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diff --git a/old/51199-0.txt b/old/51199-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ea5c51a..0000000 --- a/old/51199-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3815 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Teddy Bears, by Adah Louise Sutton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Teddy Bears - -Author: Adah Louise Sutton - -Illustrator: A. J. Schaefer - -Release Date: February 13, 2016 [EBook #51199] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEDDY BEARS *** - - - - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - -[Illustration: A ROOMY CAGE HAD BEEN BUILT FOR THEM.] - - - - - TEDDY BEARS - - BY - ADAH LOUISE SUTTON - - PICTURED BY - A. J. SCHAEFER - - [Illustration] - - THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY - AKRON, OHIO - - MADE IN U. S. A. - - - - - Copyright 1907 - - by - - The Saalfield Publishing Co. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. THE TEDDY BEARS ARRIVE 7 - II. WHICH INTRODUCES SALLY 15 - III. IN WHICH THE TEDDY BEAR FINDS A NAME 21 - IV. ENTER BOB 28 - V. A TRIP TO THE FARM 34 - VI. BEDELIA AMUSES HERSELF 41 - VII. “A VALLEY SO SWEET” 49 - VIII. HOME AGAIN 56 - IX. THE TEDDY BEARS PAY A VISIT TO BOB AND DO SOME OTHER THINGS 63 - X. JOHN TAKES A TUMBLE 71 - XI. PETER PAN GAINS A NEW IDEA 78 - XII. THEY VISIT THE KITCHEN 85 - XIII. PETER PAN USES THE TELEPHONE 93 - XIV. THE TEDDY BEARS AT THE CLEANER’S 101 - XV. A BALL IN THE NURSERY 108 - XVI. THE TWINS ABSCOND 115 - XVII. BEDELIA TAKES A SEA VOYAGE 123 - XVIII. BEDELIA BECOMES LITERARY 131 - XIX. HALLOWE’EN 140 - XX. THE DREAM CHILD 147 - - - - -[Illustration: TEDDY BEARS] - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -_The Teddy Bears Arrive._ - - -THE crate in which the Teddy bears had journeyed from their birthplace -in the factory to the big department store to which they were consigned -had at last arrived at its final destination and was being unpacked, -much to the delight of its occupants. For, as everybody who has ever -travelled much knows, it is uncomfortable enough to journey packed so -tightly in tissue paper and excelsior that one cannot move even as much -as a whisker. But to make the whole trip standing on one’s head is -infinitely worse. And this had really happened to several of the Teddy -bears. - -But at last all their troubles and discomforts had come to an end. -Deft hands carefully unpacked them. Their coats were brushed until -they shone, their limbs, which of necessity had become more or less -cramped, were carefully straightened, and their heads tilted at the -most approved angle. - -Some of them were dressed in delightful worsted sweaters and peaked -toboggan caps, each having a long tassel that hung over at the side. -And there were also the cutest woolen leggings to match. - -Others were arrayed in little cotton overalls and a few in the most -fascinating pajamas. - -Most of them, however, wore only their own furry coats. And very fine -indeed they looked after all the brushing and grooming. - -Their toilets having been completed, they were carried out to Dept. A, -where all the toys were displayed. And Dept. A was indeed one of the -most important sections of the whole store. It occupied the central -portion directly in front of the big glass doors, and its wares were -temptingly displayed in several of the great windows. - -In one of these had been built a roomy cage with white enameled bars, -just such a cage as one sees at the zoo, only much handsomer. And in -this the Teddy bears were placed, each one posed in a most life like -and natural manner and made to look as inviting as possible. - -Some were arranged to climb up the bars. Others were playing with balls -and two jolly little white fellows, as much alike as two peas, were -swinging from a hanging trapeze. - -By the time all this was completed it was very late indeed. All the -lights were lowered except those in the windows, and they seemed to -shine brighter than ever by contrast with the surrounding darkness. - -The window dresser gave one or two final touches to his work and -hurried off grumbling that he would be very, very late for supper. The -other clerks had already disappeared, the night watchman arrived with -his dinner pail and everything was left tight and trim until morning. - -For a long time everything was very quiet indeed; for you must know -that well-regulated toys never come to life until living creatures are -fast asleep. For they can then pursue their pranks and gambols to very -much better advantage. But presently a kind of long sigh ran through -Dept. A and in another moment a perfect babel of sounds arose and -swelled upon the air. - -There was the mooing of cows, the bleating of woolly sheep, the crying -of baby dolls, the choo-choo of iron steam cars. - -Suddenly the French walking doll, who had never been known to walk a -step in the daytime unless she was wound up with a key, made a frantic -spring from her box on the highest shelf, and landing lightly on her -toes came dancing and pirouetting down the centre aisle. Lightly -swaying from side to side, now this way, now that, onward she came. -And then bedlam broke loose. The big auto that had stood patiently all -day right in front of the middle door started up a fearful tooting of -its Gabriel horn and dashing madly and wildly down a side aisle came -very near upsetting the big Noah’s Ark, from whose door the occupants -were streaming, led by Mr. Noah and his family. In one corner a whole -regiment of leaden soldiers began to drill by companies. - -“Company, Attention! Present Arms! Order Arms! Parade, Rest!” - -The little lead captain’s voice rang out bravely. To be sure, it was -somewhat husky, but then he might have somehow taken cold, for the -weather was severe and Dept. A very badly heated at night. - -It should have been a competitive drill, but after a little the lead -soldiers became impatient. They all wished to manœuvre at once. It grew -impossible to hear any of the commands, although the captain shouted -until he was red in the face. The confusion was terrible. Now a great -growling of lions and tigers and trumpeting of elephants arose from the -shelf where the big menagerie stood. - -In vain the keeper rushed about wielding his long whip. But who cares -a snap for a keeper when he is made of wood and only about six inches -high? Not the animals, not they. - -They would have torn each other to pieces had not their attention been -suddenly attracted by the ascension of a big fire balloon that had been -left over from Fourth of July and forgotten. - -The balloon did very well, considering, until it reached the ceiling, -where it stuck and caught fire. Here indeed was a serious situation. -The balloon flamed furiously and the paper dolls, who were located -close by, set up a terrible shrieking, which was promptly joined in by -all the other toys. - -[Illustration] - -Goodness only knows how the affair would have culminated, had not the -iron hook and ladder company just then come dashing down the aisle, -closely followed by the chemical engine and the lofty water tower. - -It was the work of but a few seconds to set up the tall ladders, and -every one of the fainting paper dolls was carried to a place of safety -by the gallant cast-iron fire laddies. - -To be sure, the paper dolls were many, many times taller than their -brave rescuers, but then they were so light in weight that their -greater height did not make the smallest particle of difference. - -In the midst of all the hullabaloo the bears suddenly realized that -they, too, were alive, and came swarming and scurrying out of their -cage, which, fortunately for them, had been built without a top, -tumbling over each other in their anxiety to be first in the scrimmage. - -Their appearance tended somewhat to calm matters down, as all the other -toys were anxious to meet the newcomers, and came crowding around, -shaking hands in a very friendly way. All except the lead soldiers -who were all in the guard house, having been ordered thither for -insubordination. - -The big woolly ram, with gilt horns, even went so far as to apologize -for the absence of order, which indeed was putting it mildly. As -for himself, he had remained quietly in his place, only giving vent -occasionally to a vigorous “baa” in order to testify to his disapproval -of the general rough house. - -Indeed he was the oldest toy in the store, having been on exhibition -for two successive Christmases, being too large and expensive to find -a purchaser readily; but was always accorded the most prominent -position in the show case, as he proudly informed the largest of the -bears. Whereupon the bears tossed their heads, wondering what was the -matter with their own position. - -Just then one of the paper dolls, a bride, was found to be in an -hysterical condition. The poor thing had just discovered that all her -beautiful trousseau had been destroyed in the conflagration. - -[Illustration] - -Restoratives were applied at once and it was proposed to take up a -collection among the toys for her benefit. But at that critical moment -a sound, high and shrill, smote upon the ears of all. It was the -crowing of the mechanical cock whose duty it was to inform the others -of the approaching dawn. - -In an instant all was quiet and every one in his place. Only the -toboggan cap of one of the bears, pulled off in the struggle, lay on -the floor, where it was picked up next morning by the floorwalker, -who arrived first on the scene, and who ever after regarded the night -watchman with suspicion. - -And the queerest part of the whole story is that the night watchman -never heard a single sound during the whole performance. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -_Which Introduces Sally._ - - -THE Teddy bears sold like hot cakes. Never before had any one toy -called forth such a demand. And it really seemed as if every Christmas -tree in the town was destined to be decorated with at least two or -three of the quaint little brown creatures. - -One afternoon a smart little electric car stopped in front of the big -department store. Out of it stepped a fashionably gowned woman, and -after her sprang out a plump little girl with round, rosy cheeks, a -pair of round blue eyes and a little red mouth that she was in the -habit of screwing up into a round O whenever she wanted a kiss, which -was quite often. - -Her brown velvet coat came down to the bottom of her pretty frock, and -her big brown hat was trimmed with soft, fluffy plumes. Her bright -hair was braided in two long tails and tied with soft, wide ribbons. -Altogether she was such a comfortable roly-poly of a girl, that it -really seemed as if she might roll off like a ball should anyone give -her a push. - -People looking after her smiled involuntarily, as she, herself smiling, -disappeared through the revolving door of the shop. - -Of course the Teddy bears claimed her immediate attention. She hung -over their cage, uttering little exclamations of eagerness, and -delight; and the conclusion of the whole affair was that mamma selected -a whole family instead of just one Teddy bear as she had at first -intended. - -She ordered them to be wrapped at once and carried out to the auto, and -her little daughter could scarcely wait until they reached home, so -eager was she to play with her new treasures. - -Arrived at the house, it did not take very long to unwrap the Teddy -bears and set them up, all in a row, in the wide window seat of the -nursery. - -There was papa bear, round and jolly, mamma bear, plump and comely, a -pair of twins, so much alike that you really could not tell one from -the other, and a wee, baby bear, so dear and cunning that Sally could -not refrain from giving it a frantic hug and a kiss. - -When bedtime came she insisted on taking the papa bear to bed with her, -having first comfortably tucked up all the rest of the family in one -of her dolls’ cribs, much to the discomfiture of the doll to whom it -belonged; for she was left neglected to sit up all night by herself in -a corner of the sofa. - -For a while everything was very quiet in the nursery. The night light -burned dimly in its pretty vase of rosy crystal, showing Sally as she -lay fast asleep and breathing softly, the braids of her bright hair -lying loosely on the pillow, and one little plump hand holding fast the -Teddy bear’s soft and somewhat resisting paw. - -[Illustration] - -But presently something under the bedclothes stirred at first gently, -then more vigorously. A little moving heap edged its way out from -under the sheets and blankets, and a queer little brown figure in pink -striped pajamas shook itself free and stood up by Sally’s pillow. The -papa bear was wide awake, ready for action and very anxious to explore -his new surroundings. - -Besides being very much awake, he was beginning to develop a rousing -appetite, for of necessity he had been forced to fast since the night -previous, when he and his family had feasted royally at the candy -counter in Schwartz’s. - -Very cautiously he swung himself to the floor and trotted over to the -crib that contained his family. They were all wide awake and all as -hungry as hunters. Like the good provider that every father of a family -should be, papa bear immediately set out on a voyage of discovery. - -The nursery door was open, but the room beyond in which Dr. and Mrs. -North slept was so dark and quiet that Mr. Bear resolved to confine his -still-hunt to the nursery. - -Round and round he trotted, sniffing at everything which looked as -if it might be good to eat. Several times he was cruelly deceived -and presented in turn to his rapacious family a fat, red tomato -that proved to be stuffed with sawdust and full of little shining, -sharp-pointed things, that he later found out were called pins; a -beautiful red-cheeked pear that turned out to be made of wax, and a -bunch of plump purple grapes that had, in the beginning, been destined -to adorn nurse’s best bonnet, and were in consequence singularly dry -and unappetizing. - -Farther investigation, however, was rewarded by the discovery of a box -of delicious champagne wafers, put away on the closet shelf for Sally’s -especial delectation. Delighted with this find, the hungry bears soon -emptied the box, which Mrs. Bear immediately utilized as a seat for the -baby cub. - -Having thus satisfied his own appetite, and leaving his family -comfortably chewing, papa bear now started forth on a tour of -investigation. He had learned a thing or two during his stay in the -department store, and one of them was that if a place is dark and you -wish to light it up, the very easiest way to do so is to press a little -button in the wall. So he trotted around the nursery, carefully looking -along the wall for such a button. Before very long he found it, close -to Sally’s bed and quite within his reach if he climbed up on the -pillow, which he was not at all slow to do. - -And then, in less time than it takes to tell it, his brown paw was -fumbling with a button and in a second the room was flooded with -brilliant light. - -This so annoyed the night light that she flew into a temper and -immediately went out, which, however, did not make the smallest -difference as far as anybody else was concerned. - -Mr. Teddy Bear was so overjoyed by the success of his experiment that -he immediately began to dance a jig, and all the other Teddy bears -promptly followed his example. - -They were all feeling fine after their luscious meal, and no doubt also -felt the need of some exercise, as they had been asleep for at least -twenty-four hours. - -Mrs. Bear had espied a doll’s piano and immediately sat down at it and -commenced to play a waltz. Now a bear’s idea of waltz music is not just -what boys and girls would consider very musical; besides which Mrs. -Bear had never touched a piano before in all her life. However, her -ear was tolerably correct and the result of her efforts was more than -satisfactory to her admiring family. - -By this time the rest of the toys were awake and the bears were -delighted to discover several old friends from Schwartz’s. - -Merrier and merrier grew the music and faster and faster waxed the -dance, as all the toys immediately seized upon the nearest partners and -whirled them off to trip the light fantastic. - -A truly comical sight it was to see the baby bear waltzing with the -French doll whose place in bed he had usurped, while the twins led -off, one with a jolly round-eyed rag doll who had come all the way -from London, as she proudly informed her partner, and the other with a -wooden soldier, who had lost one leg and consequently hopped about in a -most absurd manner; the twin, however, being far too polite to discard -him for a more acceptable partner, kept on dancing until the wooden -soldier was obliged to stop from sheer exhaustion. - -Suddenly a sound from the bed caused everyone to look in that -direction. And what did they see but Sally, wide awake and staring at -them with eyes full of perplexity and amazement. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -_In Which the Teddy Bear Finds a Name._ - - -IN A moment everything had become quiet. Sally sat up in bed rubbing -her eyes and quite unable to believe the evidence of her own senses. -For how could a rational little girl be expected to believe that a -Teddy bear was really standing beside her bed, bowing to her politely -and pausing, between bows, to take large bites out of a pink wafer that -he held daintily in one paw? - -“Good evening,” said he; and “Good evening,” quoth Sally, almost too -much astonished to speak. Indeed she had to pinch herself quite hard in -order to convince herself that she was really wide awake and not sound -asleep and dreaming. - -“Do not be surprised,” said the Teddy bear, and Sally smiled -involuntarily at the pomposity of his manner. “The scene that you have -just witnessed is not at all an unusual one. In fact, I, myself, am -rather astonished that after all the years you have been playing with -toys you never discovered the fact that they always waken at night. -Anyway why shouldn’t they?” and then as Sally did not make any reply, -being far too much amazed to do so, he added somewhat irritably, “Why -not? Why not?” - -[Illustration] - -“Why not?” repeated Sally mechanically. She was beginning to realize -that she was really awake and that the Teddy bear was really carrying -on a conversation with her. And, moreover, that the Teddy bear had a -very good opinion of himself, which made her extremely anxious not to -offend him. There was a short silence, during which the Teddy bear -finished his biscuit and, having daintily shaken a few stray crumbs -from his fur, sat quietly regarding the little girl with his head -tilted reflectively to one side and a rather inquiring expression in -his bright black eyes. He looked so comical in his pink striped pajamas -that she could not resist indulging in a smile, which, however, she -quickly hid in the pillow, being dreadfully afraid that the queer -little fellow would think she was making fun of him. - -[Illustration: “Good evening,” said he; and “Good evening,” quoth -Sally.] - -Presently she said, rather timidly, “If you please, would you mind -telling me how old you are?” - -“According to your point of view,” replied the bear reflectively, “I -am about one month, twelve days and fifteen hours old.” Here Sally -interrupted him to remark that he was very well developed for his age, -but the hear frowned so dreadfully that she quickly subsided again into -the pillow. - -“If you ask a fellow a question you should give him a chance to answer -it,” he observed sulkily. And then, as Sally politely remarked that she -hoped he would excuse her, he went on. - -“According to my own point of view, which is undoubtedly the correct -one, I have no age at all, and never shall have any.” Then, as Sally -uttered a little exclamation of protest, he added hurriedly: - -“Toys never grow up and so really never grow older. They never grow in -any other way whatever, consequently why should they ever become any -age at all? How perfectly absurd to suppose that they do!” - -He ended with a contemptuous sniff, which so tickled his sharp black -nose that he fell into a fit of sneezing that lasted for several -minutes. - -The child, rather alarmed, hastened to pat him on the back, and he -finally emerged from the attack none the worse and remarked that -probably some of the crumbs had gone the wrong way. - -Sally, who all the time had been wondering if he were red in the face -under his fur, longed to remark that the crumbs must have gone the -wrong way with a vengeance if they had gone up his nose. However, -she rather feared provoking the Teddy bear, and remarked, by way of -continuing the conversation: - -“Oh, of course, you don’t grow any bigger. That is because you are just -stuffed. There isn’t anything in you to grow.” - -Somehow the child found arguing with the Teddy bear rather difficult. -And then he was so comical that in spite of his obstinacy it was -impossible to be offended with him. - -“No, thank fortune, we don’t grow any bigger,” retorted the Teddy bear, -with some asperity. “Only live things, like yourself, for example, do -that. Now supposing I were a real, live bear, what size would I be by -this time? If you were a doll, you would not be obliged to grow up -either. But as you are only a girl of course you will have to.” - -The little girl immediately thought of a dozen arguments in favor of -growing up; but not wishing to put the bear in a bad humor she said -quickly: - -“I knew a boy once who talked just as you do. He never wanted to grow -up and so he ran away and lived with the fairies. His name was Peter -Pan. At least her name was.” - -“Fairies! What are fairies?” exclaimed the bear. And then, before Sally -had time to answer, demanded severely, “How can his name be her name?” - -Now Sally was really a very sweet tempered little girl, but to be -constantly contradicted and corrected by a stuffed Teddy bear was -decidedly getting on her nerves. So she replied quite sharply, “Oh, you -see it was a play, and the boy, Peter Pan, was really a girl. I think -I should like to call you Peter Pan; that is if you haven’t any other -name,” she added quickly. - -“The name on my tag was Teddy, but it really doesn’t matter, as I have -never been christened,” returned the Teddy bear. “Really Peter Pan is -a pretty name, and decidedly more appropriate for me. Only I think the -latter part of it rather reminds one of cake. And, by the way, couldn’t -you hunt up some names for my wife and the cubs? You see we were all -named Teddy—Teddy bears. But it seems rather mixed up, don’t you know, -especially when there are so many of us.” Sally nodded acquiescently. - -“To be sure, when you call for Teddy, you never know whether your wife -or the baby cub will answer. Besides which, Teddy is not at all an -appropriate name for a lady. And as for all being named alike, why, it -is just like a lot of fractions reduced to a common denominator. It -will never do in the world,” she said. - -Now Peter Pan had not the remotest idea in the world as to what -fractions or common denominators were, but unwilling to betray his -ignorance he said nothing, while Sally finally discovered a way out of -the difficulty by suggesting that they should consult her Pretty Name -Dictionary, an idea which Peter Pan declared to be a fine one. - -Finally it was decided that the twins should be called Tom and Jerry, -the baby cub Little Breeches, as he wore a pair of the most fascinating -blue overalls, and Mrs. Peter Pan Wendy, that being the name of the -little girl in the Peter Pan play, provided, of course, that she had no -preferences in any other direction. - -By this time the grandfather’s clock in the lower hall began to strike -three and as Sally was beginning to look very sleepy Peter Pan said -good night. It was really good morning, so sliding from the bed he -scampered off to inform his family of all that had happened. And he -was just in the nick of time, for his wife was dying of curiosity and -certainly could not have restrained herself for another moment from -joining her husband and Sally and finding out what it was all about. - -Sally cuddled down among her pillows and at once fell asleep; and -as her thoughts trailed off to dreamland she seemed still to hear a -querulous little voice drawling out rather peevishly, “Why not? Why -not?” Meantime, the question of names was being discussed by the bear -family. Mamma bear liked them all except the one intended for herself. -She said it was altogether too suggestive of a rising storm, an idea -with which her husband felt obliged to concur. She was warmly in favor -of Bedelia, and as there was no very good reason to object, Bedelia it -was and so remained to the end of the chapter. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -_Enter Bob._ - - -NEXT morning consternation reigned in the nursery, for nurse coming -in early to light the wood fire, found the electric lights burning, -everything overturned, and the whole place looking as if it had been -visited by a cyclone. - -All the toys were lying about wherever they had happened to drop when -surprised in their antics by Sally’s sudden awakening. Nurse’s work -basket lay overturned on the floor with all its contents spilled out -and her favorite tomato pincushion piteously emptying forth its sawdust -vitals through a yawning rent in its side. - -A basket of waxen fruits, perpetrated by Sally’s grandmother in her -youth, had been thrown down from the shelf, and all the beautiful -peaches and pears and apples lay ruined on the carpet mixed with the -fragments of the glass shade that had covered them. - -Most deplorable of all, nurse’s best bonnet had been dragged from its -box and the gorgeous bunch of grapes that adorned its brim had been -torn off and lay crushed and mangled on the floor. - -Everything bore the mark of rapacious little teeth. Therefore nurse’s -theory favored rats, and mamma shuddered at the mere thought of such -dreadful little creatures being so close to her darling. - -Such a thing had never before occurred in the annals of the nursery. -Nurse wept over her bonnet and Sally over the ruined fruit which had -been one of her chief treasures. She hated, oh, how she hated those -dreadful marauding rats, who had done such damage with their sharp -little teeth. Supposing that they had attacked Peter Pan and his -beloved family? The thought was too terrible for words. She immediately -resolved that in the future, Rough House, the beautiful Scotch collie, -should sleep in the nursery, a plan that mamma entirely approved. - -Never for one moment did Sally suspect Peter Pan, sitting so calmly in -the bosom of his family, of being the author of the tragedy. - -She had taken off his pajamas and dressed him for the day in a smart -white sweater with leggings to match, and a beautiful white toboggan -cap with a pink tassel that hung down at one side. To be sure, the -tendency of the tassel was rather to make things topheavy on its own -particular side, so that the toboggan cap was somewhat inclined to tilt -rakishly over one eye. - -This, however, was arranged by Sally with many a loving pat, and -she gathered him affectionately in her arms, fancying that a queer -expression flashed into his bright black eyes as she and the nurse -discussed the feasibility of allowing Rough House to sleep in the -nursery. - -[Illustration] - -Nurse had been very much disturbed by the fact that she had found the -night light extinguished, although the little vessel in which the wick -floated was nearly half full of oil. - -Rats could never have done a thing like that, she said to herself, -neither could they have turned on the electric lights, nor yet -scattered all the toys about the nursery floor in the grotesque -confusion in which they had been found. However, she kept her ideas to -herself, for the subject of ghosts and fairies was a strictly forbidden -one in the nursery. - -Only Sally herself might have explained the matter of the electric -lights, but she intuitively felt that for Peter Pan’s sake she must -never, never mention anything that she had heard or seen without his -permission; and somehow she felt pretty sure that this he would be -rather unwilling to grant. - -In point of fact the little girl was rather beginning to wonder if it -had not all been a dream. - -However, she did not allow the matter to trouble her gay little -brain, and was the picture of delighted happiness when an hour later, -accompanied by mamma and nurse, she stepped into the big motor car and -rolled away down town to the shopping district, carrying Peter Pan, who -wore an altogether angelic expression, and nobody in the world would -ever have suspected that the demure rascal, although somewhat disturbed -at the fuss caused by his escapade of the night before, was even then -planning some new performance for the ensuing evening. - -This shopping trip was instituted chiefly for the benefit of nurse, -who was delighted with the gift of a new bonnet that fairly bristled -with grapes, while Sally was overjoyed with a beautiful set of library -furniture for the doll’s house. After this the little girl was lifted -to the loftiest pinnacle of enjoyment by luncheon at one of the fine -cafés. Mamma allowed her to select the dishes she liked best, although -nurse was rather inclined to shake her head over a combination of -oysters, chicken salad, eclairs and _café parfait_, she herself being -more inclined for beefsteak and baked potato. But mamma laughingly -declared that it would do no harm for once and Sally enjoyed the menu -to its fullest extent, now and then pretending to feed the Teddy bear, -who sat up stiffly in a chair by himself, with a biscuit between his -paws. After the jolly luncheon another surprise was in store for -Sally—a matinee of Buster Brown, over which the child was enraptured. -But I regret to say that the play supplied Peter Pan’s already fertile -brain with several ideas which he could very well have done without. - -[Illustration] - -It was very close to dinner time when the very happy if very tired -little girl trotted upstairs to the nursery hugging Peter Pan to her -heart, and rather wondering to hear voices through the half closed -door. Then as she entered a sort of whirlwind punctuated by kisses -enveloped her, and after the first breathless moment she could only -cry out, “Oh Bob! I’m so glad!” and sure enough Bob it was, come back -somewhat unexpected from Florida, where he had gone to spend part of -the winter with the two pretty aunties whose absence had made a great -gap in Sally’s small social circle. - -[Illustration: The new Teddy Bears proved a great acquisition] - -They were all there, and all wanting to hug Sally at once and indeed -the dinner bell was ringing before nurse was able to carry her off to -be made fresh and pretty for the evening meal. - -How good it was to see Bob’s dear brown face and to hear him telling -of the fine times they had had down in the beautiful land where it is -always summer. Sally could scarcely wait until dinner was ended and ate -little herself, but she greatly enjoyed watching Bob while he satisfied -the hearty appetite that rightfully belonged to a little man of twelve. - -As soon as the meal was ended, the children hurried upstairs and Sally -introduced her brother to Peter Pan and his family. - -Bob thought the bears a great acquisition and then the two children, -curled upon the hearth rug before the crackling and snapping grate -fire, toasted marshmallows and popped chestnuts which they could not -eat, but which, although they did not know it, were destined for the -delectation of the Teddy bears later on. - -For these rascals, as soon as the children had been tucked up in bed, -came hopping and skipping with eagerness and greedily gobbled up the -last crumb, and then held a council of war which resulted in a scheme -that they were not, however, able to carry out at once, owing to other -plans now being formulated by Papa Doctor. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -_A Trip to the Farm._ - - -THE first sweet spring days had come, and even the grimy city began to -put on an aspect of youth and newness. - -In the parks tiny green shoots appeared on tree and bush, and -dandelions showed their golden faces above the vivid green of freshly -springing grass. - -From her nursery window Sally interestedly watched the gradual advent -of the new season as promulgated by the aspect of the back yard. Her -little soul thirstily responded to the call of nature and a vague -longing for woods and fields took possession of her heart. - -Dr. North, watching keenly the little girl’s wistful face and feeling -in his own soul the echo of the wonderful song that spring sings to -all of us, after some consultation with mamma communicated to Sally a -plan that fairly made her jump for joy. And it was that at the week’s -end the family should pack up bag and baggage and depart for the farm, -there to spend a few weeks. - -To be sure it was rather early in the season, but mamma decided that -house-cleaning and dress-making might for once take a back seat At -least that was the way Bob put it as he executed a joyful war dance -around the nursery floor, being finally joined by Sally with a Teddy -bear under each arm. - -Surely no week ever seemed so long and no waiting so tedious. But at -last it did really come to an end, the trunks departed in a big express -wagon while the family made the trip to the depot in the motor car. - -There was just time to catch the train and almost before they knew -it Bob and Sally were waving good-bye to Papa Doctor while the big -engine puffed and snorted, the bell rang, and then they were really -off, flying away from the smoke and grime, the roar and bustle of the -city streets to where green woods beckoned them, and dim blue hills, -wreathed in the faint haze that lay upon them like a bridal veil, -reflected the smile of God, which is the promise of all good things. - -It was only a short ride of a couple of hours, through the beautiful -Cuyahoga valley, and the children, delightedly familiar with the -scenery, joyfully pointed out everything of special interest to Miss -Palmer, their governess, who, having come from the East, could not of -course be supposed to know anything about their dear valley. The big -Indian mound which lay near the end of their trip called forth especial -explanations, and Miss Palmer promised to read to them an exceptionally -interesting volume on Indian mounds that was in the library at home. - -Miss Palmer was, both the children firmly believed, the dearest and -beet governess that ever children possessed and they listened with -the greatest interest, not forgetting, however, to point out to her a -place where the Cuyahoga (Crooked River), doubling upon itself, forms -a peninsula and the town which sprang up there had been given the name -Peninsula and is so called to this day. - -The beautiful river, swollen by the spring freshets, rippled along -over the rocks that sometimes formed tiny cascades in its bed, shaded -by feathery pollard willows whose gray-green leaves were bursting from -their pinkish sheaths. - -Another point of great interest was the canal, along whose tow path -President Garfield followed his mules as a lad. Miss Palmer knew a -great deal about the martyred president and so interested were the -children that they could scarcely believe the journey was at an end -when the conductor called out the name of the place that was their -destination. A big three-seated wagon was in waiting and when they were -all piled comfortably aboard, including Peter Pan and Bedelia, whom -nurse had carried while the rest of the Teddy bear family journeyed -in a trunk, the fine gray farm horses started off at a trot along the -uneven and rutty country road. - -How sweet the breath of the spring was, how fresh and beautiful the -landscape! The voice of the river rose like a tinkle of silvery bells -and Sally cried out in delight that she saw a blue jay. And indeed she -did, for a pair of them rose, startled from their nest, and flew off -to a neighboring tree, their azure wings flashing like jewels in the -sunshine. - -[Illustration] - -The drive was all too short and the children were half regretful -when the wagon drew up in front of the “Bungalow,” as Mrs. North had -fancifully named the beautiful old farm house, which, with its gleaming -white paint and moss-green shingles, presented a most attractive -picture against the soft spring landscape. - -And now Mrs. Hale who, with her husband, had taken care of the farm -ever since it had been the property of Dr. North, came bustling out, -full of a hearty welcome. She was a round and rosy woman, with bright -eyes and a jolly laugh that, when you heard it, made you want to laugh, -too. - -She held up her hands and laughed till she shook when introduced to -Peter Pan and Bedelia, for the Teddy bear tribe had not yet penetrated -to her part of the world. After that they all went in to luncheon, set -forth in the big, square dining-room, a room that projected from one -side of the house and three sides of which were composed of windows, -from which one might look out for miles and miles over the beautiful -wooded hills with the sparkling river running its glittering way -between them. - -The dining-room together with the broad, gallery-like verandahs that -ran around the three sides of the house had been a modern innovation -recently added and the verandahs had suggested to Mrs. North the quaint -appellation of the “Bungalow.” - -Mrs. North had spent a part of her girlhood in India, where her father -had been an English officer, and had absorbed a good deal of the -Oriental which showed in a love of warm, glowing colors and luxurious -surroundings. She was a very pretty woman, so girlish looking that she -had more than once been taken for Bob’s elder sister. - -Dr. North had expressed down from the city a quantity of beautiful -piazza furniture and when the happy party came out of the dining-room -after a meal that taxed even Bob’s capacity, they found a delightful -resting place awaiting them. Fine mats of Japanese make covered the -piazza floor and a gay red carpet draped the stone steps, for Papa -Doctor had not forgotten his little daughter’s predilection for sitting -upon them. - -Handsome chairs and settees with one or two tables filled the spaces of -the piazza, the settees heaped with pretty cushions, while two hammocks -hung in opposite corners. - -Mrs. North sank contentedly down in a big armchair that smelt -delightfully like sweet grass, while Miss Palmer took a cozy corner in -the settee opposite. Mrs. North adored her beautiful summer home, and -the restfulness it offered was ever welcome after a strenuous winter in -town. - -As for the children, they of course saw no reason for wishing to rest, -but tore off to find Mr. Hale and persuade him to devote the rest of -the day to showing them over all the already familiar places; a thing -which they found not at all difficult to do. And soon their delighted -shouts rang merrily from the barn, where they succeeded in clambering -up into the hay loft and very nearly lost Bedelia whom, with Peter Pan, -they had carried up with them, by dropping her down a chute into one -of the mangers below. Here she was discovered with the occupant of the -stall thoughtfully nosing her over and over and evidently thinking that -someone had presented him with a very queer bunch of hay for dinner. - -Bedelia, in addition to being badly scared, was also very much offended -and considered that she had been handled shamefully. Besides being -somewhat bruised, the horse had nipped her when trying to decide -whether or not she was good to eat, and Bedelia felt quite sure that he -had taken off a mouthful of her fur, which thought made her perfectly -furious, and she longed to scratch and bite when finally rescued by the -rather anxious Sally. - -She immediately made up her mind to play all the pranks she could think -of while at the farm, and the result of one scheme which she later -carried out, was certainly of a nature to satisfy even a slighted Teddy -bear, as we shall see later on. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -_Bedelia Amuses Herself._ - - -HAPPY days succeeded each other with rapidity at the farm. Sally was -enchanted with the poultry yard and spent much time fussing over -the beautiful Cochin China and White Leghorn fowls. Already one -enterprising hen had hatched a brood of dear little fluffy, yellow -chicks and marched proudly around the yard clucking and scratching. -Sally thought she had never seen such rapacious youngsters. They were -always hungry, always peeping for more worms to eat. Sally longed to -pick up the dear little fluffy balls and kiss and cuddle them. They -reminded her of so many Easter penwipers running around on felt, -although in her tender little heart she hoped that the Easter chicks -were manufactured. It would have been such an act of cruelty to -slaughter the darling baby chickabiddies for horrid old penwipers. - -Mr. Hale, however, to whom Sally often confided her views, remarked, -with a great want of sentiment, that it was really no worse than eating -them later on. At which the little girl became very thoughtful. She -was indeed extremely fond of chicken dinners as demonstrated by Mrs. -Hale. - -Meantime Bob was absorbed in the Belgian hares and star guinea-pigs. -Mr. Hale made a business of raising them and Dr. North had purchased a -number of pairs, knowing how fond the children would become of them. -Sally adored them all and soon divided with them her love for the -chicks. These she could take up in her arms and cuddle and hug. They -were all tame and would permit almost any amount of petting. One day -Sally received a great surprise. She was hurrying down to the barns -where the cows were kept, to be introduced to a newly arrived baby -calf, when suddenly Peter Pan, whom she had securely tucked under her -arm, twisted himself around and remarked, in his funny little growling -voice, “I wish you wouldn’t squeeze me so tight. You really hurt me.” - -Sally sat down suddenly on the grass just where she stood, she was so -astonished. Of course she dropped the bear, who quickly gained his -equilibrium and sat up on his haunches, rubbing first one elbow and -then the other, with such a comical expression that the child burst -out laughing. “I suppose you thought it was a dream,” said the Teddy -bear rather severely. “Well, it wasn’t. But I have discovered something -since then. In fact, since we have been down here in the country, I -have found out that if I am very quiet and sleep at night I can get -busy in the daytime. I was talking to a crow the other night. He hopped -in on the window sill after you had gone to sleep. He recommended me -to try it and it works like a charm.” Here Peter Pan turned a complete -somersault and looked so perfectly absurd in doing it that the child -lay back and laughed until she was weak. - -[Illustration] - -“The only thing that bothers me,” went on the Teddy bear, “is Bedelia. -She will be in mischief all the time now. So many avenues of enterprise -were closed to her at night.” - -The little girl sat up and wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes. -“What made you tell her?” she inquired. - -“I didn’t,” retorted the bear. “She simply followed my example from -force of habit. And now goodness knows what trouble she will stir up.” - -“Why don’t you hibernate?” said the child reflectively. “She would -follow your example and then I could waken you up and——.” Sally broke -off suddenly. She had just caught a glimpse of a small brown figure -skulking along in the shadow of the hollyhocks. - -“There she is now,” she exclaimed. “I wonder what she can be up to.” - -In another moment a great clucking and squawking was heard in the -direction of the hen house. Sally quickly caught up Peter Pan and raced -thither as fast as her legs could carry her. - -And a comical scene it was that revealed itself to the little girl -as she hastily swung open the door of the hen house, which already -stood ajar. Firmly seated on the nest of the big White Leghorn hen was -Bedelia, her ample proportions elaborately spread out over the eggs of -the distracted biddy; nor would she be dislodged by all the frenzied -pickings and cluckings of the outraged mother. - -“Really, my dear, you are very unwise,” remarked Peter Pan to the -triumphant Bedelia, with a solemn wink. “Suppose one of the hired men -had discovered you?” - -Sally, however, wasted no time in reasoning. She simply picked up the -naughty Bedelia and hurried her off to the house, where she locked her -securely in a big closet that opened from Miss Palmer’s bedroom. - -It was a very roomy closet and there was a transom over the door which -made it sufficiently light for Bedelia to see what she was doing. But -there was nothing of interest except Miss Palmer’s trunk which was -locked and consequently inaccessible. - -Bedelia after nosing around for a few moments was just about to give up -in despair, when suddenly she uttered a little shriek of joy. For she -stumbled over something soft, and lo and behold! there were the twins -and Little Breeches, sitting in a row far back against the wall, just -where nurse had plumped them down when they were unpacked. - -There they had remained alone and forgotten since their arrival. - -Bedelia’s fertile brain did not take very long to evolve a method of -escape now that she had discovered such valuable confederates in the -shape of her cubs; and she proceeded to shake them vigorously, one -after the other, which form of procedure left them very wide awake -indeed. - -Under her able direction they first climbed upon the trunk and then -upon each other’s shoulders, making a sort of step-ladder, up which -Bedelia quickly climbed, and slipping through the transom which -happened to be open, took a flying leap right into the middle of Miss -Palmer’s bed. - -Having given vent to her displeasure by rumpling up the bed clothes and -throwing the pillows on the floor, she trotted away without waiting to -liberate the cubs, whom she left to cool their heels in the closet. - -Downstairs she skipped and out on to the big verandah, and seeing that -the coast was clear she took to her heels and sped as swiftly as her -paws could carry her in the direction of the barn. - -Sally’s voice floated toward her, laughing and chattering to Peter Pan -as the two swayed backward and forward in the big swing under the apple -tree, now white with its perfumed blossoms. - -But Bedelia had very good reasons of her own for wishing to remain -unseen, and forged ahead, keeping well in the shadow of the hollyhock -hedge, and this time succeeded in escaping observation. - -Swiftly she hastened to the stables and there, once inside in the cool -half-twilight, paused and looked about her. - -Most of the stalls were empty, but Doxey, the beautiful Shetland pony, -lifted his head with its flowing double mane and regarded her with -serious brown eyes. - -But it was not Doxey to whom the meddlesome little bear now turned her -attention, but to Dick, the woolly white Angora goat, whose stall was -just next. In a moment she was swarming up on his back, pulling herself -up by his thick coat and finally taking her station on his back, -when grasping his horns with her two front paws she issued a series -of vigorous “get ups” that had the final effect of producing a series -of gyrations which the ambitious equestrienne had not taken into her -calculations. - -[Illustration] - -Suddenly heading around, Dick made a break for the door and once -outside proceeded to stand first on his hind and then on his fore legs, -for, failing to send the queer thing on his back sliding down over his -tail, he concluded that the next best thing was to start her slipping -over his head. - -But neither performance served to dislodge Bedelia. She stuck like a -burr and all Dick’s frantic experiments in the matter of jumping and -bucking proved futile. - -Round and round they spun, Dick’s hind hoofs describing the -circumference of a circle; until finally, with an indignant snort and -fully determined to rid himself of his terrifying incumbrance, he flung -himself full length on the turf and commenced to roll over and over. -Now indeed did Bedelia prove the depth of her generalship. She had -precious little time to consider how she should escape being flattened -out like a pancake, but she mastered the situation by a sudden stroke -of genius the like of which sometimes accompanies a desperate situation. - -Suddenly she sprang into the air and continued to spring at intervals, -Dick’s revolving body giving her for a second a precarious foothold -as she descended, something after the fashion of a performing circus -pony who turns a barrel with his hoofs. And so she kept on hopping up -and down for her life while Dick continued to roll, horns and hoofs -alternately twinkling in the air. And how long the ridiculous comedy -would have gone on goodness only knows, had not Mike, the hired hand, -just then appeared on the scene. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -“_A Valley So Sweet._” - - -Mrs. North had decided to drive to a place a few miles distant called -the Falls, there to take supper and remain all night. - -And Mike was on his way to the stables to hitch up, as he called it, -when the amazing spectacle just described burst upon his astonished -sight. At once he jumped to the conclusion that the goat was trying to -make mince-meat of Sally’s beloved Teddy bear. And springing forward—he -seized Dick by his horns, yanked him to his feet and drove him off to -the stables. Then returning he picked up Bedelia, no longer pirouetting -like a ballet girl, but suddenly grown mute and stiff, and carried her -to the kitchen, where Mrs. Hale took her in charge. - -The children were now in a flutter of excitement over the proposed trip -to the Falls. Sally insisted on taking Peter Pan, and presently they -were all comfortably stowed away in a springy country carriage, rolling -along toward the Falls. - -Mike, who had been born and brought up in that part of the country, -made a most interesting courier and stopped now and then to point -out with his whip some place of especial interest, which he at once -proceeded to describe in whimsical language all his own. For the -Irish strain in his blood had gifted him with both wit and humor and -there was very little of the comical side of things that Mike did not -discover. - -[Illustration] - -But the climax of all interest was finally reached when Mike pointed -out a gently swelling hill topped by a lofty oak, at the summit of -which he declared was the grave of Cuyahoga, the great Indian chief, -from whom the beautiful valley and laughing river both had been named. - -Further on they struck the Indian trail along which the savages -portaged their canoes from the Cuyahoga to the Tuscarawas rivers. - -Miss Palmer, who was sentimental, drew forth a pencil and tablet, and -proceeded pensively to jot down her poetic impressions, while Peter Pan -whispered very slyly to Bob that his friend, the crow, whose name was -Tim, had come along, although not invited. And sure enough there he -was, roosting comfortably and unobserved on the tail-board of the wagon. - -So the happy little party proceeded on their leisurely way through -the lovely country, beautiful with “the new green and the stress of -spring,” until suddenly as they swung around a curve in the road, the -great gorge of the Cuyahoga lay spread out before them in all its -majestic grandeur. - -Here through a great chasm rent in the walls of living rock by some -mighty convulsions of Nature leaped the mystic river, clothed in her -sheen of sparkling foam as a maid in her bridal veil. Dimpling and -murmuring, it pursued its sparkling way over the rocks that lined its -bed, murmuring in its shallows, thundering at last over the mighty -Falls, and from thence tumbling into a sun kissed, mossy basin from -which it wound away, a placid stream laughing and whispering into the -blue distance. - -The children had stood up to obtain a better view and Bob reverently -removed his cap, seized by the same feeling that always moved him when -he stood in church and saw the vested choir sweep up the aisle bearing -at their head the great golden cross. - -Miss Palmer fell to writing poetry more briskly than before and Tim, -who was now perched comfortably on the back of the seat, leaned over -and whispered to Peter Pan that it was a great place for worms. - -To reach their destination was now a matter of but a few moments, and -as the drive had not been long enough to tire them, the children, under -the guidance of Mike, departed for a walk along the river and a visit -to the Old Maid’s Kitchen, a queer cave in the vicinity that took its -name from a natural fireplace of rock which it contained. - -Mrs. North went indoors to arrange for suitable rooms and Miss Palmer -retired to a secluded corner of the piazza to polish up her verses -to Cuyahoga. And so it happened that Peter Pan and Tim were left to -their own devices, which opportunity they improved by promptly falling -asleep. It was evident that they intended to get busy later on. - -At supper time the children returned flushed and enthusiastic over the -wonders that they had unearthed. They had investigated the Old Maid’s -Kitchen and Bob thought it would be a bully place to eat luncheon on -the following day. They had walked along the river bank and at a point -a good deal further up had been ferried across by a little old man with -a beard like Rip Van Winkle in a little old boat that was propelled by -an endless chain. They had found trailing arbutus hiding away under -last year’s leaves and red partridge berries and shy dog-tooth violets -and Bob’s pockets were full of treasures of more or less doubtful -value, but all dear to his quaint little soul. - -And oh, how hungry they were, and what a supper they disposed of. - -[Illustration: After him followed his countless braves.] - -Tired as they were after their long ramble they begged Miss Palmer to -read aloud her poem before they went to sleep. And after a little -coaxing, which was warmly joined in by Mrs. North, Miss Palmer produced -her tablets and read aloud these lines. - - TO CUYAHOGA. - - He sleeps on the hillside’s grassy slope, - Who once was a king in the land; - And few can point out his lonely bed, - Unmarked save by Nature’s hand; - The blue waters ripple, the sweet valley smiles, - The valley that bears his name, - And serenely he rests, tho’ his unknown grave - Is unmarked by the laurels of fame. - -Mrs. North was greatly pleased and surprised by the impromptu lines and -both children declared their intention of learning them by heart, after -which there were kisses all round and the little folks trotted serenely -off to slumberland. - -The house stood upon a high cliff overlooking the valley, its banks -sloping sharply down to the water’s edge. And the children never knew -how they came, hours after, to be scrambling down the steep path, -hand in hand, with Peter Pan hurrying on in front and Tim, the crow, -flapping and hopping alongside. - -Silently they hastened on, impelled by an unspoken fear of being late, -for what they knew not. - -Presently they reached the foot of the hill and paused in the shadow -of the great trees that lined the fruitful banks of the river. - -It was a gorgeous night. The full moon, pouring her silver light -through a fretwork of leaf and twig overhead, wove patterns of fancy -laces on the grass below. Not a leaf quivered. Not a breath stirred the -sleeping vale of Cuyahoga. - -Suddenly all the valley glowed as with a silver flame. And out of the -heart of it rose a column of light, rainbow hued but pale as moonlight, -indistinct as a moonlight mist. - -Slowly it advanced through the silver flame, with a slightly swaying -motion, rhythmical as the steps of an armed host. And then the -children, watching spellbound, but not at all afraid, for it all seemed -to be perfectly a matter of course, just as much so as it had become -quite the thing to hear Peter Pan sit up and talk, began to distinguish -shadowy forms, to hear strange music, and the dull throbbing of -tom-toms. - -Nearer swept the unknown company, headed by one of kindly bearing, -clothed in blanket and fringed leggings, with moccasins embroidered -with wampum and quills of porcupine, with eagle feathers in his hair -and tomahawk at his belt, and after him followed his countless braves, -stepping noiselessly, moving silently in the wake of the leader. So -they passed and vanished and Bob knew that he had looked upon the great -chief who for countless years had slept in the windy hilltop in the -shadow of the lonely oak. - -So, set in a frame of silver sheen, the vision faded into the moonlit -mystery of the night. - -Thus does the great Spirit of Love and Good open the eyes of innocence -and purity to the infinite wonders of Nature, the visions of the night -watches, the language of the dear dumb creatures, the voices that -breathe from the souls of flowers. And the children awe-stricken but -wholly unafraid, hand in hand, sought the homeward way. - -At the threshold of Sally’s room they kissed and separated, Tim hopping -along in Bob’s wake, and perching familiarly on the foot-board of his -bed. And Bob’s last waking recollection was of the bird, standing -sleepily on one claw, his eyes shut and his beak sunk in his feathers, -while he croaked in a drowsy little note, “What a place for worms.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -_Home Again._ - - -EARLY next morning the family started back to the farm, leaving with -regret the beautiful valley, to which they promised themselves they -would certainly return at some future day. - -Beautiful indeed was the homeward drive in the freshness of the -morning, and when the Bungalow was reached the children found a most -delightful surprise awaiting them. For there on the piazza was Papa -Doctor, who had come down, unannounced, by an early train. Busy as he -was, he declared that he could no longer exist without a peep at his -family, and moreover announced his intention of carrying them all off -home with him. - -Indeed the little folk were so glad to see him that they raised no very -serious objections to the home-going plan. So it fell out that after -luncheon trunks were packed, and the whole party, including Tim in a -large wicker cage, returned to town by a late afternoon train. - -The children knew that Dr. North’s patients could not spare him, and -so uttered not a single word of disappointment at the rather abrupt -termination of their outing. - -The Teddy bears were greatly delighted to get home again. They had -been hugely bored by the visit to the farm where there was not very -much for them to do in the way of making mischief. Nor did they delay -their plans for a single night, but that evening, as soon as everything -was quiet in the nursery, Peter Pan proceeded to put into execution -the scheme that he had concocted one afternoon, while being carried -through the house in Sally’s arms, when he had been seized with a great -curiosity to investigate the whole place. To be sure, Rough House was -asleep by Sally’s bed, but Peter Pan moved cautiously, and silently -marshalling his little family they crept out of the nursery and down -the first flight of stairs. In the lower hall they paused to take -breath and decide what to do next. - -The big drawing-room was the nearest at hand and into this they -scurried, somewhat awed by the thick darkness that was broken only by -a few stray moonbeams drifting in through the lace curtains. Guided -by these, Peter Pan at last found the inevitable button, and all the -beauties of the fine, large room lay revealed to the admiring gaze of -the Teddy bears. - -There were beautiful gilt chairs with elegantly carved frames and backs -and seats of tufted satin; elegant, spindle-legged tables inlaid with -pearl; curio cabinets that contained precious mementos of a recent trip -abroad; beautiful paintings and one or two fine bits of statuary; and -in one corner a grand piano upon which Bedelia instantly longed to lay -her devastating paws. But tug as they might, their united efforts were -inadequate to lift the heavy carved lid. So, much disappointed, they -turned their attention to the curio cabinets. - -These they found to be easy of access, as the keys had not been removed -from the locks, and they were soon enjoying the costly trifles with -which they were filled, and many of which they succeeded in breaking -before they grew tired. - -When at last they had exhausted the resources of the drawing-room, they -all trailed into the library which lay just beyond and was separated -from it by heavy silk portieres. - -Here were rows upon rows of books behind glass doors, but there were -keys in the locks and a library step-ladder was in evidence. - -The whole family swarmed up the steps, dragging out the books and -tumbling them over in their eager haste to find pictures. Only pictures -of animals interested them. At last they discovered a set of Natural -History and here they found representations of creatures that resembled -themselves and with these they were greatly delighted. - -So eager were they to get at them, each one wishing to have the same -book at the same time, that they flung the volumes about, tearing the -pages and soiling the rich bindings. - -[Illustration] - -One of the twins even tore off a piece and tasted it to try if it were -good to eat, for by this time he was growing hungry. He regretted his -meal later on, however, for it made him very ill indeed. - -At length, wearied of examining the heavy books, they turned their -attention to Dr. North’s desk, a splendid specimen of carved oak and -Spanish leather. Here they upset the ink, tore up whatever paper they -could lay paws on and broke in two or three pieces a costly eastern -dagger with which they attempted to pry open the drawers of the desk. -Luckily, however, these were fast locked, and finding nothing else to -engross their attention decided that it was time to look for something -to eat. Peter Pan was very much disappointed at not finding anything of -that description in the library, as only the day before he had heard -Sally’s governess remark that she fairly devoured her books. And he -had imagined that they would find a great feast awaiting them in the -library. - -However, it was finally decided to invade the dining-room and thither -the hungry group proceeded without delay, leaving the library looking -as if a whirlwind had swept through it. - -Here they found everything in excellent order and the table laid for -breakfast, which was contrary to all rules and regulations. But the new -maid was lazy and found that she could sleep a little longer in the -morning by laying the table the night before. - -The Teddy bears immediately made a rush for the table, falling over -each other in their eagerness to get to the chairs, into which they -climbed, pulling the napkins out of the rings and confident that a fine -meal was awaiting them. Great, therefore, was their dismay, when they -were unable to discover the smallest evidence of anything to eat. - -This was more amazing than their experience in the library. If people -did not eat in the dining-rooms where on earth did they eat? - -Bedelia could find no answer for this conundrum propounded by her -husband with a tragic gesture. But she was far too hungry to be -staggered by conundrums and started on a voyage of discovery, with the -result that on the sideboard she espied a silver fruit dish filled with -grapes and oranges and a plate filled with biscuits. The grapes they -left severely alone as belonging religiously to nurse’s bonnet. But on -the oranges and biscuits they feasted until well nigh ready to burst, -and finally departed leaving a sorry mess behind them. - -Of course they never for a moment thought of turning out the lights, -but left them flaring in all the rooms they had visited. - -After their hearty meal they were not quite as lively as they had been -when hungry and were forced to conduct themselves in a more leisurely -manner. - -They now decided to mount to the top floor and look into things from -the attic down. - -Cautiously they toiled up the first flight, for it was a much more -difficult task to climb up than it was to hop down from step to step. -And at the very top they were confronted by a sight that made them -ready to stand on their heads for pure joy. - -Now a Teddy bear is the most inquisitive of all created creatures and -is usually quite ready to risk his neck in order to find out something -that has piqued his curiosity. During all their stay in the house there -was one room the door of which they had never seen open, although it -was directly opposite Sally’s and they had been filled with the most -burning curiosity and speculation as to what it might contain. Of -course they could not understand that the room belonged to the dear -little absent son, and was being kept closed up, having been swept and -garnished, against his return. - -[Illustration] - -However, the door, which so long remained a locked mystery, now -stood wide open, inviting them, as it were, to enter. And you may -be sure that they were anything but slow in availing themselves of -the invitation. Into the room they tumbled pell mell, in their usual -unseemly manner, each one trying to be first regardless of any respect -for their elders. Only the baby cub, Little Breeches, who was beginning -to feel tired, hung on to his mother’s hind leg and so was dragged into -prominence without any effort at all on his own part. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -_The Teddy Bears Pay a Visit to Bob and Do Some Other Things._ - - -BOB’S room was quiet and very dark, only, as in the rooms below, the -white moonbeams drifted in through the lace curtains at the windows. -Peter Pan nosed around until quite sure that the coast was clear, and -then, for a moment, the Teddy bears stood still and looked about them, -eager to start in on their mission of mischief, as usual. - -It was a very pretty room, the hardwood floor covered with fine rugs -and all the furniture of mission work. In one window stood a large -aquarium filled with gold and silver fish, and in the center a tiny -fountain threw up its fairy jet, keeping the water constantly pure and -fresh. Of course this at once attracted the attention of the whole -family. It was their first introduction to water and for a while they -were satisfied to watch the beautiful fish as they darted hither and -thither, no doubt very much surprised at seeing the room lighted at -such an unseemly hour of the night. - -The swimming proposition appealed strongly to the twins, and although -they were eager to try it they were not quite sure, when it came to -the test, whether or no they would really like it. Therefore they -decided to try it first on Little Breeches, and as he could not be -persuaded to dive in willingly they pushed him in in spite of his -frightened struggles. Over the edge he went with a mighty splash while -the displaced water rose over the sides of the glass tank, carrying -with it several of the gold fish and forming a big puddle on the floor. - -[Illustration] - -Down plunged Little Breeches to the bottom of the tank and rose -immediately, choking and sputtering. He could easily have climbed -out, but was far too badly scared even to try. So he shrieked lustily -as soon as he found his breath, while the heartless twins stood by -laughing and without attempting to offer any assistance. - -Peter Pan and Bedelia all this time had been busy investigating Bob’s -big closet in which they had found a store of queer articles the -like of which they had never seen among Sally’s possessions. There -were skates and baseball bats, boxing gloves and fencing foils, and -various other strange articles, dear to the soul of a small boy, but -inexplicable mysteries to Teddy bears. - -Peter Pan and his wife, however, were called from their interesting -still-hunt by the yells of the baby cub and now hastened to his rescue, -and having dragged him out, a miserable little bunch of draggled fur, -Bedelia proceeded to rub him dry, using as a towel Bob’s white silk -blouse, that she found folded carefully on a chair with the rest of his -belongings, while Peter Pan, having soundly smacked the twins, returned -to his congenial task of turning out Bob’s closet. - -The next thing that he discovered was a bag of marbles, and these he -emptied out on the floor, where they rolled about in every direction. -These the Teddy bears found very amusing and the whole family played -with them for some time, until by degrees they were all lost, rolling -under the bureau or in dark corners where it was impossible to get at -them. - -In the closet they had found a great number of games, and these they -now hauled out to the middle of the floor and proceeded to pull out of -their respective boxes. And as they did not in the least know what to -do with them left them all in a hopeless muddle, checkers, back-gammon, -lotto and parcheesi, all mixed up in a condition that was a great deal -more perplexing than a Chinese puzzle. - -Having now pretty well exhausted the resources of Bob’s room, the Teddy -bears resolved to carry their researches higher up, especially as it -was growing rather late. They therefore departed, leaving confusion -behind them, and climbed the two flights of stairs that led to the -attic with as much caution as possible, for they were dreadfully afraid -of being discovered by the servants. However, they passed all the doors -of the bedrooms in safety and soon arrived at their destination, for -once without any mishaps. - -The attic was a fine large room, plastered and ceiled and occupying the -entire upper floor. Here were arranged in fine order, for the attic -was as well cared for as any part of the house, a number of trunks and -chests, and any quantity of pieces of queer old furniture, long since -fallen into disuse. Here was the cradle in which grandma had rocked -Papa Doctor, as Sally and Bob lovingly called Dr. North, and into this -Bedelia promptly plumped down the baby cub, for the poor little fellow -was tired out, and he immediately fell fast asleep. - -Here in one corner stood an old spinning-wheel, and the twins were -greatly delighted upon finding that they could make the wheel go round, -which they proceeded to do with vigor, snarling up and ruining all the -fine flax that still remained on the distaff. Meanwhile Peter Pan and -Bedelia had been examining various big packing trunks, the contents of -which they were crazy to scrutinize, but they were all locked quite -securely. - -Finally, however, they discovered a big cedar chest that was not -locked, although it was a feat of strength for the two to lift the -heavy carved lid. - -But after a sharp struggle they succeeded, and began joyfully to dive -in, elbow deep, throwing out the contents in heaps on the floor. - -Mrs. Peter Pan’s attention was quickly drawn to a number of little -garments yellow with age; little tucked frocks, tiny embroidered -sacques, wee silk stockings and tiny kid shoes all of a fashion long -gone by. - -Now Bedelia had for a long time considered that her children had been -dreadfully slighted in the matter of dress. And she immediately pounced -upon the tiny garments and proceeded to dress her offspring in them to -her heart’s content. - -And very absurd they looked with their little round ears sticking up -out of white silk caps, and their brown paws protruding from little -lace sleeves. - -[Illustration] - -Now the twins were exactly alike and Sally, being unable to tell them -apart, had adorned the one with a pink and the other with blue ribbon; -but the perverse little creatures had changed them once, and therefore -were more hopelessly mixed up than ever. - -Sally, of course, never knew the difference, nor guessed that Jerry was -Tom and Tom was Jerry ever after. - -The bears spent a blissful hour romping around the attic, and pulling -out the contents of every trunk and box that they found unfastened. The -twins no doubt would have had more fun had they not been hampered with -so much finery, but they strutted about before their admiring parents -and managed to be very proud of themselves. - -The whole family was now growing tired, for their amusements during -the evening had been rather more strenuous than ordinary. Peter Pan -was beginning to think that it was high time to descend and cuddle up -beside Sally, for there he had been when she fell asleep, and there he -must be when she awoke, when suddenly a sound from the street below -fell upon their terrified ears, nearly paralyzing them with fright. - -It was the sound of the Gabriel horn, tooting merrily and announcing -the return of Dr. and Mrs. North. - -The dismayed Teddy bears never once thought of remaining quietly -where they were until papa and mamma had retired, and then descending -to their own quarters. Their one idea was to get there before their -absence could possibly be discovered. - -With a mighty effort, and altogether too much rattled to pay any heed -to caution, they swung open the attic door, that banged violently -against the wall with a report like a cannon. And then the whole family -took to their heels and plunged madly and wildly down the attic stairs. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -_John Takes a Tumble._ - - -THEY had forgotten all about John, the man-of-all-work, but as the -flying wedge raced past his door it suddenly flew open and there on the -threshold stood the old man. He had been awakened by the noise of the -slamming attic door and very funny he looked in pajamas and pointed -cotton nightcap. - -Moreover he had not paused to forage for his teeth, that always reposed -comfortably at night in a glass of water on his wash-stand. - -In his pink pajamas and pointed nightcap, he somehow looked absurdly -like Peter Pan. A long and lean Peter Pan. A Peter Pan without any -teeth. - -This unexpected apparition so terrified the twins, unable as they were -to progress as swiftly as the rest on account of their fancy clothes, -that after one demoralized glance at the ancient vision in the doorway, -they uttered a dismal squawk and hurled themselves unceremoniously over -the banisters and down the flight of stairs. Tumbling and rolling over -one another and bouncing like two rubber balls, down and down they -went, and finally disappeared in the open door of the nursery. - -Neither did Bedelia stay to consider the order of her going. She fled -in disorder, dragging along the tiny cub, who, too sleepy either to -resist or to help himself, was whimpering shrilly. - -Peter Pan himself brought up the rear, hopping along as nimbly as -the rest of them, but with his ideas concerning pajamas disorganized -forever. - -Meanwhile the short-sighted old man on the upper landing knew not what -to believe, nor what manner of animal he was gazing upon. - -“God bless my soul, but they looked like Sally’s bears!” he exclaimed. -In another moment the thought that possibly some trained monkeys had -escaped from the zoo and somehow effected an entrance into the house -flashed across his mind. - -He advanced to the rail and peered over it in order to catch another -glimpse of the queer little figures now in full retreat. But being -very near-sighted and having, in his haste, forgotten his spectacles, -he miscalculated the distance, and in another moment was turning -somersaults down the stairs in the wake of the Teddy bears, until he -finally landed at the bottom with a lugubrious thump which for the -moment deprived him of consciousness, while Rough House, roused by the -commotion, added his shrill barking to the general confusion. - -Now from the lower hall rose voices of Papa Doctor and mamma in -terrified inquiry, demanding to know what upon earth was the matter. - -They were dreadfully astonished to find the house brilliantly lighted -from top to bottom and ringing with all sorts of unaccountable noises. - -[Illustration] - -As they received no reply they both rushed upstairs as fast as their -feet could carry them only to find poor old John extended in an -apparently lifeless condition on the landing, while in the nursery -Sally, her head under the counterpane, was sobbing wildly, too much -terrified to do anything but clutch Peter Pan, which smooth rascal -reposed beside her, the tip of his black nose sticking out perkily from -beneath the coverlet. - -The whistle of the night watchman was now heard advancing along the -street and Papa Doctor made a dash downstairs to secure the man’s -services. In a few moments he came hurrying along and between them all -they got John back into bed and applied some restoratives that speedily -brought him to his senses. But he at once began to talk so wildly of -Teddy bears and organ grinders’ monkeys that Papa Doctor shook his head -and gravely declared it his belief that some sudden shock must have -turned the old man’s brain. - -To be sure it might have been the fall, but as he could give no -explanation of how he came to fall beyond his oft-repeated declaration -that he had been chasing some queer animals that resembled Sally’s -Teddy bears, the family gave up in despair and Papa Doctor concluded to -remain for the rest of the night with his flighty patient. - -John having been comfortably disposed of, the watchman proceeded to -patrol the whole house, but discovered nothing, not even an unhooked -window by means of which any marauder might have gained entrance. - -The condition of things in the library clearly pointed to spite work, -as none of the costly volumes had been carried away, nor had any of -the plate been removed from the dining-room. The destruction of the -pretty curios from the cabinets in the parlor strengthened this theory. -The miscreant, however, had covered his tracks so cleverly that not the -smallest clue to his identity could be discovered. - -Finally the baffled policeman retired from the scene, promising to -send some detectives from the station in the morning. Lights were -extinguished somewhat reluctantly and the family retired, with the -uncomfortable feeling that the marauder might again pop in through any -convenient keyhole to continue his depredations. - -All this time Peter Pan had lain cuddled close to his little mistress, -rather scared at the unlooked-for turn affairs had taken. - -His mental processes were slow ones, but he was beginning to comprehend -the fact that his nightly revels must, in the future, be conducted on a -somewhat more orderly basis. - -There was no telling what might be the result of a rigid investigation -by the police. - -Acting on this idea, he cautiously slid from bed and proceeded to -divest the twins of their ill-gotten finery, in which they had -serenely gone to sleep. This he rolled up and poked into the grate -behind the wood and kindlings that were laid ready for lighting. This -accomplished, he crept back into bed and was soon slumbering placidly, -his cold black nose thrust into the rosy palm of his little mistress. - -Next morning the house was filled with detectives from the Central -Station, but the most careful investigations resulted in nothing -whatever. And the officers were obliged to give up the case as another -of the unsolved mysteries, and departed, leaving as a final bit of -advice that all the doors in the house be locked when the family -retired. - -[Illustration] - -Peter Pan, who all this time had been perched jauntily on the edge of -the ruined library table, was not at all disconcerted by this edict. -Being the very largest size of Teddy bear, it was quite possible for -him to reach the locks of the doors without any trouble whatever. - -However, he concluded that it would be best to lie low for awhile -until the affair had blown over, with the result that the North family -enjoyed a hard earned peace for some time. - -Bedelia, however, was secretly furious, and being the more crafty of -the two, resolved that she would not be governed, but would start an -expedition of her own as soon as a favorable opportunity presented -itself. This, however, was long in coming, as Peter Pan somehow scented -danger in the wind. His suspicions had at first been aroused by -Bedelia’s behavior when she discovered the loss of the pretty garments -with which she had decked the twins. Indeed, upon his refusal to tell -what he had done with them, her conduct had been far from wifely, in -that she smartly boxed his ears and had then promptly fallen into a fit -of hysterics, to calm which had required the united efforts of all the -toys in the nursery. - -Following this she relapsed into a fit of the sulks, which made life -unbearable for every one concerned; all the time revolving in her -stubborn head the propriety of making another raid upon the chests in -the attic. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -_Peter Pan Gains a New Idea._ - - -ALL this time nurse had been revolving the occurrences of the two -previous nights in her own mind without, however, arriving at any -definite conclusion. She had not been long from the old country and was -full of superstitious ideas about fairies and goblins. She had done a -great deal of thinking and found much satisfaction in expounding her -theories to Maggie, the housemaid. - -“Sure, whatever it was, it’s bad enough that they destroyed me iligant -bonnet,” she remarked, as the two girls lingered over their early -luncheon. “But worse it is that poor John’s wits was nearly gone -intirely.” - -Maggie nodded, at the same time casting a furtive glance over her -shoulder, as if she half expected to see the author of all the direful -“goings on” walking in at the kitchen door. - -“Sure and he’s all right now, but do ye’s think it was rats he saw?” -she inquired, dropping another lump of sugar into her cup of tea. - -[Illustration] - -“There’s more nor rats,” replied nurse sententiously as she folded her -napkin and picked up Peter Pan, who had been left perched on the window -sill by Sally, who dearly loved to get down into the cosy kitchen, -for she and cook were great friends. That very morning she had been -allowed to bake a panful of the most delicious little cookies, under -cook’s supervision, of course. She had quite forgotten Peter Pan in her -delighted interest in this new and absorbing employment, and had left -him stranded, high and dry, on the window sill, when she hurried off -upstairs to show to mamma the results of her domestic economy. - -Now the Teddy bear was naturally very much offended that he had not -been invited to taste the goodies at which he had been sniffing -hungrily during their preparation; much more so that he had been left -behind when Sally carried them away. Therefore he was now in anything -but a pleasant frame of mind and felt very much inclined to bite nurse -when she picked him up and carried him off to the nursery. - -“Sure and there’s more nor rats,” she repeated half aloud as she ran -up the back stairs with Peter Pan upside down under her arm. The bear -certainly acquiesced most emphatically in this idea, but as it was not -his time for being active he could only do so in his own mind. - -Peter Pan’s visit to the kitchen had put an entirely new idea into his -bearish head. He had never been down there before and now discovered, -for the first time, from whence came all the delectable dishes that -appeared on the dining-room table. It had become a decidedly difficult -matter to forage for his good sized family, as there were few edibles -to be found above stairs. To be sure, nurse liked a bit of a lunch -before she went to bed, and Sally usually had a glass of warm milk on -retiring. But the scraps and leavings from these repasts were slender, -and their disappearance had so emphasized the theory of rats that a -couple of ominous looking traps had been baited with toasted cheese and -set in the nursery. - -Peter Pan was dreadfully afraid of being caught in one of them and -for some time gave them a wide berth. The cheese, however, smelt -deliciously, and at last the desire to possess the toothsome morsels so -far overcame his fear that he attempted to poke it out with nurse’s big -shears, purloined for the purpose from her work basket. But he had only -succeeded in springing the trap, without securing the cheese, while the -scissors were caught and held firmly in spite of all the Teddy bear’s -efforts to dislodge them. - -This being discovered in the morning, it added another mystery to the -already long list of queer “doin’s,” as nurse called them. - -Only Rough House was beginning to have an idea or two in his doggish -head, mere suspicions that he could not have been able to communicate -to any one except to Rags, the little fox terrier, even had he been -able to confirm them. - -Rough House and Rags both disliked Peter Pan cordially, as they had -always, heretofore, been Sally’s prime favorites, and were now feeling -rather neglected since the advent of the Teddy bears. - -And indeed Peter Pan returned their sentiments with interest partly -because he was dreadfully afraid of both dogs and partly because he -considered that Rough House poked his sharp nose into a great deal -of business that was anything but his own, and was therefore to be -proportionately feared. - -[Illustration] - -Rough House was scarcely out of the puppy stage and the Teddy bear had -often trembled for himself and his family, chiefly, I am afraid, for -his own hide, as he watched the big fellow running off to his lair -under the head of Sally’s bed and close up against the wall, an almost -impregnable fastness where it was practically impossible to get at him, -carrying in his mouth various belongings of Sally’s which he proceeded -to tear and rend in a leisurely manner. - -Of course Peter Pan could not understand that it was quite as -much the ache and pain of the rapidly arriving second teeth which -caused a desire to bite on something or anything, as a craving for -destructiveness, which caused all these reprehensible proceedings. - -The results, however, were just as disheartening, the dog having even -levied on the doll’s house and chewed up a bedstead and the beautiful -celluloid infant who happened to be reposing in it. So nurse now -draped the open front of the house each night with a sheet, and Rough -House’s depredations in that direction ceased perforce. - -Once, indeed, Maggie had essayed to poke him out of his stronghold -under the bed with her broom, when he was tearing up Sally’s beloved -little red bedroom slippers. But the dog, unheeding Maggie’s weapon -of offense, had merely turned his head and looked over his shoulder, -baring every one of his white fangs in such an unearthly grin that -Maggie fled in disorder and Sally’s footgear was left to its tragic -fate. - -Sally was so much annoyed by the loss of her favorite slippers that she -resolved to punish the dog by tying the small remnant of them around -his neck, where they remained, flapping, until they fell to pieces. -Whereupon Rough House fell upon the fragments with avidity and the last -state of his vandalism was worse than the first. - -Two weeks had elapsed since the adventures of the Teddy bears in the -attic. Peace had descended on the troubled household and every thing -was jogging along comfortably and quietly. - -But just at this stage of the game Peter Pan made up his mind that it -was time to visit the kitchen, as his family, especially Bedelia, who -had grown more surly than ever, were complaining bitterly of short -rations. His only fear was of Rough House, who slept in the nursery. -The dog had been on the alert ever since Peter Pan’s last escapade -with the rat trap, but as nothing in particular had happened since -then, was now somewhat relaxing his vigilance. - -On this particular night, the whole family being wolfishly hungry, -Bedelia declared that they should wait no longer, and Peter Pan -consented, although not without some misgivings, to lead a raid on the -kitchen. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -_They Visit the Kitchen._ - - -VERY cautiously they set forth, Peter Pan conducting, while Bedelia -brought up the rear in order to safeguard the small fry from any -possible attack in either direction. - -Silently the little procession crept from the nursery and hopping and -sliding down the stairs swiftly advanced upon the lower regions. In the -kitchen hall they broke ranks. - -The kitchen was a big, bright room, beautifully kept and as clean as -wax. Indeed, cook was in the habit of saying that you could eat off the -floor, which was undoubtedly true provided you did not prefer a table -and chair. - -Everything fairly shone with cleanliness and was as bright as sapolio -and elbow grease could make it. - -A great pan of bread had been put to rise on a table near the range -and this the hungry bears sampled first, upsetting the pan and pushing -their paws and noses into the dough in their impatience to taste it. -However, they did not like it at all, as it was much too raw and -sticky, and not at all unlike the library paste on Sally’s school -room desk, which Peter Pan had once upset in order to taste it and -from which he had retired in disgust. So they left it strewn all about -the newly scrubbed floor, and started on a voyage of discovery in the -pantries. Here indeed were goodies galore, plump pies and a luscious -jelly cake glistening with white frosting; shining glasses of jelly -and jam, jars upon jars of preserves, pickles and catsup of every -description. - -[Illustration] - -“Putting up” was cook’s especial delight and this year she had -certainly done herself proud. - -You may be sure it did not take the Teddy bears long to fall upon -such an alluring feast, or rather to fall into it, which they did -head first, scooping up the dainties with their paws and gorging -themselves like little pigs, spoiling what they could not eat out of -sheer wantonness, and finally finishing off with a quantity of luscious -honey for which they really had not a sufficient capacity after the -miscellaneous collection of sweets that they had already devoured. - -They now found themselves very thirsty indeed, and recollected that -Sally was extremely fond of a good smelling stuff that she called cider. - -They at once resolved to have some, and having rummaged all over the -now disorderly kitchen without finding any, decided to continue their -researches in the cellar. - -Therefore in a few moments the whole crew were scrambling down the -cellar steps, Peter Pan lighting the way with a candle, which, with -plenty of matches, he had found on one of the closet shelves. The -matches were a new proposition to him, and it required several attempts -and a quantity of wasted matches before the candle was properly -lighted. Peter Pan’s only idea of artificial lighting was indissolubly -connected with a button in the wall. But as he had frequently seen -cook take along a candle when she was going down cellar he felt that it -would be highly improper to descend thither without one. - -Teddy bears have no powers of deduction as their brains consist -solely of raveled silk and tissue paper. Consequently they never draw -inferences, a very lucky thing in the case of Peter Pan. - -The cellar stairs were quite different from any that the bears had -tried before, being open at the back of the steps. When about half way -down one of the twins slipped through and fell to the floor below with -a resounding thump. - -Immediately he set up a fearful shrieking, not because he was hurt in -the least, but because he was dreadfully afraid that the rest of the -family would get to the cider before he did. - -Now Peter Pan was, as a rule, an extremely indulgent parent, but of -late it had commenced to dawn upon his inner consciousness that his -offspring were being fearfully spoiled. - -Therefore, quickly hopping down the remaining steps he grabbed up the -squalling Jerry and administered a sound spanking, which so took the -little bear by surprise that he stopped abruptly in the middle of a -fearful shriek and at once became as still as a mouse. - -After this slight interruption, the bears proceeded to institute a -vigorous search for the cider. At first they struck the vinegar barrel -from which they retired in dismay, the very odor of the acid stuff -giving the baby bear an attack of colic. But their next experiment -proved more successful and soon they were filling themselves with the -sweet liquid. When they could hold no more they all sat down rather -tipsily on the bottom step, not quite sure what they wanted to do next. -Of course they had not thought to turn off the faucet of the cider -barrel, and the little amber stream continued to run steadily, slowly -spreading over the floor, where it presently formed a shining lake in -which the flickering light of the candle cast some grotesque and ever -changing reflections. - -[Illustration] - -Just about this time the swift patter of furry paws sounded on the -kitchen floor and were heard rapidly approaching the cellar door. -Immediately the frightened bears knew what had happened. Rough House -had awakened, in a really very inconsiderate manner, and missing the -bear family had hurried downstairs to do a little detective work on his -own account. - -Instantly Peter Pan blew out the candle and the whole family scurried -away in the pitch black darkness, wading knee deep through the lake of -cider, and finally taking refuge in the coal bin. - -Meanwhile Rough House was not a little astonished to find such a state -of affairs in cook’s orderly domain. He sniffed around cautiously and -so quick were his movements that his sharp brown eyes caught a glimpse -of the flickering candle gleam below stairs before Peter Pan had time -to extinguish it. - -At once he conjectured that the Teddy bears had been the authors of all -the mischief; and filled with an impish desire to get even with the -creatures of whom he had grown so jealous, he quickly sprang behind -the door and charging upon it with lowered head had the joy of seeing -it swing securely shut, leaving his enemies close prisoners in the -darkness and silence below stairs. - -Rough House had been trained never to help himself to anything to eat -unless it was first offered to him. But he could not refrain from -licking up a few tempting, sugary crumbs, and little scraps of cake -that the bears had left scattered about the floor. Then after pushing -at the door with his nose to make sure that all was hard and fast he -trotted upstairs, wagging his tail with much satisfaction and laid -himself down across the foot of Sally’s bed, where he was soon fast -asleep; keeping one eye open, however, as he usually did, in order -to be able to head off the bears should they by any manner of means -succeed in escaping from their confinement. - -[Illustration] - -Meanwhile in their dreary prison in the cellar the Teddy bears huddled -together, trembling for their lives in the inky darkness. Even Peter -Pan had lost all his impudence, for every moment he expected to hear -the cellar door open and Rough House come loping down the steps. He -shuddered as he remembered the fate of other toys that he had seen -carried away in the dog’s powerful jaws, a fate that was perhaps now in -store for him and his. - -After a wait that seemed interminable, being somewhat encouraged by the -fact that nothing untoward had happened, although momentarily expected, -he summoned sufficient courage to grope his way to the bottom of the -steps, and after a period of breathless listening, to their very top. - -All was silence in the kitchen. The dog had evidently departed. But -push as he might he could not budge the tightly latched door. - -Disheartened by the failure of his repeated efforts, he crept back to -the miserable little group in the coal bin. - -There was nothing for it but to await whatever developments the morning -might bring forth. And huddled together they fell asleep, a sadder if -not a wiser family of Teddy bears. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -_Peter Pan Uses the Telephone._ - - -VERY early next morning Sally was wakened by Rough House, who was -standing up on his hind legs beside her bed, licking her face and -occasionally uttering a short, sharp bark. - -As soon as he saw that she was wide awake he ran toward the door and -then back to the bed, pulling at Sally’s nightgown, and plainly begging -her to follow him. - -Sally jumped out of bed at once, hastily stuck her little pink toes -into her red bedroom slippers, a new pair, kept carefully in a -convenient hidie-hole where the dog’s greatest ingenuity could never -discover them, and threw over her nightie a dainty silk kimono on which -were embroidered a succession of smiling Japanese ladies, each one -sitting under a cherry tree in full bloom and holding over her head a -wonderful Japanese umbrella, which seemed to be entirely unnecessary -in view of the shade that must have been cast by the cherry tree. It -was, moreover, faced with pink satin, and was quite the most delightful -article in Sally’s wardrobe. - -The little girl hastily followed the dog, who had started downstairs, -pausing now and then to look back and make sure that Sally was -following. - -Down the stairs they hastened and as they reached the lower flight -sounds of woe were wafted to them from the kitchen. Thither they -hastened to find cook crying and wringing her hands over the dreadful -outlook. - -[Illustration] - -Immediately Sally thought of Marius at the ruins of Carthage, and -Herculaneum and Pompeii, stories that she had learned from her -governess; but she forbore to mention them, as cook was not exactly in -a frame of mind just then to absorb ancient history. - -The little girl longed to rush forward and comfort her friend whom -she had remembered from babyhood. But the kitchen floor was in such a -fearfully sticky mess with jam and pickles and scraps of cake and pie -that she could only hover on the outskirts, calling out her condolences -to cook, who for once in her life failed to pay the smallest attention -to her little favorite. - -Just then John, the man who did all the chores about the house, came -stumping up the cellar stairs. He had gone down to attend to the -furnace, but had found something in the coal bin that sent him straight -back again as fast as his rheumatic leg would allow. - -He now appeared in the doorway with his arms full of Peter Pan and his -family, all of which he proceeded to solemnly deposit in the middle of -the floor. And a more demoralized, disreputable looking bunch one could -never conceive or imagine. - -Sticky with the cider in which they had wallowed and covered with a -fine layer of coal dust acquired in the quarters in which they had -passed the night, they presented an appalling vision, and poor Sally -lifted up her voice and wept in unison with cook. - -Just then Rough House appeared at the kitchen door, having made a trip -upstairs and succeeded in arousing papa, mamma and nurse, who now -came hurrying down half-dressed. And Sally was forthwith borne off to -the nursery, where she was coddled and comforted and dressed by the -crackling wood fire. - -Mamma condoled with cook and papa decided that a private detective -should henceforth look after the house during the night. - -Rough House was the last one to leave for the upper regions and as -he followed mamma upstairs he cocked his eye knowingly at Peter Pan, -sitting disconsolately in the midst of his crocked and begrimed family. -That besmeared worthy glared sullenly back without being able to hurl -defiance at his enemy in any more emphatic manner. - -Breakfast was late that morning and very scrappy, but nobody cared for -anything much, so much troubled were they all over the affair in the -kitchen. And after the doleful meal was concluded papa departed to find -Pinkerton and mamma and Sally drove down town carrying the Teddy Bears -to the cleaners, where, owing to their dreadful condition, they were -obliged to remain for at least a couple of weeks. - -It is needless to say that during their absence everything progressed -smoothly and the man from Pinkerton’s found himself, like Othello, with -his occupation gone. And when they finally returned fresh and fine and -several shades lighter from the cleaning process, they were greeted -with rapture by their little mistress. - -Only the dogs were sorry to see them return. If ever a dog mourned his -inability to talk, that dog was Rough House as he watched Sally while -she hugged and kissed the returned prodigals. - -The dog had always been Peter Pan’s especial detestation, and now his -hatred was increased immeasurably. From his coign of vantage on Sally’s -knee he watched the dog sulkily, as he lay at the little girl’s feet, -his beautiful red coat glistening like satin in the winter sunshine and -his sharp, black nose between his two paws, apparently asleep, but in -reality watching everything through half-closed eyelids. - -Peter Pan had added considerably to his already varied store of -knowledge during his stay at the cleaning establishment, and had -learned, for one thing, that a telephone is a very handy thing to -have in the house. He had seen the employees at the cleaners use it -frequently and was fairly itching to get his mischief making paws on -the receiver of the extension phone that hung up in the nursery. - -Mrs. Peter Pan had been carrying on worse than ever, and sulked most -of the time, for she had grown very lonely and did not get on at all -well with the rest of the toys in the nursery. She boxed the cubs and -snapped at her husband and altogether made life so unbearable that -after deep and prolonged meditation Peter Pan concocted a scheme which -he now only awaited a favorable opportunity to put into execution. - -His chance came on a certain night, when, the dogs having gone to the -farm for a few days, the coast in the nursery was quite clear. - -Dragging a chair to the telephone he joyfully mounted upon it and -pulled down the receiver. In another moment the night watchman at -Schwartz’s was more than astonished to be called to the phone and to -hear a queer little growling voice send in a large order for Teddy -bears to be delivered the first thing next morning at the North -residence. - -[Illustration] - -The order was so large that it completely cleaned up the stock of Teddy -bears, which were duly packed, and at an early hour a big delivery -wagon drew up in front of Sally’s home, and out of it the driver -lifted a huge box, which he proceeded to deposit in the front hall. - -[Illustration] - -Mamma was not at home, having gone to aunty’s for luncheon, but Sally -immediately sent for John, who opened the box at once. When what should -tumble out but a whole multitude of Teddy bears, of all sizes, colors -and descriptions? - -Sally was rendered quite speechless with delight and astonishment. And -when mamma arrived at home, late in the afternoon, she was more than -surprised to find her little daughter sitting on the nursery floor -literally surrounded by Teddy bears, that swarmed all over the nursery -and overflowed into her own room beyond. - -In the midst of them and wearing a most delighted expression sat -Bedelia, no longer sulky but literally beaming and appearing the very -jolliest of bears. - -Immediately there was a good deal of telephoning, first to papa and -then to Schwartz’s; the latter, when they learned of the practical joke -that had been perpetrated, readily agreed to take back the Teddy bears. - -Sally was of course dreadfully disappointed, and although she could -not refrain from a few tears that reddened her poor little nose, she -was, on the whole, so sweet about it that papa allowed her to select -several bears which were kept in the nursery when the rest of the tribe -journeyed away in the big delivery wagon. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -_The Teddy Bears at the Cleaner’s._ - - -THERE had been more than one reason for the detention of the Teddy -bears so long at the cleaner’s. To be sure, they were very much soiled -indeed, but something else fell out which protracted their stay during -the second week. - -Peter Pan and his family did not at all enjoy the cleaning process, in -which it seemed that they were literally handled without gloves, but -from which they emerged in a spotless condition. They were then carried -late one afternoon to a large store room, and set up on a shelf to -await transportation home. - -As it was a very large establishment two night watchmen were employed, -and from their elevated position the bears eyed hungrily the baskets in -which they had brought their midnight lunch, and which they had placed -on a small table near by. - -The night dragged slowly and the watchmen consumed a couple of hours -in playing cribbage. After they had grown tired of the game, as it was -still too early to eat, one of them proposed that they make the rounds -of the building and then sit down together to their lunch. - -As soon as they were out of sight and hearing, the bears scrambled down -from their shelf and made haste to investigate the contents of the -lunch baskets. - -They contained a rather slim meal for five, besides which some of the -food was of a description that caused the pampered family to turn up -their sharp noses. They afterward learned that it was called pork and -sauerkraut, a mixture that the new made-in-Germany bears would no doubt -have appreciated. - -[Illustration] - -Peter Pan, however, dumped the contents of the basket out on the floor, -upsetting and breaking a bottle of milk, that ran all over the floor -and added a liquid element to the sour mess. He then opened the other -basket, in which he discovered sandwiches, fried cakes and a triangle -of pumpkin pie. - -Upon these viands they feasted until not a crumb remained and then -turned their attention to the pack of cards with which the watchmen -had been playing cribbage. The board and little ivory pins also proved -very amusing. - -Peter Pan had watched the game closely and it did not take him very -long to learn it. So he now set about teaching it to Bedelia. However, -they soon found the cards very awkward to handle, as they were far too -large for Teddy bears in proportion; besides which the little pins were -forever falling on the floor and getting lost. - -So the pair soon gave it up and handed the cards over to the little -bears who seized upon them with the greatest avidity and examined -them curiously. They then fell to building houses with the bits of -pasteboard, which, as all houses of cards usually do, soon came -tumbling down in confusion. - -As the little bears were not particularly gentle in handling their -playthings they were soon torn and defaced and were thrown in a soiled -heap on the floor, while the cubs ran after their parents, who had now -started out on a voyage of discovery. - -On the floor above, level with the street, was the room in which all -the cleansed articles were displayed in glass cases and in the large -show window. Peter Pan was afraid of being seen from outside, so with -some difficulty he managed to drag down the shades. He understood how -to do that very well indeed. - -So far their journey had been illuminated by the use of matches, which -Peter Pan had brought with him along with the watchman’s pipe and a bag -of Bull Durham. A trail of burned matches thrown down when they had -burned out marked their passage from below stairs. Now that the coast -seemed to be clear the electric light was brought into play and the -bears proceeded to investigate everywhere, leaving ruin and devastation -in their wake. - -Fine furs and delicate laces were mauled and trampled; dainty evening -gowns were pulled about and covered with little sticky paw marks. Mrs. -Peter Pan possessed herself of an exquisite pink feather boa in which -she capered madly about, having wrapped the boa several times around -her body while the long ends trailed upon the floor. - -Meanwhile the cubs were not losing any time, but were making merry -among the kid gloves, pulling them up on their paws and soiling and -splitting every pair that they touched. - -Peter Pan had been satisfied with a cursory survey of the pretty -articles on exhibition, for he soon found that they did not interest -him very much. So he soon turned his attention to the watchman’s pipe -which he had all the time been carrying about with him. - -It was no difficult matter to fill and light it and the bear threw -himself luxuriously on a pile of filmy laces and proceeded to smoke to -his heart’s content. - -Now Peter Pan had never heard anything concerning the effects of the -first attempt at smoking. Therefore he was much surprised at the queer -sensations which after a few moments he began to experience, without in -the least comprehending the source from whence they came. For the pipe -was about five times as large in proportion to Peter Pan as it was to -its original owner. And of course its effects were in the same ratio. - -Peter Pan began to realize a fearsome sensation at the pit of his round -stomach, the purport of which very soon became only too evident. The -floor seemed to rock beneath him, and when he essayed to walk, it made -as if to rise up and hit him on the head. It curved in billows and -tipped itself up at a fearful angle, as if offering him a challenge. - -Who had ever before seen the floor of an ordinary shop, or indeed, any -floor at all, behave in such an utterly absurd and unaccountable manner? - -Peter Pan would have wondered had he not been too ill to wonder at -anything. His head was splitting and a flame of thirst devoured his -parched tongue. - -In his misery, the cause of which he did not in the least understand, -he let fall the pipe, a spark from which fell upon the web-like lace -and in a moment the whole pile was in a blaze. - -Now Peter Pan knew what a fire meant, for he had seen one once before, -and although he was about as ill as a bear could well be, he took to -his unsteady heels, calling loudly to his family to follow him, and -together they plunged down the stairs, seeking safety in the lower -regions. - -Hastily they climbed to their original shelf, and not a moment too -soon, for the torpor which enveloped them all day was beginning to -steal upon them, and mercifully to dull the pangs that gripped their -mischievous ringleader. - -Now the watchmen, who had seen the light of the rapidly increasing -blaze, came racing to the scene of action. The fluids used in cleansing -fed the flames, that now were burning fiercely; an alarm was turned in -and by the time the fire department arrived they found all that they -could attend to. - -Nearly everything in the store was destroyed, and such articles as -were saved were so soiled and begrimed by the water and smoke that it -was found necessary to clean them over again, much to the disgust and -dismay of the Teddy bears. And right glad they were when at last they -were swathed in wrappings of tissue paper, packed in a big box and -expressed home to Papa Doctor’s house. - -Here Bedelia immediately set her wits to work to plan new mischief for -the amusement of the nursery and her own delectation, the result of -this scheming being a grand ball, which took place at no very late date. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -_A Ball in the Nursery._ - - -THE new Teddy bears proved a great acquisition to the society of the -nursery. They were fine, plump specimens, and were all tagged “made in -Germany,” a fact which marked them with especial distinction. Their -manners were polished in the extreme and they at once became prime -favorites. One of them, a particularly fine looking fellow, was labeled -“the Kaiser,” and his round and sleek little frau so captured Bedelia’s -fancy that she immediately devoted herself to the new acquaintances to -the exclusion of everything else, even to Peter Pan and the cubs. - -Peter Pan was anything but pleased at this turn of events, and began to -fear that he had bitten off more than he could chew in sending for the -strange bears. It was now his turn to sulk, and he behaved with such -outrageous rudeness that the Kaiser took offence and matters began to -assume a threatening aspect. - -Bedelia was herself a delighted spectator of the trouble that she -had stirred up, watching the trend of affairs with impish glee and -redoubling her attentions in proportion as she saw it annoyed her -husband. - -Thus matters stood when the toys determined to give a grand reception -and ball in honor of the newcomers, and elegant, engraved invitations -were issued by an executive committee. - -This was not a difficult thing to achieve, as Bedelia had purloined the -same from mamma’s desk. - -To be sure they had been neither filled out nor directed, as none of -the toys could write, but neither could they read; the invitations were -handed around merely as a matter of form, for every toy in the nursery -knew the time and place of the wonderful event. - -Such a brilliant affair had never before taken place, and society was -all agog and in a flutter of excitement. - -The committee was at first somewhat puzzled as to how they should -secure adequate refreshments, as, in the light of recent events, a raid -on the kitchen was out of the question. But Bedelia again came to the -rescue, and by the aid of the telephone ordered such a gorgeous supper -that the caterer who had served the North family for years concluded -that some grand society function was afoot. - -All this time Peter Pan was growing sulkier and sulkier, and his -attitude had become more threatening. He had even been overheard to vow -that he would not attend the ball. - -All the rest of the toys felt extremely anxious as to the outcome of -affairs. Many of them sided with Peter Pan, for he had always been -friendly and courteous with everyone, while his wife had kept, to -herself. And her accession of friendship with the newcomers had only -tended to aggravate society at large. - -The Kaiser and his plump and pretty wife, however, had become extremely -popular, and owned a goodly following. So public opinion appeared to be -about evenly divided. - -It seemed a great shame that such a radical split should have taken -place in a society that heretofore had always moved in perfect unison. - -The twins had been looking forward to the coming festivities with the -liveliest anticipations, but on the very day before the ball their -father, having been offended at them for some infringement of rules, -declared that they should not set foot in the ball-room. Bedelia -immediately vowed that they should, and so matters stood on the evening -of the ball. - -All the dolls were rigged out in their best attire, and Bedelia had -borrowed a beautiful pink silk dècolletè gown from one of them who was -fortunate enough to own several. - -To be sure, it was rather a tight fit and two buttons indignantly -burst off the back of the waist when they discovered who it was that -was putting it on. A pin or two, however, made good the deficiency, -and Bedelia really looked very charming in the glistening pink silk -with a wreath of tiny pink rosebuds twined around her ears. She felt -entirely satisfied as she surveyed herself in the mirror on Sally’s -bureau, to the top of which she had climbed in order to get a full view -of herself, and quite forgot all about the anxious twins who, decorated -with two of Sally’s newest blue hair-ribbons, hovered nervously in the -background awaiting developments. - -Soon the music struck up and the Kaiser and Bedelia proceeded to lead -the grand march around the nursery. - -[Illustration] - -To be sure the music was not very grand, for the doll’s piano was the -sole instrument available and the only personage who could be persuaded -to perform upon it was an ancient china doll, who had lost both -feet, the result of having been dropped in the wash basin by Sally, -and consequently was unable to do any dancing. However, the hearty -good-will of the guests and their vigorous execution of the various -dances on the program quite made up for all deficiencies in other -directions. - -At first the twins hid themselves behind the door and contented -themselves with simply watching the opening exercises, although they -fairly itched to be on the floor, but as the tail end of the grand -march swung past them, they resolved to do or die and, boldly emerging -from the hiding-place, fell into line and went capering along after -the rest of the crowd, taking care, however, to keep a sharp lookout -for their father, who apparently had so far failed to observe their -presence. - -Peter Pan, in fact, was having the time of his life, marching with an -extremely pretty and vivacious stuffed guinea pig, and had already -commenced to pay her such marked attention that Bedelia was observed -to cast a number of uneasy glances in their direction. That two should -play at her own little game was not at all a part of her program. - -Peter Pan had evidently forgotten her existence; while as for the -Kaiser, he never noticed him at all, save once, to salute him with -a rude and irreligious gesture as they were dancing vis-à-vis. The -meaning of this was as Greek to the imported bear, and as nobody cared -to enlighten him on the subject the affair came to nothing. - -The twins had meanwhile been dancing together, as no other partners -seemed available. They might have gotten through the evening without -especial notice from anyone had not Tom, after the first three dances, -refused to dance lady any longer, while selfish Jerry insisted on -keeping the gentleman’s part. Words soon came to blows, and in a moment -the dancing ceased and everyone came hurrying up to ascertain the cause -of the disturbance. - -Immediately Peter Pan was in the middle of the fray, and collaring his -offspring, one in each paw, he yanked them off to the dogs’ lair under -Sally’s bed, where he presently left them, a considerably less impudent -pair of cubs. - -As Rough House was still away at the farm, there was nothing to fear -from his dreadful jaws. Joined by a common trouble and each one equally -anxious to get even with his father, they had now quite forgotten their -differences, and held a most emphatically worded conference under the -bed, at last deciding that they would run away and so square accounts -with their unfeeling parent. - -It was now high time to serve supper, and the committee on refreshments -descended to the kitchen, only to find nothing at all that resembled -freezers of ice-cream and boxes of cake and sandwiches. - -They had not counted on the fact that everything would be received at -the door by cook, but such had been the case, and she had declined -to receive them in language more emphatic than that usually employed -in polite society. That there was no party at that house she had -vigorously maintained, and the driver had retreated in some perplexity, -carrying along the goodies. - -Loud were the exclamations of disappointment, as the hungry toys -crowded around the dismayed and disheartened committee, and in the -general confusion the twins crept noiselessly out from under the bed -and slipped into the dark hall. They had learned by this time that to -slide down the banisters is really the swiftest method of locomotion, -and they quickly availed themselves of this speedy method and went -skimming fleetly away to the lower regions. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -_The Twins Abscond._ - - -DELIGHTED with their new found shoot-the-chutes, the twins hastily -climbed the stairs to try it again and yet again, finally rolling -off the banisters and landing on the soft fur rug at the foot of the -stairs, breathless and too tired to try even one more climb. - -Squatting together in the dim light from the hall lamp that was always -left burning all night, they suddenly remembered that they had started -to run away and immediately began to discuss the question of ways and -means. - -Papa Doctor’s big, fur-lined coat, that he always wore when going out -to night calls during the severe weather, hung on the hat rack, and the -cubs knew that its side-pockets were huge and that a Teddy bear might -easily find refuge therein. - -While they were deliberating whether or no to seize this method of -escape from the house, their decision was hastened by the sound of the -telephone ringing furiously. - -It was a call for Papa Doctor and in a moment he was heard hurrying -about in the room overhead as he sprang into his clothes. - -The cubs hesitated no longer, but swarming up the sides of the -greatcoat they dove one into each pocket, and lay there quaking with -fright as Papa Doctor came running downstairs, hastily struggled into -his coat, pulled his sealskin cap down over his ears and hurried away, -pulling on his gloves as he went. - -[Illustration] - -Whither lay his route the cubs, of course, were unable to divine. They -rode for some distance in a street car and then there was a short walk, -a run up a flight of steps and Papa Doctor was ringing the bell at -the door of a cheap apartment house, a fact which the cubs discovered -by poking their heads one out of each pocket. They grinned at the -thought of how astonished the doctor would be could he know what he was -carrying along with his pills and powders. But they quickly subsided as -the front door swung open all by itself, a habit that the front doors -of flat houses usually follow, and the doctor ran quickly upstairs, up -and up and up five flights to the very top. - -[Illustration] - -Here a light streamed into the hall from an open door and an anxious, -white-faced woman ran to meet him. And while he divested himself of -his heavy outer garments and went to work over a dangerous attack of -croup, the twins slid warily each out of his respective pocket and -slipped, trembling, to their usual refuge under the bed. - -Finally, after an hour’s hard work, the little patient was left in -a satisfactory condition, Dr. North promising to return early next -morning, and after a little, all preparations for the night were -concluded and quiet reigned in the little flat. - -For a while the cubs remained quietly where they were, but as they were -not accustomed to sleeping on the hard floor they speedily concluded to -seek for a softer spot. - -They knew that their father always slept in Sally’s bed, so without any -more ado, as all was now dark and still, they climbed up on the bed, -rooted their way underneath the bedclothes and were soon snugly and -soundly fast asleep. - -It was such a poor, plain tiny room into which the jolly, smiling -face of the round red sun peeped the next morning, but his face grew -several shades less jolly and his smile a trifle less broad as he noted -the thin little face on the pillow and the outline of the poor little -twisted limb lying stiffly under the spotless bedclothes. - -Jimmy-boy sighed and stirred feebly, wakening slowly, weak and worn out -after the terrible struggle of the night before. - -Presently his eyes opened and the very first thing they fell upon was -two pairs of round, golden-brown ears sticking up out of the bedclothes. - -The little fellow raised himself slowly on his elbow, and his thin -little hand crept forth uncertainly and slowly drew first one cub and -then the other from beneath the quilt. - -Delight and amazement contended on his wistful little face and he -called for his mother in a tone that brought her running from the wee -kitchen where since daybreak she had been busily working at the fine -sewing that kept Jimmy-boy and herself out of the poor-house. - -Together they admired and speculated over the cubs, theorizing over -their strange advent and finally deciding that Dr. North must have -surreptitiously smuggled them in as a new kind of medicine for his -little patient. - -But when Dr. North arrived, some time later, he disclaimed all -knowledge of the twins. The city was full of Teddy bears, and all the -little chaps looked alike to him, and it never in the world occurred to -him that they could be the property of his small daughter. Their coming -remained wrapped in mystery that caused Mrs. Gray no little uneasiness. -However, as Jimmy-boy was feeling much better and Dr. North decided -that there would probably be no return of last night’s paroxysm, she -resigned herself to the pleasure of seeing her frail little son -enjoying his play with the jolly-looking bears, hoping devoutly they -would not disappear as mysteriously as they had arrived. - -She sat beside his bed, her slender hands busy with her sewing, while -her soft brown eyes smiled approval on the happiness of her boy. - -Jimmy-boy was eight years old, but he had never walked. That he never -would walk had been the verdict of several physicians, but Dr. North, -who was deeply interested in the case, was beginning to fancy that he -saw a tiny ray of light, so very faint, however, that he forbore to -express his idea even to Jimmy-boy’s mother. - -[Illustration] - -All that day the twins sat stiffly upon Jimmy-boy’s bed, while his -active little brain invented queer games in which his imagination made -them take an active part; while he talked aloud, first for one and then -for the other in a queer little growling voice, which he varied from -time to time accordingly as it represented one cub or the other. - -At last he fell asleep with the twins clasped close to him, having -passed a happier day than any that he could remember in many a long -year. - -As soon as it was quite safe to do so, the cubs wriggled out of the -child’s embrace and started out to investigate their new surroundings -and, above all, to find, if possible, something to put into their -clamoring little stomachs. - -It did not take very long to go over the territory included in two -small rooms. Mrs. Gray slept beside Jimmy-boy’s bed in an astounding -arrangement that shut up in the daytime and imposed itself upon a -credulous public as a shabby chest of drawers, which the cubs regarded -with unqualified amazement, as they had never before beheld such a -contrivance. They could see no good reason why the thing did not shut -up and flatten out its occupant and indeed rather expected to see that -event take place at any moment. - -Teddy bears, however, never lose any time in speculation, and the cubs -turned their attention to the kitchen, being very much disgusted that -the only available light consisted of an oil lamp, an article which, -like the folding-bed, they had never before encountered, and of which -they were proportionately afraid. - -With the aid of a box of matches, however, they raided the larder, -a very slender one, indeed, but they discovered a couple of fresh -eggs intended for Jimmy-boy’s breakfast, and a bottle of rather -blue-looking milk. The eggs they sucked greedily, and after drinking -all the milk they wished for, upset the remainder on the floor. - -They were greatly disgusted at being obliged to put up with such short -rations, and resolved as soon as practicable to leave a place where -they could find so very little that was congenial. - -[Illustration] - -They had about concluded to go to bed, when suddenly without the -slightest warning and like a bolt from a clear sky, something happened -that very nearly put an end to their careers for good and all. - -Suddenly out of the darkness, apparently from nowhere at all, sprang a -huge gray cat, eyes flaming and tail high in air, that leaped upon the -terrified cubs, and seizing Jerry by the back of the neck, shook him as -he often had shaken a rat. - -Billy, the big coon-cat who was Jimmy-boy’s dear friend and playmate, -had been down in the cellar for several days enjoying a protracted -mouse hunt, and now, returning by devious ways best known to himself, -had surprised the marauders at the very height of their evil doing. - -He was too full of fresh game to care anything about eating these queer -looking animals, besides which the flavor of Jerry’s neck was anything -but appetizing. But the lust of killing was in his blood, and he shook -him fiercely, wondering greatly at the toughness of the creature, who -was so much harder to dispatch than a rat. - -Oh, how Jerry screamed! Surely never before did Teddy bear raise such -a fearful racket. Luckily for him, Mrs. Gray was awakened by the noise -and now came running out of the bedroom, just in time to prevent -Jerry’s complete undoing. - -“Dear old Billy! You thought you were doing your duty,” she exclaimed, -stroking the big fellow, who was purring and rubbing against her, very -proud indeed of what he had done, but on the whole somewhat piqued that -he had not been permitted to complete the good work. - -As for Jerry, the chief damages that he had suffered seemed to be done -to Sally’s blue hair-ribbon, that still adorned his neck. - -Both he and Tom were extremely glad to be deposited in a place of -safety high on the mantel shelf, there to remain until Jimmy-boy called -for them in the morning. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -_Bedelia Takes a Sea Voyage._ - - -THE absence of the twins caused a good deal of consternation in the -nursery, and although Peter Pan had searched the house from attic -to cellar on the night of their disappearance, he had, of course, -discovered nothing. He now knew enough to turn out the lights, and -so returned to the nursery, leaving no tracks behind him. Bedelia -was frantic over the loss of her cubs. She stormed in private and -went into hysterics in public, applying to her husband a series of -appellations that were anything but conjugal. Moreover, she accused him -of driving away her children by his cruelty, a charge which he could -not truthfully refute. - -In short, a lioness bereft of her cubs was as water to wine compared to -Bedelia deprived of hers. - -Peter Pan was driven almost to the verge of lunacy, not because he had -any especial affection for either the cubs or Bedelia, but because his -wife was managing to make things so very uncomfortable for him. - -Naturally everybody sympathized with her attitude in regard to her -children and Peter Pan began to discover that society was giving him -the cold shoulder. - -There was really no foundation for his ridiculous jealousy. His wife -had a perfect right to make friends where she chose just the same as he -did. This was the general verdict. - -Peter Pan, who by this time was really very miserable, redoubled his -efforts in searching and researching the house, but as his attempts at -discovery met with no results whatever he was forced to discontinue -them, hoping that chance which seemed to have spirited away the cubs -would some day return them in an equally mysterious manner. - -Meanwhile Bedelia pined and fretted incessantly. She refused to eat and -grew thin and yellow. The loss of her appetite, which had always been -a most robust one, was indeed an alarming symptom. And what to do to -improve matters remained for some time a problem. - -Finally an idea, a big, brilliant idea, dawned upon the Teddy bear’s -mind, and he proceeded at once joyfully to put it into execution. - -The North family had been discussing, in Peter Pan’s hearing, the -probability of a trip to Europe the following summer, and the Teddy -bear decided at once that a sea voyage would go far toward restoring -Bedelia’s mental and physical balance. - -To be sure, the only sheet of water available was the bath tub and the -only craft in the nursery the Noah’s ark. This latter Mr. Noah was -willing and even eager to lend, while Bedelia herself hailed the plan -with delight and immediately forgot her grouchiness in her excitement -over the proposed trip. - -But upon taking measurements it was discovered that Bedelia was almost, -if not quite, as large as the proposed pleasure craft. This difficulty -was gotten out of the way, however, by Mrs. Noah, who suggested that -the voyager should sit firmly on top of the ark, drawing up her hind -paws so that they should not trail in the water. This plan was hailed -with joy by all, especially by Bedelia, who had, for the moment, -greatly feared that her excursion was on the eve of a miserable failure. - -The bath-room was a fine large room with tiled floor and walls and -equipped with every modern convenience for bathing. - -The great marble bath itself was sunk in the floor and one descended -into it by means of several steps. Thither Peter Pan and a score of -assistants dragged the creaking ark, while others turned on the cold -water and attended to minor details. Finally Bedelia herself arrived, -supported by Mrs. Noah and looking pale and interesting in a tourist -hat and veil, the loan of which had been offered by one of the dolls. - -The ark was ready, anchored at the foot of the steps. It had been -decorated with a number of tiny flags and looked superb as it rocked on -the restless waves of the bath tub, as if impatient to be gone. - -There now arose some difficulty in getting the passenger aboard, for -the ark tipped absurdly whenever she essayed to step upon the gang -plank, which had been improvised from a couple of long handled bath -brushes. The difficulty was finally overcome by the rubber Brownies, -who swam gallantly out and clung to the opposite side of the ark, -thus nicely balancing things. Bedelia was then assisted to her seat -on the roof, in which lofty position she appeared rather as if riding -cross-saddle. - -But now arose another unforeseen obstacle. The boat, when pushed off -by a dozen pairs of willing hands, refused to go. And there was really -nothing very odd in this, as it contained no motive power of any -description whatever. To be sure, its usual method of locomotion was -to be dragged about the nursery floor with a string, where it traveled -smoothly enough on its little wooden wheels. - -Finally the big papier-mache alligator that Bob had brought from -Florida threw himself into the breach, and gallantly offered to tow the -boat, an offer that was joyfully accepted. - -Bedelia, who by this time was in tears, plucked up her spirits, and -after some little delay, caused by the necessary search for a piece of -string, the ark moved majestically off, while Bedelia gaily waved her -handkerchief from her airy perch. - -[Illustration] - -Twice did they circle grandly around the bath, Bedelia calling out -to the admiring crowd which lined the shore that she was already -experiencing much benefit from the cool breezes. But as they started -for a third trip the baby cub, animated, no doubt, by the Imp of the -Perverse, leaning far out over the water as if to wave to her mother -suddenly smote the alligator full in the neck with a large cake of -Turkish bath soap which she had purloined from the near-by wash stand. - -Now the alligator was without a doubt a fine fellow, but he had never -been intended to stand such a soaking as he was now getting. As the -fearsome missile, hard as Pharaoh’s heart, took him in his tenderest -spot, silently, and without a quiver, his head separated from his body -and sank gently but firmly to the bottom. - -The ark, thus suddenly arrested in its course, spun around and tilted -over crazily, sending poor Bedelia flying off at a tangent. - -At this awful exhibition a dreadful cry went up from the horrified -crowd that lined the banks. The next moment Bedelia was seen waddling -toward the shore and crying lustily to be pulled out. To be sure, the -water was not deep enough to drown her and she could easily enough have -scrambled up the steps had she not been too thoroughly terrified to -attempt to help herself, and she was naturally very wet and draggled, -when hauled out with some difficulty by her almost demented better half. - -The poor alligator, now reduced to a shapeless pulp, floated idly on -top of the water, while his beautifully varnished complexion slowly -soaked off and stained the tide in every direction. It was indeed a -piteous spectacle. As it was impossible to do anything with him at -so late an hour, it was decided to leave him where he was for the -night, and on the following evening to fish him out and give him a -grand funeral. These most laudable intentions were, however, foiled -by Betty, the housemaid, who coming in early to clean the bath-room, -discovered the remains of the departed and promptly deposited them in -the kitchen coal scuttle, whence they were ingloriously cremated by -cook the very next time she put coal on the fire. - -Meanwhile Bedelia had been dried and put to bed. Her plush coat had -suffered considerably from the wetting and she was in a decidedly -hysterical condition. Therefore, the canary bird who could hop around -in his cage and sing after being wound up, made a flying trip to the -library to consult Dr. Owl, who sat all the time perched on the helmet -of Minerva over one of the book cases. - -[Illustration] - -The Doctor never made outside cases, as he found it quite impossible to -fly while hampered with such an incumbrance as the head of Minerva, to -which an unkind fate had firmly attached him. - -Dr. Owl listened to the canary bird’s message with a very wise -expression, after which he closed his eyes, ruffled up his feathers and -to all intents and purposes went to sleep. Only he could not stand on -one foot as owls usually do at such a time as both of his claws were -solidly annexed to Minerva’s helmet. - -Presently the canary bird grew impatient and as he was still more -than half wound up began to sing at the top of his voice. This had an -immediate effect, for Dr. Owl promptly sat up and inquired sweetly if -the canary bird had supposed him to be asleep. And before the bird had -time to answer that it looked very much like it, had hastily added that -in moments of deep meditation over complicated cases he always closed -his eyes. He then selected a prescription, picking it out at random -from a little basket at his side and remarking as he did so, “It really -doesn’t matter in the least which one you take, you know. There isn’t -the smallest chance in the world of your ever getting it put up. Fifty -dollars, please.” The canary having come without his pocketbook, he had -been in such haste, requested that it be charged to Peter Pan, Esq., -Left Window Seat, The Nursery. After which he bowed very politely and -flew away with the precious and rather costly bit of paper in his beak, -and reached the nursery in a somewhat anxious frame of mind, as he felt -himself rapidly running down and feared that he would not have time -enough to get to his cage before giving out altogether. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -_Bedelia Becomes Literary._ - - -HE found Bedelia fast asleep and apparently in small need of a -sedative, and, leaving the prescription on her pillow, retired to his -perch in a rather disgusted frame of mind. And none too soon, for -immediately the wheels inside him ceased to go around and he became -dead to the world until someone should come along with a key. - -Not until next morning was it discovered the baby cub was missing. -Terrified by the dire result of his heartless prank, and apprehensive -of condign punishment, he had flown no one knew whither, and truth -to tell, nobody appeared to care a nickel, but all declared that the -room of such an ill-behaved little animal was indeed preferable to his -company. - -For the alligator had been greatly liked and his untimely and wholly -unnecessary taking off was mourned by a large circle of sorrowing -friends. - -To be sure, he had always from the very first insisted upon passing -himself off as the real thing, and would have been mortally offended -had anyone intimated that he was not a stuffed alligator. “When I was -really alive,” and “before I came to be stuffed” had been favorite -prefaces to some of his rather long-winded stories concerning his -former life in Florida. - -But as the guinea pig remarked, one meets with so many shams in society -that it really doesn’t pay to be too censorious, even if one does know -alligator hide from papier-mache. - -Meanwhile Bedelia, stiff and sore from her ducking was not nearly -as sore and stiff as she made herself out to be. The loss of Little -Breeches had rendered her even more furious than had the disappearance -of the twins. Only in this case she was unable to vent her feelings -on the head of her husband, for which he sincerely thanked his lucky -stars. As long as Bedelia posed as an invalid, he did his best to be -kind and gentle, but it was hard work, for his wife was certainly -past-master in the art of being provoking. - -Suddenly seized with a new idea, she declared that she was going into -a decline and took to composing poetry in imitation of Miss Palmer, to -whose verses she had often listened while sitting up stiff and straight -and apparently deaf and dumb in the nursery. - -As neither Peter Pan nor Bedelia could write, the embryo poetess had no -means whatever of recording her literary ventures and was obliged to -depend upon her memory for the reproduction of her ideas. And as she -not infrequently forgot the most telling points, the result was often -disastrous. Her newly discovered gift was, of course, no secret to the -society of the nursery and all were anxious to hear some of the verses -which Bedelia had, thus far, kept entirely to herself. It was quite -evident to any casual observer that Bedelia had become possessed of the -divine afflatus. She would sit for hours at a time gazing mournfully -into space, looking at one spot until, as Tim the crow vowed, she -very nearly looked a hole through it. “Bedelia-sit-by-the-hour” he -christened her, being something of a wit himself, although he was too -well-mannered ever to thrust the fact on anyone else. - -[Illustration] - -At length curiosity became unbearable, and the stuffed guinea pig -who was looked upon as a person of culture, was deputed to request -that Bedelia would give a reading of her own compositions. To which -proposition she readily, not to say delightedly, consented, and it was -at once arranged that the affair should take place that evening in the -nursery, of course. - -A platform, consisting of two collar boxes, was erected on the edge of -the window sill where all might hear and see; and at the appointed hour -every seat was taken, to say nothing of those who were obliged to stand. - -The fair author was somewhat late, but after some delay the wooden -soldier, who had been appointed manager of the entertainment, announced -that it would commence. And Bedelia, bowing languidly, recited the -following: - - - EPITAPH ON THE LATE ALLIGATOR P. M. - - The Alligator, lo, is dead! - Bereft of his head, - His life breath sped, - And to another sphere his spirit fled. - -This was received with great applause, only one rude and irreligious -listener arose in the background and demanded to know where the epitaph -was to be inscribed, adding that the remains of the departed, as they -all very well knew, had been deposited in the kitchen coal scuttle. - -Could an epitaph be recorded on a coal hod? - -This unkind inquiry, while rather acting as a wet blanket, raised a -storm of discussion which was finally quelled by Tim, who remarked -that it was not absolutely necessary to inscribe it anywhere. He also -suggested that the P. M. (papier mache) be changed to R. T., as the -alligator had always considered himself the Real Thing. - -The vexed question having been amicably disposed of, the artist of -the evening proceeded to the second number on the program, which was -entitled - - - “A PASTORAL.” - - The rain was very wet indeed, - The trees were standing still; - The river was running the usual way, - For it never could travel up hill. - -“Of course it couldn’t,” remarked the guinea pig. “Why should it? -And how about the trees? One never sees them running around. And why -shouldn’t the rain be wet? Did one ever hear of dry rain except the -Raines law?” - -As these remarks were uttered in a loud voice, they were perfectly -audible to all the audience. Immediately a hubbub of criticisms, -pro and con, arose, in the midst of which the two collar boxes that -constituted the platform became so energetic that they suddenly parted -company, precipitating Bedelia to the ground. - -In the confusion that followed it would be but reasonable to conclude -that the entertainment was ended. Peter Pan lugged off his wife, after -having applied a smelling bottle in the usual place, and the cause of -all the disaster marched off to bed singing at the top of its shrill -voice: - - “See them in the windows, - See them everywhere; - Shapeless little creatures - Called the Teddy bears.” - -This verse, which had been picked up from a local paper, was -immediately adopted by the faction unfriendly to Bedelia, and for a -time her life was made miserable by hearing it on every side. For it -must be confessed that Bedelia was particularly proud of her figure, -and to be called shapeless was more than her strength could well bear. - -[Illustration] - -The crisp days of Autumn had come and already Bob was talking of -nutting parties. The spirit of Hallowe’en was in the air and the brisk -weather sent roses to Sally’s cheeks and a frosty sparkle to her -dancing eyes. Bob remarked that the tip of her little nose resembled a -bachelor’s button. But Sally took all his teasing good naturedly in the -spirit in which it was sent. - -Dr. North’s residence was situated well uptown in the Forest City and -almost directly opposite stood a small park, presented by one of the -wealthy residents in memory of a little daughter who had died in years -long gone by. “Grace Park” was one of Sally’s favorite haunts and here -she spent many delightful hours feeding the pigeons, the guinea hens -and the gray squirrels. - -To be sure, she was not very fond of the guinea hens, although she -rather enjoyed them when roasted. They were ugly, awkward creatures, -and made such a horrible clacking noise. And the pigeons were no -rarity; Bob had a whole coop full of them. But the squirrels were dear, -cosy, furry, gray creatures, with their fluffy, feathery tails and -their sharp bright eyes, and little paws clasped across their breasts -as they sat up on their haunches, snuffing the air. So tame they were, -for nobody thought of molesting them, that they were ready to spring on -Sally’s knee at the mere sight of a nut and take the morsel from her -hand. - -How still the child sat while her furry friend cracked nut after nut, -picking out the kernels and devouring them with relish. And then, when -he could eat no more, scampering off to bury the rest of his plunder, -first carefully biting off the blossom end in order that it might not -germinate when covered up in the ground. - -The child thought the wisdom of the furry folk very wonderful indeed -and wondered if the little fellows ever found the hiding places of -their treasures in after days. - -Chip, as Sally had named her favorite squirrel, was so tame that he -often followed her out of the park and across the street to the kitchen -door, which he was not slow to enter, for well he knew that cook kept a -generous store of nuts in the pantry for his especial benefit. - -[Illustration] - -On one beautiful afternoon Sally was sitting on her favorite bench in -the Park under a spreading maple, whose gorgeous foliage of crimson and -fine gold cast strange moving shadows on the grass as the west wind -gently swayed the branches. - -Perched on her knees was Chip, busily engaged in demolishing a fine -walnut. Having finished it and thrown away the shell, he sat up gravely -with his little paws crossed on his breast, as is the fashion with -squirrels at attention, and gently closed his eyes while Sally softly -stroked his soft fur and scratched his round ears, a process which he -enjoyed luxuriously. - -After a few moments he opened his bright eyes and looking up into the -child’s face remarked: “Sally, do you know what night this is going to -be?” - -“Hallowe’en,” responded Sally promptly. “And Bob and I are going to -have jack-o’-lanterns, and duck for apples and have lots of fun.” - -“So will we see lots of fun,” replied Chip with an important air. Sally -fancied there was something significant in his glance. But as it was -growing late she gently placed him on the bench and trotted home, while -Chip frisked away to his cosy little cottage in the branches of the -maple tree. - -At the front door of the house the child met Peter Pan. He hurried -toward her, evidently bursting with suppressed excitement. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -_Hallowe’en._ - - -“THE twins have come back and we have found Little Breeches,” he cried -joyfully, fairly hopping up and down with excitement. And sure enough, -there were the twins, having returned that very morning even as they -went, in Papa Doctor’s big pockets. Disgusted with life in a sphere -that gave them such small scope for the exercise of their talents, -they had seized upon an opportunity to leave Mrs. Gray’s, and right -glad they were to be at home again and in the bosom of a family that -received them with frantic rejoicings. Had Teddy bears been fond of -veal, no doubt an unlimited supply could have been provided, for surely -never were returned prodigals received with such acclaim. - -Sally almost wept for joy while she listened to Peter Pan’s voluble -explanations. - -Jimmy-boy had so far improved under Dr. North’s treatment that for -some time he had gone about on crutches and latterly had been able -to take a few steps alone. Dr. North had decided to send him and -his mother to the farm for a few weeks, or until the end of Indian -Summer, where plenty of good food and the pure country air would lend -great assistance toward the little fellow’s recovery. The cubs had -found nothing at all to their liking in the tiny flat, where there was -practically nothing to do, nothing to eat and a continual menace to -their life and liberty from Billy, the Coon Cat. Consequently they had -sought and found an opportunity of escape. Opportunity is often easy -of access if one only goes about it the right way. And the twins after -several anxious days found their occasion for escape. - -Little Breeches had been discovered in the soiled clothes hamper, where -nobody had thought for a moment of searching and from which he had -finally ventured forth heartily disgusted with his marooned condition. -Joy unconfined reigned in the nursery and Sally declared that she had -never been so glad over anything in her whole life. - -Having gloated over the delighted spectacle of the reunited Teddy bear -family in each other’s arms, she quickly ran to find Bob in order to -inform him of the splendid news. Bob was equally pleased over the -fortunate turn that affairs had taken. And then the two children, -having made ready for the Hallowe’en festivities that were to take -place after dinner, sat quietly down and enjoyed afternoon tea which -was presently served by nurse before the crackling fire in the nursery. - -Afternoon tea was not an habitual function, but was rather a movable -feast, served in the nursery whenever especially desired by the little -folk. To-day it was set out on a delightful little round table drawn -close to the fire of cannel coal that snapped and cracked cheerfully, -and furnished forth with all the delicious china of wonderful Dutch -designs that mamma had brought home on her last trip to London. From -such china, she had explained, do the little English children sip the -afternoon tea, that is with them such an important function. - -Dearly Sally loved to drink from the oddly shaped cups, watching -anxiously as the warm liquid descended for the gradual appearance -of the fanciful little figures that lined the inside as well as the -outside with a quaint fresco. - -It was so delightful to see first the top of the big, stiffly starched -white linen headdresses, and then, after a rather meditative swallow, -the wide flat linen collar, and then after a succession of rather hasty -swallows, for things were getting too interesting to linger, the funny -short blouses, the big white aprons and balloon-like skirts. And down -near the bottom where it was nearly time to find the whole spoonful -of sugar, nicely melted and most delectable by now, the queer, clumsy -wooden shoes. Sally wondered how they felt and if one could really -dance in them as these pictured girls were dancing, holding up their -voluminous skirts and showing the stiff white petticoats underneath. - -There were queer, wooden-looking boys, too, dancing as partners to the -girls, in high, brimless black hats, very short waisted blouses and -very full trousers gathered in at the ankle, and the wooden shoes, of -course. And such a conglomeration of colors, red, purple, blue, pink -and orange, and under their feet the very greenest of grass, while for -a background a thin strip of pale blue river meandered serenely through -the picture and beyond it a hazy purple perspective, the chief features -of which appeared to be wind mills. An intensely blue sky streaked with -primrose completed the picture. - -[Illustration] - -Sally considered the whole as the most exquisite bit of coloring she -had ever seen. Now she was seated luxuriously finishing her second -relay of tea, having twice enjoyed the unfolding of the fascinating -panorama within the cups. Opposite her was Bob, while on either side -sat Rags and Rough House, who were always honored guests at these -impromptu functions, licking their chops over their savory share in -the feast. Tim, as a rule, also joined in the festivities, being very -fond of crisp biscuit, but this afternoon he had taken himself off for -reasons all his own, and as he often made little trips to the park -where he greatly enjoyed roosting on some convenient bough and chatting -with Chip nobody felt any anxiety on the ground of his non-appearance. - -Presently when tea was finished and nurse came to take away the tray, -the children hastened downstairs to put the finishing touches to their -preparations for the evening’s fun. - -In the kitchen they found awaiting them a row of big pumpkins, and out -of each one Bob had fashioned a jack-o’-lantern with great glaring eyes -and a mouth full of grinning teeth. Hideous they were as the candles -were lit and placed inside each one. - -Every year Sally went through the same ceremony and every year she felt -in duty bound, and as a tribute to Bob’s genius, to shriek and cling -to cook, as the whole goblin crew stood glaring and blinking, calling -forth a chorus of indignant protests from the dogs, who considered that -they had borne a great deal and indeed quite too much from the Teddy -bears, without having such monsters added to the family circle. - -Dinner was a rather unceremonious meal that night, for everyone was -anxious to be through with it and cook was given scarcely time to -dispose of the dishes before an hilarious throng, reinforced by a -number of the near neighbors, invaded the kitchen. - -Lights were extinguished and for a few moments the lighted -jack-o’-lanterns glared and glowered in supreme control. At this Rough -House set up such an unearthly wailing, which nurse declared made her -flesh creep, that darkness was made light and the merry crowd proceeded -to enjoy the rousing games for which Hallowe’en is always famous. -Diving for apples in a tub of water and for a key in a pan full of -flour; trying to seize in one’s teeth a lump of sugar twirling on a -string hung from the chandelier; popping chestnuts and finally, with -lights lowered to a mysterious solemnity, watching the gyrations of two -uncanny little white figures that danced a weird kind of can-can in the -most lifelike manner imaginable, and later proved to be little dolls -deftly fashioned by knotting two of Papa Doctor’s big hand-kerchiefs -into shape, and manipulated by means of strings tied around their -necks and then thrown over an arm of the chandelier. The entertainment -wound up with such good things to eat as are popularly supposed to -belong to Hallowe’en, and the Virginia reel, for which purpose the gay -party adjourned to the parlor where Miss Palmer good-naturedly offered -to play for the dancing, and finally to the dining-room, where the -tempting feast was set forth. - -[Illustration] - -It was quite ten o’clock when Sally jumped into bed, a very tired -little girl. There had been one drawback to the pleasure of the -evening. Tim had not come home and the child could not help feeling -anxious, as he had never before remained away after dark. Sally -reproached herself for not having gone out to look for him before -dinner. However, she resolved to sleep with one eye open, in order to -hear if Tim should make any attempt to get in at the window, and in a -few moments was safely in dreamland. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -_The Dream Child._ - - -HOW long Sally slept she did not know when she was aroused by the sharp -tapping of a beak against the window pane. She sprang up, half asleep, -but only too glad to hear the sound for which she had been listening -even in her dreams. - -Hastily she threw open the window and in fluttered Tim, so full of -excitement that his very tail-feathers seemed to bristle with it. In -his queer little hoarse croak he implored Sally to lose no time in -dressing, as Chip, the squirrel, had sent a message to the effect that -he wished her and Bob to join him in the park at once. Now, considering -that it was getting well on toward midnight, the average child would -have been rather astonished to receive such an invitation. But Bob and -Sally, accustomed as they were to the call of the wild in a modified -scale, hastily dressed, being, I am afraid, none too particular -concerning the arrangement of hooks and buttons. - -Peter Pan, who was, as usual, ready for action, whispered to Sally not -to waken Bedelia. “She will be no end of a nuisance,” quoth the Teddy -bear. So she was left reposing among her cubs while the rest of the -party, escorted by Tim, crept cautiously downstairs and out at the -front door, which they placed off the latch in order to insure their -safe return. - -Across the street and into the park they hurried, Tim hopping and -flapping along in front. At the entrance they dimly distinguished a -tiny gray figure, sitting up with its little paws crossed on its breast -and its great, fluffy tail curled up, feather-like, over its back. It -was Chip, eagerly awaiting their advent. He ran joyfully to meet his -guests, and explained, as they hurried along, that he was sure they -would enjoy the festivities soon to follow, and that he had obtained an -invitation for them from the old horned owl, who was to be master of -ceremonies. - -They had now left the beaten path and were wading ankle deep through -the dead leaves that rustled crisply under their feet. A faint, gray -mist lay like a veil over the park, while low in the sky hung the -crescent moon, seemingly caught and held in her place by the forked -and naked branch of a tall poplar tree. Its silver beams sifted down -through the pale mist, which glittered as if spangled with thousands of -diamonds. - -Presently the mist seemed to concentrate itself in one glimmering -shape, which came gliding lightly forward toward the children with a -softly rhythmic motion and apparently without touching the ground In -another moment Sally discerned the figure of a little girl who appeared -to be about her own age, but of so fair and frail a mold that the very -moonbeams themselves seemed to penetrate through the transparency -of her ethereal body. Her long, fair hair floated loosely over her -shoulders and her little hands were filled with dazzling white flowers, -which she pressed softly against her bosom. - -Softly she floated to where the children stood, and laid her -transparent little hand, whose touch was as cool and light as that of a -snowflake, in Sally’s sturdy little brown palm. - -“Dear children,” she exclaimed, in a voice whose faint sweetness -sounded like the recollection of a chime of silver bells, “I am the -guardian spirit of this place, to which I bid you welcome, the little -girl for whom it was named, and who, years ago, passed into the world -of spirits. These flowers I took with me, and the good God has made -them immortal. They cannot wither. Nothing withers or dies in the world -where I live now.” - -She ceased speaking and a lovely smile irradiated her innocent little -face. - -Sally suddenly felt a great love spring up in her heart for this dear -dream-child, so unlike any companion that she had ever before met. She -longed to return the pressure of the tender little hand, but it was -already gone and the child was floating fairy-like ahead of them, ever -and anon turning toward them with her lovely smile as if beckoning them -to follow. - -They were now entering a part of the park where the trees stood -thickest, forming a sort of grove, in the centre of which lay an open -space. A bat drifted by on velvety wings with eyes that glared in the -darkness, and the great horned owl himself presently came flying along, -flapping close to the ground, and, sad to contemplate, even on such -an important occasion as this was evidently engaged in a still-hunt -for mice. Sally could not help wondering if he ever made an error and -mistook the squirrels for lawful prey. It seemed not, as they were all -so very friendly together. - -A wavering but ruddy glow now began to shine through the trees while -a weird melody was wafted to their ears and as the children hurried -through the last rows of pine and fir, they came upon a veritable fairy -ring. In the centre of the clearing a great fire of pine boughs burned -merrily, while round about it danced and capered a motley crew, the -like of which it has seldom fallen to mortal eyes to gaze upon. - -[Illustration: Round the fire danced a motley crew.] - -Round-eyed Brownies, goblins gaunt and gray; the dainty dryads, spirits -of the hoary trees; a company of little old women in red cloaks and -black, pointed hats, who rode upon brooms, but whose bright eyes and -kindly old faces belied everything that Sally had ever heard concerning -witches. They resembled more a company of little old ladies out on a -still-hunt for afternoon tea. The dream-child, however, drew away from -the firelight with a visible shudder, and took refuge behind a large -fir tree, and the children immediately followed her. Sally now saw for -the first time that a delicate pair of wings, beautifully irridescent, -sprang from her shoulders and lay, drooping, to her waist. - -Peter Pan and Tim, however, were in no way minded to hide their shining -lights behind the proverbial bushel, and before many moments had joined -the dancers around the crackling fire. Round and round they went, while -their weird song rose and swelled upon the air. - -At the upper end of the fairy glen had been erected a lofty throne of -pine and fir boughs, and upon this was solemnly perched the horned owl, -who, as master of ceremonies, was seated in lordly state, and did not, -of course, join the promiscuous revels. On either side of the throne -stood his marshals, two huge, speckled hoptoads, crowned with big hats -which consisted of enormous mushrooms, which flopped ridiculously -whenever their wearers moved. Sally, whose busy brain was forever -drawing parallels, was irresistibly reminded of the big picture hats -that she had once seen worn by the bridesmaids at a wedding to which -she had gone under the wing of mamma, Auntie Edith having been one of -the bridesmaids. The whole thing struck her so funny that she began to -giggle, and in another moment, despite Bob’s warning frown, she found -herself shaking with silent laughter. - -“Oh, how I wish we had brought Bedelia! She would certainly have -written some poetry,” she gasped to Bob, who shook his head in a vain -endeavor to keep her quiet. Just then the clock commenced to strike -the hour of midnight, and Sally, no longer able to contain herself, -burst into a ringing laugh, that was repeated, with a chorus of fearful -echoes, from every near-by rock and tree. - -In the twinkling of an eye, out went the fire and the whole merry swarm -of dancers rose silently in the air, as if on wings, and hovering above -the tree tops like a faint, gray cloud, slowly dispersed and vanished. - -Only the horned owl, who had fallen fast asleep, remained majestically -on his throne, and having thrice performed a lowly obeisance without -receiving the smallest sign of recognition beyond a sound that was -suspiciously like a snore, the two marshals, in a highly indignant -frame of mind, hopped nimbly away and were lost in the darkness, their -big hats flopping wildly as they went. - -And now a sweet voice from above their heads sounded faintly, -“Good-bye, dear Sally! Good-bye, dear Bob.” The dream-child, rising -slowly on her glittering wings, was waving them farewell with one hand, -while with the other she gathered to her breast the gleaming white -flowers. - -Her bright hair, blown back and floating behind her, formed a -shimmering frame for her delicate face. So for the last time they -beheld her, as she disappeared, a glistening speck against the deep -blue of the midnight sky. - -[Illustration] - -Peter Pan was yawning in a manner which indicated a desire for bed, and -hunting up Tim, whom they discovered vigorously digging for worms, they -hastened home, leaving the owl still fast asleep on his throne. - -In five minutes they were in the land of Nod, their remarkable -adventure already quite forgotten. - -When Sally awoke next morning she found pinned to her pillow a slip of -paper on which were penciled in an unfamiliar handwriting the following -lines: - - A mighty toad as marshal sat, - A speckled hoptoad, brown and fat, - He wore a mushroom for a hat. - And when he hopped the mushroom flopped; - It flopped, and flopped, and flopped and flopped; - I don’t believe it ever stopped. - -The author and sender of these mysterious lines has never been -discovered. They certainly did not arrive by the penny post. - -[Illustration] - - - * * * * * - -Transcriber’s Note: - -Page 147, “botton” changed to “bottom” (near the bottom) - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Teddy Bears, by Adah Louise Sutton - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEDDY BEARS *** - -***** This file should be named 51199-0.txt or 51199-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/1/9/51199/ - -Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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