"I didn't say so!" cried Polly, starting up. "Why, Ben Pepper, I -never said so!" and she looked ready to cry. - -"It sounds something like it, don't it, manimy?" said Ben, unwilling -to give her pain, but appealing to Mrs. Pepper. - -"Polly didn't mean it," said her mother consolingly; "but if I were -you, I'd say something to explain it." - -"I can't put anything in now," said poor Polly; "there isn't any room -nor any more paper either--what shall I do! I told you, Ben, I -couldn't write." And Polly looked helplessly from one to the other -for comfort. - -"Yes, you can," said Ben; "there, now I'll show you: write it fine, -Polly--you write so big--little bits of letters, like these." - -So Polly took the pen again with a sigh. "Now he won't think so, I -guess," she said, much relieved, as Ben began to read again. - -"I'll begin yours again," Ben said: "We most of us knew you were -sick because you didn't come, and we liked your letter telling us so -because we'd all felt so badly, and Phronsie cried herself to sleep'-- -(that's good, I'm sure.) 'The "gingerbread boy" is for your -father--please excuse it, but Phronsie would make it for him -because he is sick. There isn't any more to write, and besides I -can't write good, and Ben's tired. From all of us.'" - -"Why, how's he to know?" cried Ben. "That won't do to sign it." - -"Well, let's say from Ben and Polly then," said Polly; "only all the -others want to be in the letter." - -"Well, they can't write," said Ben. - -"We might sign their names for 'em," suggested Polly. - -"Here's mine," said Ben, putting under the "From all of us" a big, -bold "Ben." - -"And here's mine," echoed Polly, setting a slightly crooked "Polly" -by its side. - -"Now Joe, you better let Ben hold your hand," said Polly, -warningly. But Joel declaring he could write had already begun, so -there was no hope for it; and a big drop of ink falling from the pen, -he spattered the "J" so that no one could tell what it was. The -children looked at each other in despair. - -"Can we ever get it out, mammy?" said Polly, running to Mrs. -Pepper with it. - -"I don't know," said her mother. "How could you try it, Joe?" - -"I didn't mean to," said Joel, looking very downcast and ashamed. -"The ugly old pen did it!" - -"Well," said Polly, "it's got to go; we can't help it." But she looked -so sorrowful over it that half the pleasure was gone for Ben; for -Polly wanted everything just right, and was very particular about -things. - -"Now, Dave." Ben held his hand, and "David" went down next to -Joel. - -But when it was Phronsie's turn, she protested that Polly, and no -one else, must hold her hand. - -"It's a dreadful hard name to write--Phronsie is," said Polly, as she -guided Phronsie's fat little hand that clung faithfully to the stubby -old pen. "There, it's over now," she cried; "and I'm thankful! I -wouldn't write another for anything!" - -"Read it all over now, Ben," cried Mrs. Pepper, "and don't speak, -children, till he gets through." - -"Don't it sound elegant!" said Polly, clasping her hands, when he -had finished. "I didn't think we ever could do it so nice, did you, -Ben?" - -"No, indeed, I didn't," replied Ben, in a highly ecstatic frame of -mind. "Now--oh! what'll we do for an envelope?" he asked in -dismay. - -"You'll have to do without that," said Mrs. Pepper, "for there isn't -any in the house--but see here, children," she added, as she saw the -sorry faces before her--"you just fold up the letter, and put it inside -the parcel; that'll be just as good." - -"Oh dear," said Polly; "but it would have been splendid the other -way, mammy--just like other folks!" - -"You must make believe this is like other folks," said Mrs. Pepper, -cheerily, "when you can't do any other way." - -"Yes," said Ben, "that's so, Polly; tie 'em up quick's you can, and -I'll take 'em over to Deacon Blodgett's, for he's goin' to start early -in the morning." - -So after another last look all around, Polly put the cakes in the -paper, and tied it with four or five strong knots, to avoid all danger -of its undoing. - -"He never'll untie it, Polly," said Ben; "that's just like a girl's -knots!" - -"Why didn't you tie it then?" said Polly; "I'm sure it's as good as a -boy's knots, and they always muss up a parcel so." And she gave a -loving, approving little pat to the top of the package, which, -despite its multitude of knots, was certainly very neat indeed. - -Ben, grasping the pen again, "here goes for the direction. - -"Deary, yes!" said Polly. "I forgot all about that; I thought 'twas -done." - -"How'd you s'pose he'd get it?" asked Ben, coolly beginning the -"M." - -"I don't know," replied Polly, looking over his shoulder; "s'pose -anybody else had eaten 'em up, Ben!" And she turned pale at the -very thought. - -"There," said Ben, at last, after a good many flourishes, "now 'ti.s -done! you can't think of another thing to do to it, Polly!" - -"Mamsie, see!" cried Polly, running with it to Mrs. Pepper, "isn't -that fine! 'Mr. Jasper E. King, at the Hotel Hingham." - -"Yes," said Mrs. Pepper, admiringly, to the content of all the -children, "I should think it was!" - -"Let me take it in my hand," screamed Joel, reaching eagerly up -for the tempting brown parcel. - -"Be careful then, Joe," said Polly, with an important air. So Joel -took a comfortable feel, and then Davie must have the same -privilege. At last it was off, and with intense satisfaction the -children watched Ben disappear with it down the long hill to -Deacon Blodgett's. - -The next day Ben came running in from his work at the deacon's. - -"Oh, Polly, you had 'em!" he screamed, all out of breath. "You had -'em!" - -"Had what?" asked Polly in astonishment. "Oh, Bensie, what do -you mean?" - -"Your flowers," he panted. "You sent some flowers to Jasper." - -"Flowers to Jasper!" repeated Polly, afraid Ben had gone out of his -wits. - -"Yes," said Ben; "I'll begin at the beginning. You see, Polly, when I -went down this morning, Betsey was to set me to work. Deacon -Blodgett and Mrs. Blodgett had started early, you know; and while -I was a-cleanin' up the woodshed, as she told me, all of a sudden -she said, as she stood in the door looking on, 'Oh, Ben, Mis' -Blodgett took some posies along with your parcel.' 'What?' said I; I -didn't know as I'd heard straight. 'Posies, I said,' says Betsey; -'beautiful ones they were, too, the best in the garding. I heard her -tell Mr. Blodgett it would be a pity if that sick boy couldn't have -some flowers, and she knew the Pepper children were crazy about -'em, so she twisted 'em in the string around the parcel, and there -they stood up and looked fine, I tell you, as they drove away.' So, -Polly!" - -"Bensie Pepper!" cried Polly, taking hold of his jacket, and -spinning him round, "I told you so! I told you so!" - -"I know you did," said Ben, as she gave him a parting whirl, "an' I -wish you'd say so about other things, Polly, if you can get 'em so -easy." - -JOLLY DAYS - -"Oh Ben," cried Jasper, overtaking him by a smart run as he was -turning in at the little brown gate one morning three days after, "do -wait." - -"Halloa!" cried Ben, turning around, and setting down his load--a -bag of salt and a basket of potatoes--and viewing Jasper and Prince -with great satisfaction. - -"Yes, here I am," said Jasper. "And how I've run; that fellow on the -stage was awful slow in getting here--oh, you're so good," he said -and his eyes, brimful of gladness, beamed on Ben. "The cakes -were just prime, and 'twas great fun to get your letter." - -"Did you like it?" asked Ben, the color up all over his brown face-- -"Like it!" cried Jasper. "Why 'twas just splendid; and the cakes -were royal! Isn't Polly smart though, to bake like that!" he added -admiringly. - -"I guess she is," said Ben, drawing himself up to his very tallest -dimensions. "She knows how to do everything, Jasper King!" - -"I should think she did," responded the boy quickly. "I wish she -was my sister," he finished longingly. - -"Well, I don't," quickly replied Ben, "for then she wouldn't be -mine; and I couldn't think of being without Polly! Was your father -angry about--about--'the gingerbread boy'?" he asked timidly, -trembling for an answer. - -"Oh dear," cried Jasper, tumbling over on the grass, "don't, don't! I -shan't be good for anything if you make me laugh! oh! wasn't it -funny;" and he rolled over and over, shaking with glee. - -"Yes," said Ben, immensely relieved to find that no offence had -been taken. "But she would send it; Polly tried not to have her, and -she most cried when Phronsie was so determined, cause she said -your father never'd let you come again"-- "Twas just lovely in -Phronsie," said the boy, sitting up - -and wiping his eyes, "but oh it was so funny! you ought to have -seen my father, Ben Pepper." - -"Oh, then he was angry," cried Ben. - -"No indeed he wasn't!" said Jasper; "don't you think it! do you -know it dod him lots of good, for he'd been feeling real badly that -morning, he hadn't eaten any breakfast, and when he saw that -gingerbread boy"--here Jasper rolled over again with a peal of -laughter--"and heard the message, he just put back his head, and he -laughed--why, I never heard him laugh as he did then! the room -shook all over; and he ate a big dinner, and all that afternoon he -felt as good as could be. But he says he's coming to see the little -girl that baked it for him before we go home." - -Ben nearly tumbled over by the side of Jasper at these words-- -"Coming to see us!" he gasped, - -"Yes," said Jasper, who had scarcely got over his own -astoruishment about it, for if the roof had suddenly whisked off on -to the church steeple, he couldn't have been more amazed than -when he heard his father say cheerily: "Well, Jasper my boy, I -guess I shall have to drive over and see your little girl, since she's -been polite enough to bake me this," pointing to the wild-looking -"gingerbread boy." - -"Come in and tell 'em about it," cried Ben, radiantly, picking up his -potatoes and salt. "It's all right, Polly!" he said in a jubilant voice, -"for here's Jasper, and he'll tell you so himself." - -"Hush!" said Jasper warningly, "don't let Phronsie hear; well, here's -my pet now," and after bobbing lovingly to the others, with eyes -beaming over with fun, he caught up the little girl who was -screaming--"Oh, here's Japser! and my beyew-ti-ful doggie!" - -"Now Phronsie," he cried, "give me a kiss; you haven't any soft -soap to-day, have you? no; that's a good, nice one, now; your -'gingerbread boy' was just splendid!" - -"Did he eat it?" asked the child in grave delight. - -"Well--no--he hasn't eaten it yet," said Jasper, smiling on the -others; "he's keeping it to look at, Phronsie." - -"I should think so!" groaned Polly. - -"Never mind, Polly," Ben whispered; "Jasper's been a-tellin' me -about it; his father liked it--he did truly." - -"Oh!" said Polly, "I'm so glad!" - -"He had eyes," said Phronsie, going back to the charms of the -"gingerbread boy." - -"I know it," said Jasper admiringly; "so lie did." - -"Rather deep sunk, one of 'em was," muttered Ben. - -"And I'll bake you one, Japser," said the child as he put her down; -"I will very truly--some day." - -"Will you," smiled Jasper; "well then," and there was a whispered -conference with Phronsie that somehow sent that damsel into a -blissful state of delight. And then while Phronsie monopolized -Prince, Jasper told them all about the reception of the parcel--how -very dull and forlorn he was feeling that morning, Prince and he -shut up in-doors--and how his father had had a miserable night, -and had eaten scarcely no breakfast, and just at this juncture there -came a knock at the door, "and" said Jasper, "your parcel walked -in, all dressed up in flowers!" - -"They weren't our flowers," said Polly, honestly. "Mrs. Blodgett -put 'em on." - -"Well she couldn't have, if you hadn't sent the parcel," said Jasper -in a tone of conviction. - -Then he launched out into a description of how they opened the -package--Prince looking on, and begging for one of the cakes. - -"Oh, didn't you give him one?" cried Polly at this. "Good old -Prince!" - -"Yes I did," said Jasper, "the biggest one of all." - -"The one I guess," interrupted Joel, "with the big raisin on top." - -Polly spoke up quickly to save any more remarks on Joel's part. -"Now tell us about your father--and the 'gingerbread boy. - -So Jasper broke out with a merry laugh, into this part of the story, -and soon had them all in such a gale of merriment, that Phronsie -stopped playing out on the door-step with Prince, and came in to -see what the matter was. - -"Never mind," said Polly, trying to get her breath, just as Jasper -was relating how Mr. King set up the "gingerbread boy" on his -writing table before him, while he leaned back in his chair for a -hearty laugh. - -"And to make it funnier still," said Jasper "don't you think, a little -pen-wiper he has, made like a cap, hanging on the pen-rack above -him, tumbled off just at this very identical minute right on the head -of the 'gingerbread boy,' and there it stuck!" - -"Oh!" they all screamed, "if we could only have seen it." - -"What was it?" asked Phronsie, pulling Polly's sleeve to make her -hear. - -So Jasper took her in his lap, and told how funny the "gingerbread -boy" looked with a cap on, and Phronsie clapped her hands, and -laughed with the rest, till the little old kitchen rang and rang again. - -And then they had the baking! and Polly tied one of her mother's -ample aprons on Jasper, as Mrs. Pepper had left directions if he -should come while she was away; and he developed such a taste -for cookery, and had so many splendid improvements on the -Peppers' simple ideas, that the children thought it the most -fortunate thing in the world that he came; and one and all voted -him a most charming companion. - -"You could cook a Thanksgiving dinner in this stove, just as easy -as not," said Jasper, putting into the oven something on a little -cracked plate that would have been a pie if there were any centre; -but lacking that necessary accompaniment, probably was a -short-cake. "Just as easy as not," be repeated with emphasis, -slamming the door, to give point to his remarks. - -"No, you couldn't either," said Ben at the table with equal decision; -"not a bit of it, Jasper King!" - -"Why, Ben Pepper?" asked Jasper, "that oven's big enough! I -should like to know why not?" - -"'Cause there isn't anything to cook," said Ben coolly, cutting out a -piece of dough for a jumble; "we don't keep Thanksgiving." - -"Not keep Thanksgiving!" said Jasper, standing quite still; "never -had a Thanksgiving! well, I declare," and then he stopped again. - -"Yes," answered Ben; "we had one once; 'twas last year-- but that -wasn't much." - -"Well then," said Jasper, leaning over the table, "I'll tell you what I -should think you'd do--try Christmas." - -"Oh, that's always worse," said Polly, setting down her rolling-pin -to think--which immediately rolled away by itself off from the -table. - -"We never had a Christmas," said little Davie reflectively; "what -are they like, Jasper?" - -Jasper sat quite still, and didn't reply to this question for a moment -or two. - -To be among children who didn't like Thanksgiving, and who -"never had seen a Christmas," and "didn't know what it was like," -was a new revelation to him. - -"They hang up stockings," said Polly softly. - -How many, many times she had begged her mother to try it for the -younger ones; but there was never anything to put in them, and the -winters were cold and hard, and the strictest economy only carried -them through. - -"Oh!" said little Phronsie in horror, "are their feet in 'em, Polly?" - -"No dear," said Polly; while Jasper instead of laughing, only -stared. Something requiring a deal of thought was passing through -the boy's mind just then. "They shall have a Christmas!" he -muttered, "I know father'll let me." But he kept his thoughts to -himself; and becoming his own gay, kindly self, he explained and -told to Phronsie and the others, so many stories of past -Christmases he had enjoyed, that the interest over the baking soon -dwindled away, until a horrible smell of something burning -brought them all to their senses. - -"Oh! the house is burning?" cried Polly. "Oh get a pail of water!" - -"Tisn't either," said Jasper, snuffing wisely; "oh! I know-- I forgot -all about it--I do beg your pardon." And running to the stove, he -knelt down and drew out of the oven, a black, odorous mass, -which with a crest-fallen air he brought to Polly. - -"I'm no end sorry I made such a mess of it," he said, "I meant it for -you." - -"Tisn't any matter," said Polly kindly. - -"And now do you go on," cried Joel and David both in the same -breath, "all about the Tree, you know." - -"Yes, yes," said the others; "if you're not tired, Jasper." - -"Oh, no," cried their accommodating friend, "I love to tell about it; -only wait--let's help Polly clear up first." - -So after all traces of the frolic had been tidied up, and made nice -for the mother's return, they took seats in a circle and Jasper -regaled them with story and reminiscence, till they felt as if fairy -land were nothing to it! - -"How did you ever live through it, Jasper King," said Polly, -drawing the first long breath she had dared to indulge in. "Such an -elegant time!" - -Jasper laughed. "I hope I'll live through plenty more of them," he -said merrily. "We're going to sister Marian's again, father and I; we -always spend our Christmas there, you know, and she's to have all -the cousins, and I don't know how many more; and a tree--but the -best of all, there's going to be a German carol sung by choir boys--I -shall like that best of all." - -"What are choir boys?" asked Polly who was intensely fond of -music. - -"In some of the churches," explained Jasper, "the choir is all boys; -and they do chant, and sing anthems perfectly beautifully, Polly!" - -"Do you play on the piano, and sing?" asked Polly, looking at him -in awe. - -"Yes," said the boy simply; "I've played ever since I was a little -fellow, no bigger'n Phronsie." - -"Oh, Jasper!" cried Polly, clasping her hands, her cheeks all -aflame--"do you mean to say you do really and truly play on the -piano?" - -"Why yes," said the boy, looking into her flashing eyes. "Polly's -always crazy about music," explained Ben; "she'll drum on the -table, and anywhere, to make believe it's a piano." - -"There's Dr. Fisher going by," said Joel, who, now that they had -gotten on the subject of music, began to find prickles running up -and down his legs from sitting so still. "I wish he'd stop." - -"Is he the one that cured your measles--and Polly's eyes?" asked -Jasper running to the window. "I want to see him." - -"Well there he is," cried Ben, as the doctor put his head out of the -gig and bowed and smiled to the little group in the window. - -"He's just lovely," cried Polly, "oh! I wish you knew him." - -"If father's sick again," said Jasper, "we'll have him--he looks nice, -anyway--for father don't like the doctor over in Hingham--do you -know perhaps we'll come again next summer; wouldn't that be -nice!" - -"Oh!" cried the children rapturously; "do come, Jasper, do!" - -"Well, maybe," said Jasper, "if father likes it and sister Marian and -her family will come with us; they do some summers. You'd like -little Dick, I know," turning to Phronsie. "And I guess all of you'd -like all of them," he added, looking at the group of interested -listeners. "They wanted to come this year awfully; they said--'Oh -grandpapa, do let us go with you and Jappy, and"---- - -"What!" said the children. - -"Oh," said Jasper with a laugh, "they call me Jappy--its easier to -say than Jasper; ever so many people do for short. You may if you -want to," he said looking around on them all. - -"How funny!" laughed Polly, "But I don't know as it is any worse -than Polly or Ben." - -"Or Phronsie," said Jappy. "Don't you like Jappy?" he said, -bringing his head down to her level, as she sat on the little stool at -his feet, content in listening to the merry chat. - -"Is that the same as Japser?" she asked gravely. - -"Yes, the very same," he said. - -When they parted--Jappy and the little Peppers were sworn friends; -and the boy, happy in his good times in the cheery little home, felt -the hours long between the visits that his father, when he saw the -change that they wrought in his son, willingly allowed him to -make. - -"Oh dear!" said Mrs. Pepper one day in the last of September--as a -carriage drawn by a pair of very handsome horses, stopped at their -door, "here comes Mr. King I do believe; we never looked worse'n -we do to-day!" - -"I don't care," said Polly, flying out of the bedroom. "Jappy's with -him, mamma, and it'll be nice I guess. At any rate, Phronsie's clean -as a pink," she thought to herself looking at the little maiden, busy -with "baby" to whom she was teaching deportment in the corner. -But there was no time to "fix up;" for a tall, portly gentleman, -leaning on his heavy gold cane, was walking up from the little -brown gate to the big flat-stone that served as a step. Jasper and -Prince followed decorously. - -"Is this little Miss Pepper?" he asked pompously of Polly, who -answered his rap on the door. Now whether she was little "Miss -Pepper" she never had stopped to consider. - -"I don't know sir; I'm Polly." And then she blushed bright as a rose, -and the laughing brown eyes looked beyond to Jasper, who stood -on the walk, and smiled encouragingly. - -"Is your mother in?" asked the old gentleman, who was so tall he -could scarcely enter the low door. And then Mrs. Pepper came -forward, and Jasper introduced her, and the old gentleman bowed, -and sat down in the seat Polly placed for him. And Mrs. Pepper -thanked him with a heart overflowing with gratitude, through lips -that would tremble even then, for all that Jasper had done for -them. And the old gentleman said--"Humph!" but he looked at his -son, and something shone in his eye just for a moment. - -Phronsie had retreated with "baby" in her arms behind the door on -the new arrival. But seeing everything progressing finely, and -overcome by her extreme desire to see Jappy and Prince, she began -by peeping out with big eyes to observe how things were going on. -Just then the old gentleman happened to say, "Well, where is my -little girl that baked me a cake so kindly?" - -Then Phronsie, forgetting all else but her "poor sick man," who -also was "Jasper's father," rushed out from behind the door, and -coming up to the stately old gentleman in the chair, she looked up -pityingly, and said, shaking her yellow head, "Poor, sick man, was -my boy good?" - -After that there was no more gravity and ceremony. In a moment, -Phronsie was perched upon old Mr. King's knee, and playing with -his watch; while the others, freed from all restraint, were chatting -and laughing happily, till some of the cheeriness overflowed and -warmed the heart of the old gentleman. - -"We go to-morrow," he said, rising, and looking at his watch. -"Why, is it possible that we have been here an hour! there, my -little girl, will you give me a kiss?" and he bent his handsome old -head down to the childish face upturned to his confidingly. - -"Don't go," said the child, as she put up her little lips in grave -confidence. "I do like you--I do!" - -"Oh, Phronsie," began Mrs. Pepper. - -"Don't reprove her, madam," said the old gentleman, who liked it -immensely. "Yes, we go to-morrow," he said, looking around on -the group to whom this was a blow they little expected. They had -surely thought Jasper was to stay a week longer. - -"I received a telegram this morning, that I must be in the city on -Thursday. And besides, madam," he said, addressing Mrs. Pepper, -"I think the climate is bad for me now, as it induces rheumatism. -The hotel is also getting unpleasant; there are many annoyances -that I cannot put up with; so that altogether, I do not regret it." - -Mrs. Pepper, not knowing exactly what to say to this, wisely said -nothing. Meantime, Jappy and the little Peppers were having a -sorry time over in the corner by themselves. - -"Well, I'll write," cried Jasper, not liking to look at Polly just then, -as he was sure he shouldn't want anyone to look at him, if he felt -like crying. "And you must answer 'em all." - -"Oh, we will! we will!" they cried. "And Jappy, do come next -summer," said Joel. - -"If father'll only say yes, we will, I tell you!" he responded eagerly. - -"Come, my boy," said his father the third time; and Jasper knew by -the tone that there must be no delay. - -Mr. King had been nervously putting his hand in his pocket during -the last few moments that the children were together; but when he -glanced at Mrs. Pepper's eyes, something made him draw it out -again hastily, as empty as he put it in. "No, 'twouldn't do," he said -to himself; "she isn't the kind of woman to whom one could offer -money." - -The children crowded back their tears, and hastily said their last -good-bye, some of them hanging on to Prince till the last moment. - -And then the carriage door shut with a bang, Jasper giving them a -bright parting smile, and they were gone. - -And the Peppers went into their little brown house, and shut the -door. - -GETTING A CHRISTMAS FOR THE LITTLE ONES - -And so October came and went. The little Peppers were very -lonely after Jasper had gone; even Mrs. Pepper caught herself -looking up one day when the wind blew the door open suddenly, -half expecting to see the merry whole-souled boy, and the faithful -dog come scampering in. - -But the letters came--and that was a comfort; and it was fun to -answer them. The first one spoke of Jasper's being under a private -tutor, with his cousins; then they were less frequent, and they knew -he was studying hard. Full of anticipations of Christmas himself, -he urged the little Peppers to try for one. And the life and spirit of -the letter was so catching, that Polly and Ben found their souls -fired within them to try at least to get for the little ones a taste of -Christmastide. - -"Now, mammy," they said at last, one day in the latter part of -October, when the crisp, fresh air filled their little healthy bodies -with springing vitality that must bubble over and rush into -something, "we don't want a Thanksgiving--truly we don't. But -may we try for a Christmas--just a little one," they added, timidly, -"for the children?" Ben and Polly always called the three younger -ones of the flock "the children." - -To their utter surprise, Mrs. Pepper looked mildly assenting, and -presently she said-- "Well, I don't see why you can't try; 'twon't do -any harm, I'm sure." - -You see Mrs. Pepper had received a letter from Jasper, which at -present she didn't feel called upon to say anything about. - -"Now," said Polly, drawing a long breath, as she and Ben stole -away into a corner to "talk over" and lay plans, "what does it -mean?" - -"Never mind," said Ben; "as long as she's given us leave I don't -care what it is." - -"I neither," said Polly, with the delicious feeling as if the whole -world were before them where to choose; "it'll be just gorgeous, -Ben!" - -"What's that?" asked Ben, who was not as much given to long -words as Polly, who dearly loved to be fine in language as well as -other things. - -"Oh, it's something Jappy said one day; and I asked him, and he -says it's fine, and lovely, and all that," answered Polly, delighted -that she knew something she could really tell Ben. - -"Then why not say fine?" commented Ben, practically, with a little -upward lift of his nose. - -"Oh, I'd know, I'm sure," laughed Polly. "Let's think what'll we do -for Christmas--how many weeks are there, anyway, Ben?" And she -began to count on her fingers. - -"That's no way," said Ben, "I'm going to get the Almanac." So he -went to the old clock where hanging up by its side, was a "Farmer's -Almanac." - -"Now, we'll know," he said, coming back to their corner. So with -heads together they consulted and counted up till they found that -eight weeks and three days remained in which to get ready. - -"Dear me!" said Polly. "It's most a year, isn't it, Ben?" - -"'Twon't be much time for us," said Ben, who thought of the many -hours to be devoted to hard work that would run away with the -time. "We'd better begin right away, Polly." - -"Well, all right," said Polly, who could scarcely keep her fingers -still, as she thought of the many things she should so love to do if -she could. "But first, Ben, what let's do?" - -"Would you rather hang up their stockings?" asked Ben, as if he -had unlimited means at his disposal; "or have a tree?" - -"Why," said Polly, with wide open eyes at the two magnificent -ideas, "we haven't got anything to put in the stockings when we -hang 'em, Ben." - -"That's just it," said Ben. "Now, wouldn't it be better to have a tree, -Polly? I can get that easy in the woods, you know." - -"Well," interrupted Polly, eagerly, "we haven't got anything to hang -on that, either, Ben. You know Jappy said folks hang all sorts of -presents on the branches. So I don't see," she continued, -impatiently, "as that's any good. We can't do anything, Ben Pepper, -so there! there isn't anything to do anything with," and with a -flounce Polly sat down on the old wooden stool, and folding her -hands looked at Ben in a most despairing way. - -"I know," said Ben, "we haven't got much." - -"We haven't got anything," said Polly, still looking at him. "Why, -we've got a tree," replied Ben, hopefully. "Well, what's a tree," -retorted Polly, scornfully. "Anybody can go out and look at a tree -outdoors." - -"Well, now, I tell you, Polly," said Ben, sitting down on the floor -beside her, and speaking very slowly and decisively, "we've got to -do something 'cause we've begun; and we might make a tree real -pretty." - -"How?" asked Polly, ashamed of her ill-humor, but not in the least -seeing how anything could be made of a tree. "How, Ben Pepper?" - -"Well," said Ben, pleasantly, "we'd set it up in the corner--" - -"Oh, no, not in the corner," cried Polly, whose spirits began to rise -a little as she saw Ben so hopeful. "Put it in the middle of the -room, do!" - -"I don't care where you put it," said Ben, smiling, happy that -Polly's usual cheerful energy had returned, "but I thought.--'twill be -a little one, you know, and I thought 'twould look better in the -corner." - -"What else?" asked Polly, eager to see how Ben would dress the -tree. - -"Well," said Ben, "you know the Henderson boys gave me a lot of -corn last week." - -"I don't see as that helps much," said Polly, still incredulous. "Do -you mean hang the cobs on the branches, Ben? That would be just -dreadful!" - -"I should think likely," laughed Ben. "No, indeed, Polly Pepper! -but if we should pop a lot, oh! a bushel, and then we should string -'em, we could wind it all in and out among the branches, and--" - -"Why, wouldn't that be pretty?" cried Polly, "real pretty-- and we -can do that, I'm sure." - -"Yes," continued Ben; "and then, don't you know, there's some -little candle ends in that box in the Provision Room, maybe -mammy'd give us them." - -"I don't believe but she would," cried Polly; "twould be just like -Jappy's if she would! Let's ask her now--this very same minute!" - -And they scampered hurriedly to Mrs. Pepper, who to their -extreme astonishment, after all, said "yes," and smiled -encouragingly on the plan. - -"Isn't mammy good?" said Polly, with loving gratitude, as they -seated themselves again. - -"Now we're all right," exclaimed Ben, "and I tell you we can make -the tree look perfectly splendid, Polly Pepper!" - -"And I'll tell you another thing, Ben," Polly said, "oh! something -elegant! You must get ever so many hickory nuts; and you know -those bits of bright paper I've got in the bureau drawer? Well, we -can paste them on to the nuts and hang 'em on for the balls Jappy -tells of." - -"Potty," cried Ben, "it'll be such a tree as never was, won't it?" - -"Yes; but dear me," cried Polly, springing up, "the children are -coming! Wasn't it good, grandma wanted 'em to come over this -afternoon, so's we could talk! Now hush!" as the door opened to -admit the noisy little troop. - -"If you think of any new plan," whispered Ben, behind his hand, -while Mrs. Pepper engaged their attention, "you'll have to come -out into the wood-shed to talk after this." - -"I know it," whispered Polly back again; "oh! we've got just heaps -of things to think of, Bensie!" - -Such a contriving and racking of brains as Polly and Ben set up -after this! They would bob over at each other, and smile with -significant gesture as a new idea would strike one of them, in the -most mysterious way that, if observed, would drive the others -almost wild. And then, frightened lest in some hilarious moment -the secret should pop out, the two conspirators would betake -themselves to the wood-shed as before agreed on. But Joel, finding -this out, followed them one day--or, as Polly said, tagged--so that -was no good. - -"Let's go behind the wood-pile," she said to Ben, in desperation; -"he can't hear there, if we whisper real soft." - -"Yes, he will," said Ben, who knew Joers hearing faculties much -better. "We'll have to wait till they're a-bed." - -So after that, when nightfall first began to make its appearance, -Polly would hint mildly about bedtime. - -"You hustle us so!" said Joel, after he had been sent off to bed for -two or three nights unusually early. - -"Oh, Joey, it's good for you to get to bed," said Polly, coaxingly; -"it'll make you grow, you know, real fast," - -"Well, I don't grow a-bed," grumbled Joel, who thought something -was in the wind. "You and Ben are going to talk, I know, and wink -your eyes, as soon as we're gone." - -"Well, go along, Joe, that's a good boy," said Polly, laughing, "and -you'll know some day." - -"What'll you give me?" asked Joel, seeing a bargain, his foot on the -lowest stair leading to the loft, "say, Polly?" - -"Oh, I haven't got much to give," she said, cheerily; "but I'll tell -you what, Joey--I'll tell you a story every day that you go to bed," - -"Will you?" cried Joe, hopping back into the room. "Begin now, -Polly, begin now!" - -"Why, you haven't been to bed yet," said Polly, "so I can't till -to-morrow." - -"Yes, I have--you've made us go for three--no, I guess fourteen -nights," said Joel, indignantly. - -"Well, you were made to go," laughed Polly. "I said if you'd go -good, you know; so run along, Joe, and I'll tell you a nice one -to-morrow." - -"It's got to be long," shouted Joel, when he saw he could get no -more, making good time up to the loft, - -To say that Polly, in the following days, was Master Joel's slave, -was stating the case lightly. However, she thought by her -story-telling she got off easily, as each evening saw the boys drag -their unwilling feet to-bedward, and leave Ben and herself in peace -to plan and work undisturbed. There they would sit by the little old -table, around the one tallow candle, while Mrs. Pepper sewed -away busily, looking up to smile or to give some bits of advice; -keeping her own secret meanwhile, which made her blood leap -fast, as the happy thoughts nestled in her heart of her little ones -and their coming glee. And Polly made the loveliest of paper dolls -for Phronsie out of the rest of the bits of bright paper; and Ben -made windmills and whistles for the boys; and a funny little carved -basket with a handle, for Phronsie, out of a hickory nut shell; and a -new pink calico dress for Seraphina peered out from the top -drawer of the old bureau in the bedroom, whenever anyone opened -it--for Mrs. Pepper kindly let the children lock up their treasures -there as fast as completed. - -"I'll make Seraphina a bonnet," said Mrs. Pepper, "for there's that -old bonnet-string in the bag, you know, Polly, that'll make it -beautiful." - -"Oh, do, mother," cried Polly, "she's been wanting a new one -awfully." - -"And I'm going to knit some mittens for Joel and David," -continued Mrs. Pepper; "cause I can get the yarn cheap now. I saw -some down at the store yesterday I could have at half price." - -"I don't believe anybody'll have as good a Christmas as we shall," -cried Polly, pasting on a bit of trimming to the gayest doll's dress; -"no, not even Jappy." - -An odd little smile played around Mrs. Pepper's mouth, but she -said not a word, and so the fun and the work went on. - -The tree was to be set up in the Provision Room; that was finally -decided, as Mrs. Pepper showed the children how utterly useless it -would be to try having it in the kitchen. - -"I'll find the key, children," she said, "I think I know where 'tis, and -then we can keep them out." - -"Well, but it looks so," said Polly, demurring at the prospect. - -"Oh, no, Polly," said her mother; "at any rate it's clean." - -"Polly," said Ben, "we can put evergreen around, you know, - -"So we can," said Polly, brightly; "oh, Ben, you do think of the best -things; we couldn't have had them in the kitchen." - -"And don't let's hang the presents on the tree," continued Ben; "let's -have the children hang up their stockings; they want to, -awfully--for I heard David tell Joel this morning before we got -up--they thought I was asleep, but I wasn't--that he did so wish they -could, but, says he, 'Don't tell mammy, 'cause that'll make her feel -bad." - -"The little dears!" said Mrs. Pepper, impulsively; "they shall have -their stockings, too." - -"And we'll make the tree pretty enough," said Polly, -enthusiastically; "we shan't want the presents to hang on; we've got -so many things. And then we'll have hickory nuts to eat; and -perhaps mammy'll let us make some molasses candy the day -before," she said, with a sly look at her mother. - -"You may," said Mrs. Pepper, smiling. - -"Oh, goody!" they both cried, hugging each other ecstatically. - -"And we'll have a frolic in the Provision Room afterwards," -finished Polly; "oh! ooh!" - -And so the weeks flew by--one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, -eight! till only the three days remained, and to think the fun that -Polly and Ben had had already! - -"It's better'n a Christmas," they told their mother, "to get ready for -it!" - -"It's too bad you can't hang up your stockings," said Mrs. Pepper, -looking keenly at their flushed faces and bright eyes; "you've never -himg'em up." - -"That isn't any matter, mamsie," they both said, cheerily; "it's a -great deal better to have the children have a nice time--oh, won't it -be elegant! p'r'aps we'll have ours next year!" - -For two days before, the house was turned upside down for Joel to -find the biggest stocking he could; but on Polly telling him it must -be his own, he stopped his search, and bringing down his well- -worn one, hung it by the corner of the chimney to be ready. - -"You put yours up the other side, Dave," he advised. - -"There isn't any nail," cried David, investigating. - -"I'll drive one," said Joel, so he ran out to the tool-house, as one -corner of the wood-shed was called, and brought in the hammer -and one or two nails. - -"Phronsie's a-goin' in the middle," he said, with a nail in his mouth. - -"Yes, I'm a-goin' to hang up my stockin'," cried the child, hopping -from one toe to the other. - -"Run get it, Phronsie," said Joel, "and I'll hang it up for you. - -"Why, it's two days before Christmas yet," said Polly, laughing; -"how they'll look hanging there so long." - -"I don't care," said Joel, giving a last thump to the nail; "we're -a-goin' to be ready. Oh, dear! I wish 'twas to-night!" - -"Can't Seraphina hang up her stocking?" asked Phronsie, coming -up to Polly's side; "and Baby, too?" - -"Oh, let her have part of yours," said Potty, "that'll be best-- -Seraphina and Baby, and you have one stocking together." - -"Oh, yes," cried Phronsie, easily pleased; "that'll be best." So for -the next two days, they were almost distracted; the youngest ones -asking countless questions about Santa Claus, and how he possibly -could get down the chimney, Joel running his head up as far as he -dared, to see if it was big enough. - -"I guess he can," he said, coming back in a sooty state, looking -very much excited and delighted. - -"Will he be black like Joey?" asked Phronsie, pointing to his grimy -face. - -"No," said Polly; "he don't ever get black." - -"Why?" they all asked; and then, over and over, they wanted the -delightful mystery explained. - -"We never'll get through this day," said Polly in despair, as the last -one arrived. "I wish 'twas to-night, for we're all ready," - -"Santy's coming! Santy's coming!" sang Phronsie, as the bright -afternoon sunlight went down over the fresh, crisp snow, "for it's -night now." - -"Yes, Santa is coming!" sang Polly; and "Santa Claus is acoming," -rang back and forth through the old kitchen, till it seemed as if the -three little old stockings would hop down and join in the dance -going on so merrily. - -"I'm glad mine is red," said Phronsie, at last, stopping in the wild -jig, and going up to see if it was all safe, "cause then Santy'll know -it's mine, won't he, Polly?" - -"Yes, dear," cried Polly, catching her up. "Oh, Phronsie! you are -going to have a Christmas!" - -"Well, I wish," said Joel, "I had my name on mine! I know Dave'll -get some of my things." - -"Oh, no, Joe," said Mrs. Pepper, "Santa Claus is smart; he'll know -yours is in the left-hand corner." - -"Will he?" asked Joel, still a little fearful. - -"Oh, yes, indeed," said Mrs. Pepper, confidently. "I never knew -him to make a mistake." - -"Now," said Ben, when they had all made a pretence of eating -supper, for there was such an excitement prevailing that no one sat -still long enough to eat much, "you must every one fly off to bed as -quick as ever can be." - -"Will Santa Claus come faster then?" asked Joel. - -"Yes," said Ben, "just twice as fast." - -"I'm going, then," said Joel; "but I ain't going to sleep, 'cause I -mean to hear him come over the roof; then I'm going to get up, for -I do so want a squint at the reindeer!" - -"I am, too," cried Davie, excitedly. "Oh, do come, Joe!" and he -began to mount the stairs. - -"Good night," said Phronsie, going up to the centre of the -chimney-piece, where the little red stocking dangled limpsily, "lift -me up, Polly, do." - -"What you want to do?" asked Polly, running and giving her a -jump. "What you goin' to do, Phronsie?" - -"I want to kiss it good night," said the child, with eyes big with -anticipation and happiness, hugging the well worn toe of the little -old stocking affectionately. "I wish I had something to give Santa, -Polly, I do!" she cried, as she held her fast in her arms. - -"Never mind, Pet," said Potty, nearly smothering her with kisses; -"if you're a good girl, Phronsie, that pleases Santa the most of -anything." - -"Does it?" cried Phronsie, delighted beyond measure, as Polly -carried her into the bedroom, "then I'll be good always, - -I will!" - -CHRISTMAS BELLS! - -In the middle of the night Polly woke up with a start. - -"What in the world!" said she, and she bobbed up her head and -looked over at her mother, who was still peacefully sleeping, and -was just going to lie down again, when a second noise out in the -kitchen made her pause and lean on her elbow to listen. At this -moment she thought she heard a faint whisper, and springing out -of bed she ran to Phronsie's crib-- it was empty! As quick as a flash -she sped out into the kitchen. There, in front of the chimney, were -two figures. One was Joel, and the other, unmistakably, was -Phronsie! - -"What are you doing?" gasped Polly, holding on to a chair. - -The two little night-gowns turned around at this. - -"Why, I thought it was morning," said Joel, "and I wanted my -stocking. Oh!" as he felt the toe, which was generously stuffed, -"give it to me, Polly Pepper, and I'll run right back to bed again!" - -"Dear me!" said Polly; "and you, too, Phronsie! Why, it's the -middle of the night! Did I ever!" and she had to pinch her mouth -together tight to keep from bursting out into a loud laugh. "Oh, -dear, I shall laugh! don't look so scared, Phronsie, there won't -anything hurt you." For Phronsie who, on hearing Joel fumbling -around the precious stockings, had been quite willing to hop out of -bed and join him, had now, on Polly's saying the dire words "in the -middle of the night," scuttled over to her protecting side like a -frightened rabbit. - -"It never'll be morning," said Joel taking up first one cold toe and -then the other; "you might let us have 'em now, Polly, - -"No," said Polly sobering down; "you can't have yours till Davie -wakes up, too. Scamper off to bed, Joey, dear, and forget all about -'em--and it'll be morning before you know it." - -"Oh, I'd rather go to bed," said Phronsie, trying to tuck up her feet -in the little flannel night-gown, which was rather short, "but I don't -know the way back, Polly. Take me, Polly, do," and she put up her -arms to be carried. - -"Oh, I ain't a-goin' back alone, either," whimpered Joel, coming up -to Polly, too. - -"Why, you came down alone, didn't you?" whispered Polly, with a -little laugh. - -"Yes, but I thought 'twas morning," said Joel, his teeth chattering -with something beside the cold. - -"Well, you must think of the morning that's coming," said Polly, -cheerily. "I'll tell you--you wait till I put Phronsie into the crib, and -then I'll come back and go half-way up the stairs with you." - -"I won't never come down till it's mornin' again," said Joel, -bouncing along the stairs, when Polly was ready to go with him, at -a great rate. - -"Better not," laughed Polly, softly. "Be careful and not wake Davie -nor Ben." - -'Tm in," announced Joel, in a loud whisper; and Polly could hear -him snuggle down among the warm bedclothes. "Call us when 'tis -mornin', Polly." - -"Yes," said Polly, "I will; go to sleep." - -Phronsie had forgotten stockings and everything else on Polly's -return, and was fast asleep in the old crib. The result of it was that -the children slept over, when morning did really come; and Polly -had to keep her promise, and go to the foot of the stairs and call-- -"MErmy CHRISTMAS! oh, Ben! and Joel! and Davie!" - -"Oh!--oh!--oo-h!" and then the sounds that answered her, as with -smothered whoops of expectation they one and all flew into their -clothes! - -Quick as a flash Joel and Davie were down and dancing around the -chimney. - -"Mammy! mammy!" screamed Phronsie, hugging her stocking, -which Ben lifted her up to unhook from the big nail, "Santy did -come, he did!" and then she spun around in the middle of the floor, -not stopping to look in it. - -"Well, open it, Phronsie," called Davie, deep in the exploring of -his own; "oh! isn't that a splendid wind-mill, Joe?" - -"Yes," said that individual, who, having found a big piece of -molasses candy, was so engaged in enjoying a huge bite that, -regardless alike of his other gifts or of the smearing his face was -getting, he gave himself wholly up to its delights. - -"Oh, Joey," cried Polly, laughingly, "molasses candy for -breakfast!" - -"That's prime!" cried Joel, swallowing the last morsel. "Now rm -going to see what's this--oh, Dave, see here! see here!" he cried in -intense excitement, pulling out a nice little parcel which, unrolled, -proved to be a bright pair of stout mittens. "See if you've got -some--look quick!" - -"Yes, I have," said David, picking up a parcel about as big. "No, -that's molasses candy." - -"Just the same as I had," said Joel; "do look for the mittens. P'r'aps -Santa Claus thought you had some--oh, dear!" - -"Here they are!" screamed Davie. "I have got some, Joe, just -exactly like yours! See, Joe!" - -"Goody!" said Joel, immensely relieved; for now he could quite -enjoy his to see a pair on Davie's hands, also. "Look at Phron," he -cried, "she hasn't got only half of her things out!" - -To tell the truth, Phronsie was so bewildered by her riches that she -sat on the floor with the little red stocking in her lap, laughing and -cooing to herself amid the few things she had drawn out. When she -came to Seraphina's bonnet she was quite overcome. She turned it -over and over, and smoothed out the little white feather that had -once adorned one of Grandma Bascom's chickens, until the two -boys~ with their stockings, and the others sitting around in a group -on the floor watching them, laughed in glee to see her enjoyment. - -"Oh, dear," said Joel, at last, shaking his stocking; "I've got all -there is. I wish there were forty Christmases coming!" - -"I haven't!" screamed Davie; "there's some thing in the toe." - -"It's an apple, I guess," said Joel; "turn it up, Dave." - -"'Tisn't an apple," exclaimed Davie, "tisn't round--it's long and thin; -here 'tis." And he pulled out a splendid long whistle on which he -blew a blast long and terrible, and Joel immediately following, all -quiet was broken up, and the wildest hilarity reigned. - -"I don't know as you'll want any breakfast," at last said - -Mrs. Pepper, when she had got Phronsie a little sobered down. - -"I do, I do!" cried Joel. - -"Dear me! after your candy?" said Polly. - -"That's all gone," said Joel, tooting around the table on his whistle. -"What are we going to have for breakfast?" - -"Same as ever," said his mother; "it can't be Christmas all the -time." - -"I wish 'twas," said little Davie; "forever and ever!" - -"Forever an' ever," echoed little Phronsie, flying up, her cheeks -like two pinks, and Seraphina in her arms with her bonnet on -upside down. - -"Dear, dear," said Polly, pinching Ben to keep still as they tumbled -down the little rickety steps to the Provision Room, after breakfast. -The children, content in their treasures, were holding high carnival -in the kitchen. "Suppose they should find it out now--I declare I -should feel most awfully. Isn't it elegant?" she asked, in a subdued -whisper, going all around and around the tree, magnificent in its -dress of bright red and yellow balls, white festoons, and little -candle-ends all ready for lighting. "Oh, Ben, did you lock the -door?" - -"Yes," he said. "That's a mouse," he added, as a little rustling noise -made Polly stop where she stood back of the tree and prick up her -ears in great distress of mind. "'Tis elegant," he said, turning -around in admiration, and taldng in the tree which, as Polly said, -was quite "gorgeous," and the evergreen branches twisted up on -the beams and rafters, and all the other festive arrangements. -"Even Jappy's isn't better, I don't believe!" - -"I wish Jappy was here," said Polly with a small sigh. - -"Well, he isn't," said Ben; "come, we must go back into the -kitchen, or all the children will be out here. Look your last, Polly; -'twon't do to come again till it's time to light up." - -"Mammy says she'd rather do the lighting up," said Polly. "Had -she?" said Ben, in surprise; "oh, I suppose she's afraid we'll set -somethin' a-fire. Well, then, we shan't come in till we have it." - -"I can't bear to go," said Polly, turning reluctantly away; "it's most -beautiful--oh, Ben," and she faced him for the five-hundredth time -with the question, "is your Santa Claus dress all safe?" - -"Yes," said Ben, "I'll warrant they won't find that in one hurry! -Such a time as we've had to make it!" - -"I know it," laughed Polly; "don't that cotton wool look just like -bits of fur, Ben?" - -"Yes," said Ben, "and when the flour's shaken over me it'll be -Santa himself" - -"We've got to put back the hair into mamsie's cushion the first -thing to-morrow," whispered Polly anxiously, "and we mustn't -forget it, Bensie." - -"I want to keep the wig awfully," said Ben. "You did make that just -magnificent, Polly!" - -"If you could see yourself," giggled Polly; "did you put it in the -straw bed? and are you sure you pulled the ticking over it smooth?" - -"Yes, sir," replied Ben, "sure's my name's Ben Pepper! if you'll -only keep them from seeing me when I'm in it till we're -ready--that's all I ask." - -"Well," said Polly a little relieved, "but I hope Joe won't look." - -"Come on! they're a-comin'!" whispered Ben; "quick!" - -"Polly!" rang a voice dangerously near; so near that Polly, speeding -over the stairs to intercept it, nearly fell on her nose. - -"Where you been?" asked one. - -"Let's have a concert," put in Ben; Polly was so out of breath that -she couldn't speak. "Come, now, each take a whistle, and we'll -march round and round and see which can make the biggest -noise." - -In the rattle and laughter which this procession made all mystery -was forgotten, and the two conspirators began to breathe freer. - -Five o'clock! The small ones of the Pepper flock, being pretty well -tired out with noise and excitement, all gathered around Polly and -Ben, and clamored for a story. - -"Do, Polly, do," begged Joel. "It's Christmas, and 'twon't come -again for a year." - -"I can't," said Polly, in such a twitter that she could hardly stand -still, and for the first time in her life refusing, "I can't think of a -thing." - -"I will then," said Ben; "we must do something," he whispored to -Polly. - -"Tell it good," said Joel, settling himself. - -So for an hour the small tyrants kept their entertainers well -employed. - -"Isn't it growing awful dark?" said Davie, rousing himself at last, -as Ben paused to take breath. - -Polly pinched Ben. - -"Mammy's a-goin' to let us know," he whispered in reply. "We -must keep on a little longer." - -"Don't stop," said Joel, lifting his head where he sat on the floor. -"What you whisperin' for, Polly?" - -"I'm not," said Polly, glad to think she hadn't spoken. - -"Well, do go on, Ben," said Joel, lying down again. - -"Polly'll have to finish it," said Ben; "I've got to go upstairs now." - -So Polly launched out into such an extravagant story that they all, -perforce, had to listen. - -All this time Mrs. Pepper had been pretty busy in her way. And -now she came into the kitchen and set down her candle on the -table. "Children," she said. Everybody turned and looked at -her--her tone was so strange; and when they saw her dark eyes -shining with such a new light, little Davie skipped right out into -the middle of the room. "What's the matter, mammy?" - -"You may all come into the Provision Room," said she. - -"What for?" shouted Joel, in amazement; while the others jumped -to their feet, and stood staring. - -Polly flew around like a general, arranging her forces. "Let's march -there," said she; "Phronsie, you take hold of Davie's hand, and go -first." - -"I'm goin' first," announced Joel, squeezing up past Polly. "No, you -mustn't, Joe," said Polly decidedly; "Phronsie and David are the -youngest." - -"They're always the youngest," said Joel, falling back with Polly to -the rear. - -"Forward! MARCH!" sang Polly. "Follow mamsie!" - -Down the stairs they went with military step, and into the -Provision Room. And then, with one wild look, the little battalion -broke ranks, and tumbling one over the other in decidedly -unmilitary style, presented a very queer appearance! - -And Captain Polly was the queerest of all; for she just gave one -gaze at the tree, and then sat right down on the floor, and said, -"On! OH!" - -Mrs. Pepper was flying around delightedly, and saying, "Please to -come right in," and "How do you do?" - -And before anybody knew it, there were the laughing faces of Mrs. -Henderson and the Parson himself, Doctor Fisher and old Grandma -Bascom; while the two Henderson boys, unwilling to be defrauded -of any of the fun, were squeezing themselves in between -everybody else, and coming up to Polly every third minute, and -saying, "There--aren't you surprised?" - -"It's Fairyland!" cried little Davie, out of his wits with joy; "Oh! -aren't we in Fairyland, ma?" - -The whole room was in one buzz of chatter and fun; and -everybody beamed on everybody else; and nobody knew what they -said, till Mrs. Pepper called, "Hush! Santa Claus is coming!" - -A rattle at the little old window made everybody look there, just as -a great snow-white head popped up over the sill. - -"Oh!" screamed Joel, "'tis Santy!" - -"He's a-comin' in!" cried Davie in chorus, which sent Phronsie -flying to Polly. In jumped a little old man, quite spry for his years; -with a jolly, red face and a pack on his back, and flew into their -midst, prepared to do his duty; but what should he do, instead of -making his speech, "this jolly Old Saint"--but first fly up to Mrs. -Pepper, and say--"Oh, mammy how did you do it?" - -"It's Ben!" screamed Phronsie; but the little Old Saint didn't hear, -for he and Polly took hold of hands, and pranced around that tree -while everybody laughed till they cried to see them go! - -And then it all came out! - -"Order!" said Parson Henderson in his deepest tones; and then he -put into Santa Claus' hands a letter, which he requested him to -read. And the jolly Old Saint, although he was very old, didn't need -any spectacles, but piped out in Ben's loudest tones: - -"Dear Friends--A Merry Christmas to you all! And that you'll have -a good time, and enjoy it all as much as I've enjoyed my good -times at your house, is the wish of your friend, - -JASPER ELYOT KING" - -"Hurrah for Jappy!" cried Santa Claus, pulling his beard; and -"Hurrah for Jasper!" went all around the room; and this ended in -three good cheers--Phronsie coming in too late with her little -crow--which was just as well, however! - -"Do your duty now, Santa Claus!" commanded Dr. Fisher as -master of ceremonies; and everything was as still as a mouse! - -And the first thing she knew, a lovely brass cage, with a dear little -bird with two astonished black eyes dropped down into Polly's -hands. The card on it said: "For Miss Polly Pepper, to give her -music everyday in the year." - -"Mammy," said Polly; and then she did the queerest thing of the -whole! she just burst into tears! "I never thought I should have a -bird for my very own!" - -"Hulloa!" said Santa Claus, "I've got something myself!" - -"Santa Claus' clothes are too old," laughed Dr. Fisher, holding up a -stout, warm suit that a boy about as big as Ben would delight in. - -And then that wonderful tree just rained down all manner of lovely -fruit. Gifts came flying thick and fast, till the air seemed full, and -each one was greeted with a shout of glee, as it was put into the -hands of its owner. A shawl flew down on Mrs. Pepper's shoulders; -and a work-basket tumbled on Polly's head; and tops and balls and -fishing poles, sent Joel and David into a corner with howls of -delight! - -But the climax was reached when a large wax doll in a very gay -pink silk dress, was put into Phronsie's hands, and Dr. Fisher, -stooping down, read in loud tones: "FOR PHRONSIE, FROM -ONE WHO ENJOYED HER GINGERBREAD BOY." - -After that, nobody had anything to say! Books jumped down -unnoticed, and gay boxes of candy. Only Polly peeped into one of -her books, and saw in Jappy's plain hand--"I hope we'll both read -this next summer." And turning over to the title-page, she saw "A -Complete Manual of Cookery." - -"The best is to come," said Mrs. Henderson in her gentle way. -When there was a lull in the gale, she took Polly's hand, and led -her to a little stand of flowers in the corner concealed by a sheet-- -pinks and geraniums, heliotropes and roses, blooming away, -and nodding their pretty heads at the happy sight--Polly had her -flowers. - -"Why didn't we know?" cried the children at last, when everybody -was tying on their hoods, and getting their hats to leave the festive -scene, "how could you keep it secret, mammy?" - -"They all went to Mrs. Henderson's," said Mrs. Pepper; "Jasper -wrote me, and asked where to send 'em, and Mrs. Henderson was -so kind as to say that they might come there. And we brought 'em -over last evening, when you were all abed. I couldn't have done it," -she said, bowing to the Parson and his wife, "if 'twasn't for their -kindness--never, in all this world!" - -"And I'm sure," said the minister, looking around on the bright -group, "if we can help along a bit of happiness like this, it is a -blessed thing!" - -And here Joel had the last word. "You said 'twan't goin' to be -Christmas always, mammy. I say," looking around on the overflow -of treasures and the happy faces--"it'll be just forever!" - -EDUCATION AHEAD - -After that they couldn't thank Jasper enough! They tried to, -lovingly, and an elaborate letter of thanks, headed by Mrs. Pepper, -was drawn up and sent with a box of the results of Polly's diligent -study of Jasper's book. Polly stripped off recklessly her choicest -buds and blossoms from the gay little stand of flowers in the -corner, that had already begun to blossom, and tucked them into -every little nook in the box that could possibly hold a posy. But as -for thanking him enough! - -"We can't do it, mammy," said Polly, looking around on all the -happy faces, and then up at Cherry, who was singing in the -window, and who immediately swelled up his little throat and -poured out such a merry burst of song that she had to wait for him -to finish. "No, not if we tried a thousand years!" - -"I'm a-goin'," said Joel, who was busy as a bee with his new tools -that the tree had shaken down for him, "to make Jappy the -splendidest box you ever saw, Polly! I guess that'll thank him!" - -"Do," cried Polly; "he'd be so pleased, Joey." - -"And I," said Phronsie, over in the corner with her children, "I'm -goin' to see my poor sick man sometime, Polly, lam!" - -"Oh, dear!" cried Polly, whirling around, and looking at her mother -in dismay. "She'll be goin' to-morrow! Oh, no, Phronsie, you can't; -he lives miles and miles away--oh, ever so far!" - -"Does he live as far as the moon?" asked little Phronsie, carefully -laying Seraphina down, and looking up at Polly, anxiously. - -"Oh, I don't know," said Polly, giving Cherry a piece of bread, and -laughing to see how cunning he looked. "Oh, no, of course not, but -it's an awful long ways, Phronsie." - -"I don't care," said Phronsie, determinedly, giving the new doll a -loving little pat, "I'm goin' sometime, Polly, to thank my poor sick -man, yes, I am!" - -"You'll see him next summer, Phronsie," sang Polly skipping -around the kitchen, "and Jappy's sister Marian, the lovely lady, and -all the boys. Won't that be nice?" and Polly stopped to pat the -yellow head bending in motherly attentions over her array of dolls. - -"Ye-es," said Phronsie, slowly; "the whole of 'em, Polly?" - -"Yes, indeed!" said Polly, gayly; "the whole of 'em, Phronsie! - -"Hooray!" shouted the two boys, while Phronsie only gave a long -sigh, and clasped her hands. - -"Better not be looking for summer," said Mrs. Pepper, "until you -do your duty by the winter; then you can enjoy it," and she took a -fresh needleful of thread. - -"Mamsie's right," said Ben, smiling over at her. And he threw -down his book and jumped for his cap. "Now for a good chop!" he -cried, and snatching a kiss from Phronsie, he rushed out of the -door to his work, whistling as he went. - -"Warn't Mr. Henderson good, ma," asked Polly, watching his -retreating figure, "to give Ben learning?" - -"Yes, he was," replied Mrs. Pepper, enthusiastically. "We've got a -parson, if anybody has in this world!" - -"And Ben's learning," said Polly, swelling with pride, as she sat -down by her mother, and began to sew rapidly, "so that he'll be a -big man right off! Oh, dear," as a thought made her needle pause a -minute in its quick flying in and out. - -"What is it, Polly?" Mrs. Pepper looked keenly at the troubled face -and downcast eyes. - -"Why--" began Polly, and then she finished very slowly, "I sha n t -know anything, and Ben 11 be ashamed of me. - -"Yes, you will!" cried Mrs. Pepper, energetically, "you keep on -trying, and the Lord'll send some way; don't you go to bothering -your head about it now, Polly--it'll come when it's time." - -"Will it?" asked Polly, doubtfully, taking up her needle again. - -"Yes, indeed!" cried Mrs. Pepper, briskly; "come fly at your -sewing; that's your learning now." - -"So 'tis," said Polly, with a little laugh. "Now let's see which'll get -their seam done first, mamsie?" - -And now letters flew thick and fast from the city to the little brown -house, and back again, warming Jasper's heart, and filling the -tedious months of that winter with more of jollity and fun than the -lad ever enjoyed before; and never was fun and jollity more -needed than now; for Mr. King, having nothing to do, and each -year finding himself less inclined to exercise any thoughtful energy -for others, began to look at life something in the light of a serious -bore, and accordingly made it decidedly disagreeable for all -around him, and particularly for Jasper who was his constant -companion. But the boy was looking forward to summer, and so -held on bravely. - -"I do verily believe, Polly," he wrote, "that Badgertown'll see the -gayest times it ever knew! Sister Marian wants to go, so that's all -right. Now, hurrah for a good time--it's surely coming!" - -But alas! for Jasper! as spring advanced, his father took a decided -aversion to Hingham, Badgertown, and all other places that could -be mentioned in that vicinity. - -"It's a wretched climate," he asserted, over and over; "and the -foundation of all my ill feelings this winter was laid, I'm -convinced, in Hingham last summer." - -No use to urge the contrary; and all Jasper's pleadings were equally -vain. At last, sister Marian, who was kind-hearted to a fault, sorry -to see her brother's dismay and disappointment said, one day, -"Why not have one of the children come here? I should like it very -much--do invite Ben." - -"I don't want Ben," said Jasper gloomily, "I want Polly." He added -this in much the same tone as Phronsie's when she had rushed up -to him the day she was lost, declaring, "I want Polly!" - -"Very well, then," said sister Marian, laughing, "I'm sure I didn't -mean to dictate which one; let it be Polly then; yes, I should prefer -Polly myself, I think, as we've enough boys now," smiling to think -of her own brood of wide awake youngsters. - -"If you only will, father, I'll try to be ever so good!" said Jasper, -turning suddenly to his father. - -"Jasper needs some change," said sister Marian kindly, "he really -has grown very pale and thin." - -"Hey!" said Mr. King, sharply, looking at him over his eyeglasses. -"The boy's well enough; well enough!" But he twisted uneasily in -his chair, all the same. At last he flung down his paper, twitched -his fingers through his hair two or three times, and then burst out-- -"Well, why don't you send for her? I'm sure I don't care-- I'll write -myself, and I had better do it now. Tell Thomas to be ready to take -it right down; it must get into this mail." - -When Mr. King had made up his mind to do anything, everybody -else must immediately give up their individual plans, and stand out -of the way for him to execute his at just that particular moment! -Accordingly Thomas was dragged from his work to post the letter, -while the old gentleman occupied the time in pulling out his watch -every third second until the slightly-out-of-breath Thomas reported -on his return that the letter did get in. Then Mr. King settled down -satisfied, and everything went on smoothly as before. - -But Polly didn't come! A grateful, appreciative letter, expressed in -Mrs. Pepper's own stiff way, plainly showed the determination of -that good woman not to accept what was such a favor to her child. - -In vain Mr. King stormed, and fretted, and begged, offering every -advantage possible--Polly should have the best foundation for a -musical education that the city could afford; also lessons in the -schoolroom under the boys' private tutor-- it was all of no avail. In -vain sister Marian sent a gentle appeal, fully showing her heart -was in it; nothing broke down Mrs. Pepper's resolve, until, at last, -the old gentleman wrote one day that Jasper, being in such failing -health, really depended on Polly to cheer him up. That removed -the last straw that made it "putting one's self under an obligation," -which to Mrs. Pepper's independent soul, had seemed -insurmountable. - -And now, it was decided that Polly was really to go! and pretty -soon all Badgertown knew that Polly Pepper was going to the big -city. And there wasn't a man, woman, or child but what greatly -rejoiced that a sunny time was coming to one of the chicks in the -little brown house. With many warm words, and some substantial -gifts, kind friends helped forward the "outing." Only one person -doubted that this delightful chance should be grasped at once--and -that one was Polly herself! - -"I can't," she said, and stood quite pale and still, when the -Hendersons advised her mother's approval, and even Grandma -Bascom said, "Go." "I can't go and leave mammy to do all the -work." - -"But don't you see, Polly," said Mrs. Henderson, drawing her to her -side, "that you will help your mother twice as much as you -possibly could here, by getting a good education? Think what your -music will be; only think, Polly!" - -Polly drew a long breath at this and turned away. - -"Oh, Polly!" cried Ben, though his voice choked, "if you give this -up, there never'll be another chance," and the boy put his arm -around her, and whispered something in her ear. - -"I know," said Polly quietly--and then she burst out, "oh, but I -can't! 'tisn't right." - -"Polly," said Mrs. Pepper--and never in all their lives had the -children seen such a look in mamsie's eyes as met them then; "it -does seem as if my heart would be broken if you didn't go!" And -then she burst out crying, right before them all! - -"Oh mammy," cried Polly, breaking away from everybody, and -flinging herself into her arms. "I'll go--if you think I ought to. But -it's too good! don't cry--don't, mammy dear," and Polly stroked the -careworn face lovingly, and patted the smooth hair that was still so -black. - -"And, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, smiling through her tears, "just -think what a comfort you'll be to me, and us all," she added, taking -in the children who were crowding around Polly as the centre of -attraction. "Why, you'll be the making of us," she added hopefully. - -"I'll do something," said Polly, her brown eyes kindling, "or I shan't -be worthy of you, mammy." - -"O, you'll do it," said Mrs. Pepper, confidently, "now that you're -going." - -But when Polly stepped into the stage, with her little hair trunk -strapped on behind, containing her one brown merino that Mrs. -Henderson had made over for her out of one of her own, and her -two new ginghams, her courage failed again, and she astonished -everybody, and nearly upset a mild-faced old lady who was in the -corner placidly eating doughnuts, by springing out and rushing up -through the little brown gate, past all the family, drawn up to see -her off. She flew over the old flat door-stone, and into the -bedroom, where she flung herself down between the old bed and -Phronsie's crib, in a sudden torrent of tears. "I can't go!" she -sobbed--"oh I can't!" - -"Why, Polly!" cried Mrs. Pepper, hurrying in, followed by Joel and -the rest of the troops at his heels. "What are you thinking of!" - -"Think of by-and-by, Polly," put in Ben, patting her on the back -with an unsteady hand, while Joel varied the proceedings by -running back and forth, screaming at the top of his lungs, "The -stage's going! your trunk'll be taken!" - -"Dear me!" ejaculated Mrs. Pepper, "do stop it somebody! there, -Polly, come now! Do as mother says!" - -"I'll try again," said poor Polly, choking back her sobs, and getting -on her feet. - -Then Polly's tears were wiped away, her hat straightened, after -which she was kissed all round again by the whole family, -Phronsie waiting for the last two, and then was helped again into -the stage, the bags and parcels, and a box for Jappy, which, as it -wouldn't go into the trunk, Joel had insisted Polly should carry in -her hand, were again piled around her, and Mr. Tisbett mounted to -his seat, and with a crack of the whip, bore her safely off this time. - -The doughnut lady, viewing poor Polly with extreme sympathy, -immediately forced upon her acceptance three of the largest and -sugariest. - -"Twill do you good," she said, falling to, herself, on another with -good zeal. "I always eat 'em, and then there ain't any room for -homesickness!" - -And away, and away, and away they rumbled and jumbled to the -cars. - -Here Mr. Tisbett put Polly and her numerous bundles under the -care of the conductor, with manifold charges and explicit -directions, to see her safely into Mr. King's own hands. He left her -sitting straight up among her parcels, her sturdy little figure drawn -up to its full height, and the clear brown eyes regaining a little of -their dancing light; for although a dreadful feeling tugged at her -heart, as she thought of the little brown house she was fast flying -away from, there was something else; our Polly had begun to -realize that now she was going to "help mother." - -And now they neared the big city, and everybody began to bustle -around, and get ready to jump out, and the minute the train -stopped, the crowd poured out from the cars, making way for the -crowd pouring in, for this was a through train. - -"All aboard!" sang the conductor. "Oh my senses!" springing to -Polly; "I forgot you--here!" - -But as quick as a flash he was pushed aside, and a bright, boyish -figure dashed up. - -"Oh, Polly!" he said in such a ringing voice! and in another second, -Polly and her bag, and the bundle of cakes and apples that -Grandma Bascom had put up for her, and Joel's box, were one and -all bundled out upon the platform, and the train whizzed on, and -there Mr. King was fuming up and down, berating the departing -conductor, and speaking his mind in regard to all the railroad -officials he could think of. He pulled himself up long enough to -give Polly a hearty welcome; and then away again he flew in -righteous indignation, while Jasper rushed off into the baggage -room with Polly's check. - -However, every now and then, turning to look down into the little -rosy face beside him, the old gentleman would burst forth, "Bless -me, child! I'm glad you're here, Polly!--how could the fellow forget -when"-- "Oh well, you know," said Polly, with a happy little -wriggle under her brown coat, "I'm here now." - -"So you are! so you are!" laughed the old gentleman suddenly; -"where can Jasper be so long." - -"They're all in the carriage," answered the boy skipping back. -"Now, father! now Polly!" - -He was fairly bubbling over with joy and Mr. King forgot his -dudgeon and joined in the general glee, which soon became so -great that travellers gave many a glance at the merry trio who -bundled away to Thomas and the waiting grays. - -"You're sure you've got the right check?" asked Mr. King, -nervously, getting into a handsome coach lined with dark green -satin, and settling down among its ample cushions with a sigh of -relief. - -"Oh yes," laughed Jasper; "Polly didn't have any one else's check, I -guess." - -Over through the heart of the city, down narrow, noisy business -streets, out into wide avenues, with handsome stately mansions on -either side--they flew along. - -"Oh," said Polly; and then she stopped, and blushed very hard. - -"What is it, my dear?" asked Mr. King, kindly. - -Polly couldn't speak at first, but when Jasper stopped his merry -chat and begged to know what it was, she turned on him, and burst -out, "You live here?" - -"Why, yes," laughed the boy; "why not?" - -"Oh!" said Polly again, her cheeks as red as two roses, "it's so -lovely!" - -And then the carriage turned in at a brown stone gateway, and -winding up among some fine old trees, stopped before a large, -stately residence that in Polly's eyes seemed like one of the castles -of Ben's famous stories. And then Mr. King got out, and gallantly -escorted Polly out, and up the steps, while Jasper followed with -Polly's bag which he couldn't be persuaded to resign to Thomas. A -stiff waiter held the door open--and then, the rest was only a -pleasant, confused jumble of kind welcoming words, smiling -faces, with a background of high spacious walls, bright pictures, -and soft elegant hangings, everything and all inextricably -mixed--till Polly herself seemed floating--away--away, fast to the -Fairyland of her dreams; now, Mr. King was handing her around, -like a precious parcel, from one to the other--now Jasper was -bobbing in and out everywhere, introducing her on all sides, and -then Prince was jumping up and trying to lick her face every -minute--but best of all was, when a lovely face looked down into -hers, and Jasper's sister bent to kiss her. - -"I am very glad to have you here, little Polly." The words were -simple, but Polly, lifting up her clear brown eyes, looked straight -into the heart of the speaker, and from that moment never ceased -to love her. - -"It was a good inspiraton," thought Mrs. Whitney to herself; "this -little girl is going to be a comfort, I know." And then she set -herself to conduct successfully her three boys into friendliness and -good fellowship with Polly, for each of them was following his -own sweet will in the capacity of host, and besides staring at her -with all his might, was determined to do the whole of the -entertaining, a state of things which might become unpleasant. -However, Polly stood it like a veteran. - -"This little girl must be very tired," said Mrs. Whitney, at last with -a bright smile. "Besides I am going to have her to myself now." - -"Oh, no, no," cried little Dick in alarm; "why, she's just come; we -want to see her." - -"For shame, Dick!" said Percy, the eldest, a boy of ten years, who -took every opportunity to reprove Dick in public; "she's come a -great ways, so she ought to rest, you know." - -"You wanted her to come out to the greenhouse yourself, you -know you did," put in Van, the next to Percy, who never would be -reproved or patronized, "only she wouldn't go." - -"You'll come down to dinner," said Percy, politely, ignoring Van. -"Then you won't be tired, perhaps." - -"Oh, I'm not very tired now," said Polly, brightly, with a merry -little laugh, "only I've never been in the cars before, and"-- "Never -been in the cars before!" exclaimed Van, crowding up, while Percy -made a big round 0 with his mouth, and little Dick's eyes stretched -to their widest extent. - -"No," said Polly simply, "never in all my life." - -"Come, dear," said sister Marian, rising quickly, and taking Polly's -hand; while Jasper, showing unmistakable symptoms of pitching -into all the three boys, followed with the bag. - -Up the broad oak staircase they went, Polly holding by Mrs. -Whitney's soft hand, as if for dear life, and Jasper tripping up two -steps at a time, in front of them. They turned after reaching the -top, down a hall soft to the foot and brightly lighted. - -"Now, Polly," said sister Marian, "rm going to have you here, right -next to my dressing room; this is your nest, little bird, and I hope -you'll be very happy in it." - -And here Mrs. Whitney turned up the gas, and then, just because -she couldn't help it, gathered Polly up in her arms without another -word. Jasper set down the bag on a chair, and came and stood by -his sister's side, looking down at her as she stroked the brown -wavy hair on her bosom. - -"It's so nice to have Polly here, sister," he said, and he put his hand -on Mrs. Whitney's neck; and then with the other hand took hold of -both of Polly's chubby ones, who looked up and smiled; and in that -smile the little brown house seemed to hop right out, and bring -back in a flash all the nice times those eight happy weeks had -brought him. - -"Oh, 'twas so perfectly splendid, sister Marian," he cried, ffinging -himself down on the floor by her chair. "You don't know what -good times we had--does she, Polly?" and then he launched out -into a perfect shower of "Don't you remember this?" or "Oh, Polly! -you surely haven't forgotten that!" Mrs. Whitney good naturedly -entering into it and enjoying it all with them, until, warned by the -lateness of the hour, she laughingly reminded Jasper of dinner, and -dismissed him to prepare for it. - -When the three boys saw Polly coming in again, they welcomed -her with a cordial shout, for one and all, after careful measurement -of her, had succumbed entirely to Polly; and each was unwilling -that the others should get ahead of him in her regard. - -"This is your seat, Polly," said sister Marian, touching the chair -next to her own. - -Thereupon a small fight ensued between the little Whitneys, while -Jasper looked decidedly discornfited. - -"Let Polly sit next to me," said Van, as if a seat next to him was of -all things most to be desired. - -"Oh, no, I want her," said little Dick. - -"Pshaw, Dick! you're too young," put in Percy. "You'd spill the -bread and butter all over her." - -"I wouldn't either," said little Dick, indignantly, and beginning to -crawl into his seat; "I don't spill bread and butter, now Percy, you -know." - -"See here," said Jasper, decidedly, "she's coming up here by father -and me; that is, sister Marian," he finished more politely, "if you're -willing." - -All this while Polly had stood quietly watching the group, the big, -handsome table, the bright lights, and the well-trained servants -with a curious feeling at her heart--what were the little-brown- -house-people doing? - -"Polly shall decide it," said sister Marian, laughing. "Now, where -will you sit, dear?" she added, looking down on the little quiet -figure beside her. - -"Oh, by Jappy, please," said Polly, quickly, as if there could be no -doubt; "and kind Mr. King," she added, smiling at him. - -"That's right; that's right, my dear," cried the old gentleman, -pleased beyond measure at her honest choice. And he pulled out -her chair, and waited upon her into it so handsomely that Polly was -happy at once; while Jasper, with a proud toss of his dark, wavy -hair, marched up delightedly, and took the chair on her other side. - -And now, in two or three minutes it seemed as if Polly had always -been there; it was the most natural thing in the world that sister -Marian should smile down the table at the bright-faced narrator, -who answered all their numerous questions, and entertained them -all with accounts of Ben's skill, of Phronsie's cunning ways, of the -boys who made fun for all, and above everything else of the dear -mother whom they all longed to help, and of all the sayings and -doings in the little brown house. No wonder that the little boys -forgot to eat; and for once never thought of the attractions of the -table. And when, as they left the table at last, little Dick rushed -impulsively up to Polly, and flinging himself into her arms, -declared-- "I love you!--and you're my sister!" Nothing more was -needed to make Polly feel at home. - -"Yes," said Mrs. Whitney, and nodded to herself in the saying, "it -was a good thing; and a comfort, I believe, has come to this house -this day!" - -BRAVE WORK AND THE REWARD - -And on the very first morrow came Polly's music teacher! - -The big drawing-room, with its shaded light and draped furniture, -with its thick soft carpet, on which no foot-fall could be heard, -with all its beauty and loveliness on every side was nothing to -Polly's eyes, only the room that contained the piano! - -That was all she saw! And when the teacher came he was simply -the Fairy (an ugly little one, it is true, but still a most powerful -being) who was to unlock its mysteries, and conduct her into -Fairyland itself. He was a homely little Frenchman, with a long, -curved nose, and an enormous black moustache, magnificently -waxed, who bowed elaborately, and called her "Mademoiselle -Fep-paire;" but he had music in his soul, and Polly couldn't -reverence him too much. - -And now the big piano gave out new sounds; sounds that told of a -strong purpose and steady patience. Every note was struck for -mother and the home brood. Monsieur Tourtelotte, after watching -her keenly out of his little black eyes, would nod to himself like a -mandarin, and the nod would be followed by showers of extra -politeness, as his appreciation of her patient energy and attention. - -Every chance she could get, Polly would steal away into the -drawing-room from Jappy and the three boys and all the attractions -they could offer, and laboriously work away over and over at the -tedious scales and exercises that were to be stepping-stones to so -much that was glorious beyond. Never had she sat still for so long -a time in her active little life; and now, with her arms at just such -an angle, with the stiff, chubby fingers kept under training and -restraint--well, Polly realized, years after, that only her love of the -little brown house could ever have kept her from flying up and -spinning around in perfect despair. - -"She likes it!" said Percy, in absolute astonishment, one day, when -Polly had refused to go out driving with all the other children in -the park, and had gone resolutely, instead, into the drawing-room -and shut the door. "She likes those hateful old exercises and she -don't like anything else." - -"Much you know about it," said Jappy; "she's perfectly aching to -go, now Percy Whitney!" - -"Well, why don't she then?" said Percy, opening his eyes to their -widest extent. - -"Cause," said Jasper, stopping on his way to the door to look him -full in the face, "she's commenced to learn to play, and there won't -anything stop her." - -"I'm going to try," said Percy, gleefully. "I know lots of ways I can -do to try, anyway." - -"See here, now," said Jasper, turning back, "you let her alone! Do -you hear?" he added, and there must have been something in his -eye to command attention, for Percy instantly signified his -intention not to tease this young music student in the least. - -"Come on then, old fellow," and Jasper swung his cap on his head, -"Thomas will be like forty bears if we keep him waiting much -longer." - -And Polly kept at it steadily day after day; getting through with the -lessons in the schoolroom as quickly as possible to rush to her -music, until presently the little Frenchman waxed enthusiastic to -that degree that, as day after day progressed and swelled into -weeks, and each lesson came to an end, he would skip away on the -tips of his toes, his nose in the air, and the waxed ends of his -moustache, fairly trembling with delight-- "Ah, such patience as -Mademoiselle Pep-paire has! I know no other such little -Americane!" - -"I think," said Jasper one evening after dinner, when all the -children were assembled as usual in their favorite place on the big -rug in front of the fire in the library, Prince in the middle of the -group, his head on his paws, watching everything in infinite -satisfaction, "that Polly's getting on in music as I never saw anyone -do; and that's a fact!" - -"I mean to begin," said Van, ambitiously, sitting up straight and -staring at the glowing coals. "I guess I will to-morrow," which -announcement was received with a perfect shout--Van's taste -being anything rather than of a musical nature. - -"If you do," said Jappy, when the merriment had a little subsided, -"I shall go out of the house at every lesson; there won't anyone stay -in it, Van." - -"I can bang all I want to, then," said Van, noways disturbed by the -reflection, and pulling one of Prince's long ears, "you think you're -so big, Jappy, just because you're thirteen." - -"He's only three ahead of me, Van," bristled Percy, who never -could forgive Jappy for being his uncle, much less the still greater -sin of having been born three years earlier than himself. - -"Three's just as bad as four," said Van. - -"Let's tell stories," began Polly, who never could remember such -goings on in the little brown house; "we must each tell one," she -added with the greatest enthusiasm, "and see which will be the -biggest and the best." - -"Oh, no," said Van, who perfectly revelled in Polly's stories, und -who now forgot his trials in the prospcct of one, "You tell, -Polly--you tell alone." - -"Yes, do, Polly," said Jasper; "we'd rather." - -So Polly launched out into one of her gayest and finest; and soon -they were in such a peal of laughter, and had reached such heights -of enjoyment, that Mr. King popped his head in at the door, and -then came in, and took a seat in a big rocking-chair in the corner to -hear the fun go on. - -"Oh, dear," said Van, leaning back with a long sigh, and wiping his -flushed face as Polly wound up with a triumphant flourish, 'how -ever do you think of such things, Polly Pepper? - -"That isn't anything," said Jappy, bringing his handsome face out -into the strong light; "why, it's just nothing to what she has told -time and again in the little brown house in Badgertown;" and then -he caught sight of Polly's face, which turned a little pale in the -firelight as he spoke; and the brown eyes had such a pathetic droop -in them that it went to the boy's very heart. - -Was Polly homesick? and so soon! - -POLLY IS COMFORTED - -Yes, it must be confessed. Polly was homesick. All her -imaginations of her mother's hard work, increased by her absence, -loomed up before her, till she was almost ready to fly home -without a minute's warning. At night, when no one knew it, the -tears would come racing over the poor, forlorn little face, and -would not be squeezed back. It got to be noticed finally; and one -and all redoubled their exertions to make everything twice as -pleasant as ever! - -The only place, except in front of the grand piano, where Polly -approached a state of comparative happiness, was in the -greenhouse. - -Here she would stay, comforted and soothed among the lovely -plants and rich exotics, rejoicing the heart of Old Turner the -gardener, who since Polly's first rapturous entrance, had taken her -into his good graces for all time. - -Every chance she could steal after practice hours were over, and -after the clamorous demands of the boys upon her time were fully -satisfied, was seized to fly on the wings of the wind, to the flowers. - -But even with the music and flowers the dancing light in the eyes -went down a little; and Polly, growing more silent and pale, moved -around with a little droop to the small figure that had on1y been -wont to fly through the wide halls and spacious rooms with gay -and springing step. - -"Polly don't like us," at last said Van one day in despair. "Then, -dear," said Mrs. Whitney, "you must be kinder to her than ever; -think what it would be for one of you to be away from home even -among friends." - -"I'd like it first rate to be away from Percy," said Van, reflectively; -"I wouldn't come back in three, no, six weeks." - -"My son," said his mamma, "just stop and think how badly you -would feel, if you really couldn't see Percy." - -"Well," said Van, and he showed signs of relenting a little at that; -"but Percy is perfectly awful, mamma, you don't know; and he -feels so smart too," he said vindictively. - -"Well," said Mrs. Whitney, softly, "let's think what we can do for -Polly; it makes me feel very badly to see her sad little face." - -"I don't know," said Van, running over in his mind all the possible -ways he could think of for entertaining anybody, "unless she'd like -my new book of travels--or my velocipede," he added. - -"I'm afraid those wouldn't quite answer the purpose," said his -mamma, smiling--"especially the last; yet we must think of -something." - -But just here Mr. King thought it about time to take matters into -his hands. So, with a great many chucklings and shruggings when -no one was by, he had departed after breakfast one day, simply -saying he shouldn't be back to lunch. - -Polly sat in the drawing-room, near the edge of the twilight, -practicing away bravely. Somehow, of all the days when the home -feeling was the strongest, this day it seemed as if she could bear it -no longer. If she could only see Phronsie for just one moment! "I -shall have to give up!" she moaned. "I can't bear it!" and over went -her head on the music rack. - -"Where is she?" said a voice over in front of the piano, in the -gathering dusk--unmistakably Mr. King's. - -"Oh, she's always at the piano," said Van. "She must be there now, -somewhere," and then somebody laughed. Then came in the -loudest of whispers from little Dick, "Oh, Jappy, what'll she say?" - -"Hush!" said one of the other boys; "do be still, Dick!" - -Polly sat up very straight, and whisked off the tears quickly. Up -came Mr. King with an enormous bundle in his arms; and he -marched up to the piano, pulling with his exertions. - -"Here, Polly, hold your arms," he had only strength to gasp. And -then he broke out into a loud burst of merriment, in which all the -troop joined, until the big room echoed with the sound. - -At this, the bundle opened suddenly, and--out popped Phronsie! - -"Here lam! I'm here, Polly!" - -But Polly couldn't speak; and if Jasper hadn't caught her just in -time, she would have tumbled over backward from the stool, -Phronsie and all! - -"Aren't you glad I've come, Polly?" asked Phronsie, with her little -face close to Polly's own. - -That brought Polly to. "Oh, Phronsie!" she cried, and strained her -to her heart; while the boys crowded around, and plied her with -sudden questions. - -"Now you'll stay," cried Van; "say, Polly, won't you." - -"Weren't you awfully surprised?" cried Percy; "say, Polly, -awfully?" - -"Is her name Phronsie," put in Dick, unwilling to be left out, and -not thinking of anything else to ask. - -"Boys," whispered their mother, warningly, "she can't answer you; -just look at her face." - -And to be sure, our Polly's face was a study to behold. All its old -sunniness was as nothing to the joy that now transfigured it. - -"Oh!" she cried, coming out of her rapture a little, and springing -over to Mr. King with Phronsie still in her arms. "Oh, you are the -dearest and best Mr. King I ever saw! but how did you make -mammy let her come?" - -"Isn't he splendid!" cried Jasper in intense pride, swelling up. -"Father knew how to do it." - -But Polly's arms were around the old gentleman's neck, so she -didn't hear. "There, there," he said soothingly, patting her brown, -fuzzy head. Something was going down the old gentleman's neck, -that wet his collar, and made him whisper very tenderly in her ear, -"don't give way now, Polly; Phronsie'll see you." - -"I know," gasped Polly, controlling her sobs; "I won't--only--I can't -thank you!" - -"Phronsie," said Jasper quickly, "what do you suppose Prince said -the other day?" - -"What?" asked Phronsie in intense interest slipping down out of -Polly's arms, and crowding up close to Jasper's side. "What did he, -Japser?" - -"Oh-ho, how funny!" laughed Van, while little Dick burst right out, -"lapser!" - -"Be still," said Jappy warningly, while Phronsie stood surveying -them all with grave eyes. - -"Well, I asked him, 'Don't you want to see Phronsie Pepper, -Prince?' And do you know, he just stood right upon his hind legs, -Phronsie, and said: 'Bark! yes, Bark! Barki" - -"Did he really, Japser?" cried Phronsie, delighted beyond measure; -and clasping her hands in rapture, "all alone by himself?" - -"Yes, all alone by himself," asserted Jasper, vehemently, - -and winking furiously to the others to stop their laughing; "he did -now, truly, Phronsie." - -"Then mustn't I go and see him now, Japser? yes, pretty soon -now?" - -"So you must," cried Jasper, enchanted at his success in amusing; -"and I'll go with you." - -"Oh, no," cried Phronsie, shaking her yellow head. "Oh no, Japser; -I must go by my very own self." - -"There Jap, you've caught it," laughed Percy; while the others -screamed at the sight of Jasper's face. - -"Oh Phronsie!" cried Polly, turning around at the last words; "how -could you!" - -"Don't mind it, Polly," whispered Jasper; "twasn't her fault." - -"Phronsie," said Mrs. Whitney, smilingly, stooping over the child, -"would you like to see a little pussy I have for you?" - -But the chubby face didn't look up brightly, as usual: and the next -moment, without a bit of warning, Phronsie sprang past them all, -even Polly, and flung herself into Mr. King's arms, in a perfect -torrent of sobs. "Oh! let's go back!" was all they heard! - -"Dear me!" ejaculated the old gentleman, in the utmost -amazement; "and such a time as I've had to get her here too!" he -added, staring around on the astonished group, none of whom had -a word to say. - -But Polly stood like a statue! All Jasper's frantic efforts at comfort, -utterly failed. To think that Phronsie had left her for any one!-- -even good Mr. King! The room seemed to buzz, and everything to -turn upside down--and just then, she heard another cry--"Oh, I -want Polly, I do!" - -With a bound, Polly was at Mr. King's side, with her face on his -coat, close to the little tear-stained one. The fat, little arms -unclasped their hold, and transferred themselves willingly to -Polly's neck; and Phronsie hugged up comfortingly to Polly's heart, -who poured into her ear all the loving words she had so longed to -say. - -Just then there was a great rush and a scuffling noise; and -something rushed up to Phronsie "Oh!" And then the next minute, -she had her arms around Prince's neck, too, who was jumping all -over her and trying as hard as he could, to express his -overwhelming delight. - -"She's the dunningest little thing I ever saw," said Mrs. Whitney, -enthusiastically, afterward, aside to Mr. King. "Such lovely yellow -hair, and such exquisite brown eyes--the combination is very -striking. How did her mother ever let her go?" she asked -impulsively, "I didn't believe you could persuade her, father." - -"I didn't have any fears, if I worked it rightly," said the old -gentleman complacently. "I wasn't coming without her, Marian, if -it could possibly be managed. The truth is, that Phronsie had been -pining for Polly to such an extent, that there was no other way but -for her to have Polly; and her mother was just on the point, -although it almost killed her, of sending for Polly--as if we should -have let her go!" he cried in high dudgeon; just as if he owned the -whole of the Peppers, and could dispose of them all to suit his -fancy! "So you see, I was just in time; in the very nick of time, in -fact!" - -"So her mother was willing?" asked his daughter, curiously. "Oh, -she couldn't help it," cried Mr. King, beginning to walk up and -down the floor, and beaming as he recalled his successful strategy; -"there wasn't the smallest use in thinking of anything else. I told -her 'twould just stop Polly from ever being a musician if she broke -off now--and so 'twould, you know yourself, Marian, for we should -never get the child here again, if we let her go now; and I -talked--well, I had to talk some; but, well--the upshot is I did get -her, and I did bring her--and here she is!" And the old gentleman -was so delighted with his success, that he had to burst out into a -series of short, happy bits of laughter, that occupied quite a space -of time. At last he came out of them, and wiped his face -vigorously. - -"And to think how fond the little girl is of you, father!" said Mrs. -Whitney, who hadn't yet gotten over her extreme surprise at the old -gentleman's complete subjection to the little Peppers: he, whom all -children had by instinct always approached so carefully, and whom -every one found it necessary to conciliate! - -"Well, she's a nice child," he said, "a very nice child; and," -straightening himself up to his fullest height, and looking so very -handsome, that his daughter could not conceal her admiration, "I -shall always take care of Phronsie Pepper, Marian!" - -"So I hope," said Mrs. Whitney; "and father, I do believe they'll -repay you; for I do think there's good blood there; these children -have a look about them that shows them worthy to be trusted." - -"So they have: so they have," assented Mr. King, and then the -conversation dropped. - -PHRONSIE - -Phronsie was toiling up and down the long, oak staircase the -next morning; slowly going from one step to the other, drawing -each little fat foot into place laboriously, but with a pleased -expression on her face that only gave some small idea of the -rapture within. Up and down she had been going for a long time, -perfectly fascinated; seeming to care for nothing else in the world -but to work her way up to the top of the long flight, only to turn -and come down again. She had been going on so for some time, till -at last, Polly, who was afraid she would tire herself all out, sat -down at the foot and begged and implored the little girl, who had -nearly reached the top, to stop and rest. - -"You'll be tired to death, Phronsie!" she said, looking up at the -small figure on its toilsome journey. "Why you must have gone up -a million times! Do sit down, pet; we're all going out riding, -Phronsie, this afternoon; and you can't go if yon're all tired out." - -"I won't be tired, Polly," said Phronsie, turning around and looking -at her, "do let me go just once more!" - -"Well," said Polly, who never could refuse her anything, "just -once, Phronsie, and then you must stop." - -So Phronsie kept on her way rejoicing, while Polly still sat on the -lowest stair, and drummed impatiently on the stair above her, -waiting for her to get through. - -Jappy came through the hail and found them thus. "Halloa, Polly!" -he said, stopping suddenly; "what's the matter?" - -"Oh, Phronsie's been going so," said Polly, looking up at the little -figure above them, which had nearly reached the top in delight, -"that I can't stop her. She has really, Jappy, almost all the morning; -you can't think how crazy she is over it." - -"Is that so?" said Jasper, with a little laugh. "Hulloa, Phronsie, is it -nice?" and he tossed a kiss to the little girl, and then sat down by -Polly. - -"Oh," said Phronsie, turning to come down, "it's the beyew-tifiest -place I ever saw, Japser! the very be-yew-tiflest!" - -"I wish she could have her picture painted," whispered Jasper, -enthusiastically. "Look at her now, Polly, quick!" - -"Yes," said Polly, "isn't she sweet!" - -"Sweetr' said Jasper. "I should think she was!" - -The sunlight through an oriel window fell on the childish face and -figure, glinting the yellow hair, and lighting up the radiant face, -that yet had a tender, loving glance for the two who waited for her -below. One little foot was poised, just in the act of stepping down -to the next lower stair, and the fat hand grasped the polished -railing, expressive of just enough caution to make it truly childish. -In after years Jasper never thought of Phronsie without bringing up -this picture on that April morning, when Polly and he sat at the -foot of the stairs, and looked up and saw it. - -"Where's Jap?" called one of the boys; and then there was a clatter -out into the hall. - -"What are you doing?" and Van came to a full stop of amazement -and stared at them. - -"Resting," said Jappy, concisely, "what do you want, Van?" - -"I want you," said Van, "we can't do anything without you, Jappy; -you know that." - -"Very well," said Jasper, getting up. "Come on, Polly, we must go." - -"And Phronsie," said Van, anxiously, looking up to Phronsie, who -had nearly reached them by this time, "we want her, too." - -"Of course," said Polly, running up arid meeting her to give her a -hug; "I don't go unless she does." - -"Where are we going, Polly?" asked Phronsie, looking back -longingly to her beloved stairs as she was borne off. - -"To the greenhouse, chick!" said Jasper, "to help Turner; and it'll -be good fun, won't it, Polly?" - -"What is a greenhouse?" asked the child, wonderingly. "All green, -Japser?" - -"Oh, dear me," said Van, doubling up, "do you suppose she thinks -it's painted green?" - -"It's green inside, Phronsie, dear," said Jasper, kindly, "and that's -the best of all." - -When Phronsie was really let loose in the greenhouse she thought -it decidedly best of all; and she went into nearly as much of a -rapture as Polly did on her first visit to it. - -In a few moments she was cooing and jumping among the plants, -while old Turner, staid and particular as he was, laughed to see her -go. - -"She's your sister, Miss Mary, ain't she?" at last he asked, as -Phronsie bent lovingly over a little pot of heath, and just touched -one little leaf carefully with her finger. - -"Yes," said Polly, "but she don't look like me." - -"She is like you," said Turner, respectfully, "if she don't look like -you; and the flowers know it, too," he added, "and they'll love to -see her coming, just as they do you." - -For Polly had won the old gardener's heart completely by her -passionate love for flowers, and nearly every morning a little -nosegay, fresh and beautiful, came up to the house for "Miss -Mary." - -And now nobody liked to think of the time, or to look back to it, -when Phronsie hadn't been in the house. When the little feet went -pattering through halls and over stairs, it seemed to bring sunshine -and happiness into every one's heart just to hear the sounds. Polly -and the boys in the schoolroom would look up from their books -and nod away brightly to each other, and then fall to faster than -ever on their lessons, to get through the quicker to be with her -again. - -One thing Phronsie always insisted on, and kept to it -pertinaciously--and that was to go into the drawing-room with -Polly when she went to practice, and there, with one of her -numerous family of dolls, to sit down quietly in some corner and -wait till she got through. - -Day after day she did it, until Polly, who was worried to think how -tedious it must be for her, would look around and say-- "Oh, -childie, do run out and play." - -"I want to stay," Phronsie would beg in an injured tone; "please let -me, Polly." - -So Polly would jump and give her a kiss, and then, delighted to -know that she was there, would go at her practicing with twice the -vigor and enthusiasm. - -But Phronsie's chief occupation, at least when she wasn't with -Polly, was the entertainment and amusement of Mr. King. And -never was she very long absent from his side, which so pleased the -old gentleman that he could scarcely contain himself, as with a -gravity befitting the importance of her office, she would follow -him around in a happy contented way, that took with him -immensely. And now-a-days, no one ever saw the old gentleman -going out of a morning, when Jasper was busy with his lessons, -without Phronsie by his side, and many people turned to see the -portly figure with the handsome head bent to catch the prattle of a -little sunny-haired child, who trotted along, clasping his hand -confidingly. And nearly all of them stopped to gaze the second -time before they could convince themselves that it was really that -queer, stiff old Mr. King of whom they had heard so much. - -And now the accumulation of dolls in the house became something -alarming, for Mr. King, observing Phronsie's devotion to her -family, thought there couldn't possibly be too many of them; so he -scarcely ever went out without bringing home one at least to add to -them, until Phronsie had such a remarkable collection as would -have driven almost any other child nearly crazy with delight. She, -however, regarded them something in the light of a grave -responsibility, to be taken care of tenderly, to be watched over -carefully as to just the right kind of bringing up; and to have small -morals and manners taught in just the right way. - -Phronsie was playing in the corner of Mrs. Whitney's little -boudoir, engaged in sending out invitations for an elaborate -tea-party to be given by one of the dolls, when Polly rushed in with -consternation in her tones, and dismay written all over her -face. - -"What is it, dear?" asked Mrs. Whitney, looking up from her -embroidery. - -"Why," said Polly, "how could I! I don't see--but I've forgotten to -write to mamsie to-day; it's Wednesday, you know, and there's -Monsieur coming." And poor Polly looked out in despair to see the -lively little music teacher advancing towards the house at an -alanning rate of speed. - -"That is because you were helping Van so long last evening over -his lessons," said Mrs. Whitney; "I am so sorry." - -"Oh, no," cried Polly honestly, "I had plenty of time--but I forgot -'twas mamsie's day. What will she do!" - -"You will have to let it go now till the afternoon, dear; there's no -other way; it can go in the early morning mail." - -"Oh, dear," sighed Polly, "I suppose I must." And she went down to -meet Monsieur with a very distressed little heart. - -Phronsie laid down the note of invitation she was scribbling, and -stopped to think; and a moment or two after, at a summons from a -caller, Mrs. Whitney left the room. - -"I know I ought to," said Phronsie to herself and the dolls, "yes, I -know I had; mamsie will feel, oh! so bad, when she don't get -Polly's letter; and I know the way, I do, truly." - -She got up and went to the window, where she thought a minute; -and then, coming back, she took up her little stubby pencil, and -bending over a small bit of paper, she commenced to trace with -laborious efforts and much hard breathing, some very queer -hieroglyphics that to her seemed to be admirable, as at last she -held them up with great satisfaction. - -"Good-bye," she said then, getting up and bowing to the dolls who -sat among the interrupted invitations, "I won't be gone but a little -bit of one minute," and she went out determinedly and shut the -door. - -Nobody saw the little figure going down the carriage drive, so of -course nobody could stop her. When Phronsie got to the gateway -she looked up and down the street carefully, either way. - -"Yes," she said, at last, "it was down here, I'm very sure, I went -with grandpa," and immediately turned down the wrong way, and -went on and on, grasping carefully her small, and by this time -rather soiled bit of paper. - -At last she reached the business streets; and although she didn't -come to the Post Office, she comforted herself by the thought--"it -must be coming soon. I guess it's round this corner." - -She kept turning corner after corner, until, at last, a little anxious -feeling began to tug at her heart; and she began to think--"I wish I -could see Polly"---- And now, she had all she could do to get out of -the way of the crowds of people who were pouring up and down -the thoroughfare. Everybody jostled against her, and gave her a -push. "Oh dear!" thought Phronsie, "there's such a many big -people!" and then there was no time for anything else but to -stumble in and out, to keep from being crushed completely -beneath their feet. At last, an old huckster woman, in passing -along, knocked off her bonnet with the end of her big basket, -which flew around and struck Phronsie's head. Not stopping to -look into the piteous brown eyes, she strode on without a word. -Phronsie turned in perfect despair to go down a street that looked -as if there might be room enough for her in it. Thoroughly -frightened, she plunged over the crossing, to reach it! - -"Look out!" cried a ringing voice. "Stop!" - -"The little girl'll be killed!" said others with bated breath, as a -powerful pair of horses whose driver could not pull them up in -time, dashed along just in front of her! With one cry, Phronsie -sprang between their feet, and reached the opposite curbstone in -safety! - -The plunge brought her up against a knot of gentlemen who were -standing talking on the corner. - -"What's this!" asked one, whose back being next to the street, -hadn't seen the commotion, as the small object dashed into their -midst, and fell up against him. - -"Didn't you see that narrow escape?" asked a second, whose face -had paled in witnessing it. "This little girl was nearly killed a -moment ago--careless driving enough!" And he put out his hand to -catch the child. - -"Bless me!" cried a third, whirling around suddenly, "Bless me! -you don't say so! why"---- With a small cry, but gladsome and -distinct in its utterance, Phronsie gave one look--"Oh, grandpa!" -was all she could say. - -"Oh! where"--Mr. King couldn't possibly have uttered another -word, for then his breath gave out entirely, as he caught the small -figure. - -"I went to the Post Office," said the child, clinging to him in -delight, her tangled hair waving over the little white face, into -which a faint pink color was quickly coming back. "Only it -wouldn't come; and I walked and walked--where is it, grandpa?" -And Phronsie gazed up anxiously into the old gentleman's face. - -"She went to the Post Officel' turning around on the others fiercely, -as if they had contradicted him--"Why, my child, what were you -going to do?" - -"Mamsie's letter," said Phronsie, holding up for inspection the -precious bit, which by this time, was decidedly forlorn-- "Polly -couldn't write; and Mamsie'd feel so bad not to get one--she would -really" said the child, shaking her head very soberly, "for Polly said -so." - -"And you've been--oh! I can't think of it," said Mr. King, tenderly -taking her up on his shoulder, "well, we must get home now, or I -don't know what Polly will do!" And without stopping to say a -word to his friends, he hailed a passing carriage, and putting -Phronsie in, he commanded the driver to get them as quickly as -possible to their destination. - -In a few moments they were home. Mr. King pushed into the -house with his burden. "Don't anybody know," he burst out, -puffing up the stairs, and scolding furiously at every step, "enough -to take better care of this child, than to have such goings On!" - -"What is the matter, father?" asked Mrs. Whitney, coming up the -stairs, after him. "What has happened out of the way?" - -"Out of the way!" roared the old gentleman, irascibly, "well, if you -want Phronsie racing off to the Post Office by herself, and nearly -getting killed, poor child! yes, Marian, I say nearly killed!" he -continued. - -"What do you mean?" gasped Mrs. Whitney. - -"Why, where have you been?" asked the old gentleman, who -wouldn't let Phronsie get down out of his arms, under any -circumstances; so there she lay, poking up her head like a little -bird, and trying to say she wasn't in the least hurt, "where's -everybody been not to know she'd gone?" he exclaimed, "where's -Polly--and Jasper--and all of 'em?" - -"Polly's taking her music lesson," said Mrs. Whitney. "Oh, -Phronsie darling!" and she bent over the child in her father's arms, -and nearly smothered her with kisses. - -"Twas a naughty horse," said Phronsie, sitting up straight and -looking at her, "or I should have found the Post Office; and I lost -off my bonnet, too," she added, for the first time realizing her loss, -putting her hand to her head; "a bad old woman knocked it off -with a basket--and now mamsie won't get her letter!" and she -waved the bit, which she still grasped firmly between her thumb -and finger, sadly towards Mrs. Whitney. - -"Oh, dear," groaned that lady, "how could we talk before her! But -who would have thought it! Darling," and she took the little girl -from her father's arms, who at last let her go, "don't think of your -mamma's letter; we'll tell her how it was," and she sat down in the -first chair that she could reach; while Phronsie put her tumbled -little head down on the kind shoulder and gave a weary little sigh. - -"It was so long," she said, "and my shoes hurt," and she thrust out -the dusty little boots, that spoke pathetically of the long and -unaccustomed tramp. - -"Poor little lamb!" said Mr. King, getting down to unbutton them. -"What a shame!" he mumbled pulling off half of the buttons in his -frantic endeavors to get them off quickly. - -But Phronsie never heard the last of his objurgations, for in a -minute she was fast asleep. The tangled hair fell off from the tired -little face; the breathing came peaceful and regular, and with her -little hand fast clasped in Mrs. Whitney's she slept on and on. - -Polly came flying up-stairs, two or three at a time, and humming a -scrap of her last piece that she had just conquered. - -"Phronsie," she called, with a merry little laugh, "where"-- "Hush!" -said Mr. King, warningly, and then just because he couldn't explain -there without waking Phronsie up, he took hold of Polly's two -shoulders and marched her into the iiext room, where he carefully -closed the door, and told her the whole thing, using his own -discretion about the very narrow escape she had passed through. -He told enough, however, for Polly to see what had been so near -them; and she stood there so quietly, alternately paling and -flushing as he proceeded, till at last, when he finished, Mr. King -was frightened almost to death at the sight of her face. - -"Oh, goodness me, Polly!" he said, striding up to her, and then -fumbling around on the table to find a glass of water, "you are not -going to faint, are you? Phronsie's all well now, she isn't hurt in the -least, I assure you; I assure you--where i.s a glass of water! Marian -ought to see that there's some here--that stupid Jane!" and in utter -bewilderment he was fussing here and there, knocking down so -many things in general, that the noise soon brought Polly to, with a -little gasp. - -"Oh, don't mind me, dear Mr. King--I'm---all well." - -"So you are," said the old gentleman, setting up a toilet bottle that -he had knocked over, "so you are; I didn't think you'd go and -tumble over, Polly, I really didn't," and he beamed admiringly -down on her. - -And then Polly crept away to Mrs. Whitney's side where she threw -herself down on the floor, to watch the little sleeping figure. Her -hand was gathered up, into the kind one that held Phronsie's; and -there they watched and watched and waited. - -"Oh, dear," said Phronsie, suddenly, turning over with a little sigh, -and bobbing up her head to look at Polly; "I'm so hungry! I haven't -had anything to eat in over an' ever so long, Polly!" and she gazed -at her with a very injured countenance. - -"So you must be," said Mrs. Whitney, kissing the flushed little -face. "Polly must ring the bell for Jane to bring this little bird some -crumbs. - -"Can I have a great many?" asked Phronsie, lifting her eyes, with -the dewy look of sleep hill lingering in them, "as many as two -birdies?" - -"Yes, dear," said Mrs. Whitney, laughing; "I think as many as three -little birdies could eat, Phronsie." - -"Oh," said Phronsie, and leaned back satisfied, while Polly gave -the order, which was presently followed by Jane with a well-filled -tray. - -"Now," said Jappy, when he heard the account of the adventure, "I -say that letter ought to go to your mother, Polly." - -"Oh," said Polly, "it would scare mamsie most to death, Jappy!" - -"Don't tell her the whole," said Jasper, quickly, "I didn't mean -that--about the horses and all that--but only enough to let her see -how Phronsie tried to get it to her." - -"And I'm going to write to your brother Joel," said Van, drawing -up to the library table; "I'll scare him, Polly, I guess; he won't tell -your mother." - -"Your crow-tracks'II scare him enough without anything else," said -Percy, pleasantly, who really could write very nicely, while Polly -broke out in an agony: - -"Oh, no, Van, you mustn't! you mustn't!" - -"If Van does," said Jasper, decidedly, "it'll be the last time he'll -write to the 'browii house,' I can tell him; and besides, he'll go to -Coventry." This had the desired effect. - -"Let's all write," said Polly. - -So a space on the table was cleared, and the children gathered -around it, when there was great scratching of pens, and clearing of -ideas; which presently resulted in a respectable budget of letters, -into which Phronsie's was lovingly tucked in the centre; and then -they all filed out to put it into the letterbox in the hall, for Thomas -to mail with the rest in the morning. - -GETTING READY FOR MAMSIE AND THE BOYS - -"And I'll tell you, Marian, what I am going to do." - -Mr. King's voice was pitched on a higher key than usual; and -extreme determination was expressed in every line of his face. He -had met Mrs. Whitney at the foot of the staircase, dressed for -paying visits. "Oh, are you going out?" he said, glancing -impatiently at her attire. "And I'd just started to speak to you on a -matter of great importance! Of the greatest importance indeed!" he -repeated irritably, as he stood with one gloved hand resting on the -balustrade. - -"Oh, it's no matter, father," she replied pleasantly; "if it's really -important, I can postpone going for another day, and--" - -"Really important!" repeated the old gentleman irascibly. "Haven't -I just told you it's of the greatest importance? There's no time to be -lost; and with my state of health too, it's of the utmost consequence -that I shouldn't be troubled. It's very bad for me; I should think you -would realize that, Marian." - -"I'll tell Thomas to take the carriage directly back," said Mrs. -Whitney stepping to the door. "Or stay, father; I'll just run up and -send the children out for a little drive. The horses ought to be used -too, you know," she said lightly, preparing to run up to carry out -the changed plan. - -"Never mind that now," said Mr. King abruptly. "I want you to give -me your attention directly." And walking towards the library door, -getting a fresh accession of impatience with every step, he -beckoned her to follow. - -But his progress was somewhat impeded by little Dick--or rather, -little Dick and Prince, who were standing at the top of the stairs to -see Mrs. Whitney off. When he saw his mother retrace her steps, -supposing her yielding to the urgent entreaties that he was sending -after her to stay at home, the child suddenly changed his -"Good-byes" to vociferous howls of delight, and speedily began to -plunge down the stairs to wclcome her. - -But the staircase was long, and little Dick was in a hurry, and -besides, Prince was in the way. The consequence was, nobody -knew just how, that a bumping noise struck into the conversation -that made the two below in the hall look up quickly, to see the -child and dog come rolling over the stairs at a rapid rate. - -"Zounds!" cried the old gentleman. "Here, Thomas, Thomas!" But -as that individual was waiting patiently outside the door on the -carriage box, there was small hope of his being in time to catch the -boy, who was already in his mother's arms, not quite clear by the -suddenness of the whole thing, as to how he came there. - -"Oh! oh! Dicky's hurt!" cried somebody up ahove--followed by -every one within hearing distance, and all came rushing to th~ spot -to ask a thousand questions all in the same minute. - -There sat Mrs. Whitney in one of the big carved chairs, with little -Dick in her lap, and Prince walking gravely around and around -him with the greatest expression of concern on his noble face. Mr. -King was storming up and down, and calling on everybody to bring -a "bowl of water, and some brown paper; and be quick!" -interpolated with showers of blame on Prince for sitting on the -stairs, and tripping people up! while Dick meanwhile was laughing -and chatting, and enjoying the distinction of making so many -people run, and of otherwise being the object of so much attention! - -"I don't think he was sitting on the stairs, father," said Jasper, who, -when he saw that Dicky was really unhurt, began to vindicate his -dog. "He never does that; do you Sir?" he said patting the head that -was lifted up to him, as if to be defended. - -"And I expect we shall all be killed some day, Jasper," said Mr. -King, warming with his subject; and forgetting all about the brown -paper and water which he had ordered, and which was now -waiting for him at his elbow, "just by that creature." - -"He's the noblest"--began Jasper, throwing his arms around his -neck; an example which was immediately followed by the -Whitney boys, and the two little Peppers. When Dick saw this, he -began to struggle to get down to add himself to the number. - -"Where's the brown paper?" began Mr. King, seeing this and -whirling around suddenly. "Hasn't any body brought it yet?" - -"Here 'tis sir," said Jane, handing him a generous supply. "Oh, I -don't want to," cried little Dick in dismay, seeing his grandfather -advance with an enormous piece of paper, which previously wet in -the bowl of water, was now unpleasantly clammy and wet--"oh, -no, I don't want to be all stuck up with old horrid wet paper!" - -"Hush, dear!" said his mamma, soothingly. "Grandpapa wants to -put it on--there"--as Mr. King dropped it scientifically on his head, -and then proceeded to paste another one over his left eye. - -"And I hope they'll all drop off," cried Dick, savagely, shaking his -head to facilitate matters. "Yes, I do, every single one of 'em!" he -added, with an expression that seen under the brown bits was -anything but benign. - -"Was Prince on the stairs, Dick?" asked Jasper, coming up and -peering under his several adornments. "Tell us how you fell!" - -"No," said little Dick, crossly, and giving his head another shake. -"He was up in the hall--oh, dear, I want to get down," and he began -to stretch his legs and to struggle with so much energy, that two or -three pieces fell off, and landed on the floor to his intense delight. - -"And how did you fall then?" said Jasper, perseveringly. "Can't you -remember, Dicky, boy?" - -"I pushed Princey," said Dick, feeling, with freedom from some of -his encumbrances, more disposed for conversation, "and made him -go ahead--and then I fell on top of him-- that's all." - -"I guess Prince has saved him, father," cried Jasper, turning around -with eyes full of pride and love on the dog, who was trying as hard -as he could to tell all the children how much he enjoyed their -caresses. - -And so it all came about that the consultation so summarily -interrupted was never held. For, as Mrs. Whitney was about -retiring that evening, Mr. King rapped at her door, on his way to -bed. - -"Oh," he said popping in his head, in response to her invitation to -come in, "it's nothing--only I thought I'd just tell you a word or two -about what I've decided to do." - -"Do you mean what you wanted to see me about this afternoon?" -asked Mrs. Whitney, who hadn't thought of it since. "Do come in, -father." - -"It's no consequence," said the old gentleman; "no consequence at -all," he repeated, waving his hand emphatically, "because I've -made up my mind and arranged all my plans-- it's only about the -Peppers--" - -"The Peppers?" repeated Mrs. Whitney. - -"Yes. Well, the fact of it is, I'm going to have them here for a -visit--the whole of them, you understand; that's all there is to it. -And I shall go down to see about all the arrangements-- Jasper and -I--day after to-morrow," said the old gentleman, as if he owned the -whole Pepper family inclusive, and was the only responsible -person to be consulted about their movements. - -"Will they come?" asked Mrs. Whitney, doubtfully. - -"Come? of course," said Mr. King, sharply, "there isn't any other -way; or else Mrs. Pepper will be sending for her children--and of -course you know, Marian, we couldn't allow that----well, that's all; -so good night," and the door closed on his retreating footsteps. - -And so Polly and Phronsie soon knew that mamsie and the boys -were to be invited! And then the grand house, big as it was, didn't -seem large enough to contain them. - -"I declare," said Jasper, next day, when they had been laughing and -planning till they were all as merry as grigs, "if this old dungeon -don't begin to seem a little like 'the little brown house,' Polly." - -"Twon't," answered Polly, hopping around on one toe, followed by -Phronsie, "till mamsie and the boys get here, Jasper King!" - -"Well, they'll be here soon," said Jappy, pleased at Polly's -exultation over it, "for we're going to-morrow to do the inviting." - -"And Polly's to write a note to slip into Marian's," said Mr. King, -putting his head in at the door. "And if you want your mother to -come, child, why, you'd better mention it as strong as you can." - -"I'm going to write," said Phronsie, pulling up after a prolonged -skip, all out of breath. "I'm going to write, and beg mamsie dear. -Then she'll come, I guess." - -"I guess she will," said Mr. King, looking at her. "You go on, -Phronsie, and write; and that letter shall go straight in my coat -pocket alone by itself." - -"Shall it?" asked Phronsie, coming up to him, "and nobody will -take it out till you give it to mamsie?" - -"No, nobody shall touch it," said the old gentleman, stooping to -kiss the upturned face, "till I put it into her own hand." - -"Then," said Phronsie, in the greatest satisfaction, "I'm going to -write this very one minute!" and she marched away to carry her -resolve into immediate execution. - -Before they got through they had quite a bundle of invitations and -pleadings; for each of the three boys insisted on doing his part, so -that when they were finally done up in an enormous envelope and -put into Mr. King's hands, he told them with a laugh that there was -no use for Jappy and himself - -to go, as those were strong enough to win almost anybody's -consent. - -However, the next morning they set off, happy in their hopes, and -bearing the countless messages, which the children would come up -every now and then to intrust to them, declaring that they had -forgotten to put them in the letters. - -"You'd had to have had an express wagon to carry the letters if you -had put them all in," at last cried Jasper. "You've given us a bushel -of things to remember." - -"And oh! don't forget to ask Ben to bring Cherry," cried Polly, the -last minute as they were driving off although she had put it in her -letter at least a dozen times; "and oh, dear! of course the flowers -can't come." - -"We've got plenty here," said Jasper. "You would not know what to -do with them, Polly." - -"Well, I do wish mamsie would give some to kind Mrs. Henderson, -then," said Polly, on the steps, clasping her hands anxiously, while -Jasper told Thomas to wait till he heard the rest of the message, -"and to grandma--you know Grandma Bascom; she was so good to -us," she said impulsively. "And, oh! don't let her forget to carry -some to dear, dear Dr. Fisher; and don't forget to give him our -love, Jappy; don't forget that!" and Polly ran down the steps to the -carriage door, where she gazed up imploringly to the boy's face. - -"I guess I won't," cried Jasper, "when I think how he saved your -eyes, Polly! He's the best fellow I know!" he finished in an -impulsive burst. - -"And don't let marnsie forget to carry some in to good old Mr. and -Mrs. Beebe in town--where Phronsie got her shoes, you know; that -is, if mamsie can," she added, remembering how very busy her -mother would be. - -"I'll carry them myself," said Jasper; "we're going to stay over till -the next day, you know." - -"O!" cried Polly, radiant as a rose, "will you, really, Jappy? you're -so good!" - -"Yes, I will," said Jasper, "everything you want done, Polly; -anything else?" he asked, quickly, as Mr. King, impatient to be off, -showed unmistakable symptoms of hurrying up Thomas. - -"Oh, no," said Polly, "only do look at the little brown house, -Jasper, as much as you can," and Polly left the rest unfinished. -Jasper seemed to understand, however, for he smiled brightly as he -said, looking into the brown eyes, "I'll do it all, Polly; every single -thing." And then they were off. - -Mamsie and the boys! could Polly ever wait till the next afternoon -that would bring the decision? - -Long before it was possibly time for the carriage to come back -from the depot, Polly, with Phronsie and the three boys, who, -improving Jasper's absence, had waited upon her with the grace -and persistence of cavaliers of the olden time, were drawn up at -the old stone gateway. - -"Oh, dear," said Van with an impatient fling; "they never will -come!" - -"Won't they, Polly?" asked Phronsie, anxiously, and standing quite -still. - -"Dear me, yes," said Polly, with a little laugh, "Van only means -they'll be a good while, Phronsie. They're sure to come some time." - -"Oh!" said Phronsie, quite relieved; and she commenced her -capering again in extreme enjoyment. - -"I'm going," said little Dick, "to run down and meet them." -Accordingly off he went, and was immediately followed by Percy, -who started with the laudable desire of bringing him back; but -finding it so very enjoyable, he stayed himself and frolicked with -Dick, till the others, hearing the fun, all took hold of hands and -flew off to join them. - -"Now," said Polly, when they recovered their breath a little, "let's -all turn our backs to the road; and the minute we hear the carriage -we must whirl round; and the one who sees 'em first can ask first -'Is mamsie coming?" - -"All right," cried the boys. - -"Turn round, Dick," said Percy, with a little shove, for Dick was -staring with all his might right down the road. And so they all flew -around till they looked like five statues set up to grace the -sidewalk. - -"Suppose a big dog should come," suggested Van, pleasantly, "and -snap at our backs!" - -At this little Dick gave a small howl, and turned around in a fright. - -"There isn't any dog coming," said Pofly. "What does make you say -such awful things, Van?" - -"I hear a noise," said Phronsie; and so they all whirled around in -expectation. But it proved to be only a market wagon coming at a -furious pace down the road, with somebody's belated dinner. So -they all had to whirl back again as before. The consequence was -that when the carriage did come, nobody heard it. - -Jasper, looking out, was considerably astonished to see, drawn up -in solemn array with their backs to the road, five children, who -stood as if completely petrified. - -"What in the world!" he began, and called to Thomas to stop, -whose energetic "Whoa!" reaching the ears of the frozen line, -caused it to break ranks, and spring into life at an alarming rate. - -"Oh, is she coming Jappy? Is she? Is she?" they all screamed -together, swarming up to the carriage door, and over the wheels. - -"Yes," said Jasper looking at Polly. - -At that, Phronsie made a little cheese and sat right down on the -pavement in an ecstasy. - -"Get in here, all of you;" said Jasper merrily; "help Polly in first. -For shame Dick! don't scramble so." - -"Dick always shoves," said Percy, escorting Polly up with quite an -air. - -"I don't either," said Dick; "you pushed me awful, just a little while -ago," he added indignantly. - -"Do say awfully," corrected Van, crowding up to get in. "You -leave off your lys so," he finished critically. - -"I don't know anything about any lees," said little Dick, who, -usually so good natured, was now thoroughly out of temper; "I -want to get in and go home," and he showed evident symptoms of -breaking into a perfect roar. - -"There," said Polly, lilting him up, "there he goes! now-- one, two, -three!" arid little Dick was spun in so merrily that the tears -changed into a happy laugh. - -"Now then, bundle in, all the rest of you," put in Mr. King, who -seemed to be in the best of spirits. "That's it; go on, Thomas!" - -"When are they coming?" Polly found time to ask in the general -jumble. - -"In three weeks from to-morrow," said Jasper. "And everything's -all right, Polly! and the whole of them, Cherry and all, will be here -then!" - -"Oh!" said Polly. - -"Here we are!" cried Van, jumping out almost before the carriage -door was open. "Mamma; mamma," he shouted to Mrs. Whitney in -the doorway, "the Peppers are coming, and the little brown house -too!--everything and everybody!" - -"They are!" said Percy, as wild as his brother; "and everything's -just splendid! Jappy said so." - -"Everything's coming," said little Dick, tumbling up the steps--"and -the bird--and--and--" - -"And mamsie!" finished Phronsie, impatient to add her part --while -Polly didn't say anything--only looked. - -Three weeks! "I can't wait!" thought Polly at first, in counting over -the many hours before the happy day would come. But on Jasper's -suggesting that they should all do something to get ready for the -visitors, and have a general trimming up with vines and flowers -beside--the time passed away much more rapidly than was feared. - -Polly chose a new and more difficult piece of music to learn to -surprise mamsie. Phronsie had aspired to an elaborate pin-cushion, -that was nearly done, made of bits of worsted and canvas, over -whose surface she had wandered according to her own sweet -will, in a way charming to behold. - -"I don't know what to do," said Van in despair, "cause I don't know -what she'd like." - -"Can't you draw her a little picture?" asked Polly. "She'd like that." - -"Does she like pictures?" asked Van with the greatest interest. - -"Yes indeed!" said Polly, "I guess you'd think so if you could see -her!" - -"I know what I shall do," with a dignified air said Percy, who -couldn't draw, and therefore looked down on all Van's attempts -with the greatest scorn. "And it won't be any old pictures either," -he added. - -"What is it, old fellow?" asked Jasper, "tell on, now, your grand -plan." - -"No, I'm not going to tell," said Percy, with the greatest secrecy, -"until the very day." - -"What will you do, sir?" asked Jasper, pulling one of Dick's ears, -who stood waiting to speak, as if his mind was made up, and -wouldn't be changed for anyone! - -"I shall give Ben one of my kitties--the littlest and the best!" he -said, with heroic self-sacrifice. - -A perfect shout greeted this announcement. - -"Fancy Ben going round with one of those awful little things," -whispered Jappy to Polly, who shook at the very thought. - -"Don't laugh! oh, it's dreadful to laugh at him, Jappy," she said, -when she could get voice enough. - -"No, I sha'n't tell," said Percy, when the fun had subsided; who, -finding that no one teased him to divulge his wonderful plan, kept -trying to harrow up their feelings by parading it. - -"You needn't then," screamed Van, who was nearly dying to know. -"I don't believe it's so very dreadful much, anyway." - -"What's yours, Jappy?" asked Polly, "I know yours will be just -splendid." - -"Oh, no, it isn't," said Jasper, smiling brightly, "but as I didn't know -what better I could do, I'm going to get a little stand, and then beg -some flowers of Turner to fill it, and--" - -"Why, that's mine!" screamed Percy, in the greatest -disappointment. "That's just what I was going to do!" - -"Hoh, hoh!" shouted Van; "I thought you wouldn't tell, Mr. Percy! -hoh, hoh!" - -"Hoh, hoh!" echoed Dick. - -"Hush," said Jappy. "Why, Percy, I didn't know as you had thought -of that," he said kindly. "Well, then, you do it, and I'll take -something else. I don't care as long as Mrs. Pepper gets 'em." - -"I didn't exactly mean that," began Percy; "mine was roots and -little flowers growing." - -"He means what he gets in the woods," said Polly, explaining; -"don't you, Percy?" - -"Yes," said the boy. "And then I was going to put stones and things -in among them to make them look pretty." - -"And they will," cried Jasper. "Go ahead, Percy, they'll look real -pretty, and then Turner will give you some flowers for the stand, I -know; I'll ask him to-morrow." - -"Will you?" cried Percy, "that'll be fine!" - -"Mine is the best," said Van, just at this juncture; but it was said a -little anxiously, as he saw how things were prospering with Percy; -"for my flowers in the picture will always be there, and your old -roots and things will die." - -"What will yours be, then, Jappy?" asked Polly very soberly. "The -stand of flowers would have been just lovely! and you do fix them -so nice," she added sorrowfully. - -"Oh, I'll find something else," said Jappy, cheerfully, who had -quite set his heart on giving the flowers. "Let me see--I might -carve her a bracket." - -"Do," cried Polly, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "And do -carve a little bird, like the one you did on your father's." - -"I will," said Jasper, "just exactly like it. Now, we've got something -to do, before we welcome the 'little brown house' people--so let's -fly at it, and the time won't seem so long." - -And at last the day came when they could all say--To-morrow -they'll be here! - -Well, the vines were all up; and pots of lovely climbing ferns, and -all manner of pretty green things had been arranged and -re-arranged a dozen times till everything was pronounced perfect; -and a big green "Welcome" over the library door, made of laurel -leaves, by the patient fingers of all the children, stared down into -their admiring eyes as much as to say, "I'll do my part!" - -"Oh, dear," said Phronsie, when evening came, and the children -were, as usual, assembled on the rug before the fire, their tongues -running wild with anticipation and excitement, "I don't mean to go -to bed at all, Polly; I don't truly." - -"Oh, yes, you do," said Polly laughing; "then you'll be all fresh and -rested to see mammy when she does come." - -"Oh, no," said Phronsie, shaking her head soberly, and speaking in -an injured tone. "I'm not one bit tired, Polly; not one bit." - -"You needn't go yet, Phronsie," said Polly. "You can sit up half an -hour yet, if you want to." - -"But I don't want to go to bed at all," said the child anxiously, "for -then I may be asleep when mamsie comes, Polly." - -"She's afraid she won't wake up," said Fercy, laughing. "Oh, there'll -be oceans of time before they come, Phronsie." - -"What is oceans," asked Phronsie, coming up and looking at him, -doubtfully. - -"He means mamsie won't get here till afternoon," said Polly, -catching her up and kissing her; "then I guess you'll be awake, -Phronsie, pet." - -So Phronsie allowed herself to be persuaded, at the proper time, to -be carried off and inducted into her little nightgown. And when -Polly went up to bed, she found the little pin-cushion, with its -hieroglyphics, that she had insisted on taking to bed with her, still -tightly grasped in the little fat hand. - -"She'll roll over and muss it," thought Polly; "and then she'll feel -bad in the morning. I guess I'd better lay it on the bureau." - -So she drew it carefully away, without awaking the little sleeper, -and placed it where she knew Phronsie's eyes would rest on it the -first thing in the morning. - -It was going on towards the middle of the night when Phronsie, -whose exciting dreams of mamsie and the boys wouldn't let her -rest quietly, woke up; and in the very first flash she thought of her -cushion. - -"Why, where--" she said, in the softest little tones, only half awake, -"why, Polly, where is it?" and she began to feel all around her -pillow to see if it had fallen down there. - -But Polly's brown head with its crowd of anticipations and busy -plans was away off in dreamland, and she breathed on and on -perfectly motionless. - -"I guess I better," said Phronsie to herself, now thoroughly awake, -and sitting up in bed, "not wake her up. Poor Polly's tired; I can -find it myself, I know I can." - -So she slipped out of bed, and prowling around on the floor, felt -all about for the little cushion. - -"'Tisn't here, oh, no, it isn't," she sighed at last, and getting up, she -stood still a moment, lost in thought. "Maybe Jane's put it out in -the hail," she said, as a bright thought struck her. "I can get it -there," and out she pattered over the soft carpet to the table at the -end of the long hail, where Jane often placed the children's -playthings over night. As she was coming back after her fruitless -search, she stopped to peep over the balustrade down the -fascinating ffight of stairs, now so long and dark. Just then a little -faint ray of light shot up from below, and met her eyes. - -"Why!" she said in gentle surprise, "they're all down-stairs! I guess -they're making something for mamsie--I'm going to see." - -So, carefully picking her way over the stairs with her little bare -feet, and holding on to the balustrade at every step, she went -slowly down, guided by the light, which, as she neared the bottom -of the flight, she saw came from the library door. - -"Oh, isn't it funny!" and she gave a little happy laugh. "They won't -know I'm comin'!" and now the soft little feet went pattering over -the thick carpet, until she stood just within the door. There she -stopped perfectly still. - -Two dark figures, big and powerful, were bending over something -that Phronsie couldn't see, between the two big windows. A lantern -on the floor flung its rays over them as they were busily occupied; -and the firelight from the dying coals made the whole stand out -distinctly to the gaze of the motionless little figure. - -"Why! what are you doing with my grandpa's things?" - -The soft, clear notes fell like a thunderbolt upon the men. With a -start they brought themselves up, and stared--only to see a little -white-robed figure, with its astonished eyes uplifted with childlike, -earnest gaze, as she waited for her answer. - -For an instant they were powerless to move; and stood as if frozen -to the spot, till Phronsie, moving one step forward, piped forth: - -"Naughty men, to touch my dear grandpa's things!" - -With a smothered cry one of them started forward with arm -uplifted; but the other sprang like a cat and intercepted the blow. - -"Stop!" was all he said. A noise above the stairs--a rushing sound -through the hail! Something will save Phronsie, for the household -is aroused! The two men sprang through the window, having no -time to catch the lantern or their tools, as Polly, followed by one -and another, rushed in and surrounded the child. - -"What!" gasped Polly, and got no further. - -"STOP, THIEF!" roared Mr. King, hurrying over the stairs. The -children, frightened at the strange noises, began to cry and scream, -as they came running through the halls to the spot. Jasper rushed -for the men-servants. - -And there stood Phronsie, surrounded by the pale group. "Twas -two naughty men," she said, lifting her little face with the grieved, -astonished look still in the big brown eyes, "and they were -touching my grandpa's things, Polly!" - -"I should think they were," said Jasper, running over amongst the -few scattered tools and the lantern, to the windows, where, on the -floor, was a large table cover hastily caught up by the corners, into -which a vast variety of silver, jewelry, and quantities of costly -articles were gathered ready for flight. "They've broken open your -safe, father!" he cried in excitement, "see!" - -"And they put up their hand--one man did," went on Phronsie. -"And the other said 'Stop!'--oh, Polly, you hurt me!" she cried, as -Polly, unable to bear the strain any longer, held her so tightly she -could hardly breathe. - -"Go on," said Jasper, "how did they look?" - -"All black," said the child, pushing back her wavy hair and looking -at him, "very all black, Japser." - -"And their faces, Phronsie?" said Mr. King, getting down on his -old knees on the floor beside her. "Bless me! somebody else ask -her, I can't talk!" - -"How did their faces look, Phronsie, dear?" asked Jasper, taking -one of the cold hands in his. "Can't you think?" - -"Oh!" said Phronsie--and then she gave a funny little laugh, "two -big holes, Japser, that's all they had!" - -"She means they were masked," whispered Jasper. - -"What did you get up for?" Mrs. Whitney asked. "Dear child, what -made you get out of bed?" - -"Why, my cushion-pin," said Phronsie looking worried at once. "I -couldn't find it, and--" - -But just at this, without a bit of warning, Polly tumbled over in a -dead faint. - -And then it was all confusion again. - -And so, on the following afternoon, it turned out that the Peppers, -about whose coming there had been so many plans and -expectations, just walked in as if they had always lived there. The -greater excitement completely swallowed up the less! - -WHICH TREATS OF A GOOD MANY MATTERS - -"Phooh!" said Joel a few mornings after the emptying of the little -brown house into the big one, when he and Van were rehearsing -for the fiftieth time all the points of the eventful night, "phooh! if -I'd been here they wouldn't got away, I guess!" - -"What would you have done?" asked Van, bristling up at this -reflection on their courage, and squaring up to him. "What would -you have done, Joel Pepper?" - -"I'd a-pitched right into 'em--like--everything!" said Joel valiantly; -"and a-caught 'em! Yes, every single one of the Bunglers!" - -"The what?" said Van, bursting into a loud laugh. - -"The Bunglers," said Joel with a red face. "That's what you said -they were, anyway," he added positively. - -"I said Burglars," said Van, doubling up with amusement, while -Joel stood, a little sturdy figure, regarding him with anything but a -sweet countenance. - -"Well anyway, I'd a-caught 'em, so there!" he said, as Van at last -showed signs of coming out of his fit of laughter, and got up and -wiped his eyes. - -"How'd you caught 'em?" asked Van, scornfully surveying the -square little country figure before him. "You can't hit any. - -"Can't?" said Joel, the black eyes flashing volumes, and coming up -in front of Van. "You better believe I can, Van Whitney!" - -"Come out in the back yard and try then," said Van hospitably, -perfectly delighted at the prospect, and flying alone towards the -door. "Come right out and try." - -"All right!" said Joel, following sturdily, equally delighted to show -his skill. - -"There," said Van, taking off his jacket, and ffinging it on the -grass, while Joel immediately followed suit with his little -homespun one. "Now we can begin perfectly splendid! I won't hit -hard," he added patronizingly, as both boys stood ready. - -"Hit as hard as you've a-mind to," said Joel, "I'm a-going to." - -"Oh, you may," said Van politely, "because you're company. All -right--now!" - -So at it they went. Before very many minutes were over, Van -relinquished all ideas of treating his company with extra -consideration, and was only thinking how he could possibly hold -his own with the valiant little country lad. Oh, if he could only be -called to his lessons--anything that would summon him into the -house! Just then a window above their heads was suddenly thrown -up, and his mamma's voice in natural surprise and distress called -quickly: "Children what are you doing? Oh, Van, how could you!" - -Both contestants turned around suddenly. Joel looked up steadily. -"We're a-hitting, ma'am; he said I couldn't, and so we came out -and--" - -"Oh, Vanny," said Mrs. Whitney reproachfully, "to treat a little -guest in this way!" - -"I wanted to," said Joel cheerfully; "twas great fun. Let's begin -again, Van!" - -"We mustn't," said Van, readily giving up the charming prospect, -and beginning to edge quickly towards the house. "Mamma -wouldn't like it you know. He hits splendidly, mamma," he added -generously, looking up. "He does really." - -"And so does Van," cried Joel, his face glowing at the praise. -"We'll come out every day," he added slipping into his jacket, and -turning enthusiastically back to Van. - -"And perhaps he could have pitched into the Burglars," finished -Van, ignoring the invitation, and tumbling into his jacket with -alarming speed. - -"I know I could!" cried Joel, scampering after him into the house. -"If I'd only a-been here!" - -"Where's Ben?" said Van, bounding into the hail, and flinging -himself down on one of the chairs. "Oh dear, I'm so hot! Say, Joe, -where do you s'pose Ben is?" - -"I don't know," replied Joel, who didn't even puff. - -"I saw him a little while ago with master Percy," said Jane, who -was going through the hall. - -"There now! and they've gone off somewhere," cried Van in -extreme irritation, and starting up quickly. "I know they have. -Which way did they go, Jane? And how long ago?" - -"Oh, I don't know," replied Jane carelessly, "half an hour maybe; -and they didn't go nowhere as I see, at least they were talking at the -door, and I was going up-stairs." - -"Right here?" cried Van, and stamping with his foot to point out -the exact place; "at this door, Jane?" - -"Yes, yes," said Jane; "at that very door," and then she went into -the dining-room to her work. - -"Oh dear me!" cried Van, and flying out on the veranda, he began -to peer wildly up and down the drive. "And they've gone to some -splendid place, I know, and wouldn't tell us. That's just like Percy!" -he added vindictively, "he's always stealing away! don't you see -'em, Joel? oh, do come out and look!" - -"'Tisn't any use," said Joel coolly, sitting down on the chair Van -had just vacated, and swinging his feet comfortably; "they're miles -away if they've been gone half an hour. I'm goin' up-stairs," and he -sprang up, and energetically pranced to the stairs. - -"They aren't up-stairs!" screamed Van, in scorn, bounding into the -hall. "Don't go; I know that they've gone down to the museum!" - -"The what?" exclaimed Joel, nearly at the top, peering over the -railing. "What's that you said--what is it?" - -"A museum," shouted Van, "and it's a perfectly elegant place, Joel -Pepper, and Percy knows I like to go; and now he's taken Ben off; -and he'll show him all the things! and they'll all be old when I take -him--and--and--oh! I hope the snakes will bite him!" he addcd, -trying to think of something bad enough. - -"Do they have snakes there?" asked Joel, staring. - -"Yes, they do," snapped out Van. "They have everything!" - -"Well, they shan't bite Ben!" cried Joel in terror. "Oh! do you -suppose they will?" and he turned right straight around on the -stairs, and looked at Van. - -"No," said Van, "they won't bite--what's the matter, Joe?" - -"Oh, they may," said Joel, his face working, and screwing both -fists into his eyes; at last he burst right out into a torrent of sobs. -"Oh, don't let 'em Van--don't!" - -"Why, they can't," said Van in an emphatic voice, running up the -stairs to Joel's side, frightened to death at his tears. - -Then he began to shake his jacket sleeve violently to bring him -back to reason, "Wait Joe! oh, do stop! oh, dear, what shall I do! I -tell you, they can't bite," he screamed as loud as he could into his -ear. - -"You said--you--hoped--they--would,"said Joel's voice in -smothered tones. - -"Well, they won't anyway," said Van decidedly. "Cause they're all -stuffed--so there now!" - -"Ain't they alive--nor anythin'?" asked Joel, bringing one black eye -into sight from behind his chubby hands. - -"No," said Van, "they're just as dead as anything, Joel Pepper--been -dead years! and there's old crabs there too, old dead crabs--and -they're just lovely! Oh, such a lots of eggs as they've got! And there -are shells and bugs and stones--and an awful old crocodile, and"---- -"Oh, dear!" sighed Joel, perfectly overcome at such a vision, and -sitting down on the stairs to think. "Well, mamsie'll know where -Ben is," he said, springing up. "And then I tell you Van, we'll just -tag 'em!" - -"So she will," cried Van. "Why didn't we think of that before? I -wanted to think." - -"I did," said Joel. "That was where I was goin'." - -Without any more ado they rushed into Mrs. Pepper's big, sunny -room, there to see, seated at the square table between the two large -windows, the two lost ones bending over what seemed to be an -object of the greatest importance, for Polly was hanging over Ben's -shoulder with intense pride and delight, which she couldn't -possibly conceal, and Davie was crowded as near as he could get -to Percy's elbow. - -Phronsie and little Dick were perched comfortably on the corner of -the table, surveying the whole scene in quiet rapture; and Mrs. -Pepper with her big mending basket, was ensconced over by the -deep window seat just on the other side of the room, underneath -Cherry's cage, and looking up between quick energetic stitches, -over at the busy group, with the most placid expression on her -face. - -"Oh!--what you doin'?" cried Joel, flying up to them. "Let us see, -do Ben!" - -"What is it?" exclaimed Van, squeezing in between Percy and Ben. - -"Don't"----began Percy. "There, see, you've knocked his elbow and -spoilt it!" - -"Oh no, he hasn't," said Ben, putting down his pencil, and taking -up a piece of rubber. "There, see it all comes out--as good as ever." - -"Isn't it just elegant?" said Percy in the most pleased tone, and -wriggling his toes under the table to express his satisfaction, - -"Yes," said Van, craning his neck to get a better view of the -picture, now nearly completed, "It's perfectly splendid. How'd you -do it, Ben?" - -"I don't know," replied Ben with a smile, carefully shading in a few -last touches. "It just drew itself." - -"Tisn't anything to what he can do," said Polly, standing up as tall -as she could, and beaming at Ben, "He used to draw most beautiful -at home." - -"Better than this?" asked Van, with great respect and taking up the -picture, after some demur on Percy's part, and examining it -critically. "I don't believe it, Polly." - -"Phooh; he did!" exclaimed Joel, looking over his shoulder at a -wonderful view of a dog in an extremely excited state of mind -running down an interminable hill to bark at a locomotive and -train of cars whizzing along a curve in the foreground. Lots better'n -that! Ben can do anything!" he added, in an utterly convincing -way. - -"Now give it back," cried Percy, holding out his hand in alarm. -"I'm going to ask mamma to have it framed; and then I'm going to -hang it right over my bed," he finished, as Van reluctantly gave up -the treasure. - -"Did you draw all the time in the little brown house?" asked Van, -lost in thought. "Howl wish I'd been there!" - -"Dear, no!" cried Polly with a little skip, turning away to laugh. -"He didn't have hardly any time, and"----"Why not?" asked Percy. - -"Cause there was. things to do," said Polly. "But sometimes when -it rained, and he couldn't go out and work, and there wasn't -anything to do in the house--then we'd have----oh!" and she drew a -long breath at the memory, "such a time, you can't think!" - -"Didn't you wish it would always rain?" asked Van, still gazing at -the picture. - -"Dear, no!" began Polly. - -"I didn't," broke in Joel, in horror. "I wouldn't a-had it rain for -anything!--~only once in a while," he added, as he thought of the -good times that Polly had spoken of. - -"'Twas nice outdoors," said little Davie, reflectively; "and nice -inside, too." And then he glanced over to his mother, who gave -him a smile in return. "And 'twas nice always." - -"Well," said Van, returning to the picture, "I do wish you'd tell me -how to draw, Ben. I can't do anything but flowers," he said in a -discouraged way. - -"Flowers aren't anything," said Percy, pleasantly. "That's girls' -work; but dogs and horses and cars--those are just good!" - -"Will you, Ben?" asked Van, looking down into the big blue eyes, -so kindly turned up to his. - -"Yes, indeed I will," cried Ben, "that is, all I know; 'tisn't much, but -everything I can, I'll tell you." - -"Then I can learn, can't I?" cried Van joyfully. - -"Oh, tell me too, Ben," cried Percy, "will you? I want to learn too." - -"And me!" cried Dick, bending forward, nearly upsetting Phronsie -as he did so. "Yes, say I may, Ben, do!" - -"You're too little," began Percy. But Ben nodded his head at Dick, -which caused him to clap his hands and return to his original -position, satisfied. - -"Well, I guess we're going to, too," said Joel. "Dave an' me; there -isn't anybody goin' to learn without us." - -"Of course not," said Polly, "Ben wouldn't leave you out, Joey. - -Phronsie sat quite still all this time, on the corner of the table, her -feet tucked up under her, and her hands clasped in her lap, and -never said a word. But Ben looking up, saw the most grieved -expression settling on her face, as the large eyes were fixed in -wonder on the faces before her. - -"And there's my pet," he cried in enthusiasm, and reaching over the -table, he caught hold of one of the little fat hands. "Why we -couldn't think of getting along without her! She shall learn to -draw--she shall!" - -"Really, Bensie?" said Phronsie, the sunlight breaking all over the -gloomy little visage, and setting the brown eyes to dancing. "Real, -true, splendid pictures?" - -"Yes, the splendidest," said Ben, "the very splendidest pictures, -Phronsie Pepper, you ever saw!" - -"Oh!" cried Phronsie; and before any one knew what she was -about, she tripped right into the middle of the table, over the -papers and everything, and gave a happy little whirl! - -"Dear me, Phronsie!" cried Polly catching her up and hugging her; -"you mustn't dance on the table." - -"I'm going to learn," said Phronsie, coming out of Polly's embrace, -"to draw whole pictures, all alone by myself--Ben said so!" - -"I know it," said Polly, "and then you shall draw one for mainsie-- -you shall!" - -"I will," said Phronsie, dreadfully excited; "I'll draw her a cow, and -two chickens, Polly, just like Grandma Bascom's!" - -"Yes," whispered Polly, "but don't you tell her yet till you get it -done, Phronsie." - -"I won't," said Phronsie in the loudest of tones--but putting her -mouth close to Polly's ear. "And then she'll be so s'prised, Polly! -won't she?" - -Just then came Jasper's voice at the door. "Can I come in?" - -"Oh, do, Jappy," cried Polly, rushing along with Phronsie in her -arms to open the door. "We're so glad you've got home!" - -"So am I," said Jasper, coming in, his face flushed and his eyes -sparkling; "I thought father never would be through downtown, -Polly!" - -"We're going to learn to draw," said Percy, over by the table, who -wouldn't on any account leave his seat by Ben, though he was -awfully tired of sitting still so long, for fear somebody else would -hop into it. "Ben's going to teach us." - -"Yes, he is," put in Van, bounding up to Jasper and pulling at all -the buttons on his jacket he could reach, to command attention. - -"And us," said Joel, coming up too. "You forgot us, Van." - -"The whole of us--every single one in this room," said Van -decidedly, "all except Mrs. Pepper." - -"Hulloa!" said Jasper, "that is a class! Well, Professor Ben, you've -got to teach me then, for I'm coming too." - -"You?" said Ben, turning around his chair, and looking at him; "I -can't teach you anything, Jappy. You know everything already"-.- - -"Let him come, anyway," said Polly, hopping up and down. - -"Oh, I'm coming, Professor," laughed Jasper. "Never you fear, -Polly; I'll be on hand when the rest of the class comes in!" - -"And Van," said Mrs. Pepper, pausing a minute in her work, and -smiling over at him in a lull in the chatter--"I think flowers are -most beautiful!" and she pointed to a little framed picture on the -mantel, of the bunch of buttercups and one huge rose that Van had -with infinite patience drawn, and then colored to suit his fancy. - -"Do you?" cried Van, perfectly delighted; and leaving the group he -rushed up to her side. "Do you really think they're nice, Mrs. -Pepper?" - -"Of course I do," said Mrs. Pepper briskly, and beaming on him; "I -think everything of them, and I shall keep them as long as I live, -Van!" - -"Well, then," said Van, very much pleased, "I shall paint you ever -so many more--just as many as you want!" - -"Do!" said Mrs. Pepper, taking up her work again. "And I'll hang -them every one up." - -"Yes, I will," said Van; "and I'll go right to work on one -to-morrow. What you mending our jackets for?" he asked abruptly -as a familiar hole caught his attention. - -"Because they're torn," said Mrs. Pepper cheerfully, "an' they won't -mend themselves." - -"Why don't you let Jane?" he persisted. "She always does them." - -"Jane's got enough to do," replied Mrs. Pepper, smiling away as -hard as she could, "and I haven't, so rm going to look around and -pick up something to keep my hands out of mischief as much as -Jean, while I'm here." - -"Do you ever get into mischief?" asked little Dick, coming up and -looking into Mrs. Pepper's face wonderingly. "Why, you're a big -woman!" - -"Dear me, yes!" said Mrs. Pepper. "The bigger you are, the more -mischief you can get into. You'll find that out, Dickey." - -"And then do you have to stand in a corner?" asked Dick, -determined to find out just what were the consequences, and -reverting to his most dreaded punishment. - -"No," said Mrs. Pepper laughing. "Corners are for little folks; but -when people who know better, do wrong, there aren't any corners -they can creep into, or they'd get into them pretty quick!" - -"I wish," said little Dick, "you'd let me get into your lap. That -would be a nice corner!" - -"Do, mamsie," said Polly, coming up, "that's just the way I used to -feel; and I'll finish the mending." - -So Mrs. Pepper put down her work, and moved the big basket for -little Dick to clamber up, when he laid his head contentedly back -in her motherly arms with a sigh of happiness. Phronsie regarded -him with a very grave expression. At last she drew near: "I'm tired; -do, mamsie, take me!" - -"So mamsie will," said Mrs. Pepper, opening her anns, when -Phronsie immediately crawled up into their protecting shelter, with -a happy little crow. - -"Oh, now, tell us a story, Mrs. Pepper," cried Van; "please, please -do!" - -"No, no;" exclaimed Percy, scuttling out of his chair, and coming -up, "let's talk of the little brown house. Do tell us what you used to -do there--that's best." - -"So 'tis!" cried Van; "ALL the nice times you used to have in it! -Wait just a minute, do." And he ran back for a cricket which he -placed at Mrs. Pepper's feet; and then sitting down on it, he leaned -on her comfortable lap, in order to hear better. - -"Wait for me too, till I get a chair," called Percy, starting. "Don't -begin till I get there." - -"Here, let me, Percy," said Ben; and he drew forward a big -easy-chair that the boy was tugging at with all his might. - -"Now I'm ready, too," said Polly, setting small finishing stitches -quickly with a merry little flourish, and drawing her chair nearer -her mother's as she spoke. - -"Now begin, please," said Van, "all the nice times you know." - -"She couldn't tell all the nice times if she had ten years to tell them -in, could she, Polly?" said Jasper. - -"Well, in the first place then," said Mrs. Pepper, clearing her -throat, "the little brown house had got to be, you know, so we -made up our minds to make it just the nicest brown house that ever -was!" - -"And it was!" declared Jasper, with an emphatic ring to his voice. -"The very nicest place in the whole world!" - -"Oh dear," broke in Van enviously; "Jappy's always said so. I wish -we'd been there, too!" - -"We didn't want anybody but Jappy," said Joel not very politely. - -"Oh Joey, for shame!" cried Polly. - -"Jappy used to bake," cried little Davie; "an' we all made pies; an' -then we sat round an' ate 'em, an' then told stories." - -"Oh what fun!" cried Percy. "Do tell us!" - -So the five little Peppers and Jasper flew off into reminiscences -and accounts of the funny doings, and Mrs. Pepp~r joined in -heartily till the room got very merry with the glee and enthusiasm -called forth; so much so, that nobody heard Mrs. Whitney knock -gently at the door, and nobody answering, she was obliged to come -in by herself. - -"Well, well," she cried, merrily, looking at the swarm of little ones -around Mrs. Pepper and the big chair. "You are having a nice time! -May I come and listen?" - -"Oh, if you will, sister," cried Jasper, springing off from his arm of -the chair, while Ben flew from the other side, to hurry and get her -a chair. - -Percy and Van rushed too, knocking over so many things that they -didn't help much; and little Dick poked his head out from Mrs. -Pepper's arms when he saw his mamma sitting down to stay and -began to scramble down to get into her lap. - -"There now," said Mrs. Whitney, smiling over at Mrs. Pepper, who -was smiling at her. "You have your baby, and I have mine! Now -children, what's it all about? What has Mrs. Pepper been telling -you?" - -"Oh, the little brown house," cried Dicky, his cheeks all a-flame. -"The dearest little house mamma! I wish I could live in one! - -"Twouldn't be the same without the Peppers in it," said Jasper. -"Not a bit of it!" - -"And they had such perfectly elegant times," cried Percy, -enviously, drawing up to her side. "Oh, you can't think, mamma!" - -"Well now," said his mamma, "do go on, and let me hear some of -the nice times." - -So away they launched again, and Mrs. Whitney was soon -enjoying it as hugely as the children, when a heavy step sounded in -the middle of the room, and a voice spoke in such a tone that -everybody skipped. - -"Well, I should like to know what all this means! I've been all over -the house, and not a trace of anybody could I find." - -"Oh father!" cried Mrs. Whitney. "Van, dear, get up and get -grandpapa a chair." - -"No, no!" said the old gentleman, waving him off impatiently. "I'm -not going to stay; I must go and lie down. My head is in a bad -condition to-day; very bad indeed," he added. - -"Oh!" said Phronsie, popping up her head and looking at him. "I -must get right down." - -"What's the matter, Phronsie?" asked Mrs. Pepper, trying to hold -her back. - -"Oh, but I must," said Phronsie, energetically wriggling. "My poor -sick man wants me, he does." And flying out of her mother's arms, -she ran up to Mr. King, and standing on tiptoe, said softly, "I'll rub -your head, grandpa dear, poor sick man; yes I wilL" - -"And you're the best child," cried the old gentleman, catching her -up and marching over to the other side of the room where there -was a lounging chair. "There now, you and I, Phronsie, will stay by -ourselves. Then my head will feel better." - -And he sat down and drew her into his arms. - -"Does it ache very bad?" said Phronsie, in a soft little voice. Then -reaching up she began to pat and smooth it gently with one little -hand, "Very bad, dear grandpa?" - -"It won't," said the old gentleman, "if you only keep on taking care -of it, little Phronsie." - -"Then," said the child, perfectly delighted, "rm going to take all -care of you, grandpa, always!" - -"So you shall, so you shall!" cried Mr. King, no less delighted than -she was. "Mrs. Pepper!" - -"Sir?" said Mrs. Pepper, trying to answer, which she couldn't do -very well surrounded as she was by the crowd of little chatterers. -"Yes, Sir; excuse me what is it, sir?" - -"We've got to come to an understanding about this thing," said the -old gentleman, "and I can't talk much to-day, because my headache -won't allow it. - -Here the worried look came into Phronsie's face again, and she -began to try to smooth his head with both little hands. - -"And so I must say it all in as few words as possible," he -continued. - -"What is it, sir?" again asked Mrs. Pepper, wonderingly. "Well, the -fact is, I've got to have somebody who will keep this house. Now -Marian, not a word!" as he saw symptoms of Mrs. Whitney's -joining in the conversation. "You've been good; just as good as can -be under the circumstances; but Mason will be home in the fall, -and then I suppose you'll have to go with him. "Now 1," said the -old gentleman, forgetting all about his head, and straightening -himself up suddenly in the chair, "am going to get things into -shape, so that the house will be kept for all of us; so that we can -come or go. And how can I do it better than to have the -Peppers--you, Mrs. Pepper, and all your children--come here and -live, and"-- "Oh, father!" cried Jasper, rushing up to him; and -flinging his arms around his neck, he gave him such a hug as he -hadn't received for many a day. - -"Goodness, Jasper!" cried his father, feeling of his throat. "How -can you express your feelings so violently! And, besides, you -interrupt." - -"Beg pardon, sir," said Jasper, swallowing his excitement, and -trying to control his eagerness. - -"Do you say yes, Mrs. Pepper?" queried the old gentleman -impatiently. "I must get this thing fixed up to-day. I'm really too ill -to be worried ma'am." - -"Why sir," stammered Mrs. Pepper, "I don't know what to say. I -couldn't think of imposing all my children on you, and"---- -"Imposing! Who's talking of imposing!" said Mr. King in a loud -key. "I want my house kept; will you live here and keep it? That is -the question." - -"But sir," began Mrs. Pepper again, "you don't think"---- "I do -think; I tell you, ma'am, I do think," snapped the old gentleman. -"It's just because I have thought that I've made up my mind. Will -you do it Mrs. Pepper?" - -"What you goin' to do, mamsie?" asked Joel quickly. - -"I don't know as I'm going to do anything yet," said poor Mrs. -Pepper, who was almost stunned. - -"To come here and live!" cried Jasper, unable to keep still any -longer--and springing to the children. "Don't you want to, Joe?" - -"To live!" screamed Joel. "Oh whickety, yes! Do ma, do come here -and live--do!" - -"To live?" echoed Phronsie, over in the old gentleman's lap. "In -this be-yew-ti-ful place? Oh, oh!" - -"Oh, mamsie!" that was all Polly could say. - -And even Ben had his arms around his mother's neck, whispering -"Do" into her ear, while little Davie got into her lap and teased her -with all his might. - -What shall I do! cried the poor woman. Did ever anybody see the -like?" - -"It's the very best thing you could possibly do," cried the - -old gentleman. "Don't you see it's for the children's advantage? -They'll get such educations, Mrs. Pepper, as you want for them. -And it accommodates me immensely. What obstacle can there be -to it?" - -"If I was only sure 'twas best?" said Mrs. Pepper doubtfully. - -"Oh, dear Mrs. Pepper," said Mrs. Whitney, laying her hand on -hers. "Can you doubt it?" - -"Then," said Mr. King, getting up, but still holding on to Phronsie, -"we'll consider it settled. This is your home, children," he said, -waving his hand at the five little Peppers in a bunch. And having -thus summarily disposed of the whole business, he marched out -with Phronsie on his shoulder. - -POLLY'S DISMAL MORNING - -Everything had gone wrong with Polly that day. It began with her -boots. - -Of all things in the world that tried Polly's patience most were the -troublesome little black buttons that originally adorned those -useful parts of her clothing, and that were fondly supposed to be -there when needed. But they never were. The little black things -seemed to be invested with a special spite, for one by one they -would hop off on the slightest provocation, and go rolling over the -floor, just when she was in her most terrible hurry, compelling her -to fly for needle and thread on the instant. For one thing Mrs. -Pepper was very strict about--and that was, Polly should do -nothing else till the buttons were all on again, and the boots -buttoned up firm and snug. - -"Oh dear!" said Polly, sitting down on the floor, and pulling on her -stockings. "There now, see that hateful old shoe, mamsie!" And -she thrust out one foot in dismay. - -"What's the matter with it?" said Mrs. Pepper straightening the -things on the bureau. "You haven't worn it out already, Polly?" - -"Oh no," said Polly, with a little laugh. "I hope not yet, but it's -these dreadful hateful old buttons!" And she twitched the boot off -from her foot with such an impatient little pull, that three or four -more went flying under the bed. "There now--there's a lot more. I -don't care! I wish they'd all go; they might as well!" she cried, -tossing that boot on the floor in intense scorn, while she -investigated the state of the other one. - -"Are they all off?" asked Phronsie, pulling herself up out of a little -heap in the middle of the bed, and leaning over the side, where she -viewed Polly sorrowfully. "Every one, Polly?" - -"No," said Polly, "but I wish they were, mean old things; when I -was going down to play a duet with Jasper! We should have had a -good long time before breakfast. Oh, mayn't I go just once, -mamsie? Nobody'll see me if I tuck my foot under the piano; and I -can sew 'em on afterwards--there'll be plenty of time. Do, just -once, mamsie!" - -"No," said Mrs. Pepper firmly, "there isn't any time but now. And -piano playing isn't very nice when you've got to stick your toes -under it to keep your shoes on." - -"Well then," grumbled Polly, hopping around in her stocking-feet, -"where is the work-basket, mamsie? Oh--here it is on the -window-seat." A rattle of spools, scissors and necessary utensils -showed plainly that Polly had found it, followed by a jumble of -words and despairing ejaculations as she groped hurriedly under -chairs and tables to collect the scattered contents. - -When she got back with a very red face, she found Phronsie, who -had crawled out of bed, sitting down on the floor in her little -nightgown and examining the boot with profound interest. - -"I can sew 'em, Polly," she said, holding up her hand for the big -needle that Polly was trying to thread--"I can now truly; let me, -Polly, do!" - -"Dear no!" said Polly with a little laugh, beginning to be very -much ashamed. "What could you do with your little mites of hands -pulling this big thread through that old leather? There, scamper -into bed again; you'll catch cold out here. - -"Tisn't very cold," said Phronsie, tucking up her toes under the -night-gown, but Polly hurried her into bed, where she curled -herself up under the clothes, watching her make a big knot. But the -knot didn't stay; for when Polly drew up the long thread -triumphantly to the end--out it flew, and away the button hopped -again as if glad to be released. And then the thread kinked -horribly, and got all twisted up in disagreeable little snarls that -took all Polly's patience to unravel. - -"It's because you're in such a hurry," said Mrs. Pepper, who was -getting Phionsie's clothes. And coming over across the room she -got down on one knee, and looked over Polly's shoulder. "There -now, let mother see what's the matter." - -"Oh dear," said Polly, resigning the needle with a big sigh, and -leaning back to take a good stretch, followed by Phronsie's -sympathizing eyes; "they never'll be on! And there goes the first -bell!" as the loud sounds under Jane's vigorous ringing pealed up -over the stairs. "There won't be time anyway, now! I wish there -wasn't such a thing as shoes in the world!" And she gave a flounce -and sat up straight in front of her mother. - -"Polly!" said Mrs. Pepper sternly, deftly fastening the little buttons -tightly into place with quick, firm stitches, "better be glad you've -got them to sew at all. There now, here they are. Those won't come -off in a hurry!" - -"Oh, mamsie!" cried Polly, ignoring for a moment the delights of -the finished shoe to fling her arms around her mother's neck and -give her a good hug. "You're just the splendidest, goodest mamsie -in all the world. And I'm a hateful, cross old bear, so I am!" she -cried remorsefully, buttoning herself into her boots. Which done, -she flew at the rest of her preparations and tried to make up for -lost time. - -But 'twas all of no use. The day seemed to be always just racing -ahead of her, and turning a corner, before she could catch up to it, -and Ben and the other boys only caught dissolving views of her as -she flitted through halls or over stairs. - -"Where's Polly?" said Percy at last, coming with great -dissatisfaction in his voice to the library door. "We've called her, I -guess a million times, and she won't hurry." - -"What do you want to have her do?" asked Jasper, looking up from -the sofa where he had flung himself with a book. - -"Why, she said she'd make Van and me our sails you know," said -Percy, holding up a rather forlorn looking specimen of a boat, but -which the boys had carved with the greatest enthusiasm, "and we -want her now." - -"Can't you let her alone till she's ready to come?" said Jasper -quickly. "You're always teasing her to do something," he added. - -"I didn't tease," said Percy indignantly, coming up to the sofa, boat -in hand, to enforce his words. "She said she'd love to do 'em, so -there, Jasper King!" - -"Coming! coming!" sang Polly over the stairs, and bobbing into the -library, "Oh--here you are, Percy! I couldn't come before; mamsie -wanted me. Now, says I, for the sails." And she began to~p out a -long white piece of cotton cloth on the table to trim into just the -desired shape. - -"That isn't the way," said Percy, crowding up, the brightness that -had flashed over his face at Polly's appearance beginning to fade. -"Hoh! those won't be good for anything-- those ain't sails." - -"I haven't finished," said Polly, snipping away vigorously, and -longing to get back to mamsie. "Wait till they're done; then they'll -be good--as good as can be!" - -"And it's bad enough to have to make them," put in Jasper, flinging -aside his book and rolling over to watch them, "without having to -be found fault with every second, Percy." - -"They're too big," said Percy, surveying them critically, and then -looking at his boat. - -"Oh, that corner's coming off," cried Polly cheerfully, giving it a -sharp cut that sent it flying on the floor. "And they won't be too big -when they're done, Percy, all hemmed and everything. There," as -she held one up for inspection, "that's just the way I used to make -Ben's and mine, when we sailed boats." - -"Is it?" asked Percy, looking with more respect at the piece of cloth -Polly was waving alluringly before him. "Just exactly like it, -Polly?" - -"Yes," said Polly, laying it down again for a pattern--"oh, how does -this go--oh--that's it, there--yes, this is just exactly like Bensie's and -mine--that was when I was ever so little; and then I used to make -Joel's and Davie's afterwards and"-- "And were theirs just like -this?" asked Percy, laying his hand on the sail she had finished -cutting out. - -"Pre-cisely," said Polly, with a pin in her mouth. "Just as like as -two peas, Percy Whitney." - -"Then I like them," cried Percy, veering round and regarding them -with great satisfaction--as Van bounded in with a torrent of -complaints, and great disappointment in every line of his face. - -"Oh now, that's too bad!" he cried, seeing Polly fold up the -remaining bits of cloth, and pick up the scraps on the floor. "And -you've gone and let her cut out every one of 'em, and never told me -a word! You're a mean, old hateful thing, Percy Whitney!" - -"Oh don't!" said Polly, on her knees on the floor. - -"I forgot--" began Percy, "and she cut 'em so quick--and--" - -"And I've been waiting," said Van, in a loud wrathful key, "and -waiting--and waiting!" - -"Never mind, Van," said Jasper consolingly, getting off from the -sofa and coming up to the table. - -"They're done and done beautifully, aren't they?" be said, holding -up one. - -But this only proved fresh fuel for the fire of Van's indignation. - -"And you shan't have 'em, so 1" he cried, making a lunge at the one -on the table, "for I made most of the boat, there!" - -"Oh no, you didn't!" cried Percy in the greatest alarm, hanging on -to the boat in his hand. "I cut--all the keel--and the bow--and--" - -"Oh dear!" said Polly, in extreme dismay, looking at Jasper. -"Come, I'll tell you what I'll do, boys." - -"What?" said Van, cooling off a little, and allowing Percy to edge -into a corner with the beloved boat and one sail. "What will you, -Polly?" - -"I'll make you another pair of sails," said Polly groaning within -herself as she thought of the wasted minutes, "and then you can see -me cut 'em, Van." - -"Will you really," he said, delight coming all over his flushed face. - -"Yes, I will," cricd Polly, "wait a minute till I get some more -cloth." And she started for the door. - -"Oh now, that's too bad!" said Jasper. "To have to cut more of -those tiresome old things! Van, let her off!" - -"Oh no, I won't! I won't!" he cried in the greatest alarm, running up -to her as she stood by the door. "You did say so, Polly! You know -you did!" - -"Of course I did, Vanny," said Polly, smiling down into his eager -face, "and we'll have a splendid pair in just--one----minute!" she -sang. - -And so the sails were cut out, and the hems turned down and -basted, and tucked away into Polly's little work-basket ready for -the sewing on the morrow. And then Mr. King came in and took -Jasper off with him; and the two Whitney boys went up to mamma -for a story; and Polly sat down in mamsie's room to tackle her -French exercise. - -POLLY'S BIG BUNDLE - -The room was very quiet; but presently Phronsie strayed in, and -seeing Polly studying, climbed up in a chair by the window to -watch the birds hop over the veranda and pick up worms in the -grass beside the carriage drive. And then came Mrs. Pepper with -the big mending basket, and ensconced herself opposite by the -table; and nothing was to be heard but the "tick, tick" of the clock, -and an occasional dropping of a spool of thread, or scissors, from -the busy hands flying in and out among the stockings. - -All of a sudden there was a great rustling in Cherry's cage that -swung in the big window on the other side of the room. And then -he set up a loud and angry chirping, flying up and down, and -opening his mouth as if he wanted to express his mind, but -couldn't, and otherwise acting in a very strange and unaccountable -manner. - -"Dear me!" said Mrs. Pepper, "what's that?" - -"It's Cherry," said Polly, lifting up her head from "Fasquelle," -"and--oh, dear me!" and flinging down the pile of books in her lap -on a chair, she rushed across the room and flew up to the cage and -began to wildly gesticulate and explain and shower down on him -every endearing name she could think of. - -"What is the matter?" asked her mother, turning around in her -chair in perfect astonishment. "What upon earths Polly!" "How -could I!" cried Polly, in accents of despair, not heeding her -mother's question. "Oh, mamsie, will he die, do you think?" - -"I guess not," said Mrs. Pepper, laying down her work and coming -up to the cage, while Phronsie scrambled off from her chair and -hurried to the scene. "Why, he does act queer, don't he? P'raps he's -been eating too much?" - -"Eating!" said Polly, "oh mamsie, he hasn't had anything." And she -pointed with shame and remorse to the seed-cup with only a few -dried husks in the very bottom. - -"Oh, Polly," began Mrs. Pepper; but seeing the look on her face, -she changed her tone for one more cheerful. "Well, hurry and get -him some now; he'll be all right, poor little thing, in a minute. -There, there," she said, nodding persuasively at the cage, "you -pretty creature you! so you sha'n't be starved." - -At the word "starved," Polly winced as though a pin had been -pointed at her. - -"There isn't any, mamsie, in the house," she stammered; "he had -the last yesterday." - -"And you forgot him to-day?" asked Mrs. Pepper, with a look in -her black eyes Polly didn't like. - -"Yes'm," said poor Polly in a low voice. - -"Well, he must have something right away," said Mrs. Pepper, -decidedly. "That?s certain." - -"I'll run right down to Fletcher's and get it," cried Polly. - -"Twon't take me but a minute, mamsie; Jasper's gone, and Thomas, -too, so I've got to go," she added, as she saw her mother hesitate. - -"If you could wait till Ben gets home," said Mrs. Pepper, slowly. -"I'm most afraid it will rain, Polly." - -"Oh, no, mamsie," cried Polly, feeling as if she could fly to the -ends of the earth to atone, and longing beside for the brisk walk -down town. Going up to the window she pointed triumphantly to -the little bit of blue sky still visible. "There, now, see, it can't rain -yet awhile." - -"Well," said Mrs. Pepper, while Phronsie, standing in a chair with -her face pressed close to the cage, was telling Cherry through the -bars "not to be hungry, please don't!" which he didn't seem to mind -in the least, but went on screaming harder than ever! "And besides, -'tisn't much use to wait for Ben. Nobody knows where he'll get -shoes to fit himself and Joe and Davie, in one afternoon! But be -sure, Polly, to hurry, for it's getting late, and I shall be worried -about you. - -"Oh, mamsie," said Polly, turning back just a minute, "I know the -way to Fletcher's just as easy as anything. I couldn't get lost." - -"I know you do," said Mrs. Pepper, "but it'll be dark early on -account of the shower. Well," she said, pulling out her well-worn -purse from her pocket, "if it does sprinkle, you get into a car, -Polly, remember." - -"Oh, yes, I will," she cried, taking the purse. - -"And there's ten cents for your bird seed in that pocket," said Mrs. -Pepper, pointing to a coin racing away into a corner by itself. - -"Yes'm," said Polly, wild to be off. - -"And there's a five-cent piece in that one for you to ride up with," -said her mother, tying up the purse carefully. "Remember, for you -to ride up with. Well, I guess you better ride up anyway, Polly, -come to think, and then you'll get home all the quicker." - -"Where you going?" asked Phronsie, who on seeing the purse knew -there was some expedition on foot, and beginning to clamber -down out of the chair. "Oh, I want to go too, I do. Take me, Polly!" - -"Oh, no, Pet, I can't," cried Polly, "I've got to hurry like -everything!" - -"I can hurry too," cried Phronsie, drawing her small figure to its -utmost height, "oh, so fast, Polly!" - -"And it's ever so far," cried Polly, in despair, as she saw the small -under lip of the child begin to quiver. "Oh, dear me, mamsie, what -shall I do!" - -"Run right along," said Mrs. Pepper, briskly. "Now, Phronsie, you -and I ought to take care of Cherry, poor thing." - -At this Phronsie turned and wiped away two big tears, while she -gazed up at the cage in extreme commiseration. - -"I guess I'll give him a piece of bread," said Mrs. Pepper to herself. -At this word "bread," Polly, who was half way down the hall, came -running back. - -"Oh, mamsie, don't," she said. "It made him sick before, don't you -know it did--so fat and stuffy." - -"Well, hurry along then," said Mrs. Pepper, and Polly was off. - -Over the ground she sped, only intent on reaching the bird store, -her speed heightened by the dark and rolling bank of cloud that -seemed to shut right down suddenly over her and envelop her -warningly. - -"It's good I've got the money to ride up with," she thought to -herself, hurrying along through the busy streets, filled now with -anxious crowds homeward rushing to avoid the threatening -shower. "Well, here I am," she said with a sigh of relief, as she at -last reached Mr. Fletcher's big bird store. - -Here she steadily resisted all temptations to stop and look at the -new arrivals of birds, and to feed the carrier-pigeons who seemed -to be expecting her, and who turned their soft eyes up at her -reproachfully when she failed to pay her respects to them. Even -the cunning blandishments of a very attractive monkey that always -had entertained the children on their numerous visits, failed to -interest her now. Mamsie would be worrying, she knew; and -besides, the sight of so many birds eating their suppers out of -generously full seed-cups, only filled her heart with remorse as she -thought of poor Cherry and his empty one. - -So she put down her ten cents silently on the counter, and took up -the little package of seed, and went out. - -But what a change! The cloud that had seemed but a cloud when -she went in, was now fast descending in big ominous sprinkles that -told of a heavy shower to follow. Quick and fast they came, -making everybody fly to the nearest shelter. - -"I don't care," said Polly to herself, holding fast her little package. -"I'll run and get in the car--then I'll be all right." - -So she went on with nimble footsteps, dodging the crowd, and -soon came to the corner. A car was just in sight--that was fine! -Polly put her hand in her pocket for her purse, to have it all -ready--but as quickly drew it out again and stared wildly at the car, -which she allowed to pass by. Her pocket was empty! - -"Oh, dear," she said to herself, as a sudden gust of wind blew -around the corner, and warned her to move on, "now what shall I -do! Well, I must hurry. Nothing for it but to run now!" - -And secretly glad at the chance for a good hearty run along the -hard pavements, a thing she had been longing to do ever since she -came to the city, Polly gathered her bundle of seed up under her -arm, and set out for a jolly race. She was enjoying it hugely, -when--a sudden turn of the corner brought her up against a -gentleman, who, having his umbrella down to protect his face, -hadn't seen her till it was too late. - -Polly never could tell how it was done; but the first thing she knew -she was being helped up from the wet, slippery pavement by a kind -hand; and a gentleman's voice said in the deepest concern: - -"I beg your pardon; it was extremely careless in me." - -"It's no matter," said Polly, hopping up with a little laugh, and -straightening her hat. "Only--" and she began to look for her parcel -that had been sent spinning. - -"What is it?" said the gentleman, bending down and beginning to -explore, too, in the darkness. - -"My bundle," began Polly. "Oh, dear!" - -No need to ask for it now! There lay the paper wet and torn, down -at their feet. The seed lay all over the pavement, scattered far and -wide even out to the puddles in the street. And not a cent of money -to get any more with! The rain that was falling around them as -they stood there sent with the sound of every drop such a flood of -misery into Polly's heart! - -"What was it, child?" asked the gentleman, peering sharply to find -out what the little shiny things were. - -"Bird-seed," gasped Polly. - -"Is that all?" said the gentleman with a happy laugh. "I'm very -glad." - -"All!" Polly's heart stood still as she thought of Cherry, stark and -stiff in the bottom of his cage, if he didn't get it soon. "Now," said -the kind tones, briskly, "come, little girl, we'll make this all right -speedily. Let's see--here's a bird store. Now, then." - -"But, sir--" began Polly, holding back. - -Even Cherry had better die than to do anything her mother -wouldn't like. But the gentleman already had her in the shop, and -was delighting the heart of the shop-keeper by ordering him to do -up a big package of all kinds of seed. And then he added a cunning -arrangement for birds to swing in, and two or three other things -that didn't have anything to do with birds at all. And then they -came out on the wet, slippery street again. - -"Now, then, little girl," said the gentleman, tucking the bundle -under his arm, and opening the umbrella; then he took hold of -Polly's hand, who by this time was glad of a protector. "Where do -you live? For I'm going to take you safely home this time where -unbrellas can't run into you." - -"Oh!" said Polly, with a little skip. "Thank you sir! It's up to Mr. -King's; and--" - -"What!" said the gentleman, stopping short in the midst of an -immense puddle, and staring at her, "Mr. Jasper King's?" - -"I don't know sir," said Polly, "what his other name is. Yes it must -be Jasper; that's what Jappy's is, anyway," she added with a little -laugh, wishing very much that she could see Jappy at that identical -moment. - -"Jappy!" said the stranger, still standing as if petrified. "And are -there little Whitney children in the same house!" - -"Oh, yes," said Polly, raising her clear, brown eyes up at him. The -gas lighter was just beginning his rounds, and the light from a -neighboring lamp flashed full on Polly's face as she spoke, -showing just how clear and brown the eyes were. "There's Percy, -and Van, and little Dick--oh, he's so cunning!" she cried, -impulsively. - -The gentleman's face looked very queer just then; but he merely -said: - -"Why, you must be Polly?" - -"Yes, sir, I am," said Polly, pleased to think he knew her. And then -she told him how she'd forgotten Cherry's seed, and all about it. -"And oh, sir," she said, and her voice began to tremble, " -Mamsie'll be so frightened if I don't get there soon! - -"I'm going up there myself, so that it all happens very nicely," said -the gentleman, commencing to start off briskly, and grasping her -hand tighter. "Now, then, Polly." - -So off they went at a very fast pace; she, skipping through the -puddles that his long, even strides carried him safely over, -chattered away by his side under the umbrella, and answered his -many questions, and altogether got so very well acquainted that by -the time they turned in at the old stone gateway, she felt as if she -had known him for years. - -And there, the first thing they either of them saw, down in a little -corner back of the tall evergreens, was a small heap that rose as -they splashed up the carriage-drive, and resolved itself into a very -red dress and a very white apron, as it rushed impulsively up and -flung itself into Polly's wet arms: - -"And I was so tired waiting, Polly!" - -"Oh dear me, Phronsie!" cried Polly, huddling her up from the -dark, wet ground. "You'll catch your death! What will mamsie -say!" - -The stranger, amazed at this new stage of the proceedings, was -vainly trying to hold the umbrella over both, till the procession -could move on again. - -"Oh!" cried Phronsie, shaking her yellow head decidedly, "they're -all looking for you, Polly." She pointed one finger solemnly up to -the big carved door as she spoke. At that Polly gathered her up -close and began to walk with rapid footsteps up the path. - -"Do let me carry you, little girl," said Polly's kind friend -persuasively, bending down to the little face on Polly's neck. - -"Oh, no, no, no!" said Phronsie, at each syllable grasping Polly -around the throat in perfect terror, and waving him off with a very -crumpled, mangy bit of paper, that had already done duty to wipe -off the copious tears during her anxious watch. "Don't let him, -Polly, don't!" - -"There sha'n't anything hurt you," said Polly, kissing her -reassuringly, and stepping briskly off with her burden, just as the -door burst open, and Joel flew out on the veranda steps, followed -by the rest of the troop in the greatest state of excitement. - -"Oh, whickety! she's come 1' he shouted, springing up to her over -the puddles, and crowding under the umbrella. "Where'd you get -Phronsie?" he asked, standing quite still at sight of the little feet -tucked up to get out of the rain. And without waiting for an answer -he turned and shot back into the house proclaiming in stentorian -tones, "Ma, Polly's come--an' she's got Phronsie--an' an awful big -man--and they're out by the gate!" - -"Phronsie!" said Mrs. Pepper, springing to her feet, "why, I thought -she was up-stairs with Jane." - -"Now, somebody," exclaimed old Mr. King, who sat by the library -table vainly trying to read a newspaper, which he now threw down -in extreme irritation as he rose quickly and went to the door to -welcome the wanderers, "somebody ought to watch that poor -child, whose business it is to know where she is! She's, caught her -death-cold, no doubt, no doubt!" - -Outside, in the rain, the children revolved around and around Polly -and Phronsie, hugging and kissing them, until nobody could do -much more than breathe, not seeming to notice the stranger, who -stood quietly waiting till such time as he could be heard. - -At last, in a lull in the scramble, as they were dragging Polly and -her burden up the steps, each wild for the honor of escorting her -into the house, he cried out in laughing tones: - -"Isn't anybody going to kiss me, I wonder!" - -The two little Whitneys, who were eagerly clutching Polly's arms, -turned around; and Percy rubbed his eyes in a puzzled way, as Joel -said, stopping a minute to look up at the tall figure: - -"We don't ever kiss strangers--mamsie's told us not to." - -"For shame, Joey!" cried PoIly, feeling her face grow dreadfully -red in the darkness, "the gentleman's been so kind to me!" - -"You're right, my boy," said the stranger, laughing and bending -down to Joel's upturned, sturdy countenance, at the same instant -that Mrs. Pepper flung open the big door, and a bright, warm light -fell straight across his handsome face. And then-- Well, then Percy -gave a violent bound, and upsetting Joel as he did so, wriggled his -way down the steps--at the same time that Van, on Polly's other -side, rushed up to the gentleman: - -"Papa--oh, papa!" - -Polly, half way up the steps, turned around, and then, at the rush of -feeling that gathered at her heart, sat right down on the wet -slippery step. - -"Why, Polly Pepper!" exclaimed Joel, not minding his own upset. -"You're right in all the slush--mother won't like it, I tell you!" - -"Hush!" cried Polly, catching his arm, "he's come--oh, Joel --he's -come!" - -"Who?" cried Joel, staring around blindly, "who, Polly?" Polly had -just opened her lips to explain, when Mr. King's portly, handsome -figure appeared in the doorway. "Do come in, children--why--good -gracious, Mason!" - -"Yes," cried the stranger, lightly, dropping his big bundle and -umbrella as he passed in the door, with his little sons clinging to -him. "Where is Marian?" - -"Why didn't you write?" asked the old gentleman, testily. "These -surprises aren't the right sort of things," and he began to feel -vigorously of his heart. "Here, Mrs. Pepper, be so good as to call -Mrs. Whitney." - -"Pepper! Pepper!" repeated Mr. Whitney, perplexedly. - -"She's coming--I hear her up-stairs," cried Van Whitney. "Oh, let -me tell her!" He struggled to get down from his father's arms as he -said this. - -"No, I shall--I heard her first!" cried Percy. "Oh, dear me! -Grandpapa's going to!" - -Mr. King advanced to the foot of the staircase as his daughter, all -unconscious, ran down with a light step, and a smile on her face. - -"Has Polly come?" she asked, seeing only her father. "Yes," replied -the old gentleman, shortly, "and she's brought a big bundle, -Marian!" - -"A big bundle?" she repeated wonderingly, and gazing at him. - -"A very big bundle," he said, and taking hold of her shoulders he -turned her around on--her husband. - -So Polly and Phronsie crept in unnoticed after all. - -"I wish Ben was here," said little Davie, capering around the -Whitney group, "an' Jappy, I do!" - -"Where are they!" asked Polly. - -"Don't know," said Joel, tugging at his shoe-string. "See-- aren't -these prime!" He held up a shining black shoe, fairly bristling with -newness, for Polly to admire. - -"Splendid," she cried heartily; "but where are the boys?" - -"They went after you," said Davie, "after we came home with our -shoes." - -"No, they didn't," contradicted Joel, flatly; and sitting down on the -floor he began to tie and untie his new possessions. "When we -came home Ben drew us pictures--lots of 'em--don't you know?" - -"Oh, yes," said Davie, nodding his head, "so he did; that was when -we all cried 'cause you weren't home, Polly." - -"He drawed me a be-yew-tiful one," cried Phronsie, holding up her -mangy bit; "see, Polly, see!" - -"That's the little brown house," said Davie, looking over her -shoulder as Phronsie put it carefully into Polly's hand. - -"It's all washed out," said Polly, smoothing it out, "when you staid -out in the rain." - -Phronsie's face grew very grave at that. - -"Bad, naughty old rain," she said, and then she began to cry as hard -as she could. - -"Oh dear, don't!" cried Polly in dismay, trying her best to stop her, -"oh, Phronsie, do stop!" she implored, pointing into the next room -whence the sound of happy voices issued, "they'll all hear you!" - -But Phronsie in her grief didn't care, but wailed on steadily. - -"Who is it anyway?" cried Joel, tired of admiring his precious -shoes, and getting up to hear them squeak, "that great big man, you -know, Polly, that came in with you?" - -"Why, I thought I told you," said Polly, at her wit's end over -Phronsie. "It's Percy and Van's father, Joey!" - -"Whockeyl" cried Joel, completely stunned, "really and truly, Polly -Pepper?" - -"Really and truly," cried Polly, bundling Phronsie up in her arms to -lay the little wet cheek against hers. - -"Then I'm going to peek," cried Joel, squeaking across the floor to -carry his threat into execution. - -"Oh, you mustn't, Joe!" cried Polly, frightened lest he should. -"Come right back, or I'll tell mamsie!" - -"They're all comin' in, anyway," cried little Davie, delightedly, and -scuttling over to Polly's side. - -"And here are the little friends I've heard so much about!" cried -Mr. Whitney coming in amongst them. "Oh, you needn't introduce -me to Polly--she brought me home!" - -"They're all Pepperses," said Percy, waving his hand, and doing the -business up at one stroke. - -"Only the best of 'em isn't here," observed Van, rather ungallantly, -"he draws perfectly elegant, papa!" - -"1 like Polly best, I do!" cried little Dick, tumbling after. -"Peppers!" again repeated Mr. Whitney in a puzzled way. "And -here is Mrs. Pepper," said old Mr. King, pompously drawing her -forward, "the children's mother, and--" - -But here Mrs. Pepper began to act in a very queer way, rubbing her -eyes and twisting one corner of her black apron in a decidedly -nervous manner that, as the old gentleman looked up, he saw with -astonishment presently communicated itself to the gentleman -opposite. - -"Is it," said Mr. Whitney, putting out his hand and grasping the -hard, toil-worn one in the folds of the apron, "is it cousin Mary?" - -"And aren't you cousin John?" she asked, the tears in her bright -black eyes. - -"Of all things in this world!" cried the old gentleman, waving his -head helplessly from one to the other. "Will somebody have the -extreme goodness to tell us what all this means?" - -At this the little Peppers crowded around their mother, and into all -the vacant places they could find, to get near the fascinating scene. - -"Well," said Mr. Whitney, sitting down and drawing his wife to his -side, "it's a long story. You see, when I was a little youngster, -and--" - -"You were John Whitney then," put in Mrs. Pepper, slyly. "That's -the reason I never knew when they were all talking of Mason -Whitney." - -"John Whitney I was," said Mr. Whitney, laughing, "or rather, -Johnny and Jack. But Grandmother Mason, when I grew older, -wanted me called by my middle name to please grandfather. But to -go back--when I was a little shaver, about as big as Percy here--" - -"Oh, papa!" began Percy, deprecatingly. To be called "a little -shaver" before all the others! - -"He means, dearie," said his mamma, reassuringly, "when he was a -boy like you. Now hear what papa is going to say." - -"Well, I was sent up into Vermont to stay at the old place. There -was a little girl there; a bright, black-eyed little girl. She was my -cousin, and her name was Mary Bartlett." - -"Who's Mary Bartlett?" asked Joel, interrupting. - -"There she is, sir," said Mr. Whitney, pointing to Mrs. Pepper, who -was laughing and crying together. - -"Where?" said Joel, utterly bewildered. "I don't see any Mary -Bartlett. What does he mean, Polly?" - -"I don't know," said Polly. "Wait, Joey," she whispered, "he's going -to tell us all about it." - -"Well, this little cousin and I went to the district school, and had -many good times together. And then my parents sent for me, and I -went to Germany to school; and when I came back I lost sight of -her. All I could find out was that she had married an Englishman -by the name of Pepper." - -"Oh!" cried all the children together. - -"And I always supposed she had gone to England for despite all -my exertions, I could find no trace of her. Ah, Mary," he said -reproachfully, "why didn't you let me know where you were?" - -"I heard," said Mrs. Pepper, "that you'd grown awfully rich, and I -couldn't." - -"You always were a proud little thing," he said laughing. "Well, -but," broke in Mr. King, unable to keep silence any longer, "I'd like -to inquire, Mason, why you didn't find all this out before, in -Marian's letters, when she mentioned Mrs. Pepper?" - -"She didn't ever mention her," said Mr. Whitney, turning around to -face his questioner, "not as Mrs. Pepper--never once by name. It -was always either 'Polly's mother,' or 'Phronsie's mother.' Just like a -woman," he added, with a mischievous glance at his wife, "not to -be explicit." - -"And just like a man," she retorted, with a happy little laugh, "not -to ask for explanations." - -"I hear Jappy," cried Polly, in a glad voice, "and Ben--oh, good!" as -a sound of rushing footsteps was heard over the veranda steps, and -down the long hall. - -The door was thrown suddenly open, and Jasper plunged in, his -face flushed with excitement, and after him Ben, looking a little as -he did when Phronsie was lost, while Prince squeezed panting in -between the two boys. - -"Has Polly got"--began Jasper. - -"Oh, yes, I'm here," cried Polly, springing up to them; "oh, Ben!" - -"She has," cried Joel, disentangling himself from the group, "don't -you see, Jappy?" - -"She's all home," echoed Pbronsie, flying up. "Oh, Ben, do draw -me another little house!" - -"And see--see!" cried the little Whitneys, pointing with jubilant -fingers to their papa, "see what she brought!" - -Jasper turned around at that--and then rushed forward. - -"Oh, brother Mason!" - -"Well, Jasper," said Mr. Whitney, a whole wealth of affection -beaming on the boy, "how you have stretched up in six months!" - -"Haven't I?" said Jasper, laughing, and drawing himself up to his -fullest height. - -"He's a-standin' on tip-toe," said Joel critically, who was hovering -near. "I most know he is!" and he bent down to examine the -position of Jasper's heels. - -"Not a bit of it, Joe!" cried Jasper, with a merry laugh, and setting -both feet with a convincing thud on the floor. - -"Well, anyway, I'll be just as big," cried Joel, "when I'm thirteen, -so!" - -Just then a loud and quick rap on the table made all the children -skip, and stopped everybody's tongue. It came from Mr. King. - -"Phronsie," said he, "come here, child. I can't do anything without -you," and held out his hand. Phronsie immediately left Ben, who -was hanging over Polly as if he never meant to let her go out of his -sight again, and went directly over to the old gentleman's side. - -"Now, then!" He swung her upon his shoulder, where she perched -like a little bird, gravely surveying the whole group. One little -hand stole around the old gentleman's neck, and patted his cheek -softly, which so pleased him that for a minute or two he stood -perfectly still so that everybody might see it. - -"Now, Phronsie, yoti must tell all these children so that they'll -understand--say everything just as I tell you, mind!" - -"I will," said Phronsie, shaking her small head wisely, "every -single thing." - -"Well, then, now begin--" - -"Well, then, now begin," said Phronsie, looking down on the faces -with an air as much like Mr. King's as was possible, and finishing -up with two or three little nods. - -"Oh, no, dear, that isn't it," cried the old gentleman, "I'll tell you. -Say, Phronsie, 'you are all cousins--every one.'" - -"You are all cousins--every one," repeated little Phronsie, simply, -shaking her yellow head into the very middle of the group. - -"Does she mean it, grandpapa? Does she mean it?" cried Percy, in -the greatest excitement. - -"As true as everything?" demanded Joel, crowding in between -them. - -"As true as--truth!" said the old gentleman solemnly, patting the -child's little fat hand. "So make the most of it." - -"Oh!" said Polly, with a long sigh. And then Jasper and she took -hold of hands and had a good spin! - -Joel turned around with two big eyes on Percy. - -"We're cousins!" he said. - -"I know it," said Percy, "and so's Van!" - -"Yes," said Van, flying up, "and I'm cousin to Polly, too-- that's -best!" - -"Can't I be a Cousin?" cried little Dick, crowding up, with two red -cheeks. "Isn't anybody going to be a cousin to me, too?" - -"Everybody but Jasper," said the old gentleman, laughing heartily -at them. "You and I, my boy," he turned to his son, "are left out in -the cold." - -At this a scream, loud and terrible to hear, struck upon them all, as -Joel flung himself flat on the floor. - -"Isn't Jappy--our---cousin? I--want --Jappy!" - -"Goodness!" exclaimed the old gentleman, in the greatest alarm, -"what is the matter with the boy! Do somebody stop him!" - -"Joel," said Jasper, leaning over him, and trying to help Polly lift -him up. "I'll tell you how we'll fix it! I'll be your brother . -That's best of all--brother to Polly, and Ben and the whole of -you--then we'll see!" - -Joel bolted up at that, and began to smile through the tears running -down the rosy face. - -"Will you, really?" he said, "just like Ben--and everything?" - -"I can't be as good as Ben," said Jappy, laughing, "but I'll be a real -brother like him." - -"Fhoo--phoo! Then I don't care!" cried Joel wiping off the last tear -on the back of his chubby hand. "Now I guess we're better'n you," -he exclaimed with a triumphant glance over at the little Whitneys, -as he began to make the new shoes skip at a lively pace up and -down the long room. - -"Oh, dear!" they both cried in great distress. - -"Now, papa, Jappy's going to be Joey's brother--and he isn't -anything but our old uncle! Make him be ours more, papa, do!" - -And then Polly sprang up. - -"Oh! oh--deary me!" And she rushed out into the hall and began to -tug violently at the big bundle, tossed down in a corner. "Cherry'll -die--Cherry'll die!" she cried, "do somebody help me off with the -string!" - -But Polly already had it off by the time Jasper's knife was half out -of his pocket, and was kneeling down on the floor scooping out a -big handful of the seed. - -"Don't hurry so, Polly," said Jasper, as she jumped up to fly -up-stairs. "He's had some a perfect age--he's all right." - -"What!" said Polly, stopping so suddenly that two or three little -seeds flew out of the outstretched hand and went dancing away to -the foot of the stairs by themselves. - -"Oh, I heard him scolding away there when I first came home," -said Jasper, "so I just ran down a block or two, and got him some." - -"Is that all there is in that big bundle?" said Joel in a disappointed -tone, who had followed with extreme curiosity to see its contents. -"Phoo!--that's no fun--old bird-seed!" - -"I know," said Polly with a gay little laugh, pointing with the -handful of seed into the library, "but I shouldn't have met the other -big bundle if it hadn't have been for this, Joe!" - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg Five Little Peppers And How They Grew, by Sidney - |