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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -</style> -<title>LULU'S LIBRARY, VOLUME I</title> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="Lulu's Library, Volume I (of 3)" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Louisa M. Alcott" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1885" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="40682" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2012-09-05" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="Lulu's Library, Volume I (of 3)" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="Lulu's Library, Volume I (of 3)" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="lulu1.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2012-09-06T03:08:29.252659+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40682" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="Louisa \M. Alcott" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="2012-09-05" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3.19b4 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -<style type="text/css"> -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } -</style> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="lulu-s-library-volume-i"> -<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">LULU'S LIBRARY, VOLUME I</h1> - -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en noindent pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the <a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a> -included with this eBook or online at -<a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a>.</p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container noindent white-space-pre-line" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst white-space-pre-line"><span class="white-space-pre-line">Title: Lulu's Library, Volume I (of 3)<br /> -<br /> -Author: Louisa M. Alcott<br /> -<br /> -Release Date: September 05, 2012 [EBook #40682]<br /> -<br /> -Language: English<br /> -<br /> -Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line">*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK <span>LULU'S LIBRARY, VOLUME I (OF 3)</span> ***</p> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 73%" id="figure-71"> -<img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -Cover</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None center container titlepage white-space-pre-line"> -<p class="pfirst white-space-pre-line x-large">LULU'S LIBRARY.</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">BY</p> -<p class="large pnext white-space-pre-line">LOUISA M. ALCOTT,</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst small white-space-pre-line">AUTHOR OF "LITTLE WOMEN," "AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL," "LITTLE MEN,"<br /> -"EIGHT COUSINS," "ROSE IN BLOOM," "UNDER THE LILACS,"<br /> -"JACK AND JILL," "HOSPITAL SKETCHES," "WORK, A<br /> -STORY OF EXPERIENCE," "MOODS, A NOVEL,"<br /> -"PROVERB STORIES," "SILVER PITCHERS,"<br /> -"AUNT JO'S SCRAP-BAG."</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="large pfirst white-space-pre-line">VOL. I.</p> -<p class="medium pnext white-space-pre-line">A CHRISTMAS DREAM.<br /> -THE CANDY COUNTRY.<br /> -NAUGHTY JOCKO.<br /> -THE SKIPPING SHOES.<br /> -COCKYLOO.<br /> -ROSY'S JOURNEY.<br /> -HOW THEY RAN AWAY.<br /> -THE FAIRY BOX.<br /> -A HOLE IN THE WALL.<br /> -THE PIGGY GIRL.<br /> -THE THREE FROGS.<br /> -BAA! BAA!</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">BOSTON:<br /> -ROBERTS BROTHERS.<br /> -1886.</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None center container verso white-space-pre-line"> -<p class="center pfirst small white-space-pre-line"><em class="italics white-space-pre-line">Copyright, 1885,</em><br /> -BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst small white-space-pre-line">University Press:<br /> -JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE.</p> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container plainpage"> -<p class="center large pfirst">PREFACE.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst">All but three of these stories were told to my little -niece during our quiet hour before bedtime. They -became such favorites with her and her friends that -I wrote them down in several small blue books, and -called them LULU'S LIBRARY. Having nothing else -to offer this year, I have collected them in one -volume as a Christmas gift to my boys and girls from -their old friend</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="left medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">AUNT JO.<br /> -CONCORD, August, 1885.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container plainpage white-space-pre-line"> -<p class="center large pfirst white-space-pre-line">CONTENTS.</p> -<ol class="left medium upperroman simple white-space-pre-line"> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#a-christmas-dream">A Christmas Dream</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-candy-country">The Candy Country</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#naughty-jocko">Naughty Jocko</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-skipping-shoes">The Skipping Shoes</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#cockyloo">Cockyloo</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#rosy-s-journey">Rosy's Journey</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#how-they-ran-away">How They Ran Away</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-fairy-box">The Fairy Box</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#a-hole-in-the-wall">A Hole in the Wall</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-piggy-girl">The Piggy Girl</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#the-three-frogs">The Three Frogs</a></p> -</li> -<li class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first pfirst white-space-pre-line"><a class="reference internal white-space-pre-line" href="#baa-baa">Baa! Baa!</a></p> -</li> -</ol> -<div class="vspace white-space-pre-line" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 72%" id="figure-72"> -<span id="a-christmas-dream"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-007.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -She actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."--PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id1">30</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">I.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never -would be another one!" exclaimed a -discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly -watching her mother arrange a pile of gifts two -days before they were to be given.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! -You are as bad as old Scrooge; and I 'm afraid -something will happen to you, as it did to him, -if you don't care for dear Christmas," answered -mamma, almost dropping the silver horn she -was filling with delicious candies.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Who was Scrooge? What happened to -him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of interest -in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest -lemon-drop she could find; for nothing sweet -suited her just then.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He was one of Dickens's best people, and -you can read the charming story some day. -He hated Christmas until a strange dream -showed him how dear and beautiful it was, and -made a better man of him."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have -a great many curious ones myself. But they -don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," -said Effie, poking discontentedly among the -sweeties for something worth eating.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why are you tired of what should be the -happiest time of all the year?" asked mamma, -anxiously.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Perhaps I should n't be if I had something -new. But it is always the same, and there is n't -any more surprise about it. I always find heaps -of goodies in my stocking. Don't like some of -them, and soon get tired of those I do like. -We always have a great dinner, and I eat too -much, and feel ill next day. Then there is a -Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll on top, -or a stupid old Santa Claus, and children -dancing and screaming over bonbons and toys that -break, and shiny things that are of no use. -Really, mamma, I 've had so many Christmases -all alike that I don't think I <em class="italics">can</em> bear another -one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as -if the mere idea was too much for her.</p> -<p class="pnext">Her mother laughed at her despair, but was -sorry to see her little girl so discontented, when -she had everything to make her happy, and had -known but ten Christmas days.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Suppose we don't give you <em class="italics">any</em> presents at -all,--how would that suit you?" asked mamma, -anxious to please her spoiled child.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I should like one large and splendid one, -and one dear little one, to remember some very -nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful -little body, full of odd whims and notions, -which her friends loved to gratify, regardless of -time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of -three little girls, and very dear to all the family.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, my darling, I will see what I can do -to please you, and not say a word until all -is ready. If I could only get a new idea -to start with!" And mamma went on tying up -her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, while -Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain -that kept her in-doors and made her dismal.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Seems to me poor children have better times -than rich ones. I can't go out, and there is a -girl about my age splashing along, without any -maid to fuss about rubbers and cloaks and -umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a beggar-girl."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Would you like to be hungry, cold, and -ragged, to beg all day, and sleep on an ash-heap -at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would -come next.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the -end. This girl out here has a basket of scraps -on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, -and does n't seem to care a bit, though the -water runs out of the toes of her boots. She -goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and -eating a cold potato as if it tasted nicer than -the chicken and ice-cream I had for dinner. -Yes, I do think poor children are happier than -rich ones."</p> -<p class="pnext">"So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum -to-day I saw two dozen merry little souls -who have no parents, no home, and no hope of -Christmas beyond a stick of candy or a cake. -I wish you had been there to see how happy -they were, playing with the old toys some richer -children had sent them."</p> -<p class="pnext">"You may give them all mine; I 'm so tired -of them I never want to see them again," said -Effie, turning from the window to the pretty -baby-house full of everything a child's heart -could desire.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I will, and let you begin again with something -you will not tire of, if I can only find it." And -mamma knit her brows trying to discover -some grand surprise for this child who did n't -care for Christmas.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nothing more was said then; and wandering -off to the library, Effie found "A Christmas -Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, -it all before tea. Some of it she did not -understand; but she laughed and cried over many -parts of the charming story, and felt better -without knowing why.</p> -<p class="pnext">All the evening she thought of poor Tiny -Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the pudding, and the -stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that -"his legs twinkled in the air." Presently -bed-time arrived.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's -nurse, "while I do your pretty hair and tell -stories."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very -interesting one," commanded Effie, as she put on her -blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers -to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed.</p> -<p class="pnext">So Nursey told her best tales; and when at -last the child lay down under her lace curtains, -her head was full of a curious jumble of -Christmas elves, poor children, snow-storms, -sugar-plums, and surprises. So it is no wonder that -she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, -which she never quite forgot.</p> -<p class="pnext">She found herself sitting on a stone, in the -middle of a great field, all alone. The snow was -falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and night -was coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and -tired, and did not know where to go nor what to do.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am -one; but I don't like it, and wish somebody -would come and take care of me. I don't know -who I am, and I think I must be lost," thought -Effie, with the curious interest one takes in one's -self in dreams.</p> -<p class="pnext">But the more she thought about it, the more -bewildered she felt. Faster fell the snow, colder -blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor -Effie made up her mind that she was quite -forgotten and left to freeze alone. The tears were -chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, -and her heart died within her, so hungry, -frightened, and forlorn was she. Laying her head -on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and -sat there with the great flakes fast turning her to -a little white mound, when suddenly the sound -of music reached her, and starting up, she looked -and listened with all her eyes and ears.</p> -<p class="pnext">Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was -heard singing. She tried to run toward the -welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood -like a small statue of expectation while the light -drew nearer, and the sweet words of the song -grew clearer.</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">From our happy home</div> -<div class="line">Through the world we roam</div> -</div> -<div class="line">One week in all the year,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Making winter spring</div> -<div class="line">With the joy we bring,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">For Christmas-tide is here.</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Now the eastern star</div> -<div class="line">Shines from afar</div> -</div> -<div class="line">To light the poorest home;</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Hearts warmer grow,</div> -<div class="line">Gifts freely flow,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">For Christmas-tide has come.</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Now gay trees rise</div> -<div class="line">Before young eyes,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Abloom with tempting cheer;</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Blithe voices sing,</div> -<div class="line">And blithe bells ring,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">For Christmas-tide is here.</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Oh, happy chime,</div> -<div class="line">Oh, blessed time,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">That draws us all so near!</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"Welcome, dear day,"</div> -<div class="line">All creatures say,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">For Christmas-tide is here.</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried -the little candle; and in the circle of soft light -it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her -through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling -creature, wrapped in white fur, with a wreath -of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, -the magic candle in one hand, and the other -outstretched as if to shower gifts and warmly -press all other hands.</p> -<p class="pnext">Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision -came nearer, leaving no trace of footsteps in the -snow, only lighting the way with its little candle, -and filling the air with the music of its song.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Dear child, you are lost, and I have come -to find you," said the stranger, taking Effie's -cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, -while every holly berry glowed like a little fire.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no -fear, but a great gladness, at his coming.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I know all children, and go to find them; -for this is my holiday, and I gather them from -all parts of the world to be merry with me once -a year."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking -for the wings.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with -my mates in a pleasant place, getting ready -for our holiday, when we are let out to roam -about the world, helping make this a happy time -for all who will let us in. Will you come and -see how we work?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave -me again," cried Effie, gladly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"First I will make you comfortable. That -is what we love to do. You are cold, and you -shall be warm; hungry, and I will feed you; -sorrowful, and I will make you gay."</p> -<p class="pnext">With a wave of his candle all three miracles -were wrought,--for the snow-flakes turned to -a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and -shoulders; a bowl of hot soup came sailing to -her lips, and vanished when she had eagerly -drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal -field changed to a new world so full of wonders -that all her troubles were forgotten in a minute.</p> -<p class="pnext">Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard -to keep from dancing. Green garlands hung -on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree -full of toys, and blazing with candles that never -went out.</p> -<p class="pnext">In one place many little spirits sewed like mad -on warm clothes, turning off work faster than -any sewing-machine ever invented, and great -piles were made ready to be sent to poor people. -Other busy creatures packed money into purses, -and wrote checks which they sent flying away -on the wind,--a lovely kind of snow-storm to -fall into a world below full of poverty.</p> -<p class="pnext">Older and graver spirits were looking over -piles of little books, in which the records of -the past year were kept, telling how different -people had spent it, and what sort of gifts -they deserved. Some got peace, some -disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great -joy and hope. The rich had generous thoughts -sent them; the poor, gratitude and contentment. -Children had more love and duty to parents; -and parents renewed patience, wisdom, and -satisfaction for and in their children. No one was -forgotten.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Please tell me what splendid place this is?" -asked Effie, as soon as she could collect her -wits after the first look at all these astonishing -things.</p> -<p class="pnext">"This is the Christmas world; and here we -work all the year round, never tired of getting -ready for the happy day. See, these are the -saints just setting off; for some have far to go, -and the children must not be disappointed."</p> -<p class="pnext">As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, -out of which four great sleighs were just driving, -laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa Claus sat -in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and -tucking up his wraps for a long cold drive.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why, I thought there was only one Santa -Claus, and even he was a humbug," cried Effie, -astonished at the sight.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Never give up your faith in the sweet old -stories, even after you come to see that they are -only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth."</p> -<p class="pnext">Just then the sleighs went off with a great -jingling of bells and pattering of reindeer hoofs, -while all the spirits gave a cheer that was heard -in the lower world, where people said, "Hear -the stars sing."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus -again. Now, show me more."</p> -<p class="pnext">"You will like to see this place, I think, and -may learn something here perhaps."</p> -<p class="pnext">The spirit smiled as he led the way to a -little door, through which Effie peeped into a -world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, -with dolls of all sorts going on like live -people. Waxen ladies sat in their parlors elegantly -dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; -nurses walked out with the bits of dollies; and -the streets were full of tin soldiers marching, -wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, -and little men hurrying to and fro. Shops -were there, and tiny people buying legs of -mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and -everything dolls use or wear or want.</p> -<p class="pnext">But presently she saw that in some ways the -dolls improved upon the manners and customs -of human beings, and she watched eagerly to -learn why they did these things. A fine Paris -doll driving in her carriage took up a black -worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a -basket of clean clothes, and carried her to her -journey's end, as if it were the proper thing to -do. Another interesting china lady took off -her comfortable red cloak and put it round a -poor wooden creature done up in a paper shift, -and so badly painted that its face would have -sent some babies into fits.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who -didn't give her things to poor girls. I wish I -could remember who she was, and tell her to -be as kind as that china doll," said Effie, much -touched at the sweet way the pretty creature -wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in -her little gray gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a -wooden platter for her invalid mother's dinner.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We recall these things to people's minds by -dreams. I think the girl you speak of won't -forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he -enjoyed some joke which she did not see.</p> -<p class="pnext">A little bell rang as she looked, and away -scampered the children into the red-and-green -school-house with the roof that lifted up, so -one could see how nicely they sat at their desks -with mites of books, or drew on the inch-square -blackboards with crumbs of chalk.</p> -<p class="pnext">"They know their lessons very well, and are as -still as mice. We make a great racket at our -school, and get bad marks every day. I shall -tell the girls they had better mind what they do, -or their dolls will be better scholars than they -are," said Effie, much impressed, as she peeped -in and saw no rod in the hand of the little -mistress, who looked up and shook her head at the -intruder, as if begging her to go away before the -order of the school was disturbed.</p> -<p class="pnext">Effie retired at once, but could not resist one -look in at the window of a fine mansion, where -the family were at dinner, the children behaved -so well at table, and never grumbled a bit when -their mamma said they could not have any -more fruit.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, show me something else," she said, as -they came again to the low door that led out of -Doll-land.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; -let me show you where we love best to -send our good and happy gifts," answered the -spirit, giving her his hand again.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I know. I've seen ever so many," began -Effie, thinking of her own Christmases.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, you have never seen what I will show -you. Come away, and remember what you see -to-night."</p> -<p class="pnext">Like a flash that bright world vanished, -and Effie found herself in a part of the city -she had never seen before. It was far away -from the gayer places, where every store was -brilliant with lights and full of pretty things, and -every house wore a festival air, while people -hurried to and fro with merry greetings. It was -down among the dingy streets where the poor -lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas.</p> -<p class="pnext">Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, -longing to buy meat and bread, but empty -pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in -the bar-rooms; and in many cold dark chambers -little children huddled under the thin blankets, -trying to forget their misery in sleep.</p> -<p class="pnext">No nice dinners filled the air with savory -smells, no gay trees dropped toys and bonbons -into eager hands, no little stockings hung in -rows beside the chimney-piece ready to be -filled, no happy sounds of music, gay voices, -and dancing feet were heard; and there were -no signs of Christmas anywhere.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't they have any in this place?" asked -Effie, shivering, as she held fast the spirit's hand, -following where he led her.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We come to bring it. Let me show you our -best workers." And the spirit pointed to some -sweet-faced men and women who came stealing -into the poor houses, working such beautiful -miracles that Effie could only stand and watch.</p> -<p class="pnext">Some slipped money into the empty pockets, -and sent the happy mothers to buy all the -comforts they needed; others led the drunken men -out of temptation, and took them home to find -safer pleasures there. Fires were kindled on -cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and -warm clothes wrapped round shivering limbs. -Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers of -the sick; old people found themselves -remembered; sad hearts were consoled by a tender -word, and wicked ones softened by the story of -Him who forgave all sin.</p> -<p class="pnext">But the sweetest work was for the children; -and Effie held her breath to watch these human -fairies hang up and fill the little stockings -without which a child's Christmas is not perfect, -putting in things that once she would have thought -very humble presents, but which now seemed -beautiful and precious because these poor babies -had nothing.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That is so beautiful! I wish I could make -merry Christmases as these good people do, and -be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, -softly, as she watched the busy men and women -do their work and steal away without thinking -of any reward but their own satisfaction.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You can if you will. I have shown you the -way. Try it, and see how happy your own -holiday will be hereafter."</p> -<p class="pnext">As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his -arms about her, and vanished with a kiss.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, -trying to hold him fast.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are -smiling in your sleep," said a voice in her ear; -and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending -over her, and morning sunshine streaming -into the room.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Are they all gone? Did you hear the -bells? Was n't it splendid?" she asked, rubbing -her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty -child who was so real and sweet.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You have been dreaming at a great rate,--talking -in your sleep, laughing, and clapping -your hands as if you were cheering some one. -Tell me what was so splendid," said mamma, -smoothing the tumbled hair and lifting up the -sleepy head.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told -her dream, and Nursey thought it very -wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously -things the child had thought, read, heard, and -seen through the day were mixed up in her sleep.</p> -<p class="pnext">"The spirit said I could work lovely miracles -if I tried; but I don't know how to begin, for I -have no magic candle to make feasts appear, -and light up groves of Christmas trees, as he -did," said Effie, sorrowfully.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do -it!" And clapping her hands, mamma suddenly -began to dance all over the room as if she had -lost her wits.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How? how? You must tell me, mamma," -cried Effie, dancing after her, and ready to -believe anything possible when she remembered -the adventures of the past night.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 've got it! I 've got it!--the new idea. A -splendid one, if I can only carry it out!" And -mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls -flew wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as -if she would die.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, no; it is a surprise,--a grand surprise -for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently -charmed with her happy thought. "Now, come -to breakfast; for we must work like bees if -we want to play spirits to-morrow. You and -Nursey will go out shopping, and get heaps -of things, while I arrange matters behind the -scenes."</p> -<p class="pnext">They were running downstairs as mamma -spoke, and Effie called out breathlessly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"It won't be a surprise; for I know you are -going to ask some poor children here, and have -a tree or something. It won't be like my -dream; for they had ever so many trees, and -more children than we can find anywhere."</p> -<p class="pnext">"There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, -in this house at all, and no presents for you. -Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed -at Effie's bewildered face.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't -ask any questions, so it will all burst upon me -when the time comes," she said; and she ate her -breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be -a new sort of Christmas.</p> -<p class="pnext">All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey -in and out of shops, buying dozens of barking -dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny -tea-sets, gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, -dolls and candy. Parcel after parcel was sent -home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace -of them, though she peeped everywhere. -Nursey chuckled, but would n't give a hint, and -went out again in the afternoon with a long list -of more things to buy; while Effie wandered -forlornly about the house, missing the usual -merry stir that went before the Christmas dinner -and the evening fun.</p> -<p class="pnext">As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, -and came in at night so tired that she could -only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some -very pleasant thought made her happy in spite -of weariness.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Is the surprise going on all right?" asked -Effie, anxiously; for it seemed an immense time -to wait till another evening came.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Beautifully! better than I expected; for -several of my good friends are helping, or I could n't -have done it as I wish. I know you will like -it, dear, and long remember this new way of -making Christmas merry."</p> -<p class="pnext">Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie -went to bed.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">The next day was a very strange one; for -when she woke there was no stocking to -examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one -said "Merry Christmas!" to her, and the dinner -was just as usual to her. Mamma vanished -again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and -saying: "The dear things! It's the prettiest -idea I ever heard of. No one but your blessed -ma could have done it."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because -I don't know the secret!" cried Effie, more -than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, -for at seven in the evening the surprise was -to come off.</p> -<p class="pnext">The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the -child was too excited to ask questions when -Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her -to the carriage, and they drove away, leaving -their house the one dark and silent one in -the row.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are -led off to strange places and see fine things," -said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled through -the gay streets.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ah, my deary, it <em class="italics">is</em> like a fairy tale, I do -assure you, and you <em class="italics">will</em> see finer things than -most children will to-night. Steady, now, and -do just as I tell you, and don't say one word -whatever you see," answered Nursey, quite -quivering with excitement as she patted a large -box in her lap, and nodded and laughed with -twinkling eyes.</p> -<p class="pnext">They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was -led through a back door to a little room, where -Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her -cloak and hood, but her dress and shoes also. -Effie stared and bit her lips, but kept still until -out of the box came a little white fur coat and -boots, a wreath of holly leaves and berries, and -a candle with a frill of gold paper round it. -A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she -was dressed and saw herself in the glass, she -started back, exclaiming, "Why, Nursey, I look -like the spirit in my dream!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"So you do; and that's the part you are to -play, my pretty! Now whist, while I blind your -eyes and put you in your place."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of -wonder; for as they went out she heard the -sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, -and, in spite of the bandage, was sure a great -light shone upon her when she stopped.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You need n't be; I shall stand close by, and -your ma will be there."</p> -<p class="pnext">After the handkerchief was tied about her -eyes, Nurse led Effie up some steps, and placed -her on a high platform, where something like -leaves touched her head, and the soft snap of -lamps seemed to fill the air.</p> -<p class="pnext">Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her -hands, the voices outside sounded nearer, and -the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, my precious, look and see how you -and your dear ma have made a merry Christmas -for them that needed it!"</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id1">Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie -really did think she was asleep again, for she -actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," -all gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on -a side, in two rows down the room, stood the -little pines, each on its low table; and behind -Effie a taller one rose to the roof, hung with -wreaths of popcorn, apples, oranges, horns of -candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary hearts -to gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees -she saw many of her own discarded toys and -those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that -seemed to have rained down straight from that -delightful Christmas country where she felt as -if she was again.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How splendid! Who is it for? What is -that noise? Where is mamma?" cried Effie, -pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood -looking down the brilliant little street from her -high place.</p> -<p class="pnext">Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the -lower end flew open, and in marched twenty-four -little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing -sweetly, until amazement changed the song to -cries of joy and wonder as the shining spectacle -appeared. While they stood staring with round -eyes at the wilderness of pretty things about -them, mamma stepped up beside Effie, and -holding her hand fast to give her courage, told -the story of the dream in a few simple words, -ending in this way:--</p> -<p class="pnext">"So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas -spirit too, and make this a happy day for those -who had not as many pleasures and comforts as -she has. She likes surprises, and we planned -this for you all. She shall play the good fairy, -and give each of you something from this tree, -after which every one will find her own name -on a small tree, and can go to enjoy it in her -own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill -your hands."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands -were clapped heartily before a single child -stirred; then one by one they came to look up -wonderingly at the pretty giver of the feast as -she leaned down to offer them great yellow -oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, -and cakes, till all were gone, and a double row -of smiling faces turned toward her as the children -filed back to their places in the orderly way -they had been taught.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then each was led to her own tree by the -good ladies who had helped mamma with all their -hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would -have satisfied even Santa Claus himself,--shrieks -of joy, dances of delight, laughter and tears -(for some tender little things could not bear so -much pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths -full of candy and hands full of toys). How they -ran to show one another the new treasures! how -they peeped and tasted, pulled and pinched, -until the air was full of queer noises, the floor -covered with papers, and the little trees left bare -of all but candles!</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't think heaven can be any gooder than -this," sighed one small girl, as she looked about -her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron -with one hand, while she luxuriously carried -sugar-plums to her mouth with the other.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, -fascinated by the little white figure with -the wreath on its shining hair, who in some -mysterious way had been the cause of all this -merry-making.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this -splendid party," said a lame child, leaning on -her crutch, as she stood near the steps, -wondering how it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as -Effie was doing, while she watched the happy -scene before her.</p> -<p class="pnext">Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, -ran down and put her arms about the pale child, -kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, -"You may; but mamma deserves the thanks. -She did it all; I only dreamed about it."</p> -<p class="pnext">Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was -embracing her, and could only stammer out her -thanks, while the other children ran to see the -pretty spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she -stood in a crowd of blue gowns laughing as they -held up their gifts for her to see and admire.</p> -<p class="pnext">Mamma leaned down and whispered one word -to the older girls; and suddenly they all took -hands to dance round Effie, singing as they -skipped.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found -it hard to break up the happy revel; but it was -late for small people, and too much fun is a -mistake. So the girls fell into line, and marched -before Effie and mamma again, to say good-night -with such grateful little faces that the -eyes of those who looked grew dim with tears. -Mamma kissed every one; and many a hungry -childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender -lips was their best gift. Effie shook so many -small hands that her own tingled; and when -Katy came she pressed a small doll into Effie's -hand, whispering, "You did n't have a single -present, and we had lots. Do keep that; it's -the prettiest thing I got."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until -the last smiling face was gone, the surprise all -over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired and -happy for anything but sleep.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mamma, it <em class="italics">was</em> a beautiful surprise, and -I thank you so much! I don't see how you did -it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever -had, and mean to make one every year. I had -my splendid big present, and here is the dear -little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even -that part of my wish came true."</p> -<p class="pnext">And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on -her lips, her one humble gift still in her hand, -and a new love for Christmas in her heart that -never changed through a long life spent in doing -good.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 71%" id="figure-73"> -<span id="the-candy-country"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-036.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -"Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her. PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id2">46</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">II.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE CANDY COUNTRY.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it -is so warm, and none of the children at -school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, -as she went through the hall.</p> -<p class="pnext">"The wind is very high; I 'm afraid you 'll be -blown away if you carry that big thing," called -Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella -went bobbing down the garden walk with a -small girl under it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish it would; I always wanted to go up -in a balloon," answered Lily, as she struggled -out of the gate.</p> -<p class="pnext">She got on very well till she came to the bridge -and stopped to look over the railing at the water -running by so fast, and the turtles sunning -themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing -stones at them; it was so funny to watch them -tumble, heels over head, splash into the water. -Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, -she stooped for a stone, and just at that minute -a gale of wind nearly took the umbrella out of -her hand. She clutched it fast; and away she -went like a thistle-down, right up in the air, -over river and hill, houses and trees, faster and -faster, till her head spun round, her breath was -all gone, and she had to let go. The dear red -umbrella flew away like a leaf; and Lily fell -down, down, till she went crash into a tree which -grew in such a curious place that she forgot her -fright as she sat looking about her, wondering -what part of the world it could be.</p> -<p class="pnext">The tree looked as if made of glass or colored -sugar; for she could see through the red -cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. -An agreeable smell met her nose; and she said -at once, as any child would, "I smell candy!" She -picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good -it was!--all sugar and no stone. The next -discovery was such a delightful one that she nearly -fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue -here and there, she found that the whole tree -was made of candy. Think what fun to sit and -break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, -and leaves that tasted like peppermint and -sassafras!</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top -of the little tree; then she climbed down and -strolled along, making more surprising and -agreeable discoveries as she went.</p> -<p class="pnext">What looked like snow under her feet was -white sugar; the rocks were lumps of chocolate, -the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every -sort of fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little -white houses soon appeared; and here lived -the dainty candy-people, all made of the best -sugar, and painted to look like real people. -Dear little men and women, looking as if they -had stepped off of wedding cakes and bonbons, -went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing -and talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of -babies rocked in open-work cradles, and sugar -boys and girls played with sugar toys in the -most natural way. Carriages rolled along the -jujube streets, drawn by the red and yellow -barley horses we all love so well; cows fed -in the green fields, and sugar birds sang in -the trees.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily listened, and in a moment she -understood what the song said,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Sweet! Sweet!</div> -<div class="line">Come, come and eat.</div> -<div class="line">Dear little girls</div> -<div class="line">With yellow curls;</div> -<div class="line">For here you 'll find</div> -<div class="line">Sweets to your mind.</div> -<div class="line">On every tree</div> -<div class="line">Sugar-plums you 'll see;</div> -<div class="line">In every dell</div> -<div class="line">Grows the caramel.</div> -<div class="line">Over every wall</div> -<div class="line">Gum-drops fall;</div> -<div class="line">Molasses flows</div> -<div class="line">Where our river goes.</div> -<div class="line">Under your feet</div> -<div class="line">Lies sugar sweet;</div> -<div class="line">Over your head</div> -<div class="line">Grow almonds red.</div> -<div class="line">Our lily and rose</div> -<div class="line">Are not for the nose;</div> -<div class="line">Our flowers we pluck</div> -<div class="line">To eat or suck.</div> -<div class="line">And, oh! what bliss</div> -<div class="line">When two friends kiss,</div> -<div class="line">For they honey sip</div> -<div class="line">From lip to lip!</div> -<div class="line">And all you meet,</div> -<div class="line">In house or street,</div> -<div class="line">At work or play,</div> -<div class="line">Sweethearts are they.</div> -<div class="line">So, little dear,</div> -<div class="line">Pray feel no fear:</div> -<div class="line">Go where you will;</div> -<div class="line">Eat, eat your fill.</div> -<div class="line">Here is a feast</div> -<div class="line">From west to east;</div> -<div class="line">And you can say,</div> -<div class="line">Ere you go away,</div> -<div class="line">'At last I stand</div> -<div class="line">In dear Candy-land,</div> -<div class="line">And no more can stuff;</div> -<div class="line">For once I 've enough.'</div> -<div class="line">Sweet! Sweet!</div> -<div class="line">Tweet! Tweet!</div> -<div class="line">Tweedle-dee!</div> -<div class="line">Tweedle-dee!"</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">"That is the most interesting song I ever -heard," said Lily, clapping her sticky hands and -dancing along toward a fine palace of white -cream candy, with pillars of striped peppermint -stick, and a roof of frosting that made it look -like the Milan Cathedral.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll live here, and eat candy all day long, -with no tiresome school or patchwork to spoil -my fun," said Lily.</p> -<p class="pnext">So she ran up the chocolate steps into the -pretty rooms, where all the chairs and tables -were of different colored candies, and the beds -of spun sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied -drink; and floors of ice-cream that never melted -kept people and things from sticking together, -as they would have done had it been warm.</p> -<p class="pnext">For a long while Lily was quite happy, going -about tasting so many different kinds of -sweeties, talking to the little people, who were -very amiable, and finding out curious things -about them and their country.</p> -<p class="pnext">The babies were made of plain sugar, but the -grown people had different flavors. The young -ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and -orange; the gentlemen were apt to have cordials -of some sort inside of them, as she found when -she ate one now and then slyly, and got her -tongue bitten by the hot, strong taste as a -punishment. The old people tasted of peppermint, -clove, and such comfortable things, good for -pain; but the old maids had lemon, hoarhound, -flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter things -in them, and did not get eaten much. Lily -soon learned to know the characters of her -new friends by a single taste, and some she -never touched but once. The dear babies -melted in her mouth, and the delicately flavored -young ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger -was called to her more than once when so much -candy made her teeth ache, and she found him -a very hot-tempered little man; but he stopped -the pain, so she was glad to see him.</p> -<p class="pnext">A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry -girl were her favorite playmates; and they -had fine times making mud-pies by scraping -the chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with -honey from the wells near by. These they -could eat; and Lily thought this much better -than throwing away the pies, as she had to do at -home. They had candy-pulls very often, and -made swings of long loops of molasses candy, -and bird's-nests with almond eggs, out of which -came birds who sang sweetly. They played football -with big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on -lakes of syrup, fished in rivers of molasses, and -rode the barley horses all over the country.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily discovered that it never rained, but -snowed white sugar. There was no sun, as it -would have been too hot; but a large yellow -lozenge made a nice moon, and red and white -comfits were the stars.</p> -<p class="pnext">The people all lived on sugar, and never -quarrelled. No one was ill; and if any got -broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle -creatures, they just stuck the parts together and -were all right again. The way they grew old -was to get thinner and thinner till there was -danger of their vanishing. Then the friends of -the old person put him in a neat coffin, and -carried him to the great golden urn which stood -in their largest temple, always full of a certain -fine syrup; and here he was dipped and dipped -till he was stout and strong again, and went -home to enjoy himself for a long time as good -as new.</p> -<p class="pnext">This was very interesting to Lily, and she -went to many funerals. But the weddings were -better still; for the lovely white brides were -so sweet Lily longed to eat them. The feasts -were delicious; and everybody went in their -best clothes, and danced at the ball till they -got so warm half-a-dozen would stick together -and have to be taken to the ice-cream room -to cool off. Then the little pair would drive -away in a fine carriage with white horses to a -new palace in some other part of the country, -and Lily would have another pleasant place -to visit.</p> -<p class="pnext">But by and by, when she had seen everything, -and eaten so much sweet stuff that at last she -longed for plain bread and butter, she began to -get cross, as children always do when they live -on candy; and the little people wished she would -go away, for they were afraid of her. No -wonder, when she would catch up a dear sugar baby -and eat him, or break some respectable old -grandmamma all into bits because she reproved -her for naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on -the biggest church, crushing it flat, and even -tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet -one day. The king ordered her to go home; -but she said, "I won't!" and bit his head off, -crown and all.</p> -<p class="pnext">Such a wail went up at this awful deed that -she ran away out of the city, fearing some one -would put poison in her candy, since she had -no other food.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep -walking; and I can't starve, though I hate the -sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, -as she hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar -Rock that divided the city of Saccharissa from the -great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and -saw at last a great smoke in the sky, smelt a -spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wonder if there are sugar savages here, -roasting and eating some poor traveller like -me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and -other wanderers in strange lands.</p> -<p class="pnext">She crept carefully along till she saw a -settlement of little huts very like mushrooms, for -they were made of cookies set on lumps of -the brown sugar; and queer people, looking as -if made of gingerbread, were working very -busily round several stoves which seemed to -bake at a great rate.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I'll creep nearer and see what sort of -people they are before I show myself," said Lily, -going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting -down on a stone which proved to be the plummy -sort of cake we used to call Brighton Rock.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently one of the tallest men came striding -toward the trees with a pan, evidently after spice; -and before she could run, he saw Lily.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id2">"Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring -at her with his black currant eyes, while he -briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I'm travelling, and would like to know what -place this is, if you please," answered Lily, very -politely, being a little frightened.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Cake-land. Where do you come from?" -asked the gingerbread man, in a crisp tone of -voice.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I was blown into the Candy country, and -have been there a long time; but I got tired -of it, and ran away to find something better."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Sensible child!" and the man smiled till -Lily thought his cheeks would crumble. "You'll -get on better here with us Brownies than with -the lazy Bonbons, who never work and are all -for show. They won't own us, though we are -all related through our grandparents Sugar and -Molasses. We are busy folks; so they turn up -their noses and don't speak when we meet at -parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and -unsubstantial! I pity 'em."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see -how you live, and what you do. I 'm sure it -must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself -up after a tumble, having eaten nearly all the -stone, she was so hungry.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I know you will. Come on! I can talk -while I work." And the funny gingerbread man -trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, -rolling-pins, and molasses jugs.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as -this batch is baked. There are still some wise -people down below who like gingerbread, and -I have my hands full," he said, dashing about, -stirring, rolling out, and slapping the brown -dough into pans, which he whisked into the -oven and out again so fast that Lily knew there -must be magic about it somewhere.</p> -<p class="pnext">Every now and then he threw her a delicious -cooky warm from the oven. She liked the -queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being -very curious about this country.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What is your name, sir?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ginger Snap."</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily thought it a good one; for he was very -quick, and she fancied he could be short and -sharp if he liked.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, -after watching the other kitchens full of workers, -who were all of different kinds of cake, and each -set of cooks made its own sort.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll show you by and by," answered Snap, -beginning to pile up the heaps of gingerbread -on a little car that ran along a track leading to -some unknown storeroom, Lily thought.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I -never shall be till I 've done my best, and won -the prize here."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, -and how are you promoted? Is this a cooking-school?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a -cake of condensed yeast. That puts a soul -into me, and I begin to rise till I am able -to go over the hills yonder into the blessed -land of bread, and be one of the happy -creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, -and without which the world below would be -in a bad way."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bless me! that is the queerest thing I Ve -heard yet. But I don't wonder you want to go; -I 'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good -piece of bread, though I used to want cake and -candy at home."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ah, my dear, you 'll learn a good deal here; -and you are lucky not to have got into the -clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets -people if they eat too much of such rubbish -and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my ginger -behind when I go, and get white and round and -beautiful, as you will see. The Gingerbread -family have never been as foolish as some of -the other cakes. Wedding is the worst; such -extravagance in the way of wine and spice -and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to -eat when it's done! I don't wonder people -get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung -down a pan with such a bang that it made -Lily jump.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Sponge cake is n't bad, is it? Mamma lets -me eat it, but I like frosted pound better," she -said, looking over to the next kitchen, where -piles of that sort of cake were being iced.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers -will do for babies, but pound has too much -butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat -cookies or seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come -along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away -his car-load at a great pace.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and -looked about her as she went, for this was -certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all -beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed -here and there ready for use. The earth was -brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits -were raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon -peel. It was a very busy place; for every one -cooked all the time, and never failed and never -seemed tired, though they got so hot that they -only wore sheets of paper for clothes. There -were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it -shouldn't burn; and they made cook's white -caps and aprons of it, and looked very nice. A -large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves -to mark the hours and two toothpicks for hands, -showed them how long to bake things; and in one -place an ice wall was built round a lake of butter, -which they cut in lumps as they wanted it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Here we are. Now, stand away while I -pitch 'em down," said Snap, stopping at last -before a hole in the ground where a -dumbwaiter hung ready, with a name over it.</p> -<p class="pnext">There were many holes all round, and many -waiters, each with its name; and Lily was -amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," -"Dooling," and others, which she knew very well.</p> -<p class="pnext">Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" -and Lily said, "Why, that's where mamma gets -her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where -we go for ice-cream. Do <em class="italics">you</em> make cake for them?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the -secrets of the trade. We cook for all the -confectioners, and people think the good things -come out of the cellars under their saloons. -Good joke, is n't it?" And Snap laughed till a -crack came in his neck and made him cough.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm -queen's cake that happened to be near, and -watched Snap send down load after load of -gingerbread to be eaten by children, who would -have liked it much better if they had only known -where it came from, as she did.</p> -<p class="pnext">As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the -smell of many dinners, and the sound of many -voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, -and a Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup -coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken and apple -without," came up the next hole, which was -marked "Copeland."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said -Lily, longing to hop down, but afraid of the -bump at the other end.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm done. Come along, I 'll ride you back," -called Snap, tossing the last cooky after the -dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with -its spicy load.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish you 'd teach me to cook. It looks -great fun, and mamma wants me to learn; only -our cook hates to have me mess round, and -is so cross that I don't like to try at home," -said Lily, as she went trundling back.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and -learn to make that. It's a great art, and worth -knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, -though plain gingerbread is n't bad to have in -the house. I 'll teach you that in a jiffy, if the -clock does n't strike my hour too soon," -answered Snap, helping her down.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What hour?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why, of my freedom. I never know when -I 've done my task till I 'm called by the chimes -and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his -currant eyes anxiously to the clock.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I hope you <em class="italics">will</em> have time." And Lily fell -to work with all her might, after Snap had put -on her a paper apron and a cap like his.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was not hard; for when she was going to -make a mistake a spark flew out of the fire and -burnt her in time to remind her to look at the -receipt, which was a sheet of gingerbread in -a frame of pie-crust hung up before her, with -the directions written while it was soft and baked -in. The third sheet she made came out of the -oven spicy, light, and brown; and Snap, giving -it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you -know. Here's your reward."</p> -<p class="pnext">He handed her a receipt-book made of thin -sheets of sugar-gingerbread held together by -a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on -the back, and each leaf crimped with a -cake-cutter in the most elegant manner.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily was charmed with it, but had no time -to read all it contained; for just then the -clock began to strike, and a chime of bells -to ring,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Gingerbread,</div> -<div class="line">Go to the head.</div> -<div class="line">Your task is done;</div> -<div class="line">A soul is won.</div> -<div class="line">Take it and go</div> -<div class="line">Where muffins grow,</div> -<div class="line">Where sweet loaves rise</div> -<div class="line">To the very skies,</div> -<div class="line">And biscuits fair</div> -<div class="line">Perfume the air.</div> -<div class="line">Away, away!</div> -<div class="line">Make no delay;</div> -<div class="line">In the sea of flour</div> -<div class="line">Plunge this hour.</div> -<div class="line">Safe in your breast</div> -<div class="line">Let the yeast-cake rest,</div> -<div class="line">Till you rise in joy,</div> -<div class="line">A white bread boy!"</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">"Ha, ha! I 'm free! I 'm free!" cried Snap, -catching up the silver-covered square that seemed -to fall from heaven; and running to a great white -sea of flour, he went in head first, holding the -yeast-cake clasped to his breast as if his life -depended on it.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious -working and bubbling went on, as if Snap was -tumbling about down there like a small -earthquake. The other cake-folk stood round the -shore with her; for it was a great event, and all -were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so -soon. Suddenly a cry was heard, and up rose -a beautiful white figure on the farther side of -the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," -and ran over the hills so fast they had -only time to see how plump and fair he was, -with a little knob on the top of his head like -a crown.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He 's gone to the happy land, and we shall -miss him; but we 'll follow his example and -soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge -cake, with a sigh, as all went back to their work; -while Lily hurried after Snap, eager to see the -new country, which was the best of all.</p> -<p class="pnext">A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from -the valley as she stood on the hill-top and looked -down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of -yellow grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines -grew from tree to tree; and many windmills -whirled their white sails as they ground the -different grains into fresh, sweet meal, for the -loaves of bread that built the houses like bricks -and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed -the people, furniture, and animals. A river of -milk flowed through the peaceful land, and -fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant -foam and fizz. The ground was a mixture of -many meals, and the paths were golden Indian, -which gave a very gay look to the scene. -Buckwheat flowers bloomed on their rosy stems, and -tall corn-stalks rustled their leaves in the warm -air that came from the ovens hidden in the -hillsides; for bread needs a slow fire, and an -obliging volcano did the baking here.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling -the charm of the homelike landscape, in spite -of the funny plump people moving about.</p> -<p class="pnext">Two of these figures came running to meet -her as she slowly walked down the yellow path -from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a -beaming face; the other a little girl in a shiny -brown cloak, who looked as if she would taste -very nice. They each put a warm hand into -Lily's, and the boy said,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you -were coming."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, -feeling as if she had seen both these little people -before, and liked them.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a -Muffin now. We begin in that way, and work -up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is -Johnny Cake, and she's Sally Lunn. You know -us; so come on and have a race."</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing -with these old friends of hers; and all three ran -away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, -over a bridge, into the middle of the village, -where they stopped, panting, and sat down on -some very soft rolls to rest.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What do you all do <em class="italics">here</em>?" asked Lily, when -she got her breath again.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, -and are as merry as grigs all day long. It's -school-time now, and we must go; will you -come?" said Sally, jumping up as if she -liked it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Our schools are not like yours; we only -study two things,--grain and yeast. I think -you 'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the -experiments are very jolly," added Johnny, -trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye and Indian -bread, where the school was kept.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily never liked to go to school, but she was -ashamed to own it; so she went along with -Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that -she was glad she came. The brown loaf was -hollow, and had no roof; and when she asked -why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and -see why they chose strong walls and plenty of -room overhead. All round was a circle of very -small biscuits like cushions, and on these the -Bread-children sat. A square loaf in the -middle was the teacher's desk, and on it lay an -ear of wheat, with several bottles of yeast well -corked up. The teacher was a pleasant, plump -lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous for -her good bread that she was a Professor of -Grainology.</p> -<p class="pnext">When all were seated, she began with the -wheat ear, and told them all about it in such an -interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never -known anything about the bread she ate before. -The experiments with the yeast were quite -exciting,--for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how -it would work till it blew the cork out, and -go fizzing up to the sky if it was kept too long; -how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the -bread if care was not taken to use it just at -the right moment; and how too much would -cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance -to it.</p> -<p class="pnext">The children were very bright; for they were -fed on the best kinds of oatmeal and Graham -bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes -to spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy -boys and girls they were, and their yeasty -souls were very lively in them for they danced -and sung, and seemed as bright and gay as -if acidity, heaviness, and mould were quite -unknown.</p> -<p class="pnext">Lily was very happy with them, and when -school was done went home with Sally and ate -the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever -tasted. In the afternoon Johnny took her to -the cornfield, and showed her how they kept -the growing ears free from mildew and worms. -Then she went to the bakehouse; and here she -found her old friend Muffin hard at work -making Parker House rolls, for he was such a good -cook he was set to work at once on the lighter -kinds of bread.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, is n't this better than Candy-land or -Saccharissa?" he asked, as he rolled and folded -his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked inside.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better -already, and mean to learn all I can. Mamma -will be so pleased if I can make good bread -when I go home. She is rather old-fashioned, -and likes me to be a nice housekeeper. I did n't -think bread interesting then, but I do now; and -Johnny's mother is going to teach me to make -Indian cakes to-morrow."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell -other people how to make healthy bodies and -happy souls by eating good plain food. Not -like this, though these rolls are better than cake. -I have to work my way up to the perfect loaf, -you know; and then, oh, then, I 'm a happy thing."</p> -<p class="pnext">"What happens then? Do you go on to -some other wonderful place?" asked Lily, as -Muffin paused with a smile on his face.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human -being, and become a part of him or her. That -is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a -poet and help him sing, or feed a good woman -who makes the world better for being in it, or -be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby -prince who is to rule a kingdom. Is n't that a -noble way to live, and an end worth working -for?" asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily -feel as if some sort of fine yeast had got into -her, and was setting her brain to work with new -thoughts.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, it is. I suppose all common things -are made for that purpose, if we only knew it; -and people should be glad to do anything to -help the world along, even making good bread -in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a sober way that -showed that her little mind was already -digesting the new food it had got.</p> -<p class="pnext">She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and -enjoyed and learned a great deal that she never -forgot. But at last, when she had made the -perfect loaf, she wanted to go home, that her -mother might see and taste it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 've put a good deal of myself into it, and -I 'd love to think I had given her strength or -pleasure by my work," she said, as she and -Sally stood looking at the handsome loaf.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You can go whenever you like; just take -the bread in your hands and wish three times, -and you 'll be wherever you say. I 'm sorry to -have you go, but I don't wonder you want to -see your mother. Don't forget what you have -learned, and you will always be glad you came -to us," said Sally, kissing her good-by.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing -him, my dear old friend," answered Lily, -looking round for him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. -"He was ready to go, and chose to pass into -your bread rather than any other; for he said he -loved you and would be glad to help feed so -good a little girl."</p> -<p class="pnext">"How kind of him! I must be careful to -grow wise and excellent, else he will be -disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, -touched by his devotion.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged -her loaf close, wished three times to be in her -own home, and like a flash she was there.</p> -<p class="pnext">Whether her friends believed the wonderful -tale of her adventures I cannot tell; but I know -that she was a nice little housekeeper from that -day, and made such good bread that other girls -came to learn of her. She also grew from a -sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, -because she ate very little cake and candy, -except at Christmas time, when the oldest and -the wisest love to make a short visit to Candyland.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 71%" id="figure-74"> -<span id="naughty-jocko"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-064.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back. PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id3">70</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">III.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">NAUGHTY JOCKO.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, -and see if he has got a monkey on his -organ," cried little Neddy, running to the -window in a great hurry one day.</p> -<p class="pnext">Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and -red suit, with a funny little cap, and the long -tail trailing behind. But he did n't seem to be a -lively monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad -face turned anxiously to his master, who kept -pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff -collar had made his neck sore; and when the -man twitched, the poor thing moaned and put -up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to -dance, but was so weak he could only hop a few -steps, and stop panting for breath. The cruel -man would n't let him rest till Neddy called out,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't hurt him; let him come up here and -get this cake, and rest while you play. I 've got -some pennies for you."</p> -<p class="pnext">So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, -and sat on the window-ledge trying to eat; but -he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the -man pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, -and lay as if he were dead. Neddy and his aunt -ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man -scolded and shook him; but he never moved, -and the man said,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell -him to some one to stuff."</p> -<p class="pnext">"No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here -a few days, and we will take care of him; and if -he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said Aunt -Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey.</p> -<p class="pnext">The man said he was going on for a week -through the towns near by, and would call and -see about it when he came back. Then he went -away; and Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice -basket, and carried him in. The minute the door -was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped -out with one eye, and seeing only the kind little -boy began to chatter and kick off the shawl; for -he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and -dreadfully afraid of the cruel man who beat and -starved him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Neddy was delighted, and thought it very -funny, and helped his aunt take off the stiff -collar and put some salve on the sore neck. -Then they got milk and cake; and when he -had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself -up and slept till the next day. He was quite -lively in the morning; for when Aunt Jane went -to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and -looking round the room for him, she saw the -little black thing lying on the boy's pillow, with his -arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby.</p> -<p class="pnext">"My patience! I can't allow that," said the -old lady, and went to pull Jocko out. But -he slipped away like an eel, and crept -chattering and burrowing down to the bottom of the -bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, till he waked -up, howling that crabs were nipping him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko -climbed all over the bed, up on the tall -wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the -image of an angel stood. He patted it, and -hugged it, and looked so very funny with his -ugly black face by the pretty white one, that -Neddy rolled on the floor, and Aunt Jane laughed -till her glasses flew off. By and by he came -down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them -tie a red ribbon over the bandage on his neck. -He liked the gay color, and kept going to look -in the glass, and grin and chatter at his own -image, which he evidently admired.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all -the children shall see my new pet," said Neddy, -as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder.</p> -<p class="pnext">Every one laughed at the funny little fellow -with his twinkling eyes, brown hands, and long -tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to -the store; then troubles began. He put Jocko -on a table near the door, and told him to stay -there while he did his errands. Now, close by -was the place where the candy was kept, and -Jocko loved sweeties like any girl; so he hopped -along, and began to eat whatever he liked. -Some boys tried to stop him; and then he got -angry at them for pulling his tail, and threw -handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great -fun; and the more they laughed and scrambled -and poked at him, the faster he showered -chocolates, caramels, and peppermints over them, -till it looked as if it had rained candy. The -man was busy with Neddy at the other end of -the store; but when he heard the noise, both ran -to see what was the matter. Neither of them -could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, -and ran up on the high shelves among the toys. -Then down came little tubs and dolls' stoves, -tin trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden -soldiers and whole villages flew through the air, -smash, bang, rattle, bump, all over the floor. -The man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys -shouted, and there was a lively time in that shop -till a good slapping with a long stick made Jock -tumble into a tub of water where some curious -fishes lived; and then they caught him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man -his aunt would pay for all the broken things. -Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go -home and tie him up, for it was plain this -monkey was not to be trusted. But as soon as they -got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to -a load of hay passing underneath. Here he -danced and pranced, and had a fine time, -throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some -of the dinner tied up in a cloth. The crusts of -bread and the bones he threw at the horse; this -new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he -ran away down a steep hill, and upset the hay -and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was -worse than the candy scrape; for the man swore, -and the horse was hurt, and people said the -monkey ought to be shot, he did so much -mischief. Jocko did n't care a bit; he sat high up -in a tree, and chattered and scolded, and swung -by his tail, and was so droll that people could n't -help laughing at him. Poor Neddy cried again, -and went home to tell his troubles to Aunt Jane, -fearing that it would take all the money in his -bank to pay for the damage the bad monkey -had done in one hour.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id3">As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping -along, and jumped on his back, and peeped at -him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning -and good Neddy could n't whip him; but he -shut him up in a closet to punish him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all -was quiet till dinner-time. They were ready for -the pudding, and Neddy had saved a place for a -good plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when -shrieks were heard in the kitchen, and Mary the -maid rushed in to say,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the -pudding, and is scaring Katy out of her life!"</p> -<p class="pnext">They all ran; and there sat that naughty -monkey on the table, throwing the nice white snow -all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she -was ready to be shaved. His own face looked -the same, for he had eaten all he wanted while -the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He -had crept out of a window in the closet, and -had a fine rummage among the sugar-buckets, -butter-boxes, and milk-pans.</p> -<p class="pnext">Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane -and grandpa laughed, and Neddy chased Jock -into the garden with the broom. They had to -eat bread and jelly for dessert, and it took the -girls a long time to clear up the mess the rascal -made.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We will put his collar and chain on again, -and keep him tied up all the time till the man -comes," said Aunt Jane.</p> -<p class="pnext">"But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, -watching the little imp whisk about in the -garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens -and tossing green apples round in high glee.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he -is tired; then he will come to you, and you can -hold him fast," said Aunt Jane.</p> -<p class="pnext">So Neddy waited; and though he was much -worried at his new pet's naughtiness, he enjoyed -his pranks like a boy.</p> -<p class="pnext">Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the -piazza, and he was dozing comfortably when -Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his -long tail, and tickled the old gentleman on the -nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, and opened -one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. -Then he went to sleep again, and Jocko dropped -a caterpillar on his bald head; this made him -open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy -thing could be. Neddy could n't help laughing, -for he often wanted to do just such things, but -never dared, because grandpa was a very stern -old gentleman, and no one took liberties with -him. Jocko was n't afraid, however; and -presently he crept to the table, stele the glasses -lying there, put them on, and taking up the -paper held it before him, chattering as if he were -reading it, as he had seen people do. Neddy -laughed out loud at this, and clapped his hands, -Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite of -the tail curled up behind. This time grandpa -opened both eyes at once, and stared as if he -saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched -off the spectacles, and caught up his cane, -crying angrily,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"You rascal, how dare you!"</p> -<p class="pnext">But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and -with one jump lighted on the back of old Tom, -the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. -Scared half out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; -but Jocko held fast to his collar, and had a -fine race round the garden, while the girls -laughed at the funny sight, and Neddy shouted, -"It's a circus; and there's the monkey and the -pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when -puss dashed up a tree, and Jock tumbled off. -He chased him, and they had a great battle; -but Tom's claws were sharp, and the monkey -got a scratch on the nose, and ran crying to -Neddy for comfort.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, you naughty fellow, I 'll chain you -up, and stop these dreadful tricks. But you -are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the -boy; for he knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, -and poor Jocko had not had one for a long time.</p> -<p class="pnext">Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, -and then was ready for more frolics. Neddy -had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that -he could enjoy the sun and air, and catch -grasshoppers if he liked. But Jocko wanted -something more; and presently Neddy, who was -reading in his hammock on the piazza, heard a -great cackling among the hens, and looked up -to see the monkey swinging by his tail from a -bough, holding the great cock-a-doodle by his -splendid tail, while all the twenty hens clucked -and cackled with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, that's too bad; I <em class="italics">will</em> slap him this -time," said Neddy, running to save his -handsome bird from destruction. But before he got -there poor cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers -all out in his struggles, and when set free -was so frightened and mortified that he ran -away and hid in the bushes, and the hens went -to comfort him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left -him looking as meek as a baby, all cuddled up -in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as -if crying for his naughtiness. But he was n't -sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in half an hour he had -picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane -was so fond of, thrown all the tomatoes over the -fence, and let the parrot out of his cage. The -sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a -polite "How are you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane -to see what was going on. Neddy was fast -asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; -and Jocko, having unhooked his chain, was -sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's house, -eating corn.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We shall not live to the end of the week -if this sort of thing goes on. I don't know -what to do with the little beast; he 's as bad as -an elephant to take care of," said the poor lady, -in despair, as she saw Jocko throw his corncob -down on the minister's hat as that stately -gentleman went by.</p> -<p class="pnext">As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane -let him alone till Neddy waked up and could go -and find some of the big boys to help him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a -window that stood open. It was little Nelly -Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet -doll Maud Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the -best bed, while she went down to get a poppy -leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because -she had a high fever. Jocko took a fancy to -the pretty bed, and after turning the play-house -topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose -Matilda out by her flaxen hair, and stuffing her -into the water-pitcher upside down, got into the -bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to -doze deliciously under the pink silk bed-cover.</p> -<p class="pnext">Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear -invalid, saying in her motherly little voice,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I -won't hurt you one bit."</p> -<p class="pnext">But when she drew the curtain, instead of the -lovely yellow-haired doll in her ruffled -nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at -her, and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. -Nelly gave one scream, and flew downstairs -into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at -work, frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by -her cries, as she clung to her mother, wailing,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; -and he snarled at me, and my dolly is gone! -What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?"</p> -<p class="pnext">There was great confusion, for all the ladies -talked at once; and it so happened that none -of them knew anything about the monkey, -therefore they all agreed that Nelly was a -foolish child, and had made a fuss about nothing. -She cried dismally, and kept saying to her -mother,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,--I -found it there, and darling Maudie is gone."</p> -<p class="pnext">"We <em class="italics">will</em> go and see," said Mrs. Moses -Merryweather,--a stout old lady, who kept her -six girls in such good order that <em class="italics">they</em> would -never have dared to cry if ten monkeys had -popped out at them.</p> -<p class="pnext">Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, -with a sharp eye and pointed nose, went with -her; but at the door that led to the dining-room -both stopped short, and after one look -came flying back, calling out together,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful -beast has ruined it all!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across -the hall to behold Jocko sitting on the great -cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed -in cream from the overturned pitcher, while -all around lay the ruins of custards, tarts, -biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins -made into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, -on the floor, and the best silver teapot in the -fireplace.</p> -<p class="pnext">While Nelly told her tale and the ladies -questioned and comforted her, this bad monkey had -skipped downstairs and had a delightful party -all by himself. He was just scraping the jelly -out of a tart when they disturbed him; and -knowing that more slaps were in store for him -if he stayed, he at once walked calmly down the -ravaged table, and vanished out of the window -carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play -with.</p> -<p class="pnext">The ladies had no supper that night; and poor -Mrs. Brown sent a note to Aunt Jane, telling her -the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite -ill with the fright and the loss of dear Maud -Mabel Rose Matilda, drowned in the water-pitcher -and forever spoilt.</p> -<p class="pnext">"John shall go after that man to-morrow, and -bring him back to carry this terrible monkey -away. I can't live with him a week; he will -cost me a fortune, and wear us all out," said -Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely shut up in -the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over -the neighborhood before they caught him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but -John was saved his journey, for in the morning -poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his -inquisitive head had been poked to see what the -cheese tasted like.</p> -<p class="pnext">So he was buried by the river, and every one -felt much relieved; for the man never came back, -thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he -had not lived in vain; for after this day of trial, -mischievous Neddy behaved much better, and -Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit -by saying, as her finger pointed to a little collar -and chain hanging on the wall,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say -so, and I 'll tie you up. One monkey is enough -for this family."</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 71%" id="figure-75"> -<span id="the-skipping-shoes"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-080.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -Kitty laughed, and began to dance... Such twirlings and stoppings as she made.--PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id4">85</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">IV.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE SKIPPING SHOES.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, -who never wanted to do what people -asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," -and did not run at once pleasantly, as obliging -children do.</p> -<p class="pnext">One day her mother gave her a pair of new -shoes; and after a fuss about putting them on, -Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like -Jack the Giant Killer's; then it would be easy to -run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep -trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't -stir a step."</p> -<p class="pnext">Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, -and set her on her feet so suddenly that it scared -all the naughtiness out of her. She stood looking -at these curious shoes; and the bright -buttons on them seemed to wink at her like eyes, -while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of -tune. Before she dared to stir, her mother called -from the next room,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie -for dinner; I forgot it."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine -as usual.</p> -<p class="pnext">But the words were hardly out of her mouth -when the shoes gave one jump, and took her -downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at -the kitchen door. Her breath was nearly gone; -but she gave the message, and turned round, -trying to see if the shoes would let her walk -at all. They went nicely till she wanted to turn -into the china-closet where the cake was. She -was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a -bit when she could. Now she found that her -feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not -be moved till her father said, as he passed the -window close by,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"You will have time to go to the post-office -before school and get my letters."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I can't," began Kitty; but she found she -could, for away went the shoes, out of the house -at one bound, and trotted down the street so -fast that the maid who ran after her with her -hat could not catch her.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not -till the shoes took her straight into the office.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, -as he saw her without any hat, all rosy and -breathless, and her face puckered up as if she -did not know whether to laugh or to cry.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I won't tell any one about these dreadful -shoes, and I 'll take them off as soon as I get -home. I hope they will go back slowly, or -people will think I 'm crazy," said Kitty to -herself, as she took the letters and went away.</p> -<p class="pnext">The shoes walked nicely along till she came -to the bridge; and there she wanted to stop and -watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and -her father's letters. But the shoes would n't -stop, though she tried to make them, and held -on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet -went on; and when she sat down they still -dragged her along so steadily that she had to go, -and she got up feeling that there was something -very strange about these shoes. The minute she -gave up, all went smoothly, and she got home -in good time.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I won't wear these horrid things another -minute," said Kitty, sitting on the doorstep and -trying to unbutton the shoes.</p> -<p class="pnext">But not a button could she stir, though she -got red and angry struggling to do it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Time for school; run away, little girl," -called mamma from upstairs, as the clock struck -nine.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I won't!" said Kitty, crossly.</p> -<p class="pnext">But she did; for those' magic shoes danced -her off, and landed her at her desk in five -minutes.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, I 'm not late; that's one comfort," she -thought, wishing she had come pleasantly, and -not been whisked away without any luncheon.</p> -<p class="pnext">Her legs were so tired with the long skips -that she was glad to sit still; and that pleased the -teacher, for generally she was fussing about all -lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble -again; for one of the children knocked down the -house of corn-cobs she had built, and made her -angry.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, I 'll kick yours down, and see how you -like it, Dolly."</p> -<p class="pnext">Up went her foot, but it did n't come down; -it stayed in the air, and there she stood looking -as if she were going to dance. The children -laughed to see her, and she could do nothing -till she said to Dolly in a great hurry,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll -forgive you."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so -glad about it that she tried to be pleasant, -fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She -began to see how they worked, and thought she -would try if she had any power over them. So, -when one of the children wanted his ball, which -had bounced over the hedge, she said kindly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Perhaps I can get it for you, Willy."</p> -<p class="pnext">And over she jumped as lightly as if she too -were an india-rubber ball.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How could you do it?" cried the boys, -much surprised; for not one of them dared try -such a high leap.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id4">Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling -pleased and proud to find there was a good side -to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and -skippings as she made, such pretty steps and airy -little bounds it was pretty to see; for it seemed -as if her feet were bewitched, and went of -themselves. The little girls were charmed, and tried -to imitate her; but no one could, and they stood -in a circle watching her dance till the bell rang, -then all rushed in to tell about it.</p> -<p class="pnext">Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never -told how queerly they acted, hoping to have -good times now. But she was mistaken.</p> -<p class="pnext">On the way home she wanted to stop and see -her friend Bell's new doll; but at the gate her -feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes -and go straight on, as mamma had told her -always to do.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Run and pick a nice little dish of -strawberries for dinner," said her sister, as she -went in.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm too ti--" There was no time to finish, -for the shoes landed her in the middle of the -strawberry bed at one jump.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I might as well be a grasshopper if I 'm to -skip round like this," she said, forgetting to feel -tired out there in the pleasant garden, with the -robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind -lifting the leaves to show where the reddest and -ripest ones hid.</p> -<p class="pnext">The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted -to stay and eat a few, warm and sweet from the -vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, over -the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the -dining-room before the berry in her mouth was -half eaten.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How this child does rush about to-day!" -said her mother. "It is so delightful to have -such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her -to carry some bundles to my poor people this -afternoon.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old -clothes and bottles and baskets of cold victuals -round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, -while the shoes tapped on the floor under the -table, as if to remind her that she must, whether -she liked it or not.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It would be right and kind, and would please -me very much. But you may do as you choose -about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; -for the little Bryan baby is sick and needs what -I send," said mamma, looking disappointed.</p> -<p class="pnext">Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, -and no one spoke to her. She was making up -her mind whether she would go pleasantly or -be whisked about like a grasshopper against -her will. When dinner was over, she said in a -cheerful voice,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll go, mamma; and when all the errands -are done, may I come back through Fairyland, -as we call the little grove where the tall ferns grow?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy -to please you."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall -have a lovely time," said Kitty to herself, as she -trotted away with a basket in one hand, a bundle -in the other, and some money in her pocket for -a poor old woman who needed help.</p> -<p class="pnext">The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to -know just where to stop. The sick baby's -mother thanked her for the soft little -nightgowns; the lame girl smiled when she saw the -books; the hungry children gathered round the -basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; -and the old woman gave her a beautiful pink -shell that her sailor son brought home from sea.</p> -<p class="pnext">When all the errands were done Kitty skipped -away to Fairyland, feeling very happy, as people -always do when they have done kind things. It -was a lovely place; for the ferns made green -arches tall enough for little girls to sit under, -and the ground was covered with pretty green -moss and wood-flowers. Birds flew about in -the pines, squirrels chattered in the oaks, -butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond -near by came the croak of frogs sunning their -green backs on the mossy stones.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and -rest; it is so cool here, and I 'm so tired," said -Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot of a tree.</p> -<p class="pnext">The words were hardly out of her mouth -when her feet folded under her, and there she -sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the -wood on her throne. Something lighted with -a bump close by her; and looking down she saw -a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at -her curiously.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bless my heart! I thought you were some -relation of my cousin Grasshopper's. You came -down the hill with long leaps just like him; so -I stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, -in its creaky voice.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy -shoes to-day, and so do many things that I -never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised -to be able to understand what the cricket said.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is midsummer day, and fairies can play -whatever pranks they like. If you did n't have -those shoes on, you could n't understand what -I say. Hark, and hear those squirrels talk, and -the birds, and the ants down here. Make the -most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes -will stop skipping, and the fun all be over."</p> -<p class="pnext">While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all -sorts of little voices, singing, laughing, chatting -in the gayest way, and understood every word -they said. The squirrels called to one another -as they raced about,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Here's a nut, there's a nut;</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Hide it quick away,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">In a hole, under leaves,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">To eat some winter day.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Acorns sweet are plenty,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">We will have them all:</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Skip and scamper lively</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Till the last ones fall."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">The birds were singing softly,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Rock a bye, babies,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Your cradle hangs high;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Soft down your pillow,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Your curtain the sky.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Father will feed you,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">While mother will sing,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">And shelter our darlings</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">With her warm wing."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">And the ants were saying to one another as -they hurried in and out of their little houses,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Work, neighbor, work!</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Do not stop to play;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Wander far and wide,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Gather all you may.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">We are never like</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Idle butterflies,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">But like the busy bees,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Industrious and wise."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">"Ants always were dreadfully good, but -butterflies are ever so much prettier," said Kitty, -listening to the little voices with wonder and -pleasure.</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Hollo! hollo!</div> -<div class="line">Come down below,--</div> -<div class="line">It's lovely and cool</div> -<div class="line">Out here in the pool;</div> -<div class="line">On a lily-pad float</div> -<div class="line">For a nice green boat.</div> -<div class="line">Here we sit and sing</div> -<div class="line">In a pleasant ring;</div> -<div class="line">Or leap-frog play,</div> -<div class="line">In the jolliest way.</div> -<div class="line">Our games have begun,</div> -<div class="line">Come join in the fun."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">"Dear me! what could I do over there in the -mud with the queer green frogs?" laughed Kitty, -as this song was croaked at her.</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"No, no, come and fly</div> -<div class="line">Through the sunny sky,</div> -<div class="line">Or honey sip</div> -<div class="line">From the rose's lip,</div> -<div class="line">Or dance in the air,</div> -<div class="line">Like spirits fair.</div> -<div class="line">Come away, come away;</div> -<div class="line">'T is our holiday."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up -from a wild-rose bush, and went dancing away -higher and higher, till they vanished in the light -beyond the wood.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That is better than leap-frog. I wish my -skipping shoes would let me fly up somewhere, -instead of carrying me on errands and where -I ought to go all the time," said Kitty, -watching the pretty things glitter as they flew.</p> -<p class="pnext">Just at that minute a clock struck, and away -went the shoes over the pool, the hill, the road, -till they pranced in at the gate as the tea-bell -rang. Kitty amused the family by telling what -she had done and seen; but no one believed the -Fairyland part, and her father said, laughing,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Go on, my dear, making up little stories, -and by and by you may be as famous as Hans -Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well."</p> -<p class="pnext">"The sun will soon set, and then my fun will -be over; so I must skip while I can," thought -Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so -prettily that all the family came to see her.</p> -<p class="pnext">"She dances so well that she shall go to -dancing-school," said her mother, pleased with the -pretty antics of her little girl.</p> -<p class="pnext">Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had -longed to go, and went on skipping as hard as -she could, that she might learn some of the -graceful steps the shoes took before the day -was done.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your -bath and bed. It has been a long hot day, and -you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey -wants to go out," said her mother, as the sun -went down behind the hills with a last bright -glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, please, a few minutes more," began -Kitty, but was off like a flash; for the shoes -trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against -old Nursey, and down she went, splashing the -water all over the floor, and scolding in such -a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that -she could hardly pick her up again.</p> -<p class="pnext">By the time she was ready to undress the sun -was quite gone, and the shoes she took off were -common ones again, for midsummer day was -over. But Kitty never forgot the little lessons -she had learned: she tried to run willingly when -spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps -and danced like a fairy; and best of all, she -always loved the innocent and interesting little -creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever -she was told she might go to play with them, she -hurried away almost as quickly as if she still -wore the skipping shoes.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 71%" id="figure-76"> -<span id="cockyloo"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-095.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -So Cocky was brought in, and petted.--PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id5">105</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">V.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">COCKYLOO.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, -feeling very happy because it was time -for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have -a fine brood of chickens. Presently crack, -crack, went the shells; "Peep, peep!" cried -the chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; -and out came ten downy little things one after -the other, all ready to run and eat and -scratch,--for chickens are not like babies, and don't -have to be tended at all.</p> -<p class="pnext">There were eight little hens and two little -cockerels, one black and one as white as snow, -with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red -comb on his head. This was Cockyloo, the -good chick; but the black one was named -Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we -shall see.</p> -<p class="pnext">Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud -of her fine family; for the eight little -daughters were all white and very pretty. She led -them out into the farmyard, clucking and -scratching busily; for all were hungry, and ran -chirping round her to pick up the worms and -seeds she found for them. Cocky soon -began to help take care of his sisters; and when -a nice corn or a fat bug was found, he would -step back and let little Downy or Snowball have -it. But Peck would run and push them away, -and gobble up the food greedily. He chased -them away from the pan where the meal was, -and picked the down off their necks if they -tried to get their share. His mother scolded -him when the little ones ran to hide under her -wings; but he did n't care, and was very naughty. -Cocky began to crow when he was very young, -and had such a fine voice that people liked -to hear his loud, clear "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" -early in the morning; for he woke before the -sun was up, and began his song. Peck used -to grumble at being roused at dawn, for he -was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were -glad to get out of the hen-house.</p> -<p class="pnext">The father cock had been killed by a dog; -so they made Cocky king of the farmyard, -and Peck was very jealous of him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I came out of the shell first, and I am the -oldest; so I ought to be king," he said.</p> -<p class="pnext">"But we don't like you, because you are -selfish, cross, and lazy. We want Cocky; he -is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make -a splendid bird, and he must be our king," -answered the hens; and Peck had to mind, -or they would have pulled every feather out -of his little tail.</p> -<p class="pnext">He resolved to do some harm to his good -brother, and plagued him all he could. One -day, when Cocky was swinging with three of -his sisters on a bush that hung over the brook, -Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near to -come and put his heavy foot on the bush. -He did it, and crack went the branch, splash -went the poor chicks into the water, and all -were drowned but Cocky, who flew across -and was saved. Poor little Hop, Chirp, and -Downy went floating down the brook like balls -of white foam, and were never seen again. -All the hens mourned for them, and put a black -feather in their heads to show how sorry they -were. Mamma Partlet was heart-broken to -lose three darlings at once; but Cocky -comforted her, and never told how it happened, -because he was ashamed to have people know -what a bad bird Peck was.</p> -<p class="pnext">A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny -Cockletop about it; and the hens were so angry -that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and -he had to go and live in the woods alone. He -said he did n't care; but he did, and was very -unhappy, and used to go and peep into the -pleasant field where the fowls scratched and -talked together. He dared not show himself, -for they would have driven him out. But -kind Cocky saw him, and would run with some -nice bit and creep through the fence into the -wood, saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Poor brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll -come and play with you, and tell you the news."</p> -<p class="pnext">Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had -been planning to eat Peck as soon as he was -fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he -used to have, and grew very thin living on -grasshoppers and berries. While he waited the sly -fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird -knew that foxes ate hens.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm not afraid, and I don't believe old -Granny Cockletop's tales. I can take care of -myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing -with the fox, who got him to tell all about the -hen-house,--how the door was fastened, and -where the plump chickens roosted, and what -time they went to bed,--so that he could creep -in and steal a good supper by and by. Silly -Peck never guessed what harm he was doing, -and only laughed when Cocky said,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"You will be sorry if you play with the -fox. He is a bad fellow; so be careful and -sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, -as I do."</p> -<p class="pnext">Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed -to eat him, but never could, because he wisely -ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in -the wood. This made Peck angry, for he wanted -his brother to stay and play; and so one day, -when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, -Peck said to the fox,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"See here, if you want to catch that fellow, -I 'll tell you how to do it. He has promised to -bring me some food to-night, when all the rest -are at roost. He will hide and not get shut up; -then, when those cross old biddies are asleep, -he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat -all I want out of the pan. You hide on the top -of the hen-house; and while he talks to me, you -can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only -cock here, and they will have to make me king."</p> -<p class="pnext">"All right," said the fox, much pleased with -the plan, and very glad that Peck had a chance -to get fatter.</p> -<p class="pnext">So when it was night, Peck crept through -the broken paling and waited till he heard the -signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits -from his own dinner, and put them in a paper -hidden under a bush. He spread them all out -in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in -a great hurry to eat them, never stopping to say, -"Thank you."</p> -<p class="pnext">Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little -shower came up.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over -you; then you will be dry, and can go on eating. -I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till -you are done," said Cocky; and Peck was too -busy gobbling up the food to remember -anything else.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now the fox had just crept up on the -hen-house roof; and when he peeped down, there -was just light enough to see a white thing -bobbing about.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good -supper!" And with a jump he seized Peck by -the head before he could explain the mistake.</p> -<p class="pnext">One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; -but though the paper fell off, and the fox saw -what he had done, it was too late, and he began -to eat Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree -and crowed so loud that the farmer ran with his -gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze -through the hole in the fence with the fowl in -his mouth.</p> -<p class="pnext">After that the hens felt safe, for there were no -more foxes; and when they heard about Peck -they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky -better than ever, and lived happily together, with -nothing to trouble them.</p> -<p class="pnext">King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,--pure -white, with a tall red comb on his head, -long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers -in his tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. -His crow was so loud that it could be heard all -over the neighborhood, and people used to say, -"Hark! hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Is n't -it a sweet sound to wake us in the dawn?" All -the other cocks used to answer him, and -there was a fine matinée concert every day.</p> -<p class="pnext">He was a good brother, and led his five little -sisters all about the field, feeding, guarding, -and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, -and could not stir far from the yard. It was a -pretty sight to see Cocky run home with a worm -in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his -mother, who was very proud of her handsome -son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who scolded -about everything, liked him; and often said, as -the hens sat scuffling in the dust,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and -I know he will do something remarkable before -he dies."</p> -<p class="pnext">She was right for once; and this is what he did.</p> -<p class="pnext">One day the farmer had to go away and stay -all night, leaving the old lady alone with two -boys. They were not afraid; for they had a -gun, and quite longed for a chance to fire it. -Now it happened that the farmer had a good -deal of money in the house, and some bad men -knew it; so they waited for him to go away that -they might steal it. Cocky was picking about -in the field when he heard voices behind the -wall, and peeping through a hole saw two -shabby men hiding there.</p> -<p class="pnext">"At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we -will creep in at the kitchen window and steal the -money. You shall watch on the outside and -whistle if any one comes along while I 'm -looking for the box where the farmer keeps it," said -one man.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You need n't be afraid; there is no dog, and -no one to wake the family, so we are quite -safe," said the other man; and then they both -went to sleep till night came.</p> -<p class="pnext">Cocky was much troubled, and did n't know -what to do. He could not tell the old lady -about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and -she would not understand that language. So -he went about all day looking very sober, and -would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek -under the big burdock leaves, or hunt the -cricket with his sisters. At sunset he did not -go into the hen-house with the rest, but flew up -to the shed roof over the kitchen, and sat there -in the cold ready to scare the robbers with a -loud crow, as he could do nothing else.</p> -<p class="pnext">At midnight the men came creeping along; -one stopped outside, and the other went in. -Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and -went back for the money. Just as he came -creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a -loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and -woke the boys. The man with the basket ran -away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a -well; the other was going to get out of the -window, when Cocky flew down and picked at his -eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that -he turned to run some other way, and met the -boys, who fired at him and shot him in the legs. -The old lady popped her head out of the upper -window and rang the dinner-bell, and called -"Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused the -neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble -could be.</p> -<p class="pnext">They fished one man out of the well and -picked up the wounded one, and carried them -both off to prison.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Who caught them?" asked the people.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We did," cried the boys, very proud of what -they had done; "but we should n't have waked -if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared -the rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this -is the second time he has caught a thief."</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id5">So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and -called a fine fellow; and his family were so -proud of him they clucked about it for weeks -afterward.</p> -<p class="pnext">When the robbers were tried, it was found -that they were the men who had robbed the -bank, and taken a great deal of money; so -every one was glad to have them shut up for -twenty years. It made a great stir, and people -would go to see Cocky and tell how he helped -catch the men; and he was so brave and -handsome, they said at last,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"We want a new weather-cock on our courthouse, -and instead of an arrow let us have a -cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much -pleased; for they thought Cocky ought to be -remembered in some way.</p> -<p class="pnext">So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very -still, with his bright eye on the man; then one -like it was made of brass, and put high up on -the court-house, where all could see the -splendid bird shining like gold, and twirling about to -tell which way the wind was. The children were -never tired of admiring him; and all the hens -and chickens went in a procession one -moonlight night to see it,--yes, even Mamma -Partlet and Granny Cockletop, though one was lame -and the other very old, so full of pride were -they in the great honor done King Cockyloo.</p> -<p class="pnext">This was not the end of his good deeds; and -the last was the best of all, though it cost him -his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his -kingdom in good order; for no one would kill -him, when many of the other fowls were taken -for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But -he did die at last; and even then he was good -and brave, as you shall hear.</p> -<p class="pnext">One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and -went behind the hen-house, so nobody should -see him do such a silly thing. He thought he -heard his father coming, and hid the pipe under -the house. Some straw and dry leaves lay -about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; -for the boy ran away when he saw the mischief -he had done, and the fire got to burning nicely -before the cries of the poor hens called people -to help. The door was locked, and could not -be opened, because the key was in the pocket -of the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe -and chopped down the wall, letting the poor -biddies fly out, squawking and smoking.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as -he counted the hens and missed the king of the -farmyard.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Burnt up, I 'm afraid," said the farmer, who -was throwing water on the flames.</p> -<p class="pnext">Alas! yes, he was; for when the fire was out -they found good old Cocky sitting on a nest, -with his wide wings spread over some little -chicks whose mother had left them. They were -too small to run away, and sat chirping sadly -till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though -the smoke choked <em class="italics">him</em> to death.</p> -<p class="pnext">Every one was very sorry; and the children -gave the good bird a fine funeral, and buried -him in the middle of the field, with a green -mound over him, and a white stone, on which -was written,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew:</div> -<div class="line">We mourn for him with sorrow true.</div> -<div class="line">Now nevermore at dawn his music shall we hear,</div> -<div class="line">Waking the world like trumpet shrill and clear.</div> -<div class="line">The hens all hang their heads, the chickens sadly peep;</div> -<div class="line">The boys look sober, and the girls all weep.</div> -<div class="line">Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest.</div> -<div class="line">With grass and daisies on your faithful breast;</div> -<div class="line">And when you wake, brave bird, so good and true,</div> -<div class="line">Clap your white wings and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo."</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 72%" id="figure-77"> -<span id="rosy-s-journey"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-109.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -The lion walked awhile to rest himself.--PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id6">118</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">VI.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">ROSY'S JOURNEY.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with -her mother in a small house in the woods. -They were very poor, for the father had gone -away to dig gold, and did not come back; so -they had to work hard to get food to eat and -clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when -she was able, for she was often sick, and Rosy -did all she could to help. She milked the red -cow and fed the hens; dug the garden, and went -to town to sell the yarn and the eggs.</p> -<p class="pnext">She was very good and sweet, and every one -loved her; but the neighbors were all poor, and -could do little to help the child. So, when at -last the mother died, the cow and hens and -house had to be sold to pay the doctor and the -debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no -mother, no home, and no money to buy clothes -and dinners with.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What will you do?" said the people, who -were very sorry for her.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, -bravely.</p> -<p class="pnext">"But he is far away, and you don't know just -where he is, up among the mountains. Stay -with us and spin on your little wheel, and we -will buy the yarn, and take care of you, dear -little girl," said the kind people.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, I must go; for mother told me to, and -my father will be glad to have me. I 'm not -afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, -gratefully.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then the people gave her a warm red -cloak, and a basket with a little loaf and bottle -of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more -to eat when the bread was gone. They all -kissed her, and wished her good luck; and she -trotted away through the wood to find her father.</p> -<p class="pnext">For some days she got on very well; for the -wood-cutters were kind, and let her sleep in their -huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by -she came to lonely places, where there were no -houses; and then she was afraid, and used to -climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat -berries and leaves, like the Children in the Wood.</p> -<p class="pnext">She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would -not come near her; and if she met other -travellers, she was so young and innocent no one -had the heart to hurt her. She was kind to -everything she met; so all little creatures were -friends to her, as we shall see.</p> -<p class="pnext">One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw -a tiny fish on the bank, nearly dead for want of -water.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Poor thing! go and be happy again," she -said, softly taking him up, and dropping him -into the nice cool river.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Thank you, dear child; I '11 not forget, but -will help you some day," said the fish, when he -had taken a good drink, and felt better.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great -girl as I am?" laughed Rosy.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam -away with a flap of his little tail.</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. -But she never forgot to be kind; and soon after, -as she was looking in the grass for strawberries, -she found a field-mouse with a broken leg.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Help me to my nest, or my babies will -starve," cried the poor thing.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that -you can keep still till your leg is better, and -have something to eat."</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little -hand, and tied up the broken leg with a leaf of -spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she -carried her to the nest under the roots of an old -tree, where four baby mice were squeaking sadly -for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown -for the sick mouse, and put close within -reach all the berries and seeds she could find, -and brought an acorn-cup of water from the -spring, so they could be comfortable.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this -kindness some day," said the mouse, when she was done.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm afraid you are not big enough to do -much," answered Rosy, as she ran off to go on -her journey.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the -little ones squeaked, as if they said the same.</p> -<p class="pnext">Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, -waiting for the sun to rise, she heard a great buzzing -close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb that -went from one twig to another. The big spider -was trying to spin him all up, and the poor fly -was struggling to get away before his legs and -wings were helpless.</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the -web, and the spider ran away at once to hide -under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on -Rosy's hand, cleaning his wings, and buzzing -so loud for joy that it sounded like a little trumpet.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You 've saved my life, and I 'll save yours, -if I can," said the fly, twinkling his bright eye at Rosy.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You silly thing, you can't help me," answered -Rosy, climbing down, while the fly buzzed away, -saying, like the mouse and fish,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Wait and see; wait and see."</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came -to the sea. The mountains were on the other -side; but how should she get over the wide -water? No ships were there, and she had no -money to hire one if there had been any; so she -sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a -few big tears as salt as the sea.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close -by; and the fish popped up his head.</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy ran to see what he wanted.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 've come to help you over the water," said the fish.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How can you, when I want a ship, and some -one to show me the way?" answered Rosy.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I shall just call my friend the whale, and he -will take you over better than a ship, because -he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts -and flounces about a good deal, he is only -playing; so you need n't be frightened."</p> -<p class="pnext">Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to -see what would happen; for she did n't believe -such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to -help her.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently what looked like a small island -came floating through the sea; and turning -round, so that its tail touched the shore, the -whale said, in a roaring voice that made her jump,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. -I 'll carry you wherever you like."</p> -<p class="pnext">It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was -rather scared at this big, strange boat; but she -got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a -roll and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting -two fountains, while his tail steered him like the -rudder of a ship.</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy liked it, and looked down into the -deep sea, where all sorts of queer and lovely -things were to be seen. Great fishes came and -looked at her; dolphins played near to amuse -her; the pretty nautilus sailed by in its -transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh -with their rough play. Mermaids brought her -pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to eat, -and at night sung her to sleep with their sweet -lullabies.</p> -<p class="pnext">So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran -on shore with many thanks to the good whale, -who gave a splendid spout, and swam away.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a -desert. Hundreds of miles of hot sand, with no -trees or brooks or houses.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I never can go that way," she said; "I -should starve, and soon be worn out walking in -that hot sand. What <em class="italics">shall</em> I do?"</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"Quee, quee!</div> -<div class="line">Wait and see:</div> -</div> -<div class="line">You were good to me;</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">So here I come,</div> -<div class="line">From my little home,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">To help you willingly,"</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, -looking at her with its bright eyes full of -gratitude.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why, you dear little thing, I 'm very glad -to see you; but I 'm sure you can't help me -across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft -back.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That's easy enough," answered the mouse, -rubbing its paws briskly. "I 'll just call my -friend the lion; he lives here, and he 'll take -you across with pleasure."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, I 'm afraid he 'd rather eat me. How -dare you call that fierce beast?" cried Rosy, -much surprised.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I gnawed him out of a net once, and he -promised to help me. He is a noble animal, -and he will keep his word."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"O lion, grand,</div> -<div class="line">Come over the sand,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">And help me now, I pray!</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Here 's a little lass,</div> -<div class="line">Who wants to pass;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Please carry her on her way."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a -splendid yellow lion, with fiery eyes and a long -mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he -said, looking at the mouse, who was not a bit -frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, -expecting every moment to be eaten.</p> -<p class="pnext">Mousie told him, and the good lion said -pleasantly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll take the child along. Come on, my -dear; sit on my back and hold fast to my mane, -for I 'm a swift horse, and you might fall off."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then he crouched down like a great cat, and -Rosy climbed up, for he was so kind she could -not fear him; and away they went, racing over -the sand till her hair whistled in the wind. As -soon as she got her breath, she thought it great -fun to go flying along, while other lions and -tigers rolled their fierce eyes at her, but dared -not touch her; for this lion was king of all, and -she was quite safe. They met a train of camels -with loads on their backs; and the people -travelling with them wondered what queer thing was -riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large -monkey in a red cloak, but went so fast they -never saw that it was a little girl.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id6">"How glad I am that I was kind to the -mouse; for if the good little creature had not -helped me, I never could have crossed this -desert," said Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest -himself.</p> -<p class="pnext">"And if the mouse had not gnawed me out -of the net I never should have come at her -call. You see, little people can conquer big -ones, and make them gentle and friendly by -kindness," answered the lion.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then away they went again, faster than ever, -till they came to the green country. Rosy -thanked the good beast, and he ran back; for -if any one saw him, they would try to catch him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now I have only to climb up these mountains -and find father," thought Rosy, as she saw -the great hills before her, with many steep roads -winding up to the top; and far, far away rose the -smoke from the huts where the men lived and -dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took -the wrong road, and after climbing a long while -found the path ended in rocks over which she -could not go. She was very tired and hungry; -for her food was gone, and there were no houses -in this wild place. Night was coming on, and -it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze -before morning, but dared not go on lest she -should fall down some steep hole and be killed. -Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss -and cried a little; then she tried to sleep, but -something kept buzzing in her ear, and looking -carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the -moss, as if anxious to make her listen to his -song,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"Rosy, my dear,</div> -<div class="line">Don't cry,--I 'm here</div> -</div> -<div class="line">To help you all I can.</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">I 'm only a fly,</div> -<div class="line">But you 'll see that I</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Will keep my word like a man."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">Rosy could n't help laughing to hear the -brisk little fellow talk as if he could do great -things; but she was very glad to see him and -hear his cheerful song, so she held out her -finger, and while he sat there told him all her -troubles.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will -carry you right up the mountains and leave you -at your father's door," cried the fly; and he was -off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant -what he said.</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not -at all afraid after the whale and the lion; so -when a great eagle swooped down and alighted -near her, she just looked at his sharp claws, big -eyes, and crooked beak as coolly as if he had -been a cock-robin.</p> -<p class="pnext">He liked her courage, and said kindly in his -rough voice,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. -Hold me fast round the neck, or you may -grow dizzy and get a fall."</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy nestled down among the thick gray -feathers, and put both arms round his neck; and -whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, -till the trees looked like grass, they were so far -below. At first it was very cold, and Rosy -cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as -they came nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and -she peeped out to see the huts standing in a -green spot on the top of the mountain.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Here we are. You'll find all the men are -down in the mine at this time. They won't -come up till morning; so you will have to wait -for your father. Good-by; good luck, my -dear." And the eagle soared away, higher still, -to his nest among the clouds.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was night now, but fires were burning in -all the houses; so Rosy went from hut to hut -trying to find her father's, that she might rest -while she waited: at last in one the picture -of a pretty little girl hung on the wall, and under -it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew -that this was the right place; and she ate some -supper, put on more wood, and went to bed, -for she wanted to be fresh when her father came -in the morning.</p> -<p class="pnext">While she slept a storm came on,--thunder -rolled and lightning flashed, the wind blew a -gale, and rain poured,--but Rosy never waked -till dawn, when she heard men shouting outside,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all -be drowned!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, -though the wind nearly blew her away; she -found that so much rain had made the river -overflow till it began to wash the banks away.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried -Rosy, watching the men rush about like ants, -getting their bags of gold ready to carry off -before the water swept them away, if it became -a flood.</p> -<p class="pnext">As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice -say close by,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"Splash, dash!</div> -<div class="line">Rumble and crash!</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Here come the beavers gay;</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">See what they do,</div> -<div class="line">Rosy, for you,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Because you helped me one day."</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">And there in the water was the little fish -swimming about, while an army of beavers began to -pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep -the river back. How they worked, digging and -heaping with teeth and claws, and beating the -earth hard with their queer tails like shovels!</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy and the men watched them work, glad -to be safe, while the storm cleared up; and by -the time the dam was made, all danger was over. -Rosy looked into the faces of the rough men, -hoping her father was there, and was just going -to ask about him, when a great shouting rose -again, and all began to run to the pit hole, -saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows -will be smothered! How can we get them -out? how can we get them out?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would -break; for her father was down in the mine, and -would die soon if air did not come to him. The -men dug as hard as they could; but it was a -long job, and they feared they would not be in -time.</p> -<p class="pnext">Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering -along, and began to burrow down through -the earth, making many holes for air to go in; -for they know how to build galleries through the -ground better than men can. Every one was so -surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt -flew like rain as the busy little fellows scratched -and bored as if making an underground railway.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What does it mean?" said the men. "They -work faster than we can, and better; but who -sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, -small voice singing,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"They come at my call;</div> -<div class="line">And though they are small,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">They 'll dig the passage clear:</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">I never forget;</div> -<div class="line">We 'll save them yet,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">For love of Rosy dear."</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on -a stone, waving her tail about, and pointing -with her tiny paw to show the moles where -to dig.</p> -<p class="pnext">The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them -who she was, when a cry came from the pit, -and they saw that the way was clear so they -could pull the buried men up. In a minute they -got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows safe on -the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all -shouting as if they were crazy,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"What is it?" cried the others; and then -they saw Tom come up with the biggest lump -of gold ever found in the mountains.</p> -<p class="pnext">Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was -a good man, and had worked a long time, and -been sick, and could n't go back to his wife and -child. When he saw Rosy, he dropped the -lump, and caught her up, saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"My little girl! she 's better than a million -pounds of gold."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then Rosy was very happy, and went back -to the hut, and had a lovely time telling her -father all about her troubles and her travels. -He cried when he heard that the poor mother -was dead before she could have any of the good -things the gold would buy them.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We will go away and be happy together in -the pleasantest home I can find, and never part -any more, my darling," said the father, kissing -Rosy as she sat on his knee with her arms round -his neck.</p> -<p class="pnext">She was just going to say something very -sweet to comfort him, when a fly lit on her arm -and buzzed very loud,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"Don't drive me away,</div> -<div class="line">But hear what I say:</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Bad men want the gold;</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">They will steal it to-night,</div> -<div class="line">And you must take flight;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">So be quiet and busy and bold."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">"I was afraid some one would take my lump -away. I 'll pack up at once, and we will creep -off while the men are busy at work; though -I 'm afraid we can't go fast enough to be safe, -if they miss us and come after," said Tom, -bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; -for some of the miners were wild fellows, and -might kill him for the sake of that great lump.</p> -<p class="pnext">But the fly sang again,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">"Slip away with me,</div> -<div class="line">And you will see</div> -</div> -<div class="line">What a wise little thing am I;</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">For the road I show</div> -<div class="line">No man can know,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Since it's up in the pathless sky."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in -the wood; and there were the eagle and his mate -waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far -that no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of -gold were put on the mother eagle; Tom sat -astride the king bird; and away they flew to a -great city, where the little girl and her father -lived happily together all their lives.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 71%" id="figure-78"> -<span id="how-they-ran-away"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-128.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground. PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id7">146</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">VII.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">HOW THEY RAN AWAY.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Two little boys sat on the fence whittling -arrows one fine day. Said one little boy -to the other little boy,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let's do something jolly."</p> -<p class="pnext">"All right. What will we do?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Run off to the woods and be hunters."</p> -<p class="pnext">"What can we hunt?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bears and foxes."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mullin says there ain't any round here."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare woodchucks."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Have n't got any guns and trap."</p> -<p class="pnext">"We 've got our bows, and I found an old -trap behind the barn."</p> -<p class="pnext">"What will we eat?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Here 's our lunch; and when that's gone we -can roast the squirrels and cook the fish on a -stick. I know how."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where will you get the fire?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Got matches in my pocket."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see."</p> -<p class="pnext">And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy -displayed his treasures, while bold Tommy did the -same.</p> -<p class="pnext">Besides the two knives there were strings, -nails, matches, a piece of putty, fish-hooks, and -two very dirty handkerchiefs.</p> -<p class="pnext">"There, sir, that 's a first-rate fit-out for -hunters; and with the jolly basket of lunch -Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top -for two or three days," said Tommy, eager to be off.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who -liked to be comfortable both night and day.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like -the fellows in our books. If you are afraid, stay -at home; I 'm going to have no end of a good -time." And Tommy crammed the things back -into his pockets as if there were no time to lose.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And -jumping down Billy caught up his rod, rather -ashamed of his many questions.</p> -<p class="pnext">No one was looking at them, and they might -have walked quietly off; but that the "running -away" might be all right, both raced down the -road, tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the -woods as if a whole tribe of wild Indians were -after them.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when -at last they stopped for breath.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but -we 'd better not keep to it, or some one will see -us and take us back. We are going to be <em class="italics">real</em> -hunters and have adventures; so we must get -lost, and find our way by the sun and the stars," -answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' -Books his little head was a jumble of Texan -Rangers, African Explorers, and Buffalo Bills; -and he burned to outdo them all.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What will our mothers say if we really get -lost?" asked Billy, always ready with a question.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like."</p> -<p class="pnext">That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma -was tired of trying to keep the lively little -fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him -come out of all his scrapes without much harm.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mine will be scared; she 's always afraid -I 'm going to get hurt, so I 'm careful. But I -guess I 'll risk it, and have some fun to tell -about when we go home," said Billy, trudging -after Captain Tommy, who always took the lead.</p> -<p class="pnext">These eleven-year-old boys were staying with -their mothers at a farm-house up among the -mountains; and having got tired of the tame -bears, the big barn, the trout brook, the thirty -colts at pasture, and the society of the few little -girls and younger boys at the hotel near by, -these fine fellows longed to break loose and -"rough it in the bush," as the hunters did in -their favorite stories.</p> -<p class="pnext">Away they went, deeper and deeper into the -great forest that covered the side of the -mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it -was cool and green, with many brooks splashing -over the rocks, or lying in brown pools -under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced -in the tall pines; now and then a gray rabbit -skipped out of sight among the brakes, or a -strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries -grew in the open places, sassafras bushes -were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready -for chewing.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, -pausing at last in a little dell where a noisy -brook came tumbling down the mountain side, -and the pines sung overhead.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes; but I 'm awful hungry. Let's rest and -eat our lunch," said Billy, sitting down on a -cushion of moss.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You always want to be stuffing and resting," -answered sturdy Tommy, who liked to be -moving all the time.</p> -<p class="pnext">He took the fishing-basket, which hung over -his shoulder by a strap, and opened it carefully; -for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch -of bread and butter, cake and peaches, with a -bottle of milk, and two large pickles slipped in -on the sly to please the boys.</p> -<p class="pnext">Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked -in, for all he saw was a box of worms for bait -and an old jacket.</p> -<p class="pnext">"By George! we 've got the wrong basket. -This is Mullin's, and he 's gone off with our -prog. Won't he be mad?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Not as mad as I am. Why did n't you -look? You are always in such a hurry to start. -What <em class="italics">shall</em> we do now without anything to eat?" -whined Billy; for losing his lunch was a dreadful -blow to him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We shall have to catch some fish and eat -blackberries. Which will you do, old cry-baby?" -said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll fish; I 'm so tired I can't go scratching -round after berries. I don't love 'em, either." And -Billy began to fix his line and bait his hook.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em -if you can't wait for fish," said Tommy, bustling -about to empty the basket and pile up their few -possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool -below here, you go and fish there. I 'll pick the -berries, and then show you how to get dinner -in the woods. This is our camp; so fly round -and do your best."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then Tommy ran off to a place near by -where he had seen the berries, while Billy found -a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling -at the water so crossly, it was a wonder any -trout came to his hook. But the fat worms -tempted several small ones, and he cheered up -at the prospect of food. Tommy whistled while -he picked, and in half an hour came back with -two quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry -sticks for the fire.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We 'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, -as the flames went crackling up, and the dry -leaves made a pleasant smell.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Got four, but don't see how we 'll ever cook -'em; no frying-pan," grumbled Billy, throwing -down the four little trout, which he had half -cleaned.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or -toast 'em on a forked stick. I 'll show you how," -said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding -his fire as much like a real hunter as a small -boy could be.</p> -<p class="pnext">While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed -for bread and butter. At last, after much trouble, -two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly -eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very -different from the nice brown ones Mrs. Mullin -gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles -they would fall in the ashes, and there was no -salt to eat with them. By the time the last were -toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they -could have eaten anything, and not a berry was left.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole -among the vines, and I should n't wonder if we -got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when -the last bone was polished. "You go and catch -some more fish, and I 'll see if I have caught any -old chap as he went home to dinner."</p> -<p class="pnext">Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went -slowly back to the brook, wishing with all his -might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie.</p> -<p class="pnext">The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, -for not one bite did poor Billy get; and he was -just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him -such a fright that he tumbled into the brook up -to his knees.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 've got him! Come and see! He's a -bouncer," roared Tommy, from the berry bushes -some way off.</p> -<p class="pnext">Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his -wet boots would let him, to see what the prize -was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round -a fat gray animal, who was fighting to get his -paws out of the trap, and making a queer noise -as he struggled about.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a -tree as fast as possible; for the thing looked -fierce, and he was very timid.</p> -<p class="pnext">"A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. -Won't his fur make a fine cap? I guess the -other fellows will wish they 'd come with us," -said Tommy, prancing to and fro, without the -least idea what to do with the creature.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He 'll bite. We 'd better run away and wait -till he 's dead," said Billy.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Wish he 'd got his head in, then I could -carry him off; but he does look savage, so we'll -have to leave him awhile, and get him when we -come back. But he's a real beauty." And -Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of gray -fur scuffling in the sand.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, -ready for a fried crocodile if he could get it.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If he 's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know -about woodchucks. The fellows in my books -don't seem to have caught any. He 's nice and -fat; we might try him when he 's dead," said -Tommy, who cared more for the skin to show -than the best meal ever cooked.</p> -<p class="pnext">The sound of a gun echoing through the -wood gave Tommy a good idea,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let's find the man and get him to shoot this -chap; then we need n't wait, but skin him right -away, and eat him too."</p> -<p class="pnext">Off they went to the camp; and catching up -their things, the two hunters hurried away in the -direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that -some one was near them, for two or three hours -of wood life made them a little homesick.</p> -<p class="pnext">They ran and scrambled, and listened and -called; but not until they had gone a long way -up the mountain did they find the man, resting -in an old hut left by the lumbermen. The -remains of his dinner were spread on the floor, -and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, -while his dog dozed at his feet, close to a -well-filled game-bag.</p> -<p class="pnext">He looked surprised when two dirty, wet -little boys suddenly appeared before him,--one -grinning cheerfully, the other looking very -dismal and scared as the dog growled and glared -at them as if they were two rabbits.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hollo!" said the man.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hollo!" answered Tommy.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Who are you?" asked the man.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hunters," said Tommy.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Had good luck?" And the man laughed.</p> -<p class="pnext">"First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and -we want you to come and shoot him," answered -Tommy, proudly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Sure?" said the man, looking interested as -well as amused.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No; but I think so."</p> -<p class="pnext">"What's he like?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Tommy described him, and was much disappointed -when the man lay down again, saying, -with another laugh,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"It's a woodchuck; he's no good."</p> -<p class="pnext">"But I want the skin."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's -better for the skin," said the man, who was -tired and did n't want to stop for such poor game.</p> -<p class="pnext">All this time Billy had been staring hard at -the sandwiches and bread and cheese on the -floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at -him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing -the hungry look.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I just do! We left our lunch, and I 've only -had two little trout and some old berries since -breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his eyes -and a hand on his stomach.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Eat away then; I 'm done, and don't want -the stuff." And the man took up his paper as -if glad to be let alone.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in -ten minutes nothing was left but the napkin; -and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much -refreshed, but ready for more.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty -cold on the mountain after sunset, and you are -a long way from town," said the man, who had -peeped at them over his paper now and then, -and saw, in spite of the dirt and rips, that they -were not farmer boys.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in -the valley. No hurry; we know the way, and -we want to have some sport first. You seem to -have done well," answered Tommy, looking -enviously from the gun to the game-bag, out of -which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. -People tell me there is one up here, and I 'm -after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt -some of the young folks round here," said the -man, loading his gun with a very sober air; for -he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home.</p> -<p class="pnext">Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown -face beamed with joy as he said eagerly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I hope you 'll get him. I 'd rather shoot a -bear than any other animal but a lion. We -don't have those here, and bears are scarce. -Mullin said he had n't heard of one for a long -time; so this must be a young one, for they -killed the big one two years ago."</p> -<p class="pnext">That was true, and the man knew it. He did -not really expect or want to meet a bear, but -thought the idea of one would send the little -fellows home at once. Finding one of them was -unscared, he laughed, and said with a nod to -Tommy,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"If I had time I 'd take you along, and show -you how to hunt; but this fat friend of yours -could n't rough it with us, and we can't leave him -alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I -wouldn't climb any higher, for among the -rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I -know you'll like it. A real gun and dog and -hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," -cried Tommy, wild to go.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; -you can go after your old bears if you want to. -I don't think much of hunting anyway, and -wish I had n't come," growled Billy, very cross -at being left out, yet with no desire to scramble -any more.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and -some day I 'll come and take you out with me, -little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding -off with the dear gun and dog and bag, leaving -Billy to wonder what he meant by that queer -name, and Tommy to console himself with the -promise made him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let's go and see how old Chucky gets -on," he said good-naturedly, when the man vanished.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Not till I 'm rested. I can get a good nap -on this pile of hay; then we'll go home before -it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself on -the rough bed the lumbermen had used.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I just wish I had a boy with some go in -him; you ain't much better than a girl," sighed -Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some -squirrels seemed to be having a party, they -chattered and raced up and down at such a rate.</p> -<p class="pnext">He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many -times in vain, for the lively creatures gave him -no chance. He had better luck with a brown -bird who sat in a bush and was hit full in the -breast with the sharpest arrow. The poor thing -fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green -leaves as it lay dying on the grass. Tommy -was much pleased at first; but as he stood -watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty -brown wings stop fluttering, he felt sorry that -its happy little life was so cruelly ended, and -ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so -much pain.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll never shoot another bird except hawks -after chickens, and I won't brag about this one. -It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean -to kill it."</p> -<p class="pnext">As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the -ruffled feathers of the dead thrush, and, making -a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped -in green leaves, and left it there where its mate -could sing over it, and no rude hands disturb -its rest.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll tell mamma and she will understand; but -I <em class="italics">won't</em> tell Billy. He is such a greedy old chap -he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird to -eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, -and sat there, restringing his bow, till Billy woke -up, much more amiable for his sleep.</p> -<p class="pnext">They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost -their way, and wandered deeper into the great -forest till they came to a rocky place and could -go no farther. They climbed up and tumbled -down, turned back and went round, looked at -the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras -bark and checkerberry leaves for supper, and -grew more and more worried and tired as hour -after hour went by and they saw no end to -woods and rocks. Once or twice they heard -the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried -to find him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the -man, who knew his way and was probably safe in -the valley when the last faint shot came up to -them. Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for -proposing to run away; and both felt very -homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds -at Farmer Mullin's.</p> -<p class="pnext">The sun set, and found them in a dreary place -full of rocks and blasted trees half-way up the -mountain. They were so tired they could hardly -walk, and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; -but, remembering the hunter's story of the bear, -they were afraid to do it, till Tommy suggested -climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot -of it to scare away the bear, lest he climb too -and get them.</p> -<p class="pnext">But, alas! the matches were left in their first -camp; so they decided to take turns to sleep -and watch, since it was plain that they must -spend the night there. Billy went up first, and -creeping into a good notch of the bare tree -tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with -a big stick, marched to and fro below. Every -few minutes a trembling voice would call from -above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious -voice would answer from below, "Not yet. -Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn."</p> -<p class="pnext">At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy -felt so lonely he could n't bear it; so he climbed -to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying -to keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and -the early moon saw the poor boys roosting -there like two little owls.</p> -<p class="pnext">A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then -a great shaking and howling waked Tommy so -suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and -did not know where he was.</p> -<p class="pnext">"The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! -Tommy, Tommy, come and make him let go," -cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id7">Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large -bear eating his unhappy friend; but the -moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy -dangling from a bough, high above the ground, -caught by his belt when he fell. He had been -dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so -there he hung, kicking and wailing, half awake, -and so scared it was long before Tommy could -make him believe that he was quite safe.</p> -<p class="pnext">How to get him down was the next question. -The branch was not strong enough to bear -Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to -unhook poor Billy. The belt was firmly twisted -at the back, and Billy could not reach to undo -it, nor could he get his legs round the branch -to pull himself up. There seemed no way but -to unbuckle the belt and drop. That he was -afraid to try; for the ground was hard, and -the fall a high one. Fortunately both belt and -buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though -very uncomfortably, while Tommy racked his -boyish brain to find a way to help him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Billy had just declared that he should be cut -in two very soon if something was not done for -him, and Tommy was in despair, when they -thought they heard a far-off shout, and both -answered it till their throats were nearly split -with screaming.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I seem to see a light moving round down -that way," cried Billy from his hook, pointing -toward the valley.</p> -<p class="pnext">"They are looking for us, but they won't hear -us. I 'll run and holler louder, and bring 'em -up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything -that would put an end to this dreadful -state of things.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! -The bear might come! Don't go! don't go!" -wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I won't go far, and I 'll come back as quick -as I can. You are safe up there. Hold on, and -we 'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, -rushing away helter-skelter, never minding where -he went, and too much excited to care for any damage.</p> -<p class="pnext">The moon was bright on the blasted trees; -but when he came down among the green pines, -it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. -Never minding bumps and bruises, he scrambled -over rocks, leaped fallen trunks, floundered -through brooks, and climbed down steep places, -till, with a reckless jump, he went heels over -head into a deep hole, and lay there for a -moment stunned by the fall. It was an old -bear-trap, long unused, and fortunately well carpeted -with dead leaves, or poor Tommy would have -broken his bones.</p> -<p class="pnext">When he came to himself he was so used up -that he lay still for some time in a sort of daze, -too tired to know or care about anything, only -dimly conscious that somebody was lost in a -tree or a well, and that, on the whole, running -away was not all fun.</p> -<p class="pnext">By and by the sound of a gun roused him; -and remembering poor Billy, he tried to get -out of the pit,--for the moon showed him where -he was. But it was too deep, and he was too -stiff with weariness and the fall to be very -nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and -raged about very like a little bear caught in -the pit.</p> -<p class="pnext">It is very difficult to find a lost person on these -great mountains, and many wander for hours not -far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, -the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them -in. Some have lost their lives; and as Tommy -lay on the leaves used up by his various struggles, -he thought of all the stories he had lately heard -at the farm, and began to wonder how it would -feel to starve to death down there, and to wish -poor Billy could come to share his prison, that -they might die together, like the Babes in the -Wood, or better still the Boy Scouts lost on the -prairies in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, -the Wild Hunter of the West."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I guess mother is worried this time, because -I never stayed out all night before, and I never -will again without leave. It's rather good fun, -though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and -it is n't very cold. I always wanted to sleep out, -and now I 'm doing it. Wish poor Billy was -safely down and in this good bed with me. -Won't he be scared all alone there? Maybe the -belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. -Sorry now I left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. -There's the gun again! Guess it's that man after -us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! -Hi! hi! hi!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Tommy's meditations ended in a series of -yells as loud as his shrill little voice could make -them, and he thought some one answered. But -it must have been an echo, for no one came; and -after another rampage round his prison, the -poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and -went fast asleep because there was nothing else -to do.</p> -<p class="pnext">So there they were, the two young hunters, -lost at midnight on the mountain,--one hanging -like an apple on the old tree, and the other sound -asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers -meantime were weeping and wringing their hands -at the farm, while all the men in the -neighborhood were out looking for the lost boys. The -hunter on his return to the hotel had reported -meeting the runaways and his effort to send -them home in good season; so people knew -where to look, and, led by the man and dog, up -the mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. -It was a mild night, and the moon shone high and -clear; so the hunt was, on the whole, rather easy -and pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through -the dark forest like fireflies, the lonely cliffs -seemed alive with men, and voices echoed in -places where usually only the brooks babbled and -the hawks screamed. But as time went on, and -no sign of the boys appeared, the men grew -anxious, and began to fear some serious harm -had come to the runaways.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I can't go home without them little shavers -no way, 'specially Tommy," said Mr. Mullin, as -they stopped to rest after a hard climb through -the blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own -heart, spry as a chipmunk, smart as a young -cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. -He ain't afraid of anything, and I should n't be a -mite surprised to find him enjoyin' himself -first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber."</p> -<p class="pnext">"The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. -If it had n't been for him I 'd have kept the -lively fellow with me, and shown him how to -hunt. Sorry now I did n't take them both -home," said the man with the gun, seeing his -mistake too late, as people often do.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Maybe they 've fell down a precipice and -got killed, like Moses Warner, when he was -lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted -himself hoarse.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' -yonder, and he may have found 'em," said the -farmer, hurrying toward the place where the -hound was baying at something in a tree.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half -unconscious with weariness and fear. The belt -had slipped up under his arms, so he could -breathe easily; and there he was, looking like a -queer sort of cone on the blasted pine.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as -the tall lad climbed up, and, unhooking Billy, -handed him down like a young bird, into the -arms held up to catch him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He 's all right, only scared out of his -wits. Come along and look for the other -one. I 'll warrant he went for help, and may be -half-way home by this time," said the hunter, -who did n't take much interest in the fat boy.</p> -<p class="pnext">Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing -it to the dog, his master told him to find the -boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then -set off with his nose to the ground, following -the zigzag track Tommy had taken in his hurry. -The hunter and several of the men went after -him, leaving the farmer with the others to take -care of Billy.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and -began to bark again.</p> -<p class="pnext">"He 's got him!" cried the men, much -relieved; and rushing on soon saw the good beast -looking down at a little white object in one -corner of the dark hole.</p> -<p class="pnext">It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the -rest of him was covered up with leaves. The -little round face seemed very quiet; and for a -moment the men stood quite still, fearing that -the fall might have done the boy some harm. -Then the hunter leaped down, and gently -touched the brown cheek. It was warm, and -a soft snore from the pug nose made the man -call out, much relieved,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"He 's all right. Wake up here, little chap; -you are wanted at home. Had hunting enough -for this time?"</p> -<p class="pnext">As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave -a stretch, and said, "Hollo, Billy," as calmly as -if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of -the leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the -sight of several men staring down at him -startled him wide awake.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, -looking up at the hunter with a grin.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No; but I caught a little one, and here he -is," answered the man, giving Tommy a roll in -the leaves, much pleased because he did not -whine or make a fuss.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's -Billy? I left him up a tree like a coon, and he -would n't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking -off his brown bed-clothes, and quite ready to -get up now.</p> -<p class="pnext">They all laughed with him; and presently, -when the story was told, they pulled the boy -out of the pit, and went back to join the other -wanderer, who was now sitting up eating the -bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for their very -late supper.</p> -<p class="pnext">The men roared again, as the two boys told -their various tribulations; and when they had -been refreshed, the party started for home, -blowing the tin horns, and firing shot after shot to -let the scattered searchers know that the lost -children were found. Billy was very quiet, and -gladly rode on the various broad backs offered -for his use; but Tommy stoutly refused to be -carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a -very rough place, walked all the way down on -his own sturdy legs. He was the hero of the -adventure, and was never tired of relating how -he caught the woodchuck, cooked the fish, slid -down the big rock, and went to bed in the old -bear-pit. But in his own little mind he resolved -to wait till he was older before he tried to be a -hunter; and though he caught several woodchucks -that summer, he never shot another -harmless little bird.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 72%" id="figure-79"> -<span id="the-fairy-box"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-156.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -A wasp flew out and stung her lips.--PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id8">159</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">VIII.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE FAIRY BOX.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"T wish I had a magic bracelet like -Rosamond's, that would prick me when I was -going to do wrong," said little May, as she put -down the story she had been reading.</p> -<p class="pnext">There was no one else in the room, but she -heard a sweet voice sing these words close to -her ear:--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Now hark, little May,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">If you want to do right,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Under your pillow</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Just look every night.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">If you have been good</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">All through the day,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">A gift you will find,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Useful or gay;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">But if you have been</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Cross, selfish, or wild,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">A bad thing will come</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">For the naughty child.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">So try, little dear,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">And soon you will see</div> -</div> -<div class="line">How easy and sweet</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">To grow good it will be."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">May was very much surprised at this, and -looked everywhere to see who spoke, but could -find no one.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide -open, and I can't make up poetry, asleep or awake."</p> -<p class="pnext">As she said that, some one laughed; and the -same voice sang again,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Ha, ha! you can't see,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Although I am here;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">But listen to what</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">I say in your ear.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Tell no one of this,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Because, if you do,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">My fun will be spoilt,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">And so will yours too.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">But if you are good,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">And patient, and gay,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">A real fairy will come</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">To see little May."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">"Oh, how splendid that will be! I 'll try hard, -and be as good as an angel if I can only get one -peep at a live fairy. I always said, there were -such people, and now I shall know how they -look," cried the little girl, so pleased that she -danced all about the room, clapping her hands.</p> -<p class="pnext">Something bright darted out of the window -from among the flowers that stood there, and no -more songs were heard; so May knew that the -elf had gone.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 've got a fine secret all to myself, and I 'll -keep it carefully. I wonder what present will -come to-night," she said, thinking this a very -interesting play.</p> -<p class="pnext">She was very good all day, and made no fuss -about going to bed, though usually she fretted, -and wanted to play, and called for water, and -plagued poor Nursey in many ways. She got -safely into her little nest, and then was in such -a hurry to see what was under her pillow that -she forgot, and called out crossly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang -up my clothes, you slow old thing! Go, go!"</p> -<p class="pnext">That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away -without her good-night kiss. But May did n't -care, and felt under her pillow the minute the -door was shut. A lamp was always left burning; -so she could see the little gold box she -drew out.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How pretty! I hope there is some candy -in it," she said, opening it very carefully.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id8">Oh, dear! what <em class="italics">do</em> you think happened? A -wasp flew out and stung her lips; then both -wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry -alone, with a sharp pain in the lips that said the -unkind words.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What a dreadful present! I don't like that -spiteful fairy who sends such horrid things," she -sobbed.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then she lay still and thought about it; for -she dared not call any one, because nobody -must guess the secret. She knew in her own -little heart that the cross words hurt Nursey as -the sting did her lips, and she felt sorry. At -once the smart got better, and by the time she -had resolved to ask the good old woman to -forgive her, it was all gone.</p> -<p class="pnext">Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged -pardon, and tried hard to be good till tea-time; -then she ran to see what nice things they were -going to have to eat, though she had often been -told not to go into the dining-room. No one -was there; and on the table stood a dish of -delicious little cakes, all white like snowballs.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I must have just a taste, and I 'll tell mamma -afterward," she said; and before she knew it one -little cake was eaten all up.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Nobody will miss it, and I can have another -at tea. Now, a lump of sugar and a sip of cream -before mamma comes, I so like to pick round."</p> -<p class="pnext">Having done one wrong thing, May felt like -going on; so she nibbled and meddled with all -sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, -then she ran away; and by and by, when the -bell rang, came in with the rest as prim and -proper as if she did not know how to play -pranks. No one missed the cake, and her -mother gave her another, saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my -good child."</p> -<p class="pnext">May turned red, and wanted to tell what she -had done, but was ashamed because there was -company; and people thought she blushed like -a modest little girl at being praised.</p> -<p class="pnext">But when she went to bed she was almost -afraid to look under the pillow, knowing that -she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew -out the box, and slowly opened it, expecting -something to fly at her. All she saw was a tiny -black bag, that began at once to grow larger, -till it was big enough to hold her two hands. -Then it tied itself tight round her wrists, as -if to keep these meddlesome hands out of -mischief.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful -as the wasp. I hope no one will see it when -I 'm asleep. I do wish I 'd let those cakes and -things alone," sighed May, looking at the black -bag, and vainly trying to get her hands free.</p> -<p class="pnext">She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke -the bag was gone. No one had seen it; but she -told her mamma about the cake, and promised -not to do so any more.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now this shall be a truly good day, every -bit of it," she said, as she skipped away, feeling -as light as a feather after she had confessed her -little sins.</p> -<p class="pnext">But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, -that May spoilt her day before dinner by going -to the river and playing with the boats, in spite -of many orders not to do it. She did not tell -of it, and went to a party in the afternoon, where -she was so merry she never remembered the -naughty thing till she was in bed and opened -the fairy box. A little chain appeared, which -in a flash grew long and large, and fastened -round her ankles as if she were a prisoner. May -liked to tumble about, and was much disgusted -to be chained in this way; but there was no -help for it, so she lay very still and had plenty -of time to be sorry.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is a good punishment for me, and I -deserve it. I won't cry, but I will--I <em class="italics">will</em> -remember." And May said her prayers very -soberly, really meaning to keep her word this time.</p> -<p class="pnext">All the next day she was very careful to keep -her lips from cross words, her hands from -forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. -Nothing spoilt this day, she watched so well; -and when mamma gave the good-night kiss, she said,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"What shall I give my good little daughter, -who has been gentle, obedient, and busy all day?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a -pink ribbon on its neck," answered May.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, -and happy dreams!" said mamma, with many -kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that -was a reward.</p> -<p class="pnext">May was so busy thinking about the kitty and -the good day that she forgot the box till she -heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped -up her head to see.</p> -<p class="pnext">Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, -on a red cushion, lay a white kit about two -inches long. May could n't believe that it was -alive till it jumped out of its nest, stretched -itself, and grew all at once just the right size to -play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its -tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow -was on its neck. It danced all over the bed, -ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, -nipped May's toes, licked her face, patted her -nose with its soft paw, and winked at her in such -a funny way that she laughed for joy at having -such a dear kitty. Presently, as if it knew that -bed was the place to lie quiet in, puss cuddled -down in a little bunch and purred May to sleep.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I suppose that darling kit will be gone like -all the other things," said May, as she waked up -and looked round for her first pretty gift.</p> -<p class="pnext">No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the -sun among the flower-pots, washing her face -and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic -they had; and how surprised every one was to -see just the pussy May wanted! They supposed -it came as kitties often come; and May never -told them it was a fairy present, because she had -promised not to. She was so happy with little -puss that she was good all day; and when she -went to bed she thought,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish I had a dog to play with darling -Snowdrop, and run with me when I go to walk."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the -pillow; and out of the box trotted a curly black -dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such -bright, kind eyes May was not a bit afraid of -him, but loved him at once, and named him -Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked -him too; and when May was sleepy they both -snuggled down in the same basket like two -good babies, and went to by-low.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, I never! What shall we find next?" -said Nurse, when she saw the dog in the morning.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the -whole house, and scare you out of your wits," -laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop -chasing her bare toes, while Floss shook and -growled over her shoes as if they were rats.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If your cousin John wants to give you any -more animals, I wish he 'd send a pony to take -you to school, and save my old legs the pain of -trotting after you," said Nurse; for May did -have a rich cousin who was very fond of her, -and often gave her nice things.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled -with the idea that it was a fairy, and not Cousin -John, who sent the cunning little creatures to her.</p> -<p class="pnext">But she did n't get the pony that night; for -in the afternoon her mother told her not to sit -on the lawn, because it was damp, and May -did not mind, being busy with a nice story. So -when she took up her box, a loud sneeze seemed -to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of -red flannel.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; -and as if to answer, the strip of flannel -wrapped itself round her neck.</p> -<p class="pnext">"There! my throat <em class="italics">is</em> sore, and I <em class="italics">am</em> hoarse. -I wonder how that fairy knew I sat on the damp -grass. I 'm so sorry; for I did want a pony, and -might have had it if I 'd only minded," said May, -angry with herself for spoiling all her fun.</p> -<p class="pnext">It <em class="italics">was</em> spoilt; for she had such a cold next -day she could n't go out at all, but had to take -medicine and keep by the fire, while the other -children had a lovely picnic.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't -deserve a present, I was so disobedient. But I -<em class="italics">have</em> tried to be patient," said May, feeling for -the box.</p> -<p class="pnext">The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was -a beautiful picture-book, full of new, nice stories -printed in colored ink.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How splendid to read to-morrow while I 'm -shut up!" she said, and went to sleep very happily.</p> -<p class="pnext">All the next day she enjoyed the pretty -pictures and funny tales, and never complained or -fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor -said she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in -her bed. But there was nothing in the box -except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She -did not know what to do with it that night, -but she did the next morning; for just as -she was dressed her brother called from the -garden,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"May, look out and see what we found in -the stable. None of us can catch him, so do -come and see if you can; your name is on the -card tied to his mane."</p> -<p class="pnext">May looked, and there was a snow-white pony -racing about the yard as if he was having a fine -frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, -and ran down to catch him. The minute she -appeared, the pony went to her and put his -nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"This is my little mistress; I will mind her -and serve her well."</p> -<p class="pnext">May was delighted, and very proud when -the pony let her put on the saddle and bridle -that lay in the barn all ready to use. She -jumped up and rode gayly down the road; and -Will and mamma and all the maids and Floss -and Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The -children at school were much excited when she -came trotting up, and all wanted to ride Prince. -He was very gentle, and every one had a ride; -but May had the best fun, for she could go -every day for long trots by the carriage when -mamma and Will drove out. A blue habit and -a hat with a long feather were bought that -afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at -night that she said to herself as she lay in -bed,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll wish for something for Will now, and -see if I get it. I don't want any more presents -yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give -away to other people who have no fairy box."</p> -<p class="pnext">So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box -lay a key with the name "Water Lily" on it. -She guessed what it meant, and in the morning -told her brother to come to the river and see -what she had for him. There lay a pretty green -and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all -spread, and at the mast-head a little flag flying -in the wind, with the words "Water Lily" on it -in gold letters.</p> -<p class="pnext">Will was so surprised and pleased to find that -it was his, he turned heels over head on the -grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, -crying, "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at -once.</p> -<p class="pnext">May followed, and they sailed away down the -lovely river, white with real lilies, while the -blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either -side, and boys and girls stopped on the bridges -to see them pass.</p> -<p class="pnext">After that May kept on trying to be good, -and wishing for things for herself and other -people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and -was the sweetest little girl in the world. Then -there was no need of fairies to help her; and -one night the box was not under the pillow.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, I 've had my share of pretty things, -and must learn to do without. I 'm glad I tried; -for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need -to be rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, -quite happy and contented, though she did wish, -she could have seen the fairy just once.</p> -<p class="pnext">Next morning the first thing she saw was a -beautiful bracelet, shining on the table; and -while she stood admiring it, she heard the little -voice sing,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Here is the bracelet</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">For good little May</div> -</div> -<div class="line">To wear on her arm</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">By night and by day.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">When it shines like the sun,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">All's going well;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">But when you are bad,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">A sharp prick will tell.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Farewell, little girl,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">For now we must part.</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Make a fairy-box, dear,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Of your own happy heart;</div> -</div> -<div class="line">And take out for all</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Sweet gifts every day,</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Till all the year round</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Is like beautiful May."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">As the last words were sung, right before her -eyes she saw a tiny creature swinging on the -rose that stood there in a vase,--a lovely elf, -with wings like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and -a star on her forehead. She smiled, and waved -her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away -into the sunshine, till she vanished from sight, -leaving May with the magic bracelet on her -arm, and the happy thought that at last she had -<em class="italics">really</em> seen a fairy.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 72%" id="figure-80"> -<span id="a-hole-in-the-wall"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-172.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id9">183</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">IX.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">A HOLE IN THE WALL.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst">PART I.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were -his best friends, he would have answered,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"The sun and the wind, next to mother."</p> -<p class="pnext">Johnny lived in a little court that led off from -one of the busiest streets in the city,--a noisy -street, where horse-car bells tinkled and -omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming -from several great depots near by. The court -was a dull place, with only two or three shabby -houses in it, and a high blank wall at the end.</p> -<p class="pnext">The people who hurried by were too busy -to do more than to glance at the lame boy who -sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess -that there was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library -in the court. But Johnny had both, and -took such comfort in them that he never could -be grateful enough to the wind that brought him -his books and pictures, nor to the sun that made -it possible for him to enjoy them in the open -air, far more than richer folk enjoy their fine -galleries and libraries.</p> -<p class="pnext">A bad fall, some months before the time this -story begins, did something to Johnny's back -which made his poor legs nearly useless, and -changed the lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. -His mother took in fine washing, and worked -hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe -her boy, who could no longer run errands, help -with the heavy tubs, or go to school. He -could only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on -his bed in pain for hours, and, each fair day, -hobble out to sit in a little old chair between the -water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he -kept his library.</p> -<p class="pnext">But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty -and pain; and the day a great gust came -blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty -newspaper down the court to his feet, was the -beginning of good fortune for patient Johnny. -There was a theatre in the street beyond, and -other pictured bits found their way to him; for -the frolicsome wind liked to whisk the papers -around the corner, and chase them here and -there till they settled under the chair or flew -wildly over the wall.</p> -<p class="pnext">Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all -came to cheer the boy, who was never tired of -collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out -the big pictures to paste on the wall with the -leavings of mother's starch, and the smaller in -the scrap-book he made out of stout brown -wrappers or newspapers, when he had read the -latter carefully. Soon it was a very gay wall; -for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put -the large pictures up, when Johnny had covered -all the space he could reach. The books were -laid carefully away in the boiler, after being -smoothly ironed out and named to suit Johnny's -fancy by pasting letters on the back. This was -the circulating library; for not only did the -papers whisk about the court to begin with, but -the books they afterward made went the rounds -among the neighbors till they were worn out.</p> -<p class="pnext">The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading -the anecdotes on Sunday when he could not -work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look -over advertisements of the fine things which she -longed for; and Patsey Flynn, the newsboy, who -went by each day to sell his papers at the -station, often paused to look at the play-bills,--for -he adored the theatre, and entertained Johnny -with descriptions of the splendors there to be -beheld, till he felt as if he had really been, and -had known all the famous actors, from Humpty -Dumpty to the great Salvini.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now and then a flock of dirty children would -stray into the court and ask to see the "pretty -picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy -boy; for, armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed -out and explained the beauties of his gallery, -feeling that he was a public benefactor when the -poor babies thanked him warmly, and promised -to come again and bring all the nice papers they -could pick up.</p> -<p class="pnext">These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had -two sorrows,--one, a very real one, his aching -back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb -the wall and see what was on the other side, -for it seemed a most wonderful and delightful -place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal -court, with no playmates and few comforts.</p> -<p class="pnext">He amused himself with imagining how it -looked over there, and nearly every night added -some new charm to this unseen country, when -his mother told him fairy tales to get him to -sleep. He peopled it with the dear old -characters all children know and love. The white -cat that sat on the wall was Puss in Boots to -him, or Whittington's good friend. Blue-beard's -wives were hidden in the house of whose upper -windows the boy could just catch glimpses. -Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove -of chestnuts that rustled over there; and Jack's -Beanstalk grew up just such a wall as that, he -was sure.</p> -<p class="pnext">But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping -Beauty in the Wood;" for he was sure some -lovely creature lived in that garden, and he -longed to get in to find and play with her. He -actually planted a bean in a bit of damp earth -behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, -hoping for as strong a ladder as Jack's. But -the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny was so -impatient that he promised Patsey his best book -"for his ownty-donty," if he would climb up -and report what was to be seen in that enchanted garden.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Faix, and I will, thin." And up went -good-natured Pat, after laying an old board over the -hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes -all along the top of the wall, and only cats and -sparrows could walk there.</p> -<p class="pnext">Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for -Pat's Sunday best! The board broke, and -splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl -that startled Johnny half out of his wits and -brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler to -the rescue.</p> -<p class="pnext">After this sad event Pat kept away for a time -in high dudgeon, and Johnny was more lonely -than ever. But he was a cheery little soul; so -he was grateful for what joys he had, and worked -away at his wall,--for the March winds had -brought him many treasures, and after April -rains were over, May sunshine made the court -warm enough for him to be out nearly all day.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this -piece and told me about it, and he 'd like to help -me put up these pictures," said Johnny to -himself, one breezy morning, as he sat examining -a big poster which the wind had sent flying into -his lap a few minutes before.</p> -<p class="pnext">The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures -represented the hero getting out of prison by -making holes in the wall, among other -remarkable performances.</p> -<p class="pnext">"This is a jolly red one! Now, where will -I put it to show best and not spoil the other -beauties?"</p> -<p class="pnext">As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around -and surveyed his gallery with as much pride -and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders -of art.</p> -<p class="pnext">It really was quite splendid; for every sort -of picture shone in the sun,--simpering ladies, -tragic scenes, circus parades, labels from tin -cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple -plums, funny advertisements, and gay bills of -all kinds. None were perfect, but they were -arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, -Johnny thought.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently his eyes wandered from these -treasures to the budding bushes that nodded so -tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran -along the top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; -lilacs tossed their purple plumes above it, and -several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green -tents with their broad leaves, where spires of -blossom began to show like candles on a -mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping -gayly everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh -blue bow, basked on the coping of the wall, and -from the depths of the enchanted garden came -a sweet voice singing,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"And she bids you to come in,</div> -<div class="line">With a dimple in your chin,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Billy boy, Billy boy."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his -finger to the little dent in his own chin, wishing -the singer would finish this pleasing song. But -she never did, though he often heard that, as -well as other childish ditties, sung in the same -gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the sound -of lively feet tripping up and down the boarded -walks. Johnny longed intensely to know who -the singer was; for her music cheered his -solitude, and the mysterious sounds he heard in the -garden increased his wonder and his longing -day by day.</p> -<p class="pnext">Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where -are you?" and Johnny was sure "Fay" was -short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard -talking in a strange, soft language, full of -exclamations and pretty sounds. A little dog barked, -and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries -carolled, and some elfish bird scolded, screamed, -and laughed so like a human being, that Johnny -felt sure that magic of some sort was at work -next door.</p> -<p class="pnext">A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the -wall as of flowers, and the poor boy imagined -untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he -tended the dandelions his mother brought him -from the Common, when she had time to stop -and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, -and tried to make them out of colored paper, -since he could have no sweeter sort.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited -his curiosity to such a pitch that once he -hobbled painfully up the court till he could see -into the trees; and once his eager eyes caught -glimpses of a little creature, all blue and white -and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, -and nodded, and tried to toss him a cluster of -the chestnut flowers. He stretched his hands -to her with speechless delight, forgetting his -crutches, and would have fallen if he had not -caught by the shutter of a window so quickly -that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and -when he could look up again, the fairy had -vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the leaves -dancing in the wind.</p> -<p class="pnext">Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a -fall, and every step cost him a pang; but he -never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat -staring at the wall on that memorable May day.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How I should like to peek in and see just -how it all really looks! It sounds and smells so -summery and nice in there. I know it must be -splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller -what you see?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white -cat purred politely; for she liked the boy who -never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her -naps. But Puss could not describe the beauties -of the happy hunting-ground below; and, to -console himself for the disappointment, Johnny -went back to his new picture.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, if this man in the play dug his way out. -through a wall ten feet thick with a rusty nail -and a broken knife, I don't see why I could n't -pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all -quiet in there now; here's a good place, and -nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the -hole. And I 'll try it, I declare I will!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on -a small scale, Johnny caught up the old scissors -in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar -around a brick already loose, and crumbling at -the corners. His mother smiled at his energy, -then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces -with a heavy heart,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he 'd -make his way in the world. But now he 's like -to find a blank wall before him while he lives, -and none to help him over."</p> -<p class="pnext">Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked -on, wise as the cat in the story, but offered no -advice. The toad who lived behind the water-barrel -hopped under the few leaves of the struggling -bean, like Jack waiting to climb; and just -then the noon bells began to ring as if they sang -clear and loud,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London."</p> -<p class="pnext">So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped -and dug vigorously till the old brick fell out, -showing another behind it. Only pausing to -take breath, he caught up his crutch and gave -two or three hearty pokes, which soon cleared -the way and let the sunshine stream through, -while the wind tossed the lilacs like triumphal -banners, and the jolly sparrows chirped,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hail, the conquering hero comes!"</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id9">Rather scared by his unexpected success, the -boy sat silent for a moment to see what would -happen. But all was still; and presently, with a -beating heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the -long-desired "peek." He could not see much; -but that little increased his curiosity and delight, -for it seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the -dust and noise and dingy houses of the court.</p> -<p class="pnext">A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay -garments in the middle of a grass-plot; a strange -and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on a -golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the -sun; and on a red carpet under the trees lay -the Princess, fast asleep.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh -of pleasure; "that's the Sleeping Beauty, sure -enough. There 's the blue gown, the white -fur-cloak sweeping round, the pretty hair, -and--yes--there's the old nurse, spinning and -nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother -got me when I cried because I could n't go to -see the play."</p> -<p class="pnext">This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, -and make him believe that fairy tales <em class="italics">might</em> be -true, after all; for how could he know that the -strange woman was an Italian servant, in her -native dress, with a distaff in her hand? After -pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took -another look, and made fresh discoveries by -twisting his head about. A basket of oranges -stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung -from a limb of the tree to keep the wind off, -and several books fluttered their pictured leaves -temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and -read 'em and speak to 'em and see all the -splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked -from one delight to another, and felt shut out -from all. "I can't go and wake her like the -Prince did, but I do wish she 'd get up and do -something, now I <em class="italics">can</em> see. I dare n't throw a -stone, it might hit some one, or holler, it might -scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows -are too busy scolding one another. I know! -I 'll fly a kite over, and that will please her any -way. Don't believe she has kites; girls never do."</p> -<p class="pnext">Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a -long string to his gayest poster, and then -fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished -in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh -breezes blowing down the court. His good -friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with -a strong breath sent the red paper whisking over -the wall, to hang a moment on the trees and -then drop among the tulips, where its frantic -struggles to escape waked the dog, and set him -to racing and barking, as Johnny hurriedly let -the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole.</p> -<p class="pnext">The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, -and she clapped her hands when Pippo brought -the gay picture for her to see; while the old -woman, with a long yawn, went away, carrying -her distaff, like a gun, over her shoulder.</p> -<p class="pnext">"She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some -more to send over. This will come off; I 'll poke -it through, and maybe she will see it."</p> -<p class="pnext">Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore -from the wall his most cherished picture, a gay -flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he -thrust it through the hole and waited to see -what followed.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer -croak from the splendid bird, which set the -canaries to trilling sweetly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"She don't see; maybe she will hear," said -Johnny. And he began to whistle like a -mocking-bird; for this was his one -accomplishment, and he was proud of it.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter -from the parrot, and then the voice said,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I -wonder where he is? Among the bushes over -there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now she 's coming!" And Johnny grew -red in the face trying to give his best trills and -chirrups.</p> -<p class="pnext">Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs -rustled as if shaken, and presently the roll of -paper vanished. A pause, and then the little -voice exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Why, there 's a hole! I never saw it before. -Oh! I can see the street. How nice! how nice!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"She likes the hole! I wonder if she will -like me?" And, emboldened by these various -successes, Johnny took another peep. This was -the most delicious one of all; for he looked right -into a great blue eye, with glimpses of golden -hair above, a little round nose in the middle, -and red lips below. It was like a flash of -sunshine, and Johnny winked, as if dazzled; for the -eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the -pretty mouth broke into a laugh as the voice -cried out delightedly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite -trembling with pleasure.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Did you make this nice hole?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I just poked a brick, and it fell out."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"No; it's me. I whistled."</p> -<p class="pnext">"It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded -the voice, as if used to give orders.</p> -<p class="pnext">Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of -breath, a small hand came through the hole, -grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could -hold, and the Princess graciously expressed her -pleasure by saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. -Here are some flowers for you. Now we will -talk. Are you a nice boy?"</p> -<p class="pnext">This was a poser; and Johnny answered -meekly, with his nose luxuriously buried in the -lovely flowers,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Not very,--I 'm lame; I can't play like -other fellers."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Porverino!" sighed the little voice, full of -pity; and, in a moment, three red-and-yellow -tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel as if -he really had slipped into fairy-land through that -delightful hole.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, thank you! Are n't they just elegant? -I never see such beauties," stammered the poor -boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they -might vanish away.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You shall have as many as you like. Nanna -will scold, but papa won't mind. Tell me more. -What do you do over there?" asked the child, -eagerly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Nothing but paste pictures and make books, -when I don't ache too bad. I used to help -mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much -now," answered the boy, ashamed to mention -how many laces he patiently picked or clapped, -since it was all he could do to help.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If you like pictures, you shall come and see -mine some day. I do a great many. Papa -shows me how. His are splendid. Do you -draw or paint yours?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em -on this wall or put 'em in scrap-books. I can't -draw, and I have n't got no paints," answered -Johnny.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You should say 'have n't any paints.' I will -come and see you some day; and if I like you, -I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you -want it?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Guess I do!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I think I <em class="italics">shall</em> like you; so I 'll bring it when -I come. Do you ache much?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all -day, and can't do a thing."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do you cry?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"No! I 'm too big for that. I whistle."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I <em class="italics">know</em> I shall like you, because you are -brave!" cried the impetuous voice, with its pretty -accent; and then an orange came tumbling -through the hole, as if the new acquaintance -longed to do something to help the "ache."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Is n't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but -mother can't afford 'em often." And Johnny -took one delicious taste on the spot.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Then I shall give you many. We have -loads at home, much finer than these. Ah, you -should see our garden there!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to -ask; for there was a homesick sound to the -voice as it said those last words.</p> -<p class="pnext">"In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while -papa arranges his affairs; then we go back, and -I am happy."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I should think you 'd be happy in there. It -looks real splendid to me, and I 've been -longing to see it ever since I could come out."</p> -<p class="pnext">"It's a dull place to me. I like better to be -where it's always warm, and people are more -beautiful than here. Are <em class="italics">you</em> beautiful?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"What queer questions she does ask!" And -poor Johnny was so perplexed he could only -stammer, with a laugh,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I guess not. Boys don't care for looks."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Peep, and let me see. I like pretty -persons," commanded the voice.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as -he obeyed. But he liked it, and showed such a -smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay -was pleased to say, after a long look at him,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are -bright, and you look pleasant, so I don't mind -the freckles on your nose and the whiteness of -your face. I think you are good. I am sorry -for you, and I shall lend you a book to read -when the pain comes."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I could n't wait for that if I had a book. I -do love so to read!" And Johnny laughed out -from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; -for he seldom got one, being too poor to buy -them, and too helpless to enjoy the free libraries -of the city.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Then you shall have it <em class="italics">now</em>." And there -was another quick rush in the garden, followed by -the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed -through the hole in the wall.</p> -<p class="pnext">"This is the only one that will pass. You will -like Hans Andersen's fairy tales, I know. Keep -it as long as you please. I have many more."</p> -<p class="pnext">"You're so good! I wish I had something -for you," said the boy, quite overcome by this -sweet friendliness.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let me see one of <em class="italics">your</em> books. They will -be new to me. I 'm tired of all mine."</p> -<p class="pnext">Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old -boiler, and out came half-a-dozen of Johnny's -best works, to be crammed through the wall, -with the earnest request,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, -but they 're the best I 've got. I 'll do some -prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice -pictures and pieces."</p> -<p class="pnext">"They look very interesting. I thank you. -I shall go and read them now, and then come -and talk again. Addio, Giovanni."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Good-by, Miss."</p> -<p class="pnext">Thus ended the first interview of little -Pyramus and Thisbe through the hole in the wall, -while puss sat up above and played moonshine -with her yellow eyes.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst">PART II.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">After that day a new life began for Johnny, -and he flourished like a poor little plant that -has struggled out of some dark corner into the -sunshine. All sorts of delightful things -happened, and good times really seemed to have -come. The mysterious papa made no objection -to the liberties taken with his wall, being busy -with his own affairs, and glad to have his little -girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, -came to see the new neighbors, and was -disarmed at once by the affliction of the boy and -the gentle manners of the mother. She brought -all the curtains of the house for Mrs. Morris to -do up, and in her pretty broken English praised -Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring -Fay to see him some day.</p> -<p class="pnext">Meantime the little people prattled daily -together, and all manner of things came and went -between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and -bon-bons kept Johnny in a state of bliss, and -inspired him with such brilliant inventions that -the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise -would come next. Astonishing kites flew over -the wall, and tissue balloons exploded in the -flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to -live in that court; for the boy whistled and piped -till he was hoarse, because she liked it. The -last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his -tin bank to buy paper and pictures for the gay -little books he made for her. His side of the -wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; -and, as the last offering his grateful heart could -give, he poked the toad through the hole, to live -among the lilies and eat the flies that began to -buzz about her Highness when she came to give -her orders to her devoted subjects.</p> -<p class="pnext">She always called the lad Giovanni, because -she thought it a prettier name than John; and -she was never tired of telling stories, asking -questions, and making plans. The favorite one -was what they would do when Johnny came to -see her, as she had been promised he should -when papa was not too busy to let them enjoy -the charms of the studio; for Fay was a true -artist's child, and thought nothing so lovely as -pictures. Johnny thought so, too, and dreamed -of the happy day when he should go and see -the wonders his little friend described so well.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a -lazy fit coming on, and then he always plays -with me and lets me rummage where I like, -while he goes out or smokes in the garden. So -be ready; and if he says you can come, I will -have the flag up early and you can hurry."</p> -<p class="pnext">These agreeable remarks were breathed into -Johnny's willing ear about a fortnight after the -acquaintance began; and he hastened to -promise, adding soberly, a minute after,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mother says she's afraid it will be too much -for me to go around and up steps, and see new -things; for I get tired so easy, and then the pain -comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can -only see the pictures--and you."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Won't you ever be any better? Nanna -thinks you might."</p> -<p class="pnext">"So does mother, if we had money to go -away in the country, and eat nice things, and -have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use -worrying." And Johnny gave a great sigh.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish papa was rich, then he would give -you money. He works hard to make enough -to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but -perhaps I can sell <em class="italics">my</em> pictures also, and get a -little. Papa's friends often offer me sweets for -kisses; I will have money instead, and that will -help. Yes, I shall do it." And Fay clapped her -hands decidedly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't you mind about it. I 'm going to -learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget says he 'll -teach me. That does n't need legs, and he gets -enough to live on very well."</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is n't pretty work. Nanna can teach you -to braid straw as she did at home; that is easy -and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she -says. I shall speak to her about it, and you -can try to-morrow when you come."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I will. Do you really think I <em class="italics">can</em> come, -then?" And Johnny stood up to try his legs; for -he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I will go at once and ask papa."</p> -<p class="pnext">Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a -glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny hobbling in to -tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows -of his only jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes -looked so shabby he feared to show himself to -the neighbors he so longed to see.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hurrah! I 'm really going to-morrow. And -you, too, mammy dear," cried the boy, waving -his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Never mind; I 'm used to it. Pull me up, -and I 'll rest while we talk about it," he said -cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, -where he forgot his pain in thinking of the -delights in store for him.</p> -<p class="pnext">Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, -and Fay early at the hole, but no Johnny came; -and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she -returned with the sad news that the poor boy -was suffering much, and would not be able to -stir for some days.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, -so damp, so poor, it is enough to break the -heart," said Nanna, decidedly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If papa was here, he would let me go. I -shall not play; I shall sit here and make some -plans for my poor boy."</p> -<p class="pnext">Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and -went to cook a nice bowl of soup for Johnny; -while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was -more remarkable, carried it out.</p> -<p class="pnext">For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay -in pain, and for a week Fay worked quietly at -her little easel in the corner of the studio, while -her father put the last touches to his fine -picture, too busy to take much notice of the child. -On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, -and the great picture was done. So were the -small ones; for as her father sat resting after his -work, Fay went to him, with a tired but happy -face, and, putting several drawings into his hand, -told her cherished plan.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar -for every good copy I made of the cast you -gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. -I want some money very, very much. Could -you pay for these?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"They are excellent," said the artist, after -carefully looking at them. "You <em class="italics">have</em> tried, -my good child, and here are your well-earned -dollars. What do you want them for?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"To help my boy. I want him to come in -here and see the pictures, and let Nanna teach -him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you -will like him, and he might get well if he had -some money, and I have three quarters the -friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would -that be enough to send poor Giovanni into the -country and have doctors?"</p> -<p class="pnext">No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this -queer jumble, because, being absorbed in his -work, he had never heard half the child had told -him, and had forgotten all about Johnny. Now -he listened with half an ear, studying the effect -of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while -Fay told him the little story, and begged to -know how much money it would take to make -Johnny's back well.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would -need more than I can spare or you earn in a -year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will -see what can be done," answered papa, smoking -comfortably, as he lay on the sofa in the large -studio at the top of the house.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You say that about a great many things, -papa. 'By and by' won't be long enough to do -all you promise then. I like <em class="italics">now</em> much better, -and poor Giovanni needs the country more than -you need cigars or I new frocks," said Fay, -stroking her father's tired forehead and looking -at him with an imploring face.</p> -<p class="pnext">"My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in -this soothing smoke I find inspiration, and though -you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so -wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy--later." He -was going to say "by and by" again, but -paused just in time, with a laugh.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Then <em class="italics">I</em> shall take him to the country all -myself. I cannot wait for this hateful 'by and -by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. -Now, now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with -an indignant glance at the lazy papa, who seemed -going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down -many stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna -and scattering the salad as if a whirlwind had -gone by, and never paused for breath till she -stood before the garden wall with a little hatchet -in her hand.</p> -<p class="pnext">"This shall be the country for him till I get -enough money to send him away. I will show -what <em class="italics">I</em> can do. He pulled out two bricks. <em class="italics">I</em> -will beat down the wall, and he <em class="italics">shall</em> come in at -once," panted Fay; and she gave a great blow -at the bricks, bent on having her will without -delay,--for she was an impetuous little creature, -full of love and pity for the poor boy pining for -the fresh air and sunshine, of which she had so much.</p> -<p class="pnext">Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down -came one brick after another, till the hole was -large enough for Fay to thrust her head through; -and being breathless by that time, she paused -to rest and take a look at Johnny's court.</p> -<p class="pnext">Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her -lettuce leaves and her wits, went to see what the -child was about; and finding her at work like a -little fury, the old woman hurried up to tell "the -Signor," Fay's papa, that his little daughter was -about to destroy the garden and bury herself -under the ruins of the wall. This report, -delivered with groans and wringing of the hands, -roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, as -he well knew that his angel was a very energetic -one, and capable of great destruction.</p> -<p class="pnext">When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, -a pile of bricks among the lilies, and the feet of -his child sticking out of a large hole in the wall, -while her head and shoulders were on the other -side. Much amused, yet fearful that the stone -coping might come down on her, he pulled her -back with the assurance that he would listen and -help her now immediately, if there was such -need of haste.</p> -<p class="pnext">But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; -for it was bathed in tears, her hands were -bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot.</p> -<p class="pnext">"My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, -and he will do anything you wish."</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' -and now that I have seen it all, I cannot stop -till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, -look, and see if it is not sad to live there all in -pain and darkness, and so poor."</p> -<p class="pnext">As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward -the hole; and to please her he looked, seeing -the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and -close by the low room, where Johnny's mother -worked all day, while the poor boy's pale face -was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for -deliverance.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, well, it <em class="italics">is</em> a pitiful case; and easily -mended, since Fay is so eager about it. Hope -the lad is all she says, and nothing catching -about his illness. Nanna can tell me."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay -to the seat, took her on his knee, all flushed, -dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by -saying tenderly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now let me hear all about it, and be sure -I 'll not forget. What shall I do to please you, -dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?"</p> -<p class="pnext">Then Fay told her tale all over again; and -being no longer busy, her father found it very -touching, with the dear, grimy little face -looking into his, and the wounded hands clasped -beseechingly as she pleaded for poor Johnny.</p> -<p class="pnext">"God bless your tender heart, child; you -shall have him in here to-morrow, and we will -see what can be done for those pathetic legs of -his. But listen, Fay, I have an easier way to -do it than yours, and a grand surprise for the -boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and -to show you that I am in earnest, I will go this -instant and begin the work. Come and wash -your face while I get on my boots, and then we -will go together."</p> -<p class="pnext">At these words Fay threw her arms about -papa's neck and gave him many grateful kisses, -stopping in the midst to ask,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Truly, <em class="italics">now</em>?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"See if it is not so." And putting her down, -papa went off with great strides, while she ran -laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by -this agreeable energy on his part.</p> -<p class="pnext">If Johnny had not been asleep in the back -room, he would have seen strange and pleasant -sights that afternoon and evening; for something -went on in the court that delighted his mother, -amused the artist, and made Fay the happiest -child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next -day, that Johnny's surprise might be quite -perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat up till eleven to get -his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had -been to see her, and became interested in the -boy, as no one could help being when they saw -his patient little face.</p> -<p class="pnext">So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels -dug, and wonderful changes were made, while -Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck -intent upon some pretty prank, and papa quoted -<em class="italics">Snout</em>,[#] the tinker's parting words, as appropriate -to the hour,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Thus have I, wall, my part discharged so;</div> -<div class="line">And, being done, thus wall away doth go."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="left pfirst small">[#] A character in Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst">PART III.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">A lovely Sunday morning dawned without -a cloud; and even in the dingy court the May -sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes -blew freshly from green fields far away. Johnny -begged to go out; and being much better, his -mother consented, helping him to dress with -such a bright face and eager hands that the boy -said innocently,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"How glad you are when I get over a bad -turn! I don't know what you 'd do if I ever -got well."</p> -<p class="pnext">"My poor dear, I begin to think you <em class="italics">will</em> -pick up, now the good weather has come and -you have got a little friend to play with. God -bless her!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Why his mother should suddenly hug him -tight, and then brush his hair so carefully, with -tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was -in such a hurry to get out, he could only give -her a good kiss, and hobble away to see how -his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a -joyful "peek" at the enchanted garden.</p> -<p class="pnext">Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it -was well she did; for he nearly tumbled down, -so great was his surprise when he beheld the -old familiar wall after the good fairies Love -and Pity had worked their pretty miracle in the -moonlight.</p> -<p class="pnext">The ragged hole had changed to a little arched -door, painted red. On either side stood a green -tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; from the -arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; -and before the threshold lay a letter directed to -"Signor Giovanni Morris," in a childish hand.</p> -<p class="pnext">As soon as he recovered from the agreeable -shock of this splendid transformation scene, -Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft cushion -had been placed, and read his note, with little -sighs of rapture at the charming prospect opening -before him.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">DEAR GIOVANNI,--Papa has made this nice gate, -so you can come in when you like and not be tired. -We are to have two keys, and no one else can open it. -A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and we -can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. -Papa did it, and the men put up the door last night. -I helped them, and did not go in my bed till ten. It -was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like it. -Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready.</p> -<dl class="docutils left medium white-space-pre-line"> -<dt class="white-space-pre-line">Your friend,</dt> -<dd class="white-space-pre-line"><p class="first last pfirst white-space-pre-line">FAY.</p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all -that, mustn't she?" said Johnny, leaning back -to look at the dear door behind which lay such -happiness for him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good -fairy, and I just wish I could do her washing for -love the rest of her blessed little life," answered -Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You shall! you shall! Do come in! I -cannot wait another minute!" cried an eager little -voice as the red door flew open; and there stood -Fay, looking very like a happy elf in her fresh -white frock, a wreath of spring flowers on her -pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, -while the brilliant bird sat on her shoulder, and -the little white dog danced about her feet.</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"So she bids you to come in,</div> -<div class="line">With a dimple in your chin,</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Billy boy, Billy boy,"</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked -that song; and waving her wand, she went slowly -backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed -under the blooming arch into a new world, full -of sunshine, liberty, and sweet companionship.</p> -<p class="pnext">Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot -that happy day, for it was the beginning of help -and hope to both just when life seemed hardest -and the future looked darkest.</p> -<p class="pnext">Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at -the little party as they sat under the chestnuts, -Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden -to their guests with Italian grace and skill, while -the poor mother folded her tired hands with -unutterable content, and the boy looked like -a happy soul in heaven.</p> -<p class="pnext">Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of -bells and the feet of church-goers, brooded over -the city; sunshine made golden shadows on the -grass; the sweet wind brought spring odors -from the woods; and every flower seemed to nod -and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate -to their lovely home.</p> -<p class="pnext">While the women talked together, Fay led -Johnny up and down her little world, showing -all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on -the seats that stood all about, and amusing him -immensely by relating the various fanciful plays -with which she beguiled her loneliness.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now we can have much nicer ones; for you -will tell me yours, and we can do great things," -she said, when she had displayed her big -rocking-horse, her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, -where a fleet of toy boats lay at anchor in the -basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land under the -lilacs, with paper elves sitting among the leaves, -her swing, that tossed one high up among the -green boughs, and the basket of white kittens, -where Topaz, the yellow-eyed cat, now purred -with maternal pride. Books were piled on the -rustic table, and all the pictures Fay thought -worthy to be seen.</p> -<p class="pnext">Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the -visitors could remember it was noon and tear -themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and -oranges Johnny never ate before; such delightful -little tarts and Italian messes of various sorts; -even the bread and butter seemed glorified -because served in a plate trimmed with leaves and -cut in dainty bits. Coffee that perfumed the air -put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved -herself that the boy might be fed; and he drank -milk till Nanna said, laughing, as she refilled -the pitcher,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"He takes more than both the blessed lambs -we used to feed for Saint Agnes in the convent -at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear -child, to the best we have; for he is as innocent -and helpless as they."</p> -<p class="pnext">"What does she mean?" whispered Johnny -to Fay, rather abashed at having forgotten his -manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls -of good milk had given him.</p> -<p class="pnext">So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, -Fay told the pretty story of the lambs who are -dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied to -their snowy wool, and then raised with care till -their fleeces are shorn to make garments for the -Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child thought, -and went on to tell about the wonders of Rome -till Johnny's head was filled with a splendid -confusion of new ideas, in which Saint Peter's and -apple-tarts, holy lambs and red doors, ancient -images and dear little girls, were delightfully -mixed. It all seemed like a fairy tale, and -nothing was too wonderful or lovely to happen on -that memorable day.</p> -<p class="pnext">So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding -it impossible to keep away from the happy little -party any longer, Johnny decided at once that -the handsome man in the velvet coat was the -king of the enchanted land, and gazed at him -with reverence and awe. A most gracious -king he proved to be; for after talking -pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on -storming the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny -off, and catching him up, strode away with -the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the -little girl danced before to open doors and clear -the way.</p> -<p class="pnext">Johnny thought he could n't be surprised any -more; but when he had mounted many stairs -and found himself in a great room with a glass -roof, full of rich curtains, strange armor, pretty -things, and pictures everywhere, he just sat in -the big chair where he was placed, and stared -in silent delight.</p> -<p class="pnext">"This is papa's studio, and that the famous -picture, and here is where I work; and is n't it -pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said -Fay, skipping about to do the honors of the place.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," -answered Johnny, in a low tone, as his eyes went -from the green tree-tops peeping in at the -windows to the great sunny picture of a Roman -garden, with pretty children at play among the -crumbling statues and fountains.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm glad you like it, for we mean to have -you come here a great deal. I sit to papa very -often, and get <em class="italics">so</em> tired; and you can talk to me, -and then you can see me draw and model in -clay, and then we 'll go in the garden, and -Nanna will show you how to make baskets, -and <em class="italics">then</em> we 'll play."</p> -<p class="pnext">Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming -prospect, and for an hour explored the -mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and -papa for an amused spectator. He liked the -boy more and more, and was glad Fay had so -harmless a playmate to expend her energies -and compassion upon. He assented to every -plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to -help these poor neighbors; for he had a kind -heart, and loved his little daughter even more -than his art.</p> -<p class="pnext">When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to -call Johnny away, he went without a word, and -lay down in the dingy room, his face still -shining with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, -hungry for just such pleasures, and never fed -before.</p> -<p class="pnext">After that day everything went smoothly, and -both children blossomed like the flowers in that -pleasant garden, where the magic of love and -pity, fresh air and sunshine, soon worked -miracles. Fay learned patience and gentleness from -Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better -food Nanna gave him, and the exercise he was -tempted to take; and both spent very happy -days working and playing, sometimes under the -trees, where the pretty baskets were made, or in -the studio, where both pairs of small hands -modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing -pictures with the artist's old brushes and -discarded canvases.</p> -<p class="pnext">Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in -the house, and did up Fay's frocks so daintily -that she looked more like an elf than ever when -her head shone out from the fluted frills, like -the yellow middle of a daisy with its white -petals all spread.</p> -<p class="pnext">As he watched the children playing together, -the artist, having no great work in hand, made -several pretty sketches of them, and then had a -fine idea of painting the garden scene where -Fay first talked to Johnny. It pleased his fancy, -and the little people sat for him nicely; so he -made a charming thing of it, putting in the cat, -dog, bird, and toad as the various characters in -Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were -the elves, peeping and listening in all manner of -merry, pretty ways.</p> -<p class="pnext">He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," -and it so pleased a certain rich lady that she -paid a large price for it; and then, discovering -that it told a true story, she generously added -enough to send Johnny and his mother to the -country, when Fay and her father were ready to go.</p> -<p class="pnext">But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had -ever read of in his fairy books, and to a happier -life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In -the autumn they all sailed gayly away together, -to live for years in sunny Italy, where Johnny -grew tall and strong, and learned to paint with -a kind master and a faithful young friend, who -always rejoiced that she found and delivered -him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 71%" id="figure-81"> -<span id="the-piggy-girl"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-216.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and eating. PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id10">219</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">X.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">THE PIGGY GIRL.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" -screamed little Betty, kicking and slapping -the maid who undressed her one night.</p> -<p class="pnext">"You 'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty -child," said Maria, scrubbing away at two very -grubby hands.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish I could! I love to be dirty,--I will -be dirty!" roared Betty, throwing the sponge out -of the window and the soap under the table.</p> -<p class="pnext">Maria could do nothing with her; so she -bundled her into bed half wiped, telling her to -go to sleep right away.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I won't! I 'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's -pigs, and have nothing to do but eat and sleep, -and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed -any more," said Betty to herself.</p> -<p class="pnext">She lay thinking about it and blinking at the -moon for a while; then she got up very softly, -and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, -to the sty where two nice little pigs were fast -asleep among the straw in their small house. -They only grunted when Betty crept into a -corner, laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy -and live here with no Maria to wash her and no -careful mamma to keep saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Put on a clean apron, dear!"</p> -<p class="pnext">Next morning she was waked up by hearing -Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the trough. She -lay very still till the woman was gone; then she -crept out and drank all she wanted, and took -the best bits of cold potato and bread for her -breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till -she was done. While they ate and rooted in -the dirt, Betty slept as long as she liked, with -no school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She -liked it, and kept hidden till night; then she -went home, and opened the little window in the -store closet, and got in and took as many good -things to eat and carry away as she liked. She -had a fine walk in her nightgown, and saw the -flowers asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the -nest, and watched the fireflies and moths at their -pretty play. No one saw her but the cats; and -they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in -the moonlight, and had great fun.</p> -<p class="pnext">When she was tired she went to sleep with the -pigs, and dozed all the next day, only coming -out to eat and drink when the milk was brought -and the cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good -care of her pigs, and gave them clean straw -often, and kept them as nice as she could.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id10">Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and -soon looked more like a pig than a little girl; for -her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never -combed, her face was never washed, and she -loved to dig in the mud till her hands looked like -paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as -the pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, -and squealed when they crowded her, and quarrelled -over the food, eating with her nose in the -trough like a real pig. At first she used to play -about at night, and steal things to eat; and people -set traps to catch the thief in their gardens, and -the cook in her own house scolded about the -rats that carried off the cake and pies out of her -pantry. But by and by she got too lazy and fat -to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and -never left the sty. She went on her hands and -knees now, and began to wonder if a little tail -would n't grow and her nose change to a snout.</p> -<p class="pnext">All summer she played be a pig, and thought -it good fun; but when the autumn came it was -cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel -nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and -began to wish she had a fire to sit by and good -buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go -home, and wondered what she should do after -this silly frolic. She asked the pigs how they -managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she -could not remember what became of them, for -the sty was always empty in cold weather.</p> -<p class="pnext">One dreadful night she found out. She was -smuggled down between the great fat piggies -to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she -was trying to pull the straw over them when she -heard Mr. Gleason say to his boy,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They -are fat enough; so come and help me sharpen -the big knife."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, dear, what will become of <em class="italics">me</em>?" thought -Betty, as she heard the grindstone go round and -round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I -look so like a pig they will kill me too, and -make me into sausages if I don't run away. I 'm -tired of playing piggy, and I 'd rather be washed -a hundred times a day than be put in a pork -barrel."</p> -<p class="pnext">So she lay trembling till morning; then she -ran through the garden and found the back door -open. It was very early, and no one saw her, -for the cook was in the shed getting wood to -make her fire; so Betty slipped upstairs to the -nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when -she saw in the glass an ugly black creature, all -rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, and a little -round nose covered with mud.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I -am!" And she could not spoil her nice white -bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good -scrubbing. Next she got a clean nightgown, -and brushed her hair, and cut her long nails, and -looked like a tidy little girl again.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the -pink cover and the lace curtains, and fell fast -asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft blankets, -and her own little pillow once more.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"Come, darling, wake up and see the new -frock I have got for you, and the nice ruffled -apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the -cousins are coming to dinner," said her mamma, -with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek.</p> -<p class="pnext">Betty started up, screaming,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I 'm not -a truly pig, I 'm a little girl; and if you'll let me -run home, I 'll never fret when I 'm washed -again."</p> -<p class="pnext">"What is the dear child afraid of?" said -mamma, cuddling her close, and laughing to see -Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the -stuffy sty.</p> -<p class="pnext">She told her mother all about the queer time -she had had, and was much surprised to hear -mamma say,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"It was all a dream, dear; you have been -safely asleep in your little bed ever since you -slapped poor Maria last night."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, I 'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made -me love to be clean. Come, Maria, soap and -scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and -scream ever any more," cried Betty, skipping -about, glad to be safe in her pleasant home and -no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 72%" id="figure-82"> -<span id="the-three-frogs"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-223.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -She was rocking a small tadpole to sleep.--PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id11">238</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<ol class="center large upperroman simple" start="11"> -<li></li> -</ol> -<p class="center medium pfirst">THE THREE FROGS.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Hop, Croak, and Splash were three little -frogs who lived in a pleasant river, and -had merry times swimming about or hopping -on the green grass. At night they sat on the -bank and sung together, very sweetly they -thought; and if boats came by they skipped -into the water, heels over head, with a great -splashing and noise.</p> -<p class="pnext">Hop was not contented with this quiet life; -he wanted to see the world, and kept asking his -brother Croak to go and travel with him.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm tired of poking about in this stupid -river, with no fun but leap-frog and singing. I -want to know what is over that hill, and I 'm -going to find out. You can stay and doze in -the mud if you please. I 've got more spirit -than that, and I 'm off."</p> -<p class="pnext">So away went Hop, singing gayly,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"A frog he would a-wooing go,</div> -<div class="line">Whether his mammy would let him or no,</div> -<div class="line">With a roly-poly, gammon and spinach,</div> -<div class="line">Heigh-ho, said Anthony Rowley."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">His good little sister Splash begged him to -stay, for the world was full of danger and he -was too young to go alone. But Hop told her -not to worry. Girls ought to keep at home, for -they could n't take care of themselves; but fine -young fellows should see something of life -before they settled down. His friend Turtle had -invited him to go; and if such a slow chap as -Creeper could start on a journey, of course the -best jumper in the river would get on all right.</p> -<p class="pnext">While he was saying good-by, the turtle had -crept up the bank and was well on his way to -the road beyond. Hop skipped after him; and -when they had got to the hill-top they stopped -to rest,--Creeper in the road on the warm sand, -and Hop among some daisies close by.</p> -<p class="pnext">"How big the world is!" he said, staring with -his great eyes; for he had never seen houses -before, and the village looked as grand to him -as London would to us. "I like it, and I -know I shall have a splendid time. Come on, -slow coach! I see fountains over there, and -want a good drink."</p> -<p class="pnext">Just as he spoke a cart came by; and before -poor Creeper could get out of the way, a wheel -crushed him to death.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Mercy on us! what horrid monsters those -are!" cried Hop, leaping as fast as his legs could -take him into a garden near by, where he lay -trembling and scared half out of his wits. He -thought the cart was a creature; and every time -he heard the rumble of wheels his heart beat -and he clasped his hands in fear as he sat under -the burdock leaves. At last it seemed so quiet -he ventured out, and had a lovely time in the -nasturtium-bed, catching flies and playing -bo-peep with a little bird. Then he hopped to the -grass-plot, where the sprinkler was whizzing -round, and took a refreshing bath. He was -just puffing his skin out and winking with -pleasure when a fat toad, who lived under the piazza, -told him very crossly to "clear out."</p> -<p class="pnext">"You are a very rude old person, and I shall -do as I like. This is not your garden; so you -need n't goggle at me," answered saucy Hop, -opening his wide mouth to laugh at the toad, -who was so fat he could n't take long leaps like -the lively frog.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Very well, dandiprat, I shall call the cat; and -she will make you skip, unless you want that -fine green jacket torn off your back by her -sharp claws," said the toad, hopping slowly -away to the sunny corner where a gray cat lay -dozing.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Pooh'! I 'm not afraid," said Hop; for he -had never seen a cat, and thought the toad made -it all up.</p> -<p class="pnext">So he took a leisurely stroll down the walk, -looking about him as if he owned the whole -garden. Presently he saw a pretty little -creature playing with leaves, and hurried on to -speak to it, being eager to find friends in this -pleasant place. You see, when the toad told the -cat about the stranger, pussy only gaped and -went to sleep again, not caring to play with any -one. But the kitten who lay beside her was -curious to see a frog, and ran off at once to find -him. Hop did not know that this was the cat's -daughter, till kitty pounced on him as if he had -been a mouse, and instead of playing some nice -game and telling all about the new world, as -Hop expected, she clawed and bit him, tossed -him up, and let him bump down again on the -hard ground. He tried to get away, but she -let him hop a little and then pounced again, -cuffing him with her paws, and dragging him -about till he was half dead.</p> -<p class="pnext">He believed the old toad now, and thought -the end of the world had come. It would have -been the end of the world for him, if a dog had -not bounced into the garden and made kitty fly -up a tree, spitting and glaring like a little dragon. -Poor Hop crept under a gooseberry bush, and -lay there longing for gentle Splash to tie up his -wounds and comfort his pain with spearmint -from the river side and a cool lily-pad for a wet -sheet to pack him in.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It is an awful world, and I wish I was safe -at home," he sighed, as the sun grew hot, the -water was turned off, and the wind stopped -blowing.</p> -<p class="pnext">But he was too feeble to hop away, and lay -there panting till night, when a shower saved -his life; and early in the morning he started -to find the river before he got into any more -troubles.</p> -<p class="pnext">He went very slowly, being lame and sore; -but got out of the garden and was just planning -to give one tremendous leap over the road, for -fear he should get crushed as Creeper did, when -he heard a soft rustling behind him, and saw a -long, slender gray thing, with very bright eyes -and a little tongue that darted out and in like a -flash.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I see no cruel claws; so it can't be a cat," -thought Hop, feeling timid now about making -new friends.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Pretty fellow, come here and talk to me," -hissed the snake, longing to eat the nice little -froggie.</p> -<p class="pnext">Hop felt rather nervous, but wished to be -polite; so he let the stranger coil lovingly round -him and look right into his face while listening -to the tale of woe he gladly told. Presently he -found he could not stir at all, nor move his eyes -from the fiery eyes before him, and the darting -tongue seemed ready to sting. Then he was -frightened, and tried to escape; but he only -gave one leap, for the snake caught him by the -hind legs and held him fast, while swallowing -him slowly down.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Help, help!" cried Hop, in despair. "Croak! -Splash! oh, come and save me, save me!"</p> -<p class="pnext">But there was no help; and in a few moments -there was no frog, for the last leg had vanished -down the snake's throat. Poor little Hop!</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Croak was a noisy fellow, and kept up a great -racket trying to sing louder than any of the -other frogs; for he was very proud of his voice, -and sat on a log at night saying, "Ker honk! ker -honk!" till every one was tired of hearing him.</p> -<p class="pnext">The old ones told him not to wear his throat -out till his voice was stronger; but he thought -they envied him its power and sweetness, and -croaked away louder than ever.</p> -<p class="pnext">The boys who came to the river to bathe used -to mock him, and try to see which frog sung so -loud. This pleased him; and instead of -keeping still and staying among his friends, silly -Croak went and sat on a rock alone, that all -might see and hear the great singer.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now," said the boys, "we can catch him and -keep him in a tub; and when we are tired of his -noise we can rap him on the head and make -him be still."</p> -<p class="pnext">So while the vain frog sat croaking at the top -of his voice, two of the boys swam up to the -rock and threw a net over him. He kicked -and struggled; but they had him fast, and tied -him up in a bundle till they got to the tub, and -there they left him with a little grass, saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now sing away, old fellow, and make yourself -comfortable."</p> -<p class="pnext">But Croak could not sing, he was so frightened -and unhappy; for he was hungry and -tired, and they did n't give him the right things -to eat, nor any mossy log to rest on. They -poked him with sticks, took him up to look at -his funny toes, opened his big mouth, and held -him by one leg to see him kick. He tried to -climb out; but the sides of the tub were slippery, -and he had to give it up. He kept swimming -and floating till he was tired out, and ate -bread-crumbs and grass to keep from starving; but he -was very miserable, though children came to -hear him sing, and he had nothing else to do.</p> -<p class="pnext">"This is n't what I meant," sighed Croak, "and -if ever I get out of this old tub, I 'll keep very -still and never try to make a noise in the world -again."</p> -<p class="pnext">Among the children was one kind little girl -who pitied the poor frog, and one day when -she was alone took him up carefully and put -him on the grass, saying,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Run away, froggie, home to your mamma, -and don't tell the boys I set you free."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Thank you, my dear; those bad boys will -never see or hear me again," answered Croak, -hopping off as fast as he could go, never -minding in his hurry that he was not taking the road -to the river.</p> -<p class="pnext">After he had gone a long way he came to a -tank where a great many frogs seemed to be -having a very nice time; for there was plenty of -food, stones to sit on, and fresh water flowing in -all the time.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ah! these must be very elegant people to -live in this luxurious way. They sing pretty -well, but not one has a splendid deep voice like -mine. I 'll jump in and astonish them with my -best song," said Croak, after he had watched and -listened for a while.</p> -<p class="pnext">If he had only known that these frogs were -kept there to be fattened for an old French -gentleman to eat, he would have skipped away and -saved his life; but he was so anxious to show -off his voice, that he gave a jump and went -splash into the tank, startling the others and -making a great commotion. He liked that; and -getting up on the highest stone, gave them his -favorite "Ker honk" song, till the air rang with -the sound.</p> -<p class="pnext">The other frogs were much impressed, for -they thought it fine music; so they gathered -round, and shook hands and welcomed the -stranger, sure that he must be a distinguished -musician, he put on such airs. Now Croak was -in his glory, and puffed himself out, and goggled -at the lady-frogs till they put up their fans of -green flag to hide their smiles. The young -fellows tried to imitate him, till the tank was such -a noisy place the old gentleman said to his cook,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Kill off a dozen of the fattest for dinner, and -stop that din out there."</p> -<p class="pnext">The frogs had told Croak that every now and -then some of them were chosen to go and live -in the great house; and all were eager to find -out what good fortune had happened to their -friends, for none ever came back to tell the sad -truth. So when they saw the man in the white -cap and apron come to the tank and look down -at them, they all began to skip and prance, -hoping to be chosen.</p> -<p class="pnext">With a long-handled net the cook picked out -the fattest and put them in a covered pail till he -had his dozen. Croak had not been there long -enough to get very plump, so he would have -escaped that time if he had held his tongue. -But he could n't keep still, and made such a -terrible noise the cook said,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I must catch and quiet that rascal, or my -master will go distracted." So he held the net -open; and that silly frog hopped in, little -dreaming that he had sung his last song.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now we shall see fine things. Good-by, -you poor dears! Be patient till your turn -comes," he cried, as the bucket was carried -away to the kitchen.</p> -<p class="pnext">Croak was disappointed when he saw nothing -but pots and pans and a great fire; for the vain -fellow really thought he was chosen to sing -before some fine people. But his disappointment -turned to horror when he saw his friends taken -out one by one and their poor little legs cut off -to fry for dinner. That was the only part the -cook used, and the rest he threw away. Croak -was left to the last, as he was not to be eaten; -and while he waited his turn, he dashed -distractedly round and round the pail, trying to get -away, and croaking so dismally it was a wonder -the cook did not take pity on him. But he did -not, and was just going toward the pail with the -big knife in his hand, when the old gentleman -came down to see if his orders were obeyed, for -he thought a great deal of his dinner. All the -poor little legs lay in the pan ready to cook; -and he was so pleased that he said, looking -at the thin frog swimming about in that lively -way,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ah! this is a very brisk fellow. I will put -him in my aquarium; the gold-fish and the crab -will like a little society, I think."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, catching Croak by one leg, he carried -him upstairs and threw him into the great glass -box where several pretty gold-fish and one cross -crab lived together. Croak was so glad to -escape frying that he was very quiet, humble, and -good; and though his new home was a prison, -he tried to be contented, and never complained -when the lovely fish called him ugly and the -cross crab nipped his toes. He was homesick, -and longed sadly for the pleasant river, the jolly -games he used to have, and his dear little sister. -He never sang now, fearing to be killed if he did; -but when the windows stood open through the -summer night and he heard the music of his -friends, he put his hands before his face and -cried such bitter tears that the water grew quite -salt. He bore it as long as he could; but his -heart broke at last, and one day poor Croak -was found floating on the top of the tank quite -dead. So that was the end of him.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Good little Splash lived at home all safe and -happy, and was so kind to every one that her -neighbors loved her dearly and sung her praises -at their evening concerts.</p> -<p class="pnext">Now, the Frog Prince wished to marry, and -was looking about for a wife, as he was very -particular. So he wrapped himself up in a -dead-leaf cloak, put an empty nut-shell on his -head for a hood, and leaning on a bulrush staff, -went hobbling along by the river like a poor old -woman, begging at the different houses, that -he might see how the lady-frogs behaved at home.</p> -<p class="pnext">When he rode out as the Prince on a field-mouse, -with flags flying, and all his court about -him, the young lady-frogs stood modestly by -their mammas, all in their best, and curtsied -sweetly as he went by. But now he came to -the back doors, a poor beggar, and it was very -different. Some were lazy and lay late in their -beds of river weeds, while the mothers did the -work; some were greedy and ate all the best -flies themselves; others slapped and scolded -their little brothers and sisters instead of taking -care of them; and nearly all were vain. The -Prince caught many looking at their bright -eyes in still pools, or putting on crowns of -water flowers, or bathing in dew to keep the -freckles from their faces. They were always -ready to dance at balls, to go boating, or sing -at the concerts where all could hear them; but -few were busy, sweet, and dutiful at home, and -the Prince nowhere found the bride he wanted. -He was very fond of music; so he listened to -the concerts, and soon began to wonder why -they all sang a song with this chorus,--</p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line">"Who is the fairest that swims in our river?</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Who is the dearest frog under the sun?</div> -</div> -<div class="line">Whose life is full of the sweetest endeavor?</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Who is our busiest, happiest one?</div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line">Splash, Splash, darling thing!</div> -<div class="line">All delight her praise to sing."</div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst">"I must find this lovely creature and see if -she is all they say, because if she is I 'll make a -Princess of her in the twinkling of an eye," said -the Prince; and he set off to look for Splash, for -he was a very energetic frog.</p> -<p class="pnext">He soon found her, for she was always busy -doing something for her neighbors; and he -watched her teaching the little tadpoles to swim, -helping the old frogs out to sit in the sun when -damp weather gave them rheumatism, or taking -care of the sick ones, or feeding the poor, or -running errands for busy mammas with large -families and lazy daughters.</p> -<p class="pnext">In her own little home all was as neat as wax, -but so lonely she did not like to stay there much. -All day she helped others, and at evening sat at -her door and thought sadly of her lost brothers. -She was very pretty in her neat, gray gown and -white apron, with her bright eyes, gentle face, and -sweet voice; though she seldom sung, except -lullabies to the little frogs and the sick folks.</p> -<p class="pnext" id="id11">She was rocking a small tadpole to sleep in -this way one day, when the disguised Prince -came hobbling along, and asked for a bit to eat. -Putting little Wiggle in his cobweb hammock, -Splash said kindly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, old mother, come in and rest while I -get you some dinner. Here 's a soft cushion -of moss, and a leaf of water fresh from the spring."</p> -<p class="pnext">The Prince sat a long time talking with her, -and hearing about her brothers, and seeing how -sweet she was. He made up his mind to marry -at once; for frogs don't spend a long time and -much money getting ready,--they just wash up -their green and gray suits, and invite their friends -to the wedding. The bride can always find a -delicate cobweb on the grass for a veil, and that -is all she needs.</p> -<p class="pnext">The Prince thought he would try one thing -more; so he said to her,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'm very lame; will you take me to the palace? -I want to see the Prince. Do you know him?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"No; I 'm only a humble creature, and he -would n't care to know me," said Splash, -modestly. "But I admire him very much, he is so -brave and just and good. I love to see him go -by, and always peep behind my curtain, he is -such a splendid sight."</p> -<p class="pnext">The Prince blushed under the nut-shell cap at -such praise, and was sure, from the way Splash -spoke, that she loved him a little bit. So he was -very happy and wanted to dance, but kept quiet -and leaned on her arm as she led him down the -bank, put him nicely on a lily-pad, and rowed -away, smiling at him and talking so sweetly he -got fonder and fonder of her every moment.</p> -<p class="pnext">At last they came to the palace, all made of -white water-lilies, with red cardinal-flowers for -flags, floors of green moss, and pink toadstool -tables spread with acorn cups of honey, berries, -and all the dainties frogs love; for the Prince -had sent a telegram by the wind to have a feast -ready.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come in. I have something for you in return -for your kindness to me. I 'm not what I seem, -and in a moment you shall see who your new -friend is," said the Prince, leading her into the -great hall where the throne was.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then he left her, wondering what was to happen, -while he hurried to throw off his old things -and to put on his green velvet suit, his crown of -cowslip, and the tall rush that was his sceptre. -He looked very splendid, with white silk stockings -on his long legs, his fine eyes shining, and -his speckled waistcoat puffed out with the joy -of his heart.</p> -<p class="pnext">The trumpets sounded; all the frogs of the -court came marching in, with the Prince at the -head; and when they were seated at the tables, -he took astonished Splash by the hand, and said -in a loud voice,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"This is your Queen,--the best, the loveliest -in the land! Bring the wedding veil; let the -bells ring, and shout with me, 'Hurrah! hurrah -for Queen Splash!'"</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 71%" id="figure-83"> -<span id="baa-baa"></span><img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-242.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -They did n't look like heroines, those two shabby little girls. PAGE <a class="reference internal" href="#id12">242</a>.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<ol class="center large upperroman simple" start="12"> -<li></li> -</ol> -<p class="center medium pfirst">BAA! BAA!</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst">BAA THE FIRST.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="id12">They did n't look at all like heroines, those -two shabby little girls, as they trotted -down the hill, leaving a cloud of dust behind -them. Their bare feet were scratched and -brown, their hands were red with berry stains, -and their freckled faces shone with heat under -the flapping sun-bonnets. But Patty and Tilda -were going to do a fine piece of work, although -they did not know it then, and were very full -of their own small affairs as they went briskly -toward the station to sell berries.</p> -<p class="pnext">The tongues went as fast as the feet; for this -was a great expedition, and both were much -excited about it</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't they look lovely?" said Tilda, proudly -surveying her sister's load as she paused to change -a heavy pail from one arm to the other.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Perfectly de-licious! I know folks will buy -'em, if we ain't too scared to offer 'em," -answered Patty, stopping also to settle the two -dozen little birch baskets full of red raspberries -which she carried, prettily set forth, on an old -waiter, trimmed with scarlet bunch-berries, white -everlasting, and green leaves.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I sha'n't be. I 'll go right along and holler -real loud,--see if I don't. I'm bound to have -our books and boots for next winter; so just -keep thinking how nice they'll be, and push -ahead," said stout-hearted Tilda, the leader of -the expedition.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hurry up. I want to have time to sprinkle -the posies, so they'll look fresh when the train -comes. I hope there'll be lots of children in it; -they always want to eat, ma says."</p> -<p class="pnext">"It was real mean of Elviry Morris to go and -offer to sell cheaper up to the hotel than we did, -and spoil our market. Guess she'll wish she'd -thought of this when we tell what we 've done -down here." And both children laughed with -satisfaction as they trudged along, never -minding the two hot, dusty miles they had to go.</p> -<p class="pnext">The station was out of the village, and the long -trains carrying summer travellers to the -mountains stopped there once a day to meet the stages -for different places. It was a pleasant spot, with -a great pond on one side, deep forests on the -other, and in the distance glimpses of gray peaks -or green slopes inviting the weary city people -to come and rest.</p> -<p class="pnext">Every one seemed glad to get out during the -ten minutes' pause, even if their journey was not -yet ended; and while they stood about, enjoying -the fresh air from the pond, or watching the -stages load up, Tilda and Patty planned to offer -their tempting little baskets of fresh fruit and -flowers. It was a great effort, and their hearts -beat with childish hope and fear as they came -in sight of the station, with no one about but the -jolly stage-drivers lounging in the shade.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Plenty of time. Let's go to the pond and -wash off the dust and get a drink. Folks won't -see us behind those cars," said Tilda, glad to slip -out of sight till the train arrived; for even her -courage seemed to ooze away as the important -moment approached.</p> -<p class="pnext">A long cattle-train stood on a side track waiting -for the other one to pass; and while the little -girls splashed their feet in the cool water, or -drank from their hands, a pitiful sound filled the -air. Hundreds of sheep, closely packed in the -cars and suffering agonies from dust and heat and -thirst, thrust their poor noses through the bars, -bleating frantically; for the sight of all that water, -so near yet so impossible to reach, drove them -wild. Those farther down the track, who could -not see the blue lake, could smell it, and took up -the cry till the woods echoed with it, and even the -careless drivers said, with a glance of pity,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Hard on the poor critters this hot day, ain't it?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, Tilda, hear 'em baa, and see 'em crowd -this side to get at the water! Let's take 'em -some in our pickin' dishes. It's so dreadful -to be dry," said tender-hearted Patty, filling her -pint cup, and running to offer it to the nearest -pathetic nose outstretched to meet it. A dozen -thirsty tongues tried to lap it, and in the struggle -the little cup was soon emptied; but Patty ran -for more, and Tilda did the same, both getting so -excited over the distress of the poor creatures -that they never heard the far-off whistle of their -train, and continued running to and fro on their -errand of mercy, careless of their own weary feet, -hot faces, and the precious flowers withering in the sun.</p> -<p class="pnext">They did not see a party of people sitting near -by under the trees, who watched them and -listened to their eager talk with smiling interest.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Run, Patty; this poor little one is half dead. -Throw some water in his face while I make this -big one stop walking on him. Oh, dear! There -are so many! We can't help half, and our -mugs are so small!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I know what I 'll do, Tilda,--tip out the -berries into my apron, and bring up a nice lot -at once," cried Patty, half beside herself with pity.</p> -<p class="pnext">"It will spoil your apron and mash the berries, -but never mind. I don't care if we don't sell one -if we can help these poor dear lammies," -answered energetic Tilda, dashing into the pond -up to her ankles to fill the pail, while Patty piled -up the fruit in her plaid apron.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, my patience me! the train is coming!" -cried Patty, as a shrill shriek woke the echoes, -and an approaching rumble was heard.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Let it come. I won't leave this sheep till it's -better. You go and sell the first lot; I 'll come -as quick as I can," commanded Tilda, so busy -reviving the exhausted animal that she could not -stop even to begin the cherished new plan.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't dare go alone; you come and call -out, and I 'll hold the waiter," quavered poor -Patty, looking sadly scared as the long train -rolled by with a head at every window.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't be a goose. Stay here and work, -then; I 'll go and sell every basket. I 'm so -mad about these poor things, I ain't afraid of -anybody," cried Tilda, with a last refreshing -splash among the few favored sheep, as she -caught up the tray and marched off to the -platform,--a very hot, wet, shabby little girl, but -with a breast full of the just indignation and -tender pity that go to redress half the wrongs -of this great world.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, mamma, see the pretty baskets! do buy -some, I 'm so thirsty and tired," exclaimed more -than one eager little traveller, as Tilda held up -her tray, crying bravely,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Fresh berries! fresh berries! ten cents! only -ten cents!"</p> -<p class="pnext">They were all gone in ten minutes; and if Patty -had been with her, the pail might have been -emptied before the train left. But the other -little Samaritan was hard at work; and when her -sister joined her, proudly displaying a handful -of silver, she was prouder still to show her woolly -invalid feebly nibbling grass from her hand.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We might have sold everyone,--folks liked -'em ever so much; and next time we 'll have -two dozen baskets apiece. But we 'll have to -be spry, for some of the children fuss about -picking out the one they like. It's real fun, -Patty," said Tilda, tying up the precious dimes -in a corner of her dingy little handkerchief.</p> -<p class="pnext">"So's this," answered the other, with a last -loving pat of her patient's nose, as the train -began to move, and car after car of suffering -sheep passed them with plaintive cries and vain -efforts to reach the blessed water of which they -were in such dreadful need.</p> -<p class="pnext">Poor Patty could n't bear it. She was hot, -tired, and unhappy because she could do so -little; and when her pitying eyes lost sight of that -load of misery, she just sat down and cried.</p> -<p class="pnext">But Tilda scolded as she carefully put the -unsold berries back into the pail, still unconscious -of the people behind the elder-bushes by the pond.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That's the wickedest thing that ever was; -and I just wish I was a man, so I could see -about it. I 'd put all the railroad folks in those -cars, and keep 'em there hours and hours and -hours, going by ponds all the time; and I 'd -have ice-cream, too, where they could n't get a -bit, and lots of fans, and other folks all cool and -comfortable, never caring how hot and tired and -thirsty they were. Yes, I would! and then we'd -see how <em class="italics">they</em> like it."</p> -<p class="pnext">Here indignant Tilda had to stop for breath, -and refreshed herself by sucking berry-juice off -her fingers.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We <em class="italics">must</em> do something about it. I can't be -happy to think of those poor lammies going so -far without any water. It's awful to be dry," -sobbed Patty, drinking her own tears as they fell.</p> -<p class="pnext">"If I had a hose, I 'd come every day and -hose all over the cars; that would do some -good. Anyway, we 'll bring the other big pail, -and water all we can," said Tilda, whose active -brain was always ready with a plan.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Then we sha'n't sell our berries," began -Patty, despondently; for all the world was -saddened to her just then by the sight she had -seen.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We 'll come earlier, and both work real hard -till our train is in. Then I 'll sell, and you go -on watering with both pails. It's hard work, -but we can take turns. What ever shall we do -with all these berries? The under ones are -smashed, so we 'll eat 'em; but these are nice, -only who will buy 'em?" And Tilda looked -soberly at the spoiled apron and the four quarts -of raspberries picked with so much care in the -hot sun.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I will," said a pleasant voice; and a young -lady came out from the bushes just as the good -fairy appears to the maidens in old tales.</p> -<p class="pnext">Both little girls started and stared, and were -covered with confusion when other heads popped -up, and a stout gentleman came toward them, -smiling so good-naturedly that they were not afraid.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We are having a picnic in the woods, and -would like these nice berries for our supper, if -you want to sell them," said the lady, holding -out a pretty basket.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, ma'am, we do. You can have 'em all. -They 're a little mashed; so we won't ask but -ten cents a quart, though we expected to get -twelve," said Tilda, who was a real Yankee, and -had an eye to business.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What do you charge for watering the sheep?" -asked the stout gentleman, looking kindly at -Patty, who at once retired into the depths of her -sun-bonnet, like a snail into its shell.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Nothing, sir. Was n't it horrid to see those -poor things? That's what made her cry. She's -real tender-hearted, and she could n't bear it; so -we let the berries go, and did what we could," -answered Tilda, with such an earnest little face -that it looked pretty in spite of tan and freckles -and dust.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, it was very sad, and we must see about -it. Here's something to pay for the berries, -also for the water." And the gentleman threw -a bright half-dollar into Tilda's lap and another -into Patty's, just as if he was used to tossing -money about in that delightful manner.</p> -<p class="pnext">The little girls did n't know what to say to -him; but they beamed at every one, and surveyed -the pretty silver pieces as if they were -very precious in their sight.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What will you do with them?" asked the -lady, in the friendly sort of voice that always -gets a ready answer.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, we are saving up to buy books and -rubber boots, so we can go to school next winter. -We live two miles from school, and wear out -lots of boots, and get colds when it's wet. We -had <em class="italics">Pewmonia</em> last spring, and ma said we <em class="italics">must</em> -have rubber boots, and we might earn 'em in -berry-time," said Tilda, eagerly.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, and <em class="italics">she's</em> real smart, and <em class="italics">she's</em> going -to be promoted, and <em class="italics">must</em> have new books, and -they cost so much, and ma ain't rich, so we get -'em ourselves," added sister Patty, forgetting -bashfulness in sisterly pride.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That's brave. How much will it take for -the boots and the books?" asked the lady, with -a glance at the old gentleman, who was eating -berries out of her basket.</p> -<p class="pnext">"As much as five dollars, I guess. We want -to get a shawl for ma, so she can go to meetin'. -It's a secret, and we pick every day real -hard, 'cause berries don't last long," said Tilda, -wisely.</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">She</em> thought of coming down here. We -felt so bad about losing our place at the -hotel, and did n't know what to do, till Tilda -made this plan. I think it's a splendid one." And -Patty eyed her half-dollar with immense -satisfaction.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Don't spoil the plan, Alice. I 'm passing -every week while you are up here, and I 'll see -to the success of the affair," said the old -gentleman, with a nod; adding, in a louder tone, -"These are very fine berries, and I want you -to take four quarts every other day to Miller's -farm over there. You know the place?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir! yes, sir!" cried two eager voices; -for the children felt as if a rain of half-dollars -was about to set in.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I come up every Saturday and go down -Monday; and I shall look out for you here, and -you can water the sheep as much as you like. -They need it, poor beasts!" added the old -gentleman.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We will, sir! we will!" cried the children, -with faces so full of innocent gratitude and good -will that the young lady stooped and kissed them -both.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Now, my dear, we must be off, and not keep -our friends waiting any longer," said the old -gentleman, turning toward the heads still -bobbing about behind the bushes.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Good-by, good-by. We won't forget the -berries and the sheep," called the children, -waving the stained apron like a banner, and -showing every white tooth in the beaming smiles -they sent after these new friends.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Nor I my lambs," said Alice to herself, as -she followed her father to the boat.</p> -<p class="pnext">"What will ma say when we tell her and show -her this heap of money?" exclaimed Tilda, -pouring the dimes into her lap, and rapturously -chinking the big half-dollars before she tied -them all up again.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I hope we sha'n't be robbed going home. -You 'd better hide it in your breast, else some -one might see it," said prudent Patty, oppressed -by the responsibility of so much wealth.</p> -<p class="pnext">"There goes the boat!" cried Tilda. "Don't -it look lovely? Those are the nicest folks I -ever saw."</p> -<p class="pnext">"She's perfectly elegant. I 'd like a white -dress and a hat just like that. When she kissed -me, the long feather was as soft as a bird's wing -on my cheeks, and her hair was all curling round -like the picture we cut out of the paper." And -Patty gazed after the boat as if this little touch of -romance in her hard-working life was delightful -to her.</p> -<p class="pnext">"They must be awful rich, to want so many -berries. We shall have to fly round to get -enough for them and the car folks too. Let's -go right off now to that thick place we left this -morning, else Elviry may get ahead of us," said -practical Tilda, jumping up, ready to make hay -while the sun shone. But neither of them -dreamed what a fine crop they were to get in -that summer, all owing to their readiness in -answering that pitiful "Baa! baa!"</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst">BAA THE SECOND.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">A very warm and a very busy week followed, -for the berries were punctually delivered at the -farm, and successfully sold at the station; and, -best of all, the sheep were as faithfully watered -as two little pails and two little girls could do -it. Every one else forgot them. Mr. Benson -was a busy old gentleman far away in the city; -Miss Alice was driving, boating, and picnicking -all day long; and the men at the depot had no -orders to care for the poor beasts. But Tilda -and Patty never forgot; and, rain or shine, they -were there when the long train came in, waiting -to do what they could, with dripping pails, -handfuls of grass, or green branches, to refresh these -suffering travellers for whom no thought was -taken.</p> -<p class="pnext">The rough stage-drivers laughed at them, the -brakemen ordered them away, and the station-master -said they were "little fools;" but nothing -daunted the small sisters of charity, and in a -few days they were let alone. Their arms were -very tired lifting the pails, their backs ached -with lugging so much water, and mother would -not let them wear any but their oldest clothes -for such wet work; so they had their trials, -but bore them bravely, and never expected to -be thanked.</p> -<p class="pnext">When Saturday came round, and Miss Alice -drove to meet her father, she remembered the -little girls, and looked for them. Up at the -farm she enjoyed her berries, and ordered -them to be promptly paid for, but was either -asleep or away when they arrived, and so had -not seen the children. The sight of Patty, -hastily scrambling a clean apron over her old -frock, as she waited for the train with her -tray of fruit, made the young lady leave the -phaeton and go to meet the child, asking, with -a smile,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Where is the black-eyed sister? Not ill, I hope.</p> -<p class="pnext">"No, ma'am; she's watering the sheep. She's -so strong she does it better 'n I do, and I sell -the baskets," answered Patty, rejoicing secretly in -the clean faded apron that hid her shabbiness.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ah, I forgot <em class="italics">my</em> lambs; but you were faithful -to yours, you good little things! Have you -done it every day?"</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, 'm. Ma said, if we promised, we <em class="italics">must</em> -do it; and we like it. Only there 's such a lot of -'em, and we get pretty tired." And Patty rubbed -her arms as if they ached.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I 'll speak to papa about it this very day. -It will be a good time; for Mr. Jacobs, the -president of the road, is coming up to spend -Sunday, and they must do something for the poor -beasts," said Miss Alice, ashamed to be outdone -by two little girls.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That will be so nice. We read a piece in a -paper our teacher lends us, and I brought it -down to show Mr. Weed, the depot man. He -said it was a shame, but nobody could help it; -so we thought we 'd tell him about the law we -found." And Patty eagerly drew a worn copy of -"Our Dumb Animals" from her pocket to show -the little paragraph to this all-powerful friend -who knew the railroad king.</p> -<p class="pnext">Miss Alice read:--</p> -<p class="pnext">"An act of Congress provides that at the end of -every twenty-eight hours' journey animals shall be -given five hours' rest, and duly fed and watered, -unless shipped in cars having accommodations for the -care of live-stock on board."</p> -<p class="pnext">"There!" cried Patty, "that's the law; and -ma says these sheep come ever so far, and ought -to be watered. Do tell the president, and ask -him to see to it. There was another piece about -some poor pigs and cows being ninety-two hours -without water and food. It was awful."</p> -<p class="pnext">"I <em class="italics">will</em> tell him. Here 's our train. Run to -your berries. I 'll find papa, and show him this."</p> -<p class="pnext">As Miss Alice spoke, the cars thundered into -the little station, and a brief bustle ensued, -during which Patty was too busy to see what -happened.</p> -<p class="pnext">Mr. Benson and another stout old gentleman -got out; and the minute Miss Alice had been -kissed, she said very earnestly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Wait a little, please; I want to settle a -very important piece of business before we go home."</p> -<p class="pnext">Then, while the gentlemen listened indulgently, -she told the story, showed the bit in the paper, -and pointing out Patty, added warmly,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"That's one good child. Come and see the -other, and you will agree with me that -something ought to be done to relieve their kind -little hearts and arms, if not out of mercy to the -animals, who can't be called dumb in this case, -though we have been deaf too long."</p> -<p class="pnext">"My wilful girl must have her way. Come -and get a whiff of fresh air, Jacobs." And -Mr. Benson followed his daughter across the track, -glad to get out of the bustle.</p> -<p class="pnext">Yes, Tilda was there, and at work so energetically -that they dared not approach, but stood -looking and laughing for a moment. Two pails -of water stood near her, and with a long-handled -dipper she was serving all she could reach; -those which were packed on the upper tier she -could only refresh by a well-aimed splash, which -was eagerly welcomed, and much enjoyed by all -parties,--for Tilda got well showered herself, but -did not care a bit, for it was a melting July day.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That is a very little thing to do, but it is the -cup of cold water which <em class="italics">we</em> have forgotten," -said Miss Alice, softly, while the air was full of -cries of longing as the blue lake shone before -the thirsty beasts.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Jacobs, we must attend to this."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Benson, we will. I 'll look into the matter, -and report at the next meeting."</p> -<p class="pnext">That was all they said; but Alice clapped her -hands, for she knew the thing would be done, -and smiled like sunshine on the two old -gentlemen, who presently watched the long train -rumble away, with shakes and nods of the gray heads, -which expressed both pity and determination.</p> -<p class="pnext">The other train soon followed, and Patty came -running over with her empty tray and a handful -of silver to join Tilda, who sat down upon her -upturned pail, tired out.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Papa will see to it, children; and, thanks to -you, the sheep will soon be more comfortable," -said Miss Alice, joining them.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Oh, goody! I hope they'll be quick; it's -so hot, there 's ever so many dead ones to-day, -and I can't help 'em," answered Tilda, fanning -herself with her bonnet, and wiping the drops -off her red face.</p> -<p class="pnext">Miss Alice took a pretty straw fan out of her -pocket and handed it to her, with a look of -respect for the faithful little soul who did her -duty so well.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Ask for me when you come to the farm -to-night. I shall have some hats and aprons for -you, and I want to know you better," she said, -remembering the broad-brimmed hats and -ready-made aprons in the village store.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Thank you, ma'am. We 'll come. Now we -won't have to do this wet work we 'd like to be -neat and nice," said Patty, gratefully.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do you always sell all your berries down -here?" asked Miss Alice, watching Tilda tie up -the dimes.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, indeed; and we could sell more if both -of us went. But ma said we were making lots -of money, and it was n't best to get rich too -fast," answered Tilda, wisely.</p> -<p class="pnext">"That's a good thing for us to remember, -Benson, especially just now, and not count the -cost of this little improvement in our cattle cars -too closely," said Mr. Jacobs, as the old gentlemen -came up in time to hear Tilda's speech.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Your mother is a remarkable woman; I -must come and see her," added Mr. Benson.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir; she is. She'd be pleased to see -you any day." And Tilda stood up respectfully -as her elders addressed her.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Getting too rich, are you? Then I suppose -it would n't do to ask you to invest this in your -business for me?" asked Mr. Jacobs, holding -up two silver dollars, as if he felt bashful about -offering them.</p> -<p class="pnext">Two pairs of eyes sparkled; and Patty's hand -went out involuntarily, as she thought how many -things she could get with all that money.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Would they buy a lamb? and would you -like to use it that way?" asked Tilda, in a -business-like tone.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I guess Miller would let you have one for that -sum if Miss Alice makes the bargain, and I <em class="italics">should</em> -very much like to start a flock if you would -attend to it for me," answered Mr. Jacobs, with a -laughing nod at the young lady, who seemed to -understand that way of making bargains.</p> -<p class="pnext">"We 'd like it ever so much! We 've wanted -a lamb all summer; and we've got a nice rocky -pasture, with lots of pennyroyal and berry bushes -and a brook, for it to live in. We could get -one ourselves now we are so rich; but we 'd -rather buy more things for ma, and mend the -roof 'fore the snow comes: it's so old, rain runs -down on our bed sometimes."</p> -<p class="pnext">"That's bad; but you seem fond of water, -and look as if it agreed with you," said -Mr. Jacobs, playfully poking Tilda's soaked apron -with his cane.</p> -<p class="pnext">They all laughed; and Mr. Benson said, -looking at his watch,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Come, Alice, we must go. I want my -dinner, and so does Jacobs. Good-by, little -water-witches. I 'll see you again."</p> -<p class="pnext">"Do you s'pose they 'll remember the lambs -and hats, and all they promised?" asked Patty, -as the others turned away.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I don't believe they will. Rich folks are so -busy having good times they are apt to forget -poor folks, seems to me," answered Tilda, -shaking her head like a little Solomon.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Bless my heart, what a sharp child that is! -We must not disappoint her; so remind me, -Alice, to make a memorandum of all this business," -whispered Mr. Benson, who heard every word.</p> -<p class="pnext">"The President is a <em class="italics">very</em> nice man, and I know -<em class="italics">he</em> 'll keep his word. See! he dropped the -money in my tray, and I never saw him do it," -cried Patty, pouncing on the dollars like a robin -on a worm.</p> -<p class="pnext">"There's a compliment for you, and well -worth the money. Such confidence is beautiful," -said Mr. Jacobs, laughing.</p> -<p class="pnext">"Well, I 've learned a little lesson, and I 'll -lay it to heart so well I won't let either of you -forget," added Alice, as they drove away; while -Tilda and Patty trudged home, quite unconscious -that they had set an example which their elders -were not ashamed to follow.</p> -<p class="pnext">So many delightful things happened after this -that the children felt as if they had got into a -fairy tale. First of all, two nice rough straw hats -and four useful aprons were given them that very -night. Next day Miss Alice went to see their -mother, and found an excellent woman, trying to -bring up her girls, with no one to help her.</p> -<p class="pnext">Then somehow the roof got mended, and the -fence, so that passing cattle could not devastate -the little beds where the children carefully -cultivated wild flowers from the woods and hills. -There seemed to be a sudden call for berries -in the neighborhood,--for the story of the small -Samaritans went about, and even while they -laughed, people felt an interest in the children, -and were glad to help them; so the dimes in -the spoutless teapot rose like a silver tide, and -visions of new gowns, and maybe sleds, danced -through the busy little brains.</p> -<p class="pnext">But, best and most wonderful of all, the old -gentlemen did <em class="italics">not</em> forget the sheep. It was -astonishing how quickly and easily it was all -done, when once those who had the power -found both the will and the way. Every one -was interested now: the stage-drivers joked no -more; the brakemen lent a hand with the buckets -while waiting for better means of relief; and -cross Mr. Weed patted Tilda and Patty on the -head, and pointed them out to strangers as the -"nice little girls who stirred up the railroad -folks." Children from the hotel came to look at -them, and Elviry Morris was filled with regret -that she had no share in this interesting affair.</p> -<p class="pnext">Thus the little pail of water they offered for -pity's sake kept the memory of this -much-needed mercy green till the lake poured its -full tide along the channel made for it, and -there was no more suffering on that road.</p> -<p class="pnext">The first day the new pumps were tried every -one went to see them work; and earliest of all -were Tilda and Patty, in pink aprons and -wreaths of evergreens round their new hats, in -honor of the day. It was sweet to see their -intense satisfaction as the water streamed into -the troughs, and the thirsty sheep drank so -gratefully. The innocent little souls did not -know how many approving glances were cast -upon them as they sat on a log, with the tired -arms folded, two trays of berries at their feet -now, and two faces beaming with the joy of a -great hope beautifully fulfilled.</p> -<p class="pnext">Presently a party from the hotel appeared; -and something was evidently going to happen, -for the boys and girls kept dodging behind the -cars to see if they were coming. Tilda and -Patty wondered who or what, but kept modestly -apart upon their log, glad to see that the fine -folks enjoyed the sight about as much as they did.</p> -<p class="pnext">A rattle was heard along the road, a wagon -stopped behind the station, and an excited boy -came flying over the track to make the mysterious -announcement to the other children,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"They 've got 'em, and they are regular beauties."</p> -<p class="pnext">"More pumps or troughs, I guess. Well, we -can't have too many," said Tilda, with an eye to -the business under way.</p> -<p class="pnext">"I wish those folks would n't stare so. I -s'pose it's the new aprons with pockets," -whispered bashful Patty, longing for the old -cape-bonnet to retire into.</p> -<p class="pnext">But both forgot pumps and pockets in a -moment, as a striking procession appeared round -the corner. Mr. Benson, trying not to laugh, -but shining with heat and fun, led a very white -lamb with a red bow on its neck; and behind -him came Miss Alice, leading another lamb with -a blue bow. She looked very much in earnest, -and more like a good fairy than ever, as she -carried out her little surprise. People looked -and laughed; but every one seemed to -understand the joke at once, and were very quiet -when Mr. Benson held up his hand, and said, in -a voice which was earnest as well as merry,--</p> -<p class="pnext">"Here, my little girls, are two friends of those -poor fellows yonder come to thank you for your -pity, and to prove, I hope, that rich people are -not always too busy with their own good times -to remember their poorer neighbors. Take -them, my dears, and God bless you!"</p> -<p class="pnext">"I did n't forget my lambs this time, but have -been taming these for you; and Mr. Jacobs -begs you will accept them, with his love," added -Miss Alice, as the two pretty creatures were led -up to their new owners, wagging their tails and -working their noses in the most amiable manner, -though evidently much amazed at the scene.</p> -<p class="pnext">Tilda and Patty were so surprised that they -were dumb with delight, and could only blush -and pat the woolly heads, feeling more like -story-book girls than ever. The other children, -charmed with this pleasant ending to the pretty -story, set up a cheer; the men joined in it with -a will; while the ladies waved their parasols, and -all the sheep seemed to add to the chorus their -grateful "Baa! baa!"</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst small"><em class="italics">University Press: John Wilson & Son, Cambridge.</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst white-space-pre-line">* * * * *</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst"><em class="italics">Messrs. Roberts Brothers' Publications.</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst x-large">LOUISA M. ALCOTT'S WRITINGS</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">"<em class="italics">Miss Alcott is really a benefactor of households.</em>"--H. H.</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">Miss Alcott has a faculty of entering into the lives and feelings of -children that is conspicuously wanting in most writers who address them -and to this cause, to the consciousness among her readers that they are -hearing about people like themselves, -instead of abstract qualities labelled with -names, the popularity of her books is due.</em>"--Mrs. SARAH J. HALE.</p> -<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">Dear Aunt Jo! You are embalmed in the thoughts and loves of -thousands of little men and little women.</em>"--EXCHANGE.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">Little Women; or, Meg, Jo, -Beth, and Amy. With illustrations. Two volumes. 16mo. $3.00</p> -<p class="pnext">The same, complete in one volume. -With illustrations. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Hospital Sketches, and Camp -and Fireside Stories. With -illustrations. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">An Old-Fashioned Girl. With -illustrations. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Little Men: Life at Plumfield with -Jo's Boys. With illustrations. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Eight Cousins; or, The Aunt-Hill. -With illustrations. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Rose In Bloom. A sequel to -"Eight Cousins." 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Under the Lilacs. With illustrations. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Jack and Jill. A Village Story. -With illustrations. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Work: A Story of Experience. -With character illustrations by -Sol Eytinge. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Moods. A Novel. New edition, -revised and enlarged. 16mo. $1.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Silver Pitchers and Independence. -A Centennial Love Story. -16mo. $1.25</p> -<p class="pnext">Proverb Stories. New edition, -revised and enlarged. 16mo. $1.25</p> -<p class="pnext">Spinning-Wheel Stories. With -illustrations. 16mo. $1.25</p> -<p class="pnext">My Boys, &c. First volume of -Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag. 16mo. $1.00</p> -<p class="pnext">Shawl-Straps. Second volume of -Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag. 16mo. $1.00</p> -<p class="pnext">Cupid and Chow-Chow, &c. -Third volume of Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag. 16mo. $1.00</p> -<p class="pnext">My Girls, &c. Fourth volume of -Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag. 16mo. $1.00</p> -<p class="pnext">Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore, -&c. Fifth volume of Aunt Jo's -Scrap-Bag. 16mo. $1.00</p> -<p class="pnext">An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, -&c. Sixth volume of Aunt -Jo's Scrap Bag. 16mo. $1.00</p> -<p class="pnext">Little Women. Illustrated. -Embellished with nearly 200 characteristic -illustrations from original -designs drawn expressly for this -edition of this noted American -Classic. One small quarto, bound -in cloth, with emblematic designs. $3.50</p> -<p class="pnext">Little Women Series. Printed -on large paper, with new -illustrations, and in uniform bindings of -new and tasteful design, printed in -black, red, and gold. Each -volume is complete in itself. The -books comprising this set are as -follows, viz.:--</p> -<p class="pnext">Little Women; Little Men; -Eight Cousins; Under the Lilacs; -An Old-Fashioned Girl; Hospital -Sketches; Rose in Bloom; Jack -and Jill. 8 large 16mo volumes -in a handsome box. $12.00</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">These books are for sale at all bookstores, -or will be mailed, post-paid, on -receipt of price, to any address</em>.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">MRS. DODGE'S POPULAR BOOK</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 51%" id="figure-84"> -<img class="align-center" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-dorothy.jpg" /> -<div class="caption figure"> -A PORTRAIT OF DOROTHY AT SIXTEEN.</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst x-large">DONALD AND DOROTHY.</p> -<p class="center large pnext">BY MARY MAPES DODGE.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">Beautifully Illustrated and Bound. Price $2.00.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst"><em class="italics">An honest tribute from an admiring friend</em>.</p> -<p class="pnext">"DEAR MRS. DODGE,--I have just finished your book called 'Donald and -Dorothy' for the third or fourth time, and would like very much to know -whether Dorothy is a real person, and if so, what is her name? I am nearly -as old as Dorothy was at the close of the book, so am very much interested -in her. I would also like to know how old she is, -and where she lives. If you -would be kind enough to reply, you would greatly oblige</p> -<p class="pnext">"Your admiring friend,"</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center medium pfirst">A NEW BOOK BY THE AUTHOR OF</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="center large pfirst">"Jolly Good Times" and "Jolly Good Times at School."</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst x-large">THE BROWNS.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">BY MARY P. W. SMITH,</p> -<p class="center pnext small">AUTHOR OF</p> -<p class="center medium pnext white-space-pre-line">"<em class="italics white-space-pre-line">Jolly Good Times; or, Child-Life on a Farm,</em>" "<em class="italics white-space-pre-line">Jolly<br /> -Good Times at School,</em>" &c.</p> -<p class="center medium pnext">With frontispiece illustration. 16mo. Cloth. Price $1.00.</p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst">CONTENTS: I. Don does an Errand. II. It Snows. III. Border -Warfare. IV. The Boo. V. Don Figures as an Invalid. -VI. The Flood. VII. Nan's Trials. VIII. Preparations. -IX. The Party. X. Don "Speaks in Public on the Stage." XI. The -Zoo. XII. The Grandin Road. XIII. A Dark Shadow. -XIV. The Reaction. XV. Don has his Own Way. XVI. Celebrating -a Birthday. XVII. The Browns prepare to Travel. XVIII. They -Travel. XIX. They Encounter an "Only." XX. They -go on. XXI. 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