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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:29:38 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:29:38 -0700 |
| commit | efc45cb9db4b326447e5cf1ba90f5a2cf3bb8560 (patch) | |
| tree | a3535618df61f57f9f9c0b96753dfebe07bf3dd9 | |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7425-0.txt b/7425-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..447b1e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4581 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER: A +SUPPLEMENTARY READER FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF SCHOOL *** + + + + +THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER + +_A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School_ + + +By Louisa M. Alcott + + + +[Illustration: "Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the +little tree."] + + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM + +II. THE CANDY COUNTRY + +III. NAUGHTY JOCKO + +IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES + +V. COCKYLOO + +VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY + +VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY + +VIII. THE FAIRY BOX + +IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL + +X. THE PIGGY GIRL + + + +[Illustration: She actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."] + + + + +I. + +A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. + + +"I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" +exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching +her mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be +given. + +"Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! You are as bad as old +Scrooge; and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, +if you don't care for dear Christmas," answered mamma, almost dropping +the silver horn she was filling with delicious candies. + +"Who was Scrooge? What happened to him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of +interest in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest lemon-drop +she could find; for nothing sweet suited her just then. + +"He was one of Dickens's best people, and you can read the charming +story some day. He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how +dear and beautiful it was, and made a better man of him." + +"I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have a great many curious ones +myself. But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," said +Effie, poking discontentedly among the sweeties for something worth +eating. + +"Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" +asked mamma, anxiously. + +"Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the +same, and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of +goodies in my stocking. Don't like some of them, and soon get tired of +those I do like. We always have a great dinner, and I eat too much, and +feel ill next day. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll +on top, or a stupid old Santa Claus, and children dancing and screaming +over bonbons and toys that break, and shiny things that are of no use. +Really, mamma, I've had so many Christmases all alike that I don't think +I _can_ bear another one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as +if the mere idea was too much for her. + +Her mother laughed at her despair, but was sorry to see her little girl +so discontented, when she had everything to make her happy, and had +known but ten Christmas days. + +"Suppose we don't give you _any_ presents at all,--how would that suit +you?" asked mamma, anxious to please her spoiled child. + +"I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, +to remember some very nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful +little body, full of odd whims and notions, which her friends loved to +gratify, regardless of time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of +three little girls, and very dear to all the family. + +"Well, my darling, I will see what I can do to please you, and not say a +word until all is ready. If I could only get a new idea to start with!" +And mamma went on tying up her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, +while Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain that kept her +in-doors and made her dismal. + +"Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones. I can't go +out, and there is a girl about my age splashing along, without any maid +to fuss about rubbers and cloaks and umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a +beggar-girl." + +"Would you like to be hungry, cold, and ragged, to beg all day, and +sleep on an ash-heap at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would come +next. + +"Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the end. This girl out here has +a basket of scraps on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, and +doesn't seem to care a bit, though the water runs out of the toes of her +boots. She goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and eating a cold +potato as if it tasted nicer than the chicken and ice-cream I had for +dinner. Yes, I do think poor children are happier than rich ones." + +"So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum today I saw two dozen merry +little souls who have no parents, no home, and no hope of Christmas +beyond a stick of candy or a cake. I wish you had been there to see how +happy they were, playing with the old toys some richer children had sent +them." + +"You may give them all mine; I'm so tired of them I never want to +see them again," said Effie, turning from the window to the pretty +baby-house full of everything a child's heart could desire. + +"I will, and let you begin again with something you will not tire of, +if I can only find it." And mamma knit her brows trying to discover some +grand surprise for this child who didn't care for Christmas. + +Nothing more was said then; and wandering off to the library, Effie +found "A Christmas Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, +read it all before tea. Some of it she did not understand; but she +laughed and cried over many parts of the charming story, and felt better +without knowing why. + +All the evening she thought of poor Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the +pudding, and the stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that "his legs +twinkled in the air." Presently bedtime arrived. + +"Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's nurse, "while I do your +pretty hair and tell stories." + +"I'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very interesting one," commanded +Effie, as she put on her blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers +to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed. + +So Nursey told her best tales; and when at last the child lay down under +her lace curtains, her head was full of a curious jumble of Christmas +elves, poor children, snow-storms, sugarplums, and surprises. So it is +no wonder that she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, which she +never quite forgot. + +She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, +all alone. The snow was falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and +night was coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and tired, and did not know +where to go nor what to do. + +"I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it, +and wish somebody would come and take care of me. I don't know who I am, +and I think I must be lost," thought Effie, with the curious interest +one takes in one's self in dreams. + +But the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she felt. Faster +fell the snow, colder blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor +Effie made up her mind that she was quite forgotten and left to freeze +alone. The tears were chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, +and her heart died within her, so hungry, frightened, and forlorn was +she. Laying her head on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and sat +there with the great flakes fast turning her to a little white mound, +when suddenly the sound of music reached her, and starting up, she +looked and listened with all her eyes and ears. + +Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was heard singing. She tried +to run toward the welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood like a +small statue of expectation while the light drew nearer, and the sweet +words of the song grew clearer. + + From our happy home + Through the world we roam + One week in all the year, + Making winter spring + With the joy we bring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Now the eastern star + Shines from afar + To light the poorest home; + Hearts warmer grow, + Gifts freely flow, + For Christmas-tide has come. + + Now gay trees rise + Before young eyes, + Abloom with tempting cheer; + Blithe voices sing, + And blithe bells ring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Oh, happy chime, + Oh, blessed time, + That draws us all so near! + "Welcome, dear day," + All creatures say, + For Christmas-tide is here. + +A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried the little candle; and in +the circle of soft light it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her +through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling creature, wrapped in white +fur, with a wreath of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, the +magic candle in one hand, and the other outstretched as if to shower +gifts and warmly press all other hands. + +Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision came nearer, leaving no +trace of footsteps in the snow, only lighting the way with its little +candle, and filling the air with the music of its song. + +"Dear child, you are lost, and I have come to find you," said the +stranger, taking Effie's cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, +while every holly berry glowed like a little fire. + +"Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no fear, but a great gladness, at +his coming. + +"I know all children, and go to find them; for this is my holiday, and +I gather them from all parts of the world to be merry with me once a +year." + +"Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking for the wings. + +"No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with my mates in a pleasant +place, getting ready for our holiday, when we are let out to roam about +the world, helping make this a happy time for all who will let us in. +Will you come and see how we work?" + +"I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave me again," cried Effie, +gladly. + +"First I will make you comfortable. That is what we love to do. You are +cold, and you shall be warm, hungry, and I will feed you; sorrowful, and +I will make you gay." + +With a wave of his candle all three miracles were wrought,--for the +snow-flakes turned to a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and +shoulders, a bowl of hot soup came sailing to her lips, and vanished +when she had eagerly drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal field +changed to a new world so full of wonders that all her troubles were +forgotten in a minute. + +Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard to keep from dancing. +Green garlands hung on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree +full of toys, and blazing with candles that never went out. + +In one place many little spirits sewed like mad on warm clothes, turning +off work faster than any sewing-machine ever invented, and great piles +were made ready to be sent to poor people. Other busy creatures packed +money into purses, and wrote checks which they sent flying away on the +wind,--a lovely kind of snow-storm to fall into a world below full of +poverty. + +Older and graver spirits were looking over piles of little books, in +which the records of the past year were kept, telling how different +people had spent it, and what sort of gifts they deserved. Some got +peace, some disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great joy and +hope. The rich had generous thoughts sent them; the poor, gratitude and +contentment. Children had more love and duty to parents; and parents +renewed patience, wisdom, and satisfaction for and in their children. No +one was forgotten. + +"Please tell me what splendid place this is?" asked Effie, as soon as +she could collect her wits after the first look at all these astonishing +things. + +"This is the Christmas world; and here we work all the year round, never +tired of getting ready for the happy day. See, these are the saints +just setting off; for some have far to go, and the children must not be +disappointed." + +As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, out of which four great +sleighs were just driving, laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa +Claus sat in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and tucking up +his wraps for a long cold drive. + +"Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a +humbug," cried Effie, astonished at the sight. + +"Never give up your faith in the sweet old stones, even after you come +to see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth." + +Just then the sleighs went off with a great jingling of bells and +pattering of reindeer hoofs, while all the spirits gave a cheer that was +heard in the lower world, where people said, "Hear the stars sing." + +"I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus again. Now, show me more." + +"You will like to see this place, I think, and may learn something here +perhaps" + +The spirit smiled as he led the way to a little door, through which +Effie peeped into a world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, with +dolls of all sorts going on like live people. Waxen ladies sat in their +parlors elegantly dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; nurses +walked out with the bits of dollies; and the streets were full of tin +soldiers marching, wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, and +little men hurrying to and fro. Shops were there, and tiny people buying +legs of mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and everything dolls +use or wear or want. + +But presently she saw that in some ways the dolls improved upon the +manners and customs of human beings, and she watched eagerly to learn +why they did these things. A fine Paris doll driving in her carriage +took up a black worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a basket of +clean clothes, and carried her to her journey's end, as if it were +the proper thing to do. Another interesting china lady took off her +comfortable red cloak and put it round a poor wooden creature done up in +a paper shift, and so badly painted that its face would have sent some +babies into fits. + +"Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who didn't give her things to poor +girls. I wish I could remember who she was, and tell her to be as kind +as that china doll," said Effie, much touched at the sweet way the +pretty creature wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in her +little gray gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a wooden platter for her +invalid mother's dinner. + +"We recall these things to people's minds by dreams. I think the girl +you speak of won't forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he +enjoyed some joke which she did not see. + +A little bell rang as she looked, and away scampered the children into +the red-and-green school-house with the roof that lifted up, so one +could see how nicely they sat at their desks with mites of books, or +drew on the inch-square blackboards with crumbs of chalk. + +"They know their lessons very well, and are as still as mice. We make +a great racket at our school, and get bad marks every day. I shall tell +the girls they had better mind what they do, or their dolls will be +better scholars than they are," said Effie, much impressed, as she +peeped in and saw no rod in the hand of the little mistress, who looked +up and shook her head at the intruder, as if begging her to go away +before the order of the school was disturbed. + +Effie retired at once, but could not resist one look in at the window of +a fine mansion, where the family were at dinner, the children behaved so +well at table, and never grumbled a bit when their mamma said they could +not have any more fruit. + +"Now, show me something else," she said, as they came again to the low +door that led out of Doll-land. + +"You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; let me show you where we +love best to send our good and happy gifts," answered the spirit, giving +her his hand again. + +"I know. I've seen ever so many," began Effie, thinking of her own +Christmases. + +"No, you have never seen what I will show you. Come away, and remember +what you see to-night." + +Like a flash that bright world vanished, and Effie found herself in a +part of the city she had never seen before. It was far away from the +gayer places, where every store was brilliant with lights and full of +pretty things, and every house wore a festival air, while people hurried +to and fro with merry greetings. It was down among the dingy streets +where the poor lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas. + +Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, longing to buy meat and +bread, but empty pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in the +bar-rooms; and in many cold dark chambers little children huddled under +the thin blankets, trying to forget their misery in sleep. + +No nice dinners filled the air with savory smells, no gay trees dropped +toys and bonbons into eager hands, no little stockings hung in rows +beside the chimney-piece ready to be filled, no happy sounds of music, +gay voices, and dancing feet were heard; and there were no signs of +Christmas anywhere. + +"Don't they have any in this place?" asked Effie, shivering, as she held +fast the spirit's hand, following where he led her. + +"We come to bring it. Let me show you our best workers." And the spirit +pointed to some sweet-faced men and women who came stealing into the +poor houses, working such beautiful miracles that Effie could only stand +and watch. + +Some slipped money into the empty pockets, and sent the happy mothers +to buy all the comforts they needed; others led the drunken men out of +temptation, and took them home to find safer pleasures there. Fires were +kindled on cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and warm clothes +wrapped round shivering limbs. Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers +of the sick; old people found themselves remembered; sad hearts were +consoled by a tender word, and wicked ones softened by the story of Him +who forgave all sin. + +But the sweetest work was for the children; and Effie held her breath to +watch these human fairies hang up and fill the little stockings without +which a child's Christmas is not perfect, putting in things that once +she would have thought very humble presents, but which now seemed +beautiful and precious because these poor babies had nothing. + +"That is so beautiful! I wish I could make merry Christmases as these +good people do, and be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, +softly, as she watched the busy men and women do their work and steal +away without thinking of any reward but their own satisfaction. + +"You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how +happy your own holiday will be hereafter." + +As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his arms about her, and vanished +with a kiss. + +"Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, trying to hold him fast. + +"Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are smiling in your sleep," said +a voice in her ear; and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending over +her, and morning sunshine streaming into the room. + +"Are they all gone? Did you hear the bells? Wasn't it splendid?" she +asked, rubbing her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty child who +was so real and sweet. + +"You have been dreaming at a great rate,--talking in your sleep, +laughing, and clapping your hands as if you were cheering some one. Tell +me what was so splendid," said mamma, smoothing the tumbled hair and +lifting up the sleepy head. + +Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told her dream, and Nursey +thought it very wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously things +the child had thought, read, heard, and seen through the day were mixed +up in her sleep. + +"The spirit said I could work lovely miracles if I tried; but I don't +know how to begin, for I have no magic candle to make feasts appear, and +light up groves of Christmas trees, as he did," said Effie, sorrowfully. + +"Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do it!" And clapping her hands, +mamma suddenly began to dance all over the room as if she had lost her +wits. + +"How? how? You must tell me, mamma," cried Effie, dancing after her, and +ready to believe anything possible when she remembered the adventures of +the past night. + +"I've got it! I've got it!--the new idea. A splendid one, if I can only +carry it out!" And mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls +flew wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as if she would die. + +"Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie. "No, no; it is a surprise,--a grand +surprise for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently charmed with her +happy thought. "Now, come to breakfast; for we must work like bees if we +want to play spirits tomorrow. You and Nursey will go out shopping, and +get heaps of things, while I arrange matters behind the scenes." + +They were running downstairs as mamma spoke, and Effie called out +breathlessly,-- + +"It won't be a surprise; for I know you are going to ask some poor +children here, and have a tree or something. It won't be like my dream; +for they had ever so many trees, and more children than we can find +anywhere." + +"There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and +no presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed at +Effie's bewildered face. + +"Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't ask any questions, so it +will all burst upon me when the time comes," she said; and she ate +her breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be a new sort of +Christmas. + +All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey in and out of shops, +buying dozens of barking dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny +tea-sets, gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, dolls and candy. Parcel +after parcel was sent home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace of +them, though she peeped everywhere. Nursey chuckled, but wouldn't give +a hint, and went out again in the afternoon with a long list of more +things to buy; while Effie wandered forlornly about the house, missing +the usual merry stir that went before the Christmas dinner and the +evening fun. + +As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, and came in at night so +tired that she could only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some +very pleasant thought made her happy in spite of weariness. + +"Is the surprise going on all right?" asked Effie, anxiously; for it +seemed an immense time to wait till another evening came. + +"Beautifully! better than I expected; for several of my good friends are +helping, or I couldn't have done it as I wish. I know you will like it, +dear, and long remember this new way of making Christmas merry." + +Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie went to bed. + + * * * * * + +The next day was a very strange one; for when she woke there was no +stocking to examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one said +"Merry Christmas!" to her, and the dinner was just as usual to her. +Mamma vanished again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and saying: "The +dear things! It's the prettiest idea I ever heard of. No one but your +blessed ma could have done it." + +"Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because I don't know the secret!" +cried Effie, more than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, for at +seven in the evening the surprise was to come off. + +The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the child was too excited +to ask questions when Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her to the +carriage, and they drove away, leaving their house the one dark and +silent one in the row. + +"I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are led off to strange +places and see fine things," said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled +through the gay streets. + +"Ah, my deary, it _is_ like a fairy tale, I do assure you, and you +_will_ see finer things than most children will tonight. Steady, now, +and do just as I tell you, and don't say one word whatever you see," +answered Nursey, quite quivering with excitement as she patted a large +box in her lap, and nodded and laughed with twinkling eyes. + +They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was led through a back door to a +little room, where Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her cloak +and hood, but her dress and shoes also. Effie stared and bit her lips, +but kept still until out of the box came a little white fur coat and +boots, a wreath of holly leaves and berries, and a candle with a frill +of gold paper round it. A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she +was dressed and saw herself in the glass, she started back, exclaiming, +"Why, Nursey, I look like the spirit in my dream!" + +"So you do; and that's the part you are to play, my pretty! Now whist, +while I blind your eyes and put you in your place." + +"Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of wonder; for as they went +out she heard the sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, and, +in spite of the bandage, was sure a great light shone upon her when she +stopped. + +"You needn't be; I shall stand close by, and your ma will be there." + +After the handkerchief was tied about her eyes, Nurse led Effie up some +steps, and placed her on a high platform, where something like leaves +touched her head, and the soft snap of lamps seemed to fill the air. + +Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her hands, the voices outside +sounded nearer, and the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs. + +"Now, my precious, look and see how you and your dear ma have made a +merry Christmas for them that needed it!" + +Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie really did think she was +asleep again, for she actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," +all gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on a side, in two rows +down the room, stood the little pines, each on its low table; and behind +Effie a taller one rose to the roof, hung with wreaths of popcorn, +apples, oranges, horns of candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary +hearts to gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees she saw many of her +own discarded toys and those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that seemed +to have rained down straight from that delightful Christmas country +where she felt as if she was again. + +"How splendid! Who is it for? What is that noise? Where is mamma?" cried +Effie, pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood looking down the +brilliant little street from her high place. + +Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the lower end flew open, and in +marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly, +until amazement changed the song to cries of joy and wonder as the +shining spectacle appeared. While they stood staring with round eyes +at the wilderness of pretty things about them, mamma stepped up beside +Effie, and holding her hand fast to give her courage, told the story of +the dream in a few simple words, ending in this way:-- + +"So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas spirit too, and make this +a happy day for those who had not as many pleasures and comforts as she +has. She likes surprises, and we planned this for you all. She shall +play the good fairy, and give each of you something from this tree, +after which every one will find her own name on a small tree, and can +go to enjoy it in her own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill your +hands." + +Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands were clapped heartily +before a single child stirred; then one by one they came to look up +wonderingly at the pretty giver of the feast as she leaned down to offer +them great yellow oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, and +cakes, till all were gone, and a double row of smiling faces turned +toward her as the children filed back to their places in the orderly way +they had been taught. + +Then each was led to her own tree by the good ladies who had helped +mamma with all their hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would have +satisfied even Santa Claus himself,--shrieks of joy, dances of delight, +laughter and tears (for some tender little things could not bear so much +pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths full of candy and hands full +of toys). How they ran to show one another the new treasures! how they +peeped and tasted, pulled and pinched, until the air was full of queer +noises, the floor covered with papers, and the little trees left bare of +all but candles! + +"I don't think heaven can be any gooder than this," sighed one small +girl, as she looked about her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron +with one hand, while she luxuriously carried sugar-plums to her mouth +with the other. + +"Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, fascinated by the +little white figure with the wreath on its shining hair, who in some +mysterious way had been the cause of all this merry-making. + +"I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this splendid party," said a lame +child, leaning on her crutch, as she stood near the steps, wondering +how it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing, while she +watched the happy scene before her. + +Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms +about the pale child, kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, +"You may; but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed +about it." + +Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was embracing her, and could only +stammer out her thanks, while the other children ran to see the pretty +spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she stood in a crowd of blue +gowns laughing as they held up their gifts for her to see and admire. + +Mamma leaned down and whispered one word to the older girls; and +suddenly they all took hands to dance round Effie, singing as they +skipped. + +It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found it hard to break up the +happy revel; but it was late for small people, and too much fun is a +mistake. So the girls fell into line, and marched before Effie and mamma +again, to say goodnight with such grateful little faces that the eyes of +those who looked grew dim with tears. Mamma kissed every one; and many +a hungry childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender lips was +their best gift. Effie shook so many small hands that her own tingled; +and when Katy came she pressed a small doll into Effie's hand, +whispering, "You didn't have a single present, and we had lots. Do keep +that; it's the prettiest thing I got." + +"I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until the last smiling face +was gone, the surprise all over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired +and happy for anything but sleep. + +"Mamma, it was a beautiful surprise, and I thank you so much! I don't +see how you did it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever +had, and mean to make one every year. I had my splendid big present, and +here is the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that +part of my wish came true." + +And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble +gift still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that +never changed through a long life spent in doing good. + + +[Illustration: "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her.] + + + + +II. + +THE CANDY COUNTRY. + + +"I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it is so warm, and none of the +children at school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, as she +went through the hall. + +"The wind is very high; I'm afraid you'll be blown away if you carry +that big thing," called Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella went +bobbing down the garden walk with a small girl under it. + +"I wish it would; I always wanted to go up in a balloon," answered Lily, +as she struggled out of the gate. + +She got on very well till she came to the bridge and stopped to look +over the railing at the water running by so fast, and the turtles +sunning themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing stones at +them; it was so funny to watch them tumble, heels over head, splash into +the water. Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, she stooped for +a stone, and just at that minute a gale of wind nearly took the +umbrella out of her hand. She clutched it fast; and away she went like +a thistle-down, right up in the air, over river and hill, houses and +trees, faster and faster, till her head spun round, her breath was all +gone, and she had to let go. The dear red umbrella flew away like a +leaf; and Lily fell down, down, till she went crash into a tree which +grew in such a curious place that she forgot her fright as she sat +looking about her, wondering what part of the world it could be. + +The tree looked as if made of glass or colored sugar; for she could see +through the red cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. An +agreeable smell met her nose; and she said at once, as any child +would, "I smell candy!" She picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good it +was!--all sugar and no stone. The next discovery was such a delightful +one that she nearly fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue here +and there, she found that the whole tree was made of candy. Think what +fun to sit and break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and +leaves that tasted like peppermint and sassafras! + +Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree; +then she climbed down and strolled along, making more surprising and +agreeable discoveries as she went. + +What looked like snow under her feet was white sugar; the rocks were +lumps of chocolate, the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every +sort of fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little white houses soon +appeared; and here lived the dainty candy-people, all made of the best +sugar, and painted to look like real people. + +Dear little men and women, looking as if they had stepped off of wedding +cakes and bonbons, went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing +and talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of babies rocked in open-work +cradles, and sugar boys and girls played with sugar toys in the most +natural way. Carriages rolled along the jujube streets, drawn by the +red and yellow barley horses we all love so well; cows fed in the green +fields, and sugar birds sang in the trees. + +Lily listened, and in a moment she understood what the song said,-- + + "Sweet! Sweet! + Come, come and eat, + Dear little girls + With yellow curls; + For here you'll find + Sweets to your mind. + On every tree + Sugar-plums you'll see; + In every dell + Grows the caramel. + Over every wall + Gum-drops fall; + Molasses flows + Where our river goes + Under your feet + Lies sugar sweet; + Over your head + Grow almonds red. + Our lily and rose + Are not for the nose; + Our flowers we pluck + To eat or suck + And, oh! what bliss + When two friends kiss, + For they honey sip + From lip to lip! + And all you meet, + In house or street, + At work or play, + Sweethearts are they. + So, little dear, + Pray feel no fear; + Go where you will; + Eat, eat your fill. + Here is a feast + From west to east; + And you can say, + Ere you go away, + 'At last I stand + In dear Candy-land, + And no more can stuff; + For once I've enough.' + Sweet! Sweet! + Tweet! Tweet! + Tweedle-dee! + Tweedle-dee!" + +"That is the most interesting song I ever heard," said Lily, clapping +her sticky hands and dancing along toward a fine palace of white cream +candy, with pillars of striped peppermint stick, and a roof of frosting +that made it look like the Milan Cathedral. + +"I'll live here, and eat candy all day long, with no tiresome school or +patchwork to spoil my fun," said Lily. + +So she ran up the chocolate steps into the pretty rooms, where all the +chairs and tables were of different colored candies, and the beds +of spun sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied drink; and floors +of ice-cream that never melted kept people and things from sticking +together, as they would have done had it been warm. + +For a long while Lily was quite happy, going about tasting so many +different kinds of sweeties, talking to the little people, who were very +amiable, and finding out curious things about them and their country. + +The babies were made of plain sugar, but the grown people had different +flavors. The young ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and orange; +the gentlemen were apt to have cordials of some sort inside of them, as +she found when she ate one now and then slyly, and got her tongue +bitten by the hot, strong taste as a punishment The old people tasted of +peppermint, clove, and such comfortable things, good for pain; but the +old maids had lemon, hoarhound, flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter +things in them, and did not get eaten much. Lily soon learned to know +the characters of her new friends by a single taste, and some she +never touched but once. The dear babies melted in her mouth, and the +delicately flavored young ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger was +called to her more than once when so much candy made her teeth ache, and +she found him a very hot-tempered little man; but he stopped the pain, +so she was glad to see him. + +A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry girl were her favorite +playmates; and they had fine times making mud-pies by scraping the +chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with honey from the wells near by. +These they could eat; and Lily thought this much better than throwing +away the pies, as she had to do at home. They had candy-pulls very +often, and made swings of long loops of molasses candy, and bird's-nests +with almond eggs, out of which came birds who sang sweetly. They played +football with big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on lakes of syrup, +fished in rivers of molasses, and rode the barley horses all over the +country. + +Lily discovered that it never rained, but snowed white sugar. There was +no sun, as it would have been too hot; but a large yellow lozenge made a +nice moon, and red and white comfits were the stars. + +The people all lived on sugar, and never quarrelled. No one was ill; and +if any got broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle creatures, +they just stuck the parts together and were all right again. The way +they grew old was to get thinner and thinner till there was danger of +their vanishing. Then the friends of the old person put him in a neat +coffin, and carried him to the great golden urn which stood in their +largest temple, always full of a certain fine syrup; and here he was +dipped and dipped till he was stout and strong again, and went home to +enjoy himself for a long time as good as new. + +This was very interesting to Lily, and she went to many funerals. But +the weddings were better still; for the lovely white brides were so +sweet Lily longed to eat them. The feasts were delicious; and everybody +went in their best clothes, and danced at the ball till they got so warm +half-a-dozen would stick together and have to be taken to the ice-cream +room to cool off. Then the little pair would drive away in a fine +carriage with white horses to a new palace in some other part of the +country, and Lily would have another pleasant place to visit. + +But by and by, when she had seen everything, and eaten so much sweet +stuff that at last she longed for plain bread and butter, she began to +get cross, as children always do when they live on candy; and the little +people wished she would go away, for they were afraid of her. No wonder, +when she would catch up a dear sugar baby and eat him, or break some +respectable old grandmamma all into bits because she reproved her for +naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on the biggest church, crushing it +flat, and even tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet one day. +The king ordered her to go home; but she said, "I won't!" and bit his +head off, crown and all. + +Such a wail went up at this awful deed that she ran away out of the +city, fearing some one would put poison in her candy, since she had no +other food. + +"I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep walking; and I can't starve, +though I hate the sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, as +she hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar Rock that divided the city +of Saccharissa from the great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond. + +Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and saw at last a great smoke +in the sky, smelt a spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her. + +"I wonder if there are sugar savages here, roasting and eating some +poor traveller like me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and other +wanderers in strange lands. + +She crept carefully along till she saw a settlement of little huts very +like mushrooms, for they were made of cookies set on lumps of the brown +sugar; and queer people, looking as if made of gingerbread, were working +very busily round several stoves which seemed to bake at a great rate. + +"I'll creep nearer and see what sort of people they are before I show +myself," said Lily, going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting down +on a stone which proved to be the plummy sort of cake we used to call +Brighton Rock. + +Presently one of the tallest men came striding toward the trees with a +pan, evidently after spice; and before she could run, he saw Lily. + +"Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her with his black +currant eyes, while he briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree. + +"I'm travelling, and would like to know what place this is, if you +please," answered Lily, very politely, being a little frightened. + +"Cake-land. Where do you come from?" asked the gingerbread man, in a +crisp tone of voice. + +"I was blown into the Candy country, and have been there a long time; +but I got tired of it, and ran away to find something better." + +"Sensible child!" and the man smiled till Lily thought his cheeks would +crumble. "You'll get on better here with us Brownies than with the lazy +Bonbons, who never work and are all for show. They won't own us, though +we are all related through our grandparents Sugar and Molasses. We are +busy folks; so they turn up their noses and don't speak when we meet at +parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and unsubstantial! I pity 'em." + +"Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see how you live, and what you +do. I'm sure it must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself up +after a tumble, having eaten nearly all the stone, she was so hungry. + +"I know you will. Come on! I can talk while I work." And the funny +gingerbread man trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, +rolling-pins, and molasses jugs. + +"Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as this batch is baked. There +are still some wise people down below who like gingerbread, and I have +my hands full," he said, dashing about, stirring, rolling out, and +slapping the brown dough into pans, which he whisked into the oven and +out again so fast that Lily knew there must be magic about it somewhere. + +Every now and then he threw her a delicious cooky warm from the oven. +She liked the queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being very +curious about this country. + +"What is your name, sir?" + +"Ginger Snap." + +Lily thought it a good one; for he was very quick, and she fancied he +could be short and sharp if he liked. + +"Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, after watching the other +kitchens full of workers, who were all of different kinds of cake, and +each set of cooks made its own sort. + +"I'll show you by and by," answered Snap, beginning to pile up the heaps +of gingerbread on a little car that ran along a track leading to some +unknown storeroom, Lily thought. + +"Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?" + +"Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I never shall be till I've done my +best, and won the prize here." + +"Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, and how are you promoted? Is +this a cooking-school?" + +"Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a cake of condensed yeast. That +puts a soul into me, and I begin to rise till I am able to go over the +hills yonder into the blessed land of bread, and be one of the happy +creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, and without which the +world below would be in a bad way." + +"Bless me! that is the queerest thing I've heard yet. But I don't wonder +you want to go; I'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good piece of +bread, though I used to want cake and candy at home." + +"Ah, my dear, you'll learn a good deal here; and you are lucky not to +have got into the clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets people if +they eat too much of such rubbish and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my +ginger behind when I go, and get white and round and beautiful, as you +will see. The Gingerbread family have never been as foolish as some of +the other cakes. Wedding is the worst; such extravagance in the way of +wine and spice and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to eat when it's +done! I don't wonder people get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung +down a pan with such a bang that it made Lily jump. + +"Sponge cake isn't bad, is it? Mamma lets me eat it, but I like frosted +pound better," she said, looking over to the next kitchen, where piles +of that sort of cake were being iced. + +"Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers will do for babies, but pound +has too much butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat cookies or +seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away +his car-load at a great pace. + +Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and looked about her as she +went, for this was certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all +beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed here and there ready for +use. The earth was brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits +were raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon peel. It was a very busy +place; for every one cooked all the time, and never failed and never +seemed tired, though they got so hot that they only wore sheets of paper +for clothes. There were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it +shouldn't burn; and they made cook's white caps and aprons of it, and +looked very nice. A large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves to +mark the hours and two toothpicks for hands, showed them how long to +bake things; and in one place an ice wall was built round a lake of +butter, which they cut in lumps as they wanted it. + +"Here we are. Now, stand away while I pitch 'em down," said Snap, +stopping at last before a hole in the ground where a dumbwaiter hung +ready, with a name over it. + +There were many holes all round, and many waiters, each with its name; +and Lily was amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," "Dooling," and +others, which she knew very well. + +Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" and Lily said, "Why, that's +where mamma gets her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where we go for +ice-cream. Do _you_ make cake for them?" + +"Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the secrets of the trade. We cook +for all the confectioners, and people think the good things come out of +the cellars under their saloons. Good joke, isn't it?" And Snap laughed +till a crack came in his neck and made him cough. + +Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm queen's cake that happened +to be near, and watched Snap send down load after load of gingerbread +to be eaten by children, who would have liked it much better if they had +only known where it came from, as she did. + +As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the smell of many dinners, and +the sound of many voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, and a +Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken +and apple without," came up the next hole, which was marked "Copeland." + +"Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said Lily, longing to hop down, +but afraid of the bump at the other end. + +"I'm done. Come along, I'll ride you back," called Snap, tossing the +last cooky after the dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with its +spicy load. + +"I wish you'd teach me to cook. It looks great fun, and mamma wants me +to learn; only our cook hates to have me mess round, and is so cross +that I don't like to try at home," said Lily, as she went trundling +back. + +"Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and learn to make that. It's +a great art, and worth knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, though +plain gingerbread isn't bad to have in the house. I'll teach you that in +a jiffy, if the clock doesn't strike my hour too soon," answered Snap, +helping her down. + +"What hour?" + +"Why, of my freedom. I never know when I've done my task till I'm called +by the chimes and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his currant +eyes anxiously to the clock. + +"I hope you _will_ have time." And Lily fell to work with all her might, +after Snap had put on her a paper apron and a cap like his. + +It was not hard; for when she was going to make a mistake a spark flew +out of the fire and burnt her in time to remind her to look at the +receipt, which was a sheet of gingerbread in a frame of pie-crust hung +up before her, with the directions written while it was soft and baked +in. The third sheet she made came out of the oven spicy, light, and +brown; and Snap, giving it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you +know. Here's your reward." + +He handed her a receipt-book made of thin sheets of sugar-gingerbread +held together by a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on the back, +and each leaf crimped with a cake-cutter in the most elegant manner. + +Lily was charmed with it, but had no time to read all it contained; for +just then the clock began to strike, and a chime of bells to ring,-- + + "Gingerbread, + Go to the head. + Your task is done; + A soul is won. + Take it and go + Where muffins grow, + Where sweet loaves rise + To the very skies, + And biscuits fair + Perfume the air. + Away, away! + Make no delay; + In the sea of flour + Plunge this hour. + Safe in your breast + Let the yeast-cake rest, + Till you rise in joy, + A white bread boy!" + +"Ha, ha! I'm free! I'm free!" cried Snap, catching up the silver-covered +square that seemed to fall from heaven; and running to a great white sea +of flour, he went in head first, holding the yeast-cake clasped to his +breast as if his life depended on it. + +Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious working and bubbling went on, +as if Snap was tumbling about down there like a small earthquake. The +other cake-folk stood round the shore with her; for it was a great +event, and all were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so soon. +Suddenly a cry was heard, and up rose a beautiful white figure on the +farther side of the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," and +ran over the hills so fast they had only time to see how plump and fair +he was, with a little knob on the top of his head like a crown. + +"He's gone to the happy land, and we shall miss him; but we'll follow +his example and soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge cake, with +a sigh, as all went back to their work; while Lily hurried after Snap, +eager to see the new country, which was the best of all. + +A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from the valley as she stood +on the hill-top and looked down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of +yellow grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines grew from tree to tree; and +many windmills whirled their white sails as they ground the different +grains into fresh, sweet meal, for the loaves of bread that built the +houses like bricks and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed +the people, furniture, and animals. A river of milk flowed through the +peaceful land, and fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant foam +and fizz. The ground was a mixture of many meals, and the paths were +golden Indian, which gave a very gay look to the scene. Buckwheat +flowers bloomed on their rosy stems, and tall corn-stalks rustled their +leaves in the warm air that came from the ovens hidden in the hillsides; +for bread needs a slow fire, and an obliging volcano did the baking +here. + +"What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling the charm of the homelike +landscape, in spite of the funny plump people moving about. + +Two of these figures came running to meet her as she slowly walked down +the yellow path from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a beaming +face; the other a little girl in a shiny brown cloak, who looked as if +she would taste very nice. They each put a warm hand into Lily's, and +the boy said,-- + +"We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you were coming." + +"Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, feeling as if she had seen both +these little people before, and liked them. + +"He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a Muffin now. We begin in that way, +and work up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is Johnny Cake, and +she's Sally Lunn. You know us; so come on and have a race." + +Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing with these old friends of +hers; and all three ran away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, +over a bridge, into the middle of the village, where they stopped, +panting, and sat down on some very soft rolls to rest. + +"What do you all do _here_?" asked Lily, when she got her breath again. + +"We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, and are as merry as grigs all day +long. It's school-time now, and we must go; will you come?" said Sally, +jumping up as if she liked it. + +"Our schools are not like yours; we only study two things,--grain and +yeast. I think you'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the experiments +are very jolly," added Johnny, trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye +and Indian bread, where the school was kept. + +Lily never liked to go to school, but she was ashamed to own it; so she +went along with Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that she was +glad she came. The brown loaf was hollow, and had no roof; and when +she asked why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and see why they +chose strong walls and plenty of room overhead. All round was a circle +of very small biscuits like cushions, and on these the Bread-children +sat. A square loaf in the middle was the teacher's desk, and on it +lay an ear of wheat, with several bottles of yeast well corked up. The +teacher was a pleasant, plump lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous +for her good bread that she was a Professor of Grainology. + +When all were seated, she began with the wheat ear, and told them all +about it in such an interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never +known anything about the bread she ate before. The experiments with +the yeast were quite exciting,--for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how it +would work till it blew the cork out, and go fizzing up to the sky if it +was kept too long; how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the bread +if care was not taken to use it just at the right moment; and how too +much would cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance to it. + +The children were very bright; for they were fed on the best kinds of +oatmeal and Graham bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes to +spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy boys and girls they were, and +their yeasty souls were very lively in them; for they danced and sung, +and seemed as bright and gay as if acidity, heaviness, and mould were +quite unknown. + +Lily was very happy with them, and when school was done went home with +Sally and ate the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever tasted. +In the afternoon Johnny took her to the cornfield, and showed her how +they kept the growing ears free from mildew and worms. Then she went +to the bakehouse; and here she found her old friend Muffin hard at work +making Parker House rolls, for he was such a good cook he was set to +work at once on the lighter kinds of bread. + +"Well, isn't this better than Candy-land or Saccharissa?" he asked, +as he rolled and folded his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked +inside. + +"Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better already, and mean to learn +all I can. Mamma will be so pleased if I can make good bread when I +go home. She is rather old-fashioned, and likes me to be a nice +housekeeper. I didn't think bread interesting then, but I do now; and +Johnny's mother is going to teach me to make Indian cakes to-morrow." + +"Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell other people how to make +healthy bodies and happy souls by eating good plain food. Not like this, +though these rolls are better than cake. I have to work my way up to the +perfect loaf, you know; and then, oh, then, I'm a happy thing." + +"What happens then? Do you go on to some other wonderful place?" asked +Lily, as Muffin paused with a smile on his face. + +"Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human being, and become a part of +him or her. That is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a poet and +help him sing, or feed a good woman who makes the world better for being +in it, or be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby prince who +is to rule a kingdom. Isn't that a noble way to live, and an end worth +working for?" asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily feel as if some +sort of fine yeast had got into her, and was setting her brain to work +with new thoughts. + +"Yes, it is. I suppose all common things are made for that purpose, if +we only knew it; and people should be glad to do anything to help the +world along, even making good bread in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a +sober way that showed that her little mind was already digesting the new +food it had got. + +She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and enjoyed and learned a great +deal that she never forgot. But at last, when she had made the perfect +loaf, she wanted to go home, that her mother might see and taste it. + +"I've put a good deal of myself into it, and I'd love to think I had +given her strength or pleasure by my work," she said, as she and Sally +stood looking at the handsome loaf. + +"You can go whenever you like; just take the bread in your hands and +wish three times, and you'll be wherever you say. I'm sorry to have you +go, but I don't wonder you want to see your mother. Don't forget what +you have learned, and you will always be glad you came to us," said +Sally, kissing her good-by. + +"Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing him, my dear old friend," +answered Lily, looking round for him. + +"He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. "He was ready to go, and +chose to pass into your bread rather than any other; for he said he +loved you and would be glad to help feed so good a little girl." + +"How kind of him! I must be careful to grow wise and excellent, else he +will be disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, touched by his +devotion. + +Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged her loaf close, wished three +times to be in her own home, and like a flash she was there. + +Whether her friends believed the wonderful tale of her adventures I +cannot tell; but I know that she was a nice little housekeeper from that +day, and made such good bread that other girls came to learn of her. +She also grew from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, +because she ate very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, +when the oldest and the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land. + +[Illustration: As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back.] + + + + +III. + +NAUGHTY JOCKO. + + +"A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, and see if he has got a monkey on +his organ," cried little Neddy, running to the window in a great hurry +one day. + +Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and red suit, with a funny little +cap, and the long tail trailing behind. But he didn't seem to be a +lively monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad face turned anxiously +to his master, who kept pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff +collar had made his neck sore; and when the man twitched, the poor thing +moaned and put up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to dance, +but was so weak he could only hop a few steps, and stop panting for +breath. The cruel man wouldn't let him rest till Neddy called out,-- + +"Don't hurt him; let him come up here and get this cake, and rest while +you play. I've got some pennies for you." + +So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, and sat on the window-ledge +trying to eat; but he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the man +pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, and lay as if he were dead. +Neddy and his aunt ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man +scolded and shook him; but he never moved, and the man said,-- + +"He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell him to some one to stuff." + +"No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here a few days, and we will +take care of him; and if he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said +Aunt Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey. + +The man said he was going on for a week through the towns near by, and +would call and see about it when he came back. Then he went away; and +Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice basket, and carried him in. The +minute the door was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped out +with one eye, and seeing only the kind little boy began to chatter and +kick off the shawl; for he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and +dreadfully afraid of the cruel man who beat and starved him. + +Neddy was delighted, and thought it very funny, and helped his aunt take +off the stiff collar and put some salve on the sore neck. Then they got +milk and cake; and when he had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself +up and slept till the next day. He was quite lively in the morning; +for when Aunt Jane went to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and +looking round the room for him, she saw the little black thing lying on +the boy's pillow, with his arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby. + +"My patience! I can't allow that," said the old lady, and went to pull +Jocko out. But he slipped away like an eel, and crept chattering and +burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, +till he waked up, howling that crabs were nipping him. + +Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko climbed all over the bed, up on +the tall wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the image of an +angel stood. He patted it, and hugged it, and looked so very funny with +his ugly black face by the pretty white one, that Neddy rolled on the +floor, and Aunt Jane laughed till her glasses flew off. By and by he +came down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them tie a red ribbon over +the bandage on his neck. He liked the gay color, and kept going to look +in the glass, and grin and chatter at his own image, which he evidently +admired. + +"Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all the children shall see my new +pet," said Neddy, as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder. + +Every one laughed at the funny little fellow with his twinkling eyes, +brown hands, and long tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to +the store; then troubles began. He put Jocko on a table near the door, +and told him to stay there while he did his errands. Now, close by was +the place where the candy was kept, and Jocko loved sweeties like any +girl; so he hopped along, and began to eat whatever he liked. Some boys +tried to stop him; and then he got angry at them for pulling his tail, +and threw handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great fun; and the +more they laughed and scrambled and poked at him, the faster he showered +chocolates, caramels, and peppermints over them, till it looked as if +it had rained candy. The man was busy with Neddy at the other end of the +store; but when he heard the noise, both ran to see what was the matter. +Neither of them could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, and ran +up on the high shelves among the toys. Then down came little tubs and +dolls' stoves, tin trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden soldiers +and whole villages flew through the air, smash, bang, rattle, bump, +all over the floor. The man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys shouted, and +there was a lively time in that shop till a good slapping with a long +stick made Jock tumble into a tub of water where some curious fishes +lived, and then they caught him. + +Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man his aunt would pay for all the +broken things. Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go home and +tie him up, for it was plain this monkey was not to be trusted. But as +soon as they got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to a load of +hay passing underneath. Here he danced and pranced, and had a fine time, +throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some of the dinner tied +up in a cloth. The crusts of bread and the bones he threw at the horse; +this new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he ran away down a steep +hill, and upset the hay and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was +worse than the candy scrape; for the man swore, and the horse was hurt, +and people said the monkey ought to be shot, he did so much mischief. +Jocko didn't care a bit; he sat high up in a tree, and chattered and +scolded, and swung by his tail, and was so droll that people couldn't +help laughing at him. Poor Neddy cried again, and went home to tell his +troubles to Aunt Jane, fearing that it would take all the money in his +bank to pay for the damage the bad monkey had done in one hour. + +As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping along, and jumped on his +back, and peeped at him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning and +good Neddy couldn't whip him; but he shut him up in a closet to punish +him. + +Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all was quiet till +dinner-time. They were ready for the pudding, and Neddy had saved a +place for a good plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when shrieks were +heard in the kitchen, and Mary the maid rushed in to say,-- + +"Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the pudding, and is scaring +Katy out of her life!" + +They all ran; and there sat that naughty monkey on the table, throwing +the nice white snow all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she +was ready to be shaved. His own face looked the same, for he had eaten +all he wanted while the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He had +crept out of a window in the closet, and had a fine rummage among the +sugar-buckets, butter-boxes, and milk-pans. + +Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane and grandpa laughed, and +Neddy chased Jock into the garden with the broom. They had to eat bread +and jelly for dessert, and it took the girls a long time to clear up the +mess the rascal made. + +"We will put his collar and chain on again, and keep him tied up all the +time till the man comes," said Aunt Jane. + +"But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, watching the little imp whisk +about in the garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens and tossing +green apples round in high glee. + +"Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he is tired; then he will come +to you, and you can hold him fast," said Aunt Jane. + +So Neddy waited; and though he was much worried at his new pet's +naughtiness, he enjoyed his pranks like a boy. + +Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the piazza, and he was dozing +comfortably when Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his long tail, +and tickled the old gentleman on the nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, +and opened one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. Then he went to +sleep again, and Jocko dropped a caterpillar on his bald head; this made +him open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy thing could be. +Neddy couldn't help laughing, for he often wanted to do just such +things, but never dared, because grandpa was a very stern old gentleman, +and no one took liberties with him. Jocko wasn't afraid, however; and +presently he crept to the table, stole the glasses lying there, put them +on, and taking up the paper held it before him, chattering as if he were +reading it, as he had seen people do. Neddy laughed out loud at this, +and clapped his hands, Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite +of the tail curled up behind. This time grandpa opened both eyes at +once, and stared as if he saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched +off the spectacles, and caught up his cane, crying angrily,-- + +"You rascal, how dare you!" + +But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and with one jump lighted on +the back of old Tom, the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. Scared +half out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; but Jocko held fast to his +collar, and had a fine race round the garden, while the girls laughed +at the funny sight, and Neddy shouted, "It's a circus; and there's the +monkey and the pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when puss dashed +up a tree, and Jock tumbled off. He chased him, and they had a great +battle; but Tom's claws were sharp, and the monkey got a scratch on the +nose, and ran crying to Neddy for comfort. + +"Now, you naughty fellow, I'll chain you up, and stop these dreadful +tricks. But you are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the boy; for +he knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, and poor Jocko had not had one +for a long time. + +Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, and then was ready for +more frolics. Neddy had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that +he could enjoy the sun and air, and catch grasshoppers if he liked. But +Jocko wanted something more; and presently Neddy, who was reading in his +hammock on the piazza, heard a great cackling among the hens, and looked +up to see the monkey swinging by his tail from a bough, holding the +great cock-a-doodle by his splendid tail, while all the twenty hens +clucked and cackled with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank. + +"Now, that's too bad; I _will_ slap him this time," said Neddy, running +to save his handsome bird from destruction. But before he got there poor +cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his struggles, and +when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran away and hid +in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him. + +Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left him looking as meek as a +baby, all cuddled up in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as +if crying for his naughtiness. But he wasn't sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in +half an hour he had picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane was so +fond of, thrown all the tomatoes over the fence, and let the parrot out +of his cage. The sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a polite +"How are you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane to see what was going on. Neddy was +fast asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; and Jocko, having +unhooked his chain, was sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's +house, eating corn. + +"We shall not live to the end of the week if this sort of thing goes +on. I don't know what to do with the little beast; he's as bad as an +elephant to take care of," said the poor lady, in despair, as she saw +Jocko throw his corncob down on the minister's hat as that stately +gentleman went by. + +As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane let him alone till Neddy +waked up and could go and find some of the big boys to help him. + +Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a window that stood open. It +was little Nelly Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet doll Maud +Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the best bed, while she went down to get +a poppy leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because she had a high +fever. Jocko took a fancy to the pretty bed, and after turning the +play-house topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose Matilda out by +her flaxen hair, and stuffing her into the water-pitcher upside +down, got into the bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to doze +deliciously under the pink silk bed-cover. + +Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear invalid, saying in her +motherly little voice,-- + +"Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I won't hurt you one bit." + +But when she drew the curtain, instead of the lovely yellow-haired doll +in her ruffled nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at +her, and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. Nelly gave one scream, and +flew downstairs into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at work, +frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by her cries, as she clung to +her mother, wailing,-- + +"A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; and he snarled at me, and my +dolly is gone! What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?" + +There was great confusion, for all the ladies talked at once; and it +so happened that none of them knew anything about the monkey, therefore +they all agreed that Nelly was a foolish child, and had made a fuss +about nothing. She cried dismally, and kept saying to her mother,-- + +"Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,--I found it there, and darling +Maudie is gone." + +"We _will_ go and see," said Mrs. Moses Merryweather,--a stout old lady, +who kept her six girls in such good order that _they_ would never have +dared to cry if ten monkeys had popped out at them. + +Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, with a sharp eye and pointed +nose, went with her; but at the door that led to the dining-room +both stopped short, and after one look came flying back, calling out +together,-- + +"Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful beast has ruined it all!" + +Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across the hall to behold Jocko +sitting on the great cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed +in cream from the overturned pitcher, while all around lay the ruins of +custards, tarts, biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins made +into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, on the floor, and the best +silver teapot in the fireplace. + +While Nelly told her tale and the ladies questioned and comforted her, +this bad monkey had skipped downstairs and had a delightful party all +by himself. He was just scraping the jelly out of a tart when they +disturbed him; and knowing that more slaps were in store for him if he +stayed, he at once walked calmly down the ravaged table, and vanished +out of the window carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play +with. + +The ladies had no supper that night; and poor Mrs. Brown sent a note to +Aunt Jane, telling her the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite +ill with the fright and the loss of dear Maud Mabel Rose Matilda, +drowned in the water-pitcher and forever spoilt. + +"John shall go after that man to-morrow, and bring him back to carry +this terrible monkey away. I can't live with him a week; he will cost me +a fortune, and wear us all out," said Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely +shut up in the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over the +neighborhood before they caught him. + +Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but John was saved his journey, +for in the morning poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his +inquisitive head had been poked to see what the cheese tasted like. + +So he was buried by the river, and every one felt much relieved; for the +man never came back, thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he +had not lived in vain; for after this day of trial, mischievous Neddy +behaved much better, and Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit +by saying, as her finger pointed to a little collar and chain hanging on +the wall,-- + +"If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say so, and I'll tie you up. One +monkey is enough for this family." + + +[Illustration: Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and +skippings as she made.] + + + + +IV. + +THE SKIPPING SHOES. + + +Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, who never wanted to do what +people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," and did not run at +once pleasantly, as obliging children do. + +One day her mother gave her a pair of new shoes; and after a fuss about +putting them on, Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,-- + +"I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like Jack the Giant Killer's, +then it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep +trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't stir a step." + +Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, and set her on her feet +so suddenly that it scared all the naughtiness out of her. She stood +looking at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed +to wink at her like eyes, while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of +tune. Before she dared to stir, her mother called from the next room,-- + +"Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie for dinner; I forgot it." + +"I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine as usual. + +But the words were hardly out of her mouth when the shoes gave one jump, +and took her downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at the kitchen +door. Her breath was nearly gone; but she gave the message, and turned +round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went +nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. +She was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a bit when she could. +Now she found that her feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not +be moved till her father said, as he passed the window close by,-- + +"You will have time to go to the post-office before school and get my +letters." + +"I can't," began Kitty; but she found she could, for away went the +shoes, out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so +fast that the maid who ran after her with her hat could not catch her. + +"I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not till the shoes took her +straight into the office. + +"What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, as he saw her without any hat, +all rosy and breathless, and her face puckered up as if she did not know +whether to laugh or to cry. + +"I won't tell any one about these dreadful shoes, and I'll take them off +as soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will +think I'm crazy," said Kitty to herself, as she took the letters and +went away. + +The shoes walked nicely along till she came to the bridge; and there she +wanted to stop and watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and her +father's letters. But the shoes wouldn't stop, though she tried to make +them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; +and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadily that she +had to go, and she got up feeling that there was something very strange +about these shoes. The minute she gave up, all went smoothly, and she +got home in good time. + +"I won't wear these horrid things another minute," said Kitty, sitting +on the doorstep and trying to unbutton the shoes. + +But not a button could she stir, though she got red and angry struggling +to do it. + +"Time for school; run away, little girl," called mamma from upstairs, as +the clock struck nine. + +"I won't!" said Kitty, crossly. + +But she did; for those magic shoes danced her off, and landed her at her +desk in five minutes. + +"Well, I'm not late; that's one comfort," she thought, wishing she had +come pleasantly, and not been whisked away without any luncheon. + +Her legs were so tired with the long skips that she was glad to sit +still; and that pleased the teacher, for generally she was fussing about +all lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble again; for one of +the children knocked down the house of corn-cobs she had built, and made +her angry. + +"Now, I'll kick yours down, and see how you like it, Dolly." + +Up went her foot, but it didn't come down; it stayed in the air, and +there she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children +laughed to see her, and she could do nothing till she said to Dolly in a +great hurry,-- + +"Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll forgive you." + +Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so glad about it that she tried +to be pleasant, fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She +began to see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any +power over them. So, when one of the children wanted his ball, which had +bounced over the hedge, she said kindly,--"Perhaps I can get it for you, +Willy." + +And over she jumped as lightly as if she too were an india-rubber ball. + +"How could you do it?" cried the boys, much surprised; for not one of +them dared try such a high leap. + +Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling pleased and proud to find +there was a good side to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and +skippings as she made, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was +pretty to see; for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of +themselves. The little girls were charmed, and tried to imitate her, +but no one could, and they stood in a circle watching her dance till the +bell rang, then all rushed in to tell about it. + +Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never told how queerly they acted, +hoping to have good times now. But she was mistaken. + +On the way home she wanted to stop and see her friend Bell's new doll, +but at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes +and go straight on, as mamma had told her always to do. + +"Run and pick a nice little dish of strawberries for dinner," said her +sister, as she went in. + +"I'm too ti--" There was no time to finish, for the shoes landed her in +the middle of the strawberry bed at one jump. + +"I might as well be a grasshopper if I'm to skip round like this," she +said, forgetting to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with +the robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind lifting the leaves +to show here the reddest and ripest ones hid. + +The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted to stay and eat a few, +warm and sweet from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, +over the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the dining-room before +the berry in her mouth was half eaten. + +"How this child does rush about to-day!" said her mother. "It is so +delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her +to carry some bundles to my poor people this afternoon. + +"Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old clothes and bottles and baskets +of cold victuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the +shoes tapped on the floor under the table, as if to remind her that she +must, whether she liked it or not. + +"It would be right and kind, and would please me very much. But you may +do as you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; +for the little Bryan baby is sick and needs what I send," said mamma, +looking disappointed. + +Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, and no one spoke to her. +She was making up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked +about like a grasshopper against her will. When dinner was over, she +said in a cheerful voice,-- + +"I'll go, mamma; and when all the errands are done, may I come back +through Fairyland, as we call the little grove where the tall ferns +grow?" + +"Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy to please you." + +"I'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall have a lovely time," said +Kitty to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a +bundle in the other, and some money in her pocket for a poor old woman +who needed help. + +The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to know just where to stop. The +sick baby's mother thanked her for the soft little nightgowns; the lame +girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round +the basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; and the old woman +gave her a beautiful pink shell that her sailor son brought home from +sea. + +When all the errands were done Kitty skipped away to Fairyland, feeling +very happy, as people always do when they have done kind things. It was +a lovely place; for the ferns made green arches tall enough for little +girls to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss +and wood-flowers. Birds flew about in the pines, squirrels chattered in +the oaks, butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond near by +came the croak of frogs sunning their green backs on the mossy stones. + +"I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and rest; it is so cool here, +and I'm so tired," said Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot +of a tree. + +The words were hardly out of her mouth when her feet folded under her, +and there she sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the wood on +her throne. Something lighted with a bump close by her; and looking +down she saw a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at her +curiously. + +"Bless my heart! I thought you were some relation of my cousin +Grasshopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so +I stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, in its creaky voice. + +"I'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy shoes to-day, and so do many +things that I never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised to be +able to understand what the cricket said. + +"It is midsummer day, and fairies can play whatever pranks they like. +If you didn't have those shoes on, you couldn't understand what I say. +Hark, and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down +here. Make the most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes will stop +skipping, and the fun all be over." + +While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all sorts of little voices, +singing, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word +they said. The squirrels called to one another as they raced about,-- + + "Here's a nut, there's a nut; + Hide it quick away, + In a hole, under leaves, + To eat some winter day. + Acorns sweet are plenty, + We will have them all: + Skip and scamper lively + Till the last ones fall." + +The birds were singing softly,-- + + "Rock a bye, babies, + Your cradle hangs high; + Soft down your pillow, + Your curtain the sky. + Father will feed you, + While mother will sing, + And shelter our darlings + With her warm wing." + +And the ants were saying to one another as they hurried in and out of +their little houses,-- + + "Work, neighbor, work! + Do not stop to play; + Wander far and wide, + Gather all you may. + + We are never like + Idle butterflies, + But like the busy bees, + Industrious and wise." + +"Ants always were dreadfully good, but butterflies are ever so much +prettier," said Kitty, listening to the little voices with wonder and +pleasure. + + "Hello! hello! + Come down below,-- It's lovely and cool + Out here in the pool; + On a lily-pad float + For a nice green boat. + Here we sit and sing + In a pleasant ring; + Or leap frog play, + In the jolliest way. + Our games have begun, + Come join in the fun." + +"Dear me! what could I do over there in the mud with the queer green +frogs?" laughed Kitty, as this song was croaked at her. + + "No, no, come and fly + Through the sunny sky, + Or honey sip + From the rose's lip, + Or dance in the air, + Like spirits fair. + Come away, come away; + 'Tis our holiday." + +A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up from a wild-rose bush, and +went dancing away higher and higher, till they vanished in the light +beyond the wood. + +"That is better than leap-frog. I wish my skipping shoes would let me +fly up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to +go all the time," said Kitty, watching the pretty things glitter as they +flew. + +Just at that minute a clock struck, and away went the shoes over the +pool, the hill, the road, till they pranced in at the gate as the +tea-bell rang. Kitty amused the family by telling what she had done +and seen; but no one believed the Fairyland part, and her father said, +laughing,-- + +"Go on, my dear, making up little stories, and by and by you may be as +famous as Hans Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well." + +"The sun will soon set, and then my fun will be over; so I must skip +while I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so +prettily that all the family came to see her. + +"She dances so well that she shall go to dancing-school," said her +mother, pleased with the pretty antics of her little girl. + +Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had longed to go, and went on +skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn some of the graceful +steps the shoes took before the day was done. + +"Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your bath and bed. It has been a +long hot day, and you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants +to go out," said her mother, as the sun went down behind the hills with +a last bright glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye. + +"Oh, please, a few minutes more," began Kitty, but was off like a flash; +for the shoes trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against old +Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor, and +scolding in such a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that she could +hardly pick her up again. + +By the time she was ready to undress the sun was quite gone, and the +shoes she took off were common ones again, for midsummer day was over. +But Kitty never forgot the little lessons she had learned: she tried to +run willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and +danced like a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and +interesting little creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever she +was told she might go to play with them, she hurried away almost as +quickly as if she still wore the skipping shoes. + + +[Illustration: So Cocky was brought in, and petted.] + + + + +V. + +COCKYLOO. + + +In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, feeling very happy because +it was time for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have a fine brood of +chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried +the chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy +little things one after the other, all ready to run and eat and +scratch,--for chickens are not like babies, and don't have to be tended +at all. + +There were eight little hens and two little cockerels, one black and one +as white as snow, with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on +his head. This was Cockyloo, the good chick; but the black one was named +Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we shall see. + +Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud of her fine family; for the +eight little daughters were all white and very pretty. She led them out +into the farmyard, clucking and scratching busily; for all were hungry, +and ran chirping round her to pick up the worms and seeds she found for +them. Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice +corn or a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or +Snowball have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up +the food greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, +and picked the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. +His mother scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; +but he didn't care, and was very naughty. Cocky began to crow when he +was very young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear +his loud, clear "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke +before the sun was up, and began his song. Peck used to grumble at being +roused at dawn, for he was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were glad +to get out of the hen-house. + +The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the +farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him. + +"I came out of the shell first, and I am the oldest; so I ought to be +king," he said. + +"But we don't like you, because you are selfish, cross, and lazy. We +want Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid +bird, and _he_ must be our king," answered the hens; and Peck had to +mind, or they would have pulled every feather out of his little tail. + +He resolved to do some harm to his good brother, and plagued him all he +could. One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a +bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near +to come and put his heavy foot on the bush. He did it, and crack went +the branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were +drowned but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, +Chirp, and Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, +and were never seen again. All the hens mourned for them, and put a +black feather in their heads to show how sorry they were. Mamma Partlet +was heart-broken to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted +her, and never told how it happened, because he was ashamed to have +people know what a bad bird Peck was. + +A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny Cockletop about it; and the +hens were so angry that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and he had +to go and live in the woods alone. He said he didn't care; but he did, +and was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field +where the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show +himself, for they would have driven him out. But kind Cocky saw him, and +would run with some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, +saying,--"Poor brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with +you, and tell you the news." + +Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had been planning to eat Peck as +soon as he was fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he used to +have, and grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berries. While he +waited the sly fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird knew that +foxes ate hens. + +"I'm not afraid, and I don't believe old Granny Cockletop's tales. I +can take care of myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing with +the fox, who got him to tell all about the hen-house,--how the door was +fastened, and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went +to bed,--so that he could creep in and steal a good supper by and by. +Silly Peck never guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when +Cocky said,-- + +"You will be sorry if you play with the fox. He is a bad fellow; so be +careful and sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, as I do." + +Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, +because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. +This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and +so one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to +the fox,-- + +"See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it. +He has promised to bring me some food to-night, when all the rest are +at roost. He will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old +biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all +I want out of the pan. You hide on the top of the hen-house; and while +he talks to me, you can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only cock +here, and they will have to make me king." + +"All right," said the fox, much pleased with the plan, and very glad +that Peck had a chance to get fatter. + +So when it was night, Peck crept through the broken paling and waited +till he heard the signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from +his own dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread +them all out in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in a great hurry +to eat them, never stopping to say, "Thank you." + +Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up. + +"Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over you; then you will be dry, +and can go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till +you are done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to +remember anything else. + +Now the fox had just crept up on the hen-house roof; and when he peeped +down, there was just light enough to see a white thing bobbing about. + +"Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good supper!" And with a jump he +seized Peck by the head before he could explain the mistake. + +One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell +off, and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to +eat Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the +farmer ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through +the hole in the fence with the fowl in his mouth. + +After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when +they heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better +than ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them. + +King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,--pure white, with a tall red +comb on his head, long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers in +his tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that +it could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, +"Hark! hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Isn't it a sweet sound to wake us +in the dawn?" All the other cocks used to answer him, and there was a +fine matinee concert every day. + +He was a good brother, and led his five little sisters all about the +field, feeding, guarding, and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, and +could not stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run +home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, +who was very proud of her handsome son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who +scolded about everything, liked him; and often said, as the hens sat +scuffling in the dust,-- + +"A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and I know he will do +something remarkable before he dies." + +She was right for once; and this is what he did. + +One day the farmer had to go away and stay all night, leaving the old +lady alone with two boys. They were not afraid; for they had a gun, and +quite longed for a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer +had a good deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they +waited for him to go away that they might steal it. Cocky was picking +about in the field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping +through a hole saw two shabby men hiding there. + +"At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we will creep in at the +kitchen window and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and +whistle if any one comes along while I'm looking for the box where the +farmer keeps it," said one man. + +"You needn't be afraid; there is no dog, and no one to wake the family, +so we are quite safe," said the other man; and then they both went to +sleep till night came. + +Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do. He could not tell +the old lady about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and she would +not understand that language. So he went about all day looking very +sober, and would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the +big burdock leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he +did not go into the hen-house with the rest, but flew up to the shed +roof over the kitchen, and sat there in the cold ready to scare the +robbers with a loud crow, as he could do nothing else. + +At midnight the men came creeping along; one stopped outside, and the +other went in. Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and went back +for the money. Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a +loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys. The man +with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; +the other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and +picked at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned +to run some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him +in the legs. The old lady popped her head out of the upper window and +rang the dinner-bell, and called "Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused +the neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble could be. + +They fished one man out of the well and picked up the wounded one, and +carried them both off to prison. + +"Who caught them?" asked the people. + +"We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we +shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the +rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this is the second time he has +caught a thief." + +So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his +family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward. + +When the robbers were tried, it was found that they were the men who had +robbed the bank, and taken a great deal of money; so every one was glad +to have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people +would go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was +so brave and handsome, they said at last,-- + +"We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow +let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow." + +"Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky +ought to be remembered in some way. + +So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye +on the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the +court-house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, +and twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were +never tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a +procession one moonlight night to see it,--yes, even Mamma Partlet and +Granny Cockletop, though one was lame and the other very old, so full of +pride were they in the great honor done King Cockyloo. + +This was not the end of his good deeds; and the last was the best of +all, though it cost him his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his +kingdom in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other +fowls were taken for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But he did die +at last; and even then he was good and brave, as you shall hear. + +One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and went behind the hen-house, +so nobody should see him do such a silly thing. He thought he heard +his father coming, and hid the pipe under the house. Some straw and dry +leaves lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the +boy ran away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to +burning nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to help. +The door was locked, and could not be opened, because the key was in the +pocket of the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe and chopped down the +wall, letting the poor biddies fly out, squawking and smoking. + +"Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed +the king of the farmyard. + +"Burnt up, I'm afraid," said the farmer, who was throwing water on the +flames. + +Alas! yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky +sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks +whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away, and sat +chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke +choked _him_ to death. + +Every one was very sorry; and the children gave the good bird a fine +funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a green mound +over him, and a white stone, on which was written,-- + + Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew: + We mourn for him with sorrow true. + Now nevermore at dawn his music shall we hear, + Waking the world like trumpet shrill and clear. + The hens all hang their heads, the chickens sadly peep; + The boys look sober, and the girls all weep. + Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest, + With grass and daisies on your faithful breast; + And when you wake, brave bird, so good and true, + Clap your white wings and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo." + + +[Illustration: The lion walked awhile to rest himself.] + + + + +VI. + +ROSY'S JOURNEY. + + +Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with her mother in a small house +in the woods. They were very poor, for the father had gone away to dig +gold, and did not come back; so they had to work hard to get food to eat +and clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when she was able, for she was +often sick, and Rosy did all she could to help. She milked the red cow +and fed the hens; dug the garden, and went to town to sell the yarn and +the eggs. + +She was very good and sweet, and every one loved her; but the neighbors +were all poor, and could do little to help the child. So, when at last +the mother died, the cow and hens and house had to be sold to pay the +doctor and the debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no mother, no +home, and no money to buy clothes and dinners with. + +"What will you do?" said the people, who were very sorry for her. + +"I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, bravely. + +"But he is far away, and you don't know just where he is, up among the +mountains. Stay with us and spin on your little wheel, and we will buy +the yarn, and take care of you, dear little girl," said the kind people. + +"No, I must go; for mother told me to, and my father will be glad +to have me. I'm not afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, +gratefully. + +Then the people gave her a warm red cloak, and a basket with a little +loaf and bottle of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more to eat when +the bread was gone. They all kissed her, and wished her good luck; and +she trotted away through the wood to find her father. + +For some days she got on very well; for the wood-cutters were kind, and +let her sleep in their huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by +she came to lonely places, where there were no houses; and then she +was afraid, and used to climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat +berries and leaves, like the Children in the Wood. + +She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would not come near her; and if +she met other travellers, she was so young and innocent no one had the +heart to hurt her. She was kind to everything she met; so all little +creatures were friends to her, as we shall see. + +One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw a tiny fish on the bank, +nearly dead for want of water. + +"Poor thing! go and be happy again," she said, softly taking him up, and +dropping him into the nice cool river. + +"Thank you, dear child; I'll not forget, but will help you some day," +said the fish, when he had taken a good drink, and felt better. + +"Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great girl as I am?" laughed Rosy. + +"Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam away with a flap of his +little tail. + +Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. But she never forgot +to be kind; and soon after, as she was looking in the grass for +strawberries, she found a field-mouse with a broken leg. + +"Help me to my nest, or my babies will starve," cried the poor thing. + +"Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that you can keep still till +your leg is better, and have something to eat." + +Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little hand, and tied up the broken +leg with a leaf of spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she carried her +to the nest under the roots of an old tree, where four baby mice were +squeaking sadly for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown for the +sick mouse, and put close within reach all the berries and seeds she +could find, and brought an acorn-cup of water from the spring, so they +could be comfortable. + +"Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this kindness some day," said +the mouse, when she was done. + +"I'm afraid you are not big enough to do much," answered Rosy, as she +ran off to go on her journey. + +"Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the little ones squeaked, as +if they said the same. + +Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, waiting for the sun to rise, +she heard a great buzzing close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb +that went from one twig to another. The big spider was trying to spin +him all up, and the poor fly was struggling to get away before his legs +and wings were helpless. + +Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the web, and the spider ran away +at once to hide under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on Rosy's hand, +cleaning his wings, and buzzing so loud for joy that it sounded like a +little trumpet. + +"You've saved my life, and I'll save yours, if I can," said the fly, +twinkling his bright eye at Rosy. + +"You silly thing, you can't help me," answered Rosy, climbing down, +while the fly buzzed away, saying, like the mouse and fish,-- + +"Wait and see; wait and see." + +Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came to the sea. The mountains +were on the other side; but how should she get over the wide water? No +ships were there, and she had no money to hire one if there had been +any; so she sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a few big +tears as salt as the sea. + +"Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close by; and the fish popped up +his head. Rosy ran to see what he wanted. + +"I've come to help you over the water," said the fish. + +"How can you, when I want a ship, and some one to show me the way?" +answered Rosy. + +"I shall just call my friend the whale, and he will take you over better +than a ship, because he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts +and flounces about a good deal, he is only playing; so you needn't be +frightened." + +Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to see what would happen; +for she didn't believe such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to +help her. + +Presently what looked like a small island came floating through the sea; +and turning round, so that its tail touched the shore, the whale said, +in a roaring voice that made her jump,-- + +"Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. I'll carry you wherever +you like." + +It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was rather scared at this big, +strange boat; but she got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a +roll and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting two fountains, while his +tail steered him like the rudder of a ship. + +Rosy liked it, and looked down into the deep sea, where all sorts of +queer and lovely things were to be seen. Great fishes came and looked at +her; dolphins played near to amuse her; the pretty nautilus sailed by +in its transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh with their rough +play. Mermaids brought her pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to +eat, and at night sung her to sleep with their sweet lullabies. + +So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran on shore with many thanks to +the good whale, who gave a splendid spout, and swam away. + +Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a desert. Hundreds of miles +of hot sand, with no trees or brooks or houses. + +"I never can go that way," she said; "I should starve, and soon be worn +out walking in that hot sand. What _shall_ I do?" + + "Quee, quee! + Wait and see: + You were good to me; + So here I come, + From my little home, + To help you willingly," + +said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its +bright eyes full of gratitude. + +"Why, you dear little thing, I'm very glad to see you; but I'm sure you +can't help me across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft back. + +"That's easy enough," answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. +"I'll just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he'll take you +across with pleasure." + +"Oh, I'm afraid he'd rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce +beast?" cried Rosy, much surprised. + +"I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a +noble animal, and he will keep his word." + +Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,-- + + "O lion, grand, + Come over the sand, + And help me now, I pray! + Here's a little lass, + Who wants to pass; + Please carry her on her way." + +In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with +fiery eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them. + +"What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he said, looking at the mouse, who +was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every +moment to be eaten. + +Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,-- + +"I'll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold +fast to my mane, for I'm a swift horse, and you might fall off." + +Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was +so kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand +till her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she +thought it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers +rolled their fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion +was king of all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with +loads on their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered +what queer thing was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large +monkey in a red cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a +little girl. + +"How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little +creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert," +said Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself. + +"And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have +come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make +them gentle and friendly by kindness," answered the lion. + +Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green +country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one +saw him, they would try to catch him. + +"Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father," thought +Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads +winding up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts +where the men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took +the wrong road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in +rocks over which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for +her food was gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night +was coming on, and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before +morning, but dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole +and be killed. Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a +little; then she tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, +and looking carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if +anxious to make her listen to his song,-- + + "Rosy, my dear, + Don't cry,--I'm here + To help you all I can. + I'm only a fly, + But you'll see that I + Will keep my word like a man." + +Rosy couldn't help laughing to hear the brisk little fellow talk as if +he could do great things; but she was very glad to see him and hear his +cheerful song, so she held out her finger, and while he sat there told +him all her troubles. + +"Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will carry you right up the +mountains and leave you at your father's door," cried the fly; and he +was off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant what he said. + +Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not at all afraid after the whale +and the lion; so when a great eagle swooped down and alighted near her, +she just looked at his sharp claws, big eyes, and crooked beak as coolly +as if he had been a cock-robin. + +He liked her courage, and said kindly in his rough voice,-- + +"Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. Hold me fast round the +neck, or you may grow dizzy and get a fall." + +Rosy nestled down among the thick gray feathers, and put both arms round +his neck; and whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, till the +trees looked like grass, they were so far below. At first it was very +cold, and Rosy cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as they came +nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and she peeped out to see the huts +standing in a green spot on the top of the mountain. + +"Here we are. You'll find all the men are down in the mine at this +time. They won't come up till morning; so you will have to wait for your +father. Good-by; good luck, my dear." And the eagle soared away, higher +still, to his nest among the clouds. + +It was night now, but fires were burning in all the houses; so Rosy went +from hut to hut trying to find her father's, that she might rest while +she waited: at last in one the picture of a pretty little girl hung on +the wall, and under it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew that this +was the right place; and she ate some supper, put on more wood, and went +to bed, for she wanted to be fresh when her father came in the morning. + +While she slept a storm came on,--thunder rolled and lightning flashed, +the wind blew a gale, and rain poured,--but Rosy never waked till dawn, +when she heard men shouting outside,-- + +"Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all be drowned!" + +Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, though the wind nearly blew her +away; she found that so much rain had made the river overflow till it +began to wash the banks away. + +"What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried Rosy, watching the men rush +about like ants, getting their bags of gold ready to carry off before +the water swept them away, if it became a flood. + +As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice say close by,-- + + "Splash, dash! + Rumble and crash! + Here come the beavers gay; + See what they do, + Rosy, for you, + Because you helped _me_ one day." + +And there in the water was the little fish swimming about, while an army +of beavers began to pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep the +river back. How they worked, digging and heaping with teeth and claws, +and beating the earth hard with their queer tails like shovels! Rosy and +the men watched them work, glad to be safe, while the storm cleared up; +and by the time the dam was made, all danger was over. Rosy looked into +the faces of the rough men, hoping her father was there, and was just +going to ask about him, when a great shouting rose again, and all began +to run to the pit hole, saying,-- + +"The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows will be smothered! How can we +get them out? how can we get them out?" + +Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would break; for her father was +down in the mine, and would die soon if air did not come to him. The men +dug as hard as they could; but it was a long job, and they feared they +would not be in time. + +Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering along, and began to burrow +down through the earth, making many holes for air to go in; for they +know how to build galleries through the ground better than men can. +Every one was so surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt flew +like rain as the busy little fellows scratched and bored as if making an +underground railway. + +"What does it mean?" said the men. "They work faster than we can, and +better; but who sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?" + +Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, small voice singing,-- + + "They come at my call; + And though they are small, + They'll dig the passage clear: + I never forget; + We'll save them yet, + For love of Rosy dear." + +Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on a stone, waving her tail +about, and pointing with her tiny paw to show the moles where to dig. + +The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them who she was, when a cry came +from the pit, and they saw that the way was clear so they could pull the +buried men up. In a minute they got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows +safe on the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all shouting as +if they were crazy,-- + +"Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!" + +"What is it?" cried the others; and then they saw Tom come up with the +biggest lump of gold ever found in the mountains. + +Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was a good man, and had worked +a long time, and been sick, and couldn't go back to his wife and child. +When he saw Rosy, he dropped the lump, and caught her up, saying,-- + +"My little girl! she's better than a million pounds of gold." + +Then Rosy was very happy, and went back to the hut, and had a lovely +time telling her father all about her troubles and her travels. He cried +when he heard that the poor mother was dead before she could have any of +the good things the gold would buy them. + +"We will go away and be happy together in the pleasantest home I can +find, and never part any more, my darling," said the father, kissing +Rosy as she sat on his knee with her arms round his neck. + +She was just going to say something very sweet to comfort him, when a +fly lit on her arm and buzzed very loud,-- + + "Don't drive me away, + But hear what I say: + Bad men want the gold; + They will steal it to-night, + And you must take flight; + So be quiet and busy and bold." + +"I was afraid some one would take my lump away. I'll pack up at once, +and we will creep off while the men are busy at work; though I'm afraid +we can't go fast enough to be safe, if they miss us and come after," +said Tom, bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; for some +of the miners were wild fellows, and might kill him for the sake of that +great lump. + +But the fly sang again,-- + + "Slip away with me, + And you will see + What a wise little thing am I; + For the road I show + No man can know, + Since it's up in the pathless sky." + +Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in the wood; and there were the +eagle and his mate waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far that +no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of gold were put on the mother +eagle; Tom sat astride the king bird; and away they flew to a great +city, where the little girl and her father lived happily together all +their lives. + + +[Illustration: Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground.] + + + + +VII. + +HOW THEY RAN AWAY. + + +Two little boys sat on the fence whittling arrows one fine day. Said one +little boy to the other little boy,-- + +"Let's do something jolly." + +"All right. What will we do?" + +"Run off to the woods and be hunters." + +"What can we hunt?" + +"Bears and foxes." + +"Mullin says there ain't any round here." + +"Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare wood-chucks." + +"Haven't got any guns and trap." + +"We've got our bows, and I found an old trap behind the barn." + +"What will we eat?" + +"Here's our lunch; and when that's gone we can roast the squirrels and +cook the fish on a stick. I know how." + +"Where will you get the fire?" + +"Got matches in my pocket." + +"I've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see." + +And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy displayed his treasures, +while bold Tommy did the same. + +Besides the two knives there were strings, nails, matches, a piece of +putty, fish-hooks, and two very dirty handkerchiefs. + +"There, sir, that's a first-rate fit-out for hunters; and with the jolly +basket of lunch Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top for two or +three days," said Tommy, eager to be off. + +"Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who liked to be comfortable both +night and day. + +"Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like the fellows in our books. If +you are afraid, stay at home; I'm going to have no end of a good time." +And Tommy crammed the things back into his pockets as if there were no +time to lose. + +"Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And jumping down Billy caught up his +rod, rather ashamed of his many questions. + +No one was looking at them, and they might have walked quietly off; but +that the "running away" might be all right, both raced down the road, +tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the woods as if a whole tribe of +wild Indians were after them. + +"Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when at last they stopped for +breath. + +"Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but we'd better not keep to it, or +some one will see us and take us back. We are going to be _real_ hunters +and have adventures; so we must get lost, and find our way by the sun +and the stars," answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' Books his +little head was a jumble of Texan Rangers, African Explorers, and +Buffalo Bills; and he burned to outdo them all. + +"What will our mothers say if we really get lost?" asked Billy, always +ready with a question. + +"Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like." + +That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma was tired of trying to keep the +lively little fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him come out +of all his scrapes without much harm. + +"Mine will be scared; she's always afraid I'm going to get hurt, so I'm +careful. But I guess I'll risk it, and have some fun to tell about when +we go home," said Billy, trudging after Captain Tommy, who always took +the lead. + +These eleven-year-old boys were staying with their mothers at a +farm-house up among the mountains; and having got tired of the tame +bears, the big barn, the trout brook, the thirty colts at pasture, and +the society of the few little girls and younger boys at the hotel near +by, these fine fellows longed to break loose and "rough it in the bush," +as the hunters did in their favorite stories. + +Away they went, deeper and deeper into the great forest that covered the +side of the mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it was cool +and green, with many brooks splashing over the rocks, or lying in brown +pools under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced in the tall pines; +now and then a gray rabbit skipped out of sight among the brakes, or +a strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries grew in the open +places, sassafras bushes were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready +for chewing. + +"Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, pausing at last in a little +dell where a noisy brook came tumbling down the mountain side, and the +pines sung overhead. + +"Yes; but I'm awful hungry. Let's rest and eat our lunch," said Billy, +sitting down on a cushion of moss. + +"You always want to be stuffing and resting," answered sturdy Tommy, who +liked to be moving all the time. + +He took the fishing-basket, which hung over his shoulder by a strap, +and opened it carefully; for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch of +bread and butter, cake and peaches, with a bottle of milk, and two large +pickles slipped in on the sly to please the boys. + +Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked in, for all he saw was a box +of worms for bait and an old jacket. + +"By George! we've got the wrong basket. This is Mullin's, and he's gone +off with our prog. Won't he be mad?" + +"Not as mad as I am. Why didn't you look? You are always in such a hurry +to start. What _shall_ we do now without anything to eat?" whined Billy; +for losing his lunch was a dreadful blow to him. + +"We shall have to catch some fish and eat blackberries. Which will you +do, old cry-baby?" said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face. + +"I'll fish; I'm so tired I can't go scratching round after berries. I +don't love 'em, either." And Billy began to fix his line and bait his +hook. + +"Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em if you can't wait for fish," +said Tommy, bustling about to empty the basket and pile up their few +possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool below here, you go and fish +there. I'll pick the berries, and then show you how to get dinner in the +woods. This is our camp; so fly round and do your best." + +Then Tommy ran off to a place near by where he had seen the berries, +while Billy found a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling at +the water so crossly, it was a wonder any trout came to his hook. But +the fat worms tempted several small ones, and he cheered up at the +prospect of food. Tommy whistled while he picked, and in half an hour +came back with two quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry sticks +for the fire. + +"We'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, as the flames went +crackling up, and the dry leaves made a pleasant smell. + +"Got four, but don't see how we'll ever cook 'em; no frying-pan," +grumbled Billy, throwing down the four little trout, which he had half +cleaned. + +"Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or toast 'em on a forked stick. +I'll show you how," said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding his +fire as much like a real hunter as a small boy could be. + +While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed for bread and butter. At +last, after much trouble, two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly +eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very different from the nice +brown ones Mrs. Mullin gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles they +would fall in the ashes, and there was no salt to eat with them. By the +time the last were toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they could +have eaten anything, and not a berry was left. + +"I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole among the vines, and I +shouldn't wonder if we got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when the +last bone was polished. "You go and catch some more fish, and I'll see +if I have caught any old chap as he went home to dinner." + +Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went slowly back to the brook, wishing +with all his might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie. + +The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, for not one bite did poor +Billy get; and he was just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him +such a fright that he tumbled into the brook up to his knees. + +"I've got him! Come and see! He's a bouncer," roared Tommy, from the +berry bushes some way off. + +Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his wet boots would let him, to +see what the prize was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round a fat gray +animal, who was fighting to get his paws out of the trap, and making a +queer noise as he struggled about. + +"What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a tree as fast as possible, +for the thing looked fierce, and he was very timid. + +"A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. Won't his fur make a fine cap? +I guess the other fellows will wish they'd come with us." said Tommy, +prancing to and fro, without the least idea what to do with the +creature. + +"He'll bite. We'd better run away and wait till he's dead," said Billy. + +"Wish he'd got his head in, then I could carry him off; but he does +look savage, so we'll have to leave him awhile, and get him when we come +back. But he's a real beauty." And Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of +gray fur scuffling in the sand. + +"Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, ready for a fried crocodile +if he could get it. + +"If he's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know about woodchucks. The +fellows in my books don't seem to have caught any. He's nice and fat; we +might try him when he's dead," said Tommy, who cared more for the skin +to show than the best meal ever cooked. + +The sound of a gun echoing through the wood gave Tommy a good idea,-- + +"Let's find the man and get him to shoot this chap; then we needn't +wait, but skin him right away, and eat him too." + +Off they went to the camp; and catching up their things, the two hunters +hurried away in the direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that +some one was near them, for two or three hours of wood life made them a +little homesick. + +They ran and scrambled, and listened and called; but not until they had +gone a long way up the mountain did they find the man, resting in an old +hut left by the lumbermen. The remains of his dinner were spread on the +floor, and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, while his dog dozed +at his feet, close to a well-filled game-bag. + +He looked surprised when two dirty, wet little boys suddenly appeared +before him,--one grinning cheerfully, the other looking very dismal +and scared as the dog growled and glared at them as if they were two +rabbits. + +"Hollo!" said the man + +"Hollo!" answered Tommy. + +"Who are you?" asked the man. + +"Hunters," said Tommy. + +"Had good luck?" And the man laughed. + +"First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and we want you to come and +shoot him," answered Tommy, proudly. + +"Sure?" said the man, looking interested as well as amused. + +"No, but I think so." + +"What's he like?" + +Tommy described him, and was much disappointed when the man lay down +again, saying, with another laugh,-- + +"It's a woodchuck; he's no good." + +"But I want the skin." + +"Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's better for the skin," said +the man, who was tired and didn't want to stop for such poor game. + +All this time Billy had been staring hard at the sandwiches and bread +and cheese on the floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at +him. + +"Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing the hungry look. + +"I just do! We left our lunch, and I've only had two little trout and +some old berries since breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his +eyes and a hand on his stomach. + +"Eat away then; I'm done, and don't want the stuff." And the man took up +his paper as if glad to be let alone. + +It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in ten minutes nothing +was left but the napkin; and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much +refreshed, but ready for more. + +"Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty cold on the mountain after +sunset, and you are a long way from town," said the man, who had peeped +at them over his paper now and then, and saw, in spite of the dirt and +rips, that they were not farmer boys. + +"We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in the valley. No hurry; +we know the way, and we want to have some sport first. You seem to +have done well," answered Tommy, looking enviously from the gun to the +game-bag, out of which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail. + +"Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. People tell me there is one +up here, and I'm after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt some +of the young folks round here," said the man, loading his gun with a +very sober air; for he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home. + +Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown face beamed with joy as he said +eagerly,-- + +"I hope you'll get him. I'd rather shoot a bear than any other animal +but a lion. We don't have those here, and bears are scarce. Mullin said +he hadn't heard of one for a long time; so this must be a young one, for +they killed the big one two years ago." + +That was true, and the man knew it. He did not really expect or want to +meet a bear, but thought the idea of one would send the little fellows +home at once. Finding one of them was unscared, he laughed, and said +with a nod to Tommy,-- + +"If I had time I'd take _you_ along, and show you how to hunt; but this +fat friend of yours couldn't rough it with us, and we can't leave him +alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I wouldn't climb any higher, for +among the rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost." + +"Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I know you'll like it. A real gun +and dog and hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," cried Tommy, +wild to go. + +"I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; you can go after your old bears +if you want to. I don't think much of hunting anyway, and wish I hadn't +come," growled Billy, very cross at being left out, yet with no desire +to scramble any more. + +"Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and some day I'll come and take +you out with me, little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding off +with the dear gun and dog and bag, leaving Billy to wonder what he meant +by that queer name, and Tommy to console himself with the promise made +him. + +"Let's go and see how old Chucky gets on," he said good-naturedly, when +the man vanished. + +"Not till I'm rested. I can get a good nap on this pile of hay; then +we'll go home before it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself +on the rough bed the lumbermen had used. + +"I just wish I had a boy with some go in him; you ain't much better than +a girl," sighed Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some squirrels +seemed to be having a party, they chattered and raced up and down at +such a rate. + +He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many times in vain, for the +lively creatures gave him no chance. He had better luck with a brown +bird who sat in a bush and was hit full in the breast with the sharpest +arrow. The poor thing fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green +leaves as it lay dying on the grass. Tommy was much pleased at first; +but as he stood watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty brown +wings stop fluttering, he felt sorry that its happy little life was so +cruelly ended, and ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so much +pain. + +"I'll never shoot another bird except hawks after chickens, and I won't +brag about this one. It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean to +kill it." + +As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the ruffled feathers of the dead +thrush, and, making a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped in +green leaves, and left it there where its mate could sing over it, and +no rude hands disturb its rest. + +"I'll tell mamma and she will understand: but I _won't_ tell Billy. He +is such a greedy old chap he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird +to eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, and sat there, +restringing his bow, till Billy woke up, much more amiable for his +sleep. + +They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost their way, and wandered +deeper into the great forest till they came to a rocky place and could +go no farther. They climbed up and tumbled down, turned back and went +round, looked at the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras bark and +checkerberry leaves for supper, and grew more and more worried and tired +as hour after hour went by and they saw no end to woods and rocks. Once +or twice they heard the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried to +find him. + +Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the man, who knew his way and was +probably safe in the valley when the last faint shot came up to them. +Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for proposing to run away; and both +felt very homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds at Farmer +Mullin's. + +The sun set, and found them in a dreary place full of rocks and blasted +trees half-way up the mountain. They were so tired they could hardly +walk, and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; but, remembering the +hunter's story of the bear, they were afraid to do it, till Tommy +suggested climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot of it to +scare away the bear, lest he climb too and get them. + +But, alas! the matches were left in their first camp; so they decided to +take turns to sleep and watch, since it was plain that they must spend +the night there. Billy went up first, and creeping into a good notch of +the bare tree tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with a big stick, +marched to and fro below. Every few minutes a trembling voice would call +from above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious voice would answer from +below, "Not yet. Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn." + +At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy felt so lonely he couldn't +bear it; so he climbed to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying +to keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and the early moon saw the +poor boys roosting there like two little owls. + +A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then a great shaking and howling +waked Tommy so suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and did not +know where he was. + +"The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! Tommy, Tommy, come and make +him let go," cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls. + +Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large bear eating his unhappy +friend; but the moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy dangling +from a bough, high above the ground, caught by his belt when he fell. He +had been dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so there he hung, +kicking and wailing, half awake, and so scared it was long before Tommy +could make him believe that he was quite safe. + +How to get him down was the next question. The branch was not strong +enough to bear Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to unhook poor +Billy. The belt was firmly twisted at the back, and Billy could not +reach to undo it, nor could he get his legs round the branch to pull +himself up. There seemed no way but to unbuckle the belt and drop. That +he was afraid to try; for the ground was hard, and the fall a high one. +Fortunately both belt and buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though +very uncomfortably, while Tommy racked his boyish brain to find a way to +help him. + +Billy had just declared that he should be cut in two very soon if +something was not done for him, and Tommy was in despair, when they +thought they heard a far-off shout, and both answered it till their +throats were nearly split with screaming. + +"I seem to see a light moving round down that way," cried Billy from his +hook, pointing toward the valley. + +"They are looking for us, but they won't hear us. I'll run and holler +louder, and bring 'em up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything that +would put an end to this dreadful state of things. + +"Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! The bear might come! Don't +go! don't go!" wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid. + +"I won't go far, and I'll come back as quick as I can. You are safe up +there. Hold on, and we'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, rushing +away helter-skelter, never minding where he went, and too much excited +to care for any damage. + +The moon was bright on the blasted trees; but when he came down among +the green pines, it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. Never +minding bumps and bruises, he scrambled over rocks, leaped fallen +trunks, floundered through brooks, and climbed down steep places, till, +with a reckless jump, he went heels over head into a deep hole, and lay +there for a moment stunned by the fall. It was an old bear-trap, long +unused, and fortunately well carpeted with dead leaves, or poor Tommy +would have broken his bones. + +When he came to himself he was so used up that he lay still for some +time in a sort of daze, too tired to know or care about anything, only +dimly conscious that somebody was lost in a tree or a well, and that, on +the whole, running away was not all fun. + +By and by the sound of a gun roused him; and remembering poor Billy, he +tried to get out of the pit,--for the moon showed him where he was. But +it was too deep, and he was too stiff with weariness and the fall to be +very nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and raged about very like a +little bear caught in the pit. + +It is very difficult to find a lost person on these great mountains, and +many wander for hours not far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, +the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them in. Some have lost +their lives; and as Tommy lay on the leaves used up by his various +struggles, he thought of all the stories he had lately heard at the +farm, and began to wonder how it would feel to starve to death down +there, and to wish poor Billy could come to share his prison, that they +might die together, like the Babes in the Wood, or better still the Boy +Scouts lost on the prairies in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, +the Wild Hunter of the West." + +"I guess mother is worried this time, because I never stayed out all +night before, and I never will again without leave. It's rather good +fun, though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and it isn't very +cold. I always wanted to sleep out, and now I'm doing it. Wish poor +Billy was safely down and in this good bed with me. Won't he be scared +all alone there? Maybe the belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. +Sorry now I left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. There's the gun again! +Guess it's that man after us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! Hi! +hi! hi!" + +Tommy's meditations ended in a series of yells as loud as his shrill +little voice could make them, and he thought some one answered. But it +must have been an echo, for no one came; and after another rampage round +his prison, the poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and went fast +asleep because there was nothing else to do. + +So there they were, the two young hunters, lost at midnight on the +mountain,--one hanging like an apple on the old tree, and the other +sound asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers meantime were +weeping and wringing their hands at the farm, while all the men in +the neighborhood were out looking for the lost boys. The hunter on his +return to the hotel had reported meeting the runaways and his effort to +send them home in good season; so people knew where to look, and, led by +the man and dog, up the mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. It was +a mild night, and the moon shone high and clear; so the hunt was, on the +whole, rather easy and pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through +the dark forest like fireflies, the lonely cliffs seemed alive with men, +and voices echoed in places where usually only the brooks babbled +and the hawks screamed. But as time went on, and no sign of the boys +appeared, the men grew anxious, and began to fear some serious harm had +come to the runaways. + +"I can't go home without them little shavers no way, 'specially Tommy," +said Mr. Mullin, as they stopped to rest after a hard climb through the +blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own heart, spry as a chipmunk, +smart as a young cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. He ain't +afraid of anything, and I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find him +enjoyin' himself first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber." + +"The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. If it hadn't been for +him I'd have kept the lively fellow with me, and shown him how to hunt. +Sorry now I didn't take them both home," said the man with the gun, +seeing his mistake too late, as people often do. + +"Maybe they've fell down a precipice and got killed, like Moses Warner, +when he was lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted himself +hoarse. + +"Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' yonder, and he may have found +'em," said the farmer, hurrying toward the place where the hound was +baying at something in a tree. + +It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half unconscious with weariness +and fear. The belt had slipped up under his arms, so he could breathe +easily; and there he was, looking like a queer sort of cone on the +blasted pine. + +"Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as the tall lad climbed up, and, +unhooking Billy, handed him down like a young bird, into the arms held +up to catch him. + +"He's all right, only scared out of his wits. Come along and look for +the other one. I'll warrant he went for help, and may be half-way home +by this time," said the hunter, who didn't take much interest in the fat +boy. + +Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing it to the dog, his master +told him to find the boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then set off +with his nose to the ground, following the zigzag track Tommy had taken +in his hurry. The hunter and several of the men went after him, leaving +the farmer with the others to take care of Billy. + +Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and began to bark again. + +"He's got him!" cried the men, much relieved; and rushing on soon saw +the good beast looking down at a little white object in one corner of +the dark hole. + +It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the rest of him was covered up +with leaves. The little round face seemed very quiet; and for a moment +the men stood quite still, fearing that the fall might have done the +boy some harm. Then the hunter leaped down, and gently touched the brown +cheek. It was warm, and a soft snore from the pug nose made the man call +out, much relieved,-- + +"He's all right. Wake up here, little chap; you are wanted at home. Had +hunting enough for this time?" + +As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave a stretch, and said, "Hollo, +Billy," as calmly as if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of the +leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the sight of several men staring +down at him startled him wide awake. + +"Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, looking up at the hunter with a +grin. + +"No; but I caught a little one, and here he is," answered the man, +giving Tommy a roll in the leaves, much pleased because he did not whine +or make a fuss. + +"Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's Billy? I left him up a tree +like a coon, and he wouldn't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking off his +brown bed-clothes, and quite ready to get up now. + +They all laughed with him; and presently, when the story was told, they +pulled the boy out of the pit, and went back to join the other wanderer, +who was now sitting up eating the bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for +their very late supper. + +The men roared again, as the two boys told their various tribulations; +and when they had been refreshed, the party started for home, blowing +the tin horns, and firing shot after shot to let the scattered searchers +know that the lost children were found. Billy was very quiet, and gladly +rode on the various broad backs offered for his use, but Tommy stoutly +refused to be carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a very rough +place, walked all the way down on his own sturdy legs. He was the hero +of the adventure, and was never tired of relating how he caught the +woodchuck, cooked the fish, slid down the big rock, and went to bed in +the old bear-pit. But in his own little mind he resolved to wait till he +was older before he tried to be a hunter; and though he caught several +wood-chucks that summer, he never shot another harmless little bird. + + +[Illustration: A wasp flew out and stung her lips.] + + + + +VIII. + +THE FAIRY BOX. + + +"I wish I had a magic bracelet like Rosamond's, that would prick me when +I was going to do wrong," said little May, as she put down the story she +had been reading. + +There was no one else in the room, but she heard a sweet voice sing +these words close to her ear:-- + + "Now hark, little May, + If you want to do right, + Under your pillow + Just look every night. + If you have been good + All through the day, + A gift you will find, + Useful or gay; + But if you have been + Cross, selfish, or wild, + A bad thing will come + For the naughty child. + So try, little dear, + And soon you will see + How easy and sweet + To grow good it will be." + +May was very much surprised at this, and looked everywhere to see who +spoke, but could find no one. + +"I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide open, and I can't make up +poetry, asleep or awake." + +As she said that, some one laughed; and the same voice sang again,-- + + "Ha, ha, you can't see, + Although I am here; + But listen to what + I say in your ear. + Tell no one of this. + Because, if you do, + My fun will be spoilt, + And so will yours too. + But if you are good, + And patient, and gay, + A real fairy will come + To see little May." + +"Oh, how splendid that will be! I'll try hard, and be as good as an +angel if I can only get one peep at a live fairy. I always said there +were such people, and now I shall know how they look," cried the little +girl, so pleased that she danced all about the room, clapping her hands. + +Something bright darted out of the window from among the flowers that +stood there, and no more songs were heard; so May knew that the elf had +gone. + +"I've got a fine secret all to myself, and I'll keep it carefully. I +wonder what present will come to-night," she said, thinking this a very +interesting play. + +She was very good all day, and made no fuss about going to bed, though +usually she fretted, and wanted to play, and called for water, and +plagued poor Nursey in many ways. She got safely into her little nest, +and then was in such a hurry to see what was under her pillow that she +forgot, and called out crossly,-- + +"Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang up my clothes, you slow old +thing! Go, go!" + +That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away without her good-night +kiss. But May didn't care, and felt under her pillow the minute the door +was shut. A lamp was always left burning; so she could see the little +gold box she drew out. + +"How pretty! I hope there is some candy in it," she said, opening it +very carefully. + +Oh, dear! what _do_ you think happened? A wasp flew out and stung her +lips; then both wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry alone, +with a sharp pain in the lips that said the unkind words. + +"What a dreadful present! I don't like that spiteful fairy who sends +such horrid things," she sobbed. + +Then she lay still and thought about it; for she dared not call any one, +because nobody must guess the secret. She knew in her own little heart +that the cross words hurt Nursey as the sting did her lips, and she felt +sorry. At once the smart got better, and by the time she had resolved to +ask the good old woman to forgive her, it was all gone. + +Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged pardon, and tried hard to be +good till tea-time; then she ran to see what nice things they were +going to have to eat, though she had often been told not to go into +the dining-room. No one was there; and on the table stood a dish of +delicious little cakes, all white like snowballs. + +"I must have just a taste, and I'll tell mamma afterward," she said; and +before she knew it one little cake was eaten all up. + +"Nobody will miss it, and I can have another at tea. Now, a lump of +sugar and a sip of cream before mamma comes, I so like to pick round." + +Having done one wrong thing, May felt like going on; so she nibbled and +meddled with all sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, then +she ran away; and by and by, when the bell rang, came in with the rest +as prim and proper as if she did not know how to play pranks. No one +missed the cake, and her mother gave her another, saying,-- + +"There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my good child." + +May turned red, and wanted to tell what she had done, but was ashamed +because there was company; and people thought she blushed like a modest +little girl at being praised. + +But when she went to bed she was almost afraid to look under the pillow, +knowing that she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew out the box, +and slowly opened it, expecting something to fly at her. All she saw +was a tiny black bag, that began at once to grow larger, till it was +big enough to hold her two hands. Then it tied itself tight round her +wrists, as if to keep these meddlesome hands out of mischief. + +"Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful as the wasp. I hope +no one will see it when I'm asleep. I do wish I'd let those cakes and +things alone," sighed May, looking at the black bag, and vainly trying +to get her hands free. + +She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke the bag was gone. No one +had seen it; but she told her mamma about the cake, and promised not to +do so any more. + +"Now this shall be a _truly_ good day, every bit of it," she said, as +she skipped away, feeling as light as a feather after she had confessed +her little sins. + +But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, that May spoilt her day +before dinner by going to the river and playing with the boats, in spite +of many orders not to do it. She did not tell of it, and went to a +party in the afternoon, where she was so merry she never remembered the +naughty thing till she was in bed and opened the fairy box. A little +chain appeared, which in a flash grew long and large, and fastened round +her ankles as if she were a prisoner. May liked to tumble about, and was +much disgusted to be chained in this way; but there was no help for it, +so she lay very still and had plenty of time to be sorry. + +"It is a good punishment for me, and I deserve it. I won't cry, but I +will--I _will_ remember." And May said her prayers very soberly, really +meaning to keep her word this time. + +All the next day she was very careful to keep her lips from cross words, +her hands from forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. Nothing +spoilt this day, she watched so well; and when mamma gave the good-night +kiss, she said,-- + +"What shall I give my good little daughter, who has been gentle, +obedient, and busy all day?" + +"I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a pink ribbon on its neck," +answered May. + +"I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, and happy dreams!" said +mamma, with many kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that was a +reward. + +May was so busy thinking about the kitty and the good day that she +forgot the box till she heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow. + +"Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped up her head to see. + +Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, on a red cushion, lay a +white kit about two inches long. May couldn't believe that it was alive +till it jumped out of its nest, stretched itself, and grew all at once +just the right size to play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its +tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow was on its neck. It danced +all over the bed, ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, nipped +May's toes, licked her face, patted her nose with its soft paw, and +winked at her in such a funny way that she laughed for joy at having +such a dear kitty. Presently, as if it knew that bed was the place to +lie quiet in, puss cuddled down in a little bunch and purred May to +sleep. + +"I suppose that darling kit will be gone like all the other things," +said May, as she waked up and looked round for her first pretty gift. + +No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the sun among the flower-pots, +washing her face and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic they +had; and how surprised every one was to see just the pussy May wanted! +They supposed it came as kitties often come; and May never told them it +was a fairy present, because she had promised not to. She was so happy +with little puss that she was good all day; and when she went to bed she +thought,-- + +"I wish I had a dog to play with darling Snowdrop, and run with me when +I go to walk." + +"Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the pillow; and out of the box trotted +a curly black dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such bright, +kind eyes May was not a bit afraid of him, but loved him at once, and +named him Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked him too; and when +May was sleepy they both snuggled down in the same basket like two good +babies, and went to by-low. + +"Well, I never! What shall we find next?" said Nurse, when she saw the +dog in the morning. + +"Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the whole house, and scare you +out of your wits," laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop chasing her +bare toes, while Floss shook and growled over her shoes as if they were +rats. + +"If your cousin John wants to give you any more animals, I wish he'd +send a pony to take you to school, and save my old legs the pain of +trotting after you," said Nurse; for May did have a rich cousin who was +very fond of her, and often gave her nice things. + +"Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled with the idea that it was +a fairy, and not Cousin John, who sent the cunning little creatures to +her. + +But she didn't get the pony that night; for in the afternoon her mother +told her not to sit on the lawn, because it was damp, and May did not +mind, being busy with a nice story. So when she took up her box, a loud +sneeze seemed to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of red +flannel. + +"What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; and as if to answer, +the strip of flannel wrapped itself round her neck. + +"There! my throat _is_ sore, and I _am_ hoarse. I wonder how that fairy +knew I sat on the damp grass. I'm so sorry; for I did want a pony, and +might have had it if I'd only minded," said May, angry with herself for +spoiling all her fun. + +It _was_ spoilt; for she had such a cold next day she couldn't go out +at all, but had to take medicine and keep by the fire, while the other +children had a lovely picnic. + +"I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't deserve a present, I was +so disobedient. But I _have_ tried to be patient," said May, feeling for +the box. + +The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was a beautiful picture-book, +full of new, nice stories printed in colored ink. + +"How splendid to read to-morrow while I'm shut up!" she said, and went +to sleep very happily. + +All the next day she enjoyed the pretty pictures and funny tales, and +never complained or fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor +said she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine. + +"Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in her bed. But there was +nothing in the box except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She did +not know what to do with it that night, but she did the next morning; +for just as she was dressed her brother called from the garden,-- + +"May, look out and see what we found in the stable. None of us can catch +him, so do come and see if you can; your name is on the card tied to his +mane." + +May looked, and there was a snow-white pony racing about the yard as if +he was having a fine frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, and +ran down to catch him. The minute she appeared, the pony went to her and +put his nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,-- + +"This is my little mistress; I will mind her and serve her well." + +May was delighted, and very proud when the pony let her put on the +saddle and bridle that lay in the barn all ready to use. She jumped up +and rode gayly down the road; and Will and mamma and all the maids and +Floss and Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The children at school +were much excited when she came trotting up, and all wanted to ride +Prince. He was very gentle, and every one had a ride; but May had the +best fun, for she could go every day for long trots by the carriage when +mamma and Will drove out. A blue habit and a hat with a long feather +were bought that afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at night +that she said to herself as she lay in bed,-- + +"I'll wish for something for Will now, and see if I get it. I don't want +any more presents yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give away to +other people who have no fairy box." + +So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box lay a key with the name +"Water Lily" on it. She guessed what it meant, and in the morning told +her brother to come to the river and see what she had for him. There lay +a pretty green and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all spread, +and at the mast-head a little flag flying in the wind, with the words +"Water Lily" on it in gold letters. + +Will was so surprised and pleased to find that it was his, he turned +heels over head on the grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, +crying, "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at once. + +May followed, and they sailed away down the lovely river, white with +real lilies, while the blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either +side, and boys and girls stopped on the bridges to see them pass. + +After that May kept on trying to be good, and wishing for things for +herself and other people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and was the +sweetest little girl in the world. Then there was no need of fairies to +help her; and one night the box was not under the pillow. + +"Well, I've had my share of pretty things, and must learn to do without. +I'm glad I tried; for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need to +be rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, quite happy and contented, +though she did wish she could have seen the fairy just once. + +Next morning the first thing she saw was a beautiful bracelet, shining +on the table; and while she stood admiring it, she heard the little +voice sing,-- + + "Here is the bracelet + For good little May + To wear on her arm + By night and by day. + When it shines like the sun, + All's going well; + But when you are bad, + A sharp prick will tell. + Farewell, little girl, + For now we must part. + Make a fairy-box, dear, + Of your own happy heart; + And take out for all + Sweet gifts every day, + Till all the year round + Is like beautiful May." + +As the last words were sung, right before her eyes she saw a tiny +creature swinging on the rose that stood there in a vase,--a lovely elf, +with wings like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and a star on her forehead. +She smiled, and waved her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away +into the sunshine, till she vanished from sight, leaving May with the +magic bracelet on her arm, and the happy thought that at last she had +_really_ seen a fairy. + + +[Illustration: Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek."] + + + + +IX. + +A HOLE IN THE WALL. + +PART I. + + +If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were his best friends, he would +have answered,-- + +"The sun and the wind, next to mother." + +Johnny lived in a little court that led off from one of the busiest +streets in the city,--a noisy street, where horse-car bells tinkled +and omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great +depots near by. The court was a dull place, with only two or three +shabby houses in it, and a high blank wall at the end. + +The people who hurried by were too busy to do more than to glance at +the lame boy who sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess that +there was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library in the court. But +Johnny had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be +grateful enough to the wind that brought him his books and pictures, nor +to the sun that made it possible for him to enjoy them in the open air, +far more than richer folk enjoy their fine galleries and libraries. + +A bad fall, some months before the time this story begins, did something +to Johnny's back which made his poor legs nearly useless, and changed +the lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. His mother took in fine +washing, and worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her +boy, who could no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to +school. He could only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on his bed in +pain for hours, and, each fair day, hobble out to sit in a little old +chair between the water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he kept +his library. + +But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty and pain; and the day a +great gust came blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty newspaper +down the court to his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for +patient Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other +pictured bits found their way to him; for the frolicsome wind liked to +whisk the papers around the corner, and chase them here and there till +they settled under the chair or flew wildly over the wall. + +Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all came to cheer the boy, who +was never tired of collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out the +big pictures to paste on the wall with the leavings of mother's starch, +and the smaller in the scrap-book he made out of stout brown wrappers +or newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a +very gay wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large +pictures up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. +The books were laid carefully away in the boiler, after being smoothly +ironed out and named to suit Johnny's fancy by pasting letters on the +back. This was the circulating library; for not only did the papers +whisk about the court to begin with, but the books they afterward made +went the rounds among the neighbors till they were worn out. + +The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading the anecdotes on Sunday when +he could not work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look over +advertisements of the fine things which she longed for; and Patsey +Flynn, the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the +station, often paused to look at the play-bills,--for he adored the +theatre, and entertained Johnny with descriptions of the splendors there +to be beheld, till he felt as if he had really been, and had known all +the famous actors, from Humpty Dumpty to the great Salvini. + +Now and then a flock of dirty children would stray into the court and +ask to see the "pretty picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy +boy; for, armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the +beauties of his gallery, feeling that he was a public benefactor when +the poor babies thanked him warmly, and promised to come again and bring +all the nice papers they could pick up. + +These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had two sorrows,--one, a very real +one, his aching back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb the wall +and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderful and +delightful place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal court, with +no playmates and few comforts. + +He amused himself with imagining how it looked over there, and nearly +every night added some new charm to this unseen country, when his mother +told him fairy tales to get him to sleep. He peopled it with the dear +old characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on +the wall was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. +Blue-beard's wives were hidden in the house of whose upper windows the +boy could just catch glimpses. Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove +of chestnuts that rustled over there; and Jack's Beanstalk grew up just +such a wall as that, he was sure. + +But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood;" for +he was sure some lovely creature lived in that garden, and he longed to +get in to find and play with her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of +damp earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as +strong a ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny +was so impatient that he promised Patsey his best book "for his +ownty-donty," if he would climb up and report what was to be seen in +that enchanted garden. + +"Faix, and I will, thin." And up went good-natured Pat, after laying an +old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all along +the top of the wall, and only cats and sparrows could walk there. + +Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for Pat's Sunday best! The board +broke, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled +Johnny half out of his wits and brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler +to the rescue. + +After this sad event Pat kept away for a time in high dudgeon, and +Johnny was more lonely than ever. But he was a cheery little soul, so he +was grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,--for the +March winds had brought him many treasures, and after April rains were +over, May sunshine made the court warm enough for him to be out nearly +all day. + +"I'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this piece and told me about it, +and he'd like to help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, +one breezy morning, as he sat examining a big poster which the wind had +sent flying into his lap a few minutes before. + +The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures represented the hero +getting out of prison by making holes in the wall, among other +remarkable performances. + +"This is a jolly red one! Now, where will I put it to show best and not +spoil the other beauties?" + +As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around and surveyed his gallery +with as much pride and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders of +art. + +It really _was_ quite splendid; for every sort of picture shone in the +sun,--simpering ladies, tragic scenes, circus parades, labels from +tin cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny +advertisements, and gay bills of all kinds. None were perfect, but they +were arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, Johnny thought. + +Presently his eyes wandered from these treasures to the budding bushes +that nodded so tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran along the +top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; lilacs tossed their purple plumes +above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents +with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like +candles on a mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping gayly +everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh blue bow, basked on the coping +of the wall, and from the depths of the enchanted garden came a sweet +voice singing,-- + + "And she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy." + +Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his finger to the little dent in +his own chin, wishing the singer would finish this pleasing song. But +she never did, though he often heard that, as well as other childish +ditties, sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the +sound of lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny +longed intensely to know who the singer was; for her music cheered his +solitude, and the mysterious sounds he heard in the garden increased his +wonder and his longing day by day. + +Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where are you?" and Johnny was +sure "Fay" was short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard talking +in a strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A +little dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, +and some elfish bird scolded, screamed, and laughed so like a human +being, that Johnny felt sure that magic of some sort was at work next +door. + +A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the wall as of flowers, and +the poor boy imagined untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he +tended the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she +had time to stop and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, and tried +to make them out of colored paper, since he could have no sweeter sort. + +Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited his curiosity to such a pitch +that once he hobbled painfully up the court till he could see into the +trees; and once his eager eyes caught glimpses of a little creature, all +blue and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, +and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched +his hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and +would have fallen if he had not caught by the shutter of a window so +quickly that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and when he could look +up again, the fairy had vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the +leaves dancing in the wind. + +Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a fall, and every step cost +him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat +staring at the wall on that memorable May day. + +"How I _should_ like to peek in and see just how it all really looks! +It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it must be +splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller what you see?" + +Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white cat purred politely; for she +liked the boy who never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But +Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy hunting-ground below; +and, to console himself for the disappointment, Johnny went back to his +new picture. + +"Now, if this man in the play dug his way out through a wall ten feet +thick with a rusty nail and a broken knife, I don't see why I couldn't +pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's +a good place, and nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the hole. +And I'll try it, I declare I will!" + +Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on a small scale, Johnny +caught up the old scissors in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar +around a brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. His mother +smiled at his energy, then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces +with a heavy heart,-- + +"Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he'd make his way in the +world. But now he's like to find a blank wall before him while he lives, +and none to help him over." + +Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked on, wise as the cat +in the story, but offered no advice. The toad who lived behind the +water-barrel hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, like +Jack waiting to climb; and just then the noon bells began to ring as if +they sang clear and loud,-- + +"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." + +So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped and dug vigorously till the +old brick fell out, showing another behind it. Only pausing to take +breath, he caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, +which soon cleared the way and let the sunshine stream through, while +the wind tossed the lilacs like triumphal banners, and the jolly +sparrows chirped,-- + +"Hail, the conquering hero comes!" + +Rather scared by his unexpected success, the boy sat silent for a moment +to see what would happen. But all was still; and presently, with a +beating heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." +He could not see much; but that little increased his curiosity and +delight, for it seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the dust and +noise and dingy houses of the court. + +A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay garments in the middle of a +grass-plot; a strange and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on +a golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the sun; and on a red carpet +under the trees lay the Princess, fast asleep. + +"It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh of pleasure; "that's the +Sleeping Beauty, sure enough. There's the blue gown, the white fur-cloak +sweeping round, the pretty hair, and--yes--there's the old nurse, +spinning and nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother got me +when I cried because I couldn't go to see the play." + +This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, and make him believe +that fairy tales _might_ be true, after all, for how could he know that +the strange woman was an Italian servant, in her native dress, with a +distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took +another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A +basket of oranges stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung from a +limb of the tree to keep the wind off, and several books fluttered their +pictured leaves temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes. + +"Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and read 'em and speak to 'em and +see all the splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked from +one delight to another, and felt shut out from all. "I can't go and wake +her like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, +now I _can_ see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or +holler, it might scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows are too +busy scolding one another. I know! I'll fly a kite over, and that will +please her any way. Don't believe she has kites; girls never do." + +Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a long string to his gayest +poster, and then fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished +in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh breezes blowing down +the court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with +a strong breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a +moment on the trees and then drop among the tulips, where its frantic +struggles to escape waked the dog, and set him to racing and barking, as +Johnny hurriedly let the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole. + +The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, and she clapped her hands +when Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, +with a long yawn, went away, carrying her distaff, like a gun, over her +shoulder. + +"She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some more to send over. This will +come off, I'll poke it through, and maybe she will see it." + +Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore from the wall his most +cherished picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he +thrust it through the hole and waited to see what followed. + +Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer croak from the splendid bird, +which set the canaries to trilling sweetly. + +"She don't see, maybe she will hear," said Johnny. And he began to +whistle like a mocking-bird; for this was his one accomplishment, and he +was proud of it. + +Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter from the parrot, and then +the voice said,-- + +"No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I wonder where he is? Among +the bushes over there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him." + +"Now she's coming!" And Johnny grew red in the face trying to give his +best trills and chirrups. + +Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs rustled as if shaken, and +presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and then the little voice +exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,-- + +"Why, there's a hole! I never saw it before. Oh! I can see the street. +How nice! how nice!" + +"She likes the hole! I wonder if she will like me?" And, emboldened by +these various successes, Johnny took another peep. This was the most +delicious one of all; for he looked right into a great blue eye, with +glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and +red lips below. It was like a flash of sunshine, and Johnny winked, as +if dazzled; for the eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the +pretty mouth broke into a laugh as the voice cried out delightedly,-- + +"I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!" + +"I'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite trembling with pleasure. + +"Did you make this nice hole?" + +"I just poked a brick, and it fell out." + +"Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?" + +"No; it's me. I whistled." + +"It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded the voice, as if used to give +orders. + +Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of breath, a small hand came +through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could +hold, and the Princess graciously expressed her pleasure by saying,-- + +"I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. Here are some flowers for +you. Now we will talk. Are you a nice boy?" + +This was a poser; and Johnny answered meekly, with his nose luxuriously +buried in the lovely flowers,-- + +"Not very,--I'm lame; I can't play like other fellers." + +"_Porverino_!" sighed the little voice, full of pity; and, in a moment, +three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel as if +he really had slipped into fairy-land through that delightful hole. + +"Oh, thank you! Aren't they just elegant? I never see such beauties," +stammered the poor boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they +might vanish away. + +"You shall have as many as you like. Nanna will scold, but papa won't +mind. Tell me more. What do you do over there?" asked the child, +eagerly. + +"Nothing but paste pictures and make books, when I don't ache too bad. I +used to help mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered +the boy, ashamed to mention how many laces he patiently picked or +clapped, since it was all he could do to help. + +"If you like pictures, you shall come and see mine some day. I do a +great many. Papa shows me how. His are splendid. Do you draw or paint +yours?" + +"I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em on this wall or put 'em +in scrap-books. I can't draw, and I haven't got no paints," answered +Johnny. + +"You should say 'haven't any paints.' I will come and see you some day; +and if I like you, I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you want +it?" + +"Guess I do!" + +"I think I _shall_ like you; so I'll bring it when I come. Do you ache +much?" + +"Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all day, and can't do a thing." + +"Do you cry?" + +"No! I'm too big for that. I whistle." + +"I _know_ I shall like you, because you are brave!" cried the impetuous +voice, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling through +the hole, as if the new acquaintance longed to do something to help the +"ache." + +"Isn't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but mother can't afford 'em often." +And Johnny took one delicious taste on the spot. + +"Then I shall give you many. We have loads at home, much finer than +these. Ah, you should see our garden there!" + +"Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to ask; for there was a homesick +sound to the voice as it said those last words. + +"In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while papa arranges his affairs; +then we go back, and I am happy." + +"I should think you'd be happy in there. It looks real splendid to me, +and I've been longing to see it ever since I could come out." + +"It's a dull place to me. I like better to be where it's always warm, +and people are more beautiful than here. Are _you_ beautiful?" + +"What queer questions she does ask!" And poor Johnny was so perplexed he +could only stammer, with a laugh,-- + +"I guess not. Boys don't care for looks." + +"Peep, and let me see. I like pretty persons," commanded the voice. + +"Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as he obeyed. But he liked it, +and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay was +pleased to say, after a long look at him,-- + +"No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are bright, and you look +pleasant, so I don't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness +of your face. I think you are good. I am sorry for you, and I shall lend +you a book to read when the pain comes." + +"I couldn't wait for that if I had a book. I do _love_ so to read!" And +Johnny laughed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; for +he seldom got one, being too poor to buy them, and too helpless to enjoy +the free libraries of the city. + +"Then you shall have it _now_." And there was another quick rush in the +garden, followed by the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed +through the hole in the wall. + +"This is the only one that will pass. You will like Hans Andersen's +fairy tales, I know. Keep it as long as you please. I have many more." + +"You're so good! I wish I had something for you," said the boy, quite +overcome by this sweet friendliness. + +"Let me see one of _your_ books. They will be new to me. I'm tired of +all mine." + +Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old boiler, and out came +half-a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to be crammed through the wall, +with the earnest request,-- + +"Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, but they're the best I've got. +I'll do some prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice pictures and +pieces." + +"They look very interesting. I thank you. I shall go and read them now, +and then come and talk again. Addio, Giovanni." + +"Good-by, Miss." + +Thus ended the first interview of little Pyramus and Thisbe through the +hole in the wall, while puss sat up above and played moonshine with her +yellow eyes. + + + + +PART II. + + +After that day a new life began for Johnny, and he flourished like a +poor little plant that has struggled out of some dark corner into the +sunshine. All sorts of delightful things happened, and good times +really seemed to have come. The mysterious papa made no objection to the +liberties taken with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad +to have his little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to +see the new neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the affliction of the +boy and the gentle manners of the mother. She brought all the curtains +of the house for Mrs. Morris to do up, and in her pretty broken English +praised Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring Fay to see him +some day. + +Meantime the little people prattled daily together, and all manner of +things came and went between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and bonbons +kept Johnny in a state of bliss, and inspired him with such brilliant +inventions that the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise would +come next. Astonishing kites flew over the wall, and tissue balloons +exploded in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in +that court; for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because +she liked it. The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin +bank to buy paper and pictures for the gay little books he made for her. +His side of the wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; and, as the +last offering his grateful heart could give, he poked the toad through +the hole, to live among the lilies and eat the flies that began to +buzz about her Highness when she came to give her orders to her devoted +subjects. + +She always called the lad Giovanni, because she thought it a prettier +name than John; and she was never tired of telling stories, asking +questions, and making plans. The favorite one was what they would do +when Johnny came to see her, as she had been promised he should when +papa was not too busy to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; +for Fay was a true artist's child, and thought nothing so lovely as +pictures. Johnny thought so, too, and dreamed of the happy day when he +should go and see the wonders his little friend described so well. + +"I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a lazy fit coming on, and +then he always plays with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he +goes out or smokes in the garden. So be ready; and if he says you can +come, I will have the flag up early and you can hurry." + +These agreeable remarks were breathed into Johnny's willing ear about +a fortnight after the acquaintance began; and he hastened to promise, +adding soberly, a minute after,-- + +"Mother says she's afraid it will be too much for me to go around and +up steps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the +pain comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can only see the +pictures--and you." + +"Won't you ever be any better? Nanna thinks you might." + +"So does mother, if we had money to go away in the country, and eat nice +things; and have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use worrying." And +Johnny gave a great sigh. + +"I wish papa was rich, then he would give you money. He works hard to +make enough to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but perhaps I can +sell _my_ pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me +sweets for kisses; I will have money instead, and that will help. Yes, I +shall do it." And Fay clapped her hands decidedly. + +"Don't you mind about it. I'm going to learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget +says he'll teach me. That doesn't need legs, and he gets enough to live +on very well." + +"It isn't pretty work. Nanna can teach you to braid straw as she did at +home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says. I +shall speak to her about it, and you can try to-morrow when you come." + +"I will. Do you really think I _can_ come, then?" And Johnny stood up to +try his legs; for he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him. + +"I will go at once and ask papa." + +Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny +hobbling in to tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his +only jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes looked so shabby he feared +to show himself to the neighbors he so longed to see. + +"Hurrah! I'm really going to-morrow. And you, too, mammy dear," cried +the boy, waving his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell. + +"Never mind; I'm used to it. Pull me up, and I'll rest while we talk +about it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, where +he forgot his pain in thinking of the delights in store for him. + +Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, and Fay early at the +hole, but no Johnny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she +returned with the sad news that the poor boy was suffering much, and +would not be able to stir for some days. + +"Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly. + +"Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, so damp, so poor, it is +enough to break the heart," said Nanna, decidedly. + +"If papa was here, he would let me go. I shall not play; I shall sit +here and make some plans for my poor boy." + +Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and went to cook a nice bowl +of soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was more +remarkable, carried it out. + +For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay in pain, and for a week Fay +worked quietly at her little easel in the corner of the studio, while +her father put the last touches to his fine picture, too busy to take +much notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, +and the great picture was done. So were the small ones; for as her +father sat resting after his work, Fay went to him, with a tired but +happy face, and, putting several drawings into his hand, told her +cherished plan. + +"Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar for every good copy I made of +the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. I want some +money very, very much. Could you pay for these?" + +"They are excellent," said the artist, after carefully looking at them. +"You _have_ tried, my good child, and here are your well-earned dollars. +What do you want them for?" + +"To help my boy. I want him to come in here and see the pictures, and +let Nanna teach him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you will +like him, and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three +quarters the friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would that be enough to +send poor Giovanni into the country and have doctors?" + +No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this queer jumble, because, being +absorbed in his work, he had never heard half the child had told him, +and had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, +studying the effect of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while Fay +told him the little story, and begged to know how much money it would +take to make Johnny's back well. + +"Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would need more than I can spare +or you earn in a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what +can be done," answered papa, smoking comfortably, as he lay on the sofa +in the large studio at the top of the house. + +"You say that about a great many things, papa. 'By and by' won't be long +enough to do all you promise then. I like _now_ much better, and poor +Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I new frocks," +said Fay, stroking her father's tired forehead and looking at him with +an imploring face. + +"My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in this soothing smoke I find +inspiration, and though you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so +wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy--later." He was going to say +"by and by" again, but paused just in time, with a laugh. + +"Then _I_ shall take him to the country all myself. I cannot wait for +this hateful 'by and by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. Now, +now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with an indignant glance at the +lazy papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down +many stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna and scattering the +salad as if a whirlwind had gone by, and never paused for breath till +she stood before the garden wall with a little hatchet in her hand. + +"This shall be the country for him till I get enough money to send him +away. I will show what _I_ can do. He pulled out two bricks. _I_ will +beat down the wall, and he _shall_ come in at once," panted Fay; and +she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without +delay,--for she was an impetuous little creature, full of love and pity +for the poor boy pining for the fresh air and sunshine, of which she had +so much. + +Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down came one brick after +another, till the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head +through; and being breathless by that time, she paused to rest and take +a look at Johnny's court. + +Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her lettuce leaves and her wits, went +to see what the child was about; and finding her at work like a little +fury, the old woman hurried up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that +his little daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself +under the ruins of the wall. This report, delivered with groans and +wringing of the hands, roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, +as he well knew that his angel was a very energetic one, and capable of +great destruction. + +When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, a pile of bricks among the +lilies, and the feet of his child sticking out of a large hole in the +wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, +yet fearful that the stone coping might come down on her, he pulled +her back with the assurance that he would listen and help her now +immediately, if there was such need of haste. + +But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; for it was bathed in tears, +her hands were bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot. + +"My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, and he will do anything you +wish." + +"No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' and now that I have seen +it all, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, +look, and see if it is not sad to live there all in pain and darkness, +and so poor." + +As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward the hole; and to please her he +looked, seeing the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and close by +the low room, where Johnny's mother worked all day, while the poor boy's +pale face was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for deliverance. + +"Well, well, it _is_ a pitiful case; and easily mended, since Fay is so +eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says, and nothing catching about +his illness. Nanna can tell me." + +Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay to the seat, took her on his +knee, all flushed, dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by saying +tenderly,-- + +"Now let me hear all about it, and be sure I'll not forget. What shall I +do to please you, dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?" + +Then Fay told her tale all over again; and being no longer busy, her +father found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking +into his, and the wounded hands clasped beseechingly as she pleaded for +poor Johnny. + +"God bless your tender heart, child; you shall have him in here +to-morrow, and we will see what can be done for those pathetic legs of +his. But listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a +grand surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to +show you that I am in earnest, I will go this instant and begin the +work. Come and wash your face while I get on my boots, and then we will +go together." + +At these words Fay threw her arms about papa's neck and gave him many +grateful kisses, stopping in the midst to ask,-- + +"Truly, _now_?" + +"See if it is not so." And putting her down, papa went off with great +strides, while she ran laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by +this agreeable energy on his part. + +If Johnny had not been asleep in the back room, he would have seen +strange and pleasant sights that afternoon and evening; for something +went on in the court that delighted his mother, amused the artist, and +made Fay the happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next +day, that Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat +up till eleven to get his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had been +to see her, and became interested in the boy, as no one could help being +when they saw his patient little face. + +So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels dug, and wonderful changes +were made, while Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent +upon some pretty prank, and papa quoted _Snout_, [Footnote: A character +in Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."] the tinker's parting words, +as appropriate to the hour,-- + + "Thus have I, wall, my part dischargèd so; + And, being done, thus wall away doth go." + + + + +PART III. + + +A lovely Sunday morning dawned without a cloud; and even in the dingy +court the May sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes blew freshly +from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much +better, his mother consented, helping him to dress with such a bright +face and eager hands that the boy said innocently,-- + +"How glad you are when I get over a bad turn! I don't know what you'd do +if I ever got well." + +"My poor dear, I begin to think you _will_ pick up, now the good weather +has come and you have got a little friend to play with. God bless her!" + +Why his mother should suddenly hug him tight, and then brush his hair +so carefully, with tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was in +such a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hobble +away to see how his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a joyful +"peek" at the enchanted garden. + +Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it was well she did; for he +nearly tumbled down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old +familiar wall after the good fairies Love and Pity had worked their +pretty miracle in the moonlight. + +The ragged hole had changed to a little arched door, painted red. On +either side stood a green tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; +from the arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; and before +the threshold lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a +childish hand. As soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this +splendid transformation scene, Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft +cushion had been placed, and read his note, with little sighs of rapture +at the charming prospect opening before him. + + DEAR GIOVANNI,--Papa has made this nice gate, so you can come + in when you like and not be tired. We are to have two keys, and no one + else can open it. A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and + we can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. Papa did it, + and the men put up the door last night. I helped them, and did not go + in my bed till ten. It was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like + it. Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready. + + Your friend, + + FAY. + +"Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all that, mustn't she?" said +Johnny, leaning back to look at the dear door behind which lay such +happiness for him. + +"Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good fairy, and I just wish +I could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed little life," +answered Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor. + +"You shall! you shall! Do come in! I cannot wait another minute!" cried +an eager little voice as the red door flew open; and there stood Fay, +looking very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of +spring flowers on her pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, +while the brilliant bird sat on her shoulder, and the little white dog +danced about her feet. + + "So she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy," + +sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked that song; and waving her +wand, she went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed +under the blooming arch into a new world, full of sunshine, liberty, and +sweet companionship. + +Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot that happy day, for it was the +beginning of help and hope to both just when life seemed hardest and the +future looked darkest. + +Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at the little party as they +sat under the chestnuts, Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden to +their guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor mother folded +her tired hands with unutterable content, and the boy looked like a +happy soul in heaven. + +Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of bells and the feet of +church-goers, brooded over the city; sunshine made golden shadows on +the grass; the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods; and every +flower seemed to nod and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate to +their lovely home. + +While the women talked together, Fay led Johnny up and down her little +world, showing all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the +seats that stood all about, and amusing him immensely by relating the +various fanciful plays with which she beguiled her loneliness. + +"Now we can have much nicer ones; for you will tell me yours, and we +can do great things," she said, when she had displayed her big +rocking-horse, her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, where a fleet of +toy boats lay at anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land +under the lilacs, with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, +that tossed one high up among the green boughs, and the basket of white +kittens, where Topaz, the yellow-eyed cat, now purred with maternal +pride. Books were piled on the rustic table, and all the pictures Fay +thought worthy to be seen. + +Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the visitors could remember it +was noon and tear themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and oranges +Johnny never ate before; such delightful little tarts and Italian messes +of various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because +served in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee +that perfumed the air put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved +herself that the boy might be fed; and he drank milk till Nanna said, +laughing, as she refilled the pitcher,-- + +"He takes more than both the blessed lambs we used to feed for Saint +Agnes in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear child, +to the best we have; for he is as innocent and helpless as they." + +"What does she mean?" whispered Johnny to Fay, rather abashed at having +forgotten his manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls of good +milk had given him. + +So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, Fay told the pretty +story of the lambs who are dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied +to their snowy wool, and then raised with care till their fleeces are +shorn to make garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child +thought, and went on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's +head was filled with a splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint +Peter's and apple-tarts, holy lambs and red doors, ancient images and +dear little girls, were delightfully mixed. It all seemed like a +fairy tale, and nothing was too wonderful or lovely to happen on that +memorable day. + +So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding it impossible to keep away +from the happy little party any longer, Johnny decided at once that the +handsome man in the velvet coat was the king of the enchanted land, and +gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved +to be; for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on +storming the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny off, and catching him +up, strode away with the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the +little girl danced before to open doors and clear the way. + +Johnny thought he couldn't be surprised any more; but when he had +mounted many stairs and found himself in a great room with a glass +roof, full of rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and pictures +everywhere, he just sat in the big chair where he was placed, and stared +in silent delight. + +"This is papa's studio, and that the famous picture, and here is where +I work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said Fay, +skipping about to do the honors of the place. + +"I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," answered Johnny, in a low +tone, as his eyes went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the +windows to the great sunny picture of a Roman garden, with pretty +children at play among the crumbling statues and fountains. + +"I'm glad you like it, for we mean to have you come here a great deal. I +sit to papa very often, and get _so_ tired; and you can talk to me, and +then you can see me draw and model in clay, and then we'll go in the +garden, and Nanna will show you how to make baskets, and _then_ we'll +play." + +Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming prospect, and for an hour +explored the mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and papa for +an amused spectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay +had so harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. +He assented to every plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to help +these poor neighbors; for he had a kind heart, and loved his little +daughter even more than his art. + +When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to call Johnny away, he went +without a word, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining +with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, hungry for just such +pleasures, and never fed before. + +After that day everything went smoothly, and both children blossomed +like the flowers in that pleasant garden, where the magic of love and +pity, fresh air and sunshine, soon worked miracles. Fay learned patience +and gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food +Nanna gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent +very happy days working and playing, sometimes under the trees, where +the pretty baskets were made, or in the studio, where both pairs of +small hands modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing pictures +with the artist's old brushes and discarded canvases. + +Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in the house, and did up Fay's +frocks so daintily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her +head shone out from the fluted frills, like the yellow middle of a daisy +with its white petals all spread. + +As he watched the children playing together, the artist, having no great +work in hand, made several pretty sketches of them, and then had a fine +idea of painting the garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It +pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made +a charming thing of it, putting in the cat, dog, bird, and toad as the +various characters in Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were +the elves, peeping and listening in all manner of merry, pretty ways. + +He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," and it so pleased a certain +rich lady that she paid a large price for it; and then, discovering that +it told a true story, she generously added enough to send Johnny and his +mother to the country, when Fay and her father were ready to go. + +But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had ever read of in his fairy +books, and to a happier life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In +the autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in +sunny Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint +with a kind master and a faithful young friend, who always rejoiced that +she found and delivered him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall. + + +[Illustration: She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and +eating.] + + + + +X. + +THE PIGGY GIRL. + + +"I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" screamed little Betty, kicking +and slapping the maid who undressed her one night. + +"You'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty child," said Maria, +scrubbing away at two very grubby hands. + +"I wish I could! I love to be dirty,--I _will_ be dirty!" roared Betty, +throwing the sponge out of the window and the soap under the table. + +Maria could do nothing with her; so she bundled her into bed half wiped, +telling her to go to sleep right away. + +"I won't! I'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's pigs, and have nothing to +do but eat and sleep, and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed +any more," said Betty to herself. + +She lay thinking about it and blinking at the moon for a while; then she +got up very softly, and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, +to the sty where two nice little pigs were fast asleep among the straw +in their small house. They only grunted when Betty crept into a corner, +laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy and live here with no +Maria to wash her and no careful mamma to keep saying,-- + +"Put on a clean apron, dear!" + +Next morning she was waked up by hearing Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the +trough. She lay very still till the woman was gone; then she crept out +and drank all she wanted, and took the best bits of cold potato and +bread for her breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till she was +done. While they ate and rooted in the dirt, Betty slept as long as she +liked, with no school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She liked it, and +kept hidden till night; then she went home, and opened the little window +in the store closet, and got in and took as many good things to eat and +carry away as she liked. She had a fine walk in her nightgown, and +saw the flowers asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the nest, and +watched the fireflies and moths at their pretty play. No one saw her +but the cats; and they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in the +moonlight, and had great fun. + +When she was tired she went to sleep with the pigs, and dozed all the +next day, only coming out to eat and drink when the milk was brought +and the cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good care of her pigs, and gave +them clean straw often, and kept them as nice as she could. + +Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and soon looked more like a +pig than a little girl; for her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never +combed, her face was never washed, and she loved to dig in the mud till +her hands looked like paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as the +pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, and squealed when they +crowded her, and quarrelled over the food, eating with her nose in the +trough like a real pig. At first she used to play about at night, and +steal things to eat; and people set traps to catch the thief in their +gardens, and the cook in her own house scolded about the rats that +carried off the cake and pies out of her pantry. But by and by she got +too lazy and fat to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and never +left the sty. She went on her hands and knees now, and began to wonder +if a little tail wouldn't grow and her nose change to a snout. + +All summer she played be a pig, and thought it good fun; but when +the autumn came it was cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel +nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and began to wish she had a +fire to sit by and good buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go +home, and wondered what she should do after this silly frolic. She asked +the pigs how they managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she +could not remember what became of them, for the sty was always empty in +cold weather. + +One dreadful night she found out. She was smuggled down between the +great fat piggies to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she was +trying to pull the straw over them when she heard Mr. Gleason say to his +boy,-- + +"We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They are fat enough; so come and +help me sharpen the big knife." + +"Oh, dear, what will become of _me_?" thought Betty, as she heard the +grindstone go round and round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I +look so like a pig they will kill me too, and make me into sausages if +I don't run away. I'm tired of playing piggy, and I'd rather be washed a +hundred times a day than be put in a pork barrel." + +So she lay trembling till morning; then she ran through the garden and +found the back door open. It was very early, and no one saw her, for +the cook was in the shed getting wood to make her fire; so Betty slipped +upstairs to the nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when she saw in +the glass an ugly black creature, all rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, +and a little round nose covered with mud. + +"Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I am!" And she could not spoil her +nice white bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good scrubbing. +Next she got a clean nightgown, and brushed her hair, and cut her long +nails, and looked like a tidy little girl again. + +Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the pink cover and the +lace curtains, and fell fast asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft +blankets, and her own little pillow once more. + + * * * * * + +"Come, darling, wake up and see the new frock I have got for you, and +the nice ruffled apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the cousins are +coming to dinner," said her mamma, with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek. + +Betty started up, screaming,-- + +"Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I'm not a truly pig, I'm a little +girl; and if you'll let me run home, I'll never fret when I'm washed +again." + +"What is the dear child afraid of?" said mamma, cuddling her close, and +laughing to see Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the stuffy +sty. + +She told her mother all about the queer time she had had, and was much +surprised to hear mamma say,-- + +"It was all a dream, dear; you have been safely asleep in your little +bed ever since you slapped poor Maria last night." + +"Well, I'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made me love to be clean. Come, +Maria, soap and scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and scream ever +any more," cried Betty, skipping about, glad to be safe in her pleasant +home and no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER: A +SUPPLEMENTARY READER FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF SCHOOL ***
\ No newline at end of file diff --git a/7425-h/7425-h.htm b/7425-h/7425-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5749fb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/7425-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10894 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <title> + A Supplementary Reader, by Alcott | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +img {border: 0;} +h1,h2,h3 {text-align: center;} +.ind {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} +hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} +.ctr {text-align: center;} + + body { margin:5%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + .ind {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .ctr {text-align: center;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER: A SUPPLEMENTARY READER FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF SCHOOL ***</div> + <h1> + THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER + </h1> + <h3> + <i>A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School</i> + </h3> + <h2> + BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar001.jpg"><img src="images/lar001th.jpg" + alt="Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree." /></a> + <br /> <i>"Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little + tree."</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar001.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <b>CONTENTS.</b> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#i">I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#ii">II. THE CANDY COUNTRY</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#iii">III. NAUGHTY JOCKO</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#iv">IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#v">V. COCKYLOO</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#vi">VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#vii">VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#viii">VIII. THE FAIRY BOX</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#ix">IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#x">X. THE PIGGY GIRL</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar005.jpg"><img src="images/lar005th.jpg" + alt="She actually stood in a grove of Christmas trees." /></a> <br /> <i>She + actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar005.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="i">I.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. + </h3> + <p> + "I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" + exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching her + mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be given. + </p> + <p> + "Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! You are as bad as old Scrooge; + and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, if you + don't care for dear Christmas," answered mamma, almost dropping the silver + horn she was filling with delicious candies. + </p> + <p> + "Who was Scrooge? What happened to him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of + interest in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest lemon-drop + she could find; for nothing sweet suited her just then. + </p> + <p> + "He was one of Dickens's best people, and you can read the charming story + some day. He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how dear and + beautiful it was, and made a better man of him." + </p> + <p> + "I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have a great many curious ones + myself. But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," said Effie, + poking discontentedly among the sweeties for something worth eating. + </p> + <p> + "Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" + asked mamma, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the same, + and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of goodies + in my stocking. Don't like some of them, and soon get tired of those I do + like. We always have a great dinner, and I eat too much, and feel ill next + day. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll on top, or a + stupid old Santa Claus, and children dancing and screaming over bonbons + and toys that break, and shiny things that are of no use. Really, mamma, + I've had so many Christmases all alike that I don't think I <i>can</i> + bear another one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as if the mere + idea was too much for her. + </p> + <p> + Her mother laughed at her despair, but was sorry to see her little girl so + discontented, when she had everything to make her happy, and had known but + ten Christmas days. + </p> + <p> + "Suppose we don't give you <i>any</i> presents at all,--how would that + suit you?" asked mamma, anxious to please her spoiled child. + </p> + <p> + "I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, to + remember some very nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful little + body, full of odd whims and notions, which her friends loved to gratify, + regardless of time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of three + little girls, and very dear to all the family. + </p> + <p> + "Well, my darling, I will see what I can do to please you, and not say a + word until all is ready. If I could only get a new idea to start with!" + And mamma went on tying up her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, + while Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain that kept her + in-doors and made her dismal. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones. I can't go + out, and there is a girl about my age splashing along, without any maid to + fuss about rubbers and cloaks and umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a + beggar-girl." + </p> + <p> + "Would you like to be hungry, cold, and ragged, to beg all day, and sleep + on an ash-heap at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would come next. + </p> + <p> + "Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the end. This girl out here has a + basket of scraps on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, and + doesn't seem to care a bit, though the water runs out of the toes of her + boots. She goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and eating a cold + potato as if it tasted nicer than the chicken and ice-cream I had for + dinner. Yes, I do think poor children are happier than rich ones." + </p> + <p> + "So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum today I saw two dozen merry + little souls who have no parents, no home, and no hope of Christmas beyond + a stick of candy or a cake. I wish you had been there to see how happy + they were, playing with the old toys some richer children had sent them." + </p> + <p> + "You may give them all mine; I'm so tired of them I never want to see them + again," said Effie, turning from the window to the pretty baby-house full + of everything a child's heart could desire. + </p> + <p> + "I will, and let you begin again with something you will not tire of, if I + can only find it." And mamma knit her brows trying to discover some grand + surprise for this child who didn't care for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Nothing more was said then; and wandering off to the library, Effie found + "A Christmas Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, read it + all before tea. Some of it she did not understand; but she laughed and + cried over many parts of the charming story, and felt better without + knowing why. + </p> + <p> + All the evening she thought of poor Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the + pudding, and the stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that "his legs + twinkled in the air." Presently bedtime arrived. + </p> + <p> + "Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's nurse, "while I do your + pretty hair and tell stories." + </p> + <p> + "I'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very interesting one," commanded + Effie, as she put on her blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers + to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed. + </p> + <p> + So Nursey told her best tales; and when at last the child lay down under + her lace curtains, her head was full of a curious jumble of Christmas + elves, poor children, snow-storms, sugarplums, and surprises. So it is no + wonder that she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, which she never + quite forgot. + </p> + <p> + She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, all + alone. The snow was falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and night was + coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and tired, and did not know where to go + nor what to do. + </p> + <p> + "I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it, and + wish somebody would come and take care of me. I don't know who I am, and I + think I must be lost," thought Effie, with the curious interest one takes + in one's self in dreams. + </p> + <p> + But the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she felt. Faster + fell the snow, colder blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor Effie + made up her mind that she was quite forgotten and left to freeze alone. + The tears were chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, and her + heart died within her, so hungry, frightened, and forlorn was she. Laying + her head on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and sat there with + the great flakes fast turning her to a little white mound, when suddenly + the sound of music reached her, and starting up, she looked and listened + with all her eyes and ears. + </p> + <p> + Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was heard singing. She tried to + run toward the welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood like a small + statue of expectation while the light drew nearer, and the sweet words of + the song grew clearer. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + From our happy home<br /> Through + the world we roam<br /> One week in all the year,<br /> Making + winter spring<br /> With the joy we bring,<br /> + For Christmas-tide is here. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Now the eastern star<br /> Shines + from afar<br /> To light the poorest home;<br /> Hearts + warmer grow,<br /> Gifts freely flow,<br /> For + Christmas-tide has come. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Now gay trees rise<br /> Before + young eyes,<br /> Abloom with tempting cheer;<br /> Blithe + voices sing,<br /> And blithe bells ring,<br /> + For Christmas-tide is here. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Oh, happy chime,<br /> Oh, + blessed time,<br /> That draws us all so near!<br /> "Welcome, + dear day,"<br /> All creatures say,<br /> For + Christmas-tide is here. + </p> + <p> + A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried the little candle; and in the + circle of soft light it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her + through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling creature, wrapped in white + fur, with a wreath of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, the + magic candle in one hand, and the other outstretched as if to shower gifts + and warmly press all other hands. + </p> + <p> + Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision came nearer, leaving no trace + of footsteps in the snow, only lighting the way with its little candle, + and filling the air with the music of its song. + </p> + <p> + "Dear child, you are lost, and I have come to find you," said the + stranger, taking Effie's cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, + while every holly berry glowed like a little fire. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no fear, but a great gladness, at + his coming. + </p> + <p> + "I know all children, and go to find them; for this is my holiday, and I + gather them from all parts of the world to be merry with me once a year." + </p> + <p> + "Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking for the wings. + </p> + <p> + "No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with my mates in a pleasant place, + getting ready for our holiday, when we are let out to roam about the + world, helping make this a happy time for all who will let us in. Will you + come and see how we work?" + </p> + <p> + "I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave me again," cried Effie, gladly. + </p> + <p> + "First I will make you comfortable. That is what we love to do. You are + cold, and you shall be warm, hungry, and I will feed you; sorrowful, and I + will make you gay." + </p> + <p> + With a wave of his candle all three miracles were wrought,--for the snow- + flakes turned to a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and shoulders, + a bowl of hot soup came sailing to her lips, and vanished when she had + eagerly drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal field changed to a + new world so full of wonders that all her troubles were forgotten in a + minute. + </p> + <p> + Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard to keep from dancing. Green + garlands hung on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree full of + toys, and blazing with candles that never went out. + </p> + <p> + In one place many little spirits sewed like mad on warm clothes, turning + off work faster than any sewing-machine ever invented, and great piles + were made ready to be sent to poor people. Other busy creatures packed + money into purses, and wrote checks which they sent flying away on the + wind,--a lovely kind of snow-storm to fall into a world below full of + poverty. + </p> + <p> + Older and graver spirits were looking over piles of little books, in which + the records of the past year were kept, telling how different people had + spent it, and what sort of gifts they deserved. Some got peace, some + disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great joy and hope. The rich + had generous thoughts sent them; the poor, gratitude and contentment. + Children had more love and duty to parents; and parents renewed patience, + wisdom, and satisfaction for and in their children. No one was forgotten. + </p> + <p> + "Please tell me what splendid place this is?" asked Effie, as soon as she + could collect her wits after the first look at all these astonishing + things. + </p> + <p> + "This is the Christmas world; and here we work all the year round, never + tired of getting ready for the happy day. See, these are the saints just + setting off; for some have far to go, and the children must not be + disappointed." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, out of which four great + sleighs were just driving, laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa Claus + sat in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and tucking up his wraps + for a long cold drive. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a humbug," + cried Effie, astonished at the sight. + </p> + <p> + "Never give up your faith in the sweet old stones, even after you come to + see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth." + </p> + <p> + Just then the sleighs went off with a great jingling of bells and + pattering of reindeer hoofs, while all the spirits gave a cheer that was + heard in the lower world, where people said, "Hear the stars sing." + </p> + <p> + "I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus again. Now, show me more." + </p> + <p> + "You will like to see this place, I think, and may learn something here + perhaps." + </p> + <p> + The spirit smiled as he led the way to a little door, through which Effie + peeped into a world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, with dolls + of all sorts going on like live people. Waxen ladies sat in their parlors + elegantly dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; nurses walked out + with the bits of dollies; and the streets were full of tin soldiers + marching, wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, and little men + hurrying to and fro. Shops were there, and tiny people buying legs of + mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and everything dolls use or wear + or want. + </p> + <p> + But presently she saw that in some ways the dolls improved upon the + manners and customs of human beings, and she watched eagerly to learn why + they did these things. A fine Paris doll driving in her carriage took up a + black worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a basket of clean clothes, + and carried her to her journey's end, as if it were the proper thing to + do. Another interesting china lady took off her comfortable red cloak and + put it round a poor wooden creature done up in a paper shift, and so badly + painted that its face would have sent some babies into fits. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who didn't give her things to poor + girls. I wish I could remember who she was, and tell her to be as kind as + that china doll," said Effie, much touched at the sweet way the pretty + creature wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in her little gray + gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a wooden platter for her invalid + mother's dinner. + </p> + <p> + "We recall these things to people's minds by dreams. I think the girl you + speak of won't forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he enjoyed + some joke which she did not see. + </p> + <p> + A little bell rang as she looked, and away scampered the children into the + red-and-green school-house with the roof that lifted up, so one could see + how nicely they sat at their desks with mites of books, or drew on the + inch-square blackboards with crumbs of chalk. + </p> + <p> + "They know their lessons very well, and are as still as mice. We make a + great racket at our school, and get bad marks every day. I shall tell the + girls they had better mind what they do, or their dolls will be better + scholars than they are," said Effie, much impressed, as she peeped in and + saw no rod in the hand of the little mistress, who looked up and shook her + head at the intruder, as if begging her to go away before the order of the + school was disturbed. + </p> + <p> + Effie retired at once, but could not resist one look in at the window of a + fine mansion, where the family were at dinner, the children behaved so + well at table, and never grumbled a bit when their mamma said they could + not have any more fruit. + </p> + <p> + "Now, show me something else," she said, as they came again to the low + door that led out of Doll-land. + </p> + <p> + "You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; let me show you where we love + best to send our good and happy gifts," answered the spirit, giving her + his hand again. + </p> + <p> + "I know. I've seen ever so many," began Effie, thinking of her own + Christmases. + </p> + <p> + "No, you have never seen what I will show you. Come away, and remember + what you see to-night." + </p> + <p> + Like a flash that bright world vanished, and Effie found herself in a part + of the city she had never seen before. It was far away from the gayer + places, where every store was brilliant with lights and full of pretty + things, and every house wore a festival air, while people hurried to and + fro with merry greetings. It was down among the dingy streets where the + poor lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, longing to buy meat and bread, + but empty pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in the bar- + rooms; and in many cold dark chambers little children huddled under the + thin blankets, trying to forget their misery in sleep. + </p> + <p> + No nice dinners filled the air with savory smells, no gay trees dropped + toys and bonbons into eager hands, no little stockings hung in rows beside + the chimney-piece ready to be filled, no happy sounds of music, gay + voices, and dancing feet were heard; and there were no signs of Christmas + anywhere. + </p> + <p> + "Don't they have any in this place?" asked Effie, shivering, as she held + fast the spirit's hand, following where he led her. + </p> + <p> + "We come to bring it. Let me show you our best workers." And the spirit + pointed to some sweet-faced men and women who came stealing into the poor + houses, working such beautiful miracles that Effie could only stand and + watch. + </p> + <p> + Some slipped money into the empty pockets, and sent the happy mothers to + buy all the comforts they needed; others led the drunken men out of + temptation, and took them home to find safer pleasures there. Fires were + kindled on cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and warm clothes + wrapped round shivering limbs. Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers of + the sick; old people found themselves remembered; sad hearts were consoled + by a tender word, and wicked ones softened by the story of Him who forgave + all sin. + </p> + <p> + But the sweetest work was for the children; and Effie held her breath to + watch these human fairies hang up and fill the little stockings without + which a child's Christmas is not perfect, putting in things that once she + would have thought very humble presents, but which now seemed beautiful + and precious because these poor babies had nothing. + </p> + <p> + "That is so beautiful! I wish I could make merry Christmases as these good + people do, and be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, softly, as + she watched the busy men and women do their work and steal away without + thinking of any reward but their own satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + "You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how happy + your own holiday will be hereafter." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his arms about her, and vanished + with a kiss. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, trying to hold him fast. + </p> + <p> + "Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are smiling in your sleep," said a + voice in her ear; and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending over her, + and morning sunshine streaming into the room. + </p> + <p> + "Are they all gone? Did you hear the bells? Wasn't it splendid?" she + asked, rubbing her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty child who + was so real and sweet. + </p> + <p> + "You have been dreaming at a great rate,--talking in your sleep, laughing, + and clapping your hands as if you were cheering some one. Tell me what was + so splendid," said mamma, smoothing the tumbled hair and lifting up the + sleepy head. + </p> + <p> + Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told her dream, and Nursey + thought it very wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously things + the child had thought, read, heard, and seen through the day were mixed up + in her sleep. + </p> + <p> + "The spirit said I could work lovely miracles if I tried; but I don't know + how to begin, for I have no magic candle to make feasts appear, and light + up groves of Christmas trees, as he did," said Effie, sorrowfully. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do it!" And clapping her hands, + mamma suddenly began to dance all over the room as if she had lost her + wits. + </p> + <p> + "How? how? You must tell me, mamma," cried Effie, dancing after her, and + ready to believe anything possible when she remembered the adventures of + the past night. + </p> + <p> + "I've got it! I've got it!--the new idea. A splendid one, if I can only + carry it out!" And mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls flew + wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as if she would die. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie. "No, no; it is a surprise,--a grand + surprise for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently charmed with her happy + thought. "Now, come to breakfast; for we must work like bees if we want to + play spirits tomorrow. You and Nursey will go out shopping, and get heaps + of things, while I arrange matters behind the scenes." + </p> + <p> + They were running downstairs as mamma spoke, and Effie called out + breathlessly,-- + </p> + <p> + "It won't be a surprise; for I know you are going to ask some poor + children here, and have a tree or something. It won't be like my dream; + for they had ever so many trees, and more children than we can find + anywhere." + </p> + <p> + "There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and no + presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed at Effie's + bewildered face. + </p> + <p> + "Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't ask any questions, so it + will all burst upon me when the time comes," she said; and she ate her + breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be a new sort of Christmas. + </p> + <p> + All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey in and out of shops, buying + dozens of barking dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny tea-sets, + gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, dolls and candy. Parcel after parcel + was sent home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace of them, though + she peeped everywhere. Nursey chuckled, but wouldn't give a hint, and went + out again in the afternoon with a long list of more things to buy; while + Effie wandered forlornly about the house, missing the usual merry stir + that went before the Christmas dinner and the evening fun. + </p> + <p> + As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, and came in at night so + tired that she could only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some very + pleasant thought made her happy in spite of weariness. + </p> + <p> + "Is the surprise going on all right?" asked Effie, anxiously; for it + seemed an immense time to wait till another evening came. + </p> + <p> + "Beautifully! better than I expected; for several of my good friends are + helping, or I couldn't have done it as I wish. I know you will like it, + dear, and long remember this new way of making Christmas merry." + </p> + <p> + Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie went to bed. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + The next day was a very strange one; for when she woke there was no + stocking to examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one said "Merry + Christmas!" to her, and the dinner was just as usual to her. Mamma + vanished again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and saying: "The dear + things! It's the prettiest idea I ever heard of. No one but your blessed + ma could have done it." + </p> + <p> + "Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because I don't know the secret!" + cried Effie, more than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, for at + seven in the evening the surprise was to come off. + </p> + <p> + The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the child was too excited to ask + questions when Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her to the carriage, + and they drove away, leaving their house the one dark and silent one in + the row. + </p> + <p> + "I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are led off to strange + places and see fine things," said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled + through the gay streets. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my deary, it <i>is</i> like a fairy tale, I do assure you, and you <i>will</i> + see finer things than most children will tonight. Steady, now, and do just + as I tell you, and don't say one word whatever you see," answered Nursey, + quite quivering with excitement as she patted a large box in her lap, and + nodded and laughed with twinkling eyes. + </p> + <p> + They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was led through a back door to a + little room, where Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her cloak + and hood, but her dress and shoes also. Effie stared and bit her lips, but + kept still until out of the box came a little white fur coat and boots, a + wreath of holly leaves and berries, and a candle with a frill of gold + paper round it. A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she was dressed + and saw herself in the glass, she started back, exclaiming, "Why, Nursey, + I look like the spirit in my dream!" + </p> + <p> + "So you do; and that's the part you are to play, my pretty! Now whist, + while I blind your eyes and put you in your place." + </p> + <p> + "Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of wonder; for as they went out + she heard the sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, and, in spite + of the bandage, was sure a great light shone upon her when she stopped. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be; I shall stand close by, and your ma will be there." + </p> + <p> + After the handkerchief was tied about her eyes, Nurse led Effie up some + steps, and placed her on a high platform, where something like leaves + touched her head, and the soft snap of lamps seemed to fill the air. + </p> + <p> + Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her hands, the voices outside sounded + nearer, and the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs. + </p> + <p> + "Now, my precious, look and see how you and your dear ma have made a merry + Christmas for them that needed it!" + </p> + <p> + Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie really did think she was + asleep again, for she actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," all + gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on a side, in two rows down the + room, stood the little pines, each on its low table; and behind Effie a + taller one rose to the roof, hung with wreaths of popcorn, apples, + oranges, horns of candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary hearts to + gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees she saw many of her own discarded + toys and those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that seemed to have rained + down straight from that delightful Christmas country where she felt as if + she was again. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid! Who is it for? What is that noise? Where is mamma?" cried + Effie, pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood looking down the + brilliant little street from her high place. + </p> + <p> + Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the lower end flew open, and in + marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly, + until amazement changed the song to cries of joy and wonder as the shining + spectacle appeared. While they stood staring with round eyes at the + wilderness of pretty things about them, mamma stepped up beside Effie, and + holding her hand fast to give her courage, told the story of the dream in + a few simple words, ending in this way:-- + </p> + <p> + "So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas spirit too, and make this a + happy day for those who had not as many pleasures and comforts as she has. + She likes surprises, and we planned this for you all. She shall play the + good fairy, and give each of you something from this tree, after which + every one will find her own name on a small tree, and can go to enjoy it + in her own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill your hands." + </p> + <p> + Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands were clapped heartily before + a single child stirred; then one by one they came to look up wonderingly + at the pretty giver of the feast as she leaned down to offer them great + yellow oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, and cakes, till + all were gone, and a double row of smiling faces turned toward her as the + children filed back to their places in the orderly way they had been + taught. + </p> + <p> + Then each was led to her own tree by the good ladies who had helped mamma + with all their hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would have + satisfied even Santa Claus himself,--shrieks of joy, dances of delight, + laughter and tears (for some tender little things could not bear so much + pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths full of candy and hands full of + toys). How they ran to show one another the new treasures! how they peeped + and tasted, pulled and pinched, until the air was full of queer noises, + the floor covered with papers, and the little trees left bare of all but + candles! + </p> + <p> + "I don't think heaven can be any gooder than this," sighed one small girl, + as she looked about her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron with + one hand, while she luxuriously carried sugar-plums to her mouth with the + other. + </p> + <p> + "Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, fascinated by the little + white figure with the wreath on its shining hair, who in some mysterious + way had been the cause of all this merry-making. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this splendid party," said a lame + child, leaning on her crutch, as she stood near the steps, wondering how + it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing, while she watched + the happy scene before her. + </p> + <p> + Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms about + the pale child, kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, "You may; + but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed about it." + </p> + <p> + Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was embracing her, and could only + stammer out her thanks, while the other children ran to see the pretty + spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she stood in a crowd of blue gowns + laughing as they held up their gifts for her to see and admire. + </p> + <p> + Mamma leaned down and whispered one word to the older girls; and suddenly + they all took hands to dance round Effie, singing as they skipped. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found it hard to break up the happy + revel; but it was late for small people, and too much fun is a mistake. So + the girls fell into line, and marched before Effie and mamma again, to say + goodnight with such grateful little faces that the eyes of those who + looked grew dim with tears. Mamma kissed every one; and many a hungry + childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender lips was their best + gift. Effie shook so many small hands that her own tingled; and when Katy + came she pressed a small doll into Effie's hand, whispering, "You didn't + have a single present, and we had lots. Do keep that; it's the prettiest + thing I got." + </p> + <p> + "I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until the last smiling face was + gone, the surprise all over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired and + happy for anything but sleep. + </p> + <p> + "Mamma, it was a beautiful surprise, and I thank you so much! I don't see + how you did it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever had, and + mean to make one every year. I had my splendid big present, and here is + the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that part of my + wish came true." + </p> + <p> + And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble gift + still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that never + changed through a long life spent in doing good. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar034.jpg"><img src="images/lar034th.jpg" + alt="Hollo, what do you want? he asked, staring at her." /></a> <br /> <i>"Hollo, + what do you want?" he asked, staring at her.</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar034.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="ii">II.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE CANDY COUNTRY. + </h3> + <p> + "I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it is so warm, and none of the + children at school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, as she went + through the hall. + </p> + <p> + "The wind is very high; I'm afraid you'll be blown away if you carry that + big thing," called Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella went bobbing + down the garden walk with a small girl under it. + </p> + <p> + "I wish it would; I always wanted to go up in a balloon," answered Lily, + as she struggled out of the gate. + </p> + <p> + She got on very well till she came to the bridge and stopped to look over + the railing at the water running by so fast, and the turtles sunning + themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing stones at them; it was + so funny to watch them tumble, heels over head, splash into the water. + Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, she stooped for a stone, and + just at that minute a gale of wind nearly took the umbrella out of her + hand. She clutched it fast; and away she went like a thistle-down, right + up in the air, over river and hill, houses and trees, faster and faster, + till her head spun round, her breath was all gone, and she had to let go. + The dear red umbrella flew away like a leaf; and Lily fell down, down, + till she went crash into a tree which grew in such a curious place that + she forgot her fright as she sat looking about her, wondering what part of + the world it could be. + </p> + <p> + The tree looked as if made of glass or colored sugar; for she could see + through the red cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. An + agreeable smell met her nose; and she said at once, as any child would, "I + smell candy!" She picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good it was!--all + sugar and no stone. The next discovery was such a delightful one that she + nearly fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue here and there, she + found that the whole tree was made of candy. Think what fun to sit and + break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and leaves that tasted + like peppermint and sassafras! + </p> + <p> + Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree; then she + climbed down and strolled along, making more surprising and agreeable + discoveries as she went. + </p> + <p> + What looked like snow under her feet was white sugar; the rocks were lumps + of chocolate, the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every sort of + fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little white houses soon appeared; + and here lived the dainty candy-people, all made of the best sugar, and + painted to look like real people. + </p> + <p> + Dear little men and women, looking as if they had stepped off of wedding + cakes and bonbons, went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing and + talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of babies rocked in open-work + cradles, and sugar boys and girls played with sugar toys in the most + natural way. Carriages rolled along the jujube streets, drawn by the red + and yellow barley horses we all love so well; cows fed in the green + fields, and sugar birds sang in the trees. + </p> + <p> + Lily listened, and in a moment she understood what the song said,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Sweet! Sweet!<br /> Come, come and eat,<br /> + Dear little girls<br /> With yellow curls;<br /> + For here you'll find<br /> Sweets to your mind.<br /> + On every tree<br /> Sugar-plums you'll see;<br /> + In every dell<br /> Grows the caramel.<br /> Over + every wall<br /> Gum-drops fall;<br /> Molasses + flows<br /> Where our river goes<br /> Under your + feet<br /> Lies sugar sweet;<br /> Over your head<br /> + Grow almonds red.<br /> Our lily and rose<br /> + Are not for the nose;<br /> Our flowers we pluck<br /> + To eat or suck<br /> And, oh! what bliss<br /> + When two friends kiss,<br /> For they honey sip<br /> + From lip to lip!<br /> And all you meet,<br /> + In house or street,<br /> At work or play,<br /> + Sweethearts are they.<br /> So, little dear,<br /> + Pray feel no fear;<br /> Go where you will;<br /> + Eat, eat your fill.<br /> Here is a feast<br /> + From west to east;<br /> And you can say,<br /> + Ere you go away,<br /> 'At last I stand<br /> In + dear Candy-land,<br /> And no more can stuff;<br /> For + once I've enough.'<br /> Sweet! Sweet!<br /> Tweet! + Tweet!<br /> Tweedle-dee!<br /> Tweedle-dee!" + </p> + <p> + "That is the most interesting song I ever heard," said Lily, clapping her + sticky hands and dancing along toward a fine palace of white cream candy, + with pillars of striped peppermint stick, and a roof of frosting that made + it look like the Milan Cathedral. + </p> + <p> + "I'll live here, and eat candy all day long, with no tiresome school or + patchwork to spoil my fun," said Lily. + </p> + <p> + So she ran up the chocolate steps into the pretty rooms, where all the + chairs and tables were of different colored candies, and the beds of spun + sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied drink; and floors of ice-cream that + never melted kept people and things from sticking together, as they would + have done had it been warm. + </p> + <p> + For a long while Lily was quite happy, going about tasting so many + different kinds of sweeties, talking to the little people, who were very + amiable, and finding out curious things about them and their country. + </p> + <p> + The babies were made of plain sugar, but the grown people had different + flavors. The young ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and orange; the + gentlemen were apt to have cordials of some sort inside of them, as she + found when she ate one now and then slyly, and got her tongue bitten by + the hot, strong taste as a punishment The old people tasted of peppermint, + clove, and such comfortable things, good for pain; but the old maids had + lemon, hoarhound, flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter things in them, + and did not get eaten much. Lily soon learned to know the characters of + her new friends by a single taste, and some she never touched but once. + The dear babies melted in her mouth, and the delicately flavored young + ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger was called to her more than once + when so much candy made her teeth ache, and she found him a very hot- + tempered little man; but he stopped the pain, so she was glad to see him. + </p> + <p> + A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry girl were her favorite + playmates; and they had fine times making mud-pies by scraping the + chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with honey from the wells near by. + These they could eat; and Lily thought this much better than throwing away + the pies, as she had to do at home. They had candy-pulls very often, and + made swings of long loops of molasses candy, and bird's-nests with almond + eggs, out of which came birds who sang sweetly. They played football with + big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on lakes of syrup, fished in rivers + of molasses, and rode the barley horses all over the country. + </p> + <p> + Lily discovered that it never rained, but snowed white sugar. There was no + sun, as it would have been too hot; but a large yellow lozenge made a nice + moon, and red and white comfits were the stars. + </p> + <p> + The people all lived on sugar, and never quarrelled. No one was ill; and + if any got broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle creatures, they + just stuck the parts together and were all right again. The way they grew + old was to get thinner and thinner till there was danger of their + vanishing. Then the friends of the old person put him in a neat coffin, + and carried him to the great golden urn which stood in their largest + temple, always full of a certain fine syrup; and here he was dipped and + dipped till he was stout and strong again, and went home to enjoy himself + for a long time as good as new. + </p> + <p> + This was very interesting to Lily, and she went to many funerals. But the + weddings were better still; for the lovely white brides were so sweet Lily + longed to eat them. The feasts were delicious; and everybody went in their + best clothes, and danced at the ball till they got so warm half-a-dozen + would stick together and have to be taken to the ice-cream room to cool + off. Then the little pair would drive away in a fine carriage with white + horses to a new palace in some other part of the country, and Lily would + have another pleasant place to visit. + </p> + <p> + But by and by, when she had seen everything, and eaten so much sweet stuff + that at last she longed for plain bread and butter, she began to get + cross, as children always do when they live on candy; and the little + people wished she would go away, for they were afraid of her. No wonder, + when she would catch up a dear sugar baby and eat him, or break some + respectable old grandmamma all into bits because she reproved her for + naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on the biggest church, crushing it + flat, and even tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet one day. The + king ordered her to go home; but she said, "I won't!" and bit his head + off, crown and all. + </p> + <p> + Such a wail went up at this awful deed that she ran away out of the city, + fearing some one would put poison in her candy, since she had no other + food. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep walking; and I can't starve, + though I hate the sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, as she + hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar Rock that divided the city of + Saccharissa from the great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond. + </p> + <p> + Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and saw at last a great smoke in + the sky, smelt a spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if there are sugar savages here, roasting and eating some poor + traveller like me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and other + wanderers in strange lands. + </p> + <p> + She crept carefully along till she saw a settlement of little huts very + like mushrooms, for they were made of cookies set on lumps of the brown + sugar; and queer people, looking as if made of gingerbread, were working + very busily round several stoves which seemed to bake at a great rate. + </p> + <p> + "I'll creep nearer and see what sort of people they are before I show + myself," said Lily, going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting down on + a stone which proved to be the plummy sort of cake we used to call + Brighton Rock. + </p> + <p> + Presently one of the tallest men came striding toward the trees with a + pan, evidently after spice; and before she could run, he saw Lily. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her with his black currant + eyes, while he briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree. + </p> + <p> + "I'm travelling, and would like to know what place this is, if you + please," answered Lily, very politely, being a little frightened. + </p> + <p> + "Cake-land. Where do you come from?" asked the gingerbread man, in a crisp + tone of voice. + </p> + <p> + "I was blown into the Candy country, and have been there a long time; but + I got tired of it, and ran away to find something better." + </p> + <p> + "Sensible child!" and the man smiled till Lily thought his cheeks would + crumble. "You'll get on better here with us Brownies than with the lazy + Bonbons, who never work and are all for show. They won't own us, though we + are all related through our grandparents Sugar and Molasses. We are busy + folks; so they turn up their noses and don't speak when we meet at + parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and unsubstantial! I pity 'em." + </p> + <p> + "Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see how you live, and what you do. + I'm sure it must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself up after a + tumble, having eaten nearly all the stone, she was so hungry. + </p> + <p> + "I know you will. Come on! I can talk while I work." And the funny + gingerbread man trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, rolling- + pins, and molasses jugs. + </p> + <p> + "Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as this batch is baked. There are + still some wise people down below who like gingerbread, and I have my + hands full," he said, dashing about, stirring, rolling out, and slapping + the brown dough into pans, which he whisked into the oven and out again so + fast that Lily knew there must be magic about it somewhere. + </p> + <p> + Every now and then he threw her a delicious cooky warm from the oven. She + liked the queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being very curious + about this country. + </p> + <p> + "What is your name, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Ginger Snap." + </p> + <p> + Lily thought it a good one; for he was very quick, and she fancied he + could be short and sharp if he liked. + </p> + <p> + "Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, after watching the other + kitchens full of workers, who were all of different kinds of cake, and + each set of cooks made its own sort. + </p> + <p> + "I'll show you by and by," answered Snap, beginning to pile up the heaps + of gingerbread on a little car that ran along a track leading to some + unknown storeroom, Lily thought. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I never shall be till I've done my + best, and won the prize here." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, and how are you promoted? Is + this a cooking-school?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a cake of condensed yeast. That + puts a soul into me, and I begin to rise till I am able to go over the + hills yonder into the blessed land of bread, and be one of the happy + creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, and without which the + world below would be in a bad way." + </p> + <p> + "Bless me! that is the queerest thing I've heard yet. But I don't wonder + you want to go; I'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good piece of + bread, though I used to want cake and candy at home." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my dear, you'll learn a good deal here; and you are lucky not to have + got into the clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets people if they + eat too much of such rubbish and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my ginger + behind when I go, and get white and round and beautiful, as you will see. + The Gingerbread family have never been as foolish as some of the other + cakes. Wedding is the worst; such extravagance in the way of wine and + spice and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to eat when it's done! I + don't wonder people get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung down a pan + with such a bang that it made Lily jump. + </p> + <p> + "Sponge cake isn't bad, is it? Mamma lets me eat it, but I like frosted + pound better," she said, looking over to the next kitchen, where piles of + that sort of cake were being iced. + </p> + <p> + "Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers will do for babies, but pound + has too much butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat cookies or + seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away + his car-load at a great pace. + </p> + <p> + Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and looked about her as she + went, for this was certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all + beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed here and there ready for + use. The earth was brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits were + raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon peel. It was a very busy place; + for every one cooked all the time, and never failed and never seemed + tired, though they got so hot that they only wore sheets of paper for + clothes. There were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it shouldn't + burn; and they made cook's white caps and aprons of it, and looked very + nice. A large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves to mark the hours + and two toothpicks for hands, showed them how long to bake things; and in + one place an ice wall was built round a lake of butter, which they cut in + lumps as they wanted it. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. Now, stand away while I pitch 'em down," said Snap, stopping + at last before a hole in the ground where a dumbwaiter hung ready, with a + name over it. + </p> + <p> + There were many holes all round, and many waiters, each with its name; and + Lily was amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," "Dooling," and others, + which she knew very well. + </p> + <p> + Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" and Lily said, "Why, that's + where mamma gets her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where we go for ice- + cream. Do <i>you</i> make cake for them?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the secrets of the trade. We cook + for all the confectioners, and people think the good things come out of + the cellars under their saloons. Good joke, isn't it?" And Snap laughed + till a crack came in his neck and made him cough. + </p> + <p> + Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm queen's cake that happened to + be near, and watched Snap send down load after load of gingerbread to be + eaten by children, who would have liked it much better if they had only + known where it came from, as she did. + </p> + <p> + As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the smell of many dinners, and the + sound of many voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, and a + Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken and + apple without," came up the next hole, which was marked "Copeland." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said Lily, longing to hop down, but + afraid of the bump at the other end. + </p> + <p> + "I'm done. Come along, I'll ride you back," called Snap, tossing the last + cooky after the dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with its spicy + load. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you'd teach me to cook. It looks great fun, and mamma wants me to + learn; only our cook hates to have me mess round, and is so cross that I + don't like to try at home," said Lily, as she went trundling back. + </p> + <p> + "Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and learn to make that. It's a + great art, and worth knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, though plain + gingerbread isn't bad to have in the house. I'll teach you that in a + jiffy, if the clock doesn't strike my hour too soon," answered Snap, + helping her down. + </p> + <p> + "What hour?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, of my freedom. I never know when I've done my task till I'm called + by the chimes and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his currant eyes + anxiously to the clock. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you <i>will</i> have time." And Lily fell to work with all her + might, after Snap had put on her a paper apron and a cap like his. + </p> + <p> + It was not hard; for when she was going to make a mistake a spark flew out + of the fire and burnt her in time to remind her to look at the receipt, + which was a sheet of gingerbread in a frame of pie-crust hung up before + her, with the directions written while it was soft and baked in. The third + sheet she made came out of the oven spicy, light, and brown; and Snap, + giving it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you know. Here's your + reward." + </p> + <p> + He handed her a receipt-book made of thin sheets of sugar-gingerbread held + together by a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on the back, and + each leaf crimped with a cake-cutter in the most elegant manner. + </p> + <p> + Lily was charmed with it, but had no time to read all it contained; for + just then the clock began to strike, and a chime of bells to ring,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Gingerbread,<br /> Go to the head.<br /> Your + task is done;<br /> A soul is won.<br /> Take it and + go<br /> Where muffins grow,<br /> Where sweet + loaves rise<br /> To the very skies,<br /> And + biscuits fair<br /> Perfume the air.<br /> Away, + away!<br /> Make no delay;<br /> In the sea of flour<br /> + Plunge this hour.<br /> Safe in your breast<br /> + Let the yeast-cake rest,<br /> Till you rise in + joy,<br /> A white bread boy!" + </p> + <p> + "Ha, ha! I'm free! I'm free!" cried Snap, catching up the silver-covered + square that seemed to fall from heaven; and running to a great white sea + of flour, he went in head first, holding the yeast-cake clasped to his + breast as if his life depended on it. + </p> + <p> + Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious working and bubbling went on, + as if Snap was tumbling about down there like a small earthquake. The + other cake-folk stood round the shore with her; for it was a great event, + and all were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so soon. Suddenly a + cry was heard, and up rose a beautiful white figure on the farther side of + the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," and ran over the hills + so fast they had only time to see how plump and fair he was, with a little + knob on the top of his head like a crown. + </p> + <p> + "He's gone to the happy land, and we shall miss him; but we'll follow his + example and soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge cake, with a sigh, + as all went back to their work; while Lily hurried after Snap, eager to + see the new country, which was the best of all. + </p> + <p> + A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from the valley as she stood on + the hill-top and looked down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of yellow + grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines grew from tree to tree; and many + windmills whirled their white sails as they ground the different grains + into fresh, sweet meal, for the loaves of bread that built the houses like + bricks and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed the people, + furniture, and animals. A river of milk flowed through the peaceful land, + and fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant foam and fizz. The + ground was a mixture of many meals, and the paths were golden Indian, + which gave a very gay look to the scene. Buckwheat flowers bloomed on + their rosy stems, and tall corn-stalks rustled their leaves in the warm + air that came from the ovens hidden in the hillsides; for bread needs a + slow fire, and an obliging volcano did the baking here. + </p> + <p> + "What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling the charm of the homelike + landscape, in spite of the funny plump people moving about. + </p> + <p> + Two of these figures came running to meet her as she slowly walked down + the yellow path from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a beaming face; + the other a little girl in a shiny brown cloak, who looked as if she would + taste very nice. They each put a warm hand into Lily's, and the boy + said,-- + </p> + <p> + "We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you were coming." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, feeling as if she had seen both + these little people before, and liked them. + </p> + <p> + "He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a Muffin now. We begin in that way, and + work up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is Johnny Cake, and she's + Sally Lunn. You know us; so come on and have a race." + </p> + <p> + Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing with these old friends of + hers; and all three ran away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, + over a bridge, into the middle of the village, where they stopped, + panting, and sat down on some very soft rolls to rest. + </p> + <p> + "What do you all do <i>here</i>?" asked Lily, when she got her breath + again. + </p> + <p> + "We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, and are as merry as grigs all day + long. It's school-time now, and we must go; will you come?" said Sally, + jumping up as if she liked it. + </p> + <p> + "Our schools are not like yours; we only study two things,--grain and + yeast. I think you'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the experiments + are very jolly," added Johnny, trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye + and Indian bread, where the school was kept. + </p> + <p> + Lily never liked to go to school, but she was ashamed to own it; so she + went along with Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that she was + glad she came. The brown loaf was hollow, and had no roof; and when she + asked why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and see why they chose + strong walls and plenty of room overhead. All round was a circle of very + small biscuits like cushions, and on these the Bread-children sat. A + square loaf in the middle was the teacher's desk, and on it lay an ear of + wheat, with several bottles of yeast well corked up. The teacher was a + pleasant, plump lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous for her good + bread that she was a Professor of Grainology. + </p> + <p> + When all were seated, she began with the wheat ear, and told them all + about it in such an interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never + known anything about the bread she ate before. The experiments with the + yeast were quite exciting,--for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how it would + work till it blew the cork out, and go fizzing up to the sky if it was + kept too long; how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the bread if care + was not taken to use it just at the right moment; and how too much would + cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance to it. + </p> + <p> + The children were very bright; for they were fed on the best kinds of + oatmeal and Graham bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes to + spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy boys and girls they were, and + their yeasty souls were very lively in them; for they danced and sung, and + seemed as bright and gay as if acidity, heaviness, and mould were quite + unknown. + </p> + <p> + Lily was very happy with them, and when school was done went home with + Sally and ate the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever tasted. In + the afternoon Johnny took her to the cornfield, and showed her how they + kept the growing ears free from mildew and worms. Then she went to the + bakehouse; and here she found her old friend Muffin hard at work making + Parker House rolls, for he was such a good cook he was set to work at once + on the lighter kinds of bread. + </p> + <p> + "Well, isn't this better than Candy-land or Saccharissa?" he asked, as he + rolled and folded his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked inside. + </p> + <p> + "Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better already, and mean to learn all + I can. Mamma will be so pleased if I can make good bread when I go home. + She is rather old-fashioned, and likes me to be a nice housekeeper. I + didn't think bread interesting then, but I do now; and Johnny's mother is + going to teach me to make Indian cakes to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell other people how to make + healthy bodies and happy souls by eating good plain food. Not like this, + though these rolls are better than cake. I have to work my way up to the + perfect loaf, you know; and then, oh, then, I'm a happy thing." + </p> + <p> + "What happens then? Do you go on to some other wonderful place?" asked + Lily, as Muffin paused with a smile on his face. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human being, and become a part of him + or her. That is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a poet and help + him sing, or feed a good woman who makes the world better for being in it, + or be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby prince who is to rule a + kingdom. Isn't that a noble way to live, and an end worth working for?" + asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily feel as if some sort of fine yeast + had got into her, and was setting her brain to work with new thoughts. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it is. I suppose all common things are made for that purpose, if we + only knew it; and people should be glad to do anything to help the world + along, even making good bread in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a sober way + that showed that her little mind was already digesting the new food it had + got. + </p> + <p> + She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and enjoyed and learned a great deal + that she never forgot. But at last, when she had made the perfect loaf, + she wanted to go home, that her mother might see and taste it. + </p> + <p> + "I've put a good deal of myself into it, and I'd love to think I had given + her strength or pleasure by my work," she said, as she and Sally stood + looking at the handsome loaf. + </p> + <p> + "You can go whenever you like; just take the bread in your hands and wish + three times, and you'll be wherever you say. I'm sorry to have you go, but + I don't wonder you want to see your mother. Don't forget what you have + learned, and you will always be glad you came to us," said Sally, kissing + her good-by. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing him, my dear old friend," + answered Lily, looking round for him. + </p> + <p> + "He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. "He was ready to go, and + chose to pass into your bread rather than any other; for he said he loved + you and would be glad to help feed so good a little girl." + </p> + <p> + "How kind of him! I must be careful to grow wise and excellent, else he + will be disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, touched by his + devotion. + </p> + <p> + Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged her loaf close, wished three + times to be in her own home, and like a flash she was there. + </p> + <p> + Whether her friends believed the wonderful tale of her adventures I cannot + tell; but I know that she was a nice little housekeeper from that day, and + made such good bread that other girls came to learn of her. She also grew + from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, because she ate + very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, when the oldest and + the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar062.jpg"><img src="images/lar062th.jpg" + alt="As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back." /></a> <br /> + <i>As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back.</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar062.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="iii">III.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + NAUGHTY JOCKO. + </h3> + <p> + "A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, and see if he has got a monkey on + his organ," cried little Neddy, running to the window in a great hurry one + day. + </p> + <p> + Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and red suit, with a funny little + cap, and the long tail trailing behind. But he didn't seem to be a lively + monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad face turned anxiously to his + master, who kept pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff collar had + made his neck sore; and when the man twitched, the poor thing moaned and + put up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to dance, but was so + weak he could only hop a few steps, and stop panting for breath. The cruel + man wouldn't let him rest till Neddy called out,-- + </p> + <p> + "Don't hurt him; let him come up here and get this cake, and rest while + you play. I've got some pennies for you." + </p> + <p> + So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, and sat on the window-ledge + trying to eat; but he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the man + pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, and lay as if he were dead. + Neddy and his aunt ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man scolded + and shook him; but he never moved, and the man said,-- + </p> + <p> + "He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell him to some one to stuff." + </p> + <p> + "No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here a few days, and we will take + care of him; and if he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said Aunt + Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey. + </p> + <p> + The man said he was going on for a week through the towns near by, and + would call and see about it when he came back. Then he went away; and + Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice basket, and carried him in. The minute + the door was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped out with one + eye, and seeing only the kind little boy began to chatter and kick off the + shawl; for he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and dreadfully + afraid of the cruel man who beat and starved him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was delighted, and thought it very funny, and helped his aunt take + off the stiff collar and put some salve on the sore neck. Then they got + milk and cake; and when he had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself + up and slept till the next day. He was quite lively in the morning; for + when Aunt Jane went to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and + looking round the room for him, she saw the little black thing lying on + the boy's pillow, with his arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby. + </p> + <p> + "My patience! I can't allow that," said the old lady, and went to pull + Jocko out. But he slipped away like an eel, and crept chattering and + burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, till + he waked up, howling that crabs were nipping him. + </p> + <p> + Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko climbed all over the bed, up on + the tall wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the image of an + angel stood. He patted it, and hugged it, and looked so very funny with + his ugly black face by the pretty white one, that Neddy rolled on the + floor, and Aunt Jane laughed till her glasses flew off. By and by he came + down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them tie a red ribbon over the + bandage on his neck. He liked the gay color, and kept going to look in the + glass, and grin and chatter at his own image, which he evidently admired. + </p> + <p> + "Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all the children shall see my new + pet," said Neddy, as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + Every one laughed at the funny little fellow with his twinkling eyes, + brown hands, and long tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to the + store; then troubles began. He put Jocko on a table near the door, and + told him to stay there while he did his errands. Now, close by was the + place where the candy was kept, and Jocko loved sweeties like any girl; so + he hopped along, and began to eat whatever he liked. Some boys tried to + stop him; and then he got angry at them for pulling his tail, and threw + handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great fun; and the more they + laughed and scrambled and poked at him, the faster he showered chocolates, + caramels, and peppermints over them, till it looked as if it had rained + candy. The man was busy with Neddy at the other end of the store; but when + he heard the noise, both ran to see what was the matter. Neither of them + could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, and ran up on the high + shelves among the toys. Then down came little tubs and dolls' stoves, tin + trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden soldiers and whole villages + flew through the air, smash, bang, rattle, bump, all over the floor. The + man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys shouted, and there was a lively time in + that shop till a good slapping with a long stick made Jock tumble into a + tub of water where some curious fishes lived, and then they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man his aunt would pay for all the + broken things. Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go home and + tie him up, for it was plain this monkey was not to be trusted. But as + soon as they got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to a load of hay + passing underneath. Here he danced and pranced, and had a fine time, + throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some of the dinner tied + up in a cloth. The crusts of bread and the bones he threw at the horse; + this new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he ran away down a steep + hill, and upset the hay and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was worse + than the candy scrape; for the man swore, and the horse was hurt, and + people said the monkey ought to be shot, he did so much mischief. Jocko + didn't care a bit; he sat high up in a tree, and chattered and scolded, + and swung by his tail, and was so droll that people couldn't help laughing + at him. Poor Neddy cried again, and went home to tell his troubles to Aunt + Jane, fearing that it would take all the money in his bank to pay for the + damage the bad monkey had done in one hour. + </p> + <p> + As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping along, and jumped on his back, + and peeped at him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning and good + Neddy couldn't whip him; but he shut him up in a closet to punish him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all was quiet till dinner-time. + They were ready for the pudding, and Neddy had saved a place for a good + plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when shrieks were heard in the + kitchen, and Mary the maid rushed in to say,-- + </p> + <p> + "Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the pudding, and is scaring Katy + out of her life!" + </p> + <p> + They all ran; and there sat that naughty monkey on the table, throwing the + nice white snow all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she was + ready to be shaved. His own face looked the same, for he had eaten all he + wanted while the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He had crept out of + a window in the closet, and had a fine rummage among the sugar-buckets, + butter-boxes, and milk-pans. + </p> + <p> + Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane and grandpa laughed, and + Neddy chased Jock into the garden with the broom. They had to eat bread + and jelly for dessert, and it took the girls a long time to clear up the + mess the rascal made. + </p> + <p> + "We will put his collar and chain on again, and keep him tied up all the + time till the man comes," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + "But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, watching the little imp whisk about + in the garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens and tossing green + apples round in high glee. + </p> + <p> + "Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he is tired; then he will come + to you, and you can hold him fast," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + So Neddy waited; and though he was much worried at his new pet's + naughtiness, he enjoyed his pranks like a boy. + </p> + <p> + Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the piazza, and he was dozing + comfortably when Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his long tail, + and tickled the old gentleman on the nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, + and opened one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. Then he went to + sleep again, and Jocko dropped a caterpillar on his bald head; this made + him open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy thing could be. Neddy + couldn't help laughing, for he often wanted to do just such things, but + never dared, because grandpa was a very stern old gentleman, and no one + took liberties with him. Jocko wasn't afraid, however; and presently he + crept to the table, stole the glasses lying there, put them on, and taking + up the paper held it before him, chattering as if he were reading it, as + he had seen people do. Neddy laughed out loud at this, and clapped his + hands, Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite of the tail curled + up behind. This time grandpa opened both eyes at once, and stared as if he + saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched off the spectacles, and + caught up his cane, crying angrily,-- + </p> + <p> + "You rascal, how dare you!" + </p> + <p> + But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and with one jump lighted on the + back of old Tom, the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. Scared half + out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; but Jocko held fast to his collar, + and had a fine race round the garden, while the girls laughed at the funny + sight, and Neddy shouted, "It's a circus; and there's the monkey and the + pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when puss dashed up a tree, and + Jock tumbled off. He chased him, and they had a great battle; but Tom's + claws were sharp, and the monkey got a scratch on the nose, and ran crying + to Neddy for comfort. + </p> + <p> + "Now, you naughty fellow, I'll chain you up, and stop these dreadful + tricks. But you are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the boy; for he + knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, and poor Jocko had not had one for a + long time. + </p> + <p> + Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, and then was ready for more + frolics. Neddy had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that he could + enjoy the sun and air, and catch grasshoppers if he liked. But Jocko + wanted something more; and presently Neddy, who was reading in his hammock + on the piazza, heard a great cackling among the hens, and looked up to see + the monkey swinging by his tail from a bough, holding the great cock-a- + doodle by his splendid tail, while all the twenty hens clucked and cackled + with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank. + </p> + <p> + "Now, that's too bad; I <i>will</i> slap him this time," said Neddy, + running to save his handsome bird from destruction. But before he got + there poor cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his + struggles, and when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran + away and hid in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left him looking as meek as a baby, + all cuddled up in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as if crying + for his naughtiness. But he wasn't sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in half an + hour he had picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane was so fond of, + thrown all the tomatoes over the fence, and let the parrot out of his + cage. The sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a polite "How are + you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane to see what was going on. Neddy was fast + asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; and Jocko, having unhooked + his chain, was sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's house, eating + corn. + </p> + <p> + "We shall not live to the end of the week if this sort of thing goes on. I + don't know what to do with the little beast; he's as bad as an elephant to + take care of," said the poor lady, in despair, as she saw Jocko throw his + corncob down on the minister's hat as that stately gentleman went by. + </p> + <p> + As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane let him alone till Neddy waked + up and could go and find some of the big boys to help him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a window that stood open. It + was little Nelly Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet doll Maud + Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the best bed, while she went down to get a + poppy leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because she had a high fever. + Jocko took a fancy to the pretty bed, and after turning the play-house + topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose Matilda out by her flaxen + hair, and stuffing her into the water-pitcher upside down, got into the + bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to doze deliciously under the + pink silk bed-cover. + </p> + <p> + Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear invalid, saying in her + motherly little voice,-- + </p> + <p> + "Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I won't hurt you one bit." + </p> + <p> + But when she drew the curtain, instead of the lovely yellow-haired doll in + her ruffled nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at her, + and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. Nelly gave one scream, and flew + downstairs into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at work, + frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by her cries, as she clung to her + mother, wailing,-- + </p> + <p> + "A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; and he snarled at me, and my + dolly is gone! What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?" + </p> + <p> + There was great confusion, for all the ladies talked at once; and it so + happened that none of them knew anything about the monkey, therefore they + all agreed that Nelly was a foolish child, and had made a fuss about + nothing. She cried dismally, and kept saying to her mother,-- + </p> + <p> + "Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,--I found it there, and darling Maudie + is gone." + </p> + <p> + "We <i>will</i> go and see," said Mrs. Moses Merryweather,--a stout old + lady, who kept her six girls in such good order that <i>they</i> would + never have dared to cry if ten monkeys had popped out at them. + </p> + <p> + Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, with a sharp eye and pointed + nose, went with her; but at the door that led to the dining-room both + stopped short, and after one look came flying back, calling out + together,-- + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful beast has ruined it all!" + </p> + <p> + Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across the hall to behold Jocko + sitting on the great cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed in + cream from the overturned pitcher, while all around lay the ruins of + custards, tarts, biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins made + into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, on the floor, and the best + silver teapot in the fireplace. + </p> + <p> + While Nelly told her tale and the ladies questioned and comforted her, + this bad monkey had skipped downstairs and had a delightful party all by + himself. He was just scraping the jelly out of a tart when they disturbed + him; and knowing that more slaps were in store for him if he stayed, he at + once walked calmly down the ravaged table, and vanished out of the window + carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play with. + </p> + <p> + The ladies had no supper that night; and poor Mrs. Brown sent a note to + Aunt Jane, telling her the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite ill + with the fright and the loss of dear Maud Mabel Rose Matilda, drowned in + the water-pitcher and forever spoilt. + </p> + <p> + "John shall go after that man to-morrow, and bring him back to carry this + terrible monkey away. I can't live with him a week; he will cost me a + fortune, and wear us all out," said Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely shut + up in the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over the neighborhood + before they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but John was saved his journey, for + in the morning poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his inquisitive + head had been poked to see what the cheese tasted like. + </p> + <p> + So he was buried by the river, and every one felt much relieved; for the + man never came back, thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he had not + lived in vain; for after this day of trial, mischievous Neddy behaved much + better, and Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit by saying, as + her finger pointed to a little collar and chain hanging on the wall,-- + </p> + <p> + "If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say so, and I'll tie you up. One + monkey is enough for this family." + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar078.jpg"><img src="images/lar078th.jpg" + alt="Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and skippings as she made." /></a> + <br /> <i>Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and + skippings as she made.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar078.jpg">View larger + image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="iv">IV.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE SKIPPING SHOES. + </h3> + <p> + Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, who never wanted to do what + people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," and did not run at + once pleasantly, as obliging children do. + </p> + <p> + One day her mother gave her a pair of new shoes; and after a fuss about + putting them on, Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,-- + </p> + <p> + "I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like Jack the Giant Killer's, then + it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep + trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't stir a step." + </p> + <p> + Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, and set her on her feet so + suddenly that it scared all the naughtiness out of her. She stood looking + at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed to wink at + her like eyes, while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of tune. Before + she dared to stir, her mother called from the next room,-- + </p> + <p> + "Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie for dinner; I forgot it." + </p> + <p> + "I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine as usual. + </p> + <p> + But the words were hardly out of her mouth when the shoes gave one jump, + and took her downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at the kitchen + door. Her breath was nearly gone; but she gave the message, and turned + round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went + nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. + She was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a bit when she could. Now + she found that her feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not be + moved till her father said, as he passed the window close by,-- + </p> + <p> + "You will have time to go to the post-office before school and get my + letters." + </p> + <p> + "I can't," began Kitty; but she found she could, for away went the shoes, + out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so fast that + the maid who ran after her with her hat could not catch her. + </p> + <p> + "I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not till the shoes took her + straight into the office. + </p> + <p> + "What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, as he saw her without any hat, + all rosy and breathless, and her face puckered up as if she did not know + whether to laugh or to cry. + </p> + <p> + "I won't tell any one about these dreadful shoes, and I'll take them off + as soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will + think I'm crazy," said Kitty to herself, as she took the letters and went + away. + </p> + <p> + The shoes walked nicely along till she came to the bridge; and there she + wanted to stop and watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and her + father's letters. But the shoes wouldn't stop, though she tried to make + them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; + and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadily that she + had to go, and she got up feeling that there was something very strange + about these shoes. The minute she gave up, all went smoothly, and she got + home in good time. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wear these horrid things another minute," said Kitty, sitting on + the doorstep and trying to unbutton the shoes. + </p> + <p> + But not a button could she stir, though she got red and angry struggling + to do it. + </p> + <p> + "Time for school; run away, little girl," called mamma from upstairs, as + the clock struck nine. + </p> + <p> + "I won't!" said Kitty, crossly. + </p> + <p> + But she did; for those magic shoes danced her off, and landed her at her + desk in five minutes. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm not late; that's one comfort," she thought, wishing she had + come pleasantly, and not been whisked away without any luncheon. + </p> + <p> + Her legs were so tired with the long skips that she was glad to sit still; + and that pleased the teacher, for generally she was fussing about all + lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble again; for one of the + children knocked down the house of corn-cobs she had built, and made her + angry. + </p> + <p> + "Now, I'll kick yours down, and see how you like it, Dolly." + </p> + <p> + Up went her foot, but it didn't come down; it stayed in the air, and there + she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children laughed to + see her, and she could do nothing till she said to Dolly in a great + hurry,-- + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll forgive you." + </p> + <p> + Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so glad about it that she tried to + be pleasant, fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She began to + see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any power over + them. So, when one of the children wanted his ball, which had bounced over + the hedge, she said kindly,--"Perhaps I can get it for you, Willy." + </p> + <p> + And over she jumped as lightly as if she too were an india-rubber ball. + </p> + <p> + "How could you do it?" cried the boys, much surprised; for not one of them + dared try such a high leap. + </p> + <p> + Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling pleased and proud to find there + was a good side to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and skippings as + she made, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was pretty to see; + for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of themselves. The + little girls were charmed, and tried to imitate her, but no one could, and + they stood in a circle watching her dance till the bell rang, then all + rushed in to tell about it. + </p> + <p> + Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never told how queerly they acted, + hoping to have good times now. But she was mistaken. + </p> + <p> + On the way home she wanted to stop and see her friend Bell's new doll, but + at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes and go + straight on, as mamma had told her always to do. + </p> + <p> + "Run and pick a nice little dish of strawberries for dinner," said her + sister, as she went in. + </p> + <p> + "I'm too ti--" There was no time to finish, for the shoes landed her in + the middle of the strawberry bed at one jump. + </p> + <p> + "I might as well be a grasshopper if I'm to skip round like this," she + said, forgetting to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with the + robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind lifting the leaves to + show here the reddest and ripest ones hid. + </p> + <p> + The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted to stay and eat a few, + warm and sweet from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, over + the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the dining-room before the + berry in her mouth was half eaten. + </p> + <p> + "How this child does rush about to-day!" said her mother. "It is so + delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her to + carry some bundles to my poor people this afternoon. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old clothes and bottles and baskets + of cold victuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the + shoes tapped on the floor under the table, as if to remind her that she + must, whether she liked it or not. + </p> + <p> + "It would be right and kind, and would please me very much. But you may do + as you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; for the + little Bryan baby is sick and needs what I send," said mamma, looking + disappointed. + </p> + <p> + Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, and no one spoke to her. She + was making up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked about + like a grasshopper against her will. When dinner was over, she said in a + cheerful voice,-- + </p> + <p> + "I'll go, mamma; and when all the errands are done, may I come back + through Fairyland, as we call the little grove where the tall ferns grow?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy to please you." + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall have a lovely time," said + Kitty to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a bundle + in the other, and some money in her pocket for a poor old woman who needed + help. + </p> + <p> + The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to know just where to stop. The + sick baby's mother thanked her for the soft little nightgowns; the lame + girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round the + basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; and the old woman gave + her a beautiful pink shell that her sailor son brought home from sea. + </p> + <p> + When all the errands were done Kitty skipped away to Fairyland, feeling + very happy, as people always do when they have done kind things. It was a + lovely place; for the ferns made green arches tall enough for little girls + to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss and wood- + flowers. Birds flew about in the pines, squirrels chattered in the oaks, + butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond near by came the + croak of frogs sunning their green backs on the mossy stones. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and rest; it is so cool here, and + I'm so tired," said Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot of a + tree. + </p> + <p> + The words were hardly out of her mouth when her feet folded under her, and + there she sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the wood on her + throne. Something lighted with a bump close by her; and looking down she + saw a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at her curiously. + </p> + <p> + "Bless my heart! I thought you were some relation of my cousin + Grasshopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so I + stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, in its creaky voice. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy shoes to-day, and so do many + things that I never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised to be able + to understand what the cricket said. + </p> + <p> + "It is midsummer day, and fairies can play whatever pranks they like. If + you didn't have those shoes on, you couldn't understand what I say. Hark, + and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down here. Make + the most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes will stop skipping, and + the fun all be over." + </p> + <p> + While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all sorts of little voices, + singing, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word + they said. The squirrels called to one another as they raced about,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Here's a nut, there's a nut;<br /> Hide + it quick away,<br /> In a hole, under leaves,<br /> To + eat some winter day.<br /> Acorns sweet are plenty,<br /> We + will have them all:<br /> Skip and scamper lively<br /> Till + the last ones fall." + </p> + <p> + The birds were singing softly,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Rock a bye, babies,<br /> Your cradle + hangs high;<br /> Soft down your pillow,<br /> Your + curtain the sky.<br /> Father will feed you,<br /> While + mother will sing,<br /> And shelter our darlings<br /> With + her warm wing." + </p> + <p> + And the ants were saying to one another as they hurried in and out of + their little houses,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Work, neighbor, work!<br /> Do not + stop to play;<br /> Wander far and wide,<br /> Gather + all you may. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + We are never like<br /> Idle + butterflies,<br /> But like the busy bees,<br /> Industrious + and wise." + </p> + <p> + "Ants always were dreadfully good, but butterflies are ever so much + prettier," said Kitty, listening to the little voices with wonder and + pleasure. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Hello! hello!<br /> Come down below,--<br /> It's + lovely and cool<br /> Out here in the pool;<br /> On + a lily-pad float<br /> For a nice green boat.<br /> Here + we sit and sing<br /> In a pleasant ring;<br /> Or + leap frog play,<br /> In the jolliest way.<br /> Our + games have begun,<br /> Come join in the fun." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me! what could I do over there in the mud with the queer green + frogs?" laughed Kitty, as this song was croaked at her. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "No, no, come and fly<br /> Through the sunny sky,<br /> + Or honey sip<br /> From the rose's lip,<br /> Or + dance in the air,<br /> Like spirits fair.<br /> Come + away, come away;<br /> 'Tis our holiday." + </p> + <p> + A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up from a wild-rose bush, and + went dancing away higher and higher, till they vanished in the light + beyond the wood. + </p> + <p> + "That is better than leap-frog. I wish my skipping shoes would let me fly + up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to go + all the time," said Kitty, watching the pretty things glitter as they + flew. + </p> + <p> + Just at that minute a clock struck, and away went the shoes over the pool, + the hill, the road, till they pranced in at the gate as the tea-bell rang. + Kitty amused the family by telling what she had done and seen; but no one + believed the Fairyland part, and her father said, laughing,-- + </p> + <p> + "Go on, my dear, making up little stories, and by and by you may be as + famous as Hans Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well." + </p> + <p> + "The sun will soon set, and then my fun will be over; so I must skip while + I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so prettily that + all the family came to see her. + </p> + <p> + "She dances so well that she shall go to dancing-school," said her mother, + pleased with the pretty antics of her little girl. + </p> + <p> + Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had longed to go, and went on + skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn some of the graceful + steps the shoes took before the day was done. + </p> + <p> + "Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your bath and bed. It has been a long + hot day, and you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants to go + out," said her mother, as the sun went down behind the hills with a last + bright glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, please, a few minutes more," began Kitty, but was off like a flash; + for the shoes trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against old + Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor, and + scolding in such a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that she could + hardly pick her up again. + </p> + <p> + By the time she was ready to undress the sun was quite gone, and the shoes + she took off were common ones again, for midsummer day was over. But Kitty + never forgot the little lessons she had learned: she tried to run + willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and danced like + a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and interesting + little creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever she was told she + might go to play with them, she hurried away almost as quickly as if she + still wore the skipping shoes. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar093.jpg"><img src="images/lar093th.jpg" + alt="So Cocky was brought in, and petted." /></a> <br /> <i>So Cocky was + brought in, and petted.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar093.jpg">View larger + image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="v">V.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + COCKYLOO. + </h3> + <p> + In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, feeling very happy because it + was time for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have a fine brood of + chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried the + chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy little + things one after the other, all ready to run and eat and scratch,--for + chickens are not like babies, and don't have to be tended at all. + </p> + <p> + There were eight little hens and two little cockerels, one black and one + as white as snow, with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on + his head. This was Cockyloo, the good chick; but the black one was named + Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud of her fine family; for the eight + little daughters were all white and very pretty. She led them out into the + farmyard, clucking and scratching busily; for all were hungry, and ran + chirping round her to pick up the worms and seeds she found for them. + Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice corn or + a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or Snowball + have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up the food + greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, and picked + the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. His mother + scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; but he + didn't care, and was very naughty. Cocky began to crow when he was very + young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear his loud, clear + "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke before the sun was + up, and began his song. Peck used to grumble at being roused at dawn, for + he was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were glad to get out of the + hen-house. + </p> + <p> + The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the + farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him. + </p> + <p> + "I came out of the shell first, and I am the oldest; so I ought to be + king," he said. + </p> + <p> + "But we don't like you, because you are selfish, cross, and lazy. We want + Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid bird, and + <i>he</i> must be our king," answered the hens; and Peck had to mind, or + they would have pulled every feather out of his little tail. + </p> + <p> + He resolved to do some harm to his good brother, and plagued him all he + could. One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a + bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near to + come and put his heavy foot on the bush. He did it, and crack went the + branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were drowned + but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, Chirp, and + Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, and were + never seen again. All the hens mourned for them, and put a black feather + in their heads to show how sorry they were. Mamma Partlet was heart-broken + to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted her, and never told + how it happened, because he was ashamed to have people know what a bad + bird Peck was. + </p> + <p> + A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny Cockletop about it; and the + hens were so angry that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and he had + to go and live in the woods alone. He said he didn't care; but he did, and + was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field where + the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show himself, for + they would have driven him out. But kind Cocky saw him, and would run with + some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, saying,--"Poor + brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with you, and tell you + the news." + </p> + <p> + Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had been planning to eat Peck as soon + as he was fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he used to have, and + grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berries. While he waited the sly + fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird knew that foxes ate hens. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not afraid, and I don't believe old Granny Cockletop's tales. I can + take care of myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing with the fox, + who got him to tell all about the hen-house,--how the door was fastened, + and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went to bed,--so + that he could creep in and steal a good supper by and by. Silly Peck never + guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when Cocky said,-- + </p> + <p> + "You will be sorry if you play with the fox. He is a bad fellow; so be + careful and sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, as I do." + </p> + <p> + Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, + because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. + This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and so + one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to the + fox,-- + </p> + <p> + "See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it. + He has promised to bring me some food to-night, when all the rest are at + roost. He will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old + biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all I + want out of the pan. You hide on the top of the hen-house; and while he + talks to me, you can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only cock here, + and they will have to make me king." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said the fox, much pleased with the plan, and very glad that + Peck had a chance to get fatter. + </p> + <p> + So when it was night, Peck crept through the broken paling and waited till + he heard the signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from his own + dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread them all + out in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in a great hurry to eat + them, never stopping to say, "Thank you." + </p> + <p> + Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up. + </p> + <p> + "Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over you; then you will be dry, and + can go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till you are + done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to remember + anything else. + </p> + <p> + Now the fox had just crept up on the hen-house roof; and when he peeped + down, there was just light enough to see a white thing bobbing about. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good supper!" And with a jump he + seized Peck by the head before he could explain the mistake. + </p> + <p> + One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell off, + and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to eat + Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the farmer + ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through the hole + in the fence with the fowl in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when they + heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better than + ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them. + </p> + <p> + King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,--pure white, with a tall red + comb on his head, long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers in his + tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that it + could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, "Hark! + hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Isn't it a sweet sound to wake us in the + dawn?" All the other cocks used to answer him, and there was a fine + matinee concert every day. + </p> + <p> + He was a good brother, and led his five little sisters all about the + field, feeding, guarding, and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, and + could not stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run + home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, + who was very proud of her handsome son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who + scolded about everything, liked him; and often said, as the hens sat + scuffling in the dust,-- + </p> + <p> + "A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and I know he will do something + remarkable before he dies." + </p> + <p> + She was right for once; and this is what he did. + </p> + <p> + One day the farmer had to go away and stay all night, leaving the old lady + alone with two boys. They were not afraid; for they had a gun, and quite + longed for a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer had a good + deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they waited for + him to go away that they might steal it. Cocky was picking about in the + field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping through a hole saw + two shabby men hiding there. + </p> + <p> + "At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we will creep in at the kitchen + window and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and whistle if + any one comes along while I'm looking for the box where the farmer keeps + it," said one man. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be afraid; there is no dog, and no one to wake the family, so + we are quite safe," said the other man; and then they both went to sleep + till night came. + </p> + <p> + Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do. He could not tell the + old lady about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and she would not + understand that language. So he went about all day looking very sober, and + would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the big burdock + leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he did not go into + the hen-house with the rest, but flew up to the shed roof over the + kitchen, and sat there in the cold ready to scare the robbers with a loud + crow, as he could do nothing else. + </p> + <p> + At midnight the men came creeping along; one stopped outside, and the + other went in. Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and went back + for the money. Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a + loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys. The man + with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; the + other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and picked + at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned to run + some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him in the + legs. The old lady popped her head out of the upper window and rang the + dinner-bell, and called "Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused the + neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble could be. + </p> + <p> + They fished one man out of the well and picked up the wounded one, and + carried them both off to prison. + </p> + <p> + "Who caught them?" asked the people. + </p> + <p> + "We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we + shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the + rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this is the second time he has + caught a thief." + </p> + <p> + So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his + family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward. + </p> + <p> + When the robbers were tried, it was found that they were the men who had + robbed the bank, and taken a great deal of money; so every one was glad to + have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people would + go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was so brave + and handsome, they said at last,-- + </p> + <p> + "We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow + let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky + ought to be remembered in some way. + </p> + <p> + So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye on + the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the court- + house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, and + twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were never + tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a procession + one moonlight night to see it,--yes, even Mamma Partlet and Granny + Cockletop, though one was lame and the other very old, so full of pride + were they in the great honor done King Cockyloo. + </p> + <p> + This was not the end of his good deeds; and the last was the best of all, + though it cost him his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his kingdom + in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other fowls + were taken for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But he did die at last; + and even then he was good and brave, as you shall hear. + </p> + <p> + One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and went behind the hen-house, so + nobody should see him do such a silly thing. He thought he heard his + father coming, and hid the pipe under the house. Some straw and dry leaves + lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the boy ran + away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to burning + nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to help. The door + was locked, and could not be opened, because the key was in the pocket of + the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe and chopped down the wall, + letting the poor biddies fly out, squawking and smoking. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed + the king of the farmyard. + </p> + <p> + "Burnt up, I'm afraid," said the farmer, who was throwing water on the + flames. + </p> + <p> + Alas! yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky + sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks + whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away, and sat + chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke + choked <i>him</i> to death. + </p> + <p> + Every one was very sorry; and the children gave the good bird a fine + funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a green mound + over him, and a white stone, on which was written,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew:<br /> We + mourn for him with sorrow true.<br /> Now nevermore at dawn his + music shall we hear,<br /> Waking the world like trumpet shrill + and clear.<br /> The hens all hang their heads, the chickens + sadly peep;<br /> The boys look sober, and the girls all weep.<br /> + Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest,<br /> With + grass and daisies on your faithful breast;<br /> And when you + wake, brave bird, so good and true,<br /> Clap your white wings + and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo." + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar107.jpg"><img src="images/lar107th.jpg" + alt="The lion walked awhile to rest himself." /></a> <br /> <i>The lion + walked awhile to rest himself.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar107.jpg">View + larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="vi">VI.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + ROSY'S JOURNEY. + </h3> + <p> + Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with her mother in a small house in + the woods. They were very poor, for the father had gone away to dig gold, + and did not come back; so they had to work hard to get food to eat and + clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when she was able, for she was often + sick, and Rosy did all she could to help. She milked the red cow and fed + the hens; dug the garden, and went to town to sell the yarn and the eggs. + </p> + <p> + She was very good and sweet, and every one loved her; but the neighbors + were all poor, and could do little to help the child. So, when at last the + mother died, the cow and hens and house had to be sold to pay the doctor + and the debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no mother, no home, and + no money to buy clothes and dinners with. + </p> + <p> + "What will you do?" said the people, who were very sorry for her. + </p> + <p> + "I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, bravely. + </p> + <p> + "But he is far away, and you don't know just where he is, up among the + mountains. Stay with us and spin on your little wheel, and we will buy the + yarn, and take care of you, dear little girl," said the kind people. + </p> + <p> + "No, I must go; for mother told me to, and my father will be glad to have + me. I'm not afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, gratefully. + </p> + <p> + Then the people gave her a warm red cloak, and a basket with a little loaf + and bottle of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more to eat when the + bread was gone. They all kissed her, and wished her good luck; and she + trotted away through the wood to find her father. + </p> + <p> + For some days she got on very well; for the wood-cutters were kind, and + let her sleep in their huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by she + came to lonely places, where there were no houses; and then she was + afraid, and used to climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat berries + and leaves, like the Children in the Wood. + </p> + <p> + She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would not come near her; and if + she met other travellers, she was so young and innocent no one had the + heart to hurt her. She was kind to everything she met; so all little + creatures were friends to her, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw a tiny fish on the bank, + nearly dead for want of water. + </p> + <p> + "Poor thing! go and be happy again," she said, softly taking him up, and + dropping him into the nice cool river. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, dear child; I'll not forget, but will help you some day," said + the fish, when he had taken a good drink, and felt better. + </p> + <p> + "Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great girl as I am?" laughed Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam away with a flap of his + little tail. + </p> + <p> + Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. But she never forgot to be + kind; and soon after, as she was looking in the grass for strawberries, + she found a field-mouse with a broken leg. + </p> + <p> + "Help me to my nest, or my babies will starve," cried the poor thing. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that you can keep still till your + leg is better, and have something to eat." + </p> + <p> + Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little hand, and tied up the broken + leg with a leaf of spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she carried her to + the nest under the roots of an old tree, where four baby mice were + squeaking sadly for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown for the + sick mouse, and put close within reach all the berries and seeds she could + find, and brought an acorn-cup of water from the spring, so they could be + comfortable. + </p> + <p> + "Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this kindness some day," said + the mouse, when she was done. + </p> + <p> + "I'm afraid you are not big enough to do much," answered Rosy, as she ran + off to go on her journey. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the little ones squeaked, as if + they said the same. + </p> + <p> + Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, waiting for the sun to rise, + she heard a great buzzing close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb that + went from one twig to another. The big spider was trying to spin him all + up, and the poor fly was struggling to get away before his legs and wings + were helpless. + </p> + <p> + Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the web, and the spider ran away at + once to hide under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on Rosy's hand, + cleaning his wings, and buzzing so loud for joy that it sounded like a + little trumpet. + </p> + <p> + "You've saved my life, and I'll save yours, if I can," said the fly, + twinkling his bright eye at Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "You silly thing, you can't help me," answered Rosy, climbing down, while + the fly buzzed away, saying, like the mouse and fish,-- + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see; wait and see." + </p> + <p> + Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came to the sea. The mountains + were on the other side; but how should she get over the wide water? No + ships were there, and she had no money to hire one if there had been any; + so she sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a few big tears as + salt as the sea. + </p> + <p> + "Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close by; and the fish popped up + his head. Rosy ran to see what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + "I've come to help you over the water," said the fish. + </p> + <p> + "How can you, when I want a ship, and some one to show me the way?" + answered Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "I shall just call my friend the whale, and he will take you over better + than a ship, because he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts and + flounces about a good deal, he is only playing; so you needn't be + frightened." + </p> + <p> + Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to see what would happen; for + she didn't believe such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to help + her. + </p> + <p> + Presently what looked like a small island came floating through the sea; + and turning round, so that its tail touched the shore, the whale said, in + a roaring voice that made her jump,-- + </p> + <p> + "Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. I'll carry you wherever you + like." + </p> + <p> + It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was rather scared at this big, + strange boat; but she got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a roll + and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting two fountains, while his tail + steered him like the rudder of a ship. + </p> + <p> + Rosy liked it, and looked down into the deep sea, where all sorts of queer + and lovely things were to be seen. Great fishes came and looked at her; + dolphins played near to amuse her; the pretty nautilus sailed by in its + transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh with their rough play. + Mermaids brought her pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to eat, and + at night sung her to sleep with their sweet lullabies. + </p> + <p> + So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran on shore with many thanks to + the good whale, who gave a splendid spout, and swam away. + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a desert. Hundreds of miles of + hot sand, with no trees or brooks or houses. + </p> + <p> + "I never can go that way," she said; "I should starve, and soon be worn + out walking in that hot sand. What <i>shall</i> I do?" + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Quee, quee!<br /> Wait and see:<br /> You + were good to me;<br /> So here I come,<br /> From my + little home,<br /> To help you willingly," + </p> + <p> + said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its + bright eyes full of gratitude. + </p> + <p> + "Why, you dear little thing, I'm very glad to see you; but I'm sure you + can't help me across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft back. + </p> + <p> + "That's easy enough," answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. "I'll + just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he'll take you across + with pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I'm afraid he'd rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce beast?" + cried Rosy, much surprised. + </p> + <p> + "I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a noble + animal, and he will keep his word." + </p> + <p> + Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "O lion, grand,<br /> Come + over the sand,<br /> And help me now, I pray!<br /> Here's + a little lass,<br /> Who wants to pass;<br /> Please + carry her on her way." + </p> + <p> + In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with fiery + eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them. + </p> + <p> + "What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he said, looking at the mouse, who + was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every + moment to be eaten. + </p> + <p> + Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,-- + </p> + <p> + "I'll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold fast + to my mane, for I'm a swift horse, and you might fall off." + </p> + <p> + Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was so + kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand till + her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she thought + it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers rolled their + fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion was king of + all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with loads on + their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered what queer thing + was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large monkey in a red + cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a little girl. + </p> + <p> + "How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little + creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert," said + Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself. + </p> + <p> + "And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have + come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make + them gentle and friendly by kindness," answered the lion. + </p> + <p> + Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green + country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one saw + him, they would try to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father," thought + Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads winding + up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts where the + men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took the wrong + road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in rocks over + which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for her food was + gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night was coming on, + and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before morning, but + dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole and be killed. + Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a little; then she + tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, and looking + carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if anxious to make + her listen to his song,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Rosy, my dear,<br /> Don't + cry,--I'm here<br /> To help you all I can.<br /> I'm + only a fly,<br /> But you'll see that I<br /> Will + keep my word like a man." + </p> + <p> + Rosy couldn't help laughing to hear the brisk little fellow talk as if he + could do great things; but she was very glad to see him and hear his + cheerful song, so she held out her finger, and while he sat there told him + all her troubles. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will carry you right up the + mountains and leave you at your father's door," cried the fly; and he was + off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant what he said. + </p> + <p> + Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not at all afraid after the whale + and the lion; so when a great eagle swooped down and alighted near her, + she just looked at his sharp claws, big eyes, and crooked beak as coolly + as if he had been a cock-robin. + </p> + <p> + He liked her courage, and said kindly in his rough voice,-- + </p> + <p> + "Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. Hold me fast round the + neck, or you may grow dizzy and get a fall." + </p> + <p> + Rosy nestled down among the thick gray feathers, and put both arms round + his neck; and whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, till the + trees looked like grass, they were so far below. At first it was very + cold, and Rosy cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as they came + nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and she peeped out to see the huts + standing in a green spot on the top of the mountain. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. You'll find all the men are down in the mine at this time. + They won't come up till morning; so you will have to wait for your father. + Good-by; good luck, my dear." And the eagle soared away, higher still, to + his nest among the clouds. + </p> + <p> + It was night now, but fires were burning in all the houses; so Rosy went + from hut to hut trying to find her father's, that she might rest while she + waited: at last in one the picture of a pretty little girl hung on the + wall, and under it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew that this was the + right place; and she ate some supper, put on more wood, and went to bed, + for she wanted to be fresh when her father came in the morning. + </p> + <p> + While she slept a storm came on,--thunder rolled and lightning flashed, + the wind blew a gale, and rain poured,--but Rosy never waked till dawn, + when she heard men shouting outside,-- + </p> + <p> + "Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all be drowned!" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, though the wind nearly blew her + away; she found that so much rain had made the river overflow till it + began to wash the banks away. + </p> + <p> + "What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried Rosy, watching the men rush + about like ants, getting their bags of gold ready to carry off before the + water swept them away, if it became a flood. + </p> + <p> + As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice say close by,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Splash, dash!<br /> Rumble + and crash!<br /> Here come the beavers gay;<br /> See + what they do,<br /> Rosy, for you,<br /> Because + you helped <i>me</i> one day." + </p> + <p> + And there in the water was the little fish swimming about, while an army + of beavers began to pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep the + river back. How they worked, digging and heaping with teeth and claws, and + beating the earth hard with their queer tails like shovels! Rosy and the + men watched them work, glad to be safe, while the storm cleared up; and by + the time the dam was made, all danger was over. Rosy looked into the faces + of the rough men, hoping her father was there, and was just going to ask + about him, when a great shouting rose again, and all began to run to the + pit hole, saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows will be smothered! How can we + get them out? how can we get them out?" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would break; for her father was down + in the mine, and would die soon if air did not come to him. The men dug as + hard as they could; but it was a long job, and they feared they would not + be in time. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering along, and began to burrow down + through the earth, making many holes for air to go in; for they know how + to build galleries through the ground better than men can. Every one was + so surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt flew like rain as the + busy little fellows scratched and bored as if making an underground + railway. + </p> + <p> + "What does it mean?" said the men. "They work faster than we can, and + better; but who sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?" + </p> + <p> + Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, small voice singing,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "They come at my call;<br /> And + though they are small,<br /> They'll dig the passage clear:<br /> + I never forget;<br /> We'll + save them yet,<br /> For love of Rosy dear." + </p> + <p> + Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on a stone, waving her tail + about, and pointing with her tiny paw to show the moles where to dig. + </p> + <p> + The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them who she was, when a cry came + from the pit, and they saw that the way was clear so they could pull the + buried men up. In a minute they got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows + safe on the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all shouting as if + they were crazy,-- + </p> + <p> + "Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!" + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" cried the others; and then they saw Tom come up with the + biggest lump of gold ever found in the mountains. + </p> + <p> + Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was a good man, and had worked a + long time, and been sick, and couldn't go back to his wife and child. When + he saw Rosy, he dropped the lump, and caught her up, saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "My little girl! she's better than a million pounds of gold." + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy was very happy, and went back to the hut, and had a lovely time + telling her father all about her troubles and her travels. He cried when + he heard that the poor mother was dead before she could have any of the + good things the gold would buy them. + </p> + <p> + "We will go away and be happy together in the pleasantest home I can find, + and never part any more, my darling," said the father, kissing Rosy as she + sat on his knee with her arms round his neck. + </p> + <p> + She was just going to say something very sweet to comfort him, when a fly + lit on her arm and buzzed very loud,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Don't drive me away,<br /> But + hear what I say:<br /> Bad men want the gold;<br /> They + will steal it to-night,<br /> And you must take + flight;<br /> So be quiet and busy and bold." + </p> + <p> + "I was afraid some one would take my lump away. I'll pack up at once, and + we will creep off while the men are busy at work; though I'm afraid we + can't go fast enough to be safe, if they miss us and come after," said + Tom, bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; for some of the + miners were wild fellows, and might kill him for the sake of that great + lump. + </p> + <p> + But the fly sang again,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Slip away with me,<br /> And + you will see<br /> What a wise little thing am I;<br /> For + the road I show<br /> No man can know,<br /> Since + it's up in the pathless sky." + </p> + <p> + Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in the wood; and there were the + eagle and his mate waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far that + no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of gold were put on the mother + eagle; Tom sat astride the king bird; and away they flew to a great city, + where the little girl and her father lived happily together all their + lives. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar126.jpg"><img src="images/lar126th.jpg" + alt="Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground." /></a> <br /> + <i>Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground.</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar126.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="vii">VII.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + HOW THEY RAN AWAY. + </h3> + <p> + Two little boys sat on the fence whittling arrows one fine day. Said one + little boy to the other little boy,-- + </p> + <p> + "Let's do something jolly." + </p> + <p> + "All right. What will we do?" + </p> + <p> + "Run off to the woods and be hunters." + </p> + <p> + "What can we hunt?" + </p> + <p> + "Bears and foxes." + </p> + <p> + "Mullin says there ain't any round here." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare wood-chucks." + </p> + <p> + "Haven't got any guns and trap." + </p> + <p> + "We've got our bows, and I found an old trap behind the barn." + </p> + <p> + "What will we eat?" + </p> + <p> + "Here's our lunch; and when that's gone we can roast the squirrels and + cook the fish on a stick. I know how." + </p> + <p> + "Where will you get the fire?" + </p> + <p> + "Got matches in my pocket." + </p> + <p> + "I've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see." + </p> + <p> + And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy displayed his treasures, while + bold Tommy did the same. + </p> + <p> + Besides the two knives there were strings, nails, matches, a piece of + putty, fish-hooks, and two very dirty handkerchiefs. + </p> + <p> + "There, sir, that's a first-rate fit-out for hunters; and with the jolly + basket of lunch Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top for two or + three days," said Tommy, eager to be off. + </p> + <p> + "Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who liked to be comfortable both + night and day. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like the fellows in our books. If + you are afraid, stay at home; I'm going to have no end of a good time." + And Tommy crammed the things back into his pockets as if there were no + time to lose. + </p> + <p> + "Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And jumping down Billy caught up his rod, + rather ashamed of his many questions. + </p> + <p> + No one was looking at them, and they might have walked quietly off; but + that the "running away" might be all right, both raced down the road, + tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the woods as if a whole tribe of wild + Indians were after them. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when at last they stopped for breath. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but we'd better not keep to it, or + some one will see us and take us back. We are going to be <i>real</i> + hunters and have adventures; so we must get lost, and find our way by the + sun and the stars," answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' Books his + little head was a jumble of Texan Rangers, African Explorers, and Buffalo + Bills; and he burned to outdo them all. + </p> + <p> + "What will our mothers say if we really get lost?" asked Billy, always + ready with a question. + </p> + <p> + "Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like." + </p> + <p> + That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma was tired of trying to keep the + lively little fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him come out of + all his scrapes without much harm. + </p> + <p> + "Mine will be scared; she's always afraid I'm going to get hurt, so I'm + careful. But I guess I'll risk it, and have some fun to tell about when we + go home," said Billy, trudging after Captain Tommy, who always took the + lead. + </p> + <p> + These eleven-year-old boys were staying with their mothers at a farm-house + up among the mountains; and having got tired of the tame bears, the big + barn, the trout brook, the thirty colts at pasture, and the society of the + few little girls and younger boys at the hotel near by, these fine fellows + longed to break loose and "rough it in the bush," as the hunters did in + their favorite stories. + </p> + <p> + Away they went, deeper and deeper into the great forest that covered the + side of the mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it was cool + and green, with many brooks splashing over the rocks, or lying in brown + pools under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced in the tall pines; + now and then a gray rabbit skipped out of sight among the brakes, or a + strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries grew in the open places, + sassafras bushes were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready for + chewing. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, pausing at last in a little dell + where a noisy brook came tumbling down the mountain side, and the pines + sung overhead. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I'm awful hungry. Let's rest and eat our lunch," said Billy, + sitting down on a cushion of moss. + </p> + <p> + "You always want to be stuffing and resting," answered sturdy Tommy, who + liked to be moving all the time. + </p> + <p> + He took the fishing-basket, which hung over his shoulder by a strap, and + opened it carefully; for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch of bread + and butter, cake and peaches, with a bottle of milk, and two large pickles + slipped in on the sly to please the boys. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked in, for all he saw was a box of + worms for bait and an old jacket. + </p> + <p> + "By George! we've got the wrong basket. This is Mullin's, and he's gone + off with our prog. Won't he be mad?" + </p> + <p> + "Not as mad as I am. Why didn't you look? You are always in such a hurry + to start. What <i>shall</i> we do now without anything to eat?" whined + Billy; for losing his lunch was a dreadful blow to him. + </p> + <p> + "We shall have to catch some fish and eat blackberries. Which will you do, + old cry-baby?" said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face. + </p> + <p> + "I'll fish; I'm so tired I can't go scratching round after berries. I + don't love 'em, either." And Billy began to fix his line and bait his + hook. + </p> + <p> + "Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em if you can't wait for fish," said + Tommy, bustling about to empty the basket and pile up their few + possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool below here, you go and fish + there. I'll pick the berries, and then show you how to get dinner in the + woods. This is our camp; so fly round and do your best." + </p> + <p> + Then Tommy ran off to a place near by where he had seen the berries, while + Billy found a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling at the water + so crossly, it was a wonder any trout came to his hook. But the fat worms + tempted several small ones, and he cheered up at the prospect of food. + Tommy whistled while he picked, and in half an hour came back with two + quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry sticks for the fire. + </p> + <p> + "We'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, as the flames went + crackling up, and the dry leaves made a pleasant smell. + </p> + <p> + "Got four, but don't see how we'll ever cook 'em; no frying-pan," grumbled + Billy, throwing down the four little trout, which he had half cleaned. + </p> + <p> + "Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or toast 'em on a forked stick. + I'll show you how," said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding his + fire as much like a real hunter as a small boy could be. + </p> + <p> + While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed for bread and butter. At + last, after much trouble, two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly + eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very different from the nice brown + ones Mrs. Mullin gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles they would + fall in the ashes, and there was no salt to eat with them. By the time the + last were toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they could have eaten + anything, and not a berry was left. + </p> + <p> + "I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole among the vines, and I + shouldn't wonder if we got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when the + last bone was polished. "You go and catch some more fish, and I'll see if + I have caught any old chap as he went home to dinner." + </p> + <p> + Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went slowly back to the brook, wishing + with all his might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie. + </p> + <p> + The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, for not one bite did poor + Billy get; and he was just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him such + a fright that he tumbled into the brook up to his knees. + </p> + <p> + "I've got him! Come and see! He's a bouncer," roared Tommy, from the berry + bushes some way off. + </p> + <p> + Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his wet boots would let him, to + see what the prize was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round a fat gray + animal, who was fighting to get his paws out of the trap, and making a + queer noise as he struggled about. + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a tree as fast as possible, for + the thing looked fierce, and he was very timid. + </p> + <p> + "A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. Won't his fur make a fine cap? I + guess the other fellows will wish they'd come with us." said Tommy, + prancing to and fro, without the least idea what to do with the creature. + </p> + <p> + "He'll bite. We'd better run away and wait till he's dead," said Billy. + </p> + <p> + "Wish he'd got his head in, then I could carry him off; but he does look + savage, so we'll have to leave him awhile, and get him when we come back. + But he's a real beauty." And Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of gray fur + scuffling in the sand. + </p> + <p> + "Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, ready for a fried crocodile if + he could get it. + </p> + <p> + "If he's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know about woodchucks. The fellows + in my books don't seem to have caught any. He's nice and fat; we might try + him when he's dead," said Tommy, who cared more for the skin to show than + the best meal ever cooked. + </p> + <p> + The sound of a gun echoing through the wood gave Tommy a good idea,-- + </p> + <p> + "Let's find the man and get him to shoot this chap; then we needn't wait, + but skin him right away, and eat him too." + </p> + <p> + Off they went to the camp; and catching up their things, the two hunters + hurried away in the direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that some + one was near them, for two or three hours of wood life made them a little + homesick. + </p> + <p> + They ran and scrambled, and listened and called; but not until they had + gone a long way up the mountain did they find the man, resting in an old + hut left by the lumbermen. The remains of his dinner were spread on the + floor, and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, while his dog dozed at + his feet, close to a well-filled game-bag. + </p> + <p> + He looked surprised when two dirty, wet little boys suddenly appeared + before him,--one grinning cheerfully, the other looking very dismal and + scared as the dog growled and glared at them as if they were two rabbits. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" said the man + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" answered Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Who are you?" asked the man. + </p> + <p> + "Hunters," said Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Had good luck?" And the man laughed. + </p> + <p> + "First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and we want you to come and shoot + him," answered Tommy, proudly. + </p> + <p> + "Sure?" said the man, looking interested as well as amused. + </p> + <p> + "No, but I think so." + </p> + <p> + "What's he like?" + </p> + <p> + Tommy described him, and was much disappointed when the man lay down + again, saying, with another laugh,-- + </p> + <p> + "It's a woodchuck; he's no good." + </p> + <p> + "But I want the skin." + </p> + <p> + "Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's better for the skin," said the + man, who was tired and didn't want to stop for such poor game. + </p> + <p> + All this time Billy had been staring hard at the sandwiches and bread and + cheese on the floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at him. + </p> + <p> + "Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing the hungry look. + </p> + <p> + "I just do! We left our lunch, and I've only had two little trout and some + old berries since breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his eyes and a + hand on his stomach. + </p> + <p> + "Eat away then; I'm done, and don't want the stuff." And the man took up + his paper as if glad to be let alone. + </p> + <p> + It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in ten minutes nothing was + left but the napkin; and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much + refreshed, but ready for more. + </p> + <p> + "Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty cold on the mountain after + sunset, and you are a long way from town," said the man, who had peeped at + them over his paper now and then, and saw, in spite of the dirt and rips, + that they were not farmer boys. + </p> + <p> + "We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in the valley. No hurry; we + know the way, and we want to have some sport first. You seem to have done + well," answered Tommy, looking enviously from the gun to the game-bag, out + of which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail. + </p> + <p> + "Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. People tell me there is one + up here, and I'm after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt some of + the young folks round here," said the man, loading his gun with a very + sober air; for he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home. + </p> + <p> + Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown face beamed with joy as he said + eagerly,-- + </p> + <p> + "I hope you'll get him. I'd rather shoot a bear than any other animal but + a lion. We don't have those here, and bears are scarce. Mullin said he + hadn't heard of one for a long time; so this must be a young one, for they + killed the big one two years ago." + </p> + <p> + That was true, and the man knew it. He did not really expect or want to + meet a bear, but thought the idea of one would send the little fellows + home at once. Finding one of them was unscared, he laughed, and said with + a nod to Tommy,-- + </p> + <p> + "If I had time I'd take <i>you</i> along, and show you how to hunt; but + this fat friend of yours couldn't rough it with us, and we can't leave him + alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I wouldn't climb any higher, for + among the rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I know you'll like it. A real gun + and dog and hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," cried Tommy, + wild to go. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; you can go after your old bears + if you want to. I don't think much of hunting anyway, and wish I hadn't + come," growled Billy, very cross at being left out, yet with no desire to + scramble any more. + </p> + <p> + "Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and some day I'll come and take you + out with me, little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding off with the + dear gun and dog and bag, leaving Billy to wonder what he meant by that + queer name, and Tommy to console himself with the promise made him. + </p> + <p> + "Let's go and see how old Chucky gets on," he said good-naturedly, when + the man vanished. + </p> + <p> + "Not till I'm rested. I can get a good nap on this pile of hay; then we'll + go home before it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself on the + rough bed the lumbermen had used. + </p> + <p> + "I just wish I had a boy with some go in him; you ain't much better than a + girl," sighed Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some squirrels + seemed to be having a party, they chattered and raced up and down at such + a rate. + </p> + <p> + He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many times in vain, for the + lively creatures gave him no chance. He had better luck with a brown bird + who sat in a bush and was hit full in the breast with the sharpest arrow. + The poor thing fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green leaves as + it lay dying on the grass. Tommy was much pleased at first; but as he + stood watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty brown wings stop + fluttering, he felt sorry that its happy little life was so cruelly ended, + and ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so much pain. + </p> + <p> + "I'll never shoot another bird except hawks after chickens, and I won't + brag about this one. It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean to + kill it." + </p> + <p> + As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the ruffled feathers of the dead + thrush, and, making a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped in + green leaves, and left it there where its mate could sing over it, and no + rude hands disturb its rest. + </p> + <p> + "I'll tell mamma and she will understand: but I <i>won't</i> tell Billy. + He is such a greedy old chap he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird + to eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, and sat there, + restringing his bow, till Billy woke up, much more amiable for his sleep. + </p> + <p> + They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost their way, and wandered deeper + into the great forest till they came to a rocky place and could go no + farther. They climbed up and tumbled down, turned back and went round, + looked at the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras bark and + checkerberry leaves for supper, and grew more and more worried and tired + as hour after hour went by and they saw no end to woods and rocks. Once or + twice they heard the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried to find + him. + </p> + <p> + Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the man, who knew his way and was + probably safe in the valley when the last faint shot came up to them. + Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for proposing to run away; and both felt + very homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds at Farmer + Mullin's. + </p> + <p> + The sun set, and found them in a dreary place full of rocks and blasted + trees half-way up the mountain. They were so tired they could hardly walk, + and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; but, remembering the hunter's + story of the bear, they were afraid to do it, till Tommy suggested + climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot of it to scare away the + bear, lest he climb too and get them. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! the matches were left in their first camp; so they decided to + take turns to sleep and watch, since it was plain that they must spend the + night there. Billy went up first, and creeping into a good notch of the + bare tree tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with a big stick, + marched to and fro below. Every few minutes a trembling voice would call + from above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious voice would answer from + below, "Not yet. Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn." + </p> + <p> + At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy felt so lonely he couldn't + bear it; so he climbed to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying to + keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and the early moon saw the poor + boys roosting there like two little owls. + </p> + <p> + A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then a great shaking and howling + waked Tommy so suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and did not + know where he was. + </p> + <p> + "The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! Tommy, Tommy, come and make him + let go," cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls. + </p> + <p> + Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large bear eating his unhappy + friend; but the moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy dangling from + a bough, high above the ground, caught by his belt when he fell. He had + been dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so there he hung, + kicking and wailing, half awake, and so scared it was long before Tommy + could make him believe that he was quite safe. + </p> + <p> + How to get him down was the next question. The branch was not strong + enough to bear Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to unhook poor Billy. + The belt was firmly twisted at the back, and Billy could not reach to undo + it, nor could he get his legs round the branch to pull himself up. There + seemed no way but to unbuckle the belt and drop. That he was afraid to + try; for the ground was hard, and the fall a high one. Fortunately both + belt and buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though very uncomfortably, + while Tommy racked his boyish brain to find a way to help him. + </p> + <p> + Billy had just declared that he should be cut in two very soon if + something was not done for him, and Tommy was in despair, when they + thought they heard a far-off shout, and both answered it till their + throats were nearly split with screaming. + </p> + <p> + "I seem to see a light moving round down that way," cried Billy from his + hook, pointing toward the valley. + </p> + <p> + "They are looking for us, but they won't hear us. I'll run and holler + louder, and bring 'em up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything that + would put an end to this dreadful state of things. + </p> + <p> + "Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! The bear might come! Don't go! + don't go!" wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid. + </p> + <p> + "I won't go far, and I'll come back as quick as I can. You are safe up + there. Hold on, and we'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, rushing away + helter-skelter, never minding where he went, and too much excited to care + for any damage. + </p> + <p> + The moon was bright on the blasted trees; but when he came down among the + green pines, it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. Never minding + bumps and bruises, he scrambled over rocks, leaped fallen trunks, + floundered through brooks, and climbed down steep places, till, with a + reckless jump, he went heels over head into a deep hole, and lay there for + a moment stunned by the fall. It was an old bear-trap, long unused, and + fortunately well carpeted with dead leaves, or poor Tommy would have + broken his bones. + </p> + <p> + When he came to himself he was so used up that he lay still for some time + in a sort of daze, too tired to know or care about anything, only dimly + conscious that somebody was lost in a tree or a well, and that, on the + whole, running away was not all fun. + </p> + <p> + By and by the sound of a gun roused him; and remembering poor Billy, he + tried to get out of the pit,--for the moon showed him where he was. But it + was too deep, and he was too stiff with weariness and the fall to be very + nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and raged about very like a little + bear caught in the pit. + </p> + <p> + It is very difficult to find a lost person on these great mountains, and + many wander for hours not far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, + the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them in. Some have lost their + lives; and as Tommy lay on the leaves used up by his various struggles, he + thought of all the stories he had lately heard at the farm, and began to + wonder how it would feel to starve to death down there, and to wish poor + Billy could come to share his prison, that they might die together, like + the Babes in the Wood, or better still the Boy Scouts lost on the prairies + in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, the Wild Hunter of the West." + </p> + <p> + "I guess mother is worried this time, because I never stayed out all night + before, and I never will again without leave. It's rather good fun, + though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and it isn't very cold. I + always wanted to sleep out, and now I'm doing it. Wish poor Billy was + safely down and in this good bed with me. Won't he be scared all alone + there? Maybe the belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. Sorry now I + left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. There's the gun again! Guess it's that + man after us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! Hi! hi! hi!" + </p> + <p> + Tommy's meditations ended in a series of yells as loud as his shrill + little voice could make them, and he thought some one answered. But it + must have been an echo, for no one came; and after another rampage round + his prison, the poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and went fast + asleep because there was nothing else to do. + </p> + <p> + So there they were, the two young hunters, lost at midnight on the + mountain,--one hanging like an apple on the old tree, and the other sound + asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers meantime were weeping and + wringing their hands at the farm, while all the men in the neighborhood + were out looking for the lost boys. The hunter on his return to the hotel + had reported meeting the runaways and his effort to send them home in good + season; so people knew where to look, and, led by the man and dog, up the + mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. It was a mild night, and the moon + shone high and clear; so the hunt was, on the whole, rather easy and + pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through the dark forest like + fireflies, the lonely cliffs seemed alive with men, and voices echoed in + places where usually only the brooks babbled and the hawks screamed. But + as time went on, and no sign of the boys appeared, the men grew anxious, + and began to fear some serious harm had come to the runaways. + </p> + <p> + "I can't go home without them little shavers no way, 'specially Tommy," + said Mr. Mullin, as they stopped to rest after a hard climb through the + blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own heart, spry as a chipmunk, smart + as a young cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. He ain't afraid + of anything, and I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find him enjoyin' + himself first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber." + </p> + <p> + "The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. If it hadn't been for him + I'd have kept the lively fellow with me, and shown him how to hunt. Sorry + now I didn't take them both home," said the man with the gun, seeing his + mistake too late, as people often do. + </p> + <p> + "Maybe they've fell down a precipice and got killed, like Moses Warner, + when he was lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted himself + hoarse. + </p> + <p> + "Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' yonder, and he may have found + 'em," said the farmer, hurrying toward the place where the hound was + baying at something in a tree. + </p> + <p> + It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half unconscious with weariness + and fear. The belt had slipped up under his arms, so he could breathe + easily; and there he was, looking like a queer sort of cone on the blasted + pine. + </p> + <p> + "Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as the tall lad climbed up, and, + unhooking Billy, handed him down like a young bird, into the arms held up + to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "He's all right, only scared out of his wits. Come along and look for the + other one. I'll warrant he went for help, and may be half-way home by this + time," said the hunter, who didn't take much interest in the fat boy. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing it to the dog, his master told + him to find the boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then set off with + his nose to the ground, following the zigzag track Tommy had taken in his + hurry. The hunter and several of the men went after him, leaving the + farmer with the others to take care of Billy. + </p> + <p> + Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and began to bark again. + </p> + <p> + "He's got him!" cried the men, much relieved; and rushing on soon saw the + good beast looking down at a little white object in one corner of the dark + hole. + </p> + <p> + It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the rest of him was covered up + with leaves. The little round face seemed very quiet; and for a moment the + men stood quite still, fearing that the fall might have done the boy some + harm. Then the hunter leaped down, and gently touched the brown cheek. It + was warm, and a soft snore from the pug nose made the man call out, much + relieved,-- + </p> + <p> + "He's all right. Wake up here, little chap; you are wanted at home. Had + hunting enough for this time?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave a stretch, and said, "Hollo, + Billy," as calmly as if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of the + leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the sight of several men staring + down at him startled him wide awake. + </p> + <p> + "Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, looking up at the hunter with a + grin. + </p> + <p> + "No; but I caught a little one, and here he is," answered the man, giving + Tommy a roll in the leaves, much pleased because he did not whine or make + a fuss. + </p> + <p> + "Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's Billy? I left him up a tree like + a coon, and he wouldn't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking off his brown + bed-clothes, and quite ready to get up now. + </p> + <p> + They all laughed with him; and presently, when the story was told, they + pulled the boy out of the pit, and went back to join the other wanderer, + who was now sitting up eating the bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for + their very late supper. + </p> + <p> + The men roared again, as the two boys told their various tribulations; and + when they had been refreshed, the party started for home, blowing the tin + horns, and firing shot after shot to let the scattered searchers know that + the lost children were found. Billy was very quiet, and gladly rode on the + various broad backs offered for his use, but Tommy stoutly refused to be + carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a very rough place, walked + all the way down on his own sturdy legs. He was the hero of the adventure, + and was never tired of relating how he caught the woodchuck, cooked the + fish, slid down the big rock, and went to bed in the old bear-pit. But in + his own little mind he resolved to wait till he was older before he tried + to be a hunter; and though he caught several wood-chucks that summer, he + never shot another harmless little bird. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar154.jpg"><img src="images/lar154th.jpg" + alt="A wasp flew out and stung her lips." /></a> <br /> <i>A wasp flew out + and stung her lips.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar154.jpg">View larger + image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="viii">VIII.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE FAIRY BOX. + </h3> + <p> + "I wish I had a magic bracelet like Rosamond's, that would prick me when I + was going to do wrong," said little May, as she put down the story she had + been reading. + </p> + <p> + There was no one else in the room, but she heard a sweet voice sing these + words close to her ear:-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Now hark, little May,<br /> If you + want to do right,<br /> Under your pillow<br /> Just + look every night.<br /> If you have been good<br /> All + through the day,<br /> A gift you will find,<br /> Useful + or gay;<br /> But if you have beenv Cross, + selfish, or wild,<br /> A bad thing will come<br /> For + the naughty child.<br /> So try, little dear,<br /> And + soon you will see<br /> How easy and sweet<br /> To + grow good it will be." + </p> + <p> + May was very much surprised at this, and looked everywhere to see who + spoke, but could find no one. + </p> + <p> + "I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide open, and I can't make up + poetry, asleep or awake." + </p> + <p> + As she said that, some one laughed; and the same voice sang again,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Ha, ha, you can't see,<br /> Although + I am here;<br /> But listen to what<br /> I + say in your ear.<br /> Tell no one of this.<br /> Because, + if you do,<br /> My fun will be spoilt,<br /> And + so will yours too.<br /> But if you are good,<br /> And + patient, and gay,<br /> A real fairy will come<br /> To + see little May." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, how splendid that will be! I'll try hard, and be as good as an angel + if I can only get one peep at a live fairy. I always said there were such + people, and now I shall know how they look," cried the little girl, so + pleased that she danced all about the room, clapping her hands. + </p> + <p> + Something bright darted out of the window from among the flowers that + stood there, and no more songs were heard; so May knew that the elf had + gone. + </p> + <p> + "I've got a fine secret all to myself, and I'll keep it carefully. I + wonder what present will come to-night," she said, thinking this a very + interesting play. + </p> + <p> + She was very good all day, and made no fuss about going to bed, though + usually she fretted, and wanted to play, and called for water, and plagued + poor Nursey in many ways. She got safely into her little nest, and then + was in such a hurry to see what was under her pillow that she forgot, and + called out crossly,-- + </p> + <p> + "Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang up my clothes, you slow old + thing! Go, go!" + </p> + <p> + That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away without her good-night kiss. + But May didn't care, and felt under her pillow the minute the door was + shut. A lamp was always left burning; so she could see the little gold box + she drew out. + </p> + <p> + "How pretty! I hope there is some candy in it," she said, opening it very + carefully. + </p> + <p> + Oh, dear! what <i>do</i> you think happened? A wasp flew out and stung her + lips; then both wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry alone, with + a sharp pain in the lips that said the unkind words. + </p> + <p> + "What a dreadful present! I don't like that spiteful fairy who sends such + horrid things," she sobbed. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay still and thought about it; for she dared not call any one, + because nobody must guess the secret. She knew in her own little heart + that the cross words hurt Nursey as the sting did her lips, and she felt + sorry. At once the smart got better, and by the time she had resolved to + ask the good old woman to forgive her, it was all gone. + </p> + <p> + Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged pardon, and tried hard to be + good till tea-time; then she ran to see what nice things they were going + to have to eat, though she had often been told not to go into the dining- + room. No one was there; and on the table stood a dish of delicious little + cakes, all white like snowballs. + </p> + <p> + "I must have just a taste, and I'll tell mamma afterward," she said; and + before she knew it one little cake was eaten all up. + </p> + <p> + "Nobody will miss it, and I can have another at tea. Now, a lump of sugar + and a sip of cream before mamma comes, I so like to pick round." + </p> + <p> + Having done one wrong thing, May felt like going on; so she nibbled and + meddled with all sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, then she + ran away; and by and by, when the bell rang, came in with the rest as prim + and proper as if she did not know how to play pranks. No one missed the + cake, and her mother gave her another, saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my good child." + </p> + <p> + May turned red, and wanted to tell what she had done, but was ashamed + because there was company; and people thought she blushed like a modest + little girl at being praised. + </p> + <p> + But when she went to bed she was almost afraid to look under the pillow, + knowing that she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew out the box, and + slowly opened it, expecting something to fly at her. All she saw was a + tiny black bag, that began at once to grow larger, till it was big enough + to hold her two hands. Then it tied itself tight round her wrists, as if + to keep these meddlesome hands out of mischief. + </p> + <p> + "Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful as the wasp. I hope no one + will see it when I'm asleep. I do wish I'd let those cakes and things + alone," sighed May, looking at the black bag, and vainly trying to get her + hands free. + </p> + <p> + She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke the bag was gone. No one had + seen it; but she told her mamma about the cake, and promised not to do so + any more. + </p> + <p> + "Now this shall be a <i>truly</i> good day, every bit of it," she said, as + she skipped away, feeling as light as a feather after she had confessed + her little sins. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, that May spoilt her day + before dinner by going to the river and playing with the boats, in spite + of many orders not to do it. She did not tell of it, and went to a party + in the afternoon, where she was so merry she never remembered the naughty + thing till she was in bed and opened the fairy box. A little chain + appeared, which in a flash grew long and large, and fastened round her + ankles as if she were a prisoner. May liked to tumble about, and was much + disgusted to be chained in this way; but there was no help for it, so she + lay very still and had plenty of time to be sorry. + </p> + <p> + "It is a good punishment for me, and I deserve it. I won't cry, but I + will--I <i>will</i> remember." And May said her prayers very soberly, + really meaning to keep her word this time. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she was very careful to keep her lips from cross words, + her hands from forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. Nothing + spoilt this day, she watched so well; and when mamma gave the good-night + kiss, she said,-- + </p> + <p> + "What shall I give my good little daughter, who has been gentle, obedient, + and busy all day?" + </p> + <p> + "I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a pink ribbon on its neck," + answered May. + </p> + <p> + "I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, and happy dreams!" said + mamma, with many kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that was a + reward. + </p> + <p> + May was so busy thinking about the kitty and the good day that she forgot + the box till she heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped up her head to see. + </p> + <p> + Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, on a red cushion, lay a + white kit about two inches long. May couldn't believe that it was alive + till it jumped out of its nest, stretched itself, and grew all at once + just the right size to play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its + tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow was on its neck. It danced + all over the bed, ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, nipped May's + toes, licked her face, patted her nose with its soft paw, and winked at + her in such a funny way that she laughed for joy at having such a dear + kitty. Presently, as if it knew that bed was the place to lie quiet in, + puss cuddled down in a little bunch and purred May to sleep. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose that darling kit will be gone like all the other things," said + May, as she waked up and looked round for her first pretty gift. + </p> + <p> + No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the sun among the flower-pots, + washing her face and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic they had; + and how surprised every one was to see just the pussy May wanted! They + supposed it came as kitties often come; and May never told them it was a + fairy present, because she had promised not to. She was so happy with + little puss that she was good all day; and when she went to bed she + thought,-- + </p> + <p> + "I wish I had a dog to play with darling Snowdrop, and run with me when I + go to walk." + </p> + <p> + "Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the pillow; and out of the box trotted a + curly black dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such bright, kind + eyes May was not a bit afraid of him, but loved him at once, and named him + Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked him too; and when May was + sleepy they both snuggled down in the same basket like two good babies, + and went to by-low. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I never! What shall we find next?" said Nurse, when she saw the dog + in the morning. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the whole house, and scare you + out of your wits," laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop chasing her + bare toes, while Floss shook and growled over her shoes as if they were + rats. + </p> + <p> + "If your cousin John wants to give you any more animals, I wish he'd send + a pony to take you to school, and save my old legs the pain of trotting + after you," said Nurse; for May did have a rich cousin who was very fond + of her, and often gave her nice things. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled with the idea that it was a + fairy, and not Cousin John, who sent the cunning little creatures to her. + </p> + <p> + But she didn't get the pony that night; for in the afternoon her mother + told her not to sit on the lawn, because it was damp, and May did not + mind, being busy with a nice story. So when she took up her box, a loud + sneeze seemed to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of red + flannel. + </p> + <p> + "What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; and as if to answer, the + strip of flannel wrapped itself round her neck. + </p> + <p> + "There! my throat <i>is</i> sore, and I <i>am</i> hoarse. I wonder how + that fairy knew I sat on the damp grass. I'm so sorry; for I did want a + pony, and might have had it if I'd only minded," said May, angry with + herself for spoiling all her fun. + </p> + <p> + It <i>was</i> spoilt; for she had such a cold next day she couldn't go out + at all, but had to take medicine and keep by the fire, while the other + children had a lovely picnic. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't deserve a present, I was so + disobedient. But I <i>have</i> tried to be patient," said May, feeling for + the box. + </p> + <p> + The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was a beautiful picture-book, + full of new, nice stories printed in colored ink. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid to read to-morrow while I'm shut up!" she said, and went to + sleep very happily. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she enjoyed the pretty pictures and funny tales, and + never complained or fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor said + she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine. + </p> + <p> + "Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in her bed. But there was + nothing in the box except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She did + not know what to do with it that night, but she did the next morning; for + just as she was dressed her brother called from the garden,-- + </p> + <p> + "May, look out and see what we found in the stable. None of us can catch + him, so do come and see if you can; your name is on the card tied to his + mane." + </p> + <p> + May looked, and there was a snow-white pony racing about the yard as if he + was having a fine frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, and ran + down to catch him. The minute she appeared, the pony went to her and put + his nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,-- + </p> + <p> + "This is my little mistress; I will mind her and serve her well." + </p> + <p> + May was delighted, and very proud when the pony let her put on the saddle + and bridle that lay in the barn all ready to use. She jumped up and rode + gayly down the road; and Will and mamma and all the maids and Floss and + Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The children at school were much + excited when she came trotting up, and all wanted to ride Prince. He was + very gentle, and every one had a ride; but May had the best fun, for she + could go every day for long trots by the carriage when mamma and Will + drove out. A blue habit and a hat with a long feather were bought that + afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at night that she said to + herself as she lay in bed,-- + </p> + <p> + "I'll wish for something for Will now, and see if I get it. I don't want + any more presents yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give away to + other people who have no fairy box." + </p> + <p> + So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box lay a key with the name + "Water Lily" on it. She guessed what it meant, and in the morning told her + brother to come to the river and see what she had for him. There lay a + pretty green and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all spread, and + at the mast-head a little flag flying in the wind, with the words "Water + Lily" on it in gold letters. + </p> + <p> + Will was so surprised and pleased to find that it was his, he turned heels + over head on the grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, crying, + "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at once. + </p> + <p> + May followed, and they sailed away down the lovely river, white with real + lilies, while the blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either side, and + boys and girls stopped on the bridges to see them pass. + </p> + <p> + After that May kept on trying to be good, and wishing for things for + herself and other people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and was the + sweetest little girl in the world. Then there was no need of fairies to + help her; and one night the box was not under the pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I've had my share of pretty things, and must learn to do without. + I'm glad I tried; for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need to be + rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, quite happy and contented, though + she did wish she could have seen the fairy just once. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the first thing she saw was a beautiful bracelet, shining on + the table; and while she stood admiring it, she heard the little voice + sing,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Here is the bracelet<br /> For good + little May<br /> To wear on her arm<br /> By + night and by day.<br /> When it shines like the sun,<br /> + All's going well;<br /> But when you + are bad,<br /> A sharp prick will tell.<br /> Farewell, + little girl,<br /> For now we must part.<br /> + Make a fairy-box, dear,<br /> Of your + own happy heart;<br /> And take out for all<br /> Sweet + gifts every day,<br /> Till all the year round<br /> Is + like beautiful May." + </p> + <p> + As the last words were sung, right before her eyes she saw a tiny creature + swinging on the rose that stood there in a vase,--a lovely elf, with wings + like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and a star on her forehead. She smiled, + and waved her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away into the + sunshine, till she vanished from sight, leaving May with the magic + bracelet on her arm, and the happy thought that at last she had <i>really</i> + seen a fairy. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar170.jpg"><img src="images/lar170th.jpg" + alt="Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired peek." /></a> <br /> <i>Johnny + leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek."</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar170.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="ix">IX.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + A HOLE IN THE WALL. + </h3> + <p> + PART I. + </p> + <p> + If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were his best friends, he would + have answered,-- + </p> + <p> + "The sun and the wind, next to mother." + </p> + <p> + Johnny lived in a little court that led off from one of the busiest + streets in the city,--a noisy street, where horse-car bells tinkled and + omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great depots + near by. The court was a dull place, with only two or three shabby houses + in it, and a high blank wall at the end. + </p> + <p> + The people who hurried by were too busy to do more than to glance at the + lame boy who sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess that there + was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library in the court. But Johnny + had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be grateful + enough to the wind that brought him his books and pictures, nor to the sun + that made it possible for him to enjoy them in the open air, far more than + richer folk enjoy their fine galleries and libraries. + </p> + <p> + A bad fall, some months before the time this story begins, did something + to Johnny's back which made his poor legs nearly useless, and changed the + lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. His mother took in fine washing, and + worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her boy, who could + no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to school. He could + only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on his bed in pain for hours, + and, each fair day, hobble out to sit in a little old chair between the + water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he kept his library. + </p> + <p> + But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty and pain; and the day a great + gust came blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty newspaper down + the court to his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for patient + Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other pictured bits + found their way to him; for the frolicsome wind liked to whisk the papers + around the corner, and chase them here and there till they settled under + the chair or flew wildly over the wall. + </p> + <p> + Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all came to cheer the boy, who + was never tired of collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out the big + pictures to paste on the wall with the leavings of mother's starch, and + the smaller in the scrap-book he made out of stout brown wrappers or + newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a very gay + wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large pictures + up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. The books were + laid carefully away in the boiler, after being smoothly ironed out and + named to suit Johnny's fancy by pasting letters on the back. This was the + circulating library; for not only did the papers whisk about the court to + begin with, but the books they afterward made went the rounds among the + neighbors till they were worn out. + </p> + <p> + The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading the anecdotes on Sunday when he + could not work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look over + advertisements of the fine things which she longed for; and Patsey Flynn, + the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the station, often + paused to look at the play-bills,--for he adored the theatre, and + entertained Johnny with descriptions of the splendors there to be beheld, + till he felt as if he had really been, and had known all the famous + actors, from Humpty Dumpty to the great Salvini. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a flock of dirty children would stray into the court and ask + to see the "pretty picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy boy; for, + armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the beauties of + his gallery, feeling that he was a public benefactor when the poor babies + thanked him warmly, and promised to come again and bring all the nice + papers they could pick up. + </p> + <p> + These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had two sorrows,--one, a very real + one, his aching back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb the wall + and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderful and + delightful place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal court, with no + playmates and few comforts. + </p> + <p> + He amused himself with imagining how it looked over there, and nearly + every night added some new charm to this unseen country, when his mother + told him fairy tales to get him to sleep. He peopled it with the dear old + characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on the wall + was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. Blue-beard's wives + were hidden in the house of whose upper windows the boy could just catch + glimpses. Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove of chestnuts that + rustled over there; and Jack's Beanstalk grew up just such a wall as that, + he was sure. + </p> + <p> + But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood;" for he + was sure some lovely creature lived in that garden, and he longed to get + in to find and play with her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of damp + earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as strong a + ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny was so + impatient that he promised Patsey his best book "for his ownty-donty," if + he would climb up and report what was to be seen in that enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + "Faix, and I will, thin." And up went good-natured Pat, after laying an + old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all along + the top of the wall, and only cats and sparrows could walk there. + </p> + <p> + Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for Pat's Sunday best! The board + broke, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled + Johnny half out of his wits and brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler + to the rescue. + </p> + <p> + After this sad event Pat kept away for a time in high dudgeon, and Johnny + was more lonely than ever. But he was a cheery little soul, so he was + grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,--for the March + winds had brought him many treasures, and after April rains were over, May + sunshine made the court warm enough for him to be out nearly all day. + </p> + <p> + "I'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this piece and told me about it, + and he'd like to help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, + one breezy morning, as he sat examining a big poster which the wind had + sent flying into his lap a few minutes before. + </p> + <p> + The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures represented the hero getting + out of prison by making holes in the wall, among other remarkable + performances. + </p> + <p> + "This is a jolly red one! Now, where will I put it to show best and not + spoil the other beauties?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around and surveyed his gallery with + as much pride and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders of art. + </p> + <p> + It really <i>was</i> quite splendid; for every sort of picture shone in + the sun,--simpering ladies, tragic scenes, circus parades, labels from tin + cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny + advertisements, and gay bills of all kinds. None were perfect, but they + were arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, Johnny thought. + </p> + <p> + Presently his eyes wandered from these treasures to the budding bushes + that nodded so tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran along the + top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; lilacs tossed their purple plumes + above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents + with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like + candles on a mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping gayly + everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh blue bow, basked on the coping of + the wall, and from the depths of the enchanted garden came a sweet voice + singing,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "And she bids you to come in,<br /> With + a dimple in your chin,<br /> Billy boy, Billy + boy." + </p> + <p> + Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his finger to the little dent in his + own chin, wishing the singer would finish this pleasing song. But she + never did, though he often heard that, as well as other childish ditties, + sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the sound of + lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny longed + intensely to know who the singer was; for her music cheered his solitude, + and the mysterious sounds he heard in the garden increased his wonder and + his longing day by day. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where are you?" and Johnny was sure + "Fay" was short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard talking in a + strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A little + dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, and some + elfish bird scolded, screamed, and laughed so like a human being, that + Johnny felt sure that magic of some sort was at work next door. + </p> + <p> + A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the wall as of flowers, and the + poor boy imagined untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he tended + the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she had time + to stop and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, and tried to make + them out of colored paper, since he could have no sweeter sort. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited his curiosity to such a pitch + that once he hobbled painfully up the court till he could see into the + trees; and once his eager eyes caught glimpses of a little creature, all + blue and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, + and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched his + hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and would + have fallen if he had not caught by the shutter of a window so quickly + that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and when he could look up again, + the fairy had vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the leaves dancing + in the wind. + </p> + <p> + Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a fall, and every step cost + him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat + staring at the wall on that memorable May day. + </p> + <p> + "How I <i>should</i> like to peek in and see just how it all really looks! + It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it must be + splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller what you see?" + </p> + <p> + Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white cat purred politely; for she + liked the boy who never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But + Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy hunting-ground below; + and, to console himself for the disappointment, Johnny went back to his + new picture. + </p> + <p> + "Now, if this man in the play dug his way out through a wall ten feet + thick with a rusty nail and a broken knife, I don't see why I couldn't + pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's a + good place, and nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the hole. And + I'll try it, I declare I will!" + </p> + <p> + Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on a small scale, Johnny caught + up the old scissors in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar around a + brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. His mother smiled at + his energy, then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces with a heavy + heart,-- + </p> + <p> + "Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he'd make his way in the world. + But now he's like to find a blank wall before him while he lives, and none + to help him over." + </p> + <p> + Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked on, wise as the cat in the + story, but offered no advice. The toad who lived behind the water-barrel + hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, like Jack waiting to + climb; and just then the noon bells began to ring as if they sang clear + and loud,-- + </p> + <p> + "Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." + </p> + <p> + So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped and dug vigorously till the old + brick fell out, showing another behind it. Only pausing to take breath, he + caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, which soon + cleared the way and let the sunshine stream through, while the wind tossed + the lilacs like triumphal banners, and the jolly sparrows chirped,-- + </p> + <p> + "Hail, the conquering hero comes!" + </p> + <p> + Rather scared by his unexpected success, the boy sat silent for a moment + to see what would happen. But all was still; and presently, with a beating + heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." He could + not see much; but that little increased his curiosity and delight, for it + seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the dust and noise and dingy + houses of the court. + </p> + <p> + A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay garments in the middle of a + grass-plot; a strange and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on a + golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the sun; and on a red carpet + under the trees lay the Princess, fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + "It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh of pleasure; "that's the + Sleeping Beauty, sure enough. There's the blue gown, the white fur-cloak + sweeping round, the pretty hair, and--yes--there's the old nurse, spinning + and nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother got me when I + cried because I couldn't go to see the play." + </p> + <p> + This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, and make him believe that + fairy tales <i>might</i> be true, after all, for how could he know that + the strange woman was an Italian servant, in her native dress, with a + distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took + another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A + basket of oranges stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung from a + limb of the tree to keep the wind off, and several books fluttered their + pictured leaves temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and read 'em and speak to 'em and + see all the splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked from one + delight to another, and felt shut out from all. "I can't go and wake her + like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, now I <i>can</i> + see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or holler, it might + scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows are too busy scolding one + another. I know! I'll fly a kite over, and that will please her any way. + Don't believe she has kites; girls never do." + </p> + <p> + Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a long string to his gayest + poster, and then fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished + in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh breezes blowing down the + court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with a strong + breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a moment on the + trees and then drop among the tulips, where its frantic struggles to + escape waked the dog, and set him to racing and barking, as Johnny + hurriedly let the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole. + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, and she clapped her hands + when Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, + with a long yawn, went away, carrying her distaff, like a gun, over her + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + "She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some more to send over. This will + come off, I'll poke it through, and maybe she will see it." + </p> + <p> + Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore from the wall his most cherished + picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he thrust it + through the hole and waited to see what followed. + </p> + <p> + Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer croak from the splendid bird, + which set the canaries to trilling sweetly. + </p> + <p> + "She don't see, maybe she will hear," said Johnny. And he began to whistle + like a mocking-bird; for this was his one accomplishment, and he was proud + of it. + </p> + <p> + Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter from the parrot, and then the + voice said,-- + </p> + <p> + "No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I wonder where he is? Among the + bushes over there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him." + </p> + <p> + "Now she's coming!" And Johnny grew red in the face trying to give his + best trills and chirrups. + </p> + <p> + Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs rustled as if shaken, and + presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and then the little voice + exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,-- + </p> + <p> + "Why, there's a hole! I never saw it before. Oh! I can see the street. How + nice! how nice!" + </p> + <p> + "She likes the hole! I wonder if she will like me?" And, emboldened by + these various successes, Johnny took another peep. This was the most + delicious one of all; for he looked right into a great blue eye, with + glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and red + lips below. It was like a flash of sunshine, and Johnny winked, as if + dazzled; for the eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the pretty + mouth broke into a laugh as the voice cried out delightedly,-- + </p> + <p> + "I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!" + </p> + <p> + "I'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite trembling with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + "Did you make this nice hole?" + </p> + <p> + "I just poked a brick, and it fell out." + </p> + <p> + "Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?" + </p> + <p> + "No; it's me. I whistled." + </p> + <p> + "It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded the voice, as if used to give + orders. + </p> + <p> + Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of breath, a small hand came + through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could hold, + and the Princess graciously expressed her pleasure by saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. Here are some flowers for + you. Now we will talk. Are you a nice boy?" + </p> + <p> + This was a poser; and Johnny answered meekly, with his nose luxuriously + buried in the lovely flowers,-- + </p> + <p> + "Not very,--I'm lame; I can't play like other fellers." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Porverino</i>!" sighed the little voice, full of pity; and, in a + moment, three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel + as if he really had slipped into fairy-land through that delightful hole. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, thank you! Aren't they just elegant? I never see such beauties," + stammered the poor boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they might + vanish away. + </p> + <p> + "You shall have as many as you like. Nanna will scold, but papa won't + mind. Tell me more. What do you do over there?" asked the child, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing but paste pictures and make books, when I don't ache too bad. I + used to help mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered + the boy, ashamed to mention how many laces he patiently picked or clapped, + since it was all he could do to help. + </p> + <p> + "If you like pictures, you shall come and see mine some day. I do a great + many. Papa shows me how. His are splendid. Do you draw or paint yours?" + </p> + <p> + "I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em on this wall or put 'em in + scrap-books. I can't draw, and I haven't got no paints," answered Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "You should say 'haven't any paints.' I will come and see you some day; + and if I like you, I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you want it?" + </p> + <p> + "Guess I do!" + </p> + <p> + "I think I <i>shall</i> like you; so I'll bring it when I come. Do you + ache much?" + </p> + <p> + "Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all day, and can't do a thing." + </p> + <p> + "Do you cry?" + </p> + <p> + "No! I'm too big for that. I whistle." + </p> + <p> + "I <i>know</i> I shall like you, because you are brave!" cried the + impetuous voice, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling + through the hole, as if the new acquaintance longed to do something to + help the "ache." + </p> + <p> + "Isn't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but mother can't afford 'em often." + And Johnny took one delicious taste on the spot. + </p> + <p> + "Then I shall give you many. We have loads at home, much finer than these. + Ah, you should see our garden there!" + </p> + <p> + "Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to ask; for there was a homesick + sound to the voice as it said those last words. + </p> + <p> + "In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while papa arranges his affairs; then + we go back, and I am happy." + </p> + <p> + "I should think you'd be happy in there. It looks real splendid to me, and + I've been longing to see it ever since I could come out." + </p> + <p> + "It's a dull place to me. I like better to be where it's always warm, and + people are more beautiful than here. Are <i>you</i> beautiful?" + </p> + <p> + "What queer questions she does ask!" And poor Johnny was so perplexed he + could only stammer, with a laugh,-- + </p> + <p> + "I guess not. Boys don't care for looks." + </p> + <p> + "Peep, and let me see. I like pretty persons," commanded the voice. + </p> + <p> + "Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as he obeyed. But he liked it, + and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay was + pleased to say, after a long look at him,-- + </p> + <p> + "No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are bright, and you look + pleasant, so I don't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness of + your face. I think you are good. I am sorry for you, and I shall lend you + a book to read when the pain comes." + </p> + <p> + "I couldn't wait for that if I had a book. I do <i>love</i> so to read!" + And Johnny laughed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; + for he seldom got one, being too poor to buy them, and too helpless to + enjoy the free libraries of the city. + </p> + <p> + "Then you shall have it <i>now</i>." And there was another quick rush in + the garden, followed by the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed + through the hole in the wall. + </p> + <p> + "This is the only one that will pass. You will like Hans Andersen's fairy + tales, I know. Keep it as long as you please. I have many more." + </p> + <p> + "You're so good! I wish I had something for you," said the boy, quite + overcome by this sweet friendliness. + </p> + <p> + "Let me see one of <i>your</i> books. They will be new to me. I'm tired of + all mine." + </p> + <p> + Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old boiler, and out came half- + a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to be crammed through the wall, with the + earnest request,-- + </p> + <p> + "Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, but they're the best I've got. + I'll do some prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice pictures and + pieces." + </p> + <p> + "They look very interesting. I thank you. I shall go and read them now, + and then come and talk again. Addio, Giovanni." + </p> + <p> + "Good-by, Miss." + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the first interview of little Pyramus and Thisbe through the + hole in the wall, while puss sat up above and played moonshine with her + yellow eyes. + </p> + <p> + PART II. + </p> + <p> + After that day a new life began for Johnny, and he flourished like a poor + little plant that has struggled out of some dark corner into the sunshine. + All sorts of delightful things happened, and good times really seemed to + have come. The mysterious papa made no objection to the liberties taken + with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad to have his + little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to see the new + neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the affliction of the boy and the + gentle manners of the mother. She brought all the curtains of the house + for Mrs. Morris to do up, and in her pretty broken English praised + Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring Fay to see him some day. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the little people prattled daily together, and all manner of + things came and went between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and bonbons kept + Johnny in a state of bliss, and inspired him with such brilliant + inventions that the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise would come + next. Astonishing kites flew over the wall, and tissue balloons exploded + in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in that court; + for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because she liked it. + The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin bank to buy paper + and pictures for the gay little books he made for her. His side of the + wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; and, as the last offering his + grateful heart could give, he poked the toad through the hole, to live + among the lilies and eat the flies that began to buzz about her Highness + when she came to give her orders to her devoted subjects. + </p> + <p> + She always called the lad Giovanni, because she thought it a prettier name + than John; and she was never tired of telling stories, asking questions, + and making plans. The favorite one was what they would do when Johnny came + to see her, as she had been promised he should when papa was not too busy + to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; for Fay was a true artist's + child, and thought nothing so lovely as pictures. Johnny thought so, too, + and dreamed of the happy day when he should go and see the wonders his + little friend described so well. + </p> + <p> + "I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a lazy fit coming on, and then + he always plays with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he goes + out or smokes in the garden. So be ready; and if he says you can come, I + will have the flag up early and you can hurry." + </p> + <p> + These agreeable remarks were breathed into Johnny's willing ear about a + fortnight after the acquaintance began; and he hastened to promise, adding + soberly, a minute after,-- + </p> + <p> + "Mother says she's afraid it will be too much for me to go around and up + steps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the pain + comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can only see the pictures--and + you." + </p> + <p> + "Won't you ever be any better? Nanna thinks you might." + </p> + <p> + "So does mother, if we had money to go away in the country, and eat nice + things; and have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use worrying." And + Johnny gave a great sigh. + </p> + <p> + "I wish papa was rich, then he would give you money. He works hard to make + enough to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but perhaps I can sell <i>my</i> + pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me sweets for + kisses; I will have money instead, and that will help. Yes, I shall do + it." And Fay clapped her hands decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you mind about it. I'm going to learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget + says he'll teach me. That doesn't need legs, and he gets enough to live on + very well." + </p> + <p> + "It isn't pretty work. Nanna can teach you to braid straw as she did at + home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says. I + shall speak to her about it, and you can try to-morrow when you come." + </p> + <p> + "I will. Do you really think I <i>can</i> come, then?" And Johnny stood up + to try his legs; for he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him. + </p> + <p> + "I will go at once and ask papa." + </p> + <p> + Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny + hobbling in to tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his only + jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes looked so shabby he feared to show + himself to the neighbors he so longed to see. + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah! I'm really going to-morrow. And you, too, mammy dear," cried the + boy, waving his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; I'm used to it. Pull me up, and I'll rest while we talk about + it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, where he + forgot his pain in thinking of the delights in store for him. + </p> + <p> + Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, and Fay early at the hole, + but no Johnny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she returned + with the sad news that the poor boy was suffering much, and would not be + able to stir for some days. + </p> + <p> + "Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly. + </p> + <p> + "Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, so damp, so poor, it is enough + to break the heart," said Nanna, decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "If papa was here, he would let me go. I shall not play; I shall sit here + and make some plans for my poor boy." + </p> + <p> + Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and went to cook a nice bowl of + soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was more + remarkable, carried it out. + </p> + <p> + For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay in pain, and for a week Fay + worked quietly at her little easel in the corner of the studio, while her + father put the last touches to his fine picture, too busy to take much + notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, and the + great picture was done. So were the small ones; for as her father sat + resting after his work, Fay went to him, with a tired but happy face, and, + putting several drawings into his hand, told her cherished plan. + </p> + <p> + "Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar for every good copy I made of + the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. I want some + money very, very much. Could you pay for these?" + </p> + <p> + "They are excellent," said the artist, after carefully looking at them. + "You <i>have</i> tried, my good child, and here are your well-earned + dollars. What do you want them for?" + </p> + <p> + "To help my boy. I want him to come in here and see the pictures, and let + Nanna teach him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you will like him, + and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three quarters the + friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would that be enough to send poor + Giovanni into the country and have doctors?" + </p> + <p> + No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this queer jumble, because, being + absorbed in his work, he had never heard half the child had told him, and + had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, studying + the effect of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while Fay told him the + little story, and begged to know how much money it would take to make + Johnny's back well. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would need more than I can spare or + you earn in a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what can + be done," answered papa, smoking comfortably, as he lay on the sofa in the + large studio at the top of the house. + </p> + <p> + "You say that about a great many things, papa. 'By and by' won't be long + enough to do all you promise then. I like <i>now</i> much better, and poor + Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I new frocks," + said Fay, stroking her father's tired forehead and looking at him with an + imploring face. + </p> + <p> + "My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in this soothing smoke I find + inspiration, and though you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so + wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy--later." He was going to say "by + and by" again, but paused just in time, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Then <i>I</i> shall take him to the country all myself. I cannot wait for + this hateful 'by and by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. Now, + now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with an indignant glance at the lazy + papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down many + stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna and scattering the salad as + if a whirlwind had gone by, and never paused for breath till she stood + before the garden wall with a little hatchet in her hand. + </p> + <p> + "This shall be the country for him till I get enough money to send him + away. I will show what <i>I</i> can do. He pulled out two bricks. <i>I</i> + will beat down the wall, and he <i>shall</i> come in at once," panted Fay; + and she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without + delay,--for she was an impetuous little creature, full of love and pity + for the poor boy pining for the fresh air and sunshine, of which she had + so much. + </p> + <p> + Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down came one brick after + another, till the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head + through; and being breathless by that time, she paused to rest and take a + look at Johnny's court. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her lettuce leaves and her wits, went to + see what the child was about; and finding her at work like a little fury, + the old woman hurried up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that his little + daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself under the ruins + of the wall. This report, delivered with groans and wringing of the hands, + roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, as he well knew that his + angel was a very energetic one, and capable of great destruction. + </p> + <p> + When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, a pile of bricks among the + lilies, and the feet of his child sticking out of a large hole in the + wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, + yet fearful that the stone coping might come down on her, he pulled her + back with the assurance that he would listen and help her now immediately, + if there was such need of haste. + </p> + <p> + But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; for it was bathed in tears, her + hands were bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot. + </p> + <p> + "My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, and he will do anything you + wish." + </p> + <p> + "No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' and now that I have seen it + all, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, look, + and see if it is not sad to live there all in pain and darkness, and so + poor." + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward the hole; and to please her he + looked, seeing the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and close by the + low room, where Johnny's mother worked all day, while the poor boy's pale + face was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for deliverance. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, it <i>is</i> a pitiful case; and easily mended, since Fay is + so eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says, and nothing catching + about his illness. Nanna can tell me." + </p> + <p> + Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay to the seat, took her on his + knee, all flushed, dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by saying + tenderly,-- + </p> + <p> + "Now let me hear all about it, and be sure I'll not forget. What shall I + do to please you, dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?" + </p> + <p> + Then Fay told her tale all over again; and being no longer busy, her + father found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking + into his, and the wounded hands clasped beseechingly as she pleaded for + poor Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "God bless your tender heart, child; you shall have him in here to-morrow, + and we will see what can be done for those pathetic legs of his. But + listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a grand + surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to show you + that I am in earnest, I will go this instant and begin the work. Come and + wash your face while I get on my boots, and then we will go together." + </p> + <p> + At these words Fay threw her arms about papa's neck and gave him many + grateful kisses, stopping in the midst to ask,-- + </p> + <p> + "Truly, <i>now</i>?" + </p> + <p> + "See if it is not so." And putting her down, papa went off with great + strides, while she ran laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by + this agreeable energy on his part. + </p> + <p> + If Johnny had not been asleep in the back room, he would have seen strange + and pleasant sights that afternoon and evening; for something went on in + the court that delighted his mother, amused the artist, and made Fay the + happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next day, that + Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat up till + eleven to get his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had been to see + her, and became interested in the boy, as no one could help being when + they saw his patient little face. + </p> + <p> + So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels dug, and wonderful changes were + made, while Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent upon some + pretty prank, and papa quoted <i>Snout</i>, [<a href="#f1">1</a>] the + tinker's parting words, as appropriate to the hour,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Thus have I, wall, my part dischargèd so;<br /> And, + being done, thus wall away doth go." + </p> + <p> + <a id="f1">1.</a> A character in Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's + Dream."] + </p> + <p> + PART III. + </p> + <p> + A lovely Sunday morning dawned without a cloud; and even in the dingy + court the May sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes blew freshly + from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much + better, his mother consented, helping him to dress with such a bright face + and eager hands that the boy said innocently,-- + </p> + <p> + "How glad you are when I get over a bad turn! I don't know what you'd do + if I ever got well." + </p> + <p> + "My poor dear, I begin to think you <i>will</i> pick up, now the good + weather has come and you have got a little friend to play with. God bless + her!" + </p> + <p> + Why his mother should suddenly hug him tight, and then brush his hair so + carefully, with tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was in such + a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hobble away to + see how his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a joyful "peek" at + the enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it was well she did; for he nearly + tumbled down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old familiar + wall after the good fairies Love and Pity had worked their pretty miracle + in the moonlight. + </p> + <p> + The ragged hole had changed to a little arched door, painted red. On + either side stood a green tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; from + the arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; and before the threshold + lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a childish hand. As + soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this splendid + transformation scene, Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft cushion had + been placed, and read his note, with little sighs of rapture at the + charming prospect opening before him. + </p> + <p> + DEAR GIOVANNI,--Papa has made this nice gate, so + you can come<br /> in when you like and not be + tired. We are to have two keys, and no one<br /> else + can open it. A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and<br /> + we can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. + Papa did it,<br /> and the men put up the door last + night. I helped them, and did not go<br /> in my + bed till ten. It was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like<br /> + it. Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready. + </p> + <p> + Your friend, + </p> + <p> + FAY. + </p> + <p> + "Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all that, mustn't she?" said + Johnny, leaning back to look at the dear door behind which lay such + happiness for him. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good fairy, and I just wish I + could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed little life," + answered Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor. + </p> + <p> + "You shall! you shall! Do come in! I cannot wait another minute!" cried an + eager little voice as the red door flew open; and there stood Fay, looking + very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of spring flowers + on her pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, while the brilliant + bird sat on her shoulder, and the little white dog danced about her feet. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "So she bids you to come in,<br /> With a dimple + in your chin,<br /> Billy boy, Billy boy," + </p> + <p> + sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked that song; and waving her + wand, she went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed + under the blooming arch into a new world, full of sunshine, liberty, and + sweet companionship. + </p> + <p> + Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot that happy day, for it was the + beginning of help and hope to both just when life seemed hardest and the + future looked darkest. + </p> + <p> + Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at the little party as they sat + under the chestnuts, Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden to their + guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor mother folded her + tired hands with unutterable content, and the boy looked like a happy soul + in heaven. + </p> + <p> + Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of bells and the feet of church- + goers, brooded over the city; sunshine made golden shadows on the grass; + the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods; and every flower + seemed to nod and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate to their lovely + home. + </p> + <p> + While the women talked together, Fay led Johnny up and down her little + world, showing all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the seats + that stood all about, and amusing him immensely by relating the various + fanciful plays with which she beguiled her loneliness. + </p> + <p> + "Now we can have much nicer ones; for you will tell me yours, and we can + do great things," she said, when she had displayed her big rocking-horse, + her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, where a fleet of toy boats lay at + anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land under the lilacs, + with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, that tossed one high + up among the green boughs, and the basket of white kittens, where Topaz, + the yellow-eyed cat, now purred with maternal pride. Books were piled on + the rustic table, and all the pictures Fay thought worthy to be seen. + </p> + <p> + Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the visitors could remember it was + noon and tear themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and oranges Johnny + never ate before; such delightful little tarts and Italian messes of + various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because served + in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee that + perfumed the air put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved herself + that the boy might be fed; and he drank milk till Nanna said, laughing, as + she refilled the pitcher,-- + </p> + <p> + "He takes more than both the blessed lambs we used to feed for Saint Agnes + in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear child, to the + best we have; for he is as innocent and helpless as they." + </p> + <p> + "What does she mean?" whispered Johnny to Fay, rather abashed at having + forgotten his manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls of good milk + had given him. + </p> + <p> + So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, Fay told the pretty story + of the lambs who are dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied to their + snowy wool, and then raised with care till their fleeces are shorn to make + garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child thought, and went + on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's head was filled with a + splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint Peter's and apple-tarts, + holy lambs and red doors, ancient images and dear little girls, were + delightfully mixed. It all seemed like a fairy tale, and nothing was too + wonderful or lovely to happen on that memorable day. + </p> + <p> + So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding it impossible to keep away + from the happy little party any longer, Johnny decided at once that the + handsome man in the velvet coat was the king of the enchanted land, and + gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved to be; + for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on storming + the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny off, and catching him up, strode + away with the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the little girl danced + before to open doors and clear the way. + </p> + <p> + Johnny thought he couldn't be surprised any more; but when he had mounted + many stairs and found himself in a great room with a glass roof, full of + rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and pictures everywhere, he + just sat in the big chair where he was placed, and stared in silent + delight. + </p> + <p> + "This is papa's studio, and that the famous picture, and here is where I + work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said Fay, + skipping about to do the honors of the place. + </p> + <p> + "I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," answered Johnny, in a low tone, + as his eyes went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the windows to the + great sunny picture of a Roman garden, with pretty children at play among + the crumbling statues and fountains. + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad you like it, for we mean to have you come here a great deal. I + sit to papa very often, and get <i>so</i> tired; and you can talk to me, + and then you can see me draw and model in clay, and then we'll go in the + garden, and Nanna will show you how to make baskets, and <i>then</i> we'll + play." + </p> + <p> + Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming prospect, and for an hour + explored the mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and papa for an + amused spectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay had so + harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. He + assented to every plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to help these + poor neighbors; for he had a kind heart, and loved his little daughter + even more than his art. + </p> + <p> + When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to call Johnny away, he went + without a word, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining + with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, hungry for just such + pleasures, and never fed before. + </p> + <p> + After that day everything went smoothly, and both children blossomed like + the flowers in that pleasant garden, where the magic of love and pity, + fresh air and sunshine, soon worked miracles. Fay learned patience and + gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food Nanna + gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent very + happy days working and playing, sometimes under the trees, where the + pretty baskets were made, or in the studio, where both pairs of small + hands modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing pictures with + the artist's old brushes and discarded canvases. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in the house, and did up Fay's + frocks so daintily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her + head shone out from the fluted frills, like the yellow middle of a daisy + with its white petals all spread. + </p> + <p> + As he watched the children playing together, the artist, having no great + work in hand, made several pretty sketches of them, and then had a fine + idea of painting the garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It + pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made a + charming thing of it, putting in the cat, dog, bird, and toad as the + various characters in Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were the + elves, peeping and listening in all manner of merry, pretty ways. + </p> + <p> + He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," and it so pleased a certain rich + lady that she paid a large price for it; and then, discovering that it + told a true story, she generously added enough to send Johnny and his + mother to the country, when Fay and her father were ready to go. + </p> + <p> + But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had ever read of in his fairy + books, and to a happier life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In the + autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in sunny + Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint with a kind + master and a faithful young friend, who always rejoiced that she found and + delivered him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar214.jpg"><img src="images/lar214th.jpg" + alt="She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and eating." /></a> + <br /> <i>She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and eating.</i> + <br /> <a href="images/lar214.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a id="x">X.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE PIGGY GIRL. + </h3> + <p> + "I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" screamed little Betty, kicking and + slapping the maid who undressed her one night. + </p> + <p> + "You'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty child," said Maria, + scrubbing away at two very grubby hands. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I could! I love to be dirty,--I <i>will</i> be dirty!" roared + Betty, throwing the sponge out of the window and the soap under the table. + </p> + <p> + Maria could do nothing with her; so she bundled her into bed half wiped, + telling her to go to sleep right away. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's pigs, and have nothing to + do but eat and sleep, and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed any + more," said Betty to herself. + </p> + <p> + She lay thinking about it and blinking at the moon for a while; then she + got up very softly, and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, to + the sty where two nice little pigs were fast asleep among the straw in + their small house. They only grunted when Betty crept into a corner, + laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy and live here with no Maria + to wash her and no careful mamma to keep saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "Put on a clean apron, dear!" + </p> + <p> + Next morning she was waked up by hearing Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the + trough. She lay very still till the woman was gone; then she crept out and + drank all she wanted, and took the best bits of cold potato and bread for + her breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till she was done. While + they ate and rooted in the dirt, Betty slept as long as she liked, with no + school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She liked it, and kept hidden till + night; then she went home, and opened the little window in the store + closet, and got in and took as many good things to eat and carry away as + she liked. She had a fine walk in her nightgown, and saw the flowers + asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the nest, and watched the + fireflies and moths at their pretty play. No one saw her but the cats; and + they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in the moonlight, and had + great fun. + </p> + <p> + When she was tired she went to sleep with the pigs, and dozed all the next + day, only coming out to eat and drink when the milk was brought and the + cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good care of her pigs, and gave them + clean straw often, and kept them as nice as she could. + </p> + <p> + Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and soon looked more like a pig + than a little girl; for her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never + combed, her face was never washed, and she loved to dig in the mud till + her hands looked like paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as the + pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, and squealed when they + crowded her, and quarrelled over the food, eating with her nose in the + trough like a real pig. At first she used to play about at night, and + steal things to eat; and people set traps to catch the thief in their + gardens, and the cook in her own house scolded about the rats that carried + off the cake and pies out of her pantry. But by and by she got too lazy + and fat to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and never left the + sty. She went on her hands and knees now, and began to wonder if a little + tail wouldn't grow and her nose change to a snout. + </p> + <p> + All summer she played be a pig, and thought it good fun; but when the + autumn came it was cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel + nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and began to wish she had a + fire to sit by and good buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go + home, and wondered what she should do after this silly frolic. She asked + the pigs how they managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she could + not remember what became of them, for the sty was always empty in cold + weather. + </p> + <p> + One dreadful night she found out. She was smuggled down between the great + fat piggies to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she was trying to + pull the straw over them when she heard Mr. Gleason say to his boy,-- + </p> + <p> + "We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They are fat enough; so come and help + me sharpen the big knife." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear, what will become of <i>me</i>?" thought Betty, as she heard the + grindstone go round and round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I + look so like a pig they will kill me too, and make me into sausages if I + don't run away. I'm tired of playing piggy, and I'd rather be washed a + hundred times a day than be put in a pork barrel." + </p> + <p> + So she lay trembling till morning; then she ran through the garden and + found the back door open. It was very early, and no one saw her, for the + cook was in the shed getting wood to make her fire; so Betty slipped + upstairs to the nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when she saw in + the glass an ugly black creature, all rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, + and a little round nose covered with mud. + </p> + <p> + "Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I am!" And she could not spoil her + nice white bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good scrubbing. Next + she got a clean nightgown, and brushed her hair, and cut her long nails, + and looked like a tidy little girl again. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the pink cover and the lace + curtains, and fell fast asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft blankets, + and her own little pillow once more. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "Come, darling, wake up and see the new frock I have got for you, and the + nice ruffled apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the cousins are coming + to dinner," said her mamma, with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek. + </p> + <p> + Betty started up, screaming,-- + </p> + <p> + "Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I'm not a truly pig, I'm a little girl; + and if you'll let me run home, I'll never fret when I'm washed again." + </p> + <p> + "What is the dear child afraid of?" said mamma, cuddling her close, and + laughing to see Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the stuffy + sty. + </p> + <p> + She told her mother all about the queer time she had had, and was much + surprised to hear mamma say,-- + </p> + <p> + "It was all a dream, dear; you have been safely asleep in your little bed + ever since you slapped poor Maria last night." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made me love to be clean. Come, + Maria, soap and scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and scream ever + any more," cried Betty, skipping about, glad to be safe in her pleasant + home and no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl. + </p> + <p> + The Louisa Alcott Reader, by Louisa M. Alcott + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Louisa Alcott Reader, by Louisa M. Alcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Louisa Alcott Reader + A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School + +Author: Louisa M. Alcott + + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7425] +This file was first posted on April 28, 2003 +Last Updated: May 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER *** + + + + +Text file produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER + </h1> + <h3> + <i>A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School</i> + </h3> + <h2> + By Louisa M. Alcott + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="middle"> + <p> + {Illustration: "Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the + little tree."} <b><i>There are no illustrations in this version.</i></b> + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: She actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."} + </p> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II. THE CANDY COUNTRY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III. NAUGHTY JOCKO. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> V. COCKYLOO. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VIII. THE FAIRY BOX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_PART"> PART I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_PART2"> PART II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_PART3"> PART III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> X. THE PIGGY GIRL. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. + </h2> + <p> + "I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" + exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching her + mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be given. + </p> + <p> + "Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! You are as bad as old Scrooge; + and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, if you + don't care for dear Christmas," answered mamma, almost dropping the silver + horn she was filling with delicious candies. + </p> + <p> + "Who was Scrooge? What happened to him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of + interest in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest lemon-drop + she could find; for nothing sweet suited her just then. + </p> + <p> + "He was one of Dickens's best people, and you can read the charming story + some day. He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how dear and + beautiful it was, and made a better man of him." + </p> + <p> + "I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have a great many curious ones + myself. But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," said Effie, + poking discontentedly among the sweeties for something worth eating. + </p> + <p> + "Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" + asked mamma, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the same, + and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of goodies + in my stocking. Don't like some of them, and soon get tired of those I do + like. We always have a great dinner, and I eat too much, and feel ill next + day. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll on top, or a + stupid old Santa Claus, and children dancing and screaming over bonbons + and toys that break, and shiny things that are of no use. Really, mamma, + I've had so many Christmases all alike that I don't think I <i>can</i> + bear another one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as if the mere + idea was too much for her. + </p> + <p> + Her mother laughed at her despair, but was sorry to see her little girl so + discontented, when she had everything to make her happy, and had known but + ten Christmas days. + </p> + <p> + "Suppose we don't give you <i>any</i> presents at all,—how would + that suit you?" asked mamma, anxious to please her spoiled child. + </p> + <p> + "I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, to + remember some very nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful little + body, full of odd whims and notions, which her friends loved to gratify, + regardless of time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of three + little girls, and very dear to all the family. + </p> + <p> + "Well, my darling, I will see what I can do to please you, and not say a + word until all is ready. If I could only get a new idea to start with!" + And mamma went on tying up her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, + while Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain that kept her + in-doors and made her dismal. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones. I can't go + out, and there is a girl about my age splashing along, without any maid to + fuss about rubbers and cloaks and umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a + beggar-girl." + </p> + <p> + "Would you like to be hungry, cold, and ragged, to beg all day, and sleep + on an ash-heap at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would come next. + </p> + <p> + "Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the end. This girl out here has a + basket of scraps on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, and + doesn't seem to care a bit, though the water runs out of the toes of her + boots. She goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and eating a cold + potato as if it tasted nicer than the chicken and ice-cream I had for + dinner. Yes, I do think poor children are happier than rich ones." + </p> + <p> + "So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum today I saw two dozen merry + little souls who have no parents, no home, and no hope of Christmas beyond + a stick of candy or a cake. I wish you had been there to see how happy + they were, playing with the old toys some richer children had sent them." + </p> + <p> + "You may give them all mine; I'm so tired of them I never want to see them + again," said Effie, turning from the window to the pretty baby-house full + of everything a child's heart could desire. + </p> + <p> + "I will, and let you begin again with something you will not tire of, if I + can only find it." And mamma knit her brows trying to discover some grand + surprise for this child who didn't care for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Nothing more was said then; and wandering off to the library, Effie found + "A Christmas Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, read it + all before tea. Some of it she did not understand; but she laughed and + cried over many parts of the charming story, and felt better without + knowing why. + </p> + <p> + All the evening she thought of poor Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the + pudding, and the stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that "his legs + twinkled in the air." Presently bedtime arrived. + </p> + <p> + "Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's nurse, "while I do your + pretty hair and tell stories." + </p> + <p> + "I'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very interesting one," commanded + Effie, as she put on her blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers + to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed. + </p> + <p> + So Nursey told her best tales; and when at last the child lay down under + her lace curtains, her head was full of a curious jumble of Christmas + elves, poor children, snow-storms, sugarplums, and surprises. So it is no + wonder that she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, which she never + quite forgot. + </p> + <p> + She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, all + alone. The snow was falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and night was + coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and tired, and did not know where to go + nor what to do. + </p> + <p> + "I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it, and + wish somebody would come and take care of me. I don't know who I am, and I + think I must be lost," thought Effie, with the curious interest one takes + in one's self in dreams. + </p> + <p> + But the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she felt. Faster + fell the snow, colder blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor Effie + made up her mind that she was quite forgotten and left to freeze alone. + The tears were chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, and her + heart died within her, so hungry, frightened, and forlorn was she. Laying + her head on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and sat there with + the great flakes fast turning her to a little white mound, when suddenly + the sound of music reached her, and starting up, she looked and listened + with all her eyes and ears. + </p> + <p> + Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was heard singing. She tried to + run toward the welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood like a small + statue of expectation while the light drew nearer, and the sweet words of + the song grew clearer. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + From our happy home + Through the world we roam + One week in all the year, + Making winter spring + With the joy we bring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Now the eastern star + Shines from afar + To light the poorest home; + Hearts warmer grow, + Gifts freely flow, + For Christmas-tide has come. + + Now gay trees rise + Before young eyes, + Abloom with tempting cheer; + Blithe voices sing, + And blithe bells ring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Oh, happy chime, + Oh, blessed time, + That draws us all so near! + "Welcome, dear day," + All creatures say, + For Christmas-tide is here. +</pre> + <p> + A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried the little candle; and in the + circle of soft light it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her + through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling creature, wrapped in white + fur, with a wreath of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, the + magic candle in one hand, and the other outstretched as if to shower gifts + and warmly press all other hands. + </p> + <p> + Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision came nearer, leaving no trace + of footsteps in the snow, only lighting the way with its little candle, + and filling the air with the music of its song. + </p> + <p> + "Dear child, you are lost, and I have come to find you," said the + stranger, taking Effie's cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, + while every holly berry glowed like a little fire. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no fear, but a great gladness, at + his coming. + </p> + <p> + "I know all children, and go to find them; for this is my holiday, and I + gather them from all parts of the world to be merry with me once a year." + </p> + <p> + "Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking for the wings. + </p> + <p> + "No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with my mates in a pleasant place, + getting ready for our holiday, when we are let out to roam about the + world, helping make this a happy time for all who will let us in. Will you + come and see how we work?" + </p> + <p> + "I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave me again," cried Effie, gladly. + </p> + <p> + "First I will make you comfortable. That is what we love to do. You are + cold, and you shall be warm, hungry, and I will feed you; sorrowful, and I + will make you gay." + </p> + <p> + With a wave of his candle all three miracles were wrought,—for the + snow-flakes turned to a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and + shoulders, a bowl of hot soup came sailing to her lips, and vanished when + she had eagerly drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal field changed + to a new world so full of wonders that all her troubles were forgotten in + a minute. + </p> + <p> + Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard to keep from dancing. Green + garlands hung on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree full of + toys, and blazing with candles that never went out. + </p> + <p> + In one place many little spirits sewed like mad on warm clothes, turning + off work faster than any sewing-machine ever invented, and great piles + were made ready to be sent to poor people. Other busy creatures packed + money into purses, and wrote checks which they sent flying away on the + wind,—a lovely kind of snow-storm to fall into a world below full of + poverty. + </p> + <p> + Older and graver spirits were looking over piles of little books, in which + the records of the past year were kept, telling how different people had + spent it, and what sort of gifts they deserved. Some got peace, some + disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great joy and hope. The rich + had generous thoughts sent them; the poor, gratitude and contentment. + Children had more love and duty to parents; and parents renewed patience, + wisdom, and satisfaction for and in their children. No one was forgotten. + </p> + <p> + "Please tell me what splendid place this is?" asked Effie, as soon as she + could collect her wits after the first look at all these astonishing + things. + </p> + <p> + "This is the Christmas world; and here we work all the year round, never + tired of getting ready for the happy day. See, these are the saints just + setting off; for some have far to go, and the children must not be + disappointed." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, out of which four great + sleighs were just driving, laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa Claus + sat in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and tucking up his wraps + for a long cold drive. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a humbug," + cried Effie, astonished at the sight. + </p> + <p> + "Never give up your faith in the sweet old stones, even after you come to + see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth." + </p> + <p> + Just then the sleighs went off with a great jingling of bells and + pattering of reindeer hoofs, while all the spirits gave a cheer that was + heard in the lower world, where people said, "Hear the stars sing." + </p> + <p> + "I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus again. Now, show me more." + </p> + <p> + "You will like to see this place, I think, and may learn something here + perhaps" + </p> + <p> + The spirit smiled as he led the way to a little door, through which Effie + peeped into a world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, with dolls + of all sorts going on like live people. Waxen ladies sat in their parlors + elegantly dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; nurses walked out + with the bits of dollies; and the streets were full of tin soldiers + marching, wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, and little men + hurrying to and fro. Shops were there, and tiny people buying legs of + mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and everything dolls use or wear + or want. + </p> + <p> + But presently she saw that in some ways the dolls improved upon the + manners and customs of human beings, and she watched eagerly to learn why + they did these things. A fine Paris doll driving in her carriage took up a + black worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a basket of clean clothes, + and carried her to her journey's end, as if it were the proper thing to + do. Another interesting china lady took off her comfortable red cloak and + put it round a poor wooden creature done up in a paper shift, and so badly + painted that its face would have sent some babies into fits. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who didn't give her things to poor + girls. I wish I could remember who she was, and tell her to be as kind as + that china doll," said Effie, much touched at the sweet way the pretty + creature wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in her little gray + gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a wooden platter for her invalid + mother's dinner. + </p> + <p> + "We recall these things to people's minds by dreams. I think the girl you + speak of won't forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he enjoyed + some joke which she did not see. + </p> + <p> + A little bell rang as she looked, and away scampered the children into the + red-and-green school-house with the roof that lifted up, so one could see + how nicely they sat at their desks with mites of books, or drew on the + inch-square blackboards with crumbs of chalk. + </p> + <p> + "They know their lessons very well, and are as still as mice. We make a + great racket at our school, and get bad marks every day. I shall tell the + girls they had better mind what they do, or their dolls will be better + scholars than they are," said Effie, much impressed, as she peeped in and + saw no rod in the hand of the little mistress, who looked up and shook her + head at the intruder, as if begging her to go away before the order of the + school was disturbed. + </p> + <p> + Effie retired at once, but could not resist one look in at the window of a + fine mansion, where the family were at dinner, the children behaved so + well at table, and never grumbled a bit when their mamma said they could + not have any more fruit. + </p> + <p> + "Now, show me something else," she said, as they came again to the low + door that led out of Doll-land. + </p> + <p> + "You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; let me show you where we love + best to send our good and happy gifts," answered the spirit, giving her + his hand again. + </p> + <p> + "I know. I've seen ever so many," began Effie, thinking of her own + Christmases. + </p> + <p> + "No, you have never seen what I will show you. Come away, and remember + what you see to-night." + </p> + <p> + Like a flash that bright world vanished, and Effie found herself in a part + of the city she had never seen before. It was far away from the gayer + places, where every store was brilliant with lights and full of pretty + things, and every house wore a festival air, while people hurried to and + fro with merry greetings. It was down among the dingy streets where the + poor lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, longing to buy meat and bread, + but empty pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in the + bar-rooms; and in many cold dark chambers little children huddled under + the thin blankets, trying to forget their misery in sleep. + </p> + <p> + No nice dinners filled the air with savory smells, no gay trees dropped + toys and bonbons into eager hands, no little stockings hung in rows beside + the chimney-piece ready to be filled, no happy sounds of music, gay + voices, and dancing feet were heard; and there were no signs of Christmas + anywhere. + </p> + <p> + "Don't they have any in this place?" asked Effie, shivering, as she held + fast the spirit's hand, following where he led her. + </p> + <p> + "We come to bring it. Let me show you our best workers." And the spirit + pointed to some sweet-faced men and women who came stealing into the poor + houses, working such beautiful miracles that Effie could only stand and + watch. + </p> + <p> + Some slipped money into the empty pockets, and sent the happy mothers to + buy all the comforts they needed; others led the drunken men out of + temptation, and took them home to find safer pleasures there. Fires were + kindled on cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and warm clothes + wrapped round shivering limbs. Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers of + the sick; old people found themselves remembered; sad hearts were consoled + by a tender word, and wicked ones softened by the story of Him who forgave + all sin. + </p> + <p> + But the sweetest work was for the children; and Effie held her breath to + watch these human fairies hang up and fill the little stockings without + which a child's Christmas is not perfect, putting in things that once she + would have thought very humble presents, but which now seemed beautiful + and precious because these poor babies had nothing. + </p> + <p> + "That is so beautiful! I wish I could make merry Christmases as these good + people do, and be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, softly, as + she watched the busy men and women do their work and steal away without + thinking of any reward but their own satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + "You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how happy + your own holiday will be hereafter." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his arms about her, and vanished + with a kiss. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, trying to hold him fast. + </p> + <p> + "Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are smiling in your sleep," said a + voice in her ear; and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending over her, + and morning sunshine streaming into the room. + </p> + <p> + "Are they all gone? Did you hear the bells? Wasn't it splendid?" she + asked, rubbing her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty child who + was so real and sweet. + </p> + <p> + "You have been dreaming at a great rate,—talking in your sleep, + laughing, and clapping your hands as if you were cheering some one. Tell + me what was so splendid," said mamma, smoothing the tumbled hair and + lifting up the sleepy head. + </p> + <p> + Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told her dream, and Nursey + thought it very wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously things + the child had thought, read, heard, and seen through the day were mixed up + in her sleep. + </p> + <p> + "The spirit said I could work lovely miracles if I tried; but I don't know + how to begin, for I have no magic candle to make feasts appear, and light + up groves of Christmas trees, as he did," said Effie, sorrowfully. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do it!" And clapping her hands, + mamma suddenly began to dance all over the room as if she had lost her + wits. + </p> + <p> + "How? how? You must tell me, mamma," cried Effie, dancing after her, and + ready to believe anything possible when she remembered the adventures of + the past night. + </p> + <p> + "I've got it! I've got it!—the new idea. A splendid one, if I can + only carry it out!" And mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls + flew wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as if she would die. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie. "No, no; it is a surprise,—a + grand surprise for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently charmed with her + happy thought. "Now, come to breakfast; for we must work like bees if we + want to play spirits tomorrow. You and Nursey will go out shopping, and + get heaps of things, while I arrange matters behind the scenes." + </p> + <p> + They were running downstairs as mamma spoke, and Effie called out + breathlessly,— + </p> + <p> + "It won't be a surprise; for I know you are going to ask some poor + children here, and have a tree or something. It won't be like my dream; + for they had ever so many trees, and more children than we can find + anywhere." + </p> + <p> + "There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and no + presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed at Effie's + bewildered face. + </p> + <p> + "Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't ask any questions, so it + will all burst upon me when the time comes," she said; and she ate her + breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be a new sort of Christmas. + </p> + <p> + All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey in and out of shops, buying + dozens of barking dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny tea-sets, + gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, dolls and candy. Parcel after parcel + was sent home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace of them, though + she peeped everywhere. Nursey chuckled, but wouldn't give a hint, and went + out again in the afternoon with a long list of more things to buy; while + Effie wandered forlornly about the house, missing the usual merry stir + that went before the Christmas dinner and the evening fun. + </p> + <p> + As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, and came in at night so + tired that she could only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some very + pleasant thought made her happy in spite of weariness. + </p> + <p> + "Is the surprise going on all right?" asked Effie, anxiously; for it + seemed an immense time to wait till another evening came. + </p> + <p> + "Beautifully! better than I expected; for several of my good friends are + helping, or I couldn't have done it as I wish. I know you will like it, + dear, and long remember this new way of making Christmas merry." + </p> + <p> + Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie went to bed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + The next day was a very strange one; for when she woke there was no + stocking to examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one said "Merry + Christmas!" to her, and the dinner was just as usual to her. Mamma + vanished again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and saying: "The dear + things! It's the prettiest idea I ever heard of. No one but your blessed + ma could have done it." + </p> + <p> + "Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because I don't know the secret!" + cried Effie, more than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, for at + seven in the evening the surprise was to come off. + </p> + <p> + The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the child was too excited to ask + questions when Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her to the carriage, + and they drove away, leaving their house the one dark and silent one in + the row. + </p> + <p> + "I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are led off to strange + places and see fine things," said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled + through the gay streets. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my deary, it <i>is</i> like a fairy tale, I do assure you, and you <i>will</i> + see finer things than most children will tonight. Steady, now, and do just + as I tell you, and don't say one word whatever you see," answered Nursey, + quite quivering with excitement as she patted a large box in her lap, and + nodded and laughed with twinkling eyes. + </p> + <p> + They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was led through a back door to a + little room, where Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her cloak + and hood, but her dress and shoes also. Effie stared and bit her lips, but + kept still until out of the box came a little white fur coat and boots, a + wreath of holly leaves and berries, and a candle with a frill of gold + paper round it. A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she was dressed + and saw herself in the glass, she started back, exclaiming, "Why, Nursey, + I look like the spirit in my dream!" + </p> + <p> + "So you do; and that's the part you are to play, my pretty! Now whist, + while I blind your eyes and put you in your place." + </p> + <p> + "Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of wonder; for as they went out + she heard the sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, and, in spite + of the bandage, was sure a great light shone upon her when she stopped. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be; I shall stand close by, and your ma will be there." + </p> + <p> + After the handkerchief was tied about her eyes, Nurse led Effie up some + steps, and placed her on a high platform, where something like leaves + touched her head, and the soft snap of lamps seemed to fill the air. + </p> + <p> + Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her hands, the voices outside sounded + nearer, and the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs. + </p> + <p> + "Now, my precious, look and see how you and your dear ma have made a merry + Christmas for them that needed it!" + </p> + <p> + Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie really did think she was + asleep again, for she actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," all + gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on a side, in two rows down the + room, stood the little pines, each on its low table; and behind Effie a + taller one rose to the roof, hung with wreaths of popcorn, apples, + oranges, horns of candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary hearts to + gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees she saw many of her own discarded + toys and those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that seemed to have rained + down straight from that delightful Christmas country where she felt as if + she was again. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid! Who is it for? What is that noise? Where is mamma?" cried + Effie, pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood looking down the + brilliant little street from her high place. + </p> + <p> + Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the lower end flew open, and in + marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly, + until amazement changed the song to cries of joy and wonder as the shining + spectacle appeared. While they stood staring with round eyes at the + wilderness of pretty things about them, mamma stepped up beside Effie, and + holding her hand fast to give her courage, told the story of the dream in + a few simple words, ending in this way:— + </p> + <p> + "So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas spirit too, and make this a + happy day for those who had not as many pleasures and comforts as she has. + She likes surprises, and we planned this for you all. She shall play the + good fairy, and give each of you something from this tree, after which + every one will find her own name on a small tree, and can go to enjoy it + in her own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill your hands." + </p> + <p> + Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands were clapped heartily before + a single child stirred; then one by one they came to look up wonderingly + at the pretty giver of the feast as she leaned down to offer them great + yellow oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, and cakes, till + all were gone, and a double row of smiling faces turned toward her as the + children filed back to their places in the orderly way they had been + taught. + </p> + <p> + Then each was led to her own tree by the good ladies who had helped mamma + with all their hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would have + satisfied even Santa Claus himself,—shrieks of joy, dances of + delight, laughter and tears (for some tender little things could not bear + so much pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths full of candy and hands + full of toys). How they ran to show one another the new treasures! how + they peeped and tasted, pulled and pinched, until the air was full of + queer noises, the floor covered with papers, and the little trees left + bare of all but candles! + </p> + <p> + "I don't think heaven can be any gooder than this," sighed one small girl, + as she looked about her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron with + one hand, while she luxuriously carried sugar-plums to her mouth with the + other. + </p> + <p> + "Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, fascinated by the little + white figure with the wreath on its shining hair, who in some mysterious + way had been the cause of all this merry-making. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this splendid party," said a lame + child, leaning on her crutch, as she stood near the steps, wondering how + it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing, while she watched + the happy scene before her. + </p> + <p> + Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms about + the pale child, kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, "You may; + but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed about it." + </p> + <p> + Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was embracing her, and could only + stammer out her thanks, while the other children ran to see the pretty + spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she stood in a crowd of blue gowns + laughing as they held up their gifts for her to see and admire. + </p> + <p> + Mamma leaned down and whispered one word to the older girls; and suddenly + they all took hands to dance round Effie, singing as they skipped. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found it hard to break up the happy + revel; but it was late for small people, and too much fun is a mistake. So + the girls fell into line, and marched before Effie and mamma again, to say + goodnight with such grateful little faces that the eyes of those who + looked grew dim with tears. Mamma kissed every one; and many a hungry + childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender lips was their best + gift. Effie shook so many small hands that her own tingled; and when Katy + came she pressed a small doll into Effie's hand, whispering, "You didn't + have a single present, and we had lots. Do keep that; it's the prettiest + thing I got." + </p> + <p> + "I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until the last smiling face was + gone, the surprise all over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired and + happy for anything but sleep. + </p> + <p> + "Mamma, it was a beautiful surprise, and I thank you so much! I don't see + how you did it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever had, and + mean to make one every year. I had my splendid big present, and here is + the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that part of my + wish came true." + </p> + <p> + And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble gift + still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that never + changed through a long life spent in doing good. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. THE CANDY COUNTRY. + </h2> + <p> + "I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it is so warm, and none of the + children at school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, as she went + through the hall. + </p> + <p> + "The wind is very high; I'm afraid you'll be blown away if you carry that + big thing," called Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella went bobbing + down the garden walk with a small girl under it. + </p> + <p> + "I wish it would; I always wanted to go up in a balloon," answered Lily, + as she struggled out of the gate. + </p> + <p> + She got on very well till she came to the bridge and stopped to look over + the railing at the water running by so fast, and the turtles sunning + themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing stones at them; it was + so funny to watch them tumble, heels over head, splash into the water. + Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, she stooped for a stone, and + just at that minute a gale of wind nearly took the umbrella out of her + hand. She clutched it fast; and away she went like a thistle-down, right + up in the air, over river and hill, houses and trees, faster and faster, + till her head spun round, her breath was all gone, and she had to let go. + The dear red umbrella flew away like a leaf; and Lily fell down, down, + till she went crash into a tree which grew in such a curious place that + she forgot her fright as she sat looking about her, wondering what part of + the world it could be. + </p> + <p> + The tree looked as if made of glass or colored sugar; for she could see + through the red cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. An + agreeable smell met her nose; and she said at once, as any child would, "I + smell candy!" She picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good it was!—all + sugar and no stone. The next discovery was such a delightful one that she + nearly fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue here and there, she + found that the whole tree was made of candy. Think what fun to sit and + break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and leaves that tasted + like peppermint and sassafras! + </p> + <p> + Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree; then she + climbed down and strolled along, making more surprising and agreeable + discoveries as she went. + </p> + <p> + What looked like snow under her feet was white sugar; the rocks were lumps + of chocolate, the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every sort of + fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little white houses soon appeared; + and here lived the dainty candy-people, all made of the best sugar, and + painted to look like real people. + </p> + <p> + Dear little men and women, looking as if they had stepped off of wedding + cakes and bonbons, went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing and + talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of babies rocked in open-work + cradles, and sugar boys and girls played with sugar toys in the most + natural way. Carriages rolled along the jujube streets, drawn by the red + and yellow barley horses we all love so well; cows fed in the green + fields, and sugar birds sang in the trees. + </p> + <p> + Lily listened, and in a moment she understood what the song said,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Sweet! Sweet! + Come, come and eat, + Dear little girls + With yellow curls; + For here you'll find + Sweets to your mind. + On every tree + Sugar-plums you'll see; + In every dell + Grows the caramel. + Over every wall + Gum-drops fall; + Molasses flows + Where our river goes + Under your feet + Lies sugar sweet; + Over your head + Grow almonds red. + Our lily and rose + Are not for the nose; + Our flowers we pluck + To eat or suck + And, oh! what bliss + When two friends kiss, + For they honey sip + From lip to lip! + And all you meet, + In house or street, + At work or play, + Sweethearts are they. + So, little dear, + Pray feel no fear; + Go where you will; + Eat, eat your fill. + Here is a feast + From west to east; + And you can say, + Ere you go away, + 'At last I stand + In dear Candy-land, + And no more can stuff; + For once I've enough.' + Sweet! Sweet! + Tweet! Tweet! + Tweedle-dee! + Tweedle-dee!" +</pre> + <p> + "That is the most interesting song I ever heard," said Lily, clapping her + sticky hands and dancing along toward a fine palace of white cream candy, + with pillars of striped peppermint stick, and a roof of frosting that made + it look like the Milan Cathedral. + </p> + <p> + "I'll live here, and eat candy all day long, with no tiresome school or + patchwork to spoil my fun," said Lily. + </p> + <p> + So she ran up the chocolate steps into the pretty rooms, where all the + chairs and tables were of different colored candies, and the beds of spun + sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied drink; and floors of ice-cream that + never melted kept people and things from sticking together, as they would + have done had it been warm. + </p> + <p> + For a long while Lily was quite happy, going about tasting so many + different kinds of sweeties, talking to the little people, who were very + amiable, and finding out curious things about them and their country. + </p> + <p> + The babies were made of plain sugar, but the grown people had different + flavors. The young ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and orange; the + gentlemen were apt to have cordials of some sort inside of them, as she + found when she ate one now and then slyly, and got her tongue bitten by + the hot, strong taste as a punishment The old people tasted of peppermint, + clove, and such comfortable things, good for pain; but the old maids had + lemon, hoarhound, flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter things in them, + and did not get eaten much. Lily soon learned to know the characters of + her new friends by a single taste, and some she never touched but once. + The dear babies melted in her mouth, and the delicately flavored young + ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger was called to her more than once + when so much candy made her teeth ache, and she found him a very + hot-tempered little man; but he stopped the pain, so she was glad to see + him. + </p> + <p> + A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry girl were her favorite + playmates; and they had fine times making mud-pies by scraping the + chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with honey from the wells near by. + These they could eat; and Lily thought this much better than throwing away + the pies, as she had to do at home. They had candy-pulls very often, and + made swings of long loops of molasses candy, and bird's-nests with almond + eggs, out of which came birds who sang sweetly. They played football with + big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on lakes of syrup, fished in rivers + of molasses, and rode the barley horses all over the country. + </p> + <p> + Lily discovered that it never rained, but snowed white sugar. There was no + sun, as it would have been too hot; but a large yellow lozenge made a nice + moon, and red and white comfits were the stars. + </p> + <p> + The people all lived on sugar, and never quarrelled. No one was ill; and + if any got broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle creatures, they + just stuck the parts together and were all right again. The way they grew + old was to get thinner and thinner till there was danger of their + vanishing. Then the friends of the old person put him in a neat coffin, + and carried him to the great golden urn which stood in their largest + temple, always full of a certain fine syrup; and here he was dipped and + dipped till he was stout and strong again, and went home to enjoy himself + for a long time as good as new. + </p> + <p> + This was very interesting to Lily, and she went to many funerals. But the + weddings were better still; for the lovely white brides were so sweet Lily + longed to eat them. The feasts were delicious; and everybody went in their + best clothes, and danced at the ball till they got so warm half-a-dozen + would stick together and have to be taken to the ice-cream room to cool + off. Then the little pair would drive away in a fine carriage with white + horses to a new palace in some other part of the country, and Lily would + have another pleasant place to visit. + </p> + <p> + But by and by, when she had seen everything, and eaten so much sweet stuff + that at last she longed for plain bread and butter, she began to get + cross, as children always do when they live on candy; and the little + people wished she would go away, for they were afraid of her. No wonder, + when she would catch up a dear sugar baby and eat him, or break some + respectable old grandmamma all into bits because she reproved her for + naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on the biggest church, crushing it + flat, and even tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet one day. The + king ordered her to go home; but she said, "I won't!" and bit his head + off, crown and all. + </p> + <p> + Such a wail went up at this awful deed that she ran away out of the city, + fearing some one would put poison in her candy, since she had no other + food. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep walking; and I can't starve, + though I hate the sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, as she + hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar Rock that divided the city of + Saccharissa from the great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond. + </p> + <p> + Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and saw at last a great smoke in + the sky, smelt a spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if there are sugar savages here, roasting and eating some poor + traveller like me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and other + wanderers in strange lands. + </p> + <p> + She crept carefully along till she saw a settlement of little huts very + like mushrooms, for they were made of cookies set on lumps of the brown + sugar; and queer people, looking as if made of gingerbread, were working + very busily round several stoves which seemed to bake at a great rate. + </p> + <p> + "I'll creep nearer and see what sort of people they are before I show + myself," said Lily, going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting down on + a stone which proved to be the plummy sort of cake we used to call + Brighton Rock. + </p> + <p> + Presently one of the tallest men came striding toward the trees with a + pan, evidently after spice; and before she could run, he saw Lily. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her with his black currant + eyes, while he briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree. + </p> + <p> + "I'm travelling, and would like to know what place this is, if you + please," answered Lily, very politely, being a little frightened. + </p> + <p> + "Cake-land. Where do you come from?" asked the gingerbread man, in a crisp + tone of voice. + </p> + <p> + "I was blown into the Candy country, and have been there a long time; but + I got tired of it, and ran away to find something better." + </p> + <p> + "Sensible child!" and the man smiled till Lily thought his cheeks would + crumble. "You'll get on better here with us Brownies than with the lazy + Bonbons, who never work and are all for show. They won't own us, though we + are all related through our grandparents Sugar and Molasses. We are busy + folks; so they turn up their noses and don't speak when we meet at + parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and unsubstantial! I pity 'em." + </p> + <p> + "Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see how you live, and what you do. + I'm sure it must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself up after a + tumble, having eaten nearly all the stone, she was so hungry. + </p> + <p> + "I know you will. Come on! I can talk while I work." And the funny + gingerbread man trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, + rolling-pins, and molasses jugs. + </p> + <p> + "Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as this batch is baked. There are + still some wise people down below who like gingerbread, and I have my + hands full," he said, dashing about, stirring, rolling out, and slapping + the brown dough into pans, which he whisked into the oven and out again so + fast that Lily knew there must be magic about it somewhere. + </p> + <p> + Every now and then he threw her a delicious cooky warm from the oven. She + liked the queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being very curious + about this country. + </p> + <p> + "What is your name, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Ginger Snap." + </p> + <p> + Lily thought it a good one; for he was very quick, and she fancied he + could be short and sharp if he liked. + </p> + <p> + "Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, after watching the other + kitchens full of workers, who were all of different kinds of cake, and + each set of cooks made its own sort. + </p> + <p> + "I'll show you by and by," answered Snap, beginning to pile up the heaps + of gingerbread on a little car that ran along a track leading to some + unknown storeroom, Lily thought. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I never shall be till I've done my + best, and won the prize here." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, and how are you promoted? Is + this a cooking-school?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a cake of condensed yeast. That + puts a soul into me, and I begin to rise till I am able to go over the + hills yonder into the blessed land of bread, and be one of the happy + creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, and without which the + world below would be in a bad way." + </p> + <p> + "Bless me! that is the queerest thing I've heard yet. But I don't wonder + you want to go; I'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good piece of + bread, though I used to want cake and candy at home." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my dear, you'll learn a good deal here; and you are lucky not to have + got into the clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets people if they + eat too much of such rubbish and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my ginger + behind when I go, and get white and round and beautiful, as you will see. + The Gingerbread family have never been as foolish as some of the other + cakes. Wedding is the worst; such extravagance in the way of wine and + spice and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to eat when it's done! I + don't wonder people get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung down a pan + with such a bang that it made Lily jump. + </p> + <p> + "Sponge cake isn't bad, is it? Mamma lets me eat it, but I like frosted + pound better," she said, looking over to the next kitchen, where piles of + that sort of cake were being iced. + </p> + <p> + "Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers will do for babies, but pound + has too much butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat cookies or + seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away + his car-load at a great pace. + </p> + <p> + Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and looked about her as she + went, for this was certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all + beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed here and there ready for + use. The earth was brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits were + raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon peel. It was a very busy place; + for every one cooked all the time, and never failed and never seemed + tired, though they got so hot that they only wore sheets of paper for + clothes. There were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it shouldn't + burn; and they made cook's white caps and aprons of it, and looked very + nice. A large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves to mark the hours + and two toothpicks for hands, showed them how long to bake things; and in + one place an ice wall was built round a lake of butter, which they cut in + lumps as they wanted it. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. Now, stand away while I pitch 'em down," said Snap, stopping + at last before a hole in the ground where a dumbwaiter hung ready, with a + name over it. + </p> + <p> + There were many holes all round, and many waiters, each with its name; and + Lily was amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," "Dooling," and others, + which she knew very well. + </p> + <p> + Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" and Lily said, "Why, that's + where mamma gets her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where we go for + ice-cream. Do <i>you</i> make cake for them?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the secrets of the trade. We cook + for all the confectioners, and people think the good things come out of + the cellars under their saloons. Good joke, isn't it?" And Snap laughed + till a crack came in his neck and made him cough. + </p> + <p> + Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm queen's cake that happened to + be near, and watched Snap send down load after load of gingerbread to be + eaten by children, who would have liked it much better if they had only + known where it came from, as she did. + </p> + <p> + As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the smell of many dinners, and the + sound of many voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, and a + Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken and + apple without," came up the next hole, which was marked "Copeland." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said Lily, longing to hop down, but + afraid of the bump at the other end. + </p> + <p> + "I'm done. Come along, I'll ride you back," called Snap, tossing the last + cooky after the dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with its spicy + load. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you'd teach me to cook. It looks great fun, and mamma wants me to + learn; only our cook hates to have me mess round, and is so cross that I + don't like to try at home," said Lily, as she went trundling back. + </p> + <p> + "Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and learn to make that. It's a + great art, and worth knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, though plain + gingerbread isn't bad to have in the house. I'll teach you that in a + jiffy, if the clock doesn't strike my hour too soon," answered Snap, + helping her down. + </p> + <p> + "What hour?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, of my freedom. I never know when I've done my task till I'm called + by the chimes and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his currant eyes + anxiously to the clock. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you <i>will</i> have time." And Lily fell to work with all her + might, after Snap had put on her a paper apron and a cap like his. + </p> + <p> + It was not hard; for when she was going to make a mistake a spark flew out + of the fire and burnt her in time to remind her to look at the receipt, + which was a sheet of gingerbread in a frame of pie-crust hung up before + her, with the directions written while it was soft and baked in. The third + sheet she made came out of the oven spicy, light, and brown; and Snap, + giving it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you know. Here's your + reward." + </p> + <p> + He handed her a receipt-book made of thin sheets of sugar-gingerbread held + together by a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on the back, and + each leaf crimped with a cake-cutter in the most elegant manner. + </p> + <p> + Lily was charmed with it, but had no time to read all it contained; for + just then the clock began to strike, and a chime of bells to ring,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Gingerbread, + Go to the head. + Your task is done; + A soul is won. + Take it and go + Where muffins grow, + Where sweet loaves rise + To the very skies, + And biscuits fair + Perfume the air. + Away, away! + Make no delay; + In the sea of flour + Plunge this hour. + Safe in your breast + Let the yeast-cake rest, + Till you rise in joy, + A white bread boy!" +</pre> + <p> + "Ha, ha! I'm free! I'm free!" cried Snap, catching up the silver-covered + square that seemed to fall from heaven; and running to a great white sea + of flour, he went in head first, holding the yeast-cake clasped to his + breast as if his life depended on it. + </p> + <p> + Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious working and bubbling went on, + as if Snap was tumbling about down there like a small earthquake. The + other cake-folk stood round the shore with her; for it was a great event, + and all were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so soon. Suddenly a + cry was heard, and up rose a beautiful white figure on the farther side of + the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," and ran over the hills + so fast they had only time to see how plump and fair he was, with a little + knob on the top of his head like a crown. + </p> + <p> + "He's gone to the happy land, and we shall miss him; but we'll follow his + example and soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge cake, with a sigh, + as all went back to their work; while Lily hurried after Snap, eager to + see the new country, which was the best of all. + </p> + <p> + A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from the valley as she stood on + the hill-top and looked down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of yellow + grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines grew from tree to tree; and many + windmills whirled their white sails as they ground the different grains + into fresh, sweet meal, for the loaves of bread that built the houses like + bricks and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed the people, + furniture, and animals. A river of milk flowed through the peaceful land, + and fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant foam and fizz. The + ground was a mixture of many meals, and the paths were golden Indian, + which gave a very gay look to the scene. Buckwheat flowers bloomed on + their rosy stems, and tall corn-stalks rustled their leaves in the warm + air that came from the ovens hidden in the hillsides; for bread needs a + slow fire, and an obliging volcano did the baking here. + </p> + <p> + "What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling the charm of the homelike + landscape, in spite of the funny plump people moving about. + </p> + <p> + Two of these figures came running to meet her as she slowly walked down + the yellow path from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a beaming face; + the other a little girl in a shiny brown cloak, who looked as if she would + taste very nice. They each put a warm hand into Lily's, and the boy said,— + </p> + <p> + "We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you were coming." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, feeling as if she had seen both + these little people before, and liked them. + </p> + <p> + "He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a Muffin now. We begin in that way, and + work up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is Johnny Cake, and she's + Sally Lunn. You know us; so come on and have a race." + </p> + <p> + Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing with these old friends of + hers; and all three ran away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, + over a bridge, into the middle of the village, where they stopped, + panting, and sat down on some very soft rolls to rest. + </p> + <p> + "What do you all do <i>here</i>?" asked Lily, when she got her breath + again. + </p> + <p> + "We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, and are as merry as grigs all day + long. It's school-time now, and we must go; will you come?" said Sally, + jumping up as if she liked it. + </p> + <p> + "Our schools are not like yours; we only study two things,—grain and + yeast. I think you'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the experiments + are very jolly," added Johnny, trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye + and Indian bread, where the school was kept. + </p> + <p> + Lily never liked to go to school, but she was ashamed to own it; so she + went along with Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that she was + glad she came. The brown loaf was hollow, and had no roof; and when she + asked why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and see why they chose + strong walls and plenty of room overhead. All round was a circle of very + small biscuits like cushions, and on these the Bread-children sat. A + square loaf in the middle was the teacher's desk, and on it lay an ear of + wheat, with several bottles of yeast well corked up. The teacher was a + pleasant, plump lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous for her good + bread that she was a Professor of Grainology. + </p> + <p> + When all were seated, she began with the wheat ear, and told them all + about it in such an interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never + known anything about the bread she ate before. The experiments with the + yeast were quite exciting,—for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how it + would work till it blew the cork out, and go fizzing up to the sky if it + was kept too long; how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the bread if + care was not taken to use it just at the right moment; and how too much + would cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance to it. + </p> + <p> + The children were very bright; for they were fed on the best kinds of + oatmeal and Graham bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes to + spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy boys and girls they were, and + their yeasty souls were very lively in them; for they danced and sung, and + seemed as bright and gay as if acidity, heaviness, and mould were quite + unknown. + </p> + <p> + Lily was very happy with them, and when school was done went home with + Sally and ate the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever tasted. In + the afternoon Johnny took her to the cornfield, and showed her how they + kept the growing ears free from mildew and worms. Then she went to the + bakehouse; and here she found her old friend Muffin hard at work making + Parker House rolls, for he was such a good cook he was set to work at once + on the lighter kinds of bread. + </p> + <p> + "Well, isn't this better than Candy-land or Saccharissa?" he asked, as he + rolled and folded his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked inside. + </p> + <p> + "Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better already, and mean to learn all + I can. Mamma will be so pleased if I can make good bread when I go home. + She is rather old-fashioned, and likes me to be a nice housekeeper. I + didn't think bread interesting then, but I do now; and Johnny's mother is + going to teach me to make Indian cakes to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell other people how to make + healthy bodies and happy souls by eating good plain food. Not like this, + though these rolls are better than cake. I have to work my way up to the + perfect loaf, you know; and then, oh, then, I'm a happy thing." + </p> + <p> + "What happens then? Do you go on to some other wonderful place?" asked + Lily, as Muffin paused with a smile on his face. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human being, and become a part of him + or her. That is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a poet and help + him sing, or feed a good woman who makes the world better for being in it, + or be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby prince who is to rule a + kingdom. Isn't that a noble way to live, and an end worth working for?" + asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily feel as if some sort of fine yeast + had got into her, and was setting her brain to work with new thoughts. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it is. I suppose all common things are made for that purpose, if we + only knew it; and people should be glad to do anything to help the world + along, even making good bread in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a sober way + that showed that her little mind was already digesting the new food it had + got. + </p> + <p> + She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and enjoyed and learned a great deal + that she never forgot. But at last, when she had made the perfect loaf, + she wanted to go home, that her mother might see and taste it. + </p> + <p> + "I've put a good deal of myself into it, and I'd love to think I had given + her strength or pleasure by my work," she said, as she and Sally stood + looking at the handsome loaf. + </p> + <p> + "You can go whenever you like; just take the bread in your hands and wish + three times, and you'll be wherever you say. I'm sorry to have you go, but + I don't wonder you want to see your mother. Don't forget what you have + learned, and you will always be glad you came to us," said Sally, kissing + her good-by. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing him, my dear old friend," + answered Lily, looking round for him. + </p> + <p> + "He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. "He was ready to go, and + chose to pass into your bread rather than any other; for he said he loved + you and would be glad to help feed so good a little girl." + </p> + <p> + "How kind of him! I must be careful to grow wise and excellent, else he + will be disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, touched by his + devotion. + </p> + <p> + Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged her loaf close, wished three + times to be in her own home, and like a flash she was there. + </p> + <p> + Whether her friends believed the wonderful tale of her adventures I cannot + tell; but I know that she was a nice little housekeeper from that day, and + made such good bread that other girls came to learn of her. She also grew + from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, because she ate + very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, when the oldest and + the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. NAUGHTY JOCKO. + </h2> + <p> + "A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, and see if he has got a monkey on + his organ," cried little Neddy, running to the window in a great hurry one + day. + </p> + <p> + Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and red suit, with a funny little + cap, and the long tail trailing behind. But he didn't seem to be a lively + monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad face turned anxiously to his + master, who kept pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff collar had + made his neck sore; and when the man twitched, the poor thing moaned and + put up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to dance, but was so + weak he could only hop a few steps, and stop panting for breath. The cruel + man wouldn't let him rest till Neddy called out,— + </p> + <p> + "Don't hurt him; let him come up here and get this cake, and rest while + you play. I've got some pennies for you." + </p> + <p> + So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, and sat on the window-ledge + trying to eat; but he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the man + pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, and lay as if he were dead. + Neddy and his aunt ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man scolded + and shook him; but he never moved, and the man said,— + </p> + <p> + "He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell him to some one to stuff." + </p> + <p> + "No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here a few days, and we will take + care of him; and if he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said Aunt + Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey. + </p> + <p> + The man said he was going on for a week through the towns near by, and + would call and see about it when he came back. Then he went away; and + Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice basket, and carried him in. The minute + the door was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped out with one + eye, and seeing only the kind little boy began to chatter and kick off the + shawl; for he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and dreadfully + afraid of the cruel man who beat and starved him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was delighted, and thought it very funny, and helped his aunt take + off the stiff collar and put some salve on the sore neck. Then they got + milk and cake; and when he had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself + up and slept till the next day. He was quite lively in the morning; for + when Aunt Jane went to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and + looking round the room for him, she saw the little black thing lying on + the boy's pillow, with his arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby. + </p> + <p> + "My patience! I can't allow that," said the old lady, and went to pull + Jocko out. But he slipped away like an eel, and crept chattering and + burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, till + he waked up, howling that crabs were nipping him. + </p> + <p> + Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko climbed all over the bed, up on + the tall wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the image of an + angel stood. He patted it, and hugged it, and looked so very funny with + his ugly black face by the pretty white one, that Neddy rolled on the + floor, and Aunt Jane laughed till her glasses flew off. By and by he came + down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them tie a red ribbon over the + bandage on his neck. He liked the gay color, and kept going to look in the + glass, and grin and chatter at his own image, which he evidently admired. + </p> + <p> + "Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all the children shall see my new + pet," said Neddy, as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + Every one laughed at the funny little fellow with his twinkling eyes, + brown hands, and long tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to the + store; then troubles began. He put Jocko on a table near the door, and + told him to stay there while he did his errands. Now, close by was the + place where the candy was kept, and Jocko loved sweeties like any girl; so + he hopped along, and began to eat whatever he liked. Some boys tried to + stop him; and then he got angry at them for pulling his tail, and threw + handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great fun; and the more they + laughed and scrambled and poked at him, the faster he showered chocolates, + caramels, and peppermints over them, till it looked as if it had rained + candy. The man was busy with Neddy at the other end of the store; but when + he heard the noise, both ran to see what was the matter. Neither of them + could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, and ran up on the high + shelves among the toys. Then down came little tubs and dolls' stoves, tin + trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden soldiers and whole villages + flew through the air, smash, bang, rattle, bump, all over the floor. The + man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys shouted, and there was a lively time in + that shop till a good slapping with a long stick made Jock tumble into a + tub of water where some curious fishes lived, and then they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man his aunt would pay for all the + broken things. Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go home and + tie him up, for it was plain this monkey was not to be trusted. But as + soon as they got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to a load of hay + passing underneath. Here he danced and pranced, and had a fine time, + throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some of the dinner tied + up in a cloth. The crusts of bread and the bones he threw at the horse; + this new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he ran away down a steep + hill, and upset the hay and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was worse + than the candy scrape; for the man swore, and the horse was hurt, and + people said the monkey ought to be shot, he did so much mischief. Jocko + didn't care a bit; he sat high up in a tree, and chattered and scolded, + and swung by his tail, and was so droll that people couldn't help laughing + at him. Poor Neddy cried again, and went home to tell his troubles to Aunt + Jane, fearing that it would take all the money in his bank to pay for the + damage the bad monkey had done in one hour. + </p> + <p> + As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping along, and jumped on his back, + and peeped at him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning and good + Neddy couldn't whip him; but he shut him up in a closet to punish him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all was quiet till dinner-time. + They were ready for the pudding, and Neddy had saved a place for a good + plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when shrieks were heard in the + kitchen, and Mary the maid rushed in to say,— + </p> + <p> + "Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the pudding, and is scaring Katy + out of her life!" + </p> + <p> + They all ran; and there sat that naughty monkey on the table, throwing the + nice white snow all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she was + ready to be shaved. His own face looked the same, for he had eaten all he + wanted while the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He had crept out of + a window in the closet, and had a fine rummage among the sugar-buckets, + butter-boxes, and milk-pans. + </p> + <p> + Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane and grandpa laughed, and + Neddy chased Jock into the garden with the broom. They had to eat bread + and jelly for dessert, and it took the girls a long time to clear up the + mess the rascal made. + </p> + <p> + "We will put his collar and chain on again, and keep him tied up all the + time till the man comes," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + "But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, watching the little imp whisk about + in the garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens and tossing green + apples round in high glee. + </p> + <p> + "Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he is tired; then he will come + to you, and you can hold him fast," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + So Neddy waited; and though he was much worried at his new pet's + naughtiness, he enjoyed his pranks like a boy. + </p> + <p> + Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the piazza, and he was dozing + comfortably when Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his long tail, + and tickled the old gentleman on the nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, + and opened one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. Then he went to + sleep again, and Jocko dropped a caterpillar on his bald head; this made + him open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy thing could be. Neddy + couldn't help laughing, for he often wanted to do just such things, but + never dared, because grandpa was a very stern old gentleman, and no one + took liberties with him. Jocko wasn't afraid, however; and presently he + crept to the table, stole the glasses lying there, put them on, and taking + up the paper held it before him, chattering as if he were reading it, as + he had seen people do. Neddy laughed out loud at this, and clapped his + hands, Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite of the tail curled + up behind. This time grandpa opened both eyes at once, and stared as if he + saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched off the spectacles, and + caught up his cane, crying angrily,— + </p> + <p> + "You rascal, how dare you!" + </p> + <p> + But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and with one jump lighted on the + back of old Tom, the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. Scared half + out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; but Jocko held fast to his collar, + and had a fine race round the garden, while the girls laughed at the funny + sight, and Neddy shouted, "It's a circus; and there's the monkey and the + pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when puss dashed up a tree, and + Jock tumbled off. He chased him, and they had a great battle; but Tom's + claws were sharp, and the monkey got a scratch on the nose, and ran crying + to Neddy for comfort. + </p> + <p> + "Now, you naughty fellow, I'll chain you up, and stop these dreadful + tricks. But you are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the boy; for he + knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, and poor Jocko had not had one for a + long time. + </p> + <p> + Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, and then was ready for more + frolics. Neddy had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that he could + enjoy the sun and air, and catch grasshoppers if he liked. But Jocko + wanted something more; and presently Neddy, who was reading in his hammock + on the piazza, heard a great cackling among the hens, and looked up to see + the monkey swinging by his tail from a bough, holding the great + cock-a-doodle by his splendid tail, while all the twenty hens clucked and + cackled with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank. + </p> + <p> + "Now, that's too bad; I <i>will</i> slap him this time," said Neddy, + running to save his handsome bird from destruction. But before he got + there poor cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his + struggles, and when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran + away and hid in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left him looking as meek as a baby, + all cuddled up in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as if crying + for his naughtiness. But he wasn't sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in half an + hour he had picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane was so fond of, + thrown all the tomatoes over the fence, and let the parrot out of his + cage. The sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a polite "How are + you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane to see what was going on. Neddy was fast + asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; and Jocko, having unhooked + his chain, was sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's house, eating + corn. + </p> + <p> + "We shall not live to the end of the week if this sort of thing goes on. I + don't know what to do with the little beast; he's as bad as an elephant to + take care of," said the poor lady, in despair, as she saw Jocko throw his + corncob down on the minister's hat as that stately gentleman went by. + </p> + <p> + As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane let him alone till Neddy waked + up and could go and find some of the big boys to help him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a window that stood open. It + was little Nelly Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet doll Maud + Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the best bed, while she went down to get a + poppy leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because she had a high fever. + Jocko took a fancy to the pretty bed, and after turning the play-house + topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose Matilda out by her flaxen + hair, and stuffing her into the water-pitcher upside down, got into the + bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to doze deliciously under the + pink silk bed-cover. + </p> + <p> + Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear invalid, saying in her + motherly little voice,— + </p> + <p> + "Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I won't hurt you one bit." + </p> + <p> + But when she drew the curtain, instead of the lovely yellow-haired doll in + her ruffled nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at her, + and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. Nelly gave one scream, and flew + downstairs into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at work, + frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by her cries, as she clung to her + mother, wailing,— + </p> + <p> + "A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; and he snarled at me, and my + dolly is gone! What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?" + </p> + <p> + There was great confusion, for all the ladies talked at once; and it so + happened that none of them knew anything about the monkey, therefore they + all agreed that Nelly was a foolish child, and had made a fuss about + nothing. She cried dismally, and kept saying to her mother,— + </p> + <p> + "Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,—I found it there, and darling + Maudie is gone." + </p> + <p> + "We <i>will</i> go and see," said Mrs. Moses Merryweather,—a stout + old lady, who kept her six girls in such good order that <i>they</i> would + never have dared to cry if ten monkeys had popped out at them. + </p> + <p> + Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, with a sharp eye and pointed + nose, went with her; but at the door that led to the dining-room both + stopped short, and after one look came flying back, calling out together,— + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful beast has ruined it all!" + </p> + <p> + Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across the hall to behold Jocko + sitting on the great cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed in + cream from the overturned pitcher, while all around lay the ruins of + custards, tarts, biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins made + into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, on the floor, and the best + silver teapot in the fireplace. + </p> + <p> + While Nelly told her tale and the ladies questioned and comforted her, + this bad monkey had skipped downstairs and had a delightful party all by + himself. He was just scraping the jelly out of a tart when they disturbed + him; and knowing that more slaps were in store for him if he stayed, he at + once walked calmly down the ravaged table, and vanished out of the window + carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play with. + </p> + <p> + The ladies had no supper that night; and poor Mrs. Brown sent a note to + Aunt Jane, telling her the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite ill + with the fright and the loss of dear Maud Mabel Rose Matilda, drowned in + the water-pitcher and forever spoilt. + </p> + <p> + "John shall go after that man to-morrow, and bring him back to carry this + terrible monkey away. I can't live with him a week; he will cost me a + fortune, and wear us all out," said Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely shut + up in the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over the neighborhood + before they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but John was saved his journey, for + in the morning poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his inquisitive + head had been poked to see what the cheese tasted like. + </p> + <p> + So he was buried by the river, and every one felt much relieved; for the + man never came back, thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he had not + lived in vain; for after this day of trial, mischievous Neddy behaved much + better, and Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit by saying, as + her finger pointed to a little collar and chain hanging on the wall,— + </p> + <p> + "If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say so, and I'll tie you up. One + monkey is enough for this family." + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and + skippings as she made.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES. + </h2> + <p> + Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, who never wanted to do what + people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," and did not run at + once pleasantly, as obliging children do. + </p> + <p> + One day her mother gave her a pair of new shoes; and after a fuss about + putting them on, Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,— + </p> + <p> + "I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like Jack the Giant Killer's, then + it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep + trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't stir a step." + </p> + <p> + Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, and set her on her feet so + suddenly that it scared all the naughtiness out of her. She stood looking + at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed to wink at + her like eyes, while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of tune. Before + she dared to stir, her mother called from the next room,— + </p> + <p> + "Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie for dinner; I forgot it." + </p> + <p> + "I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine as usual. + </p> + <p> + But the words were hardly out of her mouth when the shoes gave one jump, + and took her downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at the kitchen + door. Her breath was nearly gone; but she gave the message, and turned + round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went + nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. + She was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a bit when she could. Now + she found that her feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not be + moved till her father said, as he passed the window close by,— + </p> + <p> + "You will have time to go to the post-office before school and get my + letters." + </p> + <p> + "I can't," began Kitty; but she found she could, for away went the shoes, + out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so fast that + the maid who ran after her with her hat could not catch her. + </p> + <p> + "I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not till the shoes took her + straight into the office. + </p> + <p> + "What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, as he saw her without any hat, + all rosy and breathless, and her face puckered up as if she did not know + whether to laugh or to cry. + </p> + <p> + "I won't tell any one about these dreadful shoes, and I'll take them off + as soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will + think I'm crazy," said Kitty to herself, as she took the letters and went + away. + </p> + <p> + The shoes walked nicely along till she came to the bridge; and there she + wanted to stop and watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and her + father's letters. But the shoes wouldn't stop, though she tried to make + them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; + and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadily that she + had to go, and she got up feeling that there was something very strange + about these shoes. The minute she gave up, all went smoothly, and she got + home in good time. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wear these horrid things another minute," said Kitty, sitting on + the doorstep and trying to unbutton the shoes. + </p> + <p> + But not a button could she stir, though she got red and angry struggling + to do it. + </p> + <p> + "Time for school; run away, little girl," called mamma from upstairs, as + the clock struck nine. + </p> + <p> + "I won't!" said Kitty, crossly. + </p> + <p> + But she did; for those magic shoes danced her off, and landed her at her + desk in five minutes. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm not late; that's one comfort," she thought, wishing she had + come pleasantly, and not been whisked away without any luncheon. + </p> + <p> + Her legs were so tired with the long skips that she was glad to sit still; + and that pleased the teacher, for generally she was fussing about all + lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble again; for one of the + children knocked down the house of corn-cobs she had built, and made her + angry. + </p> + <p> + "Now, I'll kick yours down, and see how you like it, Dolly." + </p> + <p> + Up went her foot, but it didn't come down; it stayed in the air, and there + she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children laughed to + see her, and she could do nothing till she said to Dolly in a great hurry,— + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll forgive you." + </p> + <p> + Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so glad about it that she tried to + be pleasant, fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She began to + see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any power over + them. So, when one of the children wanted his ball, which had bounced over + the hedge, she said kindly,—"Perhaps I can get it for you, Willy." + </p> + <p> + And over she jumped as lightly as if she too were an india-rubber ball. + </p> + <p> + "How could you do it?" cried the boys, much surprised; for not one of them + dared try such a high leap. + </p> + <p> + Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling pleased and proud to find there + was a good side to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and skippings as + she made, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was pretty to see; + for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of themselves. The + little girls were charmed, and tried to imitate her, but no one could, and + they stood in a circle watching her dance till the bell rang, then all + rushed in to tell about it. + </p> + <p> + Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never told how queerly they acted, + hoping to have good times now. But she was mistaken. + </p> + <p> + On the way home she wanted to stop and see her friend Bell's new doll, but + at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes and go + straight on, as mamma had told her always to do. + </p> + <p> + "Run and pick a nice little dish of strawberries for dinner," said her + sister, as she went in. + </p> + <p> + "I'm too ti—" There was no time to finish, for the shoes landed her + in the middle of the strawberry bed at one jump. + </p> + <p> + "I might as well be a grasshopper if I'm to skip round like this," she + said, forgetting to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with the + robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind lifting the leaves to + show here the reddest and ripest ones hid. + </p> + <p> + The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted to stay and eat a few, + warm and sweet from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, over + the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the dining-room before the + berry in her mouth was half eaten. + </p> + <p> + "How this child does rush about to-day!" said her mother. "It is so + delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her to + carry some bundles to my poor people this afternoon. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old clothes and bottles and baskets + of cold victuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the + shoes tapped on the floor under the table, as if to remind her that she + must, whether she liked it or not. + </p> + <p> + "It would be right and kind, and would please me very much. But you may do + as you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; for the + little Bryan baby is sick and needs what I send," said mamma, looking + disappointed. + </p> + <p> + Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, and no one spoke to her. She + was making up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked about + like a grasshopper against her will. When dinner was over, she said in a + cheerful voice,— + </p> + <p> + "I'll go, mamma; and when all the errands are done, may I come back + through Fairyland, as we call the little grove where the tall ferns grow?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy to please you." + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall have a lovely time," said + Kitty to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a bundle + in the other, and some money in her pocket for a poor old woman who needed + help. + </p> + <p> + The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to know just where to stop. The + sick baby's mother thanked her for the soft little nightgowns; the lame + girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round the + basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; and the old woman gave + her a beautiful pink shell that her sailor son brought home from sea. + </p> + <p> + When all the errands were done Kitty skipped away to Fairyland, feeling + very happy, as people always do when they have done kind things. It was a + lovely place; for the ferns made green arches tall enough for little girls + to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss and + wood-flowers. Birds flew about in the pines, squirrels chattered in the + oaks, butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond near by came + the croak of frogs sunning their green backs on the mossy stones. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and rest; it is so cool here, and + I'm so tired," said Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot of a + tree. + </p> + <p> + The words were hardly out of her mouth when her feet folded under her, and + there she sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the wood on her + throne. Something lighted with a bump close by her; and looking down she + saw a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at her curiously. + </p> + <p> + "Bless my heart! I thought you were some relation of my cousin + Grasshopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so I + stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, in its creaky voice. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy shoes to-day, and so do many + things that I never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised to be able + to understand what the cricket said. + </p> + <p> + "It is midsummer day, and fairies can play whatever pranks they like. If + you didn't have those shoes on, you couldn't understand what I say. Hark, + and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down here. Make + the most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes will stop skipping, and + the fun all be over." + </p> + <p> + While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all sorts of little voices, + singing, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word + they said. The squirrels called to one another as they raced about,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Here's a nut, there's a nut; + Hide it quick away, + In a hole, under leaves, + To eat some winter day. + Acorns sweet are plenty, + We will have them all: + Skip and scamper lively + Till the last ones fall." +</pre> + <p> + The birds were singing softly,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Rock a bye, babies, + Your cradle hangs high; + Soft down your pillow, + Your curtain the sky. + Father will feed you, + While mother will sing, + And shelter our darlings + With her warm wing." +</pre> + <p> + And the ants were saying to one another as they hurried in and out of + their little houses,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Work, neighbor, work! + Do not stop to play; + Wander far and wide, + Gather all you may. + + We are never like + Idle butterflies, + But like the busy bees, + Industrious and wise." +</pre> + <p> + "Ants always were dreadfully good, but butterflies are ever so much + prettier," said Kitty, listening to the little voices with wonder and + pleasure. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Hello! hello! + Come down below,— It's lovely and cool + Out here in the pool; + On a lily-pad float + For a nice green boat. + Here we sit and sing + In a pleasant ring; + Or leap frog play, + In the jolliest way. + Our games have begun, + Come join in the fun." +</pre> + <p> + "Dear me! what could I do over there in the mud with the queer green + frogs?" laughed Kitty, as this song was croaked at her. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "No, no, come and fly + Through the sunny sky, + Or honey sip + From the rose's lip, + Or dance in the air, + Like spirits fair. + Come away, come away; + 'Tis our holiday." +</pre> + <p> + A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up from a wild-rose bush, and + went dancing away higher and higher, till they vanished in the light + beyond the wood. + </p> + <p> + "That is better than leap-frog. I wish my skipping shoes would let me fly + up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to go + all the time," said Kitty, watching the pretty things glitter as they + flew. + </p> + <p> + Just at that minute a clock struck, and away went the shoes over the pool, + the hill, the road, till they pranced in at the gate as the tea-bell rang. + Kitty amused the family by telling what she had done and seen; but no one + believed the Fairyland part, and her father said, laughing,— + </p> + <p> + "Go on, my dear, making up little stories, and by and by you may be as + famous as Hans Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well." + </p> + <p> + "The sun will soon set, and then my fun will be over; so I must skip while + I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so prettily that + all the family came to see her. + </p> + <p> + "She dances so well that she shall go to dancing-school," said her mother, + pleased with the pretty antics of her little girl. + </p> + <p> + Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had longed to go, and went on + skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn some of the graceful + steps the shoes took before the day was done. + </p> + <p> + "Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your bath and bed. It has been a long + hot day, and you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants to go + out," said her mother, as the sun went down behind the hills with a last + bright glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, please, a few minutes more," began Kitty, but was off like a flash; + for the shoes trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against old + Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor, and + scolding in such a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that she could + hardly pick her up again. + </p> + <p> + By the time she was ready to undress the sun was quite gone, and the shoes + she took off were common ones again, for midsummer day was over. But Kitty + never forgot the little lessons she had learned: she tried to run + willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and danced like + a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and interesting + little creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever she was told she + might go to play with them, she hurried away almost as quickly as if she + still wore the skipping shoes. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: So Cocky was brought in, and petted.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. COCKYLOO. + </h2> + <p> + In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, feeling very happy because it + was time for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have a fine brood of + chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried the + chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy little + things one after the other, all ready to run and eat and scratch,—for + chickens are not like babies, and don't have to be tended at all. + </p> + <p> + There were eight little hens and two little cockerels, one black and one + as white as snow, with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on + his head. This was Cockyloo, the good chick; but the black one was named + Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud of her fine family; for the eight + little daughters were all white and very pretty. She led them out into the + farmyard, clucking and scratching busily; for all were hungry, and ran + chirping round her to pick up the worms and seeds she found for them. + Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice corn or + a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or Snowball + have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up the food + greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, and picked + the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. His mother + scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; but he + didn't care, and was very naughty. Cocky began to crow when he was very + young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear his loud, clear + "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke before the sun was + up, and began his song. Peck used to grumble at being roused at dawn, for + he was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were glad to get out of the + hen-house. + </p> + <p> + The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the + farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him. + </p> + <p> + "I came out of the shell first, and I am the oldest; so I ought to be + king," he said. + </p> + <p> + "But we don't like you, because you are selfish, cross, and lazy. We want + Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid bird, and + <i>he</i> must be our king," answered the hens; and Peck had to mind, or + they would have pulled every feather out of his little tail. + </p> + <p> + He resolved to do some harm to his good brother, and plagued him all he + could. One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a + bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near to + come and put his heavy foot on the bush. He did it, and crack went the + branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were drowned + but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, Chirp, and + Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, and were + never seen again. All the hens mourned for them, and put a black feather + in their heads to show how sorry they were. Mamma Partlet was heart-broken + to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted her, and never told + how it happened, because he was ashamed to have people know what a bad + bird Peck was. + </p> + <p> + A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny Cockletop about it; and the + hens were so angry that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and he had + to go and live in the woods alone. He said he didn't care; but he did, and + was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field where + the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show himself, for + they would have driven him out. But kind Cocky saw him, and would run with + some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, saying,—"Poor + brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with you, and tell you + the news." + </p> + <p> + Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had been planning to eat Peck as soon + as he was fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he used to have, and + grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berries. While he waited the sly + fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird knew that foxes ate hens. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not afraid, and I don't believe old Granny Cockletop's tales. I can + take care of myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing with the fox, + who got him to tell all about the hen-house,—how the door was + fastened, and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went to + bed,—so that he could creep in and steal a good supper by and by. + Silly Peck never guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when + Cocky said,— + </p> + <p> + "You will be sorry if you play with the fox. He is a bad fellow; so be + careful and sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, as I do." + </p> + <p> + Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, + because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. + This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and so + one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to the + fox,— + </p> + <p> + "See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it. + He has promised to bring me some food to-night, when all the rest are at + roost. He will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old + biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all I + want out of the pan. You hide on the top of the hen-house; and while he + talks to me, you can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only cock here, + and they will have to make me king." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said the fox, much pleased with the plan, and very glad that + Peck had a chance to get fatter. + </p> + <p> + So when it was night, Peck crept through the broken paling and waited till + he heard the signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from his own + dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread them all + out in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in a great hurry to eat + them, never stopping to say, "Thank you." + </p> + <p> + Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up. + </p> + <p> + "Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over you; then you will be dry, and + can go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till you are + done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to remember + anything else. + </p> + <p> + Now the fox had just crept up on the hen-house roof; and when he peeped + down, there was just light enough to see a white thing bobbing about. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good supper!" And with a jump he + seized Peck by the head before he could explain the mistake. + </p> + <p> + One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell off, + and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to eat + Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the farmer + ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through the hole + in the fence with the fowl in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when they + heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better than + ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them. + </p> + <p> + King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,—pure white, with a tall + red comb on his head, long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers in + his tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that it + could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, "Hark! + hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Isn't it a sweet sound to wake us in the + dawn?" All the other cocks used to answer him, and there was a fine + matinee concert every day. + </p> + <p> + He was a good brother, and led his five little sisters all about the + field, feeding, guarding, and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, and + could not stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run + home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, + who was very proud of her handsome son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who + scolded about everything, liked him; and often said, as the hens sat + scuffling in the dust,— + </p> + <p> + "A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and I know he will do something + remarkable before he dies." + </p> + <p> + She was right for once; and this is what he did. + </p> + <p> + One day the farmer had to go away and stay all night, leaving the old lady + alone with two boys. They were not afraid; for they had a gun, and quite + longed for a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer had a good + deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they waited for + him to go away that they might steal it. Cocky was picking about in the + field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping through a hole saw + two shabby men hiding there. + </p> + <p> + "At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we will creep in at the kitchen + window and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and whistle if + any one comes along while I'm looking for the box where the farmer keeps + it," said one man. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be afraid; there is no dog, and no one to wake the family, so + we are quite safe," said the other man; and then they both went to sleep + till night came. + </p> + <p> + Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do. He could not tell the + old lady about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and she would not + understand that language. So he went about all day looking very sober, and + would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the big burdock + leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he did not go into + the hen-house with the rest, but flew up to the shed roof over the + kitchen, and sat there in the cold ready to scare the robbers with a loud + crow, as he could do nothing else. + </p> + <p> + At midnight the men came creeping along; one stopped outside, and the + other went in. Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and went back + for the money. Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a + loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys. The man + with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; the + other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and picked + at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned to run + some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him in the + legs. The old lady popped her head out of the upper window and rang the + dinner-bell, and called "Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused the + neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble could be. + </p> + <p> + They fished one man out of the well and picked up the wounded one, and + carried them both off to prison. + </p> + <p> + "Who caught them?" asked the people. + </p> + <p> + "We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we + shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the + rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this is the second time he has + caught a thief." + </p> + <p> + So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his + family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward. + </p> + <p> + When the robbers were tried, it was found that they were the men who had + robbed the bank, and taken a great deal of money; so every one was glad to + have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people would + go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was so brave + and handsome, they said at last,— + </p> + <p> + "We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow + let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky + ought to be remembered in some way. + </p> + <p> + So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye on + the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the + court-house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, and + twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were never + tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a procession + one moonlight night to see it,—yes, even Mamma Partlet and Granny + Cockletop, though one was lame and the other very old, so full of pride + were they in the great honor done King Cockyloo. + </p> + <p> + This was not the end of his good deeds; and the last was the best of all, + though it cost him his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his kingdom + in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other fowls + were taken for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But he did die at last; + and even then he was good and brave, as you shall hear. + </p> + <p> + One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and went behind the hen-house, so + nobody should see him do such a silly thing. He thought he heard his + father coming, and hid the pipe under the house. Some straw and dry leaves + lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the boy ran + away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to burning + nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to help. The door + was locked, and could not be opened, because the key was in the pocket of + the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe and chopped down the wall, + letting the poor biddies fly out, squawking and smoking. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed + the king of the farmyard. + </p> + <p> + "Burnt up, I'm afraid," said the farmer, who was throwing water on the + flames. + </p> + <p> + Alas! yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky + sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks + whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away, and sat + chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke + choked <i>him</i> to death. + </p> + <p> + Every one was very sorry; and the children gave the good bird a fine + funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a green mound + over him, and a white stone, on which was written,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew: + We mourn for him with sorrow true. + Now nevermore at dawn his music shall we hear, + Waking the world like trumpet shrill and clear. + The hens all hang their heads, the chickens sadly peep; + The boys look sober, and the girls all weep. + Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest, + With grass and daisies on your faithful breast; + And when you wake, brave bird, so good and true, + Clap your white wings and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo." +</pre> + <p> + {Illustration: The lion walked awhile to rest himself.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY. + </h2> + <p> + Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with her mother in a small house in + the woods. They were very poor, for the father had gone away to dig gold, + and did not come back; so they had to work hard to get food to eat and + clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when she was able, for she was often + sick, and Rosy did all she could to help. She milked the red cow and fed + the hens; dug the garden, and went to town to sell the yarn and the eggs. + </p> + <p> + She was very good and sweet, and every one loved her; but the neighbors + were all poor, and could do little to help the child. So, when at last the + mother died, the cow and hens and house had to be sold to pay the doctor + and the debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no mother, no home, and + no money to buy clothes and dinners with. + </p> + <p> + "What will you do?" said the people, who were very sorry for her. + </p> + <p> + "I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, bravely. + </p> + <p> + "But he is far away, and you don't know just where he is, up among the + mountains. Stay with us and spin on your little wheel, and we will buy the + yarn, and take care of you, dear little girl," said the kind people. + </p> + <p> + "No, I must go; for mother told me to, and my father will be glad to have + me. I'm not afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, gratefully. + </p> + <p> + Then the people gave her a warm red cloak, and a basket with a little loaf + and bottle of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more to eat when the + bread was gone. They all kissed her, and wished her good luck; and she + trotted away through the wood to find her father. + </p> + <p> + For some days she got on very well; for the wood-cutters were kind, and + let her sleep in their huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by she + came to lonely places, where there were no houses; and then she was + afraid, and used to climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat berries + and leaves, like the Children in the Wood. + </p> + <p> + She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would not come near her; and if + she met other travellers, she was so young and innocent no one had the + heart to hurt her. She was kind to everything she met; so all little + creatures were friends to her, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw a tiny fish on the bank, + nearly dead for want of water. + </p> + <p> + "Poor thing! go and be happy again," she said, softly taking him up, and + dropping him into the nice cool river. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, dear child; I'll not forget, but will help you some day," said + the fish, when he had taken a good drink, and felt better. + </p> + <p> + "Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great girl as I am?" laughed Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam away with a flap of his + little tail. + </p> + <p> + Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. But she never forgot to be + kind; and soon after, as she was looking in the grass for strawberries, + she found a field-mouse with a broken leg. + </p> + <p> + "Help me to my nest, or my babies will starve," cried the poor thing. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that you can keep still till your + leg is better, and have something to eat." + </p> + <p> + Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little hand, and tied up the broken + leg with a leaf of spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she carried her to + the nest under the roots of an old tree, where four baby mice were + squeaking sadly for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown for the + sick mouse, and put close within reach all the berries and seeds she could + find, and brought an acorn-cup of water from the spring, so they could be + comfortable. + </p> + <p> + "Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this kindness some day," said + the mouse, when she was done. + </p> + <p> + "I'm afraid you are not big enough to do much," answered Rosy, as she ran + off to go on her journey. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the little ones squeaked, as if + they said the same. + </p> + <p> + Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, waiting for the sun to rise, + she heard a great buzzing close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb that + went from one twig to another. The big spider was trying to spin him all + up, and the poor fly was struggling to get away before his legs and wings + were helpless. + </p> + <p> + Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the web, and the spider ran away at + once to hide under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on Rosy's hand, + cleaning his wings, and buzzing so loud for joy that it sounded like a + little trumpet. + </p> + <p> + "You've saved my life, and I'll save yours, if I can," said the fly, + twinkling his bright eye at Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "You silly thing, you can't help me," answered Rosy, climbing down, while + the fly buzzed away, saying, like the mouse and fish,— + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see; wait and see." + </p> + <p> + Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came to the sea. The mountains + were on the other side; but how should she get over the wide water? No + ships were there, and she had no money to hire one if there had been any; + so she sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a few big tears as + salt as the sea. + </p> + <p> + "Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close by; and the fish popped up + his head. Rosy ran to see what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + "I've come to help you over the water," said the fish. + </p> + <p> + "How can you, when I want a ship, and some one to show me the way?" + answered Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "I shall just call my friend the whale, and he will take you over better + than a ship, because he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts and + flounces about a good deal, he is only playing; so you needn't be + frightened." + </p> + <p> + Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to see what would happen; for + she didn't believe such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to help + her. + </p> + <p> + Presently what looked like a small island came floating through the sea; + and turning round, so that its tail touched the shore, the whale said, in + a roaring voice that made her jump,— + </p> + <p> + "Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. I'll carry you wherever you + like." + </p> + <p> + It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was rather scared at this big, + strange boat; but she got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a roll + and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting two fountains, while his tail + steered him like the rudder of a ship. + </p> + <p> + Rosy liked it, and looked down into the deep sea, where all sorts of queer + and lovely things were to be seen. Great fishes came and looked at her; + dolphins played near to amuse her; the pretty nautilus sailed by in its + transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh with their rough play. + Mermaids brought her pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to eat, and + at night sung her to sleep with their sweet lullabies. + </p> + <p> + So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran on shore with many thanks to + the good whale, who gave a splendid spout, and swam away. + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a desert. Hundreds of miles of + hot sand, with no trees or brooks or houses. + </p> + <p> + "I never can go that way," she said; "I should starve, and soon be worn + out walking in that hot sand. What <i>shall</i> I do?" + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Quee, quee! + Wait and see: + You were good to me; + So here I come, + From my little home, + To help you willingly," +</pre> + <p> + said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its + bright eyes full of gratitude. + </p> + <p> + "Why, you dear little thing, I'm very glad to see you; but I'm sure you + can't help me across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft back. + </p> + <p> + "That's easy enough," answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. "I'll + just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he'll take you across + with pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I'm afraid he'd rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce beast?" + cried Rosy, much surprised. + </p> + <p> + "I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a noble + animal, and he will keep his word." + </p> + <p> + Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "O lion, grand, + Come over the sand, + And help me now, I pray! + Here's a little lass, + Who wants to pass; + Please carry her on her way." +</pre> + <p> + In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with fiery + eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them. + </p> + <p> + "What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he said, looking at the mouse, who + was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every + moment to be eaten. + </p> + <p> + Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,— + </p> + <p> + "I'll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold fast + to my mane, for I'm a swift horse, and you might fall off." + </p> + <p> + Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was so + kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand till + her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she thought + it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers rolled their + fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion was king of + all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with loads on + their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered what queer thing + was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large monkey in a red + cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a little girl. + </p> + <p> + "How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little + creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert," said + Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself. + </p> + <p> + "And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have + come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make + them gentle and friendly by kindness," answered the lion. + </p> + <p> + Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green + country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one saw + him, they would try to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father," thought + Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads winding + up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts where the + men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took the wrong + road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in rocks over + which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for her food was + gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night was coming on, + and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before morning, but + dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole and be killed. + Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a little; then she + tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, and looking + carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if anxious to make + her listen to his song,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Rosy, my dear, + Don't cry,—I'm here + To help you all I can. + I'm only a fly, + But you'll see that I + Will keep my word like a man." +</pre> + <p> + Rosy couldn't help laughing to hear the brisk little fellow talk as if he + could do great things; but she was very glad to see him and hear his + cheerful song, so she held out her finger, and while he sat there told him + all her troubles. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will carry you right up the + mountains and leave you at your father's door," cried the fly; and he was + off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant what he said. + </p> + <p> + Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not at all afraid after the whale + and the lion; so when a great eagle swooped down and alighted near her, + she just looked at his sharp claws, big eyes, and crooked beak as coolly + as if he had been a cock-robin. + </p> + <p> + He liked her courage, and said kindly in his rough voice,— + </p> + <p> + "Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. Hold me fast round the + neck, or you may grow dizzy and get a fall." + </p> + <p> + Rosy nestled down among the thick gray feathers, and put both arms round + his neck; and whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, till the + trees looked like grass, they were so far below. At first it was very + cold, and Rosy cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as they came + nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and she peeped out to see the huts + standing in a green spot on the top of the mountain. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. You'll find all the men are down in the mine at this time. + They won't come up till morning; so you will have to wait for your father. + Good-by; good luck, my dear." And the eagle soared away, higher still, to + his nest among the clouds. + </p> + <p> + It was night now, but fires were burning in all the houses; so Rosy went + from hut to hut trying to find her father's, that she might rest while she + waited: at last in one the picture of a pretty little girl hung on the + wall, and under it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew that this was the + right place; and she ate some supper, put on more wood, and went to bed, + for she wanted to be fresh when her father came in the morning. + </p> + <p> + While she slept a storm came on,—thunder rolled and lightning + flashed, the wind blew a gale, and rain poured,—but Rosy never waked + till dawn, when she heard men shouting outside,— + </p> + <p> + "Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all be drowned!" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, though the wind nearly blew her + away; she found that so much rain had made the river overflow till it + began to wash the banks away. + </p> + <p> + "What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried Rosy, watching the men rush + about like ants, getting their bags of gold ready to carry off before the + water swept them away, if it became a flood. + </p> + <p> + As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice say close by,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Splash, dash! + Rumble and crash! + Here come the beavers gay; + See what they do, + Rosy, for you, + Because you helped <i>me</i> one day." +</pre> + <p> + And there in the water was the little fish swimming about, while an army + of beavers began to pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep the + river back. How they worked, digging and heaping with teeth and claws, and + beating the earth hard with their queer tails like shovels! Rosy and the + men watched them work, glad to be safe, while the storm cleared up; and by + the time the dam was made, all danger was over. Rosy looked into the faces + of the rough men, hoping her father was there, and was just going to ask + about him, when a great shouting rose again, and all began to run to the + pit hole, saying,— + </p> + <p> + "The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows will be smothered! How can we + get them out? how can we get them out?" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would break; for her father was down + in the mine, and would die soon if air did not come to him. The men dug as + hard as they could; but it was a long job, and they feared they would not + be in time. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering along, and began to burrow down + through the earth, making many holes for air to go in; for they know how + to build galleries through the ground better than men can. Every one was + so surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt flew like rain as the + busy little fellows scratched and bored as if making an underground + railway. + </p> + <p> + "What does it mean?" said the men. "They work faster than we can, and + better; but who sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?" + </p> + <p> + Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, small voice singing,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "They come at my call; + And though they are small, + They'll dig the passage clear: + I never forget; + We'll save them yet, + For love of Rosy dear." +</pre> + <p> + Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on a stone, waving her tail + about, and pointing with her tiny paw to show the moles where to dig. + </p> + <p> + The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them who she was, when a cry came + from the pit, and they saw that the way was clear so they could pull the + buried men up. In a minute they got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows + safe on the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all shouting as if + they were crazy,— + </p> + <p> + "Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!" + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" cried the others; and then they saw Tom come up with the + biggest lump of gold ever found in the mountains. + </p> + <p> + Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was a good man, and had worked a + long time, and been sick, and couldn't go back to his wife and child. When + he saw Rosy, he dropped the lump, and caught her up, saying,— + </p> + <p> + "My little girl! she's better than a million pounds of gold." + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy was very happy, and went back to the hut, and had a lovely time + telling her father all about her troubles and her travels. He cried when + he heard that the poor mother was dead before she could have any of the + good things the gold would buy them. + </p> + <p> + "We will go away and be happy together in the pleasantest home I can find, + and never part any more, my darling," said the father, kissing Rosy as she + sat on his knee with her arms round his neck. + </p> + <p> + She was just going to say something very sweet to comfort him, when a fly + lit on her arm and buzzed very loud,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Don't drive me away, + But hear what I say: + Bad men want the gold; + They will steal it to-night, + And you must take flight; + So be quiet and busy and bold." +</pre> + <p> + "I was afraid some one would take my lump away. I'll pack up at once, and + we will creep off while the men are busy at work; though I'm afraid we + can't go fast enough to be safe, if they miss us and come after," said + Tom, bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; for some of the + miners were wild fellows, and might kill him for the sake of that great + lump. + </p> + <p> + But the fly sang again,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Slip away with me, + And you will see + What a wise little thing am I; + For the road I show + No man can know, + Since it's up in the pathless sky." +</pre> + <p> + Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in the wood; and there were the + eagle and his mate waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far that + no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of gold were put on the mother + eagle; Tom sat astride the king bird; and away they flew to a great city, + where the little girl and her father lived happily together all their + lives. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY. + </h2> + <p> + Two little boys sat on the fence whittling arrows one fine day. Said one + little boy to the other little boy,— + </p> + <p> + "Let's do something jolly." + </p> + <p> + "All right. What will we do?" + </p> + <p> + "Run off to the woods and be hunters." + </p> + <p> + "What can we hunt?" + </p> + <p> + "Bears and foxes." + </p> + <p> + "Mullin says there ain't any round here." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare wood-chucks." + </p> + <p> + "Haven't got any guns and trap." + </p> + <p> + "We've got our bows, and I found an old trap behind the barn." + </p> + <p> + "What will we eat?" + </p> + <p> + "Here's our lunch; and when that's gone we can roast the squirrels and + cook the fish on a stick. I know how." + </p> + <p> + "Where will you get the fire?" + </p> + <p> + "Got matches in my pocket." + </p> + <p> + "I've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see." + </p> + <p> + And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy displayed his treasures, while + bold Tommy did the same. + </p> + <p> + Besides the two knives there were strings, nails, matches, a piece of + putty, fish-hooks, and two very dirty handkerchiefs. + </p> + <p> + "There, sir, that's a first-rate fit-out for hunters; and with the jolly + basket of lunch Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top for two or + three days," said Tommy, eager to be off. + </p> + <p> + "Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who liked to be comfortable both + night and day. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like the fellows in our books. If + you are afraid, stay at home; I'm going to have no end of a good time." + And Tommy crammed the things back into his pockets as if there were no + time to lose. + </p> + <p> + "Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And jumping down Billy caught up his rod, + rather ashamed of his many questions. + </p> + <p> + No one was looking at them, and they might have walked quietly off; but + that the "running away" might be all right, both raced down the road, + tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the woods as if a whole tribe of wild + Indians were after them. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when at last they stopped for breath. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but we'd better not keep to it, or + some one will see us and take us back. We are going to be <i>real</i> + hunters and have adventures; so we must get lost, and find our way by the + sun and the stars," answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' Books his + little head was a jumble of Texan Rangers, African Explorers, and Buffalo + Bills; and he burned to outdo them all. + </p> + <p> + "What will our mothers say if we really get lost?" asked Billy, always + ready with a question. + </p> + <p> + "Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like." + </p> + <p> + That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma was tired of trying to keep the + lively little fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him come out of + all his scrapes without much harm. + </p> + <p> + "Mine will be scared; she's always afraid I'm going to get hurt, so I'm + careful. But I guess I'll risk it, and have some fun to tell about when we + go home," said Billy, trudging after Captain Tommy, who always took the + lead. + </p> + <p> + These eleven-year-old boys were staying with their mothers at a farm-house + up among the mountains; and having got tired of the tame bears, the big + barn, the trout brook, the thirty colts at pasture, and the society of the + few little girls and younger boys at the hotel near by, these fine fellows + longed to break loose and "rough it in the bush," as the hunters did in + their favorite stories. + </p> + <p> + Away they went, deeper and deeper into the great forest that covered the + side of the mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it was cool + and green, with many brooks splashing over the rocks, or lying in brown + pools under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced in the tall pines; + now and then a gray rabbit skipped out of sight among the brakes, or a + strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries grew in the open places, + sassafras bushes were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready for + chewing. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, pausing at last in a little dell + where a noisy brook came tumbling down the mountain side, and the pines + sung overhead. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I'm awful hungry. Let's rest and eat our lunch," said Billy, + sitting down on a cushion of moss. + </p> + <p> + "You always want to be stuffing and resting," answered sturdy Tommy, who + liked to be moving all the time. + </p> + <p> + He took the fishing-basket, which hung over his shoulder by a strap, and + opened it carefully; for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch of bread + and butter, cake and peaches, with a bottle of milk, and two large pickles + slipped in on the sly to please the boys. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked in, for all he saw was a box of + worms for bait and an old jacket. + </p> + <p> + "By George! we've got the wrong basket. This is Mullin's, and he's gone + off with our prog. Won't he be mad?" + </p> + <p> + "Not as mad as I am. Why didn't you look? You are always in such a hurry + to start. What <i>shall</i> we do now without anything to eat?" whined + Billy; for losing his lunch was a dreadful blow to him. + </p> + <p> + "We shall have to catch some fish and eat blackberries. Which will you do, + old cry-baby?" said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face. + </p> + <p> + "I'll fish; I'm so tired I can't go scratching round after berries. I + don't love 'em, either." And Billy began to fix his line and bait his + hook. + </p> + <p> + "Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em if you can't wait for fish," said + Tommy, bustling about to empty the basket and pile up their few + possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool below here, you go and fish + there. I'll pick the berries, and then show you how to get dinner in the + woods. This is our camp; so fly round and do your best." + </p> + <p> + Then Tommy ran off to a place near by where he had seen the berries, while + Billy found a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling at the water + so crossly, it was a wonder any trout came to his hook. But the fat worms + tempted several small ones, and he cheered up at the prospect of food. + Tommy whistled while he picked, and in half an hour came back with two + quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry sticks for the fire. + </p> + <p> + "We'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, as the flames went + crackling up, and the dry leaves made a pleasant smell. + </p> + <p> + "Got four, but don't see how we'll ever cook 'em; no frying-pan," grumbled + Billy, throwing down the four little trout, which he had half cleaned. + </p> + <p> + "Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or toast 'em on a forked stick. + I'll show you how," said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding his + fire as much like a real hunter as a small boy could be. + </p> + <p> + While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed for bread and butter. At + last, after much trouble, two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly + eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very different from the nice brown + ones Mrs. Mullin gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles they would + fall in the ashes, and there was no salt to eat with them. By the time the + last were toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they could have eaten + anything, and not a berry was left. + </p> + <p> + "I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole among the vines, and I + shouldn't wonder if we got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when the + last bone was polished. "You go and catch some more fish, and I'll see if + I have caught any old chap as he went home to dinner." + </p> + <p> + Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went slowly back to the brook, wishing + with all his might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie. + </p> + <p> + The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, for not one bite did poor + Billy get; and he was just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him such + a fright that he tumbled into the brook up to his knees. + </p> + <p> + "I've got him! Come and see! He's a bouncer," roared Tommy, from the berry + bushes some way off. + </p> + <p> + Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his wet boots would let him, to + see what the prize was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round a fat gray + animal, who was fighting to get his paws out of the trap, and making a + queer noise as he struggled about. + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a tree as fast as possible, for + the thing looked fierce, and he was very timid. + </p> + <p> + "A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. Won't his fur make a fine cap? I + guess the other fellows will wish they'd come with us." said Tommy, + prancing to and fro, without the least idea what to do with the creature. + </p> + <p> + "He'll bite. We'd better run away and wait till he's dead," said Billy. + </p> + <p> + "Wish he'd got his head in, then I could carry him off; but he does look + savage, so we'll have to leave him awhile, and get him when we come back. + But he's a real beauty." And Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of gray fur + scuffling in the sand. + </p> + <p> + "Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, ready for a fried crocodile if + he could get it. + </p> + <p> + "If he's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know about woodchucks. The fellows + in my books don't seem to have caught any. He's nice and fat; we might try + him when he's dead," said Tommy, who cared more for the skin to show than + the best meal ever cooked. + </p> + <p> + The sound of a gun echoing through the wood gave Tommy a good idea,— + </p> + <p> + "Let's find the man and get him to shoot this chap; then we needn't wait, + but skin him right away, and eat him too." + </p> + <p> + Off they went to the camp; and catching up their things, the two hunters + hurried away in the direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that some + one was near them, for two or three hours of wood life made them a little + homesick. + </p> + <p> + They ran and scrambled, and listened and called; but not until they had + gone a long way up the mountain did they find the man, resting in an old + hut left by the lumbermen. The remains of his dinner were spread on the + floor, and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, while his dog dozed at + his feet, close to a well-filled game-bag. + </p> + <p> + He looked surprised when two dirty, wet little boys suddenly appeared + before him,—one grinning cheerfully, the other looking very dismal + and scared as the dog growled and glared at them as if they were two + rabbits. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" said the man + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" answered Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Who are you?" asked the man. + </p> + <p> + "Hunters," said Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Had good luck?" And the man laughed. + </p> + <p> + "First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and we want you to come and shoot + him," answered Tommy, proudly. + </p> + <p> + "Sure?" said the man, looking interested as well as amused. + </p> + <p> + "No, but I think so." + </p> + <p> + "What's he like?" + </p> + <p> + Tommy described him, and was much disappointed when the man lay down + again, saying, with another laugh,— + </p> + <p> + "It's a woodchuck; he's no good." + </p> + <p> + "But I want the skin." + </p> + <p> + "Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's better for the skin," said the + man, who was tired and didn't want to stop for such poor game. + </p> + <p> + All this time Billy had been staring hard at the sandwiches and bread and + cheese on the floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at him. + </p> + <p> + "Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing the hungry look. + </p> + <p> + "I just do! We left our lunch, and I've only had two little trout and some + old berries since breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his eyes and a + hand on his stomach. + </p> + <p> + "Eat away then; I'm done, and don't want the stuff." And the man took up + his paper as if glad to be let alone. + </p> + <p> + It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in ten minutes nothing was + left but the napkin; and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much + refreshed, but ready for more. + </p> + <p> + "Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty cold on the mountain after + sunset, and you are a long way from town," said the man, who had peeped at + them over his paper now and then, and saw, in spite of the dirt and rips, + that they were not farmer boys. + </p> + <p> + "We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in the valley. No hurry; we + know the way, and we want to have some sport first. You seem to have done + well," answered Tommy, looking enviously from the gun to the game-bag, out + of which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail. + </p> + <p> + "Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. People tell me there is one + up here, and I'm after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt some of + the young folks round here," said the man, loading his gun with a very + sober air; for he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home. + </p> + <p> + Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown face beamed with joy as he said + eagerly,— + </p> + <p> + "I hope you'll get him. I'd rather shoot a bear than any other animal but + a lion. We don't have those here, and bears are scarce. Mullin said he + hadn't heard of one for a long time; so this must be a young one, for they + killed the big one two years ago." + </p> + <p> + That was true, and the man knew it. He did not really expect or want to + meet a bear, but thought the idea of one would send the little fellows + home at once. Finding one of them was unscared, he laughed, and said with + a nod to Tommy,— + </p> + <p> + "If I had time I'd take <i>you</i> along, and show you how to hunt; but + this fat friend of yours couldn't rough it with us, and we can't leave him + alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I wouldn't climb any higher, for + among the rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I know you'll like it. A real gun + and dog and hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," cried Tommy, + wild to go. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; you can go after your old bears + if you want to. I don't think much of hunting anyway, and wish I hadn't + come," growled Billy, very cross at being left out, yet with no desire to + scramble any more. + </p> + <p> + "Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and some day I'll come and take you + out with me, little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding off with the + dear gun and dog and bag, leaving Billy to wonder what he meant by that + queer name, and Tommy to console himself with the promise made him. + </p> + <p> + "Let's go and see how old Chucky gets on," he said good-naturedly, when + the man vanished. + </p> + <p> + "Not till I'm rested. I can get a good nap on this pile of hay; then we'll + go home before it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself on the + rough bed the lumbermen had used. + </p> + <p> + "I just wish I had a boy with some go in him; you ain't much better than a + girl," sighed Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some squirrels + seemed to be having a party, they chattered and raced up and down at such + a rate. + </p> + <p> + He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many times in vain, for the + lively creatures gave him no chance. He had better luck with a brown bird + who sat in a bush and was hit full in the breast with the sharpest arrow. + The poor thing fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green leaves as + it lay dying on the grass. Tommy was much pleased at first; but as he + stood watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty brown wings stop + fluttering, he felt sorry that its happy little life was so cruelly ended, + and ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so much pain. + </p> + <p> + "I'll never shoot another bird except hawks after chickens, and I won't + brag about this one. It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean to + kill it." + </p> + <p> + As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the ruffled feathers of the dead + thrush, and, making a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped in + green leaves, and left it there where its mate could sing over it, and no + rude hands disturb its rest. + </p> + <p> + "I'll tell mamma and she will understand: but I <i>won't</i> tell Billy. + He is such a greedy old chap he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird + to eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, and sat there, + restringing his bow, till Billy woke up, much more amiable for his sleep. + </p> + <p> + They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost their way, and wandered deeper + into the great forest till they came to a rocky place and could go no + farther. They climbed up and tumbled down, turned back and went round, + looked at the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras bark and + checkerberry leaves for supper, and grew more and more worried and tired + as hour after hour went by and they saw no end to woods and rocks. Once or + twice they heard the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried to find + him. + </p> + <p> + Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the man, who knew his way and was + probably safe in the valley when the last faint shot came up to them. + Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for proposing to run away; and both felt + very homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds at Farmer + Mullin's. + </p> + <p> + The sun set, and found them in a dreary place full of rocks and blasted + trees half-way up the mountain. They were so tired they could hardly walk, + and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; but, remembering the hunter's + story of the bear, they were afraid to do it, till Tommy suggested + climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot of it to scare away the + bear, lest he climb too and get them. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! the matches were left in their first camp; so they decided to + take turns to sleep and watch, since it was plain that they must spend the + night there. Billy went up first, and creeping into a good notch of the + bare tree tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with a big stick, + marched to and fro below. Every few minutes a trembling voice would call + from above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious voice would answer from + below, "Not yet. Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn." + </p> + <p> + At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy felt so lonely he couldn't + bear it; so he climbed to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying to + keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and the early moon saw the poor + boys roosting there like two little owls. + </p> + <p> + A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then a great shaking and howling + waked Tommy so suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and did not + know where he was. + </p> + <p> + "The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! Tommy, Tommy, come and make him + let go," cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls. + </p> + <p> + Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large bear eating his unhappy + friend; but the moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy dangling from + a bough, high above the ground, caught by his belt when he fell. He had + been dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so there he hung, + kicking and wailing, half awake, and so scared it was long before Tommy + could make him believe that he was quite safe. + </p> + <p> + How to get him down was the next question. The branch was not strong + enough to bear Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to unhook poor Billy. + The belt was firmly twisted at the back, and Billy could not reach to undo + it, nor could he get his legs round the branch to pull himself up. There + seemed no way but to unbuckle the belt and drop. That he was afraid to + try; for the ground was hard, and the fall a high one. Fortunately both + belt and buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though very uncomfortably, + while Tommy racked his boyish brain to find a way to help him. + </p> + <p> + Billy had just declared that he should be cut in two very soon if + something was not done for him, and Tommy was in despair, when they + thought they heard a far-off shout, and both answered it till their + throats were nearly split with screaming. + </p> + <p> + "I seem to see a light moving round down that way," cried Billy from his + hook, pointing toward the valley. + </p> + <p> + "They are looking for us, but they won't hear us. I'll run and holler + louder, and bring 'em up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything that + would put an end to this dreadful state of things. + </p> + <p> + "Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! The bear might come! Don't go! + don't go!" wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid. + </p> + <p> + "I won't go far, and I'll come back as quick as I can. You are safe up + there. Hold on, and we'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, rushing away + helter-skelter, never minding where he went, and too much excited to care + for any damage. + </p> + <p> + The moon was bright on the blasted trees; but when he came down among the + green pines, it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. Never minding + bumps and bruises, he scrambled over rocks, leaped fallen trunks, + floundered through brooks, and climbed down steep places, till, with a + reckless jump, he went heels over head into a deep hole, and lay there for + a moment stunned by the fall. It was an old bear-trap, long unused, and + fortunately well carpeted with dead leaves, or poor Tommy would have + broken his bones. + </p> + <p> + When he came to himself he was so used up that he lay still for some time + in a sort of daze, too tired to know or care about anything, only dimly + conscious that somebody was lost in a tree or a well, and that, on the + whole, running away was not all fun. + </p> + <p> + By and by the sound of a gun roused him; and remembering poor Billy, he + tried to get out of the pit,—for the moon showed him where he was. + But it was too deep, and he was too stiff with weariness and the fall to + be very nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and raged about very like a + little bear caught in the pit. + </p> + <p> + It is very difficult to find a lost person on these great mountains, and + many wander for hours not far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, + the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them in. Some have lost their + lives; and as Tommy lay on the leaves used up by his various struggles, he + thought of all the stories he had lately heard at the farm, and began to + wonder how it would feel to starve to death down there, and to wish poor + Billy could come to share his prison, that they might die together, like + the Babes in the Wood, or better still the Boy Scouts lost on the prairies + in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, the Wild Hunter of the West." + </p> + <p> + "I guess mother is worried this time, because I never stayed out all night + before, and I never will again without leave. It's rather good fun, + though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and it isn't very cold. I + always wanted to sleep out, and now I'm doing it. Wish poor Billy was + safely down and in this good bed with me. Won't he be scared all alone + there? Maybe the belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. Sorry now I + left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. There's the gun again! Guess it's that + man after us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! Hi! hi! hi!" + </p> + <p> + Tommy's meditations ended in a series of yells as loud as his shrill + little voice could make them, and he thought some one answered. But it + must have been an echo, for no one came; and after another rampage round + his prison, the poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and went fast + asleep because there was nothing else to do. + </p> + <p> + So there they were, the two young hunters, lost at midnight on the + mountain,—one hanging like an apple on the old tree, and the other + sound asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers meantime were weeping + and wringing their hands at the farm, while all the men in the + neighborhood were out looking for the lost boys. The hunter on his return + to the hotel had reported meeting the runaways and his effort to send them + home in good season; so people knew where to look, and, led by the man and + dog, up the mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. It was a mild night, + and the moon shone high and clear; so the hunt was, on the whole, rather + easy and pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through the dark forest + like fireflies, the lonely cliffs seemed alive with men, and voices echoed + in places where usually only the brooks babbled and the hawks screamed. + But as time went on, and no sign of the boys appeared, the men grew + anxious, and began to fear some serious harm had come to the runaways. + </p> + <p> + "I can't go home without them little shavers no way, 'specially Tommy," + said Mr. Mullin, as they stopped to rest after a hard climb through the + blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own heart, spry as a chipmunk, smart + as a young cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. He ain't afraid + of anything, and I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find him enjoyin' + himself first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber." + </p> + <p> + "The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. If it hadn't been for him + I'd have kept the lively fellow with me, and shown him how to hunt. Sorry + now I didn't take them both home," said the man with the gun, seeing his + mistake too late, as people often do. + </p> + <p> + "Maybe they've fell down a precipice and got killed, like Moses Warner, + when he was lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted himself + hoarse. + </p> + <p> + "Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' yonder, and he may have found + 'em," said the farmer, hurrying toward the place where the hound was + baying at something in a tree. + </p> + <p> + It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half unconscious with weariness + and fear. The belt had slipped up under his arms, so he could breathe + easily; and there he was, looking like a queer sort of cone on the blasted + pine. + </p> + <p> + "Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as the tall lad climbed up, and, + unhooking Billy, handed him down like a young bird, into the arms held up + to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "He's all right, only scared out of his wits. Come along and look for the + other one. I'll warrant he went for help, and may be half-way home by this + time," said the hunter, who didn't take much interest in the fat boy. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing it to the dog, his master told + him to find the boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then set off with + his nose to the ground, following the zigzag track Tommy had taken in his + hurry. The hunter and several of the men went after him, leaving the + farmer with the others to take care of Billy. + </p> + <p> + Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and began to bark again. + </p> + <p> + "He's got him!" cried the men, much relieved; and rushing on soon saw the + good beast looking down at a little white object in one corner of the dark + hole. + </p> + <p> + It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the rest of him was covered up + with leaves. The little round face seemed very quiet; and for a moment the + men stood quite still, fearing that the fall might have done the boy some + harm. Then the hunter leaped down, and gently touched the brown cheek. It + was warm, and a soft snore from the pug nose made the man call out, much + relieved,— + </p> + <p> + "He's all right. Wake up here, little chap; you are wanted at home. Had + hunting enough for this time?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave a stretch, and said, "Hollo, + Billy," as calmly as if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of the + leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the sight of several men staring + down at him startled him wide awake. + </p> + <p> + "Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, looking up at the hunter with a + grin. + </p> + <p> + "No; but I caught a little one, and here he is," answered the man, giving + Tommy a roll in the leaves, much pleased because he did not whine or make + a fuss. + </p> + <p> + "Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's Billy? I left him up a tree like + a coon, and he wouldn't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking off his brown + bed-clothes, and quite ready to get up now. + </p> + <p> + They all laughed with him; and presently, when the story was told, they + pulled the boy out of the pit, and went back to join the other wanderer, + who was now sitting up eating the bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for + their very late supper. + </p> + <p> + The men roared again, as the two boys told their various tribulations; and + when they had been refreshed, the party started for home, blowing the tin + horns, and firing shot after shot to let the scattered searchers know that + the lost children were found. Billy was very quiet, and gladly rode on the + various broad backs offered for his use, but Tommy stoutly refused to be + carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a very rough place, walked + all the way down on his own sturdy legs. He was the hero of the adventure, + and was never tired of relating how he caught the woodchuck, cooked the + fish, slid down the big rock, and went to bed in the old bear-pit. But in + his own little mind he resolved to wait till he was older before he tried + to be a hunter; and though he caught several wood-chucks that summer, he + never shot another harmless little bird. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: A wasp flew out and stung her lips.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. THE FAIRY BOX. + </h2> + <p> + "I wish I had a magic bracelet like Rosamond's, that would prick me when I + was going to do wrong," said little May, as she put down the story she had + been reading. + </p> + <p> + There was no one else in the room, but she heard a sweet voice sing these + words close to her ear:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Now hark, little May, + If you want to do right, + Under your pillow + Just look every night. + If you have been good + All through the day, + A gift you will find, + Useful or gay; + But if you have been + Cross, selfish, or wild, + A bad thing will come + For the naughty child. + So try, little dear, + And soon you will see + How easy and sweet + To grow good it will be." +</pre> + <p> + May was very much surprised at this, and looked everywhere to see who + spoke, but could find no one. + </p> + <p> + "I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide open, and I can't make up + poetry, asleep or awake." + </p> + <p> + As she said that, some one laughed; and the same voice sang again,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Ha, ha, you can't see, + Although I am here; + But listen to what + I say in your ear. + Tell no one of this. + Because, if you do, + My fun will be spoilt, + And so will yours too. + But if you are good, + And patient, and gay, + A real fairy will come + To see little May." +</pre> + <p> + "Oh, how splendid that will be! I'll try hard, and be as good as an angel + if I can only get one peep at a live fairy. I always said there were such + people, and now I shall know how they look," cried the little girl, so + pleased that she danced all about the room, clapping her hands. + </p> + <p> + Something bright darted out of the window from among the flowers that + stood there, and no more songs were heard; so May knew that the elf had + gone. + </p> + <p> + "I've got a fine secret all to myself, and I'll keep it carefully. I + wonder what present will come to-night," she said, thinking this a very + interesting play. + </p> + <p> + She was very good all day, and made no fuss about going to bed, though + usually she fretted, and wanted to play, and called for water, and plagued + poor Nursey in many ways. She got safely into her little nest, and then + was in such a hurry to see what was under her pillow that she forgot, and + called out crossly,— + </p> + <p> + "Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang up my clothes, you slow old + thing! Go, go!" + </p> + <p> + That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away without her good-night kiss. + But May didn't care, and felt under her pillow the minute the door was + shut. A lamp was always left burning; so she could see the little gold box + she drew out. + </p> + <p> + "How pretty! I hope there is some candy in it," she said, opening it very + carefully. + </p> + <p> + Oh, dear! what <i>do</i> you think happened? A wasp flew out and stung her + lips; then both wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry alone, with + a sharp pain in the lips that said the unkind words. + </p> + <p> + "What a dreadful present! I don't like that spiteful fairy who sends such + horrid things," she sobbed. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay still and thought about it; for she dared not call any one, + because nobody must guess the secret. She knew in her own little heart + that the cross words hurt Nursey as the sting did her lips, and she felt + sorry. At once the smart got better, and by the time she had resolved to + ask the good old woman to forgive her, it was all gone. + </p> + <p> + Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged pardon, and tried hard to be + good till tea-time; then she ran to see what nice things they were going + to have to eat, though she had often been told not to go into the + dining-room. No one was there; and on the table stood a dish of delicious + little cakes, all white like snowballs. + </p> + <p> + "I must have just a taste, and I'll tell mamma afterward," she said; and + before she knew it one little cake was eaten all up. + </p> + <p> + "Nobody will miss it, and I can have another at tea. Now, a lump of sugar + and a sip of cream before mamma comes, I so like to pick round." + </p> + <p> + Having done one wrong thing, May felt like going on; so she nibbled and + meddled with all sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, then she + ran away; and by and by, when the bell rang, came in with the rest as prim + and proper as if she did not know how to play pranks. No one missed the + cake, and her mother gave her another, saying,— + </p> + <p> + "There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my good child." + </p> + <p> + May turned red, and wanted to tell what she had done, but was ashamed + because there was company; and people thought she blushed like a modest + little girl at being praised. + </p> + <p> + But when she went to bed she was almost afraid to look under the pillow, + knowing that she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew out the box, and + slowly opened it, expecting something to fly at her. All she saw was a + tiny black bag, that began at once to grow larger, till it was big enough + to hold her two hands. Then it tied itself tight round her wrists, as if + to keep these meddlesome hands out of mischief. + </p> + <p> + "Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful as the wasp. I hope no one + will see it when I'm asleep. I do wish I'd let those cakes and things + alone," sighed May, looking at the black bag, and vainly trying to get her + hands free. + </p> + <p> + She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke the bag was gone. No one had + seen it; but she told her mamma about the cake, and promised not to do so + any more. + </p> + <p> + "Now this shall be a <i>truly</i> good day, every bit of it," she said, as + she skipped away, feeling as light as a feather after she had confessed + her little sins. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, that May spoilt her day + before dinner by going to the river and playing with the boats, in spite + of many orders not to do it. She did not tell of it, and went to a party + in the afternoon, where she was so merry she never remembered the naughty + thing till she was in bed and opened the fairy box. A little chain + appeared, which in a flash grew long and large, and fastened round her + ankles as if she were a prisoner. May liked to tumble about, and was much + disgusted to be chained in this way; but there was no help for it, so she + lay very still and had plenty of time to be sorry. + </p> + <p> + "It is a good punishment for me, and I deserve it. I won't cry, but I will—I + <i>will</i> remember." And May said her prayers very soberly, really + meaning to keep her word this time. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she was very careful to keep her lips from cross words, + her hands from forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. Nothing + spoilt this day, she watched so well; and when mamma gave the good-night + kiss, she said,— + </p> + <p> + "What shall I give my good little daughter, who has been gentle, obedient, + and busy all day?" + </p> + <p> + "I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a pink ribbon on its neck," + answered May. + </p> + <p> + "I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, and happy dreams!" said + mamma, with many kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that was a + reward. + </p> + <p> + May was so busy thinking about the kitty and the good day that she forgot + the box till she heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped up her head to see. + </p> + <p> + Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, on a red cushion, lay a + white kit about two inches long. May couldn't believe that it was alive + till it jumped out of its nest, stretched itself, and grew all at once + just the right size to play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its + tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow was on its neck. It danced + all over the bed, ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, nipped May's + toes, licked her face, patted her nose with its soft paw, and winked at + her in such a funny way that she laughed for joy at having such a dear + kitty. Presently, as if it knew that bed was the place to lie quiet in, + puss cuddled down in a little bunch and purred May to sleep. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose that darling kit will be gone like all the other things," said + May, as she waked up and looked round for her first pretty gift. + </p> + <p> + No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the sun among the flower-pots, + washing her face and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic they had; + and how surprised every one was to see just the pussy May wanted! They + supposed it came as kitties often come; and May never told them it was a + fairy present, because she had promised not to. She was so happy with + little puss that she was good all day; and when she went to bed she + thought,— + </p> + <p> + "I wish I had a dog to play with darling Snowdrop, and run with me when I + go to walk." + </p> + <p> + "Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the pillow; and out of the box trotted a + curly black dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such bright, kind + eyes May was not a bit afraid of him, but loved him at once, and named him + Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked him too; and when May was + sleepy they both snuggled down in the same basket like two good babies, + and went to by-low. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I never! What shall we find next?" said Nurse, when she saw the dog + in the morning. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the whole house, and scare you + out of your wits," laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop chasing her + bare toes, while Floss shook and growled over her shoes as if they were + rats. + </p> + <p> + "If your cousin John wants to give you any more animals, I wish he'd send + a pony to take you to school, and save my old legs the pain of trotting + after you," said Nurse; for May did have a rich cousin who was very fond + of her, and often gave her nice things. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled with the idea that it was a + fairy, and not Cousin John, who sent the cunning little creatures to her. + </p> + <p> + But she didn't get the pony that night; for in the afternoon her mother + told her not to sit on the lawn, because it was damp, and May did not + mind, being busy with a nice story. So when she took up her box, a loud + sneeze seemed to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of red + flannel. + </p> + <p> + "What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; and as if to answer, the + strip of flannel wrapped itself round her neck. + </p> + <p> + "There! my throat <i>is</i> sore, and I <i>am</i> hoarse. I wonder how + that fairy knew I sat on the damp grass. I'm so sorry; for I did want a + pony, and might have had it if I'd only minded," said May, angry with + herself for spoiling all her fun. + </p> + <p> + It <i>was</i> spoilt; for she had such a cold next day she couldn't go out + at all, but had to take medicine and keep by the fire, while the other + children had a lovely picnic. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't deserve a present, I was so + disobedient. But I <i>have</i> tried to be patient," said May, feeling for + the box. + </p> + <p> + The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was a beautiful picture-book, + full of new, nice stories printed in colored ink. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid to read to-morrow while I'm shut up!" she said, and went to + sleep very happily. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she enjoyed the pretty pictures and funny tales, and + never complained or fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor said + she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine. + </p> + <p> + "Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in her bed. But there was + nothing in the box except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She did + not know what to do with it that night, but she did the next morning; for + just as she was dressed her brother called from the garden,— + </p> + <p> + "May, look out and see what we found in the stable. None of us can catch + him, so do come and see if you can; your name is on the card tied to his + mane." + </p> + <p> + May looked, and there was a snow-white pony racing about the yard as if he + was having a fine frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, and ran + down to catch him. The minute she appeared, the pony went to her and put + his nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,— + </p> + <p> + "This is my little mistress; I will mind her and serve her well." + </p> + <p> + May was delighted, and very proud when the pony let her put on the saddle + and bridle that lay in the barn all ready to use. She jumped up and rode + gayly down the road; and Will and mamma and all the maids and Floss and + Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The children at school were much + excited when she came trotting up, and all wanted to ride Prince. He was + very gentle, and every one had a ride; but May had the best fun, for she + could go every day for long trots by the carriage when mamma and Will + drove out. A blue habit and a hat with a long feather were bought that + afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at night that she said to + herself as she lay in bed,— + </p> + <p> + "I'll wish for something for Will now, and see if I get it. I don't want + any more presents yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give away to + other people who have no fairy box." + </p> + <p> + So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box lay a key with the name + "Water Lily" on it. She guessed what it meant, and in the morning told her + brother to come to the river and see what she had for him. There lay a + pretty green and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all spread, and + at the mast-head a little flag flying in the wind, with the words "Water + Lily" on it in gold letters. + </p> + <p> + Will was so surprised and pleased to find that it was his, he turned heels + over head on the grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, crying, + "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at once. + </p> + <p> + May followed, and they sailed away down the lovely river, white with real + lilies, while the blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either side, and + boys and girls stopped on the bridges to see them pass. + </p> + <p> + After that May kept on trying to be good, and wishing for things for + herself and other people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and was the + sweetest little girl in the world. Then there was no need of fairies to + help her; and one night the box was not under the pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I've had my share of pretty things, and must learn to do without. + I'm glad I tried; for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need to be + rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, quite happy and contented, though + she did wish she could have seen the fairy just once. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the first thing she saw was a beautiful bracelet, shining on + the table; and while she stood admiring it, she heard the little voice + sing,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Here is the bracelet + For good little May + To wear on her arm + By night and by day. + When it shines like the sun, + All's going well; + But when you are bad, + A sharp prick will tell. + Farewell, little girl, + For now we must part. + Make a fairy-box, dear, + Of your own happy heart; + And take out for all + Sweet gifts every day, + Till all the year round + Is like beautiful May." +</pre> + <p> + As the last words were sung, right before her eyes she saw a tiny creature + swinging on the rose that stood there in a vase,—a lovely elf, with + wings like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and a star on her forehead. She + smiled, and waved her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away into the + sunshine, till she vanished from sight, leaving May with the magic + bracelet on her arm, and the happy thought that at last she had <i>really</i> + seen a fairy. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek."} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL. + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_PART"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART I. + </h2> + <p> + If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were his best friends, he would + have answered,— + </p> + <h3> + "The sun and the wind, next to mother." + </h3> + <p> + Johnny lived in a little court that led off from one of the busiest + streets in the city,—a noisy street, where horse-car bells tinkled + and omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great + depots near by. The court was a dull place, with only two or three shabby + houses in it, and a high blank wall at the end. + </p> + <p> + The people who hurried by were too busy to do more than to glance at the + lame boy who sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess that there + was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library in the court. But Johnny + had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be grateful + enough to the wind that brought him his books and pictures, nor to the sun + that made it possible for him to enjoy them in the open air, far more than + richer folk enjoy their fine galleries and libraries. + </p> + <p> + A bad fall, some months before the time this story begins, did something + to Johnny's back which made his poor legs nearly useless, and changed the + lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. His mother took in fine washing, and + worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her boy, who could + no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to school. He could + only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on his bed in pain for hours, + and, each fair day, hobble out to sit in a little old chair between the + water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he kept his library. + </p> + <p> + But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty and pain; and the day a great + gust came blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty newspaper down + the court to his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for patient + Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other pictured bits + found their way to him; for the frolicsome wind liked to whisk the papers + around the corner, and chase them here and there till they settled under + the chair or flew wildly over the wall. + </p> + <p> + Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all came to cheer the boy, who + was never tired of collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out the big + pictures to paste on the wall with the leavings of mother's starch, and + the smaller in the scrap-book he made out of stout brown wrappers or + newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a very gay + wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large pictures + up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. The books were + laid carefully away in the boiler, after being smoothly ironed out and + named to suit Johnny's fancy by pasting letters on the back. This was the + circulating library; for not only did the papers whisk about the court to + begin with, but the books they afterward made went the rounds among the + neighbors till they were worn out. + </p> + <p> + The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading the anecdotes on Sunday when he + could not work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look over + advertisements of the fine things which she longed for; and Patsey Flynn, + the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the station, often + paused to look at the play-bills,—for he adored the theatre, and + entertained Johnny with descriptions of the splendors there to be beheld, + till he felt as if he had really been, and had known all the famous + actors, from Humpty Dumpty to the great Salvini. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a flock of dirty children would stray into the court and ask + to see the "pretty picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy boy; for, + armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the beauties of + his gallery, feeling that he was a public benefactor when the poor babies + thanked him warmly, and promised to come again and bring all the nice + papers they could pick up. + </p> + <p> + These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had two sorrows,—one, a very + real one, his aching back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb the + wall and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderful + and delightful place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal court, with + no playmates and few comforts. + </p> + <p> + He amused himself with imagining how it looked over there, and nearly + every night added some new charm to this unseen country, when his mother + told him fairy tales to get him to sleep. He peopled it with the dear old + characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on the wall + was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. Blue-beard's wives + were hidden in the house of whose upper windows the boy could just catch + glimpses. Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove of chestnuts that + rustled over there; and Jack's Beanstalk grew up just such a wall as that, + he was sure. + </p> + <p> + But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood;" for he + was sure some lovely creature lived in that garden, and he longed to get + in to find and play with her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of damp + earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as strong a + ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny was so + impatient that he promised Patsey his best book "for his ownty-donty," if + he would climb up and report what was to be seen in that enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + "Faix, and I will, thin." And up went good-natured Pat, after laying an + old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all along + the top of the wall, and only cats and sparrows could walk there. + </p> + <p> + Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for Pat's Sunday best! The board + broke, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled + Johnny half out of his wits and brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler + to the rescue. + </p> + <p> + After this sad event Pat kept away for a time in high dudgeon, and Johnny + was more lonely than ever. But he was a cheery little soul, so he was + grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,—for the + March winds had brought him many treasures, and after April rains were + over, May sunshine made the court warm enough for him to be out nearly all + day. + </p> + <p> + "I'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this piece and told me about it, + and he'd like to help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, + one breezy morning, as he sat examining a big poster which the wind had + sent flying into his lap a few minutes before. + </p> + <p> + The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures represented the hero getting + out of prison by making holes in the wall, among other remarkable + performances. + </p> + <p> + "This is a jolly red one! Now, where will I put it to show best and not + spoil the other beauties?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around and surveyed his gallery with + as much pride and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders of art. + </p> + <p> + It really <i>was</i> quite splendid; for every sort of picture shone in + the sun,—simpering ladies, tragic scenes, circus parades, labels + from tin cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny + advertisements, and gay bills of all kinds. None were perfect, but they + were arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, Johnny thought. + </p> + <p> + Presently his eyes wandered from these treasures to the budding bushes + that nodded so tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran along the + top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; lilacs tossed their purple plumes + above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents + with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like + candles on a mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping gayly + everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh blue bow, basked on the coping of + the wall, and from the depths of the enchanted garden came a sweet voice + singing,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "And she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy." +</pre> + <p> + Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his finger to the little dent in his + own chin, wishing the singer would finish this pleasing song. But she + never did, though he often heard that, as well as other childish ditties, + sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the sound of + lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny longed + intensely to know who the singer was; for her music cheered his solitude, + and the mysterious sounds he heard in the garden increased his wonder and + his longing day by day. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where are you?" and Johnny was sure + "Fay" was short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard talking in a + strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A little + dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, and some + elfish bird scolded, screamed, and laughed so like a human being, that + Johnny felt sure that magic of some sort was at work next door. + </p> + <p> + A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the wall as of flowers, and the + poor boy imagined untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he tended + the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she had time + to stop and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, and tried to make + them out of colored paper, since he could have no sweeter sort. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited his curiosity to such a pitch + that once he hobbled painfully up the court till he could see into the + trees; and once his eager eyes caught glimpses of a little creature, all + blue and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, + and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched his + hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and would + have fallen if he had not caught by the shutter of a window so quickly + that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and when he could look up again, + the fairy had vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the leaves dancing + in the wind. + </p> + <p> + Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a fall, and every step cost + him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat + staring at the wall on that memorable May day. + </p> + <p> + "How I <i>should</i> like to peek in and see just how it all really looks! + It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it must be + splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller what you see?" + </p> + <p> + Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white cat purred politely; for she + liked the boy who never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But + Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy hunting-ground below; + and, to console himself for the disappointment, Johnny went back to his + new picture. + </p> + <p> + "Now, if this man in the play dug his way out through a wall ten feet + thick with a rusty nail and a broken knife, I don't see why I couldn't + pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's a + good place, and nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the hole. And + I'll try it, I declare I will!" + </p> + <p> + Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on a small scale, Johnny caught + up the old scissors in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar around a + brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. His mother smiled at + his energy, then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces with a heavy + heart,— + </p> + <p> + "Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he'd make his way in the world. + But now he's like to find a blank wall before him while he lives, and none + to help him over." + </p> + <p> + Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked on, wise as the cat in the + story, but offered no advice. The toad who lived behind the water-barrel + hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, like Jack waiting to + climb; and just then the noon bells began to ring as if they sang clear + and loud,— + </p> + <p> + "Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." + </p> + <p> + So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped and dug vigorously till the old + brick fell out, showing another behind it. Only pausing to take breath, he + caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, which soon + cleared the way and let the sunshine stream through, while the wind tossed + the lilacs like triumphal banners, and the jolly sparrows chirped,— + </p> + <p> + "Hail, the conquering hero comes!" + </p> + <p> + Rather scared by his unexpected success, the boy sat silent for a moment + to see what would happen. But all was still; and presently, with a beating + heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." He could + not see much; but that little increased his curiosity and delight, for it + seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the dust and noise and dingy + houses of the court. + </p> + <p> + A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay garments in the middle of a + grass-plot; a strange and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on a + golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the sun; and on a red carpet + under the trees lay the Princess, fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + "It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh of pleasure; "that's the + Sleeping Beauty, sure enough. There's the blue gown, the white fur-cloak + sweeping round, the pretty hair, and—yes—there's the old + nurse, spinning and nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother + got me when I cried because I couldn't go to see the play." + </p> + <p> + This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, and make him believe that + fairy tales <i>might</i> be true, after all, for how could he know that + the strange woman was an Italian servant, in her native dress, with a + distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took + another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A + basket of oranges stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung from a + limb of the tree to keep the wind off, and several books fluttered their + pictured leaves temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and read 'em and speak to 'em and + see all the splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked from one + delight to another, and felt shut out from all. "I can't go and wake her + like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, now I <i>can</i> + see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or holler, it might + scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows are too busy scolding one + another. I know! I'll fly a kite over, and that will please her any way. + Don't believe she has kites; girls never do." + </p> + <p> + Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a long string to his gayest + poster, and then fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished + in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh breezes blowing down the + court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with a strong + breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a moment on the + trees and then drop among the tulips, where its frantic struggles to + escape waked the dog, and set him to racing and barking, as Johnny + hurriedly let the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole. + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, and she clapped her hands + when Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, + with a long yawn, went away, carrying her distaff, like a gun, over her + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + "She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some more to send over. This will + come off, I'll poke it through, and maybe she will see it." + </p> + <p> + Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore from the wall his most cherished + picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he thrust it + through the hole and waited to see what followed. + </p> + <p> + Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer croak from the splendid bird, + which set the canaries to trilling sweetly. + </p> + <p> + "She don't see, maybe she will hear," said Johnny. And he began to whistle + like a mocking-bird; for this was his one accomplishment, and he was proud + of it. + </p> + <p> + Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter from the parrot, and then the + voice said,— + </p> + <p> + "No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I wonder where he is? Among the + bushes over there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him." + </p> + <p> + "Now she's coming!" And Johnny grew red in the face trying to give his + best trills and chirrups. + </p> + <p> + Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs rustled as if shaken, and + presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and then the little voice + exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,— + </p> + <p> + "Why, there's a hole! I never saw it before. Oh! I can see the street. How + nice! how nice!" + </p> + <p> + "She likes the hole! I wonder if she will like me?" And, emboldened by + these various successes, Johnny took another peep. This was the most + delicious one of all; for he looked right into a great blue eye, with + glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and red + lips below. It was like a flash of sunshine, and Johnny winked, as if + dazzled; for the eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the pretty + mouth broke into a laugh as the voice cried out delightedly,— + </p> + <p> + "I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!" + </p> + <p> + "I'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite trembling with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + "Did you make this nice hole?" + </p> + <p> + "I just poked a brick, and it fell out." + </p> + <p> + "Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?" + </p> + <p> + "No; it's me. I whistled." + </p> + <p> + "It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded the voice, as if used to give + orders. + </p> + <p> + Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of breath, a small hand came + through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could hold, + and the Princess graciously expressed her pleasure by saying,— + </p> + <p> + "I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. Here are some flowers for + you. Now we will talk. Are you a nice boy?" + </p> + <p> + This was a poser; and Johnny answered meekly, with his nose luxuriously + buried in the lovely flowers,— + </p> + <p> + "Not very,—I'm lame; I can't play like other fellers." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Porverino</i>!" sighed the little voice, full of pity; and, in a + moment, three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel + as if he really had slipped into fairy-land through that delightful hole. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, thank you! Aren't they just elegant? I never see such beauties," + stammered the poor boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they might + vanish away. + </p> + <p> + "You shall have as many as you like. Nanna will scold, but papa won't + mind. Tell me more. What do you do over there?" asked the child, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing but paste pictures and make books, when I don't ache too bad. I + used to help mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered + the boy, ashamed to mention how many laces he patiently picked or clapped, + since it was all he could do to help. + </p> + <p> + "If you like pictures, you shall come and see mine some day. I do a great + many. Papa shows me how. His are splendid. Do you draw or paint yours?" + </p> + <p> + "I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em on this wall or put 'em in + scrap-books. I can't draw, and I haven't got no paints," answered Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "You should say 'haven't any paints.' I will come and see you some day; + and if I like you, I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you want it?" + </p> + <p> + "Guess I do!" + </p> + <p> + "I think I <i>shall</i> like you; so I'll bring it when I come. Do you + ache much?" + </p> + <p> + "Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all day, and can't do a thing." + </p> + <p> + "Do you cry?" + </p> + <p> + "No! I'm too big for that. I whistle." + </p> + <p> + "I <i>know</i> I shall like you, because you are brave!" cried the + impetuous voice, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling + through the hole, as if the new acquaintance longed to do something to + help the "ache." + </p> + <p> + "Isn't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but mother can't afford 'em often." + And Johnny took one delicious taste on the spot. + </p> + <p> + "Then I shall give you many. We have loads at home, much finer than these. + Ah, you should see our garden there!" + </p> + <p> + "Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to ask; for there was a homesick + sound to the voice as it said those last words. + </p> + <p> + "In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while papa arranges his affairs; then + we go back, and I am happy." + </p> + <p> + "I should think you'd be happy in there. It looks real splendid to me, and + I've been longing to see it ever since I could come out." + </p> + <p> + "It's a dull place to me. I like better to be where it's always warm, and + people are more beautiful than here. Are <i>you</i> beautiful?" + </p> + <p> + "What queer questions she does ask!" And poor Johnny was so perplexed he + could only stammer, with a laugh,— + </p> + <p> + "I guess not. Boys don't care for looks." + </p> + <p> + "Peep, and let me see. I like pretty persons," commanded the voice. + </p> + <p> + "Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as he obeyed. But he liked it, + and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay was + pleased to say, after a long look at him,— + </p> + <p> + "No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are bright, and you look + pleasant, so I don't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness of + your face. I think you are good. I am sorry for you, and I shall lend you + a book to read when the pain comes." + </p> + <p> + "I couldn't wait for that if I had a book. I do <i>love</i> so to read!" + And Johnny laughed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; + for he seldom got one, being too poor to buy them, and too helpless to + enjoy the free libraries of the city. + </p> + <p> + "Then you shall have it <i>now</i>." And there was another quick rush in + the garden, followed by the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed + through the hole in the wall. + </p> + <p> + "This is the only one that will pass. You will like Hans Andersen's fairy + tales, I know. Keep it as long as you please. I have many more." + </p> + <p> + "You're so good! I wish I had something for you," said the boy, quite + overcome by this sweet friendliness. + </p> + <p> + "Let me see one of <i>your</i> books. They will be new to me. I'm tired of + all mine." + </p> + <p> + Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old boiler, and out came + half-a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to be crammed through the wall, with + the earnest request,— + </p> + <p> + "Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, but they're the best I've got. + I'll do some prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice pictures and + pieces." + </p> + <p> + "They look very interesting. I thank you. I shall go and read them now, + and then come and talk again. Addio, Giovanni." + </p> + <p> + "Good-by, Miss." + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the first interview of little Pyramus and Thisbe through the + hole in the wall, while puss sat up above and played moonshine with her + yellow eyes. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_PART2"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART II. + </h2> + <p> + After that day a new life began for Johnny, and he flourished like a poor + little plant that has struggled out of some dark corner into the sunshine. + All sorts of delightful things happened, and good times really seemed to + have come. The mysterious papa made no objection to the liberties taken + with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad to have his + little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to see the new + neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the affliction of the boy and the + gentle manners of the mother. She brought all the curtains of the house + for Mrs. Morris to do up, and in her pretty broken English praised + Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring Fay to see him some day. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the little people prattled daily together, and all manner of + things came and went between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and bonbons kept + Johnny in a state of bliss, and inspired him with such brilliant + inventions that the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise would come + next. Astonishing kites flew over the wall, and tissue balloons exploded + in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in that court; + for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because she liked it. + The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin bank to buy paper + and pictures for the gay little books he made for her. His side of the + wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; and, as the last offering his + grateful heart could give, he poked the toad through the hole, to live + among the lilies and eat the flies that began to buzz about her Highness + when she came to give her orders to her devoted subjects. + </p> + <p> + She always called the lad Giovanni, because she thought it a prettier name + than John; and she was never tired of telling stories, asking questions, + and making plans. The favorite one was what they would do when Johnny came + to see her, as she had been promised he should when papa was not too busy + to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; for Fay was a true artist's + child, and thought nothing so lovely as pictures. Johnny thought so, too, + and dreamed of the happy day when he should go and see the wonders his + little friend described so well. + </p> + <p> + "I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a lazy fit coming on, and then + he always plays with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he goes + out or smokes in the garden. So be ready; and if he says you can come, I + will have the flag up early and you can hurry." + </p> + <p> + These agreeable remarks were breathed into Johnny's willing ear about a + fortnight after the acquaintance began; and he hastened to promise, adding + soberly, a minute after,— + </p> + <p> + "Mother says she's afraid it will be too much for me to go around and up + steps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the pain + comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can only see the pictures—and + you." + </p> + <p> + "Won't you ever be any better? Nanna thinks you might." + </p> + <p> + "So does mother, if we had money to go away in the country, and eat nice + things; and have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use worrying." And + Johnny gave a great sigh. + </p> + <p> + "I wish papa was rich, then he would give you money. He works hard to make + enough to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but perhaps I can sell <i>my</i> + pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me sweets for + kisses; I will have money instead, and that will help. Yes, I shall do + it." And Fay clapped her hands decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you mind about it. I'm going to learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget + says he'll teach me. That doesn't need legs, and he gets enough to live on + very well." + </p> + <p> + "It isn't pretty work. Nanna can teach you to braid straw as she did at + home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says. I + shall speak to her about it, and you can try to-morrow when you come." + </p> + <p> + "I will. Do you really think I <i>can</i> come, then?" And Johnny stood up + to try his legs; for he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him. + </p> + <p> + "I will go at once and ask papa." + </p> + <p> + Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny + hobbling in to tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his only + jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes looked so shabby he feared to show + himself to the neighbors he so longed to see. + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah! I'm really going to-morrow. And you, too, mammy dear," cried the + boy, waving his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; I'm used to it. Pull me up, and I'll rest while we talk about + it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, where he + forgot his pain in thinking of the delights in store for him. + </p> + <p> + Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, and Fay early at the hole, + but no Johnny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she returned + with the sad news that the poor boy was suffering much, and would not be + able to stir for some days. + </p> + <p> + "Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly. + </p> + <p> + "Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, so damp, so poor, it is enough + to break the heart," said Nanna, decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "If papa was here, he would let me go. I shall not play; I shall sit here + and make some plans for my poor boy." + </p> + <p> + Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and went to cook a nice bowl of + soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was more + remarkable, carried it out. + </p> + <p> + For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay in pain, and for a week Fay + worked quietly at her little easel in the corner of the studio, while her + father put the last touches to his fine picture, too busy to take much + notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, and the + great picture was done. So were the small ones; for as her father sat + resting after his work, Fay went to him, with a tired but happy face, and, + putting several drawings into his hand, told her cherished plan. + </p> + <p> + "Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar for every good copy I made of + the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. I want some + money very, very much. Could you pay for these?" + </p> + <p> + "They are excellent," said the artist, after carefully looking at them. + "You <i>have</i> tried, my good child, and here are your well-earned + dollars. What do you want them for?" + </p> + <p> + "To help my boy. I want him to come in here and see the pictures, and let + Nanna teach him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you will like him, + and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three quarters the + friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would that be enough to send poor + Giovanni into the country and have doctors?" + </p> + <p> + No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this queer jumble, because, being + absorbed in his work, he had never heard half the child had told him, and + had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, studying + the effect of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while Fay told him the + little story, and begged to know how much money it would take to make + Johnny's back well. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would need more than I can spare or + you earn in a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what can + be done," answered papa, smoking comfortably, as he lay on the sofa in the + large studio at the top of the house. + </p> + <p> + "You say that about a great many things, papa. 'By and by' won't be long + enough to do all you promise then. I like <i>now</i> much better, and poor + Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I new frocks," + said Fay, stroking her father's tired forehead and looking at him with an + imploring face. + </p> + <p> + "My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in this soothing smoke I find + inspiration, and though you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so + wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy—later." He was going to + say "by and by" again, but paused just in time, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Then <i>I</i> shall take him to the country all myself. I cannot wait for + this hateful 'by and by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. Now, + now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with an indignant glance at the lazy + papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down many + stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna and scattering the salad as + if a whirlwind had gone by, and never paused for breath till she stood + before the garden wall with a little hatchet in her hand. + </p> + <p> + "This shall be the country for him till I get enough money to send him + away. I will show what <i>I</i> can do. He pulled out two bricks. <i>I</i> + will beat down the wall, and he <i>shall</i> come in at once," panted Fay; + and she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without + delay,—for she was an impetuous little creature, full of love and + pity for the poor boy pining for the fresh air and sunshine, of which she + had so much. + </p> + <p> + Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down came one brick after + another, till the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head + through; and being breathless by that time, she paused to rest and take a + look at Johnny's court. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her lettuce leaves and her wits, went to + see what the child was about; and finding her at work like a little fury, + the old woman hurried up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that his little + daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself under the ruins + of the wall. This report, delivered with groans and wringing of the hands, + roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, as he well knew that his + angel was a very energetic one, and capable of great destruction. + </p> + <p> + When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, a pile of bricks among the + lilies, and the feet of his child sticking out of a large hole in the + wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, + yet fearful that the stone coping might come down on her, he pulled her + back with the assurance that he would listen and help her now immediately, + if there was such need of haste. + </p> + <p> + But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; for it was bathed in tears, her + hands were bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot. + </p> + <p> + "My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, and he will do anything you + wish." + </p> + <p> + "No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' and now that I have seen it + all, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, look, + and see if it is not sad to live there all in pain and darkness, and so + poor." + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward the hole; and to please her he + looked, seeing the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and close by the + low room, where Johnny's mother worked all day, while the poor boy's pale + face was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for deliverance. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, it <i>is</i> a pitiful case; and easily mended, since Fay is + so eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says, and nothing catching + about his illness. Nanna can tell me." + </p> + <p> + Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay to the seat, took her on his + knee, all flushed, dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by saying + tenderly,— + </p> + <p> + "Now let me hear all about it, and be sure I'll not forget. What shall I + do to please you, dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?" + </p> + <p> + Then Fay told her tale all over again; and being no longer busy, her + father found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking + into his, and the wounded hands clasped beseechingly as she pleaded for + poor Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "God bless your tender heart, child; you shall have him in here to-morrow, + and we will see what can be done for those pathetic legs of his. But + listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a grand + surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to show you + that I am in earnest, I will go this instant and begin the work. Come and + wash your face while I get on my boots, and then we will go together." + </p> + <p> + At these words Fay threw her arms about papa's neck and gave him many + grateful kisses, stopping in the midst to ask,— + </p> + <p> + "Truly, <i>now</i>?" + </p> + <p> + "See if it is not so." And putting her down, papa went off with great + strides, while she ran laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by + this agreeable energy on his part. + </p> + <p> + If Johnny had not been asleep in the back room, he would have seen strange + and pleasant sights that afternoon and evening; for something went on in + the court that delighted his mother, amused the artist, and made Fay the + happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next day, that + Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat up till + eleven to get his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had been to see + her, and became interested in the boy, as no one could help being when + they saw his patient little face. + </p> + <p> + So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels dug, and wonderful changes were + made, while Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent upon some + pretty prank, and papa quoted <i>Snout</i>, {Footnote: A character in + Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."} the tinker's parting words, as + appropriate to the hour,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Thus have I, wall, my part dischargèd so; + And, being done, thus wall away doth go." +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_PART3"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART III. + </h2> + <p> + A lovely Sunday morning dawned without a cloud; and even in the dingy + court the May sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes blew freshly + from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much + better, his mother consented, helping him to dress with such a bright face + and eager hands that the boy said innocently,— + </p> + <p> + "How glad you are when I get over a bad turn! I don't know what you'd do + if I ever got well." + </p> + <p> + "My poor dear, I begin to think you <i>will</i> pick up, now the good + weather has come and you have got a little friend to play with. God bless + her!" + </p> + <p> + Why his mother should suddenly hug him tight, and then brush his hair so + carefully, with tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was in such + a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hobble away to + see how his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a joyful "peek" at + the enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it was well she did; for he nearly + tumbled down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old familiar + wall after the good fairies Love and Pity had worked their pretty miracle + in the moonlight. + </p> + <p> + The ragged hole had changed to a little arched door, painted red. On + either side stood a green tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; from + the arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; and before the threshold + lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a childish hand. As + soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this splendid + transformation scene, Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft cushion had + been placed, and read his note, with little sighs of rapture at the + charming prospect opening before him. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + DEAR GIOVANNI,—Papa has made this nice gate, so you can come + in when you like and not be tired. We are to have two keys, and no one + else can open it. A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and + we can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. Papa did it, + and the men put up the door last night. I helped them, and did not go + in my bed till ten. It was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like + it. Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready. + + Your friend, + + FAY. +</pre> + <p> + "Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all that, mustn't she?" said + Johnny, leaning back to look at the dear door behind which lay such + happiness for him. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good fairy, and I just wish I + could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed little life," + answered Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor. + </p> + <p> + "You shall! you shall! Do come in! I cannot wait another minute!" cried an + eager little voice as the red door flew open; and there stood Fay, looking + very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of spring flowers + on her pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, while the brilliant + bird sat on her shoulder, and the little white dog danced about her feet. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "So she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy," +</pre> + <p> + sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked that song; and waving her + wand, she went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed + under the blooming arch into a new world, full of sunshine, liberty, and + sweet companionship. + </p> + <p> + Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot that happy day, for it was the + beginning of help and hope to both just when life seemed hardest and the + future looked darkest. + </p> + <p> + Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at the little party as they sat + under the chestnuts, Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden to their + guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor mother folded her + tired hands with unutterable content, and the boy looked like a happy soul + in heaven. + </p> + <p> + Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of bells and the feet of + church-goers, brooded over the city; sunshine made golden shadows on the + grass; the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods; and every + flower seemed to nod and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate to their + lovely home. + </p> + <p> + While the women talked together, Fay led Johnny up and down her little + world, showing all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the seats + that stood all about, and amusing him immensely by relating the various + fanciful plays with which she beguiled her loneliness. + </p> + <p> + "Now we can have much nicer ones; for you will tell me yours, and we can + do great things," she said, when she had displayed her big rocking-horse, + her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, where a fleet of toy boats lay at + anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land under the lilacs, + with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, that tossed one high + up among the green boughs, and the basket of white kittens, where Topaz, + the yellow-eyed cat, now purred with maternal pride. Books were piled on + the rustic table, and all the pictures Fay thought worthy to be seen. + </p> + <p> + Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the visitors could remember it was + noon and tear themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and oranges Johnny + never ate before; such delightful little tarts and Italian messes of + various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because served + in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee that + perfumed the air put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved herself + that the boy might be fed; and he drank milk till Nanna said, laughing, as + she refilled the pitcher,— + </p> + <p> + "He takes more than both the blessed lambs we used to feed for Saint Agnes + in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear child, to the + best we have; for he is as innocent and helpless as they." + </p> + <p> + "What does she mean?" whispered Johnny to Fay, rather abashed at having + forgotten his manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls of good milk + had given him. + </p> + <p> + So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, Fay told the pretty story + of the lambs who are dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied to their + snowy wool, and then raised with care till their fleeces are shorn to make + garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child thought, and went + on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's head was filled with a + splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint Peter's and apple-tarts, + holy lambs and red doors, ancient images and dear little girls, were + delightfully mixed. It all seemed like a fairy tale, and nothing was too + wonderful or lovely to happen on that memorable day. + </p> + <p> + So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding it impossible to keep away + from the happy little party any longer, Johnny decided at once that the + handsome man in the velvet coat was the king of the enchanted land, and + gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved to be; + for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on storming + the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny off, and catching him up, strode + away with the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the little girl danced + before to open doors and clear the way. + </p> + <p> + Johnny thought he couldn't be surprised any more; but when he had mounted + many stairs and found himself in a great room with a glass roof, full of + rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and pictures everywhere, he + just sat in the big chair where he was placed, and stared in silent + delight. + </p> + <p> + "This is papa's studio, and that the famous picture, and here is where I + work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said Fay, + skipping about to do the honors of the place. + </p> + <p> + "I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," answered Johnny, in a low tone, + as his eyes went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the windows to the + great sunny picture of a Roman garden, with pretty children at play among + the crumbling statues and fountains. + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad you like it, for we mean to have you come here a great deal. I + sit to papa very often, and get <i>so</i> tired; and you can talk to me, + and then you can see me draw and model in clay, and then we'll go in the + garden, and Nanna will show you how to make baskets, and <i>then</i> we'll + play." + </p> + <p> + Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming prospect, and for an hour + explored the mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and papa for an + amused spectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay had so + harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. He + assented to every plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to help these + poor neighbors; for he had a kind heart, and loved his little daughter + even more than his art. + </p> + <p> + When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to call Johnny away, he went + without a word, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining + with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, hungry for just such + pleasures, and never fed before. + </p> + <p> + After that day everything went smoothly, and both children blossomed like + the flowers in that pleasant garden, where the magic of love and pity, + fresh air and sunshine, soon worked miracles. Fay learned patience and + gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food Nanna + gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent very + happy days working and playing, sometimes under the trees, where the + pretty baskets were made, or in the studio, where both pairs of small + hands modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing pictures with + the artist's old brushes and discarded canvases. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in the house, and did up Fay's + frocks so daintily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her + head shone out from the fluted frills, like the yellow middle of a daisy + with its white petals all spread. + </p> + <p> + As he watched the children playing together, the artist, having no great + work in hand, made several pretty sketches of them, and then had a fine + idea of painting the garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It + pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made a + charming thing of it, putting in the cat, dog, bird, and toad as the + various characters in Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were the + elves, peeping and listening in all manner of merry, pretty ways. + </p> + <p> + He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," and it so pleased a certain rich + lady that she paid a large price for it; and then, discovering that it + told a true story, she generously added enough to send Johnny and his + mother to the country, when Fay and her father were ready to go. + </p> + <p> + But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had ever read of in his fairy + books, and to a happier life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In the + autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in sunny + Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint with a kind + master and a faithful young friend, who always rejoiced that she found and + delivered him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and + eating.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a id="link2H_4_0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X. THE PIGGY GIRL. + </h2> + <p> + "I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" screamed little Betty, kicking and + slapping the maid who undressed her one night. + </p> + <p> + "You'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty child," said Maria, + scrubbing away at two very grubby hands. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I could! I love to be dirty,—I <i>will</i> be dirty!" roared + Betty, throwing the sponge out of the window and the soap under the table. + </p> + <p> + Maria could do nothing with her; so she bundled her into bed half wiped, + telling her to go to sleep right away. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's pigs, and have nothing to + do but eat and sleep, and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed any + more," said Betty to herself. + </p> + <p> + She lay thinking about it and blinking at the moon for a while; then she + got up very softly, and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, to + the sty where two nice little pigs were fast asleep among the straw in + their small house. They only grunted when Betty crept into a corner, + laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy and live here with no Maria + to wash her and no careful mamma to keep saying,— + </p> + <p> + "Put on a clean apron, dear!" + </p> + <p> + Next morning she was waked up by hearing Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the + trough. She lay very still till the woman was gone; then she crept out and + drank all she wanted, and took the best bits of cold potato and bread for + her breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till she was done. While + they ate and rooted in the dirt, Betty slept as long as she liked, with no + school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She liked it, and kept hidden till + night; then she went home, and opened the little window in the store + closet, and got in and took as many good things to eat and carry away as + she liked. She had a fine walk in her nightgown, and saw the flowers + asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the nest, and watched the + fireflies and moths at their pretty play. No one saw her but the cats; and + they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in the moonlight, and had + great fun. + </p> + <p> + When she was tired she went to sleep with the pigs, and dozed all the next + day, only coming out to eat and drink when the milk was brought and the + cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good care of her pigs, and gave them + clean straw often, and kept them as nice as she could. + </p> + <p> + Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and soon looked more like a pig + than a little girl; for her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never + combed, her face was never washed, and she loved to dig in the mud till + her hands looked like paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as the + pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, and squealed when they + crowded her, and quarrelled over the food, eating with her nose in the + trough like a real pig. At first she used to play about at night, and + steal things to eat; and people set traps to catch the thief in their + gardens, and the cook in her own house scolded about the rats that carried + off the cake and pies out of her pantry. But by and by she got too lazy + and fat to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and never left the + sty. She went on her hands and knees now, and began to wonder if a little + tail wouldn't grow and her nose change to a snout. + </p> + <p> + All summer she played be a pig, and thought it good fun; but when the + autumn came it was cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel + nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and began to wish she had a + fire to sit by and good buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go + home, and wondered what she should do after this silly frolic. She asked + the pigs how they managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she could + not remember what became of them, for the sty was always empty in cold + weather. + </p> + <p> + One dreadful night she found out. She was smuggled down between the great + fat piggies to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she was trying to + pull the straw over them when she heard Mr. Gleason say to his boy,— + </p> + <p> + "We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They are fat enough; so come and help + me sharpen the big knife." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear, what will become of <i>me</i>?" thought Betty, as she heard the + grindstone go round and round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I + look so like a pig they will kill me too, and make me into sausages if I + don't run away. I'm tired of playing piggy, and I'd rather be washed a + hundred times a day than be put in a pork barrel." + </p> + <p> + So she lay trembling till morning; then she ran through the garden and + found the back door open. It was very early, and no one saw her, for the + cook was in the shed getting wood to make her fire; so Betty slipped + upstairs to the nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when she saw in + the glass an ugly black creature, all rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, + and a little round nose covered with mud. + </p> + <p> + "Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I am!" And she could not spoil her + nice white bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good scrubbing. Next + she got a clean nightgown, and brushed her hair, and cut her long nails, + and looked like a tidy little girl again. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the pink cover and the lace + curtains, and fell fast asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft blankets, + and her own little pillow once more. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "Come, darling, wake up and see the new frock I have got for you, and the + nice ruffled apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the cousins are coming + to dinner," said her mamma, with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek. + </p> + <p> + Betty started up, screaming,— + </p> + <p> + "Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I'm not a truly pig, I'm a little girl; + and if you'll let me run home, I'll never fret when I'm washed again." + </p> + <p> + "What is the dear child afraid of?" said mamma, cuddling her close, and + laughing to see Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the stuffy + sty. + </p> + <p> + She told her mother all about the queer time she had had, and was much + surprised to hear mamma say,— + </p> + <p> + "It was all a dream, dear; you have been safely asleep in your little bed + ever since you slapped poor Maria last night." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made me love to be clean. Come, + Maria, soap and scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and scream ever + any more," cried Betty, skipping about, glad to be safe in her pleasant + home and no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER: A SUPPLEMENTARY READER FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF SCHOOL ***</div> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar001.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8f6072 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar001.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar001th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar001th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22c003f --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar001th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar005.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bebd326 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar005.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar005th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar005th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..780e3eb --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar005th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar034.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar034.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f68ebb --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar034.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar034th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar034th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..70d8110 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar034th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar062.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar062.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a04eaff --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar062.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar062th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar062th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6622ce4 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar062th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar078.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar078.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdaddcf --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar078.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar078th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar078th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b940838 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar078th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar093.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar093.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0de879e --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar093.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar093th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar093th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a42da6 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar093th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar107.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar107.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c05c2e --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar107.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar107th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar107th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a309964 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar107th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar126.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar126.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c9383c --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar126.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar126th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar126th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec7e3eb --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar126th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar154.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar154.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1003746 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar154.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar154th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar154th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7cea5ed --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar154th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar170.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar170.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..82f54e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar170.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar170th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar170th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..79cbc7d --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar170th.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar214.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar214.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..28673f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar214.jpg diff --git a/7425-h/images/lar214th.jpg b/7425-h/images/lar214th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4bd911 --- /dev/null +++ b/7425-h/images/lar214th.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b67fd2 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #7425 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7425) diff --git a/old/8loui10.zip b/old/8loui10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..01e08dc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8loui10.zip diff --git a/old/8loui10h.zip b/old/8loui10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e0e52b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8loui10h.zip diff --git a/old/8lui10.zip b/old/8lui10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b19e32 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8lui10.zip diff --git a/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-8.txt b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..57bb80d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4976 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Louisa Alcott Reader, by Louisa M. Alcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Louisa Alcott Reader + A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School + +Author: Louisa M. Alcott + + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7425] +This file was first posted on April 28, 2003 +Last Updated: May 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER + +_A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School_ + + +By Louisa M. Alcott + + + +[Illustration: "Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the +little tree."] + + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM + +II. THE CANDY COUNTRY + +III. NAUGHTY JOCKO + +IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES + +V. COCKYLOO + +VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY + +VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY + +VIII. THE FAIRY BOX + +IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL + +X. THE PIGGY GIRL + + + +[Illustration: She actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."] + + + + +I. + +A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. + + +"I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" +exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching +her mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be +given. + +"Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! You are as bad as old +Scrooge; and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, +if you don't care for dear Christmas," answered mamma, almost dropping +the silver horn she was filling with delicious candies. + +"Who was Scrooge? What happened to him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of +interest in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest lemon-drop +she could find; for nothing sweet suited her just then. + +"He was one of Dickens's best people, and you can read the charming +story some day. He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how +dear and beautiful it was, and made a better man of him." + +"I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have a great many curious ones +myself. But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," said +Effie, poking discontentedly among the sweeties for something worth +eating. + +"Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" +asked mamma, anxiously. + +"Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the +same, and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of +goodies in my stocking. Don't like some of them, and soon get tired of +those I do like. We always have a great dinner, and I eat too much, and +feel ill next day. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll +on top, or a stupid old Santa Claus, and children dancing and screaming +over bonbons and toys that break, and shiny things that are of no use. +Really, mamma, I've had so many Christmases all alike that I don't think +I _can_ bear another one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as +if the mere idea was too much for her. + +Her mother laughed at her despair, but was sorry to see her little girl +so discontented, when she had everything to make her happy, and had +known but ten Christmas days. + +"Suppose we don't give you _any_ presents at all,--how would that suit +you?" asked mamma, anxious to please her spoiled child. + +"I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, +to remember some very nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful +little body, full of odd whims and notions, which her friends loved to +gratify, regardless of time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of +three little girls, and very dear to all the family. + +"Well, my darling, I will see what I can do to please you, and not say a +word until all is ready. If I could only get a new idea to start with!" +And mamma went on tying up her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, +while Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain that kept her +in-doors and made her dismal. + +"Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones. I can't go +out, and there is a girl about my age splashing along, without any maid +to fuss about rubbers and cloaks and umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a +beggar-girl." + +"Would you like to be hungry, cold, and ragged, to beg all day, and +sleep on an ash-heap at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would come +next. + +"Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the end. This girl out here has +a basket of scraps on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, and +doesn't seem to care a bit, though the water runs out of the toes of her +boots. She goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and eating a cold +potato as if it tasted nicer than the chicken and ice-cream I had for +dinner. Yes, I do think poor children are happier than rich ones." + +"So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum today I saw two dozen merry +little souls who have no parents, no home, and no hope of Christmas +beyond a stick of candy or a cake. I wish you had been there to see how +happy they were, playing with the old toys some richer children had sent +them." + +"You may give them all mine; I'm so tired of them I never want to +see them again," said Effie, turning from the window to the pretty +baby-house full of everything a child's heart could desire. + +"I will, and let you begin again with something you will not tire of, +if I can only find it." And mamma knit her brows trying to discover some +grand surprise for this child who didn't care for Christmas. + +Nothing more was said then; and wandering off to the library, Effie +found "A Christmas Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, +read it all before tea. Some of it she did not understand; but she +laughed and cried over many parts of the charming story, and felt better +without knowing why. + +All the evening she thought of poor Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the +pudding, and the stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that "his legs +twinkled in the air." Presently bedtime arrived. + +"Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's nurse, "while I do your +pretty hair and tell stories." + +"I'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very interesting one," commanded +Effie, as she put on her blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers +to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed. + +So Nursey told her best tales; and when at last the child lay down under +her lace curtains, her head was full of a curious jumble of Christmas +elves, poor children, snow-storms, sugarplums, and surprises. So it is +no wonder that she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, which she +never quite forgot. + +She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, +all alone. The snow was falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and +night was coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and tired, and did not know +where to go nor what to do. + +"I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it, +and wish somebody would come and take care of me. I don't know who I am, +and I think I must be lost," thought Effie, with the curious interest +one takes in one's self in dreams. + +But the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she felt. Faster +fell the snow, colder blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor +Effie made up her mind that she was quite forgotten and left to freeze +alone. The tears were chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, +and her heart died within her, so hungry, frightened, and forlorn was +she. Laying her head on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and sat +there with the great flakes fast turning her to a little white mound, +when suddenly the sound of music reached her, and starting up, she +looked and listened with all her eyes and ears. + +Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was heard singing. She tried +to run toward the welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood like a +small statue of expectation while the light drew nearer, and the sweet +words of the song grew clearer. + + From our happy home + Through the world we roam + One week in all the year, + Making winter spring + With the joy we bring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Now the eastern star + Shines from afar + To light the poorest home; + Hearts warmer grow, + Gifts freely flow, + For Christmas-tide has come. + + Now gay trees rise + Before young eyes, + Abloom with tempting cheer; + Blithe voices sing, + And blithe bells ring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Oh, happy chime, + Oh, blessed time, + That draws us all so near! + "Welcome, dear day," + All creatures say, + For Christmas-tide is here. + +A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried the little candle; and in +the circle of soft light it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her +through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling creature, wrapped in white +fur, with a wreath of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, the +magic candle in one hand, and the other outstretched as if to shower +gifts and warmly press all other hands. + +Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision came nearer, leaving no +trace of footsteps in the snow, only lighting the way with its little +candle, and filling the air with the music of its song. + +"Dear child, you are lost, and I have come to find you," said the +stranger, taking Effie's cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, +while every holly berry glowed like a little fire. + +"Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no fear, but a great gladness, at +his coming. + +"I know all children, and go to find them; for this is my holiday, and +I gather them from all parts of the world to be merry with me once a +year." + +"Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking for the wings. + +"No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with my mates in a pleasant +place, getting ready for our holiday, when we are let out to roam about +the world, helping make this a happy time for all who will let us in. +Will you come and see how we work?" + +"I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave me again," cried Effie, +gladly. + +"First I will make you comfortable. That is what we love to do. You are +cold, and you shall be warm, hungry, and I will feed you; sorrowful, and +I will make you gay." + +With a wave of his candle all three miracles were wrought,--for the +snow-flakes turned to a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and +shoulders, a bowl of hot soup came sailing to her lips, and vanished +when she had eagerly drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal field +changed to a new world so full of wonders that all her troubles were +forgotten in a minute. + +Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard to keep from dancing. +Green garlands hung on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree +full of toys, and blazing with candles that never went out. + +In one place many little spirits sewed like mad on warm clothes, turning +off work faster than any sewing-machine ever invented, and great piles +were made ready to be sent to poor people. Other busy creatures packed +money into purses, and wrote checks which they sent flying away on the +wind,--a lovely kind of snow-storm to fall into a world below full of +poverty. + +Older and graver spirits were looking over piles of little books, in +which the records of the past year were kept, telling how different +people had spent it, and what sort of gifts they deserved. Some got +peace, some disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great joy and +hope. The rich had generous thoughts sent them; the poor, gratitude and +contentment. Children had more love and duty to parents; and parents +renewed patience, wisdom, and satisfaction for and in their children. No +one was forgotten. + +"Please tell me what splendid place this is?" asked Effie, as soon as +she could collect her wits after the first look at all these astonishing +things. + +"This is the Christmas world; and here we work all the year round, never +tired of getting ready for the happy day. See, these are the saints +just setting off; for some have far to go, and the children must not be +disappointed." + +As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, out of which four great +sleighs were just driving, laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa +Claus sat in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and tucking up +his wraps for a long cold drive. + +"Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a +humbug," cried Effie, astonished at the sight. + +"Never give up your faith in the sweet old stones, even after you come +to see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth." + +Just then the sleighs went off with a great jingling of bells and +pattering of reindeer hoofs, while all the spirits gave a cheer that was +heard in the lower world, where people said, "Hear the stars sing." + +"I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus again. Now, show me more." + +"You will like to see this place, I think, and may learn something here +perhaps" + +The spirit smiled as he led the way to a little door, through which +Effie peeped into a world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, with +dolls of all sorts going on like live people. Waxen ladies sat in their +parlors elegantly dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; nurses +walked out with the bits of dollies; and the streets were full of tin +soldiers marching, wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, and +little men hurrying to and fro. Shops were there, and tiny people buying +legs of mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and everything dolls +use or wear or want. + +But presently she saw that in some ways the dolls improved upon the +manners and customs of human beings, and she watched eagerly to learn +why they did these things. A fine Paris doll driving in her carriage +took up a black worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a basket of +clean clothes, and carried her to her journey's end, as if it were +the proper thing to do. Another interesting china lady took off her +comfortable red cloak and put it round a poor wooden creature done up in +a paper shift, and so badly painted that its face would have sent some +babies into fits. + +"Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who didn't give her things to poor +girls. I wish I could remember who she was, and tell her to be as kind +as that china doll," said Effie, much touched at the sweet way the +pretty creature wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in her +little gray gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a wooden platter for her +invalid mother's dinner. + +"We recall these things to people's minds by dreams. I think the girl +you speak of won't forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he +enjoyed some joke which she did not see. + +A little bell rang as she looked, and away scampered the children into +the red-and-green school-house with the roof that lifted up, so one +could see how nicely they sat at their desks with mites of books, or +drew on the inch-square blackboards with crumbs of chalk. + +"They know their lessons very well, and are as still as mice. We make +a great racket at our school, and get bad marks every day. I shall tell +the girls they had better mind what they do, or their dolls will be +better scholars than they are," said Effie, much impressed, as she +peeped in and saw no rod in the hand of the little mistress, who looked +up and shook her head at the intruder, as if begging her to go away +before the order of the school was disturbed. + +Effie retired at once, but could not resist one look in at the window of +a fine mansion, where the family were at dinner, the children behaved so +well at table, and never grumbled a bit when their mamma said they could +not have any more fruit. + +"Now, show me something else," she said, as they came again to the low +door that led out of Doll-land. + +"You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; let me show you where we +love best to send our good and happy gifts," answered the spirit, giving +her his hand again. + +"I know. I've seen ever so many," began Effie, thinking of her own +Christmases. + +"No, you have never seen what I will show you. Come away, and remember +what you see to-night." + +Like a flash that bright world vanished, and Effie found herself in a +part of the city she had never seen before. It was far away from the +gayer places, where every store was brilliant with lights and full of +pretty things, and every house wore a festival air, while people hurried +to and fro with merry greetings. It was down among the dingy streets +where the poor lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas. + +Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, longing to buy meat and +bread, but empty pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in the +bar-rooms; and in many cold dark chambers little children huddled under +the thin blankets, trying to forget their misery in sleep. + +No nice dinners filled the air with savory smells, no gay trees dropped +toys and bonbons into eager hands, no little stockings hung in rows +beside the chimney-piece ready to be filled, no happy sounds of music, +gay voices, and dancing feet were heard; and there were no signs of +Christmas anywhere. + +"Don't they have any in this place?" asked Effie, shivering, as she held +fast the spirit's hand, following where he led her. + +"We come to bring it. Let me show you our best workers." And the spirit +pointed to some sweet-faced men and women who came stealing into the +poor houses, working such beautiful miracles that Effie could only stand +and watch. + +Some slipped money into the empty pockets, and sent the happy mothers +to buy all the comforts they needed; others led the drunken men out of +temptation, and took them home to find safer pleasures there. Fires were +kindled on cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and warm clothes +wrapped round shivering limbs. Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers +of the sick; old people found themselves remembered; sad hearts were +consoled by a tender word, and wicked ones softened by the story of Him +who forgave all sin. + +But the sweetest work was for the children; and Effie held her breath to +watch these human fairies hang up and fill the little stockings without +which a child's Christmas is not perfect, putting in things that once +she would have thought very humble presents, but which now seemed +beautiful and precious because these poor babies had nothing. + +"That is so beautiful! I wish I could make merry Christmases as these +good people do, and be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, +softly, as she watched the busy men and women do their work and steal +away without thinking of any reward but their own satisfaction. + +"You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how +happy your own holiday will be hereafter." + +As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his arms about her, and vanished +with a kiss. + +"Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, trying to hold him fast. + +"Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are smiling in your sleep," said +a voice in her ear; and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending over +her, and morning sunshine streaming into the room. + +"Are they all gone? Did you hear the bells? Wasn't it splendid?" she +asked, rubbing her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty child who +was so real and sweet. + +"You have been dreaming at a great rate,--talking in your sleep, +laughing, and clapping your hands as if you were cheering some one. Tell +me what was so splendid," said mamma, smoothing the tumbled hair and +lifting up the sleepy head. + +Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told her dream, and Nursey +thought it very wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously things +the child had thought, read, heard, and seen through the day were mixed +up in her sleep. + +"The spirit said I could work lovely miracles if I tried; but I don't +know how to begin, for I have no magic candle to make feasts appear, and +light up groves of Christmas trees, as he did," said Effie, sorrowfully. + +"Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do it!" And clapping her hands, +mamma suddenly began to dance all over the room as if she had lost her +wits. + +"How? how? You must tell me, mamma," cried Effie, dancing after her, and +ready to believe anything possible when she remembered the adventures of +the past night. + +"I've got it! I've got it!--the new idea. A splendid one, if I can only +carry it out!" And mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls +flew wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as if she would die. + +"Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie. "No, no; it is a surprise,--a grand +surprise for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently charmed with her +happy thought. "Now, come to breakfast; for we must work like bees if we +want to play spirits tomorrow. You and Nursey will go out shopping, and +get heaps of things, while I arrange matters behind the scenes." + +They were running downstairs as mamma spoke, and Effie called out +breathlessly,-- + +"It won't be a surprise; for I know you are going to ask some poor +children here, and have a tree or something. It won't be like my dream; +for they had ever so many trees, and more children than we can find +anywhere." + +"There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and +no presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed at +Effie's bewildered face. + +"Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't ask any questions, so it +will all burst upon me when the time comes," she said; and she ate +her breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be a new sort of +Christmas. + +All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey in and out of shops, +buying dozens of barking dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny +tea-sets, gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, dolls and candy. Parcel +after parcel was sent home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace of +them, though she peeped everywhere. Nursey chuckled, but wouldn't give +a hint, and went out again in the afternoon with a long list of more +things to buy; while Effie wandered forlornly about the house, missing +the usual merry stir that went before the Christmas dinner and the +evening fun. + +As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, and came in at night so +tired that she could only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some +very pleasant thought made her happy in spite of weariness. + +"Is the surprise going on all right?" asked Effie, anxiously; for it +seemed an immense time to wait till another evening came. + +"Beautifully! better than I expected; for several of my good friends are +helping, or I couldn't have done it as I wish. I know you will like it, +dear, and long remember this new way of making Christmas merry." + +Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie went to bed. + + * * * * * + +The next day was a very strange one; for when she woke there was no +stocking to examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one said +"Merry Christmas!" to her, and the dinner was just as usual to her. +Mamma vanished again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and saying: "The +dear things! It's the prettiest idea I ever heard of. No one but your +blessed ma could have done it." + +"Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because I don't know the secret!" +cried Effie, more than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, for at +seven in the evening the surprise was to come off. + +The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the child was too excited +to ask questions when Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her to the +carriage, and they drove away, leaving their house the one dark and +silent one in the row. + +"I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are led off to strange +places and see fine things," said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled +through the gay streets. + +"Ah, my deary, it _is_ like a fairy tale, I do assure you, and you +_will_ see finer things than most children will tonight. Steady, now, +and do just as I tell you, and don't say one word whatever you see," +answered Nursey, quite quivering with excitement as she patted a large +box in her lap, and nodded and laughed with twinkling eyes. + +They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was led through a back door to a +little room, where Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her cloak +and hood, but her dress and shoes also. Effie stared and bit her lips, +but kept still until out of the box came a little white fur coat and +boots, a wreath of holly leaves and berries, and a candle with a frill +of gold paper round it. A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she +was dressed and saw herself in the glass, she started back, exclaiming, +"Why, Nursey, I look like the spirit in my dream!" + +"So you do; and that's the part you are to play, my pretty! Now whist, +while I blind your eyes and put you in your place." + +"Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of wonder; for as they went +out she heard the sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, and, +in spite of the bandage, was sure a great light shone upon her when she +stopped. + +"You needn't be; I shall stand close by, and your ma will be there." + +After the handkerchief was tied about her eyes, Nurse led Effie up some +steps, and placed her on a high platform, where something like leaves +touched her head, and the soft snap of lamps seemed to fill the air. + +Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her hands, the voices outside +sounded nearer, and the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs. + +"Now, my precious, look and see how you and your dear ma have made a +merry Christmas for them that needed it!" + +Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie really did think she was +asleep again, for she actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," +all gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on a side, in two rows +down the room, stood the little pines, each on its low table; and behind +Effie a taller one rose to the roof, hung with wreaths of popcorn, +apples, oranges, horns of candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary +hearts to gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees she saw many of her +own discarded toys and those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that seemed +to have rained down straight from that delightful Christmas country +where she felt as if she was again. + +"How splendid! Who is it for? What is that noise? Where is mamma?" cried +Effie, pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood looking down the +brilliant little street from her high place. + +Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the lower end flew open, and in +marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly, +until amazement changed the song to cries of joy and wonder as the +shining spectacle appeared. While they stood staring with round eyes +at the wilderness of pretty things about them, mamma stepped up beside +Effie, and holding her hand fast to give her courage, told the story of +the dream in a few simple words, ending in this way:-- + +"So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas spirit too, and make this +a happy day for those who had not as many pleasures and comforts as she +has. She likes surprises, and we planned this for you all. She shall +play the good fairy, and give each of you something from this tree, +after which every one will find her own name on a small tree, and can +go to enjoy it in her own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill your +hands." + +Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands were clapped heartily +before a single child stirred; then one by one they came to look up +wonderingly at the pretty giver of the feast as she leaned down to offer +them great yellow oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, and +cakes, till all were gone, and a double row of smiling faces turned +toward her as the children filed back to their places in the orderly way +they had been taught. + +Then each was led to her own tree by the good ladies who had helped +mamma with all their hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would have +satisfied even Santa Claus himself,--shrieks of joy, dances of delight, +laughter and tears (for some tender little things could not bear so much +pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths full of candy and hands full +of toys). How they ran to show one another the new treasures! how they +peeped and tasted, pulled and pinched, until the air was full of queer +noises, the floor covered with papers, and the little trees left bare of +all but candles! + +"I don't think heaven can be any gooder than this," sighed one small +girl, as she looked about her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron +with one hand, while she luxuriously carried sugar-plums to her mouth +with the other. + +"Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, fascinated by the +little white figure with the wreath on its shining hair, who in some +mysterious way had been the cause of all this merry-making. + +"I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this splendid party," said a lame +child, leaning on her crutch, as she stood near the steps, wondering +how it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing, while she +watched the happy scene before her. + +Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms +about the pale child, kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, +"You may; but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed +about it." + +Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was embracing her, and could only +stammer out her thanks, while the other children ran to see the pretty +spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she stood in a crowd of blue +gowns laughing as they held up their gifts for her to see and admire. + +Mamma leaned down and whispered one word to the older girls; and +suddenly they all took hands to dance round Effie, singing as they +skipped. + +It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found it hard to break up the +happy revel; but it was late for small people, and too much fun is a +mistake. So the girls fell into line, and marched before Effie and mamma +again, to say goodnight with such grateful little faces that the eyes of +those who looked grew dim with tears. Mamma kissed every one; and many +a hungry childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender lips was +their best gift. Effie shook so many small hands that her own tingled; +and when Katy came she pressed a small doll into Effie's hand, +whispering, "You didn't have a single present, and we had lots. Do keep +that; it's the prettiest thing I got." + +"I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until the last smiling face +was gone, the surprise all over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired +and happy for anything but sleep. + +"Mamma, it was a beautiful surprise, and I thank you so much! I don't +see how you did it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever +had, and mean to make one every year. I had my splendid big present, and +here is the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that +part of my wish came true." + +And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble +gift still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that +never changed through a long life spent in doing good. + + +[Illustration: "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her.] + + + + +II. + +THE CANDY COUNTRY. + + +"I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it is so warm, and none of the +children at school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, as she +went through the hall. + +"The wind is very high; I'm afraid you'll be blown away if you carry +that big thing," called Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella went +bobbing down the garden walk with a small girl under it. + +"I wish it would; I always wanted to go up in a balloon," answered Lily, +as she struggled out of the gate. + +She got on very well till she came to the bridge and stopped to look +over the railing at the water running by so fast, and the turtles +sunning themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing stones at +them; it was so funny to watch them tumble, heels over head, splash into +the water. Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, she stooped for +a stone, and just at that minute a gale of wind nearly took the +umbrella out of her hand. She clutched it fast; and away she went like +a thistle-down, right up in the air, over river and hill, houses and +trees, faster and faster, till her head spun round, her breath was all +gone, and she had to let go. The dear red umbrella flew away like a +leaf; and Lily fell down, down, till she went crash into a tree which +grew in such a curious place that she forgot her fright as she sat +looking about her, wondering what part of the world it could be. + +The tree looked as if made of glass or colored sugar; for she could see +through the red cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. An +agreeable smell met her nose; and she said at once, as any child +would, "I smell candy!" She picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good it +was!--all sugar and no stone. The next discovery was such a delightful +one that she nearly fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue here +and there, she found that the whole tree was made of candy. Think what +fun to sit and break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and +leaves that tasted like peppermint and sassafras! + +Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree; +then she climbed down and strolled along, making more surprising and +agreeable discoveries as she went. + +What looked like snow under her feet was white sugar; the rocks were +lumps of chocolate, the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every +sort of fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little white houses soon +appeared; and here lived the dainty candy-people, all made of the best +sugar, and painted to look like real people. + +Dear little men and women, looking as if they had stepped off of wedding +cakes and bonbons, went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing +and talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of babies rocked in open-work +cradles, and sugar boys and girls played with sugar toys in the most +natural way. Carriages rolled along the jujube streets, drawn by the +red and yellow barley horses we all love so well; cows fed in the green +fields, and sugar birds sang in the trees. + +Lily listened, and in a moment she understood what the song said,-- + + "Sweet! Sweet! + Come, come and eat, + Dear little girls + With yellow curls; + For here you'll find + Sweets to your mind. + On every tree + Sugar-plums you'll see; + In every dell + Grows the caramel. + Over every wall + Gum-drops fall; + Molasses flows + Where our river goes + Under your feet + Lies sugar sweet; + Over your head + Grow almonds red. + Our lily and rose + Are not for the nose; + Our flowers we pluck + To eat or suck + And, oh! what bliss + When two friends kiss, + For they honey sip + From lip to lip! + And all you meet, + In house or street, + At work or play, + Sweethearts are they. + So, little dear, + Pray feel no fear; + Go where you will; + Eat, eat your fill. + Here is a feast + From west to east; + And you can say, + Ere you go away, + 'At last I stand + In dear Candy-land, + And no more can stuff; + For once I've enough.' + Sweet! Sweet! + Tweet! Tweet! + Tweedle-dee! + Tweedle-dee!" + +"That is the most interesting song I ever heard," said Lily, clapping +her sticky hands and dancing along toward a fine palace of white cream +candy, with pillars of striped peppermint stick, and a roof of frosting +that made it look like the Milan Cathedral. + +"I'll live here, and eat candy all day long, with no tiresome school or +patchwork to spoil my fun," said Lily. + +So she ran up the chocolate steps into the pretty rooms, where all the +chairs and tables were of different colored candies, and the beds +of spun sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied drink; and floors +of ice-cream that never melted kept people and things from sticking +together, as they would have done had it been warm. + +For a long while Lily was quite happy, going about tasting so many +different kinds of sweeties, talking to the little people, who were very +amiable, and finding out curious things about them and their country. + +The babies were made of plain sugar, but the grown people had different +flavors. The young ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and orange; +the gentlemen were apt to have cordials of some sort inside of them, as +she found when she ate one now and then slyly, and got her tongue +bitten by the hot, strong taste as a punishment The old people tasted of +peppermint, clove, and such comfortable things, good for pain; but the +old maids had lemon, hoarhound, flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter +things in them, and did not get eaten much. Lily soon learned to know +the characters of her new friends by a single taste, and some she +never touched but once. The dear babies melted in her mouth, and the +delicately flavored young ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger was +called to her more than once when so much candy made her teeth ache, and +she found him a very hot-tempered little man; but he stopped the pain, +so she was glad to see him. + +A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry girl were her favorite +playmates; and they had fine times making mud-pies by scraping the +chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with honey from the wells near by. +These they could eat; and Lily thought this much better than throwing +away the pies, as she had to do at home. They had candy-pulls very +often, and made swings of long loops of molasses candy, and bird's-nests +with almond eggs, out of which came birds who sang sweetly. They played +football with big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on lakes of syrup, +fished in rivers of molasses, and rode the barley horses all over the +country. + +Lily discovered that it never rained, but snowed white sugar. There was +no sun, as it would have been too hot; but a large yellow lozenge made a +nice moon, and red and white comfits were the stars. + +The people all lived on sugar, and never quarrelled. No one was ill; and +if any got broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle creatures, +they just stuck the parts together and were all right again. The way +they grew old was to get thinner and thinner till there was danger of +their vanishing. Then the friends of the old person put him in a neat +coffin, and carried him to the great golden urn which stood in their +largest temple, always full of a certain fine syrup; and here he was +dipped and dipped till he was stout and strong again, and went home to +enjoy himself for a long time as good as new. + +This was very interesting to Lily, and she went to many funerals. But +the weddings were better still; for the lovely white brides were so +sweet Lily longed to eat them. The feasts were delicious; and everybody +went in their best clothes, and danced at the ball till they got so warm +half-a-dozen would stick together and have to be taken to the ice-cream +room to cool off. Then the little pair would drive away in a fine +carriage with white horses to a new palace in some other part of the +country, and Lily would have another pleasant place to visit. + +But by and by, when she had seen everything, and eaten so much sweet +stuff that at last she longed for plain bread and butter, she began to +get cross, as children always do when they live on candy; and the little +people wished she would go away, for they were afraid of her. No wonder, +when she would catch up a dear sugar baby and eat him, or break some +respectable old grandmamma all into bits because she reproved her for +naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on the biggest church, crushing it +flat, and even tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet one day. +The king ordered her to go home; but she said, "I won't!" and bit his +head off, crown and all. + +Such a wail went up at this awful deed that she ran away out of the +city, fearing some one would put poison in her candy, since she had no +other food. + +"I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep walking; and I can't starve, +though I hate the sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, as +she hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar Rock that divided the city +of Saccharissa from the great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond. + +Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and saw at last a great smoke +in the sky, smelt a spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her. + +"I wonder if there are sugar savages here, roasting and eating some +poor traveller like me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and other +wanderers in strange lands. + +She crept carefully along till she saw a settlement of little huts very +like mushrooms, for they were made of cookies set on lumps of the brown +sugar; and queer people, looking as if made of gingerbread, were working +very busily round several stoves which seemed to bake at a great rate. + +"I'll creep nearer and see what sort of people they are before I show +myself," said Lily, going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting down +on a stone which proved to be the plummy sort of cake we used to call +Brighton Rock. + +Presently one of the tallest men came striding toward the trees with a +pan, evidently after spice; and before she could run, he saw Lily. + +"Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her with his black +currant eyes, while he briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree. + +"I'm travelling, and would like to know what place this is, if you +please," answered Lily, very politely, being a little frightened. + +"Cake-land. Where do you come from?" asked the gingerbread man, in a +crisp tone of voice. + +"I was blown into the Candy country, and have been there a long time; +but I got tired of it, and ran away to find something better." + +"Sensible child!" and the man smiled till Lily thought his cheeks would +crumble. "You'll get on better here with us Brownies than with the lazy +Bonbons, who never work and are all for show. They won't own us, though +we are all related through our grandparents Sugar and Molasses. We are +busy folks; so they turn up their noses and don't speak when we meet at +parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and unsubstantial! I pity 'em." + +"Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see how you live, and what you +do. I'm sure it must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself up +after a tumble, having eaten nearly all the stone, she was so hungry. + +"I know you will. Come on! I can talk while I work." And the funny +gingerbread man trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, +rolling-pins, and molasses jugs. + +"Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as this batch is baked. There +are still some wise people down below who like gingerbread, and I have +my hands full," he said, dashing about, stirring, rolling out, and +slapping the brown dough into pans, which he whisked into the oven and +out again so fast that Lily knew there must be magic about it somewhere. + +Every now and then he threw her a delicious cooky warm from the oven. +She liked the queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being very +curious about this country. + +"What is your name, sir?" + +"Ginger Snap." + +Lily thought it a good one; for he was very quick, and she fancied he +could be short and sharp if he liked. + +"Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, after watching the other +kitchens full of workers, who were all of different kinds of cake, and +each set of cooks made its own sort. + +"I'll show you by and by," answered Snap, beginning to pile up the heaps +of gingerbread on a little car that ran along a track leading to some +unknown storeroom, Lily thought. + +"Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?" + +"Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I never shall be till I've done my +best, and won the prize here." + +"Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, and how are you promoted? Is +this a cooking-school?" + +"Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a cake of condensed yeast. That +puts a soul into me, and I begin to rise till I am able to go over the +hills yonder into the blessed land of bread, and be one of the happy +creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, and without which the +world below would be in a bad way." + +"Bless me! that is the queerest thing I've heard yet. But I don't wonder +you want to go; I'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good piece of +bread, though I used to want cake and candy at home." + +"Ah, my dear, you'll learn a good deal here; and you are lucky not to +have got into the clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets people if +they eat too much of such rubbish and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my +ginger behind when I go, and get white and round and beautiful, as you +will see. The Gingerbread family have never been as foolish as some of +the other cakes. Wedding is the worst; such extravagance in the way of +wine and spice and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to eat when it's +done! I don't wonder people get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung +down a pan with such a bang that it made Lily jump. + +"Sponge cake isn't bad, is it? Mamma lets me eat it, but I like frosted +pound better," she said, looking over to the next kitchen, where piles +of that sort of cake were being iced. + +"Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers will do for babies, but pound +has too much butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat cookies or +seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away +his car-load at a great pace. + +Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and looked about her as she +went, for this was certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all +beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed here and there ready for +use. The earth was brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits +were raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon peel. It was a very busy +place; for every one cooked all the time, and never failed and never +seemed tired, though they got so hot that they only wore sheets of paper +for clothes. There were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it +shouldn't burn; and they made cook's white caps and aprons of it, and +looked very nice. A large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves to +mark the hours and two toothpicks for hands, showed them how long to +bake things; and in one place an ice wall was built round a lake of +butter, which they cut in lumps as they wanted it. + +"Here we are. Now, stand away while I pitch 'em down," said Snap, +stopping at last before a hole in the ground where a dumbwaiter hung +ready, with a name over it. + +There were many holes all round, and many waiters, each with its name; +and Lily was amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," "Dooling," and +others, which she knew very well. + +Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" and Lily said, "Why, that's +where mamma gets her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where we go for +ice-cream. Do _you_ make cake for them?" + +"Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the secrets of the trade. We cook +for all the confectioners, and people think the good things come out of +the cellars under their saloons. Good joke, isn't it?" And Snap laughed +till a crack came in his neck and made him cough. + +Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm queen's cake that happened +to be near, and watched Snap send down load after load of gingerbread +to be eaten by children, who would have liked it much better if they had +only known where it came from, as she did. + +As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the smell of many dinners, and +the sound of many voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, and a +Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken +and apple without," came up the next hole, which was marked "Copeland." + +"Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said Lily, longing to hop down, +but afraid of the bump at the other end. + +"I'm done. Come along, I'll ride you back," called Snap, tossing the +last cooky after the dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with its +spicy load. + +"I wish you'd teach me to cook. It looks great fun, and mamma wants me +to learn; only our cook hates to have me mess round, and is so cross +that I don't like to try at home," said Lily, as she went trundling +back. + +"Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and learn to make that. It's +a great art, and worth knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, though +plain gingerbread isn't bad to have in the house. I'll teach you that in +a jiffy, if the clock doesn't strike my hour too soon," answered Snap, +helping her down. + +"What hour?" + +"Why, of my freedom. I never know when I've done my task till I'm called +by the chimes and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his currant +eyes anxiously to the clock. + +"I hope you _will_ have time." And Lily fell to work with all her might, +after Snap had put on her a paper apron and a cap like his. + +It was not hard; for when she was going to make a mistake a spark flew +out of the fire and burnt her in time to remind her to look at the +receipt, which was a sheet of gingerbread in a frame of pie-crust hung +up before her, with the directions written while it was soft and baked +in. The third sheet she made came out of the oven spicy, light, and +brown; and Snap, giving it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you +know. Here's your reward." + +He handed her a receipt-book made of thin sheets of sugar-gingerbread +held together by a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on the back, +and each leaf crimped with a cake-cutter in the most elegant manner. + +Lily was charmed with it, but had no time to read all it contained; for +just then the clock began to strike, and a chime of bells to ring,-- + + "Gingerbread, + Go to the head. + Your task is done; + A soul is won. + Take it and go + Where muffins grow, + Where sweet loaves rise + To the very skies, + And biscuits fair + Perfume the air. + Away, away! + Make no delay; + In the sea of flour + Plunge this hour. + Safe in your breast + Let the yeast-cake rest, + Till you rise in joy, + A white bread boy!" + +"Ha, ha! I'm free! I'm free!" cried Snap, catching up the silver-covered +square that seemed to fall from heaven; and running to a great white sea +of flour, he went in head first, holding the yeast-cake clasped to his +breast as if his life depended on it. + +Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious working and bubbling went on, +as if Snap was tumbling about down there like a small earthquake. The +other cake-folk stood round the shore with her; for it was a great +event, and all were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so soon. +Suddenly a cry was heard, and up rose a beautiful white figure on the +farther side of the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," and +ran over the hills so fast they had only time to see how plump and fair +he was, with a little knob on the top of his head like a crown. + +"He's gone to the happy land, and we shall miss him; but we'll follow +his example and soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge cake, with +a sigh, as all went back to their work; while Lily hurried after Snap, +eager to see the new country, which was the best of all. + +A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from the valley as she stood +on the hill-top and looked down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of +yellow grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines grew from tree to tree; and +many windmills whirled their white sails as they ground the different +grains into fresh, sweet meal, for the loaves of bread that built the +houses like bricks and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed +the people, furniture, and animals. A river of milk flowed through the +peaceful land, and fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant foam +and fizz. The ground was a mixture of many meals, and the paths were +golden Indian, which gave a very gay look to the scene. Buckwheat +flowers bloomed on their rosy stems, and tall corn-stalks rustled their +leaves in the warm air that came from the ovens hidden in the hillsides; +for bread needs a slow fire, and an obliging volcano did the baking +here. + +"What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling the charm of the homelike +landscape, in spite of the funny plump people moving about. + +Two of these figures came running to meet her as she slowly walked down +the yellow path from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a beaming +face; the other a little girl in a shiny brown cloak, who looked as if +she would taste very nice. They each put a warm hand into Lily's, and +the boy said,-- + +"We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you were coming." + +"Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, feeling as if she had seen both +these little people before, and liked them. + +"He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a Muffin now. We begin in that way, +and work up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is Johnny Cake, and +she's Sally Lunn. You know us; so come on and have a race." + +Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing with these old friends of +hers; and all three ran away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, +over a bridge, into the middle of the village, where they stopped, +panting, and sat down on some very soft rolls to rest. + +"What do you all do _here_?" asked Lily, when she got her breath again. + +"We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, and are as merry as grigs all day +long. It's school-time now, and we must go; will you come?" said Sally, +jumping up as if she liked it. + +"Our schools are not like yours; we only study two things,--grain and +yeast. I think you'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the experiments +are very jolly," added Johnny, trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye +and Indian bread, where the school was kept. + +Lily never liked to go to school, but she was ashamed to own it; so she +went along with Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that she was +glad she came. The brown loaf was hollow, and had no roof; and when +she asked why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and see why they +chose strong walls and plenty of room overhead. All round was a circle +of very small biscuits like cushions, and on these the Bread-children +sat. A square loaf in the middle was the teacher's desk, and on it +lay an ear of wheat, with several bottles of yeast well corked up. The +teacher was a pleasant, plump lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous +for her good bread that she was a Professor of Grainology. + +When all were seated, she began with the wheat ear, and told them all +about it in such an interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never +known anything about the bread she ate before. The experiments with +the yeast were quite exciting,--for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how it +would work till it blew the cork out, and go fizzing up to the sky if it +was kept too long; how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the bread +if care was not taken to use it just at the right moment; and how too +much would cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance to it. + +The children were very bright; for they were fed on the best kinds of +oatmeal and Graham bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes to +spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy boys and girls they were, and +their yeasty souls were very lively in them; for they danced and sung, +and seemed as bright and gay as if acidity, heaviness, and mould were +quite unknown. + +Lily was very happy with them, and when school was done went home with +Sally and ate the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever tasted. +In the afternoon Johnny took her to the cornfield, and showed her how +they kept the growing ears free from mildew and worms. Then she went +to the bakehouse; and here she found her old friend Muffin hard at work +making Parker House rolls, for he was such a good cook he was set to +work at once on the lighter kinds of bread. + +"Well, isn't this better than Candy-land or Saccharissa?" he asked, +as he rolled and folded his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked +inside. + +"Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better already, and mean to learn +all I can. Mamma will be so pleased if I can make good bread when I +go home. She is rather old-fashioned, and likes me to be a nice +housekeeper. I didn't think bread interesting then, but I do now; and +Johnny's mother is going to teach me to make Indian cakes to-morrow." + +"Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell other people how to make +healthy bodies and happy souls by eating good plain food. Not like this, +though these rolls are better than cake. I have to work my way up to the +perfect loaf, you know; and then, oh, then, I'm a happy thing." + +"What happens then? Do you go on to some other wonderful place?" asked +Lily, as Muffin paused with a smile on his face. + +"Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human being, and become a part of +him or her. That is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a poet and +help him sing, or feed a good woman who makes the world better for being +in it, or be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby prince who +is to rule a kingdom. Isn't that a noble way to live, and an end worth +working for?" asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily feel as if some +sort of fine yeast had got into her, and was setting her brain to work +with new thoughts. + +"Yes, it is. I suppose all common things are made for that purpose, if +we only knew it; and people should be glad to do anything to help the +world along, even making good bread in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a +sober way that showed that her little mind was already digesting the new +food it had got. + +She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and enjoyed and learned a great +deal that she never forgot. But at last, when she had made the perfect +loaf, she wanted to go home, that her mother might see and taste it. + +"I've put a good deal of myself into it, and I'd love to think I had +given her strength or pleasure by my work," she said, as she and Sally +stood looking at the handsome loaf. + +"You can go whenever you like; just take the bread in your hands and +wish three times, and you'll be wherever you say. I'm sorry to have you +go, but I don't wonder you want to see your mother. Don't forget what +you have learned, and you will always be glad you came to us," said +Sally, kissing her good-by. + +"Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing him, my dear old friend," +answered Lily, looking round for him. + +"He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. "He was ready to go, and +chose to pass into your bread rather than any other; for he said he +loved you and would be glad to help feed so good a little girl." + +"How kind of him! I must be careful to grow wise and excellent, else he +will be disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, touched by his +devotion. + +Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged her loaf close, wished three +times to be in her own home, and like a flash she was there. + +Whether her friends believed the wonderful tale of her adventures I +cannot tell; but I know that she was a nice little housekeeper from that +day, and made such good bread that other girls came to learn of her. +She also grew from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, +because she ate very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, +when the oldest and the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land. + +[Illustration: As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back.] + + + + +III. + +NAUGHTY JOCKO. + + +"A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, and see if he has got a monkey on +his organ," cried little Neddy, running to the window in a great hurry +one day. + +Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and red suit, with a funny little +cap, and the long tail trailing behind. But he didn't seem to be a +lively monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad face turned anxiously +to his master, who kept pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff +collar had made his neck sore; and when the man twitched, the poor thing +moaned and put up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to dance, +but was so weak he could only hop a few steps, and stop panting for +breath. The cruel man wouldn't let him rest till Neddy called out,-- + +"Don't hurt him; let him come up here and get this cake, and rest while +you play. I've got some pennies for you." + +So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, and sat on the window-ledge +trying to eat; but he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the man +pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, and lay as if he were dead. +Neddy and his aunt ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man +scolded and shook him; but he never moved, and the man said,-- + +"He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell him to some one to stuff." + +"No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here a few days, and we will +take care of him; and if he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said +Aunt Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey. + +The man said he was going on for a week through the towns near by, and +would call and see about it when he came back. Then he went away; and +Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice basket, and carried him in. The +minute the door was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped out +with one eye, and seeing only the kind little boy began to chatter and +kick off the shawl; for he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and +dreadfully afraid of the cruel man who beat and starved him. + +Neddy was delighted, and thought it very funny, and helped his aunt take +off the stiff collar and put some salve on the sore neck. Then they got +milk and cake; and when he had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself +up and slept till the next day. He was quite lively in the morning; +for when Aunt Jane went to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and +looking round the room for him, she saw the little black thing lying on +the boy's pillow, with his arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby. + +"My patience! I can't allow that," said the old lady, and went to pull +Jocko out. But he slipped away like an eel, and crept chattering and +burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, +till he waked up, howling that crabs were nipping him. + +Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko climbed all over the bed, up on +the tall wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the image of an +angel stood. He patted it, and hugged it, and looked so very funny with +his ugly black face by the pretty white one, that Neddy rolled on the +floor, and Aunt Jane laughed till her glasses flew off. By and by he +came down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them tie a red ribbon over +the bandage on his neck. He liked the gay color, and kept going to look +in the glass, and grin and chatter at his own image, which he evidently +admired. + +"Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all the children shall see my new +pet," said Neddy, as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder. + +Every one laughed at the funny little fellow with his twinkling eyes, +brown hands, and long tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to +the store; then troubles began. He put Jocko on a table near the door, +and told him to stay there while he did his errands. Now, close by was +the place where the candy was kept, and Jocko loved sweeties like any +girl; so he hopped along, and began to eat whatever he liked. Some boys +tried to stop him; and then he got angry at them for pulling his tail, +and threw handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great fun; and the +more they laughed and scrambled and poked at him, the faster he showered +chocolates, caramels, and peppermints over them, till it looked as if +it had rained candy. The man was busy with Neddy at the other end of the +store; but when he heard the noise, both ran to see what was the matter. +Neither of them could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, and ran +up on the high shelves among the toys. Then down came little tubs and +dolls' stoves, tin trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden soldiers +and whole villages flew through the air, smash, bang, rattle, bump, +all over the floor. The man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys shouted, and +there was a lively time in that shop till a good slapping with a long +stick made Jock tumble into a tub of water where some curious fishes +lived, and then they caught him. + +Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man his aunt would pay for all the +broken things. Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go home and +tie him up, for it was plain this monkey was not to be trusted. But as +soon as they got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to a load of +hay passing underneath. Here he danced and pranced, and had a fine time, +throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some of the dinner tied +up in a cloth. The crusts of bread and the bones he threw at the horse; +this new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he ran away down a steep +hill, and upset the hay and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was +worse than the candy scrape; for the man swore, and the horse was hurt, +and people said the monkey ought to be shot, he did so much mischief. +Jocko didn't care a bit; he sat high up in a tree, and chattered and +scolded, and swung by his tail, and was so droll that people couldn't +help laughing at him. Poor Neddy cried again, and went home to tell his +troubles to Aunt Jane, fearing that it would take all the money in his +bank to pay for the damage the bad monkey had done in one hour. + +As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping along, and jumped on his +back, and peeped at him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning and +good Neddy couldn't whip him; but he shut him up in a closet to punish +him. + +Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all was quiet till +dinner-time. They were ready for the pudding, and Neddy had saved a +place for a good plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when shrieks were +heard in the kitchen, and Mary the maid rushed in to say,-- + +"Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the pudding, and is scaring +Katy out of her life!" + +They all ran; and there sat that naughty monkey on the table, throwing +the nice white snow all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she +was ready to be shaved. His own face looked the same, for he had eaten +all he wanted while the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He had +crept out of a window in the closet, and had a fine rummage among the +sugar-buckets, butter-boxes, and milk-pans. + +Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane and grandpa laughed, and +Neddy chased Jock into the garden with the broom. They had to eat bread +and jelly for dessert, and it took the girls a long time to clear up the +mess the rascal made. + +"We will put his collar and chain on again, and keep him tied up all the +time till the man comes," said Aunt Jane. + +"But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, watching the little imp whisk +about in the garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens and tossing +green apples round in high glee. + +"Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he is tired; then he will come +to you, and you can hold him fast," said Aunt Jane. + +So Neddy waited; and though he was much worried at his new pet's +naughtiness, he enjoyed his pranks like a boy. + +Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the piazza, and he was dozing +comfortably when Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his long tail, +and tickled the old gentleman on the nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, +and opened one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. Then he went to +sleep again, and Jocko dropped a caterpillar on his bald head; this made +him open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy thing could be. +Neddy couldn't help laughing, for he often wanted to do just such +things, but never dared, because grandpa was a very stern old gentleman, +and no one took liberties with him. Jocko wasn't afraid, however; and +presently he crept to the table, stole the glasses lying there, put them +on, and taking up the paper held it before him, chattering as if he were +reading it, as he had seen people do. Neddy laughed out loud at this, +and clapped his hands, Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite +of the tail curled up behind. This time grandpa opened both eyes at +once, and stared as if he saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched +off the spectacles, and caught up his cane, crying angrily,-- + +"You rascal, how dare you!" + +But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and with one jump lighted on +the back of old Tom, the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. Scared +half out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; but Jocko held fast to his +collar, and had a fine race round the garden, while the girls laughed +at the funny sight, and Neddy shouted, "It's a circus; and there's the +monkey and the pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when puss dashed +up a tree, and Jock tumbled off. He chased him, and they had a great +battle; but Tom's claws were sharp, and the monkey got a scratch on the +nose, and ran crying to Neddy for comfort. + +"Now, you naughty fellow, I'll chain you up, and stop these dreadful +tricks. But you are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the boy; for +he knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, and poor Jocko had not had one +for a long time. + +Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, and then was ready for +more frolics. Neddy had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that +he could enjoy the sun and air, and catch grasshoppers if he liked. But +Jocko wanted something more; and presently Neddy, who was reading in his +hammock on the piazza, heard a great cackling among the hens, and looked +up to see the monkey swinging by his tail from a bough, holding the +great cock-a-doodle by his splendid tail, while all the twenty hens +clucked and cackled with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank. + +"Now, that's too bad; I _will_ slap him this time," said Neddy, running +to save his handsome bird from destruction. But before he got there poor +cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his struggles, and +when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran away and hid +in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him. + +Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left him looking as meek as a +baby, all cuddled up in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as +if crying for his naughtiness. But he wasn't sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in +half an hour he had picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane was so +fond of, thrown all the tomatoes over the fence, and let the parrot out +of his cage. The sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a polite +"How are you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane to see what was going on. Neddy was +fast asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; and Jocko, having +unhooked his chain, was sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's +house, eating corn. + +"We shall not live to the end of the week if this sort of thing goes +on. I don't know what to do with the little beast; he's as bad as an +elephant to take care of," said the poor lady, in despair, as she saw +Jocko throw his corncob down on the minister's hat as that stately +gentleman went by. + +As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane let him alone till Neddy +waked up and could go and find some of the big boys to help him. + +Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a window that stood open. It +was little Nelly Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet doll Maud +Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the best bed, while she went down to get +a poppy leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because she had a high +fever. Jocko took a fancy to the pretty bed, and after turning the +play-house topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose Matilda out by +her flaxen hair, and stuffing her into the water-pitcher upside +down, got into the bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to doze +deliciously under the pink silk bed-cover. + +Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear invalid, saying in her +motherly little voice,-- + +"Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I won't hurt you one bit." + +But when she drew the curtain, instead of the lovely yellow-haired doll +in her ruffled nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at +her, and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. Nelly gave one scream, and +flew downstairs into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at work, +frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by her cries, as she clung to +her mother, wailing,-- + +"A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; and he snarled at me, and my +dolly is gone! What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?" + +There was great confusion, for all the ladies talked at once; and it +so happened that none of them knew anything about the monkey, therefore +they all agreed that Nelly was a foolish child, and had made a fuss +about nothing. She cried dismally, and kept saying to her mother,-- + +"Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,--I found it there, and darling +Maudie is gone." + +"We _will_ go and see," said Mrs. Moses Merryweather,--a stout old lady, +who kept her six girls in such good order that _they_ would never have +dared to cry if ten monkeys had popped out at them. + +Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, with a sharp eye and pointed +nose, went with her; but at the door that led to the dining-room +both stopped short, and after one look came flying back, calling out +together,-- + +"Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful beast has ruined it all!" + +Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across the hall to behold Jocko +sitting on the great cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed +in cream from the overturned pitcher, while all around lay the ruins of +custards, tarts, biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins made +into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, on the floor, and the best +silver teapot in the fireplace. + +While Nelly told her tale and the ladies questioned and comforted her, +this bad monkey had skipped downstairs and had a delightful party all +by himself. He was just scraping the jelly out of a tart when they +disturbed him; and knowing that more slaps were in store for him if he +stayed, he at once walked calmly down the ravaged table, and vanished +out of the window carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play +with. + +The ladies had no supper that night; and poor Mrs. Brown sent a note to +Aunt Jane, telling her the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite +ill with the fright and the loss of dear Maud Mabel Rose Matilda, +drowned in the water-pitcher and forever spoilt. + +"John shall go after that man to-morrow, and bring him back to carry +this terrible monkey away. I can't live with him a week; he will cost me +a fortune, and wear us all out," said Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely +shut up in the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over the +neighborhood before they caught him. + +Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but John was saved his journey, +for in the morning poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his +inquisitive head had been poked to see what the cheese tasted like. + +So he was buried by the river, and every one felt much relieved; for the +man never came back, thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he +had not lived in vain; for after this day of trial, mischievous Neddy +behaved much better, and Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit +by saying, as her finger pointed to a little collar and chain hanging on +the wall,-- + +"If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say so, and I'll tie you up. One +monkey is enough for this family." + + +[Illustration: Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and +skippings as she made.] + + + + +IV. + +THE SKIPPING SHOES. + + +Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, who never wanted to do what +people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," and did not run at +once pleasantly, as obliging children do. + +One day her mother gave her a pair of new shoes; and after a fuss about +putting them on, Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,-- + +"I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like Jack the Giant Killer's, +then it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep +trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't stir a step." + +Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, and set her on her feet +so suddenly that it scared all the naughtiness out of her. She stood +looking at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed +to wink at her like eyes, while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of +tune. Before she dared to stir, her mother called from the next room,-- + +"Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie for dinner; I forgot it." + +"I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine as usual. + +But the words were hardly out of her mouth when the shoes gave one jump, +and took her downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at the kitchen +door. Her breath was nearly gone; but she gave the message, and turned +round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went +nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. +She was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a bit when she could. +Now she found that her feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not +be moved till her father said, as he passed the window close by,-- + +"You will have time to go to the post-office before school and get my +letters." + +"I can't," began Kitty; but she found she could, for away went the +shoes, out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so +fast that the maid who ran after her with her hat could not catch her. + +"I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not till the shoes took her +straight into the office. + +"What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, as he saw her without any hat, +all rosy and breathless, and her face puckered up as if she did not know +whether to laugh or to cry. + +"I won't tell any one about these dreadful shoes, and I'll take them off +as soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will +think I'm crazy," said Kitty to herself, as she took the letters and +went away. + +The shoes walked nicely along till she came to the bridge; and there she +wanted to stop and watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and her +father's letters. But the shoes wouldn't stop, though she tried to make +them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; +and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadily that she +had to go, and she got up feeling that there was something very strange +about these shoes. The minute she gave up, all went smoothly, and she +got home in good time. + +"I won't wear these horrid things another minute," said Kitty, sitting +on the doorstep and trying to unbutton the shoes. + +But not a button could she stir, though she got red and angry struggling +to do it. + +"Time for school; run away, little girl," called mamma from upstairs, as +the clock struck nine. + +"I won't!" said Kitty, crossly. + +But she did; for those magic shoes danced her off, and landed her at her +desk in five minutes. + +"Well, I'm not late; that's one comfort," she thought, wishing she had +come pleasantly, and not been whisked away without any luncheon. + +Her legs were so tired with the long skips that she was glad to sit +still; and that pleased the teacher, for generally she was fussing about +all lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble again; for one of +the children knocked down the house of corn-cobs she had built, and made +her angry. + +"Now, I'll kick yours down, and see how you like it, Dolly." + +Up went her foot, but it didn't come down; it stayed in the air, and +there she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children +laughed to see her, and she could do nothing till she said to Dolly in a +great hurry,-- + +"Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll forgive you." + +Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so glad about it that she tried +to be pleasant, fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She +began to see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any +power over them. So, when one of the children wanted his ball, which had +bounced over the hedge, she said kindly,--"Perhaps I can get it for you, +Willy." + +And over she jumped as lightly as if she too were an india-rubber ball. + +"How could you do it?" cried the boys, much surprised; for not one of +them dared try such a high leap. + +Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling pleased and proud to find +there was a good side to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and +skippings as she made, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was +pretty to see; for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of +themselves. The little girls were charmed, and tried to imitate her, +but no one could, and they stood in a circle watching her dance till the +bell rang, then all rushed in to tell about it. + +Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never told how queerly they acted, +hoping to have good times now. But she was mistaken. + +On the way home she wanted to stop and see her friend Bell's new doll, +but at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes +and go straight on, as mamma had told her always to do. + +"Run and pick a nice little dish of strawberries for dinner," said her +sister, as she went in. + +"I'm too ti--" There was no time to finish, for the shoes landed her in +the middle of the strawberry bed at one jump. + +"I might as well be a grasshopper if I'm to skip round like this," she +said, forgetting to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with +the robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind lifting the leaves +to show here the reddest and ripest ones hid. + +The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted to stay and eat a few, +warm and sweet from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, +over the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the dining-room before +the berry in her mouth was half eaten. + +"How this child does rush about to-day!" said her mother. "It is so +delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her +to carry some bundles to my poor people this afternoon. + +"Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old clothes and bottles and baskets +of cold victuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the +shoes tapped on the floor under the table, as if to remind her that she +must, whether she liked it or not. + +"It would be right and kind, and would please me very much. But you may +do as you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; +for the little Bryan baby is sick and needs what I send," said mamma, +looking disappointed. + +Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, and no one spoke to her. +She was making up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked +about like a grasshopper against her will. When dinner was over, she +said in a cheerful voice,-- + +"I'll go, mamma; and when all the errands are done, may I come back +through Fairyland, as we call the little grove where the tall ferns +grow?" + +"Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy to please you." + +"I'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall have a lovely time," said +Kitty to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a +bundle in the other, and some money in her pocket for a poor old woman +who needed help. + +The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to know just where to stop. The +sick baby's mother thanked her for the soft little nightgowns; the lame +girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round +the basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; and the old woman +gave her a beautiful pink shell that her sailor son brought home from +sea. + +When all the errands were done Kitty skipped away to Fairyland, feeling +very happy, as people always do when they have done kind things. It was +a lovely place; for the ferns made green arches tall enough for little +girls to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss +and wood-flowers. Birds flew about in the pines, squirrels chattered in +the oaks, butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond near by +came the croak of frogs sunning their green backs on the mossy stones. + +"I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and rest; it is so cool here, +and I'm so tired," said Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot +of a tree. + +The words were hardly out of her mouth when her feet folded under her, +and there she sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the wood on +her throne. Something lighted with a bump close by her; and looking +down she saw a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at her +curiously. + +"Bless my heart! I thought you were some relation of my cousin +Grasshopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so +I stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, in its creaky voice. + +"I'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy shoes to-day, and so do many +things that I never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised to be +able to understand what the cricket said. + +"It is midsummer day, and fairies can play whatever pranks they like. +If you didn't have those shoes on, you couldn't understand what I say. +Hark, and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down +here. Make the most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes will stop +skipping, and the fun all be over." + +While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all sorts of little voices, +singing, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word +they said. The squirrels called to one another as they raced about,-- + + "Here's a nut, there's a nut; + Hide it quick away, + In a hole, under leaves, + To eat some winter day. + Acorns sweet are plenty, + We will have them all: + Skip and scamper lively + Till the last ones fall." + +The birds were singing softly,-- + + "Rock a bye, babies, + Your cradle hangs high; + Soft down your pillow, + Your curtain the sky. + Father will feed you, + While mother will sing, + And shelter our darlings + With her warm wing." + +And the ants were saying to one another as they hurried in and out of +their little houses,-- + + "Work, neighbor, work! + Do not stop to play; + Wander far and wide, + Gather all you may. + + We are never like + Idle butterflies, + But like the busy bees, + Industrious and wise." + +"Ants always were dreadfully good, but butterflies are ever so much +prettier," said Kitty, listening to the little voices with wonder and +pleasure. + + "Hello! hello! + Come down below,-- It's lovely and cool + Out here in the pool; + On a lily-pad float + For a nice green boat. + Here we sit and sing + In a pleasant ring; + Or leap frog play, + In the jolliest way. + Our games have begun, + Come join in the fun." + +"Dear me! what could I do over there in the mud with the queer green +frogs?" laughed Kitty, as this song was croaked at her. + + "No, no, come and fly + Through the sunny sky, + Or honey sip + From the rose's lip, + Or dance in the air, + Like spirits fair. + Come away, come away; + 'Tis our holiday." + +A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up from a wild-rose bush, and +went dancing away higher and higher, till they vanished in the light +beyond the wood. + +"That is better than leap-frog. I wish my skipping shoes would let me +fly up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to +go all the time," said Kitty, watching the pretty things glitter as they +flew. + +Just at that minute a clock struck, and away went the shoes over the +pool, the hill, the road, till they pranced in at the gate as the +tea-bell rang. Kitty amused the family by telling what she had done +and seen; but no one believed the Fairyland part, and her father said, +laughing,-- + +"Go on, my dear, making up little stories, and by and by you may be as +famous as Hans Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well." + +"The sun will soon set, and then my fun will be over; so I must skip +while I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so +prettily that all the family came to see her. + +"She dances so well that she shall go to dancing-school," said her +mother, pleased with the pretty antics of her little girl. + +Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had longed to go, and went on +skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn some of the graceful +steps the shoes took before the day was done. + +"Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your bath and bed. It has been a +long hot day, and you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants +to go out," said her mother, as the sun went down behind the hills with +a last bright glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye. + +"Oh, please, a few minutes more," began Kitty, but was off like a flash; +for the shoes trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against old +Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor, and +scolding in such a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that she could +hardly pick her up again. + +By the time she was ready to undress the sun was quite gone, and the +shoes she took off were common ones again, for midsummer day was over. +But Kitty never forgot the little lessons she had learned: she tried to +run willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and +danced like a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and +interesting little creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever she +was told she might go to play with them, she hurried away almost as +quickly as if she still wore the skipping shoes. + + +[Illustration: So Cocky was brought in, and petted.] + + + + +V. + +COCKYLOO. + + +In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, feeling very happy because +it was time for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have a fine brood of +chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried +the chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy +little things one after the other, all ready to run and eat and +scratch,--for chickens are not like babies, and don't have to be tended +at all. + +There were eight little hens and two little cockerels, one black and one +as white as snow, with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on +his head. This was Cockyloo, the good chick; but the black one was named +Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we shall see. + +Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud of her fine family; for the +eight little daughters were all white and very pretty. She led them out +into the farmyard, clucking and scratching busily; for all were hungry, +and ran chirping round her to pick up the worms and seeds she found for +them. Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice +corn or a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or +Snowball have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up +the food greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, +and picked the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. +His mother scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; +but he didn't care, and was very naughty. Cocky began to crow when he +was very young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear +his loud, clear "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke +before the sun was up, and began his song. Peck used to grumble at being +roused at dawn, for he was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were glad +to get out of the hen-house. + +The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the +farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him. + +"I came out of the shell first, and I am the oldest; so I ought to be +king," he said. + +"But we don't like you, because you are selfish, cross, and lazy. We +want Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid +bird, and _he_ must be our king," answered the hens; and Peck had to +mind, or they would have pulled every feather out of his little tail. + +He resolved to do some harm to his good brother, and plagued him all he +could. One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a +bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near +to come and put his heavy foot on the bush. He did it, and crack went +the branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were +drowned but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, +Chirp, and Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, +and were never seen again. All the hens mourned for them, and put a +black feather in their heads to show how sorry they were. Mamma Partlet +was heart-broken to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted +her, and never told how it happened, because he was ashamed to have +people know what a bad bird Peck was. + +A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny Cockletop about it; and the +hens were so angry that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and he had +to go and live in the woods alone. He said he didn't care; but he did, +and was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field +where the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show +himself, for they would have driven him out. But kind Cocky saw him, and +would run with some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, +saying,--"Poor brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with +you, and tell you the news." + +Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had been planning to eat Peck as +soon as he was fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he used to +have, and grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berries. While he +waited the sly fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird knew that +foxes ate hens. + +"I'm not afraid, and I don't believe old Granny Cockletop's tales. I +can take care of myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing with +the fox, who got him to tell all about the hen-house,--how the door was +fastened, and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went +to bed,--so that he could creep in and steal a good supper by and by. +Silly Peck never guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when +Cocky said,-- + +"You will be sorry if you play with the fox. He is a bad fellow; so be +careful and sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, as I do." + +Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, +because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. +This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and +so one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to +the fox,-- + +"See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it. +He has promised to bring me some food to-night, when all the rest are +at roost. He will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old +biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all +I want out of the pan. You hide on the top of the hen-house; and while +he talks to me, you can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only cock +here, and they will have to make me king." + +"All right," said the fox, much pleased with the plan, and very glad +that Peck had a chance to get fatter. + +So when it was night, Peck crept through the broken paling and waited +till he heard the signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from +his own dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread +them all out in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in a great hurry +to eat them, never stopping to say, "Thank you." + +Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up. + +"Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over you; then you will be dry, +and can go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till +you are done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to +remember anything else. + +Now the fox had just crept up on the hen-house roof; and when he peeped +down, there was just light enough to see a white thing bobbing about. + +"Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good supper!" And with a jump he +seized Peck by the head before he could explain the mistake. + +One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell +off, and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to +eat Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the +farmer ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through +the hole in the fence with the fowl in his mouth. + +After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when +they heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better +than ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them. + +King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,--pure white, with a tall red +comb on his head, long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers in +his tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that +it could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, +"Hark! hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Isn't it a sweet sound to wake us +in the dawn?" All the other cocks used to answer him, and there was a +fine matinee concert every day. + +He was a good brother, and led his five little sisters all about the +field, feeding, guarding, and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, and +could not stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run +home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, +who was very proud of her handsome son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who +scolded about everything, liked him; and often said, as the hens sat +scuffling in the dust,-- + +"A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and I know he will do +something remarkable before he dies." + +She was right for once; and this is what he did. + +One day the farmer had to go away and stay all night, leaving the old +lady alone with two boys. They were not afraid; for they had a gun, and +quite longed for a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer +had a good deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they +waited for him to go away that they might steal it. Cocky was picking +about in the field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping +through a hole saw two shabby men hiding there. + +"At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we will creep in at the +kitchen window and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and +whistle if any one comes along while I'm looking for the box where the +farmer keeps it," said one man. + +"You needn't be afraid; there is no dog, and no one to wake the family, +so we are quite safe," said the other man; and then they both went to +sleep till night came. + +Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do. He could not tell +the old lady about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and she would +not understand that language. So he went about all day looking very +sober, and would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the +big burdock leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he +did not go into the hen-house with the rest, but flew up to the shed +roof over the kitchen, and sat there in the cold ready to scare the +robbers with a loud crow, as he could do nothing else. + +At midnight the men came creeping along; one stopped outside, and the +other went in. Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and went back +for the money. Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a +loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys. The man +with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; +the other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and +picked at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned +to run some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him +in the legs. The old lady popped her head out of the upper window and +rang the dinner-bell, and called "Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused +the neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble could be. + +They fished one man out of the well and picked up the wounded one, and +carried them both off to prison. + +"Who caught them?" asked the people. + +"We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we +shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the +rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this is the second time he has +caught a thief." + +So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his +family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward. + +When the robbers were tried, it was found that they were the men who had +robbed the bank, and taken a great deal of money; so every one was glad +to have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people +would go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was +so brave and handsome, they said at last,-- + +"We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow +let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow." + +"Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky +ought to be remembered in some way. + +So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye +on the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the +court-house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, +and twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were +never tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a +procession one moonlight night to see it,--yes, even Mamma Partlet and +Granny Cockletop, though one was lame and the other very old, so full of +pride were they in the great honor done King Cockyloo. + +This was not the end of his good deeds; and the last was the best of +all, though it cost him his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his +kingdom in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other +fowls were taken for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But he did die +at last; and even then he was good and brave, as you shall hear. + +One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and went behind the hen-house, +so nobody should see him do such a silly thing. He thought he heard +his father coming, and hid the pipe under the house. Some straw and dry +leaves lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the +boy ran away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to +burning nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to help. +The door was locked, and could not be opened, because the key was in the +pocket of the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe and chopped down the +wall, letting the poor biddies fly out, squawking and smoking. + +"Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed +the king of the farmyard. + +"Burnt up, I'm afraid," said the farmer, who was throwing water on the +flames. + +Alas! yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky +sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks +whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away, and sat +chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke +choked _him_ to death. + +Every one was very sorry; and the children gave the good bird a fine +funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a green mound +over him, and a white stone, on which was written,-- + + Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew: + We mourn for him with sorrow true. + Now nevermore at dawn his music shall we hear, + Waking the world like trumpet shrill and clear. + The hens all hang their heads, the chickens sadly peep; + The boys look sober, and the girls all weep. + Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest, + With grass and daisies on your faithful breast; + And when you wake, brave bird, so good and true, + Clap your white wings and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo." + + +[Illustration: The lion walked awhile to rest himself.] + + + + +VI. + +ROSY'S JOURNEY. + + +Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with her mother in a small house +in the woods. They were very poor, for the father had gone away to dig +gold, and did not come back; so they had to work hard to get food to eat +and clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when she was able, for she was +often sick, and Rosy did all she could to help. She milked the red cow +and fed the hens; dug the garden, and went to town to sell the yarn and +the eggs. + +She was very good and sweet, and every one loved her; but the neighbors +were all poor, and could do little to help the child. So, when at last +the mother died, the cow and hens and house had to be sold to pay the +doctor and the debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no mother, no +home, and no money to buy clothes and dinners with. + +"What will you do?" said the people, who were very sorry for her. + +"I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, bravely. + +"But he is far away, and you don't know just where he is, up among the +mountains. Stay with us and spin on your little wheel, and we will buy +the yarn, and take care of you, dear little girl," said the kind people. + +"No, I must go; for mother told me to, and my father will be glad +to have me. I'm not afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, +gratefully. + +Then the people gave her a warm red cloak, and a basket with a little +loaf and bottle of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more to eat when +the bread was gone. They all kissed her, and wished her good luck; and +she trotted away through the wood to find her father. + +For some days she got on very well; for the wood-cutters were kind, and +let her sleep in their huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by +she came to lonely places, where there were no houses; and then she +was afraid, and used to climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat +berries and leaves, like the Children in the Wood. + +She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would not come near her; and if +she met other travellers, she was so young and innocent no one had the +heart to hurt her. She was kind to everything she met; so all little +creatures were friends to her, as we shall see. + +One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw a tiny fish on the bank, +nearly dead for want of water. + +"Poor thing! go and be happy again," she said, softly taking him up, and +dropping him into the nice cool river. + +"Thank you, dear child; I'll not forget, but will help you some day," +said the fish, when he had taken a good drink, and felt better. + +"Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great girl as I am?" laughed Rosy. + +"Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam away with a flap of his +little tail. + +Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. But she never forgot +to be kind; and soon after, as she was looking in the grass for +strawberries, she found a field-mouse with a broken leg. + +"Help me to my nest, or my babies will starve," cried the poor thing. + +"Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that you can keep still till +your leg is better, and have something to eat." + +Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little hand, and tied up the broken +leg with a leaf of spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she carried her +to the nest under the roots of an old tree, where four baby mice were +squeaking sadly for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown for the +sick mouse, and put close within reach all the berries and seeds she +could find, and brought an acorn-cup of water from the spring, so they +could be comfortable. + +"Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this kindness some day," said +the mouse, when she was done. + +"I'm afraid you are not big enough to do much," answered Rosy, as she +ran off to go on her journey. + +"Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the little ones squeaked, as +if they said the same. + +Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, waiting for the sun to rise, +she heard a great buzzing close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb +that went from one twig to another. The big spider was trying to spin +him all up, and the poor fly was struggling to get away before his legs +and wings were helpless. + +Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the web, and the spider ran away +at once to hide under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on Rosy's hand, +cleaning his wings, and buzzing so loud for joy that it sounded like a +little trumpet. + +"You've saved my life, and I'll save yours, if I can," said the fly, +twinkling his bright eye at Rosy. + +"You silly thing, you can't help me," answered Rosy, climbing down, +while the fly buzzed away, saying, like the mouse and fish,-- + +"Wait and see; wait and see." + +Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came to the sea. The mountains +were on the other side; but how should she get over the wide water? No +ships were there, and she had no money to hire one if there had been +any; so she sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a few big +tears as salt as the sea. + +"Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close by; and the fish popped up +his head. Rosy ran to see what he wanted. + +"I've come to help you over the water," said the fish. + +"How can you, when I want a ship, and some one to show me the way?" +answered Rosy. + +"I shall just call my friend the whale, and he will take you over better +than a ship, because he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts +and flounces about a good deal, he is only playing; so you needn't be +frightened." + +Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to see what would happen; +for she didn't believe such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to +help her. + +Presently what looked like a small island came floating through the sea; +and turning round, so that its tail touched the shore, the whale said, +in a roaring voice that made her jump,-- + +"Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. I'll carry you wherever +you like." + +It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was rather scared at this big, +strange boat; but she got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a +roll and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting two fountains, while his +tail steered him like the rudder of a ship. + +Rosy liked it, and looked down into the deep sea, where all sorts of +queer and lovely things were to be seen. Great fishes came and looked at +her; dolphins played near to amuse her; the pretty nautilus sailed by +in its transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh with their rough +play. Mermaids brought her pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to +eat, and at night sung her to sleep with their sweet lullabies. + +So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran on shore with many thanks to +the good whale, who gave a splendid spout, and swam away. + +Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a desert. Hundreds of miles +of hot sand, with no trees or brooks or houses. + +"I never can go that way," she said; "I should starve, and soon be worn +out walking in that hot sand. What _shall_ I do?" + + "Quee, quee! + Wait and see: + You were good to me; + So here I come, + From my little home, + To help you willingly," + +said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its +bright eyes full of gratitude. + +"Why, you dear little thing, I'm very glad to see you; but I'm sure you +can't help me across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft back. + +"That's easy enough," answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. +"I'll just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he'll take you +across with pleasure." + +"Oh, I'm afraid he'd rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce +beast?" cried Rosy, much surprised. + +"I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a +noble animal, and he will keep his word." + +Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,-- + + "O lion, grand, + Come over the sand, + And help me now, I pray! + Here's a little lass, + Who wants to pass; + Please carry her on her way." + +In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with +fiery eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them. + +"What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he said, looking at the mouse, who +was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every +moment to be eaten. + +Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,-- + +"I'll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold +fast to my mane, for I'm a swift horse, and you might fall off." + +Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was +so kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand +till her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she +thought it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers +rolled their fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion +was king of all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with +loads on their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered +what queer thing was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large +monkey in a red cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a +little girl. + +"How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little +creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert," +said Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself. + +"And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have +come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make +them gentle and friendly by kindness," answered the lion. + +Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green +country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one +saw him, they would try to catch him. + +"Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father," thought +Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads +winding up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts +where the men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took +the wrong road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in +rocks over which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for +her food was gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night +was coming on, and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before +morning, but dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole +and be killed. Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a +little; then she tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, +and looking carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if +anxious to make her listen to his song,-- + + "Rosy, my dear, + Don't cry,--I'm here + To help you all I can. + I'm only a fly, + But you'll see that I + Will keep my word like a man." + +Rosy couldn't help laughing to hear the brisk little fellow talk as if +he could do great things; but she was very glad to see him and hear his +cheerful song, so she held out her finger, and while he sat there told +him all her troubles. + +"Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will carry you right up the +mountains and leave you at your father's door," cried the fly; and he +was off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant what he said. + +Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not at all afraid after the whale +and the lion; so when a great eagle swooped down and alighted near her, +she just looked at his sharp claws, big eyes, and crooked beak as coolly +as if he had been a cock-robin. + +He liked her courage, and said kindly in his rough voice,-- + +"Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. Hold me fast round the +neck, or you may grow dizzy and get a fall." + +Rosy nestled down among the thick gray feathers, and put both arms round +his neck; and whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, till the +trees looked like grass, they were so far below. At first it was very +cold, and Rosy cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as they came +nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and she peeped out to see the huts +standing in a green spot on the top of the mountain. + +"Here we are. You'll find all the men are down in the mine at this +time. They won't come up till morning; so you will have to wait for your +father. Good-by; good luck, my dear." And the eagle soared away, higher +still, to his nest among the clouds. + +It was night now, but fires were burning in all the houses; so Rosy went +from hut to hut trying to find her father's, that she might rest while +she waited: at last in one the picture of a pretty little girl hung on +the wall, and under it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew that this +was the right place; and she ate some supper, put on more wood, and went +to bed, for she wanted to be fresh when her father came in the morning. + +While she slept a storm came on,--thunder rolled and lightning flashed, +the wind blew a gale, and rain poured,--but Rosy never waked till dawn, +when she heard men shouting outside,-- + +"Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all be drowned!" + +Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, though the wind nearly blew her +away; she found that so much rain had made the river overflow till it +began to wash the banks away. + +"What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried Rosy, watching the men rush +about like ants, getting their bags of gold ready to carry off before +the water swept them away, if it became a flood. + +As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice say close by,-- + + "Splash, dash! + Rumble and crash! + Here come the beavers gay; + See what they do, + Rosy, for you, + Because you helped _me_ one day." + +And there in the water was the little fish swimming about, while an army +of beavers began to pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep the +river back. How they worked, digging and heaping with teeth and claws, +and beating the earth hard with their queer tails like shovels! Rosy and +the men watched them work, glad to be safe, while the storm cleared up; +and by the time the dam was made, all danger was over. Rosy looked into +the faces of the rough men, hoping her father was there, and was just +going to ask about him, when a great shouting rose again, and all began +to run to the pit hole, saying,-- + +"The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows will be smothered! How can we +get them out? how can we get them out?" + +Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would break; for her father was +down in the mine, and would die soon if air did not come to him. The men +dug as hard as they could; but it was a long job, and they feared they +would not be in time. + +Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering along, and began to burrow +down through the earth, making many holes for air to go in; for they +know how to build galleries through the ground better than men can. +Every one was so surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt flew +like rain as the busy little fellows scratched and bored as if making an +underground railway. + +"What does it mean?" said the men. "They work faster than we can, and +better; but who sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?" + +Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, small voice singing,-- + + "They come at my call; + And though they are small, + They'll dig the passage clear: + I never forget; + We'll save them yet, + For love of Rosy dear." + +Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on a stone, waving her tail +about, and pointing with her tiny paw to show the moles where to dig. + +The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them who she was, when a cry came +from the pit, and they saw that the way was clear so they could pull the +buried men up. In a minute they got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows +safe on the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all shouting as +if they were crazy,-- + +"Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!" + +"What is it?" cried the others; and then they saw Tom come up with the +biggest lump of gold ever found in the mountains. + +Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was a good man, and had worked +a long time, and been sick, and couldn't go back to his wife and child. +When he saw Rosy, he dropped the lump, and caught her up, saying,-- + +"My little girl! she's better than a million pounds of gold." + +Then Rosy was very happy, and went back to the hut, and had a lovely +time telling her father all about her troubles and her travels. He cried +when he heard that the poor mother was dead before she could have any of +the good things the gold would buy them. + +"We will go away and be happy together in the pleasantest home I can +find, and never part any more, my darling," said the father, kissing +Rosy as she sat on his knee with her arms round his neck. + +She was just going to say something very sweet to comfort him, when a +fly lit on her arm and buzzed very loud,-- + + "Don't drive me away, + But hear what I say: + Bad men want the gold; + They will steal it to-night, + And you must take flight; + So be quiet and busy and bold." + +"I was afraid some one would take my lump away. I'll pack up at once, +and we will creep off while the men are busy at work; though I'm afraid +we can't go fast enough to be safe, if they miss us and come after," +said Tom, bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; for some +of the miners were wild fellows, and might kill him for the sake of that +great lump. + +But the fly sang again,-- + + "Slip away with me, + And you will see + What a wise little thing am I; + For the road I show + No man can know, + Since it's up in the pathless sky." + +Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in the wood; and there were the +eagle and his mate waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far that +no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of gold were put on the mother +eagle; Tom sat astride the king bird; and away they flew to a great +city, where the little girl and her father lived happily together all +their lives. + + +[Illustration: Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground.] + + + + +VII. + +HOW THEY RAN AWAY. + + +Two little boys sat on the fence whittling arrows one fine day. Said one +little boy to the other little boy,-- + +"Let's do something jolly." + +"All right. What will we do?" + +"Run off to the woods and be hunters." + +"What can we hunt?" + +"Bears and foxes." + +"Mullin says there ain't any round here." + +"Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare wood-chucks." + +"Haven't got any guns and trap." + +"We've got our bows, and I found an old trap behind the barn." + +"What will we eat?" + +"Here's our lunch; and when that's gone we can roast the squirrels and +cook the fish on a stick. I know how." + +"Where will you get the fire?" + +"Got matches in my pocket." + +"I've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see." + +And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy displayed his treasures, +while bold Tommy did the same. + +Besides the two knives there were strings, nails, matches, a piece of +putty, fish-hooks, and two very dirty handkerchiefs. + +"There, sir, that's a first-rate fit-out for hunters; and with the jolly +basket of lunch Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top for two or +three days," said Tommy, eager to be off. + +"Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who liked to be comfortable both +night and day. + +"Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like the fellows in our books. If +you are afraid, stay at home; I'm going to have no end of a good time." +And Tommy crammed the things back into his pockets as if there were no +time to lose. + +"Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And jumping down Billy caught up his +rod, rather ashamed of his many questions. + +No one was looking at them, and they might have walked quietly off; but +that the "running away" might be all right, both raced down the road, +tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the woods as if a whole tribe of +wild Indians were after them. + +"Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when at last they stopped for +breath. + +"Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but we'd better not keep to it, or +some one will see us and take us back. We are going to be _real_ hunters +and have adventures; so we must get lost, and find our way by the sun +and the stars," answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' Books his +little head was a jumble of Texan Rangers, African Explorers, and +Buffalo Bills; and he burned to outdo them all. + +"What will our mothers say if we really get lost?" asked Billy, always +ready with a question. + +"Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like." + +That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma was tired of trying to keep the +lively little fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him come out +of all his scrapes without much harm. + +"Mine will be scared; she's always afraid I'm going to get hurt, so I'm +careful. But I guess I'll risk it, and have some fun to tell about when +we go home," said Billy, trudging after Captain Tommy, who always took +the lead. + +These eleven-year-old boys were staying with their mothers at a +farm-house up among the mountains; and having got tired of the tame +bears, the big barn, the trout brook, the thirty colts at pasture, and +the society of the few little girls and younger boys at the hotel near +by, these fine fellows longed to break loose and "rough it in the bush," +as the hunters did in their favorite stories. + +Away they went, deeper and deeper into the great forest that covered the +side of the mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it was cool +and green, with many brooks splashing over the rocks, or lying in brown +pools under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced in the tall pines; +now and then a gray rabbit skipped out of sight among the brakes, or +a strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries grew in the open +places, sassafras bushes were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready +for chewing. + +"Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, pausing at last in a little +dell where a noisy brook came tumbling down the mountain side, and the +pines sung overhead. + +"Yes; but I'm awful hungry. Let's rest and eat our lunch," said Billy, +sitting down on a cushion of moss. + +"You always want to be stuffing and resting," answered sturdy Tommy, who +liked to be moving all the time. + +He took the fishing-basket, which hung over his shoulder by a strap, +and opened it carefully; for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch of +bread and butter, cake and peaches, with a bottle of milk, and two large +pickles slipped in on the sly to please the boys. + +Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked in, for all he saw was a box +of worms for bait and an old jacket. + +"By George! we've got the wrong basket. This is Mullin's, and he's gone +off with our prog. Won't he be mad?" + +"Not as mad as I am. Why didn't you look? You are always in such a hurry +to start. What _shall_ we do now without anything to eat?" whined Billy; +for losing his lunch was a dreadful blow to him. + +"We shall have to catch some fish and eat blackberries. Which will you +do, old cry-baby?" said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face. + +"I'll fish; I'm so tired I can't go scratching round after berries. I +don't love 'em, either." And Billy began to fix his line and bait his +hook. + +"Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em if you can't wait for fish," +said Tommy, bustling about to empty the basket and pile up their few +possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool below here, you go and fish +there. I'll pick the berries, and then show you how to get dinner in the +woods. This is our camp; so fly round and do your best." + +Then Tommy ran off to a place near by where he had seen the berries, +while Billy found a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling at +the water so crossly, it was a wonder any trout came to his hook. But +the fat worms tempted several small ones, and he cheered up at the +prospect of food. Tommy whistled while he picked, and in half an hour +came back with two quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry sticks +for the fire. + +"We'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, as the flames went +crackling up, and the dry leaves made a pleasant smell. + +"Got four, but don't see how we'll ever cook 'em; no frying-pan," +grumbled Billy, throwing down the four little trout, which he had half +cleaned. + +"Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or toast 'em on a forked stick. +I'll show you how," said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding his +fire as much like a real hunter as a small boy could be. + +While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed for bread and butter. At +last, after much trouble, two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly +eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very different from the nice +brown ones Mrs. Mullin gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles they +would fall in the ashes, and there was no salt to eat with them. By the +time the last were toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they could +have eaten anything, and not a berry was left. + +"I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole among the vines, and I +shouldn't wonder if we got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when the +last bone was polished. "You go and catch some more fish, and I'll see +if I have caught any old chap as he went home to dinner." + +Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went slowly back to the brook, wishing +with all his might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie. + +The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, for not one bite did poor +Billy get; and he was just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him +such a fright that he tumbled into the brook up to his knees. + +"I've got him! Come and see! He's a bouncer," roared Tommy, from the +berry bushes some way off. + +Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his wet boots would let him, to +see what the prize was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round a fat gray +animal, who was fighting to get his paws out of the trap, and making a +queer noise as he struggled about. + +"What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a tree as fast as possible, +for the thing looked fierce, and he was very timid. + +"A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. Won't his fur make a fine cap? +I guess the other fellows will wish they'd come with us." said Tommy, +prancing to and fro, without the least idea what to do with the +creature. + +"He'll bite. We'd better run away and wait till he's dead," said Billy. + +"Wish he'd got his head in, then I could carry him off; but he does +look savage, so we'll have to leave him awhile, and get him when we come +back. But he's a real beauty." And Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of +gray fur scuffling in the sand. + +"Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, ready for a fried crocodile +if he could get it. + +"If he's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know about woodchucks. The +fellows in my books don't seem to have caught any. He's nice and fat; we +might try him when he's dead," said Tommy, who cared more for the skin +to show than the best meal ever cooked. + +The sound of a gun echoing through the wood gave Tommy a good idea,-- + +"Let's find the man and get him to shoot this chap; then we needn't +wait, but skin him right away, and eat him too." + +Off they went to the camp; and catching up their things, the two hunters +hurried away in the direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that +some one was near them, for two or three hours of wood life made them a +little homesick. + +They ran and scrambled, and listened and called; but not until they had +gone a long way up the mountain did they find the man, resting in an old +hut left by the lumbermen. The remains of his dinner were spread on the +floor, and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, while his dog dozed +at his feet, close to a well-filled game-bag. + +He looked surprised when two dirty, wet little boys suddenly appeared +before him,--one grinning cheerfully, the other looking very dismal +and scared as the dog growled and glared at them as if they were two +rabbits. + +"Hollo!" said the man + +"Hollo!" answered Tommy. + +"Who are you?" asked the man. + +"Hunters," said Tommy. + +"Had good luck?" And the man laughed. + +"First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and we want you to come and +shoot him," answered Tommy, proudly. + +"Sure?" said the man, looking interested as well as amused. + +"No, but I think so." + +"What's he like?" + +Tommy described him, and was much disappointed when the man lay down +again, saying, with another laugh,-- + +"It's a woodchuck; he's no good." + +"But I want the skin." + +"Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's better for the skin," said +the man, who was tired and didn't want to stop for such poor game. + +All this time Billy had been staring hard at the sandwiches and bread +and cheese on the floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at +him. + +"Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing the hungry look. + +"I just do! We left our lunch, and I've only had two little trout and +some old berries since breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his +eyes and a hand on his stomach. + +"Eat away then; I'm done, and don't want the stuff." And the man took up +his paper as if glad to be let alone. + +It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in ten minutes nothing +was left but the napkin; and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much +refreshed, but ready for more. + +"Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty cold on the mountain after +sunset, and you are a long way from town," said the man, who had peeped +at them over his paper now and then, and saw, in spite of the dirt and +rips, that they were not farmer boys. + +"We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in the valley. No hurry; +we know the way, and we want to have some sport first. You seem to +have done well," answered Tommy, looking enviously from the gun to the +game-bag, out of which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail. + +"Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. People tell me there is one +up here, and I'm after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt some +of the young folks round here," said the man, loading his gun with a +very sober air; for he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home. + +Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown face beamed with joy as he said +eagerly,-- + +"I hope you'll get him. I'd rather shoot a bear than any other animal +but a lion. We don't have those here, and bears are scarce. Mullin said +he hadn't heard of one for a long time; so this must be a young one, for +they killed the big one two years ago." + +That was true, and the man knew it. He did not really expect or want to +meet a bear, but thought the idea of one would send the little fellows +home at once. Finding one of them was unscared, he laughed, and said +with a nod to Tommy,-- + +"If I had time I'd take _you_ along, and show you how to hunt; but this +fat friend of yours couldn't rough it with us, and we can't leave him +alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I wouldn't climb any higher, for +among the rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost." + +"Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I know you'll like it. A real gun +and dog and hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," cried Tommy, +wild to go. + +"I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; you can go after your old bears +if you want to. I don't think much of hunting anyway, and wish I hadn't +come," growled Billy, very cross at being left out, yet with no desire +to scramble any more. + +"Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and some day I'll come and take +you out with me, little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding off +with the dear gun and dog and bag, leaving Billy to wonder what he meant +by that queer name, and Tommy to console himself with the promise made +him. + +"Let's go and see how old Chucky gets on," he said good-naturedly, when +the man vanished. + +"Not till I'm rested. I can get a good nap on this pile of hay; then +we'll go home before it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself +on the rough bed the lumbermen had used. + +"I just wish I had a boy with some go in him; you ain't much better than +a girl," sighed Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some squirrels +seemed to be having a party, they chattered and raced up and down at +such a rate. + +He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many times in vain, for the +lively creatures gave him no chance. He had better luck with a brown +bird who sat in a bush and was hit full in the breast with the sharpest +arrow. The poor thing fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green +leaves as it lay dying on the grass. Tommy was much pleased at first; +but as he stood watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty brown +wings stop fluttering, he felt sorry that its happy little life was so +cruelly ended, and ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so much +pain. + +"I'll never shoot another bird except hawks after chickens, and I won't +brag about this one. It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean to +kill it." + +As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the ruffled feathers of the dead +thrush, and, making a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped in +green leaves, and left it there where its mate could sing over it, and +no rude hands disturb its rest. + +"I'll tell mamma and she will understand: but I _won't_ tell Billy. He +is such a greedy old chap he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird +to eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, and sat there, +restringing his bow, till Billy woke up, much more amiable for his +sleep. + +They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost their way, and wandered +deeper into the great forest till they came to a rocky place and could +go no farther. They climbed up and tumbled down, turned back and went +round, looked at the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras bark and +checkerberry leaves for supper, and grew more and more worried and tired +as hour after hour went by and they saw no end to woods and rocks. Once +or twice they heard the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried to +find him. + +Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the man, who knew his way and was +probably safe in the valley when the last faint shot came up to them. +Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for proposing to run away; and both +felt very homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds at Farmer +Mullin's. + +The sun set, and found them in a dreary place full of rocks and blasted +trees half-way up the mountain. They were so tired they could hardly +walk, and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; but, remembering the +hunter's story of the bear, they were afraid to do it, till Tommy +suggested climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot of it to +scare away the bear, lest he climb too and get them. + +But, alas! the matches were left in their first camp; so they decided to +take turns to sleep and watch, since it was plain that they must spend +the night there. Billy went up first, and creeping into a good notch of +the bare tree tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with a big stick, +marched to and fro below. Every few minutes a trembling voice would call +from above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious voice would answer from +below, "Not yet. Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn." + +At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy felt so lonely he couldn't +bear it; so he climbed to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying +to keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and the early moon saw the +poor boys roosting there like two little owls. + +A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then a great shaking and howling +waked Tommy so suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and did not +know where he was. + +"The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! Tommy, Tommy, come and make +him let go," cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls. + +Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large bear eating his unhappy +friend; but the moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy dangling +from a bough, high above the ground, caught by his belt when he fell. He +had been dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so there he hung, +kicking and wailing, half awake, and so scared it was long before Tommy +could make him believe that he was quite safe. + +How to get him down was the next question. The branch was not strong +enough to bear Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to unhook poor +Billy. The belt was firmly twisted at the back, and Billy could not +reach to undo it, nor could he get his legs round the branch to pull +himself up. There seemed no way but to unbuckle the belt and drop. That +he was afraid to try; for the ground was hard, and the fall a high one. +Fortunately both belt and buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though +very uncomfortably, while Tommy racked his boyish brain to find a way to +help him. + +Billy had just declared that he should be cut in two very soon if +something was not done for him, and Tommy was in despair, when they +thought they heard a far-off shout, and both answered it till their +throats were nearly split with screaming. + +"I seem to see a light moving round down that way," cried Billy from his +hook, pointing toward the valley. + +"They are looking for us, but they won't hear us. I'll run and holler +louder, and bring 'em up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything that +would put an end to this dreadful state of things. + +"Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! The bear might come! Don't +go! don't go!" wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid. + +"I won't go far, and I'll come back as quick as I can. You are safe up +there. Hold on, and we'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, rushing +away helter-skelter, never minding where he went, and too much excited +to care for any damage. + +The moon was bright on the blasted trees; but when he came down among +the green pines, it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. Never +minding bumps and bruises, he scrambled over rocks, leaped fallen +trunks, floundered through brooks, and climbed down steep places, till, +with a reckless jump, he went heels over head into a deep hole, and lay +there for a moment stunned by the fall. It was an old bear-trap, long +unused, and fortunately well carpeted with dead leaves, or poor Tommy +would have broken his bones. + +When he came to himself he was so used up that he lay still for some +time in a sort of daze, too tired to know or care about anything, only +dimly conscious that somebody was lost in a tree or a well, and that, on +the whole, running away was not all fun. + +By and by the sound of a gun roused him; and remembering poor Billy, he +tried to get out of the pit,--for the moon showed him where he was. But +it was too deep, and he was too stiff with weariness and the fall to be +very nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and raged about very like a +little bear caught in the pit. + +It is very difficult to find a lost person on these great mountains, and +many wander for hours not far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, +the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them in. Some have lost +their lives; and as Tommy lay on the leaves used up by his various +struggles, he thought of all the stories he had lately heard at the +farm, and began to wonder how it would feel to starve to death down +there, and to wish poor Billy could come to share his prison, that they +might die together, like the Babes in the Wood, or better still the Boy +Scouts lost on the prairies in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, +the Wild Hunter of the West." + +"I guess mother is worried this time, because I never stayed out all +night before, and I never will again without leave. It's rather good +fun, though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and it isn't very +cold. I always wanted to sleep out, and now I'm doing it. Wish poor +Billy was safely down and in this good bed with me. Won't he be scared +all alone there? Maybe the belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. +Sorry now I left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. There's the gun again! +Guess it's that man after us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! Hi! +hi! hi!" + +Tommy's meditations ended in a series of yells as loud as his shrill +little voice could make them, and he thought some one answered. But it +must have been an echo, for no one came; and after another rampage round +his prison, the poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and went fast +asleep because there was nothing else to do. + +So there they were, the two young hunters, lost at midnight on the +mountain,--one hanging like an apple on the old tree, and the other +sound asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers meantime were +weeping and wringing their hands at the farm, while all the men in +the neighborhood were out looking for the lost boys. The hunter on his +return to the hotel had reported meeting the runaways and his effort to +send them home in good season; so people knew where to look, and, led by +the man and dog, up the mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. It was +a mild night, and the moon shone high and clear; so the hunt was, on the +whole, rather easy and pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through +the dark forest like fireflies, the lonely cliffs seemed alive with men, +and voices echoed in places where usually only the brooks babbled +and the hawks screamed. But as time went on, and no sign of the boys +appeared, the men grew anxious, and began to fear some serious harm had +come to the runaways. + +"I can't go home without them little shavers no way, 'specially Tommy," +said Mr. Mullin, as they stopped to rest after a hard climb through the +blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own heart, spry as a chipmunk, +smart as a young cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. He ain't +afraid of anything, and I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find him +enjoyin' himself first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber." + +"The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. If it hadn't been for +him I'd have kept the lively fellow with me, and shown him how to hunt. +Sorry now I didn't take them both home," said the man with the gun, +seeing his mistake too late, as people often do. + +"Maybe they've fell down a precipice and got killed, like Moses Warner, +when he was lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted himself +hoarse. + +"Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' yonder, and he may have found +'em," said the farmer, hurrying toward the place where the hound was +baying at something in a tree. + +It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half unconscious with weariness +and fear. The belt had slipped up under his arms, so he could breathe +easily; and there he was, looking like a queer sort of cone on the +blasted pine. + +"Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as the tall lad climbed up, and, +unhooking Billy, handed him down like a young bird, into the arms held +up to catch him. + +"He's all right, only scared out of his wits. Come along and look for +the other one. I'll warrant he went for help, and may be half-way home +by this time," said the hunter, who didn't take much interest in the fat +boy. + +Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing it to the dog, his master +told him to find the boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then set off +with his nose to the ground, following the zigzag track Tommy had taken +in his hurry. The hunter and several of the men went after him, leaving +the farmer with the others to take care of Billy. + +Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and began to bark again. + +"He's got him!" cried the men, much relieved; and rushing on soon saw +the good beast looking down at a little white object in one corner of +the dark hole. + +It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the rest of him was covered up +with leaves. The little round face seemed very quiet; and for a moment +the men stood quite still, fearing that the fall might have done the +boy some harm. Then the hunter leaped down, and gently touched the brown +cheek. It was warm, and a soft snore from the pug nose made the man call +out, much relieved,-- + +"He's all right. Wake up here, little chap; you are wanted at home. Had +hunting enough for this time?" + +As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave a stretch, and said, "Hollo, +Billy," as calmly as if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of the +leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the sight of several men staring +down at him startled him wide awake. + +"Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, looking up at the hunter with a +grin. + +"No; but I caught a little one, and here he is," answered the man, +giving Tommy a roll in the leaves, much pleased because he did not whine +or make a fuss. + +"Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's Billy? I left him up a tree +like a coon, and he wouldn't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking off his +brown bed-clothes, and quite ready to get up now. + +They all laughed with him; and presently, when the story was told, they +pulled the boy out of the pit, and went back to join the other wanderer, +who was now sitting up eating the bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for +their very late supper. + +The men roared again, as the two boys told their various tribulations; +and when they had been refreshed, the party started for home, blowing +the tin horns, and firing shot after shot to let the scattered searchers +know that the lost children were found. Billy was very quiet, and gladly +rode on the various broad backs offered for his use, but Tommy stoutly +refused to be carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a very rough +place, walked all the way down on his own sturdy legs. He was the hero +of the adventure, and was never tired of relating how he caught the +woodchuck, cooked the fish, slid down the big rock, and went to bed in +the old bear-pit. But in his own little mind he resolved to wait till he +was older before he tried to be a hunter; and though he caught several +wood-chucks that summer, he never shot another harmless little bird. + + +[Illustration: A wasp flew out and stung her lips.] + + + + +VIII. + +THE FAIRY BOX. + + +"I wish I had a magic bracelet like Rosamond's, that would prick me when +I was going to do wrong," said little May, as she put down the story she +had been reading. + +There was no one else in the room, but she heard a sweet voice sing +these words close to her ear:-- + + "Now hark, little May, + If you want to do right, + Under your pillow + Just look every night. + If you have been good + All through the day, + A gift you will find, + Useful or gay; + But if you have been + Cross, selfish, or wild, + A bad thing will come + For the naughty child. + So try, little dear, + And soon you will see + How easy and sweet + To grow good it will be." + +May was very much surprised at this, and looked everywhere to see who +spoke, but could find no one. + +"I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide open, and I can't make up +poetry, asleep or awake." + +As she said that, some one laughed; and the same voice sang again,-- + + "Ha, ha, you can't see, + Although I am here; + But listen to what + I say in your ear. + Tell no one of this. + Because, if you do, + My fun will be spoilt, + And so will yours too. + But if you are good, + And patient, and gay, + A real fairy will come + To see little May." + +"Oh, how splendid that will be! I'll try hard, and be as good as an +angel if I can only get one peep at a live fairy. I always said there +were such people, and now I shall know how they look," cried the little +girl, so pleased that she danced all about the room, clapping her hands. + +Something bright darted out of the window from among the flowers that +stood there, and no more songs were heard; so May knew that the elf had +gone. + +"I've got a fine secret all to myself, and I'll keep it carefully. I +wonder what present will come to-night," she said, thinking this a very +interesting play. + +She was very good all day, and made no fuss about going to bed, though +usually she fretted, and wanted to play, and called for water, and +plagued poor Nursey in many ways. She got safely into her little nest, +and then was in such a hurry to see what was under her pillow that she +forgot, and called out crossly,-- + +"Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang up my clothes, you slow old +thing! Go, go!" + +That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away without her good-night +kiss. But May didn't care, and felt under her pillow the minute the door +was shut. A lamp was always left burning; so she could see the little +gold box she drew out. + +"How pretty! I hope there is some candy in it," she said, opening it +very carefully. + +Oh, dear! what _do_ you think happened? A wasp flew out and stung her +lips; then both wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry alone, +with a sharp pain in the lips that said the unkind words. + +"What a dreadful present! I don't like that spiteful fairy who sends +such horrid things," she sobbed. + +Then she lay still and thought about it; for she dared not call any one, +because nobody must guess the secret. She knew in her own little heart +that the cross words hurt Nursey as the sting did her lips, and she felt +sorry. At once the smart got better, and by the time she had resolved to +ask the good old woman to forgive her, it was all gone. + +Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged pardon, and tried hard to be +good till tea-time; then she ran to see what nice things they were +going to have to eat, though she had often been told not to go into +the dining-room. No one was there; and on the table stood a dish of +delicious little cakes, all white like snowballs. + +"I must have just a taste, and I'll tell mamma afterward," she said; and +before she knew it one little cake was eaten all up. + +"Nobody will miss it, and I can have another at tea. Now, a lump of +sugar and a sip of cream before mamma comes, I so like to pick round." + +Having done one wrong thing, May felt like going on; so she nibbled and +meddled with all sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, then +she ran away; and by and by, when the bell rang, came in with the rest +as prim and proper as if she did not know how to play pranks. No one +missed the cake, and her mother gave her another, saying,-- + +"There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my good child." + +May turned red, and wanted to tell what she had done, but was ashamed +because there was company; and people thought she blushed like a modest +little girl at being praised. + +But when she went to bed she was almost afraid to look under the pillow, +knowing that she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew out the box, +and slowly opened it, expecting something to fly at her. All she saw +was a tiny black bag, that began at once to grow larger, till it was +big enough to hold her two hands. Then it tied itself tight round her +wrists, as if to keep these meddlesome hands out of mischief. + +"Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful as the wasp. I hope +no one will see it when I'm asleep. I do wish I'd let those cakes and +things alone," sighed May, looking at the black bag, and vainly trying +to get her hands free. + +She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke the bag was gone. No one +had seen it; but she told her mamma about the cake, and promised not to +do so any more. + +"Now this shall be a _truly_ good day, every bit of it," she said, as +she skipped away, feeling as light as a feather after she had confessed +her little sins. + +But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, that May spoilt her day +before dinner by going to the river and playing with the boats, in spite +of many orders not to do it. She did not tell of it, and went to a +party in the afternoon, where she was so merry she never remembered the +naughty thing till she was in bed and opened the fairy box. A little +chain appeared, which in a flash grew long and large, and fastened round +her ankles as if she were a prisoner. May liked to tumble about, and was +much disgusted to be chained in this way; but there was no help for it, +so she lay very still and had plenty of time to be sorry. + +"It is a good punishment for me, and I deserve it. I won't cry, but I +will--I _will_ remember." And May said her prayers very soberly, really +meaning to keep her word this time. + +All the next day she was very careful to keep her lips from cross words, +her hands from forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. Nothing +spoilt this day, she watched so well; and when mamma gave the good-night +kiss, she said,-- + +"What shall I give my good little daughter, who has been gentle, +obedient, and busy all day?" + +"I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a pink ribbon on its neck," +answered May. + +"I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, and happy dreams!" said +mamma, with many kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that was a +reward. + +May was so busy thinking about the kitty and the good day that she +forgot the box till she heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow. + +"Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped up her head to see. + +Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, on a red cushion, lay a +white kit about two inches long. May couldn't believe that it was alive +till it jumped out of its nest, stretched itself, and grew all at once +just the right size to play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its +tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow was on its neck. It danced +all over the bed, ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, nipped +May's toes, licked her face, patted her nose with its soft paw, and +winked at her in such a funny way that she laughed for joy at having +such a dear kitty. Presently, as if it knew that bed was the place to +lie quiet in, puss cuddled down in a little bunch and purred May to +sleep. + +"I suppose that darling kit will be gone like all the other things," +said May, as she waked up and looked round for her first pretty gift. + +No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the sun among the flower-pots, +washing her face and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic they +had; and how surprised every one was to see just the pussy May wanted! +They supposed it came as kitties often come; and May never told them it +was a fairy present, because she had promised not to. She was so happy +with little puss that she was good all day; and when she went to bed she +thought,-- + +"I wish I had a dog to play with darling Snowdrop, and run with me when +I go to walk." + +"Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the pillow; and out of the box trotted +a curly black dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such bright, +kind eyes May was not a bit afraid of him, but loved him at once, and +named him Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked him too; and when +May was sleepy they both snuggled down in the same basket like two good +babies, and went to by-low. + +"Well, I never! What shall we find next?" said Nurse, when she saw the +dog in the morning. + +"Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the whole house, and scare you +out of your wits," laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop chasing her +bare toes, while Floss shook and growled over her shoes as if they were +rats. + +"If your cousin John wants to give you any more animals, I wish he'd +send a pony to take you to school, and save my old legs the pain of +trotting after you," said Nurse; for May did have a rich cousin who was +very fond of her, and often gave her nice things. + +"Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled with the idea that it was +a fairy, and not Cousin John, who sent the cunning little creatures to +her. + +But she didn't get the pony that night; for in the afternoon her mother +told her not to sit on the lawn, because it was damp, and May did not +mind, being busy with a nice story. So when she took up her box, a loud +sneeze seemed to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of red +flannel. + +"What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; and as if to answer, +the strip of flannel wrapped itself round her neck. + +"There! my throat _is_ sore, and I _am_ hoarse. I wonder how that fairy +knew I sat on the damp grass. I'm so sorry; for I did want a pony, and +might have had it if I'd only minded," said May, angry with herself for +spoiling all her fun. + +It _was_ spoilt; for she had such a cold next day she couldn't go out +at all, but had to take medicine and keep by the fire, while the other +children had a lovely picnic. + +"I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't deserve a present, I was +so disobedient. But I _have_ tried to be patient," said May, feeling for +the box. + +The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was a beautiful picture-book, +full of new, nice stories printed in colored ink. + +"How splendid to read to-morrow while I'm shut up!" she said, and went +to sleep very happily. + +All the next day she enjoyed the pretty pictures and funny tales, and +never complained or fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor +said she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine. + +"Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in her bed. But there was +nothing in the box except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She did +not know what to do with it that night, but she did the next morning; +for just as she was dressed her brother called from the garden,-- + +"May, look out and see what we found in the stable. None of us can catch +him, so do come and see if you can; your name is on the card tied to his +mane." + +May looked, and there was a snow-white pony racing about the yard as if +he was having a fine frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, and +ran down to catch him. The minute she appeared, the pony went to her and +put his nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,-- + +"This is my little mistress; I will mind her and serve her well." + +May was delighted, and very proud when the pony let her put on the +saddle and bridle that lay in the barn all ready to use. She jumped up +and rode gayly down the road; and Will and mamma and all the maids and +Floss and Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The children at school +were much excited when she came trotting up, and all wanted to ride +Prince. He was very gentle, and every one had a ride; but May had the +best fun, for she could go every day for long trots by the carriage when +mamma and Will drove out. A blue habit and a hat with a long feather +were bought that afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at night +that she said to herself as she lay in bed,-- + +"I'll wish for something for Will now, and see if I get it. I don't want +any more presents yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give away to +other people who have no fairy box." + +So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box lay a key with the name +"Water Lily" on it. She guessed what it meant, and in the morning told +her brother to come to the river and see what she had for him. There lay +a pretty green and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all spread, +and at the mast-head a little flag flying in the wind, with the words +"Water Lily" on it in gold letters. + +Will was so surprised and pleased to find that it was his, he turned +heels over head on the grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, +crying, "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at once. + +May followed, and they sailed away down the lovely river, white with +real lilies, while the blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either +side, and boys and girls stopped on the bridges to see them pass. + +After that May kept on trying to be good, and wishing for things for +herself and other people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and was the +sweetest little girl in the world. Then there was no need of fairies to +help her; and one night the box was not under the pillow. + +"Well, I've had my share of pretty things, and must learn to do without. +I'm glad I tried; for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need to +be rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, quite happy and contented, +though she did wish she could have seen the fairy just once. + +Next morning the first thing she saw was a beautiful bracelet, shining +on the table; and while she stood admiring it, she heard the little +voice sing,-- + + "Here is the bracelet + For good little May + To wear on her arm + By night and by day. + When it shines like the sun, + All's going well; + But when you are bad, + A sharp prick will tell. + Farewell, little girl, + For now we must part. + Make a fairy-box, dear, + Of your own happy heart; + And take out for all + Sweet gifts every day, + Till all the year round + Is like beautiful May." + +As the last words were sung, right before her eyes she saw a tiny +creature swinging on the rose that stood there in a vase,--a lovely elf, +with wings like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and a star on her forehead. +She smiled, and waved her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away +into the sunshine, till she vanished from sight, leaving May with the +magic bracelet on her arm, and the happy thought that at last she had +_really_ seen a fairy. + + +[Illustration: Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek."] + + + + +IX. + +A HOLE IN THE WALL. + +PART I. + + +If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were his best friends, he would +have answered,-- + +"The sun and the wind, next to mother." + +Johnny lived in a little court that led off from one of the busiest +streets in the city,--a noisy street, where horse-car bells tinkled +and omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great +depots near by. The court was a dull place, with only two or three +shabby houses in it, and a high blank wall at the end. + +The people who hurried by were too busy to do more than to glance at +the lame boy who sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess that +there was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library in the court. But +Johnny had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be +grateful enough to the wind that brought him his books and pictures, nor +to the sun that made it possible for him to enjoy them in the open air, +far more than richer folk enjoy their fine galleries and libraries. + +A bad fall, some months before the time this story begins, did something +to Johnny's back which made his poor legs nearly useless, and changed +the lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. His mother took in fine +washing, and worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her +boy, who could no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to +school. He could only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on his bed in +pain for hours, and, each fair day, hobble out to sit in a little old +chair between the water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he kept +his library. + +But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty and pain; and the day a +great gust came blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty newspaper +down the court to his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for +patient Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other +pictured bits found their way to him; for the frolicsome wind liked to +whisk the papers around the corner, and chase them here and there till +they settled under the chair or flew wildly over the wall. + +Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all came to cheer the boy, who +was never tired of collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out the +big pictures to paste on the wall with the leavings of mother's starch, +and the smaller in the scrap-book he made out of stout brown wrappers +or newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a +very gay wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large +pictures up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. +The books were laid carefully away in the boiler, after being smoothly +ironed out and named to suit Johnny's fancy by pasting letters on the +back. This was the circulating library; for not only did the papers +whisk about the court to begin with, but the books they afterward made +went the rounds among the neighbors till they were worn out. + +The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading the anecdotes on Sunday when +he could not work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look over +advertisements of the fine things which she longed for; and Patsey +Flynn, the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the +station, often paused to look at the play-bills,--for he adored the +theatre, and entertained Johnny with descriptions of the splendors there +to be beheld, till he felt as if he had really been, and had known all +the famous actors, from Humpty Dumpty to the great Salvini. + +Now and then a flock of dirty children would stray into the court and +ask to see the "pretty picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy +boy; for, armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the +beauties of his gallery, feeling that he was a public benefactor when +the poor babies thanked him warmly, and promised to come again and bring +all the nice papers they could pick up. + +These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had two sorrows,--one, a very real +one, his aching back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb the wall +and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderful and +delightful place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal court, with +no playmates and few comforts. + +He amused himself with imagining how it looked over there, and nearly +every night added some new charm to this unseen country, when his mother +told him fairy tales to get him to sleep. He peopled it with the dear +old characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on +the wall was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. +Blue-beard's wives were hidden in the house of whose upper windows the +boy could just catch glimpses. Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove +of chestnuts that rustled over there; and Jack's Beanstalk grew up just +such a wall as that, he was sure. + +But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood;" for +he was sure some lovely creature lived in that garden, and he longed to +get in to find and play with her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of +damp earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as +strong a ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny +was so impatient that he promised Patsey his best book "for his +ownty-donty," if he would climb up and report what was to be seen in +that enchanted garden. + +"Faix, and I will, thin." And up went good-natured Pat, after laying an +old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all along +the top of the wall, and only cats and sparrows could walk there. + +Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for Pat's Sunday best! The board +broke, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled +Johnny half out of his wits and brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler +to the rescue. + +After this sad event Pat kept away for a time in high dudgeon, and +Johnny was more lonely than ever. But he was a cheery little soul, so he +was grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,--for the +March winds had brought him many treasures, and after April rains were +over, May sunshine made the court warm enough for him to be out nearly +all day. + +"I'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this piece and told me about it, +and he'd like to help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, +one breezy morning, as he sat examining a big poster which the wind had +sent flying into his lap a few minutes before. + +The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures represented the hero +getting out of prison by making holes in the wall, among other +remarkable performances. + +"This is a jolly red one! Now, where will I put it to show best and not +spoil the other beauties?" + +As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around and surveyed his gallery +with as much pride and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders of +art. + +It really _was_ quite splendid; for every sort of picture shone in the +sun,--simpering ladies, tragic scenes, circus parades, labels from +tin cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny +advertisements, and gay bills of all kinds. None were perfect, but they +were arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, Johnny thought. + +Presently his eyes wandered from these treasures to the budding bushes +that nodded so tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran along the +top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; lilacs tossed their purple plumes +above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents +with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like +candles on a mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping gayly +everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh blue bow, basked on the coping +of the wall, and from the depths of the enchanted garden came a sweet +voice singing,-- + + "And she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy." + +Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his finger to the little dent in +his own chin, wishing the singer would finish this pleasing song. But +she never did, though he often heard that, as well as other childish +ditties, sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the +sound of lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny +longed intensely to know who the singer was; for her music cheered his +solitude, and the mysterious sounds he heard in the garden increased his +wonder and his longing day by day. + +Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where are you?" and Johnny was +sure "Fay" was short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard talking +in a strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A +little dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, +and some elfish bird scolded, screamed, and laughed so like a human +being, that Johnny felt sure that magic of some sort was at work next +door. + +A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the wall as of flowers, and +the poor boy imagined untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he +tended the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she +had time to stop and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, and tried +to make them out of colored paper, since he could have no sweeter sort. + +Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited his curiosity to such a pitch +that once he hobbled painfully up the court till he could see into the +trees; and once his eager eyes caught glimpses of a little creature, all +blue and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, +and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched +his hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and +would have fallen if he had not caught by the shutter of a window so +quickly that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and when he could look +up again, the fairy had vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the +leaves dancing in the wind. + +Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a fall, and every step cost +him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat +staring at the wall on that memorable May day. + +"How I _should_ like to peek in and see just how it all really looks! +It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it must be +splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller what you see?" + +Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white cat purred politely; for she +liked the boy who never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But +Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy hunting-ground below; +and, to console himself for the disappointment, Johnny went back to his +new picture. + +"Now, if this man in the play dug his way out through a wall ten feet +thick with a rusty nail and a broken knife, I don't see why I couldn't +pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's +a good place, and nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the hole. +And I'll try it, I declare I will!" + +Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on a small scale, Johnny +caught up the old scissors in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar +around a brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. His mother +smiled at his energy, then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces +with a heavy heart,-- + +"Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he'd make his way in the +world. But now he's like to find a blank wall before him while he lives, +and none to help him over." + +Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked on, wise as the cat +in the story, but offered no advice. The toad who lived behind the +water-barrel hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, like +Jack waiting to climb; and just then the noon bells began to ring as if +they sang clear and loud,-- + +"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." + +So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped and dug vigorously till the +old brick fell out, showing another behind it. Only pausing to take +breath, he caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, +which soon cleared the way and let the sunshine stream through, while +the wind tossed the lilacs like triumphal banners, and the jolly +sparrows chirped,-- + +"Hail, the conquering hero comes!" + +Rather scared by his unexpected success, the boy sat silent for a moment +to see what would happen. But all was still; and presently, with a +beating heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." +He could not see much; but that little increased his curiosity and +delight, for it seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the dust and +noise and dingy houses of the court. + +A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay garments in the middle of a +grass-plot; a strange and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on +a golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the sun; and on a red carpet +under the trees lay the Princess, fast asleep. + +"It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh of pleasure; "that's the +Sleeping Beauty, sure enough. There's the blue gown, the white fur-cloak +sweeping round, the pretty hair, and--yes--there's the old nurse, +spinning and nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother got me +when I cried because I couldn't go to see the play." + +This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, and make him believe +that fairy tales _might_ be true, after all, for how could he know that +the strange woman was an Italian servant, in her native dress, with a +distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took +another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A +basket of oranges stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung from a +limb of the tree to keep the wind off, and several books fluttered their +pictured leaves temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes. + +"Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and read 'em and speak to 'em and +see all the splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked from +one delight to another, and felt shut out from all. "I can't go and wake +her like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, +now I _can_ see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or +holler, it might scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows are too +busy scolding one another. I know! I'll fly a kite over, and that will +please her any way. Don't believe she has kites; girls never do." + +Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a long string to his gayest +poster, and then fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished +in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh breezes blowing down +the court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with +a strong breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a +moment on the trees and then drop among the tulips, where its frantic +struggles to escape waked the dog, and set him to racing and barking, as +Johnny hurriedly let the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole. + +The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, and she clapped her hands +when Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, +with a long yawn, went away, carrying her distaff, like a gun, over her +shoulder. + +"She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some more to send over. This will +come off, I'll poke it through, and maybe she will see it." + +Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore from the wall his most +cherished picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he +thrust it through the hole and waited to see what followed. + +Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer croak from the splendid bird, +which set the canaries to trilling sweetly. + +"She don't see, maybe she will hear," said Johnny. And he began to +whistle like a mocking-bird; for this was his one accomplishment, and he +was proud of it. + +Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter from the parrot, and then +the voice said,-- + +"No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I wonder where he is? Among +the bushes over there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him." + +"Now she's coming!" And Johnny grew red in the face trying to give his +best trills and chirrups. + +Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs rustled as if shaken, and +presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and then the little voice +exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,-- + +"Why, there's a hole! I never saw it before. Oh! I can see the street. +How nice! how nice!" + +"She likes the hole! I wonder if she will like me?" And, emboldened by +these various successes, Johnny took another peep. This was the most +delicious one of all; for he looked right into a great blue eye, with +glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and +red lips below. It was like a flash of sunshine, and Johnny winked, as +if dazzled; for the eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the +pretty mouth broke into a laugh as the voice cried out delightedly,-- + +"I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!" + +"I'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite trembling with pleasure. + +"Did you make this nice hole?" + +"I just poked a brick, and it fell out." + +"Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?" + +"No; it's me. I whistled." + +"It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded the voice, as if used to give +orders. + +Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of breath, a small hand came +through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could +hold, and the Princess graciously expressed her pleasure by saying,-- + +"I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. Here are some flowers for +you. Now we will talk. Are you a nice boy?" + +This was a poser; and Johnny answered meekly, with his nose luxuriously +buried in the lovely flowers,-- + +"Not very,--I'm lame; I can't play like other fellers." + +"_Porverino_!" sighed the little voice, full of pity; and, in a moment, +three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel as if +he really had slipped into fairy-land through that delightful hole. + +"Oh, thank you! Aren't they just elegant? I never see such beauties," +stammered the poor boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they +might vanish away. + +"You shall have as many as you like. Nanna will scold, but papa won't +mind. Tell me more. What do you do over there?" asked the child, +eagerly. + +"Nothing but paste pictures and make books, when I don't ache too bad. I +used to help mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered +the boy, ashamed to mention how many laces he patiently picked or +clapped, since it was all he could do to help. + +"If you like pictures, you shall come and see mine some day. I do a +great many. Papa shows me how. His are splendid. Do you draw or paint +yours?" + +"I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em on this wall or put 'em +in scrap-books. I can't draw, and I haven't got no paints," answered +Johnny. + +"You should say 'haven't any paints.' I will come and see you some day; +and if I like you, I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you want +it?" + +"Guess I do!" + +"I think I _shall_ like you; so I'll bring it when I come. Do you ache +much?" + +"Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all day, and can't do a thing." + +"Do you cry?" + +"No! I'm too big for that. I whistle." + +"I _know_ I shall like you, because you are brave!" cried the impetuous +voice, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling through +the hole, as if the new acquaintance longed to do something to help the +"ache." + +"Isn't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but mother can't afford 'em often." +And Johnny took one delicious taste on the spot. + +"Then I shall give you many. We have loads at home, much finer than +these. Ah, you should see our garden there!" + +"Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to ask; for there was a homesick +sound to the voice as it said those last words. + +"In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while papa arranges his affairs; +then we go back, and I am happy." + +"I should think you'd be happy in there. It looks real splendid to me, +and I've been longing to see it ever since I could come out." + +"It's a dull place to me. I like better to be where it's always warm, +and people are more beautiful than here. Are _you_ beautiful?" + +"What queer questions she does ask!" And poor Johnny was so perplexed he +could only stammer, with a laugh,-- + +"I guess not. Boys don't care for looks." + +"Peep, and let me see. I like pretty persons," commanded the voice. + +"Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as he obeyed. But he liked it, +and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay was +pleased to say, after a long look at him,-- + +"No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are bright, and you look +pleasant, so I don't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness +of your face. I think you are good. I am sorry for you, and I shall lend +you a book to read when the pain comes." + +"I couldn't wait for that if I had a book. I do _love_ so to read!" And +Johnny laughed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; for +he seldom got one, being too poor to buy them, and too helpless to enjoy +the free libraries of the city. + +"Then you shall have it _now_." And there was another quick rush in the +garden, followed by the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed +through the hole in the wall. + +"This is the only one that will pass. You will like Hans Andersen's +fairy tales, I know. Keep it as long as you please. I have many more." + +"You're so good! I wish I had something for you," said the boy, quite +overcome by this sweet friendliness. + +"Let me see one of _your_ books. They will be new to me. I'm tired of +all mine." + +Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old boiler, and out came +half-a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to be crammed through the wall, +with the earnest request,-- + +"Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, but they're the best I've got. +I'll do some prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice pictures and +pieces." + +"They look very interesting. I thank you. I shall go and read them now, +and then come and talk again. Addio, Giovanni." + +"Good-by, Miss." + +Thus ended the first interview of little Pyramus and Thisbe through the +hole in the wall, while puss sat up above and played moonshine with her +yellow eyes. + + + + +PART II. + + +After that day a new life began for Johnny, and he flourished like a +poor little plant that has struggled out of some dark corner into the +sunshine. All sorts of delightful things happened, and good times +really seemed to have come. The mysterious papa made no objection to the +liberties taken with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad +to have his little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to +see the new neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the affliction of the +boy and the gentle manners of the mother. She brought all the curtains +of the house for Mrs. Morris to do up, and in her pretty broken English +praised Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring Fay to see him +some day. + +Meantime the little people prattled daily together, and all manner of +things came and went between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and bonbons +kept Johnny in a state of bliss, and inspired him with such brilliant +inventions that the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise would +come next. Astonishing kites flew over the wall, and tissue balloons +exploded in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in +that court; for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because +she liked it. The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin +bank to buy paper and pictures for the gay little books he made for her. +His side of the wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; and, as the +last offering his grateful heart could give, he poked the toad through +the hole, to live among the lilies and eat the flies that began to +buzz about her Highness when she came to give her orders to her devoted +subjects. + +She always called the lad Giovanni, because she thought it a prettier +name than John; and she was never tired of telling stories, asking +questions, and making plans. The favorite one was what they would do +when Johnny came to see her, as she had been promised he should when +papa was not too busy to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; +for Fay was a true artist's child, and thought nothing so lovely as +pictures. Johnny thought so, too, and dreamed of the happy day when he +should go and see the wonders his little friend described so well. + +"I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a lazy fit coming on, and +then he always plays with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he +goes out or smokes in the garden. So be ready; and if he says you can +come, I will have the flag up early and you can hurry." + +These agreeable remarks were breathed into Johnny's willing ear about +a fortnight after the acquaintance began; and he hastened to promise, +adding soberly, a minute after,-- + +"Mother says she's afraid it will be too much for me to go around and +up steps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the +pain comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can only see the +pictures--and you." + +"Won't you ever be any better? Nanna thinks you might." + +"So does mother, if we had money to go away in the country, and eat nice +things; and have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use worrying." And +Johnny gave a great sigh. + +"I wish papa was rich, then he would give you money. He works hard to +make enough to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but perhaps I can +sell _my_ pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me +sweets for kisses; I will have money instead, and that will help. Yes, I +shall do it." And Fay clapped her hands decidedly. + +"Don't you mind about it. I'm going to learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget +says he'll teach me. That doesn't need legs, and he gets enough to live +on very well." + +"It isn't pretty work. Nanna can teach you to braid straw as she did at +home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says. I +shall speak to her about it, and you can try to-morrow when you come." + +"I will. Do you really think I _can_ come, then?" And Johnny stood up to +try his legs; for he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him. + +"I will go at once and ask papa." + +Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny +hobbling in to tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his +only jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes looked so shabby he feared +to show himself to the neighbors he so longed to see. + +"Hurrah! I'm really going to-morrow. And you, too, mammy dear," cried +the boy, waving his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell. + +"Never mind; I'm used to it. Pull me up, and I'll rest while we talk +about it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, where +he forgot his pain in thinking of the delights in store for him. + +Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, and Fay early at the +hole, but no Johnny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she +returned with the sad news that the poor boy was suffering much, and +would not be able to stir for some days. + +"Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly. + +"Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, so damp, so poor, it is +enough to break the heart," said Nanna, decidedly. + +"If papa was here, he would let me go. I shall not play; I shall sit +here and make some plans for my poor boy." + +Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and went to cook a nice bowl +of soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was more +remarkable, carried it out. + +For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay in pain, and for a week Fay +worked quietly at her little easel in the corner of the studio, while +her father put the last touches to his fine picture, too busy to take +much notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, +and the great picture was done. So were the small ones; for as her +father sat resting after his work, Fay went to him, with a tired but +happy face, and, putting several drawings into his hand, told her +cherished plan. + +"Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar for every good copy I made of +the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. I want some +money very, very much. Could you pay for these?" + +"They are excellent," said the artist, after carefully looking at them. +"You _have_ tried, my good child, and here are your well-earned dollars. +What do you want them for?" + +"To help my boy. I want him to come in here and see the pictures, and +let Nanna teach him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you will +like him, and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three +quarters the friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would that be enough to +send poor Giovanni into the country and have doctors?" + +No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this queer jumble, because, being +absorbed in his work, he had never heard half the child had told him, +and had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, +studying the effect of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while Fay +told him the little story, and begged to know how much money it would +take to make Johnny's back well. + +"Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would need more than I can spare +or you earn in a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what +can be done," answered papa, smoking comfortably, as he lay on the sofa +in the large studio at the top of the house. + +"You say that about a great many things, papa. 'By and by' won't be long +enough to do all you promise then. I like _now_ much better, and poor +Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I new frocks," +said Fay, stroking her father's tired forehead and looking at him with +an imploring face. + +"My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in this soothing smoke I find +inspiration, and though you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so +wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy--later." He was going to say +"by and by" again, but paused just in time, with a laugh. + +"Then _I_ shall take him to the country all myself. I cannot wait for +this hateful 'by and by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. Now, +now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with an indignant glance at the +lazy papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down +many stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna and scattering the +salad as if a whirlwind had gone by, and never paused for breath till +she stood before the garden wall with a little hatchet in her hand. + +"This shall be the country for him till I get enough money to send him +away. I will show what _I_ can do. He pulled out two bricks. _I_ will +beat down the wall, and he _shall_ come in at once," panted Fay; and +she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without +delay,--for she was an impetuous little creature, full of love and pity +for the poor boy pining for the fresh air and sunshine, of which she had +so much. + +Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down came one brick after +another, till the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head +through; and being breathless by that time, she paused to rest and take +a look at Johnny's court. + +Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her lettuce leaves and her wits, went +to see what the child was about; and finding her at work like a little +fury, the old woman hurried up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that +his little daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself +under the ruins of the wall. This report, delivered with groans and +wringing of the hands, roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, +as he well knew that his angel was a very energetic one, and capable of +great destruction. + +When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, a pile of bricks among the +lilies, and the feet of his child sticking out of a large hole in the +wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, +yet fearful that the stone coping might come down on her, he pulled +her back with the assurance that he would listen and help her now +immediately, if there was such need of haste. + +But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; for it was bathed in tears, +her hands were bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot. + +"My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, and he will do anything you +wish." + +"No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' and now that I have seen +it all, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, +look, and see if it is not sad to live there all in pain and darkness, +and so poor." + +As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward the hole; and to please her he +looked, seeing the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and close by +the low room, where Johnny's mother worked all day, while the poor boy's +pale face was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for deliverance. + +"Well, well, it _is_ a pitiful case; and easily mended, since Fay is so +eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says, and nothing catching about +his illness. Nanna can tell me." + +Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay to the seat, took her on his +knee, all flushed, dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by saying +tenderly,-- + +"Now let me hear all about it, and be sure I'll not forget. What shall I +do to please you, dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?" + +Then Fay told her tale all over again; and being no longer busy, her +father found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking +into his, and the wounded hands clasped beseechingly as she pleaded for +poor Johnny. + +"God bless your tender heart, child; you shall have him in here +to-morrow, and we will see what can be done for those pathetic legs of +his. But listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a +grand surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to +show you that I am in earnest, I will go this instant and begin the +work. Come and wash your face while I get on my boots, and then we will +go together." + +At these words Fay threw her arms about papa's neck and gave him many +grateful kisses, stopping in the midst to ask,-- + +"Truly, _now_?" + +"See if it is not so." And putting her down, papa went off with great +strides, while she ran laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by +this agreeable energy on his part. + +If Johnny had not been asleep in the back room, he would have seen +strange and pleasant sights that afternoon and evening; for something +went on in the court that delighted his mother, amused the artist, and +made Fay the happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next +day, that Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat +up till eleven to get his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had been +to see her, and became interested in the boy, as no one could help being +when they saw his patient little face. + +So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels dug, and wonderful changes +were made, while Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent +upon some pretty prank, and papa quoted _Snout_, [Footnote: A character +in Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."] the tinker's parting words, +as appropriate to the hour,-- + + "Thus have I, wall, my part dischargèd so; + And, being done, thus wall away doth go." + + + + +PART III. + + +A lovely Sunday morning dawned without a cloud; and even in the dingy +court the May sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes blew freshly +from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much +better, his mother consented, helping him to dress with such a bright +face and eager hands that the boy said innocently,-- + +"How glad you are when I get over a bad turn! I don't know what you'd do +if I ever got well." + +"My poor dear, I begin to think you _will_ pick up, now the good weather +has come and you have got a little friend to play with. God bless her!" + +Why his mother should suddenly hug him tight, and then brush his hair +so carefully, with tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was in +such a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hobble +away to see how his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a joyful +"peek" at the enchanted garden. + +Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it was well she did; for he +nearly tumbled down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old +familiar wall after the good fairies Love and Pity had worked their +pretty miracle in the moonlight. + +The ragged hole had changed to a little arched door, painted red. On +either side stood a green tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; +from the arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; and before +the threshold lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a +childish hand. As soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this +splendid transformation scene, Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft +cushion had been placed, and read his note, with little sighs of rapture +at the charming prospect opening before him. + + DEAR GIOVANNI,--Papa has made this nice gate, so you can come + in when you like and not be tired. We are to have two keys, and no one + else can open it. A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and + we can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. Papa did it, + and the men put up the door last night. I helped them, and did not go + in my bed till ten. It was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like + it. Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready. + + Your friend, + + FAY. + +"Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all that, mustn't she?" said +Johnny, leaning back to look at the dear door behind which lay such +happiness for him. + +"Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good fairy, and I just wish +I could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed little life," +answered Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor. + +"You shall! you shall! Do come in! I cannot wait another minute!" cried +an eager little voice as the red door flew open; and there stood Fay, +looking very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of +spring flowers on her pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, +while the brilliant bird sat on her shoulder, and the little white dog +danced about her feet. + + "So she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy," + +sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked that song; and waving her +wand, she went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed +under the blooming arch into a new world, full of sunshine, liberty, and +sweet companionship. + +Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot that happy day, for it was the +beginning of help and hope to both just when life seemed hardest and the +future looked darkest. + +Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at the little party as they +sat under the chestnuts, Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden to +their guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor mother folded +her tired hands with unutterable content, and the boy looked like a +happy soul in heaven. + +Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of bells and the feet of +church-goers, brooded over the city; sunshine made golden shadows on +the grass; the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods; and every +flower seemed to nod and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate to +their lovely home. + +While the women talked together, Fay led Johnny up and down her little +world, showing all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the +seats that stood all about, and amusing him immensely by relating the +various fanciful plays with which she beguiled her loneliness. + +"Now we can have much nicer ones; for you will tell me yours, and we +can do great things," she said, when she had displayed her big +rocking-horse, her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, where a fleet of +toy boats lay at anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land +under the lilacs, with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, +that tossed one high up among the green boughs, and the basket of white +kittens, where Topaz, the yellow-eyed cat, now purred with maternal +pride. Books were piled on the rustic table, and all the pictures Fay +thought worthy to be seen. + +Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the visitors could remember it +was noon and tear themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and oranges +Johnny never ate before; such delightful little tarts and Italian messes +of various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because +served in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee +that perfumed the air put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved +herself that the boy might be fed; and he drank milk till Nanna said, +laughing, as she refilled the pitcher,-- + +"He takes more than both the blessed lambs we used to feed for Saint +Agnes in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear child, +to the best we have; for he is as innocent and helpless as they." + +"What does she mean?" whispered Johnny to Fay, rather abashed at having +forgotten his manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls of good +milk had given him. + +So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, Fay told the pretty +story of the lambs who are dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied +to their snowy wool, and then raised with care till their fleeces are +shorn to make garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child +thought, and went on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's +head was filled with a splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint +Peter's and apple-tarts, holy lambs and red doors, ancient images and +dear little girls, were delightfully mixed. It all seemed like a +fairy tale, and nothing was too wonderful or lovely to happen on that +memorable day. + +So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding it impossible to keep away +from the happy little party any longer, Johnny decided at once that the +handsome man in the velvet coat was the king of the enchanted land, and +gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved +to be; for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on +storming the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny off, and catching him +up, strode away with the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the +little girl danced before to open doors and clear the way. + +Johnny thought he couldn't be surprised any more; but when he had +mounted many stairs and found himself in a great room with a glass +roof, full of rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and pictures +everywhere, he just sat in the big chair where he was placed, and stared +in silent delight. + +"This is papa's studio, and that the famous picture, and here is where +I work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said Fay, +skipping about to do the honors of the place. + +"I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," answered Johnny, in a low +tone, as his eyes went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the +windows to the great sunny picture of a Roman garden, with pretty +children at play among the crumbling statues and fountains. + +"I'm glad you like it, for we mean to have you come here a great deal. I +sit to papa very often, and get _so_ tired; and you can talk to me, and +then you can see me draw and model in clay, and then we'll go in the +garden, and Nanna will show you how to make baskets, and _then_ we'll +play." + +Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming prospect, and for an hour +explored the mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and papa for +an amused spectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay +had so harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. +He assented to every plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to help +these poor neighbors; for he had a kind heart, and loved his little +daughter even more than his art. + +When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to call Johnny away, he went +without a word, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining +with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, hungry for just such +pleasures, and never fed before. + +After that day everything went smoothly, and both children blossomed +like the flowers in that pleasant garden, where the magic of love and +pity, fresh air and sunshine, soon worked miracles. Fay learned patience +and gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food +Nanna gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent +very happy days working and playing, sometimes under the trees, where +the pretty baskets were made, or in the studio, where both pairs of +small hands modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing pictures +with the artist's old brushes and discarded canvases. + +Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in the house, and did up Fay's +frocks so daintily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her +head shone out from the fluted frills, like the yellow middle of a daisy +with its white petals all spread. + +As he watched the children playing together, the artist, having no great +work in hand, made several pretty sketches of them, and then had a fine +idea of painting the garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It +pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made +a charming thing of it, putting in the cat, dog, bird, and toad as the +various characters in Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were +the elves, peeping and listening in all manner of merry, pretty ways. + +He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," and it so pleased a certain +rich lady that she paid a large price for it; and then, discovering that +it told a true story, she generously added enough to send Johnny and his +mother to the country, when Fay and her father were ready to go. + +But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had ever read of in his fairy +books, and to a happier life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In +the autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in +sunny Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint +with a kind master and a faithful young friend, who always rejoiced that +she found and delivered him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall. + + +[Illustration: She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and +eating.] + + + + +X. + +THE PIGGY GIRL. + + +"I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" screamed little Betty, kicking +and slapping the maid who undressed her one night. + +"You'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty child," said Maria, +scrubbing away at two very grubby hands. + +"I wish I could! I love to be dirty,--I _will_ be dirty!" roared Betty, +throwing the sponge out of the window and the soap under the table. + +Maria could do nothing with her; so she bundled her into bed half wiped, +telling her to go to sleep right away. + +"I won't! I'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's pigs, and have nothing to +do but eat and sleep, and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed +any more," said Betty to herself. + +She lay thinking about it and blinking at the moon for a while; then she +got up very softly, and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, +to the sty where two nice little pigs were fast asleep among the straw +in their small house. They only grunted when Betty crept into a corner, +laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy and live here with no +Maria to wash her and no careful mamma to keep saying,-- + +"Put on a clean apron, dear!" + +Next morning she was waked up by hearing Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the +trough. She lay very still till the woman was gone; then she crept out +and drank all she wanted, and took the best bits of cold potato and +bread for her breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till she was +done. While they ate and rooted in the dirt, Betty slept as long as she +liked, with no school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She liked it, and +kept hidden till night; then she went home, and opened the little window +in the store closet, and got in and took as many good things to eat and +carry away as she liked. She had a fine walk in her nightgown, and +saw the flowers asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the nest, and +watched the fireflies and moths at their pretty play. No one saw her +but the cats; and they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in the +moonlight, and had great fun. + +When she was tired she went to sleep with the pigs, and dozed all the +next day, only coming out to eat and drink when the milk was brought +and the cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good care of her pigs, and gave +them clean straw often, and kept them as nice as she could. + +Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and soon looked more like a +pig than a little girl; for her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never +combed, her face was never washed, and she loved to dig in the mud till +her hands looked like paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as the +pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, and squealed when they +crowded her, and quarrelled over the food, eating with her nose in the +trough like a real pig. At first she used to play about at night, and +steal things to eat; and people set traps to catch the thief in their +gardens, and the cook in her own house scolded about the rats that +carried off the cake and pies out of her pantry. But by and by she got +too lazy and fat to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and never +left the sty. She went on her hands and knees now, and began to wonder +if a little tail wouldn't grow and her nose change to a snout. + +All summer she played be a pig, and thought it good fun; but when +the autumn came it was cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel +nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and began to wish she had a +fire to sit by and good buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go +home, and wondered what she should do after this silly frolic. She asked +the pigs how they managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she +could not remember what became of them, for the sty was always empty in +cold weather. + +One dreadful night she found out. She was smuggled down between the +great fat piggies to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she was +trying to pull the straw over them when she heard Mr. Gleason say to his +boy,-- + +"We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They are fat enough; so come and +help me sharpen the big knife." + +"Oh, dear, what will become of _me_?" thought Betty, as she heard the +grindstone go round and round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I +look so like a pig they will kill me too, and make me into sausages if +I don't run away. I'm tired of playing piggy, and I'd rather be washed a +hundred times a day than be put in a pork barrel." + +So she lay trembling till morning; then she ran through the garden and +found the back door open. It was very early, and no one saw her, for +the cook was in the shed getting wood to make her fire; so Betty slipped +upstairs to the nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when she saw in +the glass an ugly black creature, all rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, +and a little round nose covered with mud. + +"Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I am!" And she could not spoil her +nice white bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good scrubbing. +Next she got a clean nightgown, and brushed her hair, and cut her long +nails, and looked like a tidy little girl again. + +Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the pink cover and the +lace curtains, and fell fast asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft +blankets, and her own little pillow once more. + + * * * * * + +"Come, darling, wake up and see the new frock I have got for you, and +the nice ruffled apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the cousins are +coming to dinner," said her mamma, with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek. + +Betty started up, screaming,-- + +"Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I'm not a truly pig, I'm a little +girl; and if you'll let me run home, I'll never fret when I'm washed +again." + +"What is the dear child afraid of?" said mamma, cuddling her close, and +laughing to see Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the stuffy +sty. + +She told her mother all about the queer time she had had, and was much +surprised to hear mamma say,-- + +"It was all a dream, dear; you have been safely asleep in your little +bed ever since you slapped poor Maria last night." + +"Well, I'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made me love to be clean. Come, +Maria, soap and scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and scream ever +any more," cried Betty, skipping about, glad to be safe in her pleasant +home and no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Louisa Alcott Reader, by Louisa M. Alcott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER *** + +***** This file should be named 7425-8.txt or 7425-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/4/2/7425/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Alcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Louisa Alcott Reader + A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School + +Author: Louisa M. Alcott + + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7425] +This file was first posted on April 28, 2003 +Last Updated: May 13, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER *** + + + + +Text file produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + +</pre> + <h1> + THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER + </h1> + <h3> + <i>A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School</i> + </h3> + <h2> + BY LOUISA M. ALCOTT + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar001.jpg"><img src="images/lar001th.jpg" + alt="Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree." /></a> + <br /> <i>"Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little + tree."</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar001.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <b>CONTENTS.</b> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#i">I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#ii">II. THE CANDY COUNTRY</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#iii">III. NAUGHTY JOCKO</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#iv">IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#v">V. COCKYLOO</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#vi">VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#vii">VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#viii">VIII. THE FAIRY BOX</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#ix">IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL</a> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="#x">X. THE PIGGY GIRL</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar005.jpg"><img src="images/lar005th.jpg" + alt="She actually stood in a grove of Christmas trees." /></a> <br /> <i>She + actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar005.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="i" id="i">I.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. + </h3> + <p> + "I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" + exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching her + mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be given. + </p> + <p> + "Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! You are as bad as old Scrooge; + and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, if you + don't care for dear Christmas," answered mamma, almost dropping the silver + horn she was filling with delicious candies. + </p> + <p> + "Who was Scrooge? What happened to him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of + interest in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest lemon-drop + she could find; for nothing sweet suited her just then. + </p> + <p> + "He was one of Dickens's best people, and you can read the charming story + some day. He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how dear and + beautiful it was, and made a better man of him." + </p> + <p> + "I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have a great many curious ones + myself. But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," said Effie, + poking discontentedly among the sweeties for something worth eating. + </p> + <p> + "Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" + asked mamma, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the same, + and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of goodies + in my stocking. Don't like some of them, and soon get tired of those I do + like. We always have a great dinner, and I eat too much, and feel ill next + day. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll on top, or a + stupid old Santa Claus, and children dancing and screaming over bonbons + and toys that break, and shiny things that are of no use. Really, mamma, + I've had so many Christmases all alike that I don't think I <i>can</i> + bear another one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as if the mere + idea was too much for her. + </p> + <p> + Her mother laughed at her despair, but was sorry to see her little girl so + discontented, when she had everything to make her happy, and had known but + ten Christmas days. + </p> + <p> + "Suppose we don't give you <i>any</i> presents at all,--how would that + suit you?" asked mamma, anxious to please her spoiled child. + </p> + <p> + "I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, to + remember some very nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful little + body, full of odd whims and notions, which her friends loved to gratify, + regardless of time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of three + little girls, and very dear to all the family. + </p> + <p> + "Well, my darling, I will see what I can do to please you, and not say a + word until all is ready. If I could only get a new idea to start with!" + And mamma went on tying up her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, + while Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain that kept her + in-doors and made her dismal. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones. I can't go + out, and there is a girl about my age splashing along, without any maid to + fuss about rubbers and cloaks and umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a + beggar-girl." + </p> + <p> + "Would you like to be hungry, cold, and ragged, to beg all day, and sleep + on an ash-heap at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would come next. + </p> + <p> + "Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the end. This girl out here has a + basket of scraps on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, and + doesn't seem to care a bit, though the water runs out of the toes of her + boots. She goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and eating a cold + potato as if it tasted nicer than the chicken and ice-cream I had for + dinner. Yes, I do think poor children are happier than rich ones." + </p> + <p> + "So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum today I saw two dozen merry + little souls who have no parents, no home, and no hope of Christmas beyond + a stick of candy or a cake. I wish you had been there to see how happy + they were, playing with the old toys some richer children had sent them." + </p> + <p> + "You may give them all mine; I'm so tired of them I never want to see them + again," said Effie, turning from the window to the pretty baby-house full + of everything a child's heart could desire. + </p> + <p> + "I will, and let you begin again with something you will not tire of, if I + can only find it." And mamma knit her brows trying to discover some grand + surprise for this child who didn't care for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Nothing more was said then; and wandering off to the library, Effie found + "A Christmas Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, read it + all before tea. Some of it she did not understand; but she laughed and + cried over many parts of the charming story, and felt better without + knowing why. + </p> + <p> + All the evening she thought of poor Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the + pudding, and the stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that "his legs + twinkled in the air." Presently bedtime arrived. + </p> + <p> + "Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's nurse, "while I do your + pretty hair and tell stories." + </p> + <p> + "I'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very interesting one," commanded + Effie, as she put on her blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers + to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed. + </p> + <p> + So Nursey told her best tales; and when at last the child lay down under + her lace curtains, her head was full of a curious jumble of Christmas + elves, poor children, snow-storms, sugarplums, and surprises. So it is no + wonder that she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, which she never + quite forgot. + </p> + <p> + She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, all + alone. The snow was falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and night was + coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and tired, and did not know where to go + nor what to do. + </p> + <p> + "I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it, and + wish somebody would come and take care of me. I don't know who I am, and I + think I must be lost," thought Effie, with the curious interest one takes + in one's self in dreams. + </p> + <p> + But the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she felt. Faster + fell the snow, colder blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor Effie + made up her mind that she was quite forgotten and left to freeze alone. + The tears were chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, and her + heart died within her, so hungry, frightened, and forlorn was she. Laying + her head on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and sat there with + the great flakes fast turning her to a little white mound, when suddenly + the sound of music reached her, and starting up, she looked and listened + with all her eyes and ears. + </p> + <p> + Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was heard singing. She tried to + run toward the welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood like a small + statue of expectation while the light drew nearer, and the sweet words of + the song grew clearer. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + From our happy home<br /> Through + the world we roam<br /> One week in all the year,<br /> Making + winter spring<br /> With the joy we bring,<br /> + For Christmas-tide is here. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Now the eastern star<br /> Shines + from afar<br /> To light the poorest home;<br /> Hearts + warmer grow,<br /> Gifts freely flow,<br /> For + Christmas-tide has come. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Now gay trees rise<br /> Before + young eyes,<br /> Abloom with tempting cheer;<br /> Blithe + voices sing,<br /> And blithe bells ring,<br /> + For Christmas-tide is here. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Oh, happy chime,<br /> Oh, + blessed time,<br /> That draws us all so near!<br /> "Welcome, + dear day,"<br /> All creatures say,<br /> For + Christmas-tide is here. + </p> + <p> + A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried the little candle; and in the + circle of soft light it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her + through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling creature, wrapped in white + fur, with a wreath of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, the + magic candle in one hand, and the other outstretched as if to shower gifts + and warmly press all other hands. + </p> + <p> + Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision came nearer, leaving no trace + of footsteps in the snow, only lighting the way with its little candle, + and filling the air with the music of its song. + </p> + <p> + "Dear child, you are lost, and I have come to find you," said the + stranger, taking Effie's cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, + while every holly berry glowed like a little fire. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no fear, but a great gladness, at + his coming. + </p> + <p> + "I know all children, and go to find them; for this is my holiday, and I + gather them from all parts of the world to be merry with me once a year." + </p> + <p> + "Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking for the wings. + </p> + <p> + "No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with my mates in a pleasant place, + getting ready for our holiday, when we are let out to roam about the + world, helping make this a happy time for all who will let us in. Will you + come and see how we work?" + </p> + <p> + "I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave me again," cried Effie, gladly. + </p> + <p> + "First I will make you comfortable. That is what we love to do. You are + cold, and you shall be warm, hungry, and I will feed you; sorrowful, and I + will make you gay." + </p> + <p> + With a wave of his candle all three miracles were wrought,--for the snow- + flakes turned to a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and shoulders, + a bowl of hot soup came sailing to her lips, and vanished when she had + eagerly drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal field changed to a + new world so full of wonders that all her troubles were forgotten in a + minute. + </p> + <p> + Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard to keep from dancing. Green + garlands hung on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree full of + toys, and blazing with candles that never went out. + </p> + <p> + In one place many little spirits sewed like mad on warm clothes, turning + off work faster than any sewing-machine ever invented, and great piles + were made ready to be sent to poor people. Other busy creatures packed + money into purses, and wrote checks which they sent flying away on the + wind,--a lovely kind of snow-storm to fall into a world below full of + poverty. + </p> + <p> + Older and graver spirits were looking over piles of little books, in which + the records of the past year were kept, telling how different people had + spent it, and what sort of gifts they deserved. Some got peace, some + disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great joy and hope. The rich + had generous thoughts sent them; the poor, gratitude and contentment. + Children had more love and duty to parents; and parents renewed patience, + wisdom, and satisfaction for and in their children. No one was forgotten. + </p> + <p> + "Please tell me what splendid place this is?" asked Effie, as soon as she + could collect her wits after the first look at all these astonishing + things. + </p> + <p> + "This is the Christmas world; and here we work all the year round, never + tired of getting ready for the happy day. See, these are the saints just + setting off; for some have far to go, and the children must not be + disappointed." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, out of which four great + sleighs were just driving, laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa Claus + sat in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and tucking up his wraps + for a long cold drive. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a humbug," + cried Effie, astonished at the sight. + </p> + <p> + "Never give up your faith in the sweet old stones, even after you come to + see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth." + </p> + <p> + Just then the sleighs went off with a great jingling of bells and + pattering of reindeer hoofs, while all the spirits gave a cheer that was + heard in the lower world, where people said, "Hear the stars sing." + </p> + <p> + "I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus again. Now, show me more." + </p> + <p> + "You will like to see this place, I think, and may learn something here + perhaps." + </p> + <p> + The spirit smiled as he led the way to a little door, through which Effie + peeped into a world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, with dolls + of all sorts going on like live people. Waxen ladies sat in their parlors + elegantly dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; nurses walked out + with the bits of dollies; and the streets were full of tin soldiers + marching, wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, and little men + hurrying to and fro. Shops were there, and tiny people buying legs of + mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and everything dolls use or wear + or want. + </p> + <p> + But presently she saw that in some ways the dolls improved upon the + manners and customs of human beings, and she watched eagerly to learn why + they did these things. A fine Paris doll driving in her carriage took up a + black worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a basket of clean clothes, + and carried her to her journey's end, as if it were the proper thing to + do. Another interesting china lady took off her comfortable red cloak and + put it round a poor wooden creature done up in a paper shift, and so badly + painted that its face would have sent some babies into fits. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who didn't give her things to poor + girls. I wish I could remember who she was, and tell her to be as kind as + that china doll," said Effie, much touched at the sweet way the pretty + creature wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in her little gray + gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a wooden platter for her invalid + mother's dinner. + </p> + <p> + "We recall these things to people's minds by dreams. I think the girl you + speak of won't forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he enjoyed + some joke which she did not see. + </p> + <p> + A little bell rang as she looked, and away scampered the children into the + red-and-green school-house with the roof that lifted up, so one could see + how nicely they sat at their desks with mites of books, or drew on the + inch-square blackboards with crumbs of chalk. + </p> + <p> + "They know their lessons very well, and are as still as mice. We make a + great racket at our school, and get bad marks every day. I shall tell the + girls they had better mind what they do, or their dolls will be better + scholars than they are," said Effie, much impressed, as she peeped in and + saw no rod in the hand of the little mistress, who looked up and shook her + head at the intruder, as if begging her to go away before the order of the + school was disturbed. + </p> + <p> + Effie retired at once, but could not resist one look in at the window of a + fine mansion, where the family were at dinner, the children behaved so + well at table, and never grumbled a bit when their mamma said they could + not have any more fruit. + </p> + <p> + "Now, show me something else," she said, as they came again to the low + door that led out of Doll-land. + </p> + <p> + "You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; let me show you where we love + best to send our good and happy gifts," answered the spirit, giving her + his hand again. + </p> + <p> + "I know. I've seen ever so many," began Effie, thinking of her own + Christmases. + </p> + <p> + "No, you have never seen what I will show you. Come away, and remember + what you see to-night." + </p> + <p> + Like a flash that bright world vanished, and Effie found herself in a part + of the city she had never seen before. It was far away from the gayer + places, where every store was brilliant with lights and full of pretty + things, and every house wore a festival air, while people hurried to and + fro with merry greetings. It was down among the dingy streets where the + poor lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, longing to buy meat and bread, + but empty pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in the bar- + rooms; and in many cold dark chambers little children huddled under the + thin blankets, trying to forget their misery in sleep. + </p> + <p> + No nice dinners filled the air with savory smells, no gay trees dropped + toys and bonbons into eager hands, no little stockings hung in rows beside + the chimney-piece ready to be filled, no happy sounds of music, gay + voices, and dancing feet were heard; and there were no signs of Christmas + anywhere. + </p> + <p> + "Don't they have any in this place?" asked Effie, shivering, as she held + fast the spirit's hand, following where he led her. + </p> + <p> + "We come to bring it. Let me show you our best workers." And the spirit + pointed to some sweet-faced men and women who came stealing into the poor + houses, working such beautiful miracles that Effie could only stand and + watch. + </p> + <p> + Some slipped money into the empty pockets, and sent the happy mothers to + buy all the comforts they needed; others led the drunken men out of + temptation, and took them home to find safer pleasures there. Fires were + kindled on cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and warm clothes + wrapped round shivering limbs. Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers of + the sick; old people found themselves remembered; sad hearts were consoled + by a tender word, and wicked ones softened by the story of Him who forgave + all sin. + </p> + <p> + But the sweetest work was for the children; and Effie held her breath to + watch these human fairies hang up and fill the little stockings without + which a child's Christmas is not perfect, putting in things that once she + would have thought very humble presents, but which now seemed beautiful + and precious because these poor babies had nothing. + </p> + <p> + "That is so beautiful! I wish I could make merry Christmases as these good + people do, and be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, softly, as + she watched the busy men and women do their work and steal away without + thinking of any reward but their own satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + "You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how happy + your own holiday will be hereafter." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his arms about her, and vanished + with a kiss. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, trying to hold him fast. + </p> + <p> + "Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are smiling in your sleep," said a + voice in her ear; and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending over her, + and morning sunshine streaming into the room. + </p> + <p> + "Are they all gone? Did you hear the bells? Wasn't it splendid?" she + asked, rubbing her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty child who + was so real and sweet. + </p> + <p> + "You have been dreaming at a great rate,--talking in your sleep, laughing, + and clapping your hands as if you were cheering some one. Tell me what was + so splendid," said mamma, smoothing the tumbled hair and lifting up the + sleepy head. + </p> + <p> + Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told her dream, and Nursey + thought it very wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously things + the child had thought, read, heard, and seen through the day were mixed up + in her sleep. + </p> + <p> + "The spirit said I could work lovely miracles if I tried; but I don't know + how to begin, for I have no magic candle to make feasts appear, and light + up groves of Christmas trees, as he did," said Effie, sorrowfully. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do it!" And clapping her hands, + mamma suddenly began to dance all over the room as if she had lost her + wits. + </p> + <p> + "How? how? You must tell me, mamma," cried Effie, dancing after her, and + ready to believe anything possible when she remembered the adventures of + the past night. + </p> + <p> + "I've got it! I've got it!--the new idea. A splendid one, if I can only + carry it out!" And mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls flew + wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as if she would die. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie. "No, no; it is a surprise,--a grand + surprise for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently charmed with her happy + thought. "Now, come to breakfast; for we must work like bees if we want to + play spirits tomorrow. You and Nursey will go out shopping, and get heaps + of things, while I arrange matters behind the scenes." + </p> + <p> + They were running downstairs as mamma spoke, and Effie called out + breathlessly,-- + </p> + <p> + "It won't be a surprise; for I know you are going to ask some poor + children here, and have a tree or something. It won't be like my dream; + for they had ever so many trees, and more children than we can find + anywhere." + </p> + <p> + "There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and no + presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed at Effie's + bewildered face. + </p> + <p> + "Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't ask any questions, so it + will all burst upon me when the time comes," she said; and she ate her + breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be a new sort of Christmas. + </p> + <p> + All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey in and out of shops, buying + dozens of barking dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny tea-sets, + gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, dolls and candy. Parcel after parcel + was sent home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace of them, though + she peeped everywhere. Nursey chuckled, but wouldn't give a hint, and went + out again in the afternoon with a long list of more things to buy; while + Effie wandered forlornly about the house, missing the usual merry stir + that went before the Christmas dinner and the evening fun. + </p> + <p> + As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, and came in at night so + tired that she could only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some very + pleasant thought made her happy in spite of weariness. + </p> + <p> + "Is the surprise going on all right?" asked Effie, anxiously; for it + seemed an immense time to wait till another evening came. + </p> + <p> + "Beautifully! better than I expected; for several of my good friends are + helping, or I couldn't have done it as I wish. I know you will like it, + dear, and long remember this new way of making Christmas merry." + </p> + <p> + Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie went to bed. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + The next day was a very strange one; for when she woke there was no + stocking to examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one said "Merry + Christmas!" to her, and the dinner was just as usual to her. Mamma + vanished again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and saying: "The dear + things! It's the prettiest idea I ever heard of. No one but your blessed + ma could have done it." + </p> + <p> + "Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because I don't know the secret!" + cried Effie, more than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, for at + seven in the evening the surprise was to come off. + </p> + <p> + The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the child was too excited to ask + questions when Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her to the carriage, + and they drove away, leaving their house the one dark and silent one in + the row. + </p> + <p> + "I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are led off to strange + places and see fine things," said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled + through the gay streets. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my deary, it <i>is</i> like a fairy tale, I do assure you, and you <i>will</i> + see finer things than most children will tonight. Steady, now, and do just + as I tell you, and don't say one word whatever you see," answered Nursey, + quite quivering with excitement as she patted a large box in her lap, and + nodded and laughed with twinkling eyes. + </p> + <p> + They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was led through a back door to a + little room, where Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her cloak + and hood, but her dress and shoes also. Effie stared and bit her lips, but + kept still until out of the box came a little white fur coat and boots, a + wreath of holly leaves and berries, and a candle with a frill of gold + paper round it. A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she was dressed + and saw herself in the glass, she started back, exclaiming, "Why, Nursey, + I look like the spirit in my dream!" + </p> + <p> + "So you do; and that's the part you are to play, my pretty! Now whist, + while I blind your eyes and put you in your place." + </p> + <p> + "Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of wonder; for as they went out + she heard the sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, and, in spite + of the bandage, was sure a great light shone upon her when she stopped. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be; I shall stand close by, and your ma will be there." + </p> + <p> + After the handkerchief was tied about her eyes, Nurse led Effie up some + steps, and placed her on a high platform, where something like leaves + touched her head, and the soft snap of lamps seemed to fill the air. + </p> + <p> + Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her hands, the voices outside sounded + nearer, and the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs. + </p> + <p> + "Now, my precious, look and see how you and your dear ma have made a merry + Christmas for them that needed it!" + </p> + <p> + Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie really did think she was + asleep again, for she actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," all + gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on a side, in two rows down the + room, stood the little pines, each on its low table; and behind Effie a + taller one rose to the roof, hung with wreaths of popcorn, apples, + oranges, horns of candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary hearts to + gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees she saw many of her own discarded + toys and those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that seemed to have rained + down straight from that delightful Christmas country where she felt as if + she was again. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid! Who is it for? What is that noise? Where is mamma?" cried + Effie, pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood looking down the + brilliant little street from her high place. + </p> + <p> + Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the lower end flew open, and in + marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly, + until amazement changed the song to cries of joy and wonder as the shining + spectacle appeared. While they stood staring with round eyes at the + wilderness of pretty things about them, mamma stepped up beside Effie, and + holding her hand fast to give her courage, told the story of the dream in + a few simple words, ending in this way:-- + </p> + <p> + "So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas spirit too, and make this a + happy day for those who had not as many pleasures and comforts as she has. + She likes surprises, and we planned this for you all. She shall play the + good fairy, and give each of you something from this tree, after which + every one will find her own name on a small tree, and can go to enjoy it + in her own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill your hands." + </p> + <p> + Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands were clapped heartily before + a single child stirred; then one by one they came to look up wonderingly + at the pretty giver of the feast as she leaned down to offer them great + yellow oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, and cakes, till + all were gone, and a double row of smiling faces turned toward her as the + children filed back to their places in the orderly way they had been + taught. + </p> + <p> + Then each was led to her own tree by the good ladies who had helped mamma + with all their hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would have + satisfied even Santa Claus himself,--shrieks of joy, dances of delight, + laughter and tears (for some tender little things could not bear so much + pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths full of candy and hands full of + toys). How they ran to show one another the new treasures! how they peeped + and tasted, pulled and pinched, until the air was full of queer noises, + the floor covered with papers, and the little trees left bare of all but + candles! + </p> + <p> + "I don't think heaven can be any gooder than this," sighed one small girl, + as she looked about her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron with + one hand, while she luxuriously carried sugar-plums to her mouth with the + other. + </p> + <p> + "Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, fascinated by the little + white figure with the wreath on its shining hair, who in some mysterious + way had been the cause of all this merry-making. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this splendid party," said a lame + child, leaning on her crutch, as she stood near the steps, wondering how + it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing, while she watched + the happy scene before her. + </p> + <p> + Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms about + the pale child, kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, "You may; + but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed about it." + </p> + <p> + Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was embracing her, and could only + stammer out her thanks, while the other children ran to see the pretty + spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she stood in a crowd of blue gowns + laughing as they held up their gifts for her to see and admire. + </p> + <p> + Mamma leaned down and whispered one word to the older girls; and suddenly + they all took hands to dance round Effie, singing as they skipped. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found it hard to break up the happy + revel; but it was late for small people, and too much fun is a mistake. So + the girls fell into line, and marched before Effie and mamma again, to say + goodnight with such grateful little faces that the eyes of those who + looked grew dim with tears. Mamma kissed every one; and many a hungry + childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender lips was their best + gift. Effie shook so many small hands that her own tingled; and when Katy + came she pressed a small doll into Effie's hand, whispering, "You didn't + have a single present, and we had lots. Do keep that; it's the prettiest + thing I got." + </p> + <p> + "I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until the last smiling face was + gone, the surprise all over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired and + happy for anything but sleep. + </p> + <p> + "Mamma, it was a beautiful surprise, and I thank you so much! I don't see + how you did it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever had, and + mean to make one every year. I had my splendid big present, and here is + the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that part of my + wish came true." + </p> + <p> + And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble gift + still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that never + changed through a long life spent in doing good. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar034.jpg"><img src="images/lar034th.jpg" + alt="Hollo, what do you want? he asked, staring at her." /></a> <br /> <i>"Hollo, + what do you want?" he asked, staring at her.</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar034.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ii" id="ii">II.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE CANDY COUNTRY. + </h3> + <p> + "I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it is so warm, and none of the + children at school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, as she went + through the hall. + </p> + <p> + "The wind is very high; I'm afraid you'll be blown away if you carry that + big thing," called Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella went bobbing + down the garden walk with a small girl under it. + </p> + <p> + "I wish it would; I always wanted to go up in a balloon," answered Lily, + as she struggled out of the gate. + </p> + <p> + She got on very well till she came to the bridge and stopped to look over + the railing at the water running by so fast, and the turtles sunning + themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing stones at them; it was + so funny to watch them tumble, heels over head, splash into the water. + Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, she stooped for a stone, and + just at that minute a gale of wind nearly took the umbrella out of her + hand. She clutched it fast; and away she went like a thistle-down, right + up in the air, over river and hill, houses and trees, faster and faster, + till her head spun round, her breath was all gone, and she had to let go. + The dear red umbrella flew away like a leaf; and Lily fell down, down, + till she went crash into a tree which grew in such a curious place that + she forgot her fright as she sat looking about her, wondering what part of + the world it could be. + </p> + <p> + The tree looked as if made of glass or colored sugar; for she could see + through the red cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. An + agreeable smell met her nose; and she said at once, as any child would, "I + smell candy!" She picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good it was!--all + sugar and no stone. The next discovery was such a delightful one that she + nearly fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue here and there, she + found that the whole tree was made of candy. Think what fun to sit and + break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and leaves that tasted + like peppermint and sassafras! + </p> + <p> + Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree; then she + climbed down and strolled along, making more surprising and agreeable + discoveries as she went. + </p> + <p> + What looked like snow under her feet was white sugar; the rocks were lumps + of chocolate, the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every sort of + fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little white houses soon appeared; + and here lived the dainty candy-people, all made of the best sugar, and + painted to look like real people. + </p> + <p> + Dear little men and women, looking as if they had stepped off of wedding + cakes and bonbons, went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing and + talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of babies rocked in open-work + cradles, and sugar boys and girls played with sugar toys in the most + natural way. Carriages rolled along the jujube streets, drawn by the red + and yellow barley horses we all love so well; cows fed in the green + fields, and sugar birds sang in the trees. + </p> + <p> + Lily listened, and in a moment she understood what the song said,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Sweet! Sweet!<br /> Come, come and eat,<br /> + Dear little girls<br /> With yellow curls;<br /> + For here you'll find<br /> Sweets to your mind.<br /> + On every tree<br /> Sugar-plums you'll see;<br /> + In every dell<br /> Grows the caramel.<br /> Over + every wall<br /> Gum-drops fall;<br /> Molasses + flows<br /> Where our river goes<br /> Under your + feet<br /> Lies sugar sweet;<br /> Over your head<br /> + Grow almonds red.<br /> Our lily and rose<br /> + Are not for the nose;<br /> Our flowers we pluck<br /> + To eat or suck<br /> And, oh! what bliss<br /> + When two friends kiss,<br /> For they honey sip<br /> + From lip to lip!<br /> And all you meet,<br /> + In house or street,<br /> At work or play,<br /> + Sweethearts are they.<br /> So, little dear,<br /> + Pray feel no fear;<br /> Go where you will;<br /> + Eat, eat your fill.<br /> Here is a feast<br /> + From west to east;<br /> And you can say,<br /> + Ere you go away,<br /> 'At last I stand<br /> In + dear Candy-land,<br /> And no more can stuff;<br /> For + once I've enough.'<br /> Sweet! Sweet!<br /> Tweet! + Tweet!<br /> Tweedle-dee!<br /> Tweedle-dee!" + </p> + <p> + "That is the most interesting song I ever heard," said Lily, clapping her + sticky hands and dancing along toward a fine palace of white cream candy, + with pillars of striped peppermint stick, and a roof of frosting that made + it look like the Milan Cathedral. + </p> + <p> + "I'll live here, and eat candy all day long, with no tiresome school or + patchwork to spoil my fun," said Lily. + </p> + <p> + So she ran up the chocolate steps into the pretty rooms, where all the + chairs and tables were of different colored candies, and the beds of spun + sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied drink; and floors of ice-cream that + never melted kept people and things from sticking together, as they would + have done had it been warm. + </p> + <p> + For a long while Lily was quite happy, going about tasting so many + different kinds of sweeties, talking to the little people, who were very + amiable, and finding out curious things about them and their country. + </p> + <p> + The babies were made of plain sugar, but the grown people had different + flavors. The young ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and orange; the + gentlemen were apt to have cordials of some sort inside of them, as she + found when she ate one now and then slyly, and got her tongue bitten by + the hot, strong taste as a punishment The old people tasted of peppermint, + clove, and such comfortable things, good for pain; but the old maids had + lemon, hoarhound, flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter things in them, + and did not get eaten much. Lily soon learned to know the characters of + her new friends by a single taste, and some she never touched but once. + The dear babies melted in her mouth, and the delicately flavored young + ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger was called to her more than once + when so much candy made her teeth ache, and she found him a very hot- + tempered little man; but he stopped the pain, so she was glad to see him. + </p> + <p> + A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry girl were her favorite + playmates; and they had fine times making mud-pies by scraping the + chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with honey from the wells near by. + These they could eat; and Lily thought this much better than throwing away + the pies, as she had to do at home. They had candy-pulls very often, and + made swings of long loops of molasses candy, and bird's-nests with almond + eggs, out of which came birds who sang sweetly. They played football with + big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on lakes of syrup, fished in rivers + of molasses, and rode the barley horses all over the country. + </p> + <p> + Lily discovered that it never rained, but snowed white sugar. There was no + sun, as it would have been too hot; but a large yellow lozenge made a nice + moon, and red and white comfits were the stars. + </p> + <p> + The people all lived on sugar, and never quarrelled. No one was ill; and + if any got broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle creatures, they + just stuck the parts together and were all right again. The way they grew + old was to get thinner and thinner till there was danger of their + vanishing. Then the friends of the old person put him in a neat coffin, + and carried him to the great golden urn which stood in their largest + temple, always full of a certain fine syrup; and here he was dipped and + dipped till he was stout and strong again, and went home to enjoy himself + for a long time as good as new. + </p> + <p> + This was very interesting to Lily, and she went to many funerals. But the + weddings were better still; for the lovely white brides were so sweet Lily + longed to eat them. The feasts were delicious; and everybody went in their + best clothes, and danced at the ball till they got so warm half-a-dozen + would stick together and have to be taken to the ice-cream room to cool + off. Then the little pair would drive away in a fine carriage with white + horses to a new palace in some other part of the country, and Lily would + have another pleasant place to visit. + </p> + <p> + But by and by, when she had seen everything, and eaten so much sweet stuff + that at last she longed for plain bread and butter, she began to get + cross, as children always do when they live on candy; and the little + people wished she would go away, for they were afraid of her. No wonder, + when she would catch up a dear sugar baby and eat him, or break some + respectable old grandmamma all into bits because she reproved her for + naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on the biggest church, crushing it + flat, and even tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet one day. The + king ordered her to go home; but she said, "I won't!" and bit his head + off, crown and all. + </p> + <p> + Such a wail went up at this awful deed that she ran away out of the city, + fearing some one would put poison in her candy, since she had no other + food. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep walking; and I can't starve, + though I hate the sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, as she + hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar Rock that divided the city of + Saccharissa from the great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond. + </p> + <p> + Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and saw at last a great smoke in + the sky, smelt a spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if there are sugar savages here, roasting and eating some poor + traveller like me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and other + wanderers in strange lands. + </p> + <p> + She crept carefully along till she saw a settlement of little huts very + like mushrooms, for they were made of cookies set on lumps of the brown + sugar; and queer people, looking as if made of gingerbread, were working + very busily round several stoves which seemed to bake at a great rate. + </p> + <p> + "I'll creep nearer and see what sort of people they are before I show + myself," said Lily, going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting down on + a stone which proved to be the plummy sort of cake we used to call + Brighton Rock. + </p> + <p> + Presently one of the tallest men came striding toward the trees with a + pan, evidently after spice; and before she could run, he saw Lily. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her with his black currant + eyes, while he briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree. + </p> + <p> + "I'm travelling, and would like to know what place this is, if you + please," answered Lily, very politely, being a little frightened. + </p> + <p> + "Cake-land. Where do you come from?" asked the gingerbread man, in a crisp + tone of voice. + </p> + <p> + "I was blown into the Candy country, and have been there a long time; but + I got tired of it, and ran away to find something better." + </p> + <p> + "Sensible child!" and the man smiled till Lily thought his cheeks would + crumble. "You'll get on better here with us Brownies than with the lazy + Bonbons, who never work and are all for show. They won't own us, though we + are all related through our grandparents Sugar and Molasses. We are busy + folks; so they turn up their noses and don't speak when we meet at + parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and unsubstantial! I pity 'em." + </p> + <p> + "Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see how you live, and what you do. + I'm sure it must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself up after a + tumble, having eaten nearly all the stone, she was so hungry. + </p> + <p> + "I know you will. Come on! I can talk while I work." And the funny + gingerbread man trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, rolling- + pins, and molasses jugs. + </p> + <p> + "Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as this batch is baked. There are + still some wise people down below who like gingerbread, and I have my + hands full," he said, dashing about, stirring, rolling out, and slapping + the brown dough into pans, which he whisked into the oven and out again so + fast that Lily knew there must be magic about it somewhere. + </p> + <p> + Every now and then he threw her a delicious cooky warm from the oven. She + liked the queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being very curious + about this country. + </p> + <p> + "What is your name, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Ginger Snap." + </p> + <p> + Lily thought it a good one; for he was very quick, and she fancied he + could be short and sharp if he liked. + </p> + <p> + "Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, after watching the other + kitchens full of workers, who were all of different kinds of cake, and + each set of cooks made its own sort. + </p> + <p> + "I'll show you by and by," answered Snap, beginning to pile up the heaps + of gingerbread on a little car that ran along a track leading to some + unknown storeroom, Lily thought. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I never shall be till I've done my + best, and won the prize here." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, and how are you promoted? Is + this a cooking-school?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a cake of condensed yeast. That + puts a soul into me, and I begin to rise till I am able to go over the + hills yonder into the blessed land of bread, and be one of the happy + creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, and without which the + world below would be in a bad way." + </p> + <p> + "Bless me! that is the queerest thing I've heard yet. But I don't wonder + you want to go; I'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good piece of + bread, though I used to want cake and candy at home." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my dear, you'll learn a good deal here; and you are lucky not to have + got into the clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets people if they + eat too much of such rubbish and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my ginger + behind when I go, and get white and round and beautiful, as you will see. + The Gingerbread family have never been as foolish as some of the other + cakes. Wedding is the worst; such extravagance in the way of wine and + spice and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to eat when it's done! I + don't wonder people get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung down a pan + with such a bang that it made Lily jump. + </p> + <p> + "Sponge cake isn't bad, is it? Mamma lets me eat it, but I like frosted + pound better," she said, looking over to the next kitchen, where piles of + that sort of cake were being iced. + </p> + <p> + "Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers will do for babies, but pound + has too much butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat cookies or + seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away + his car-load at a great pace. + </p> + <p> + Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and looked about her as she + went, for this was certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all + beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed here and there ready for + use. The earth was brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits were + raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon peel. It was a very busy place; + for every one cooked all the time, and never failed and never seemed + tired, though they got so hot that they only wore sheets of paper for + clothes. There were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it shouldn't + burn; and they made cook's white caps and aprons of it, and looked very + nice. A large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves to mark the hours + and two toothpicks for hands, showed them how long to bake things; and in + one place an ice wall was built round a lake of butter, which they cut in + lumps as they wanted it. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. Now, stand away while I pitch 'em down," said Snap, stopping + at last before a hole in the ground where a dumbwaiter hung ready, with a + name over it. + </p> + <p> + There were many holes all round, and many waiters, each with its name; and + Lily was amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," "Dooling," and others, + which she knew very well. + </p> + <p> + Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" and Lily said, "Why, that's + where mamma gets her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where we go for ice- + cream. Do <i>you</i> make cake for them?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the secrets of the trade. We cook + for all the confectioners, and people think the good things come out of + the cellars under their saloons. Good joke, isn't it?" And Snap laughed + till a crack came in his neck and made him cough. + </p> + <p> + Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm queen's cake that happened to + be near, and watched Snap send down load after load of gingerbread to be + eaten by children, who would have liked it much better if they had only + known where it came from, as she did. + </p> + <p> + As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the smell of many dinners, and the + sound of many voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, and a + Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken and + apple without," came up the next hole, which was marked "Copeland." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said Lily, longing to hop down, but + afraid of the bump at the other end. + </p> + <p> + "I'm done. Come along, I'll ride you back," called Snap, tossing the last + cooky after the dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with its spicy + load. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you'd teach me to cook. It looks great fun, and mamma wants me to + learn; only our cook hates to have me mess round, and is so cross that I + don't like to try at home," said Lily, as she went trundling back. + </p> + <p> + "Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and learn to make that. It's a + great art, and worth knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, though plain + gingerbread isn't bad to have in the house. I'll teach you that in a + jiffy, if the clock doesn't strike my hour too soon," answered Snap, + helping her down. + </p> + <p> + "What hour?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, of my freedom. I never know when I've done my task till I'm called + by the chimes and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his currant eyes + anxiously to the clock. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you <i>will</i> have time." And Lily fell to work with all her + might, after Snap had put on her a paper apron and a cap like his. + </p> + <p> + It was not hard; for when she was going to make a mistake a spark flew out + of the fire and burnt her in time to remind her to look at the receipt, + which was a sheet of gingerbread in a frame of pie-crust hung up before + her, with the directions written while it was soft and baked in. The third + sheet she made came out of the oven spicy, light, and brown; and Snap, + giving it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you know. Here's your + reward." + </p> + <p> + He handed her a receipt-book made of thin sheets of sugar-gingerbread held + together by a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on the back, and + each leaf crimped with a cake-cutter in the most elegant manner. + </p> + <p> + Lily was charmed with it, but had no time to read all it contained; for + just then the clock began to strike, and a chime of bells to ring,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Gingerbread,<br /> Go to the head.<br /> Your + task is done;<br /> A soul is won.<br /> Take it and + go<br /> Where muffins grow,<br /> Where sweet + loaves rise<br /> To the very skies,<br /> And + biscuits fair<br /> Perfume the air.<br /> Away, + away!<br /> Make no delay;<br /> In the sea of flour<br /> + Plunge this hour.<br /> Safe in your breast<br /> + Let the yeast-cake rest,<br /> Till you rise in + joy,<br /> A white bread boy!" + </p> + <p> + "Ha, ha! I'm free! I'm free!" cried Snap, catching up the silver-covered + square that seemed to fall from heaven; and running to a great white sea + of flour, he went in head first, holding the yeast-cake clasped to his + breast as if his life depended on it. + </p> + <p> + Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious working and bubbling went on, + as if Snap was tumbling about down there like a small earthquake. The + other cake-folk stood round the shore with her; for it was a great event, + and all were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so soon. Suddenly a + cry was heard, and up rose a beautiful white figure on the farther side of + the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," and ran over the hills + so fast they had only time to see how plump and fair he was, with a little + knob on the top of his head like a crown. + </p> + <p> + "He's gone to the happy land, and we shall miss him; but we'll follow his + example and soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge cake, with a sigh, + as all went back to their work; while Lily hurried after Snap, eager to + see the new country, which was the best of all. + </p> + <p> + A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from the valley as she stood on + the hill-top and looked down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of yellow + grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines grew from tree to tree; and many + windmills whirled their white sails as they ground the different grains + into fresh, sweet meal, for the loaves of bread that built the houses like + bricks and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed the people, + furniture, and animals. A river of milk flowed through the peaceful land, + and fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant foam and fizz. The + ground was a mixture of many meals, and the paths were golden Indian, + which gave a very gay look to the scene. Buckwheat flowers bloomed on + their rosy stems, and tall corn-stalks rustled their leaves in the warm + air that came from the ovens hidden in the hillsides; for bread needs a + slow fire, and an obliging volcano did the baking here. + </p> + <p> + "What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling the charm of the homelike + landscape, in spite of the funny plump people moving about. + </p> + <p> + Two of these figures came running to meet her as she slowly walked down + the yellow path from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a beaming face; + the other a little girl in a shiny brown cloak, who looked as if she would + taste very nice. They each put a warm hand into Lily's, and the boy + said,-- + </p> + <p> + "We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you were coming." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, feeling as if she had seen both + these little people before, and liked them. + </p> + <p> + "He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a Muffin now. We begin in that way, and + work up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is Johnny Cake, and she's + Sally Lunn. You know us; so come on and have a race." + </p> + <p> + Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing with these old friends of + hers; and all three ran away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, + over a bridge, into the middle of the village, where they stopped, + panting, and sat down on some very soft rolls to rest. + </p> + <p> + "What do you all do <i>here</i>?" asked Lily, when she got her breath + again. + </p> + <p> + "We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, and are as merry as grigs all day + long. It's school-time now, and we must go; will you come?" said Sally, + jumping up as if she liked it. + </p> + <p> + "Our schools are not like yours; we only study two things,--grain and + yeast. I think you'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the experiments + are very jolly," added Johnny, trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye + and Indian bread, where the school was kept. + </p> + <p> + Lily never liked to go to school, but she was ashamed to own it; so she + went along with Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that she was + glad she came. The brown loaf was hollow, and had no roof; and when she + asked why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and see why they chose + strong walls and plenty of room overhead. All round was a circle of very + small biscuits like cushions, and on these the Bread-children sat. A + square loaf in the middle was the teacher's desk, and on it lay an ear of + wheat, with several bottles of yeast well corked up. The teacher was a + pleasant, plump lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous for her good + bread that she was a Professor of Grainology. + </p> + <p> + When all were seated, she began with the wheat ear, and told them all + about it in such an interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never + known anything about the bread she ate before. The experiments with the + yeast were quite exciting,--for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how it would + work till it blew the cork out, and go fizzing up to the sky if it was + kept too long; how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the bread if care + was not taken to use it just at the right moment; and how too much would + cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance to it. + </p> + <p> + The children were very bright; for they were fed on the best kinds of + oatmeal and Graham bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes to + spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy boys and girls they were, and + their yeasty souls were very lively in them; for they danced and sung, and + seemed as bright and gay as if acidity, heaviness, and mould were quite + unknown. + </p> + <p> + Lily was very happy with them, and when school was done went home with + Sally and ate the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever tasted. In + the afternoon Johnny took her to the cornfield, and showed her how they + kept the growing ears free from mildew and worms. Then she went to the + bakehouse; and here she found her old friend Muffin hard at work making + Parker House rolls, for he was such a good cook he was set to work at once + on the lighter kinds of bread. + </p> + <p> + "Well, isn't this better than Candy-land or Saccharissa?" he asked, as he + rolled and folded his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked inside. + </p> + <p> + "Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better already, and mean to learn all + I can. Mamma will be so pleased if I can make good bread when I go home. + She is rather old-fashioned, and likes me to be a nice housekeeper. I + didn't think bread interesting then, but I do now; and Johnny's mother is + going to teach me to make Indian cakes to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell other people how to make + healthy bodies and happy souls by eating good plain food. Not like this, + though these rolls are better than cake. I have to work my way up to the + perfect loaf, you know; and then, oh, then, I'm a happy thing." + </p> + <p> + "What happens then? Do you go on to some other wonderful place?" asked + Lily, as Muffin paused with a smile on his face. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human being, and become a part of him + or her. That is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a poet and help + him sing, or feed a good woman who makes the world better for being in it, + or be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby prince who is to rule a + kingdom. Isn't that a noble way to live, and an end worth working for?" + asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily feel as if some sort of fine yeast + had got into her, and was setting her brain to work with new thoughts. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it is. I suppose all common things are made for that purpose, if we + only knew it; and people should be glad to do anything to help the world + along, even making good bread in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a sober way + that showed that her little mind was already digesting the new food it had + got. + </p> + <p> + She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and enjoyed and learned a great deal + that she never forgot. But at last, when she had made the perfect loaf, + she wanted to go home, that her mother might see and taste it. + </p> + <p> + "I've put a good deal of myself into it, and I'd love to think I had given + her strength or pleasure by my work," she said, as she and Sally stood + looking at the handsome loaf. + </p> + <p> + "You can go whenever you like; just take the bread in your hands and wish + three times, and you'll be wherever you say. I'm sorry to have you go, but + I don't wonder you want to see your mother. Don't forget what you have + learned, and you will always be glad you came to us," said Sally, kissing + her good-by. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing him, my dear old friend," + answered Lily, looking round for him. + </p> + <p> + "He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. "He was ready to go, and + chose to pass into your bread rather than any other; for he said he loved + you and would be glad to help feed so good a little girl." + </p> + <p> + "How kind of him! I must be careful to grow wise and excellent, else he + will be disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, touched by his + devotion. + </p> + <p> + Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged her loaf close, wished three + times to be in her own home, and like a flash she was there. + </p> + <p> + Whether her friends believed the wonderful tale of her adventures I cannot + tell; but I know that she was a nice little housekeeper from that day, and + made such good bread that other girls came to learn of her. She also grew + from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, because she ate + very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, when the oldest and + the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar062.jpg"><img src="images/lar062th.jpg" + alt="As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back." /></a> <br /> + <i>As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back.</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar062.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="iii" id="iii">III.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + NAUGHTY JOCKO. + </h3> + <p> + "A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, and see if he has got a monkey on + his organ," cried little Neddy, running to the window in a great hurry one + day. + </p> + <p> + Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and red suit, with a funny little + cap, and the long tail trailing behind. But he didn't seem to be a lively + monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad face turned anxiously to his + master, who kept pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff collar had + made his neck sore; and when the man twitched, the poor thing moaned and + put up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to dance, but was so + weak he could only hop a few steps, and stop panting for breath. The cruel + man wouldn't let him rest till Neddy called out,-- + </p> + <p> + "Don't hurt him; let him come up here and get this cake, and rest while + you play. I've got some pennies for you." + </p> + <p> + So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, and sat on the window-ledge + trying to eat; but he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the man + pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, and lay as if he were dead. + Neddy and his aunt ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man scolded + and shook him; but he never moved, and the man said,-- + </p> + <p> + "He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell him to some one to stuff." + </p> + <p> + "No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here a few days, and we will take + care of him; and if he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said Aunt + Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey. + </p> + <p> + The man said he was going on for a week through the towns near by, and + would call and see about it when he came back. Then he went away; and + Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice basket, and carried him in. The minute + the door was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped out with one + eye, and seeing only the kind little boy began to chatter and kick off the + shawl; for he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and dreadfully + afraid of the cruel man who beat and starved him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was delighted, and thought it very funny, and helped his aunt take + off the stiff collar and put some salve on the sore neck. Then they got + milk and cake; and when he had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself + up and slept till the next day. He was quite lively in the morning; for + when Aunt Jane went to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and + looking round the room for him, she saw the little black thing lying on + the boy's pillow, with his arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby. + </p> + <p> + "My patience! I can't allow that," said the old lady, and went to pull + Jocko out. But he slipped away like an eel, and crept chattering and + burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, till + he waked up, howling that crabs were nipping him. + </p> + <p> + Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko climbed all over the bed, up on + the tall wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the image of an + angel stood. He patted it, and hugged it, and looked so very funny with + his ugly black face by the pretty white one, that Neddy rolled on the + floor, and Aunt Jane laughed till her glasses flew off. By and by he came + down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them tie a red ribbon over the + bandage on his neck. He liked the gay color, and kept going to look in the + glass, and grin and chatter at his own image, which he evidently admired. + </p> + <p> + "Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all the children shall see my new + pet," said Neddy, as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + Every one laughed at the funny little fellow with his twinkling eyes, + brown hands, and long tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to the + store; then troubles began. He put Jocko on a table near the door, and + told him to stay there while he did his errands. Now, close by was the + place where the candy was kept, and Jocko loved sweeties like any girl; so + he hopped along, and began to eat whatever he liked. Some boys tried to + stop him; and then he got angry at them for pulling his tail, and threw + handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great fun; and the more they + laughed and scrambled and poked at him, the faster he showered chocolates, + caramels, and peppermints over them, till it looked as if it had rained + candy. The man was busy with Neddy at the other end of the store; but when + he heard the noise, both ran to see what was the matter. Neither of them + could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, and ran up on the high + shelves among the toys. Then down came little tubs and dolls' stoves, tin + trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden soldiers and whole villages + flew through the air, smash, bang, rattle, bump, all over the floor. The + man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys shouted, and there was a lively time in + that shop till a good slapping with a long stick made Jock tumble into a + tub of water where some curious fishes lived, and then they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man his aunt would pay for all the + broken things. Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go home and + tie him up, for it was plain this monkey was not to be trusted. But as + soon as they got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to a load of hay + passing underneath. Here he danced and pranced, and had a fine time, + throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some of the dinner tied + up in a cloth. The crusts of bread and the bones he threw at the horse; + this new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he ran away down a steep + hill, and upset the hay and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was worse + than the candy scrape; for the man swore, and the horse was hurt, and + people said the monkey ought to be shot, he did so much mischief. Jocko + didn't care a bit; he sat high up in a tree, and chattered and scolded, + and swung by his tail, and was so droll that people couldn't help laughing + at him. Poor Neddy cried again, and went home to tell his troubles to Aunt + Jane, fearing that it would take all the money in his bank to pay for the + damage the bad monkey had done in one hour. + </p> + <p> + As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping along, and jumped on his back, + and peeped at him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning and good + Neddy couldn't whip him; but he shut him up in a closet to punish him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all was quiet till dinner-time. + They were ready for the pudding, and Neddy had saved a place for a good + plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when shrieks were heard in the + kitchen, and Mary the maid rushed in to say,-- + </p> + <p> + "Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the pudding, and is scaring Katy + out of her life!" + </p> + <p> + They all ran; and there sat that naughty monkey on the table, throwing the + nice white snow all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she was + ready to be shaved. His own face looked the same, for he had eaten all he + wanted while the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He had crept out of + a window in the closet, and had a fine rummage among the sugar-buckets, + butter-boxes, and milk-pans. + </p> + <p> + Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane and grandpa laughed, and + Neddy chased Jock into the garden with the broom. They had to eat bread + and jelly for dessert, and it took the girls a long time to clear up the + mess the rascal made. + </p> + <p> + "We will put his collar and chain on again, and keep him tied up all the + time till the man comes," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + "But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, watching the little imp whisk about + in the garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens and tossing green + apples round in high glee. + </p> + <p> + "Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he is tired; then he will come + to you, and you can hold him fast," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + So Neddy waited; and though he was much worried at his new pet's + naughtiness, he enjoyed his pranks like a boy. + </p> + <p> + Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the piazza, and he was dozing + comfortably when Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his long tail, + and tickled the old gentleman on the nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, + and opened one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. Then he went to + sleep again, and Jocko dropped a caterpillar on his bald head; this made + him open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy thing could be. Neddy + couldn't help laughing, for he often wanted to do just such things, but + never dared, because grandpa was a very stern old gentleman, and no one + took liberties with him. Jocko wasn't afraid, however; and presently he + crept to the table, stole the glasses lying there, put them on, and taking + up the paper held it before him, chattering as if he were reading it, as + he had seen people do. Neddy laughed out loud at this, and clapped his + hands, Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite of the tail curled + up behind. This time grandpa opened both eyes at once, and stared as if he + saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched off the spectacles, and + caught up his cane, crying angrily,-- + </p> + <p> + "You rascal, how dare you!" + </p> + <p> + But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and with one jump lighted on the + back of old Tom, the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. Scared half + out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; but Jocko held fast to his collar, + and had a fine race round the garden, while the girls laughed at the funny + sight, and Neddy shouted, "It's a circus; and there's the monkey and the + pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when puss dashed up a tree, and + Jock tumbled off. He chased him, and they had a great battle; but Tom's + claws were sharp, and the monkey got a scratch on the nose, and ran crying + to Neddy for comfort. + </p> + <p> + "Now, you naughty fellow, I'll chain you up, and stop these dreadful + tricks. But you are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the boy; for he + knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, and poor Jocko had not had one for a + long time. + </p> + <p> + Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, and then was ready for more + frolics. Neddy had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that he could + enjoy the sun and air, and catch grasshoppers if he liked. But Jocko + wanted something more; and presently Neddy, who was reading in his hammock + on the piazza, heard a great cackling among the hens, and looked up to see + the monkey swinging by his tail from a bough, holding the great cock-a- + doodle by his splendid tail, while all the twenty hens clucked and cackled + with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank. + </p> + <p> + "Now, that's too bad; I <i>will</i> slap him this time," said Neddy, + running to save his handsome bird from destruction. But before he got + there poor cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his + struggles, and when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran + away and hid in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left him looking as meek as a baby, + all cuddled up in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as if crying + for his naughtiness. But he wasn't sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in half an + hour he had picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane was so fond of, + thrown all the tomatoes over the fence, and let the parrot out of his + cage. The sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a polite "How are + you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane to see what was going on. Neddy was fast + asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; and Jocko, having unhooked + his chain, was sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's house, eating + corn. + </p> + <p> + "We shall not live to the end of the week if this sort of thing goes on. I + don't know what to do with the little beast; he's as bad as an elephant to + take care of," said the poor lady, in despair, as she saw Jocko throw his + corncob down on the minister's hat as that stately gentleman went by. + </p> + <p> + As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane let him alone till Neddy waked + up and could go and find some of the big boys to help him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a window that stood open. It + was little Nelly Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet doll Maud + Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the best bed, while she went down to get a + poppy leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because she had a high fever. + Jocko took a fancy to the pretty bed, and after turning the play-house + topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose Matilda out by her flaxen + hair, and stuffing her into the water-pitcher upside down, got into the + bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to doze deliciously under the + pink silk bed-cover. + </p> + <p> + Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear invalid, saying in her + motherly little voice,-- + </p> + <p> + "Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I won't hurt you one bit." + </p> + <p> + But when she drew the curtain, instead of the lovely yellow-haired doll in + her ruffled nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at her, + and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. Nelly gave one scream, and flew + downstairs into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at work, + frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by her cries, as she clung to her + mother, wailing,-- + </p> + <p> + "A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; and he snarled at me, and my + dolly is gone! What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?" + </p> + <p> + There was great confusion, for all the ladies talked at once; and it so + happened that none of them knew anything about the monkey, therefore they + all agreed that Nelly was a foolish child, and had made a fuss about + nothing. She cried dismally, and kept saying to her mother,-- + </p> + <p> + "Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,--I found it there, and darling Maudie + is gone." + </p> + <p> + "We <i>will</i> go and see," said Mrs. Moses Merryweather,--a stout old + lady, who kept her six girls in such good order that <i>they</i> would + never have dared to cry if ten monkeys had popped out at them. + </p> + <p> + Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, with a sharp eye and pointed + nose, went with her; but at the door that led to the dining-room both + stopped short, and after one look came flying back, calling out + together,-- + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful beast has ruined it all!" + </p> + <p> + Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across the hall to behold Jocko + sitting on the great cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed in + cream from the overturned pitcher, while all around lay the ruins of + custards, tarts, biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins made + into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, on the floor, and the best + silver teapot in the fireplace. + </p> + <p> + While Nelly told her tale and the ladies questioned and comforted her, + this bad monkey had skipped downstairs and had a delightful party all by + himself. He was just scraping the jelly out of a tart when they disturbed + him; and knowing that more slaps were in store for him if he stayed, he at + once walked calmly down the ravaged table, and vanished out of the window + carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play with. + </p> + <p> + The ladies had no supper that night; and poor Mrs. Brown sent a note to + Aunt Jane, telling her the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite ill + with the fright and the loss of dear Maud Mabel Rose Matilda, drowned in + the water-pitcher and forever spoilt. + </p> + <p> + "John shall go after that man to-morrow, and bring him back to carry this + terrible monkey away. I can't live with him a week; he will cost me a + fortune, and wear us all out," said Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely shut + up in the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over the neighborhood + before they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but John was saved his journey, for + in the morning poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his inquisitive + head had been poked to see what the cheese tasted like. + </p> + <p> + So he was buried by the river, and every one felt much relieved; for the + man never came back, thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he had not + lived in vain; for after this day of trial, mischievous Neddy behaved much + better, and Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit by saying, as + her finger pointed to a little collar and chain hanging on the wall,-- + </p> + <p> + "If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say so, and I'll tie you up. One + monkey is enough for this family." + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar078.jpg"><img src="images/lar078th.jpg" + alt="Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and skippings as she made." /></a> + <br /> <i>Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and + skippings as she made.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar078.jpg">View larger + image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="iv" id="iv">IV.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE SKIPPING SHOES. + </h3> + <p> + Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, who never wanted to do what + people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," and did not run at + once pleasantly, as obliging children do. + </p> + <p> + One day her mother gave her a pair of new shoes; and after a fuss about + putting them on, Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,-- + </p> + <p> + "I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like Jack the Giant Killer's, then + it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep + trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't stir a step." + </p> + <p> + Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, and set her on her feet so + suddenly that it scared all the naughtiness out of her. She stood looking + at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed to wink at + her like eyes, while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of tune. Before + she dared to stir, her mother called from the next room,-- + </p> + <p> + "Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie for dinner; I forgot it." + </p> + <p> + "I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine as usual. + </p> + <p> + But the words were hardly out of her mouth when the shoes gave one jump, + and took her downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at the kitchen + door. Her breath was nearly gone; but she gave the message, and turned + round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went + nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. + She was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a bit when she could. Now + she found that her feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not be + moved till her father said, as he passed the window close by,-- + </p> + <p> + "You will have time to go to the post-office before school and get my + letters." + </p> + <p> + "I can't," began Kitty; but she found she could, for away went the shoes, + out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so fast that + the maid who ran after her with her hat could not catch her. + </p> + <p> + "I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not till the shoes took her + straight into the office. + </p> + <p> + "What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, as he saw her without any hat, + all rosy and breathless, and her face puckered up as if she did not know + whether to laugh or to cry. + </p> + <p> + "I won't tell any one about these dreadful shoes, and I'll take them off + as soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will + think I'm crazy," said Kitty to herself, as she took the letters and went + away. + </p> + <p> + The shoes walked nicely along till she came to the bridge; and there she + wanted to stop and watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and her + father's letters. But the shoes wouldn't stop, though she tried to make + them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; + and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadily that she + had to go, and she got up feeling that there was something very strange + about these shoes. The minute she gave up, all went smoothly, and she got + home in good time. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wear these horrid things another minute," said Kitty, sitting on + the doorstep and trying to unbutton the shoes. + </p> + <p> + But not a button could she stir, though she got red and angry struggling + to do it. + </p> + <p> + "Time for school; run away, little girl," called mamma from upstairs, as + the clock struck nine. + </p> + <p> + "I won't!" said Kitty, crossly. + </p> + <p> + But she did; for those magic shoes danced her off, and landed her at her + desk in five minutes. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm not late; that's one comfort," she thought, wishing she had + come pleasantly, and not been whisked away without any luncheon. + </p> + <p> + Her legs were so tired with the long skips that she was glad to sit still; + and that pleased the teacher, for generally she was fussing about all + lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble again; for one of the + children knocked down the house of corn-cobs she had built, and made her + angry. + </p> + <p> + "Now, I'll kick yours down, and see how you like it, Dolly." + </p> + <p> + Up went her foot, but it didn't come down; it stayed in the air, and there + she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children laughed to + see her, and she could do nothing till she said to Dolly in a great + hurry,-- + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll forgive you." + </p> + <p> + Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so glad about it that she tried to + be pleasant, fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She began to + see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any power over + them. So, when one of the children wanted his ball, which had bounced over + the hedge, she said kindly,--"Perhaps I can get it for you, Willy." + </p> + <p> + And over she jumped as lightly as if she too were an india-rubber ball. + </p> + <p> + "How could you do it?" cried the boys, much surprised; for not one of them + dared try such a high leap. + </p> + <p> + Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling pleased and proud to find there + was a good side to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and skippings as + she made, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was pretty to see; + for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of themselves. The + little girls were charmed, and tried to imitate her, but no one could, and + they stood in a circle watching her dance till the bell rang, then all + rushed in to tell about it. + </p> + <p> + Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never told how queerly they acted, + hoping to have good times now. But she was mistaken. + </p> + <p> + On the way home she wanted to stop and see her friend Bell's new doll, but + at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes and go + straight on, as mamma had told her always to do. + </p> + <p> + "Run and pick a nice little dish of strawberries for dinner," said her + sister, as she went in. + </p> + <p> + "I'm too ti--" There was no time to finish, for the shoes landed her in + the middle of the strawberry bed at one jump. + </p> + <p> + "I might as well be a grasshopper if I'm to skip round like this," she + said, forgetting to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with the + robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind lifting the leaves to + show here the reddest and ripest ones hid. + </p> + <p> + The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted to stay and eat a few, + warm and sweet from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, over + the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the dining-room before the + berry in her mouth was half eaten. + </p> + <p> + "How this child does rush about to-day!" said her mother. "It is so + delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her to + carry some bundles to my poor people this afternoon. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old clothes and bottles and baskets + of cold victuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the + shoes tapped on the floor under the table, as if to remind her that she + must, whether she liked it or not. + </p> + <p> + "It would be right and kind, and would please me very much. But you may do + as you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; for the + little Bryan baby is sick and needs what I send," said mamma, looking + disappointed. + </p> + <p> + Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, and no one spoke to her. She + was making up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked about + like a grasshopper against her will. When dinner was over, she said in a + cheerful voice,-- + </p> + <p> + "I'll go, mamma; and when all the errands are done, may I come back + through Fairyland, as we call the little grove where the tall ferns grow?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy to please you." + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall have a lovely time," said + Kitty to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a bundle + in the other, and some money in her pocket for a poor old woman who needed + help. + </p> + <p> + The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to know just where to stop. The + sick baby's mother thanked her for the soft little nightgowns; the lame + girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round the + basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; and the old woman gave + her a beautiful pink shell that her sailor son brought home from sea. + </p> + <p> + When all the errands were done Kitty skipped away to Fairyland, feeling + very happy, as people always do when they have done kind things. It was a + lovely place; for the ferns made green arches tall enough for little girls + to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss and wood- + flowers. Birds flew about in the pines, squirrels chattered in the oaks, + butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond near by came the + croak of frogs sunning their green backs on the mossy stones. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and rest; it is so cool here, and + I'm so tired," said Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot of a + tree. + </p> + <p> + The words were hardly out of her mouth when her feet folded under her, and + there she sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the wood on her + throne. Something lighted with a bump close by her; and looking down she + saw a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at her curiously. + </p> + <p> + "Bless my heart! I thought you were some relation of my cousin + Grasshopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so I + stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, in its creaky voice. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy shoes to-day, and so do many + things that I never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised to be able + to understand what the cricket said. + </p> + <p> + "It is midsummer day, and fairies can play whatever pranks they like. If + you didn't have those shoes on, you couldn't understand what I say. Hark, + and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down here. Make + the most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes will stop skipping, and + the fun all be over." + </p> + <p> + While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all sorts of little voices, + singing, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word + they said. The squirrels called to one another as they raced about,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Here's a nut, there's a nut;<br /> Hide + it quick away,<br /> In a hole, under leaves,<br /> To + eat some winter day.<br /> Acorns sweet are plenty,<br /> We + will have them all:<br /> Skip and scamper lively<br /> Till + the last ones fall." + </p> + <p> + The birds were singing softly,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Rock a bye, babies,<br /> Your cradle + hangs high;<br /> Soft down your pillow,<br /> Your + curtain the sky.<br /> Father will feed you,<br /> While + mother will sing,<br /> And shelter our darlings<br /> With + her warm wing." + </p> + <p> + And the ants were saying to one another as they hurried in and out of + their little houses,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Work, neighbor, work!<br /> Do not + stop to play;<br /> Wander far and wide,<br /> Gather + all you may. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + We are never like<br /> Idle + butterflies,<br /> But like the busy bees,<br /> Industrious + and wise." + </p> + <p> + "Ants always were dreadfully good, but butterflies are ever so much + prettier," said Kitty, listening to the little voices with wonder and + pleasure. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Hello! hello!<br /> Come down below,--<br /> It's + lovely and cool<br /> Out here in the pool;<br /> On + a lily-pad float<br /> For a nice green boat.<br /> Here + we sit and sing<br /> In a pleasant ring;<br /> Or + leap frog play,<br /> In the jolliest way.<br /> Our + games have begun,<br /> Come join in the fun." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me! what could I do over there in the mud with the queer green + frogs?" laughed Kitty, as this song was croaked at her. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "No, no, come and fly<br /> Through the sunny sky,<br /> + Or honey sip<br /> From the rose's lip,<br /> Or + dance in the air,<br /> Like spirits fair.<br /> Come + away, come away;<br /> 'Tis our holiday." + </p> + <p> + A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up from a wild-rose bush, and + went dancing away higher and higher, till they vanished in the light + beyond the wood. + </p> + <p> + "That is better than leap-frog. I wish my skipping shoes would let me fly + up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to go + all the time," said Kitty, watching the pretty things glitter as they + flew. + </p> + <p> + Just at that minute a clock struck, and away went the shoes over the pool, + the hill, the road, till they pranced in at the gate as the tea-bell rang. + Kitty amused the family by telling what she had done and seen; but no one + believed the Fairyland part, and her father said, laughing,-- + </p> + <p> + "Go on, my dear, making up little stories, and by and by you may be as + famous as Hans Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well." + </p> + <p> + "The sun will soon set, and then my fun will be over; so I must skip while + I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so prettily that + all the family came to see her. + </p> + <p> + "She dances so well that she shall go to dancing-school," said her mother, + pleased with the pretty antics of her little girl. + </p> + <p> + Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had longed to go, and went on + skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn some of the graceful + steps the shoes took before the day was done. + </p> + <p> + "Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your bath and bed. It has been a long + hot day, and you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants to go + out," said her mother, as the sun went down behind the hills with a last + bright glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, please, a few minutes more," began Kitty, but was off like a flash; + for the shoes trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against old + Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor, and + scolding in such a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that she could + hardly pick her up again. + </p> + <p> + By the time she was ready to undress the sun was quite gone, and the shoes + she took off were common ones again, for midsummer day was over. But Kitty + never forgot the little lessons she had learned: she tried to run + willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and danced like + a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and interesting + little creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever she was told she + might go to play with them, she hurried away almost as quickly as if she + still wore the skipping shoes. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar093.jpg"><img src="images/lar093th.jpg" + alt="So Cocky was brought in, and petted." /></a> <br /> <i>So Cocky was + brought in, and petted.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar093.jpg">View larger + image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="v" id="v">V.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + COCKYLOO. + </h3> + <p> + In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, feeling very happy because it + was time for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have a fine brood of + chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried the + chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy little + things one after the other, all ready to run and eat and scratch,--for + chickens are not like babies, and don't have to be tended at all. + </p> + <p> + There were eight little hens and two little cockerels, one black and one + as white as snow, with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on + his head. This was Cockyloo, the good chick; but the black one was named + Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud of her fine family; for the eight + little daughters were all white and very pretty. She led them out into the + farmyard, clucking and scratching busily; for all were hungry, and ran + chirping round her to pick up the worms and seeds she found for them. + Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice corn or + a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or Snowball + have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up the food + greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, and picked + the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. His mother + scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; but he + didn't care, and was very naughty. Cocky began to crow when he was very + young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear his loud, clear + "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke before the sun was + up, and began his song. Peck used to grumble at being roused at dawn, for + he was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were glad to get out of the + hen-house. + </p> + <p> + The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the + farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him. + </p> + <p> + "I came out of the shell first, and I am the oldest; so I ought to be + king," he said. + </p> + <p> + "But we don't like you, because you are selfish, cross, and lazy. We want + Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid bird, and + <i>he</i> must be our king," answered the hens; and Peck had to mind, or + they would have pulled every feather out of his little tail. + </p> + <p> + He resolved to do some harm to his good brother, and plagued him all he + could. One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a + bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near to + come and put his heavy foot on the bush. He did it, and crack went the + branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were drowned + but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, Chirp, and + Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, and were + never seen again. All the hens mourned for them, and put a black feather + in their heads to show how sorry they were. Mamma Partlet was heart-broken + to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted her, and never told + how it happened, because he was ashamed to have people know what a bad + bird Peck was. + </p> + <p> + A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny Cockletop about it; and the + hens were so angry that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and he had + to go and live in the woods alone. He said he didn't care; but he did, and + was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field where + the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show himself, for + they would have driven him out. But kind Cocky saw him, and would run with + some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, saying,--"Poor + brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with you, and tell you + the news." + </p> + <p> + Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had been planning to eat Peck as soon + as he was fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he used to have, and + grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berries. While he waited the sly + fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird knew that foxes ate hens. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not afraid, and I don't believe old Granny Cockletop's tales. I can + take care of myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing with the fox, + who got him to tell all about the hen-house,--how the door was fastened, + and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went to bed,--so + that he could creep in and steal a good supper by and by. Silly Peck never + guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when Cocky said,-- + </p> + <p> + "You will be sorry if you play with the fox. He is a bad fellow; so be + careful and sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, as I do." + </p> + <p> + Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, + because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. + This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and so + one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to the + fox,-- + </p> + <p> + "See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it. + He has promised to bring me some food to-night, when all the rest are at + roost. He will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old + biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all I + want out of the pan. You hide on the top of the hen-house; and while he + talks to me, you can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only cock here, + and they will have to make me king." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said the fox, much pleased with the plan, and very glad that + Peck had a chance to get fatter. + </p> + <p> + So when it was night, Peck crept through the broken paling and waited till + he heard the signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from his own + dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread them all + out in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in a great hurry to eat + them, never stopping to say, "Thank you." + </p> + <p> + Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up. + </p> + <p> + "Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over you; then you will be dry, and + can go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till you are + done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to remember + anything else. + </p> + <p> + Now the fox had just crept up on the hen-house roof; and when he peeped + down, there was just light enough to see a white thing bobbing about. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good supper!" And with a jump he + seized Peck by the head before he could explain the mistake. + </p> + <p> + One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell off, + and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to eat + Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the farmer + ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through the hole + in the fence with the fowl in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when they + heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better than + ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them. + </p> + <p> + King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,--pure white, with a tall red + comb on his head, long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers in his + tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that it + could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, "Hark! + hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Isn't it a sweet sound to wake us in the + dawn?" All the other cocks used to answer him, and there was a fine + matinee concert every day. + </p> + <p> + He was a good brother, and led his five little sisters all about the + field, feeding, guarding, and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, and + could not stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run + home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, + who was very proud of her handsome son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who + scolded about everything, liked him; and often said, as the hens sat + scuffling in the dust,-- + </p> + <p> + "A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and I know he will do something + remarkable before he dies." + </p> + <p> + She was right for once; and this is what he did. + </p> + <p> + One day the farmer had to go away and stay all night, leaving the old lady + alone with two boys. They were not afraid; for they had a gun, and quite + longed for a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer had a good + deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they waited for + him to go away that they might steal it. Cocky was picking about in the + field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping through a hole saw + two shabby men hiding there. + </p> + <p> + "At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we will creep in at the kitchen + window and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and whistle if + any one comes along while I'm looking for the box where the farmer keeps + it," said one man. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be afraid; there is no dog, and no one to wake the family, so + we are quite safe," said the other man; and then they both went to sleep + till night came. + </p> + <p> + Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do. He could not tell the + old lady about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and she would not + understand that language. So he went about all day looking very sober, and + would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the big burdock + leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he did not go into + the hen-house with the rest, but flew up to the shed roof over the + kitchen, and sat there in the cold ready to scare the robbers with a loud + crow, as he could do nothing else. + </p> + <p> + At midnight the men came creeping along; one stopped outside, and the + other went in. Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and went back + for the money. Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a + loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys. The man + with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; the + other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and picked + at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned to run + some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him in the + legs. The old lady popped her head out of the upper window and rang the + dinner-bell, and called "Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused the + neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble could be. + </p> + <p> + They fished one man out of the well and picked up the wounded one, and + carried them both off to prison. + </p> + <p> + "Who caught them?" asked the people. + </p> + <p> + "We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we + shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the + rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this is the second time he has + caught a thief." + </p> + <p> + So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his + family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward. + </p> + <p> + When the robbers were tried, it was found that they were the men who had + robbed the bank, and taken a great deal of money; so every one was glad to + have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people would + go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was so brave + and handsome, they said at last,-- + </p> + <p> + "We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow + let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky + ought to be remembered in some way. + </p> + <p> + So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye on + the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the court- + house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, and + twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were never + tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a procession + one moonlight night to see it,--yes, even Mamma Partlet and Granny + Cockletop, though one was lame and the other very old, so full of pride + were they in the great honor done King Cockyloo. + </p> + <p> + This was not the end of his good deeds; and the last was the best of all, + though it cost him his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his kingdom + in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other fowls + were taken for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But he did die at last; + and even then he was good and brave, as you shall hear. + </p> + <p> + One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and went behind the hen-house, so + nobody should see him do such a silly thing. He thought he heard his + father coming, and hid the pipe under the house. Some straw and dry leaves + lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the boy ran + away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to burning + nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to help. The door + was locked, and could not be opened, because the key was in the pocket of + the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe and chopped down the wall, + letting the poor biddies fly out, squawking and smoking. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed + the king of the farmyard. + </p> + <p> + "Burnt up, I'm afraid," said the farmer, who was throwing water on the + flames. + </p> + <p> + Alas! yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky + sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks + whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away, and sat + chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke + choked <i>him</i> to death. + </p> + <p> + Every one was very sorry; and the children gave the good bird a fine + funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a green mound + over him, and a white stone, on which was written,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew:<br /> We + mourn for him with sorrow true.<br /> Now nevermore at dawn his + music shall we hear,<br /> Waking the world like trumpet shrill + and clear.<br /> The hens all hang their heads, the chickens + sadly peep;<br /> The boys look sober, and the girls all weep.<br /> + Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest,<br /> With + grass and daisies on your faithful breast;<br /> And when you + wake, brave bird, so good and true,<br /> Clap your white wings + and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo." + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar107.jpg"><img src="images/lar107th.jpg" + alt="The lion walked awhile to rest himself." /></a> <br /> <i>The lion + walked awhile to rest himself.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar107.jpg">View + larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="vi" id="vi">VI.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + ROSY'S JOURNEY. + </h3> + <p> + Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with her mother in a small house in + the woods. They were very poor, for the father had gone away to dig gold, + and did not come back; so they had to work hard to get food to eat and + clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when she was able, for she was often + sick, and Rosy did all she could to help. She milked the red cow and fed + the hens; dug the garden, and went to town to sell the yarn and the eggs. + </p> + <p> + She was very good and sweet, and every one loved her; but the neighbors + were all poor, and could do little to help the child. So, when at last the + mother died, the cow and hens and house had to be sold to pay the doctor + and the debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no mother, no home, and + no money to buy clothes and dinners with. + </p> + <p> + "What will you do?" said the people, who were very sorry for her. + </p> + <p> + "I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, bravely. + </p> + <p> + "But he is far away, and you don't know just where he is, up among the + mountains. Stay with us and spin on your little wheel, and we will buy the + yarn, and take care of you, dear little girl," said the kind people. + </p> + <p> + "No, I must go; for mother told me to, and my father will be glad to have + me. I'm not afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, gratefully. + </p> + <p> + Then the people gave her a warm red cloak, and a basket with a little loaf + and bottle of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more to eat when the + bread was gone. They all kissed her, and wished her good luck; and she + trotted away through the wood to find her father. + </p> + <p> + For some days she got on very well; for the wood-cutters were kind, and + let her sleep in their huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by she + came to lonely places, where there were no houses; and then she was + afraid, and used to climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat berries + and leaves, like the Children in the Wood. + </p> + <p> + She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would not come near her; and if + she met other travellers, she was so young and innocent no one had the + heart to hurt her. She was kind to everything she met; so all little + creatures were friends to her, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw a tiny fish on the bank, + nearly dead for want of water. + </p> + <p> + "Poor thing! go and be happy again," she said, softly taking him up, and + dropping him into the nice cool river. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, dear child; I'll not forget, but will help you some day," said + the fish, when he had taken a good drink, and felt better. + </p> + <p> + "Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great girl as I am?" laughed Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam away with a flap of his + little tail. + </p> + <p> + Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. But she never forgot to be + kind; and soon after, as she was looking in the grass for strawberries, + she found a field-mouse with a broken leg. + </p> + <p> + "Help me to my nest, or my babies will starve," cried the poor thing. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that you can keep still till your + leg is better, and have something to eat." + </p> + <p> + Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little hand, and tied up the broken + leg with a leaf of spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she carried her to + the nest under the roots of an old tree, where four baby mice were + squeaking sadly for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown for the + sick mouse, and put close within reach all the berries and seeds she could + find, and brought an acorn-cup of water from the spring, so they could be + comfortable. + </p> + <p> + "Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this kindness some day," said + the mouse, when she was done. + </p> + <p> + "I'm afraid you are not big enough to do much," answered Rosy, as she ran + off to go on her journey. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the little ones squeaked, as if + they said the same. + </p> + <p> + Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, waiting for the sun to rise, + she heard a great buzzing close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb that + went from one twig to another. The big spider was trying to spin him all + up, and the poor fly was struggling to get away before his legs and wings + were helpless. + </p> + <p> + Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the web, and the spider ran away at + once to hide under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on Rosy's hand, + cleaning his wings, and buzzing so loud for joy that it sounded like a + little trumpet. + </p> + <p> + "You've saved my life, and I'll save yours, if I can," said the fly, + twinkling his bright eye at Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "You silly thing, you can't help me," answered Rosy, climbing down, while + the fly buzzed away, saying, like the mouse and fish,-- + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see; wait and see." + </p> + <p> + Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came to the sea. The mountains + were on the other side; but how should she get over the wide water? No + ships were there, and she had no money to hire one if there had been any; + so she sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a few big tears as + salt as the sea. + </p> + <p> + "Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close by; and the fish popped up + his head. Rosy ran to see what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + "I've come to help you over the water," said the fish. + </p> + <p> + "How can you, when I want a ship, and some one to show me the way?" + answered Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "I shall just call my friend the whale, and he will take you over better + than a ship, because he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts and + flounces about a good deal, he is only playing; so you needn't be + frightened." + </p> + <p> + Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to see what would happen; for + she didn't believe such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to help + her. + </p> + <p> + Presently what looked like a small island came floating through the sea; + and turning round, so that its tail touched the shore, the whale said, in + a roaring voice that made her jump,-- + </p> + <p> + "Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. I'll carry you wherever you + like." + </p> + <p> + It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was rather scared at this big, + strange boat; but she got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a roll + and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting two fountains, while his tail + steered him like the rudder of a ship. + </p> + <p> + Rosy liked it, and looked down into the deep sea, where all sorts of queer + and lovely things were to be seen. Great fishes came and looked at her; + dolphins played near to amuse her; the pretty nautilus sailed by in its + transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh with their rough play. + Mermaids brought her pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to eat, and + at night sung her to sleep with their sweet lullabies. + </p> + <p> + So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran on shore with many thanks to + the good whale, who gave a splendid spout, and swam away. + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a desert. Hundreds of miles of + hot sand, with no trees or brooks or houses. + </p> + <p> + "I never can go that way," she said; "I should starve, and soon be worn + out walking in that hot sand. What <i>shall</i> I do?" + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Quee, quee!<br /> Wait and see:<br /> You + were good to me;<br /> So here I come,<br /> From my + little home,<br /> To help you willingly," + </p> + <p> + said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its + bright eyes full of gratitude. + </p> + <p> + "Why, you dear little thing, I'm very glad to see you; but I'm sure you + can't help me across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft back. + </p> + <p> + "That's easy enough," answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. "I'll + just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he'll take you across + with pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I'm afraid he'd rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce beast?" + cried Rosy, much surprised. + </p> + <p> + "I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a noble + animal, and he will keep his word." + </p> + <p> + Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "O lion, grand,<br /> Come + over the sand,<br /> And help me now, I pray!<br /> Here's + a little lass,<br /> Who wants to pass;<br /> Please + carry her on her way." + </p> + <p> + In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with fiery + eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them. + </p> + <p> + "What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he said, looking at the mouse, who + was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every + moment to be eaten. + </p> + <p> + Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,-- + </p> + <p> + "I'll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold fast + to my mane, for I'm a swift horse, and you might fall off." + </p> + <p> + Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was so + kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand till + her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she thought + it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers rolled their + fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion was king of + all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with loads on + their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered what queer thing + was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large monkey in a red + cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a little girl. + </p> + <p> + "How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little + creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert," said + Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself. + </p> + <p> + "And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have + come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make + them gentle and friendly by kindness," answered the lion. + </p> + <p> + Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green + country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one saw + him, they would try to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father," thought + Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads winding + up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts where the + men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took the wrong + road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in rocks over + which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for her food was + gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night was coming on, + and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before morning, but + dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole and be killed. + Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a little; then she + tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, and looking + carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if anxious to make + her listen to his song,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Rosy, my dear,<br /> Don't + cry,--I'm here<br /> To help you all I can.<br /> I'm + only a fly,<br /> But you'll see that I<br /> Will + keep my word like a man." + </p> + <p> + Rosy couldn't help laughing to hear the brisk little fellow talk as if he + could do great things; but she was very glad to see him and hear his + cheerful song, so she held out her finger, and while he sat there told him + all her troubles. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will carry you right up the + mountains and leave you at your father's door," cried the fly; and he was + off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant what he said. + </p> + <p> + Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not at all afraid after the whale + and the lion; so when a great eagle swooped down and alighted near her, + she just looked at his sharp claws, big eyes, and crooked beak as coolly + as if he had been a cock-robin. + </p> + <p> + He liked her courage, and said kindly in his rough voice,-- + </p> + <p> + "Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. Hold me fast round the + neck, or you may grow dizzy and get a fall." + </p> + <p> + Rosy nestled down among the thick gray feathers, and put both arms round + his neck; and whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, till the + trees looked like grass, they were so far below. At first it was very + cold, and Rosy cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as they came + nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and she peeped out to see the huts + standing in a green spot on the top of the mountain. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. You'll find all the men are down in the mine at this time. + They won't come up till morning; so you will have to wait for your father. + Good-by; good luck, my dear." And the eagle soared away, higher still, to + his nest among the clouds. + </p> + <p> + It was night now, but fires were burning in all the houses; so Rosy went + from hut to hut trying to find her father's, that she might rest while she + waited: at last in one the picture of a pretty little girl hung on the + wall, and under it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew that this was the + right place; and she ate some supper, put on more wood, and went to bed, + for she wanted to be fresh when her father came in the morning. + </p> + <p> + While she slept a storm came on,--thunder rolled and lightning flashed, + the wind blew a gale, and rain poured,--but Rosy never waked till dawn, + when she heard men shouting outside,-- + </p> + <p> + "Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all be drowned!" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, though the wind nearly blew her + away; she found that so much rain had made the river overflow till it + began to wash the banks away. + </p> + <p> + "What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried Rosy, watching the men rush + about like ants, getting their bags of gold ready to carry off before the + water swept them away, if it became a flood. + </p> + <p> + As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice say close by,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Splash, dash!<br /> Rumble + and crash!<br /> Here come the beavers gay;<br /> See + what they do,<br /> Rosy, for you,<br /> Because + you helped <i>me</i> one day." + </p> + <p> + And there in the water was the little fish swimming about, while an army + of beavers began to pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep the + river back. How they worked, digging and heaping with teeth and claws, and + beating the earth hard with their queer tails like shovels! Rosy and the + men watched them work, glad to be safe, while the storm cleared up; and by + the time the dam was made, all danger was over. Rosy looked into the faces + of the rough men, hoping her father was there, and was just going to ask + about him, when a great shouting rose again, and all began to run to the + pit hole, saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows will be smothered! How can we + get them out? how can we get them out?" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would break; for her father was down + in the mine, and would die soon if air did not come to him. The men dug as + hard as they could; but it was a long job, and they feared they would not + be in time. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering along, and began to burrow down + through the earth, making many holes for air to go in; for they know how + to build galleries through the ground better than men can. Every one was + so surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt flew like rain as the + busy little fellows scratched and bored as if making an underground + railway. + </p> + <p> + "What does it mean?" said the men. "They work faster than we can, and + better; but who sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?" + </p> + <p> + Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, small voice singing,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "They come at my call;<br /> And + though they are small,<br /> They'll dig the passage clear:<br /> + I never forget;<br /> We'll + save them yet,<br /> For love of Rosy dear." + </p> + <p> + Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on a stone, waving her tail + about, and pointing with her tiny paw to show the moles where to dig. + </p> + <p> + The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them who she was, when a cry came + from the pit, and they saw that the way was clear so they could pull the + buried men up. In a minute they got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows + safe on the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all shouting as if + they were crazy,-- + </p> + <p> + "Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!" + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" cried the others; and then they saw Tom come up with the + biggest lump of gold ever found in the mountains. + </p> + <p> + Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was a good man, and had worked a + long time, and been sick, and couldn't go back to his wife and child. When + he saw Rosy, he dropped the lump, and caught her up, saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "My little girl! she's better than a million pounds of gold." + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy was very happy, and went back to the hut, and had a lovely time + telling her father all about her troubles and her travels. He cried when + he heard that the poor mother was dead before she could have any of the + good things the gold would buy them. + </p> + <p> + "We will go away and be happy together in the pleasantest home I can find, + and never part any more, my darling," said the father, kissing Rosy as she + sat on his knee with her arms round his neck. + </p> + <p> + She was just going to say something very sweet to comfort him, when a fly + lit on her arm and buzzed very loud,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Don't drive me away,<br /> But + hear what I say:<br /> Bad men want the gold;<br /> They + will steal it to-night,<br /> And you must take + flight;<br /> So be quiet and busy and bold." + </p> + <p> + "I was afraid some one would take my lump away. I'll pack up at once, and + we will creep off while the men are busy at work; though I'm afraid we + can't go fast enough to be safe, if they miss us and come after," said + Tom, bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; for some of the + miners were wild fellows, and might kill him for the sake of that great + lump. + </p> + <p> + But the fly sang again,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Slip away with me,<br /> And + you will see<br /> What a wise little thing am I;<br /> For + the road I show<br /> No man can know,<br /> Since + it's up in the pathless sky." + </p> + <p> + Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in the wood; and there were the + eagle and his mate waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far that + no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of gold were put on the mother + eagle; Tom sat astride the king bird; and away they flew to a great city, + where the little girl and her father lived happily together all their + lives. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar126.jpg"><img src="images/lar126th.jpg" + alt="Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground." /></a> <br /> + <i>Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground.</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar126.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="vii" id="vii">VII.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + HOW THEY RAN AWAY. + </h3> + <p> + Two little boys sat on the fence whittling arrows one fine day. Said one + little boy to the other little boy,-- + </p> + <p> + "Let's do something jolly." + </p> + <p> + "All right. What will we do?" + </p> + <p> + "Run off to the woods and be hunters." + </p> + <p> + "What can we hunt?" + </p> + <p> + "Bears and foxes." + </p> + <p> + "Mullin says there ain't any round here." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare wood-chucks." + </p> + <p> + "Haven't got any guns and trap." + </p> + <p> + "We've got our bows, and I found an old trap behind the barn." + </p> + <p> + "What will we eat?" + </p> + <p> + "Here's our lunch; and when that's gone we can roast the squirrels and + cook the fish on a stick. I know how." + </p> + <p> + "Where will you get the fire?" + </p> + <p> + "Got matches in my pocket." + </p> + <p> + "I've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see." + </p> + <p> + And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy displayed his treasures, while + bold Tommy did the same. + </p> + <p> + Besides the two knives there were strings, nails, matches, a piece of + putty, fish-hooks, and two very dirty handkerchiefs. + </p> + <p> + "There, sir, that's a first-rate fit-out for hunters; and with the jolly + basket of lunch Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top for two or + three days," said Tommy, eager to be off. + </p> + <p> + "Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who liked to be comfortable both + night and day. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like the fellows in our books. If + you are afraid, stay at home; I'm going to have no end of a good time." + And Tommy crammed the things back into his pockets as if there were no + time to lose. + </p> + <p> + "Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And jumping down Billy caught up his rod, + rather ashamed of his many questions. + </p> + <p> + No one was looking at them, and they might have walked quietly off; but + that the "running away" might be all right, both raced down the road, + tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the woods as if a whole tribe of wild + Indians were after them. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when at last they stopped for breath. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but we'd better not keep to it, or + some one will see us and take us back. We are going to be <i>real</i> + hunters and have adventures; so we must get lost, and find our way by the + sun and the stars," answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' Books his + little head was a jumble of Texan Rangers, African Explorers, and Buffalo + Bills; and he burned to outdo them all. + </p> + <p> + "What will our mothers say if we really get lost?" asked Billy, always + ready with a question. + </p> + <p> + "Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like." + </p> + <p> + That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma was tired of trying to keep the + lively little fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him come out of + all his scrapes without much harm. + </p> + <p> + "Mine will be scared; she's always afraid I'm going to get hurt, so I'm + careful. But I guess I'll risk it, and have some fun to tell about when we + go home," said Billy, trudging after Captain Tommy, who always took the + lead. + </p> + <p> + These eleven-year-old boys were staying with their mothers at a farm-house + up among the mountains; and having got tired of the tame bears, the big + barn, the trout brook, the thirty colts at pasture, and the society of the + few little girls and younger boys at the hotel near by, these fine fellows + longed to break loose and "rough it in the bush," as the hunters did in + their favorite stories. + </p> + <p> + Away they went, deeper and deeper into the great forest that covered the + side of the mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it was cool + and green, with many brooks splashing over the rocks, or lying in brown + pools under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced in the tall pines; + now and then a gray rabbit skipped out of sight among the brakes, or a + strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries grew in the open places, + sassafras bushes were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready for + chewing. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, pausing at last in a little dell + where a noisy brook came tumbling down the mountain side, and the pines + sung overhead. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I'm awful hungry. Let's rest and eat our lunch," said Billy, + sitting down on a cushion of moss. + </p> + <p> + "You always want to be stuffing and resting," answered sturdy Tommy, who + liked to be moving all the time. + </p> + <p> + He took the fishing-basket, which hung over his shoulder by a strap, and + opened it carefully; for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch of bread + and butter, cake and peaches, with a bottle of milk, and two large pickles + slipped in on the sly to please the boys. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked in, for all he saw was a box of + worms for bait and an old jacket. + </p> + <p> + "By George! we've got the wrong basket. This is Mullin's, and he's gone + off with our prog. Won't he be mad?" + </p> + <p> + "Not as mad as I am. Why didn't you look? You are always in such a hurry + to start. What <i>shall</i> we do now without anything to eat?" whined + Billy; for losing his lunch was a dreadful blow to him. + </p> + <p> + "We shall have to catch some fish and eat blackberries. Which will you do, + old cry-baby?" said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face. + </p> + <p> + "I'll fish; I'm so tired I can't go scratching round after berries. I + don't love 'em, either." And Billy began to fix his line and bait his + hook. + </p> + <p> + "Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em if you can't wait for fish," said + Tommy, bustling about to empty the basket and pile up their few + possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool below here, you go and fish + there. I'll pick the berries, and then show you how to get dinner in the + woods. This is our camp; so fly round and do your best." + </p> + <p> + Then Tommy ran off to a place near by where he had seen the berries, while + Billy found a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling at the water + so crossly, it was a wonder any trout came to his hook. But the fat worms + tempted several small ones, and he cheered up at the prospect of food. + Tommy whistled while he picked, and in half an hour came back with two + quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry sticks for the fire. + </p> + <p> + "We'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, as the flames went + crackling up, and the dry leaves made a pleasant smell. + </p> + <p> + "Got four, but don't see how we'll ever cook 'em; no frying-pan," grumbled + Billy, throwing down the four little trout, which he had half cleaned. + </p> + <p> + "Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or toast 'em on a forked stick. + I'll show you how," said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding his + fire as much like a real hunter as a small boy could be. + </p> + <p> + While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed for bread and butter. At + last, after much trouble, two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly + eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very different from the nice brown + ones Mrs. Mullin gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles they would + fall in the ashes, and there was no salt to eat with them. By the time the + last were toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they could have eaten + anything, and not a berry was left. + </p> + <p> + "I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole among the vines, and I + shouldn't wonder if we got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when the + last bone was polished. "You go and catch some more fish, and I'll see if + I have caught any old chap as he went home to dinner." + </p> + <p> + Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went slowly back to the brook, wishing + with all his might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie. + </p> + <p> + The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, for not one bite did poor + Billy get; and he was just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him such + a fright that he tumbled into the brook up to his knees. + </p> + <p> + "I've got him! Come and see! He's a bouncer," roared Tommy, from the berry + bushes some way off. + </p> + <p> + Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his wet boots would let him, to + see what the prize was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round a fat gray + animal, who was fighting to get his paws out of the trap, and making a + queer noise as he struggled about. + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a tree as fast as possible, for + the thing looked fierce, and he was very timid. + </p> + <p> + "A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. Won't his fur make a fine cap? I + guess the other fellows will wish they'd come with us." said Tommy, + prancing to and fro, without the least idea what to do with the creature. + </p> + <p> + "He'll bite. We'd better run away and wait till he's dead," said Billy. + </p> + <p> + "Wish he'd got his head in, then I could carry him off; but he does look + savage, so we'll have to leave him awhile, and get him when we come back. + But he's a real beauty." And Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of gray fur + scuffling in the sand. + </p> + <p> + "Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, ready for a fried crocodile if + he could get it. + </p> + <p> + "If he's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know about woodchucks. The fellows + in my books don't seem to have caught any. He's nice and fat; we might try + him when he's dead," said Tommy, who cared more for the skin to show than + the best meal ever cooked. + </p> + <p> + The sound of a gun echoing through the wood gave Tommy a good idea,-- + </p> + <p> + "Let's find the man and get him to shoot this chap; then we needn't wait, + but skin him right away, and eat him too." + </p> + <p> + Off they went to the camp; and catching up their things, the two hunters + hurried away in the direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that some + one was near them, for two or three hours of wood life made them a little + homesick. + </p> + <p> + They ran and scrambled, and listened and called; but not until they had + gone a long way up the mountain did they find the man, resting in an old + hut left by the lumbermen. The remains of his dinner were spread on the + floor, and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, while his dog dozed at + his feet, close to a well-filled game-bag. + </p> + <p> + He looked surprised when two dirty, wet little boys suddenly appeared + before him,--one grinning cheerfully, the other looking very dismal and + scared as the dog growled and glared at them as if they were two rabbits. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" said the man + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" answered Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Who are you?" asked the man. + </p> + <p> + "Hunters," said Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Had good luck?" And the man laughed. + </p> + <p> + "First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and we want you to come and shoot + him," answered Tommy, proudly. + </p> + <p> + "Sure?" said the man, looking interested as well as amused. + </p> + <p> + "No, but I think so." + </p> + <p> + "What's he like?" + </p> + <p> + Tommy described him, and was much disappointed when the man lay down + again, saying, with another laugh,-- + </p> + <p> + "It's a woodchuck; he's no good." + </p> + <p> + "But I want the skin." + </p> + <p> + "Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's better for the skin," said the + man, who was tired and didn't want to stop for such poor game. + </p> + <p> + All this time Billy had been staring hard at the sandwiches and bread and + cheese on the floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at him. + </p> + <p> + "Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing the hungry look. + </p> + <p> + "I just do! We left our lunch, and I've only had two little trout and some + old berries since breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his eyes and a + hand on his stomach. + </p> + <p> + "Eat away then; I'm done, and don't want the stuff." And the man took up + his paper as if glad to be let alone. + </p> + <p> + It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in ten minutes nothing was + left but the napkin; and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much + refreshed, but ready for more. + </p> + <p> + "Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty cold on the mountain after + sunset, and you are a long way from town," said the man, who had peeped at + them over his paper now and then, and saw, in spite of the dirt and rips, + that they were not farmer boys. + </p> + <p> + "We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in the valley. No hurry; we + know the way, and we want to have some sport first. You seem to have done + well," answered Tommy, looking enviously from the gun to the game-bag, out + of which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail. + </p> + <p> + "Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. People tell me there is one + up here, and I'm after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt some of + the young folks round here," said the man, loading his gun with a very + sober air; for he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home. + </p> + <p> + Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown face beamed with joy as he said + eagerly,-- + </p> + <p> + "I hope you'll get him. I'd rather shoot a bear than any other animal but + a lion. We don't have those here, and bears are scarce. Mullin said he + hadn't heard of one for a long time; so this must be a young one, for they + killed the big one two years ago." + </p> + <p> + That was true, and the man knew it. He did not really expect or want to + meet a bear, but thought the idea of one would send the little fellows + home at once. Finding one of them was unscared, he laughed, and said with + a nod to Tommy,-- + </p> + <p> + "If I had time I'd take <i>you</i> along, and show you how to hunt; but + this fat friend of yours couldn't rough it with us, and we can't leave him + alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I wouldn't climb any higher, for + among the rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I know you'll like it. A real gun + and dog and hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," cried Tommy, + wild to go. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; you can go after your old bears + if you want to. I don't think much of hunting anyway, and wish I hadn't + come," growled Billy, very cross at being left out, yet with no desire to + scramble any more. + </p> + <p> + "Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and some day I'll come and take you + out with me, little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding off with the + dear gun and dog and bag, leaving Billy to wonder what he meant by that + queer name, and Tommy to console himself with the promise made him. + </p> + <p> + "Let's go and see how old Chucky gets on," he said good-naturedly, when + the man vanished. + </p> + <p> + "Not till I'm rested. I can get a good nap on this pile of hay; then we'll + go home before it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself on the + rough bed the lumbermen had used. + </p> + <p> + "I just wish I had a boy with some go in him; you ain't much better than a + girl," sighed Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some squirrels + seemed to be having a party, they chattered and raced up and down at such + a rate. + </p> + <p> + He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many times in vain, for the + lively creatures gave him no chance. He had better luck with a brown bird + who sat in a bush and was hit full in the breast with the sharpest arrow. + The poor thing fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green leaves as + it lay dying on the grass. Tommy was much pleased at first; but as he + stood watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty brown wings stop + fluttering, he felt sorry that its happy little life was so cruelly ended, + and ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so much pain. + </p> + <p> + "I'll never shoot another bird except hawks after chickens, and I won't + brag about this one. It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean to + kill it." + </p> + <p> + As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the ruffled feathers of the dead + thrush, and, making a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped in + green leaves, and left it there where its mate could sing over it, and no + rude hands disturb its rest. + </p> + <p> + "I'll tell mamma and she will understand: but I <i>won't</i> tell Billy. + He is such a greedy old chap he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird + to eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, and sat there, + restringing his bow, till Billy woke up, much more amiable for his sleep. + </p> + <p> + They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost their way, and wandered deeper + into the great forest till they came to a rocky place and could go no + farther. They climbed up and tumbled down, turned back and went round, + looked at the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras bark and + checkerberry leaves for supper, and grew more and more worried and tired + as hour after hour went by and they saw no end to woods and rocks. Once or + twice they heard the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried to find + him. + </p> + <p> + Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the man, who knew his way and was + probably safe in the valley when the last faint shot came up to them. + Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for proposing to run away; and both felt + very homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds at Farmer + Mullin's. + </p> + <p> + The sun set, and found them in a dreary place full of rocks and blasted + trees half-way up the mountain. They were so tired they could hardly walk, + and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; but, remembering the hunter's + story of the bear, they were afraid to do it, till Tommy suggested + climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot of it to scare away the + bear, lest he climb too and get them. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! the matches were left in their first camp; so they decided to + take turns to sleep and watch, since it was plain that they must spend the + night there. Billy went up first, and creeping into a good notch of the + bare tree tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with a big stick, + marched to and fro below. Every few minutes a trembling voice would call + from above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious voice would answer from + below, "Not yet. Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn." + </p> + <p> + At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy felt so lonely he couldn't + bear it; so he climbed to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying to + keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and the early moon saw the poor + boys roosting there like two little owls. + </p> + <p> + A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then a great shaking and howling + waked Tommy so suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and did not + know where he was. + </p> + <p> + "The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! Tommy, Tommy, come and make him + let go," cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls. + </p> + <p> + Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large bear eating his unhappy + friend; but the moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy dangling from + a bough, high above the ground, caught by his belt when he fell. He had + been dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so there he hung, + kicking and wailing, half awake, and so scared it was long before Tommy + could make him believe that he was quite safe. + </p> + <p> + How to get him down was the next question. The branch was not strong + enough to bear Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to unhook poor Billy. + The belt was firmly twisted at the back, and Billy could not reach to undo + it, nor could he get his legs round the branch to pull himself up. There + seemed no way but to unbuckle the belt and drop. That he was afraid to + try; for the ground was hard, and the fall a high one. Fortunately both + belt and buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though very uncomfortably, + while Tommy racked his boyish brain to find a way to help him. + </p> + <p> + Billy had just declared that he should be cut in two very soon if + something was not done for him, and Tommy was in despair, when they + thought they heard a far-off shout, and both answered it till their + throats were nearly split with screaming. + </p> + <p> + "I seem to see a light moving round down that way," cried Billy from his + hook, pointing toward the valley. + </p> + <p> + "They are looking for us, but they won't hear us. I'll run and holler + louder, and bring 'em up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything that + would put an end to this dreadful state of things. + </p> + <p> + "Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! The bear might come! Don't go! + don't go!" wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid. + </p> + <p> + "I won't go far, and I'll come back as quick as I can. You are safe up + there. Hold on, and we'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, rushing away + helter-skelter, never minding where he went, and too much excited to care + for any damage. + </p> + <p> + The moon was bright on the blasted trees; but when he came down among the + green pines, it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. Never minding + bumps and bruises, he scrambled over rocks, leaped fallen trunks, + floundered through brooks, and climbed down steep places, till, with a + reckless jump, he went heels over head into a deep hole, and lay there for + a moment stunned by the fall. It was an old bear-trap, long unused, and + fortunately well carpeted with dead leaves, or poor Tommy would have + broken his bones. + </p> + <p> + When he came to himself he was so used up that he lay still for some time + in a sort of daze, too tired to know or care about anything, only dimly + conscious that somebody was lost in a tree or a well, and that, on the + whole, running away was not all fun. + </p> + <p> + By and by the sound of a gun roused him; and remembering poor Billy, he + tried to get out of the pit,--for the moon showed him where he was. But it + was too deep, and he was too stiff with weariness and the fall to be very + nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and raged about very like a little + bear caught in the pit. + </p> + <p> + It is very difficult to find a lost person on these great mountains, and + many wander for hours not far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, + the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them in. Some have lost their + lives; and as Tommy lay on the leaves used up by his various struggles, he + thought of all the stories he had lately heard at the farm, and began to + wonder how it would feel to starve to death down there, and to wish poor + Billy could come to share his prison, that they might die together, like + the Babes in the Wood, or better still the Boy Scouts lost on the prairies + in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, the Wild Hunter of the West." + </p> + <p> + "I guess mother is worried this time, because I never stayed out all night + before, and I never will again without leave. It's rather good fun, + though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and it isn't very cold. I + always wanted to sleep out, and now I'm doing it. Wish poor Billy was + safely down and in this good bed with me. Won't he be scared all alone + there? Maybe the belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. Sorry now I + left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. There's the gun again! Guess it's that + man after us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! Hi! hi! hi!" + </p> + <p> + Tommy's meditations ended in a series of yells as loud as his shrill + little voice could make them, and he thought some one answered. But it + must have been an echo, for no one came; and after another rampage round + his prison, the poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and went fast + asleep because there was nothing else to do. + </p> + <p> + So there they were, the two young hunters, lost at midnight on the + mountain,--one hanging like an apple on the old tree, and the other sound + asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers meantime were weeping and + wringing their hands at the farm, while all the men in the neighborhood + were out looking for the lost boys. The hunter on his return to the hotel + had reported meeting the runaways and his effort to send them home in good + season; so people knew where to look, and, led by the man and dog, up the + mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. It was a mild night, and the moon + shone high and clear; so the hunt was, on the whole, rather easy and + pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through the dark forest like + fireflies, the lonely cliffs seemed alive with men, and voices echoed in + places where usually only the brooks babbled and the hawks screamed. But + as time went on, and no sign of the boys appeared, the men grew anxious, + and began to fear some serious harm had come to the runaways. + </p> + <p> + "I can't go home without them little shavers no way, 'specially Tommy," + said Mr. Mullin, as they stopped to rest after a hard climb through the + blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own heart, spry as a chipmunk, smart + as a young cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. He ain't afraid + of anything, and I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find him enjoyin' + himself first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber." + </p> + <p> + "The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. If it hadn't been for him + I'd have kept the lively fellow with me, and shown him how to hunt. Sorry + now I didn't take them both home," said the man with the gun, seeing his + mistake too late, as people often do. + </p> + <p> + "Maybe they've fell down a precipice and got killed, like Moses Warner, + when he was lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted himself + hoarse. + </p> + <p> + "Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' yonder, and he may have found + 'em," said the farmer, hurrying toward the place where the hound was + baying at something in a tree. + </p> + <p> + It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half unconscious with weariness + and fear. The belt had slipped up under his arms, so he could breathe + easily; and there he was, looking like a queer sort of cone on the blasted + pine. + </p> + <p> + "Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as the tall lad climbed up, and, + unhooking Billy, handed him down like a young bird, into the arms held up + to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "He's all right, only scared out of his wits. Come along and look for the + other one. I'll warrant he went for help, and may be half-way home by this + time," said the hunter, who didn't take much interest in the fat boy. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing it to the dog, his master told + him to find the boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then set off with + his nose to the ground, following the zigzag track Tommy had taken in his + hurry. The hunter and several of the men went after him, leaving the + farmer with the others to take care of Billy. + </p> + <p> + Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and began to bark again. + </p> + <p> + "He's got him!" cried the men, much relieved; and rushing on soon saw the + good beast looking down at a little white object in one corner of the dark + hole. + </p> + <p> + It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the rest of him was covered up + with leaves. The little round face seemed very quiet; and for a moment the + men stood quite still, fearing that the fall might have done the boy some + harm. Then the hunter leaped down, and gently touched the brown cheek. It + was warm, and a soft snore from the pug nose made the man call out, much + relieved,-- + </p> + <p> + "He's all right. Wake up here, little chap; you are wanted at home. Had + hunting enough for this time?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave a stretch, and said, "Hollo, + Billy," as calmly as if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of the + leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the sight of several men staring + down at him startled him wide awake. + </p> + <p> + "Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, looking up at the hunter with a + grin. + </p> + <p> + "No; but I caught a little one, and here he is," answered the man, giving + Tommy a roll in the leaves, much pleased because he did not whine or make + a fuss. + </p> + <p> + "Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's Billy? I left him up a tree like + a coon, and he wouldn't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking off his brown + bed-clothes, and quite ready to get up now. + </p> + <p> + They all laughed with him; and presently, when the story was told, they + pulled the boy out of the pit, and went back to join the other wanderer, + who was now sitting up eating the bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for + their very late supper. + </p> + <p> + The men roared again, as the two boys told their various tribulations; and + when they had been refreshed, the party started for home, blowing the tin + horns, and firing shot after shot to let the scattered searchers know that + the lost children were found. Billy was very quiet, and gladly rode on the + various broad backs offered for his use, but Tommy stoutly refused to be + carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a very rough place, walked + all the way down on his own sturdy legs. He was the hero of the adventure, + and was never tired of relating how he caught the woodchuck, cooked the + fish, slid down the big rock, and went to bed in the old bear-pit. But in + his own little mind he resolved to wait till he was older before he tried + to be a hunter; and though he caught several wood-chucks that summer, he + never shot another harmless little bird. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar154.jpg"><img src="images/lar154th.jpg" + alt="A wasp flew out and stung her lips." /></a> <br /> <i>A wasp flew out + and stung her lips.</i> <br /> <a href="images/lar154.jpg">View larger + image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="viii" id="viii">VIII.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE FAIRY BOX. + </h3> + <p> + "I wish I had a magic bracelet like Rosamond's, that would prick me when I + was going to do wrong," said little May, as she put down the story she had + been reading. + </p> + <p> + There was no one else in the room, but she heard a sweet voice sing these + words close to her ear:-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Now hark, little May,<br /> If you + want to do right,<br /> Under your pillow<br /> Just + look every night.<br /> If you have been good<br /> All + through the day,<br /> A gift you will find,<br /> Useful + or gay;<br /> But if you have beenv Cross, + selfish, or wild,<br /> A bad thing will come<br /> For + the naughty child.<br /> So try, little dear,<br /> And + soon you will see<br /> How easy and sweet<br /> To + grow good it will be." + </p> + <p> + May was very much surprised at this, and looked everywhere to see who + spoke, but could find no one. + </p> + <p> + "I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide open, and I can't make up + poetry, asleep or awake." + </p> + <p> + As she said that, some one laughed; and the same voice sang again,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Ha, ha, you can't see,<br /> Although + I am here;<br /> But listen to what<br /> I + say in your ear.<br /> Tell no one of this.<br /> Because, + if you do,<br /> My fun will be spoilt,<br /> And + so will yours too.<br /> But if you are good,<br /> And + patient, and gay,<br /> A real fairy will come<br /> To + see little May." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, how splendid that will be! I'll try hard, and be as good as an angel + if I can only get one peep at a live fairy. I always said there were such + people, and now I shall know how they look," cried the little girl, so + pleased that she danced all about the room, clapping her hands. + </p> + <p> + Something bright darted out of the window from among the flowers that + stood there, and no more songs were heard; so May knew that the elf had + gone. + </p> + <p> + "I've got a fine secret all to myself, and I'll keep it carefully. I + wonder what present will come to-night," she said, thinking this a very + interesting play. + </p> + <p> + She was very good all day, and made no fuss about going to bed, though + usually she fretted, and wanted to play, and called for water, and plagued + poor Nursey in many ways. She got safely into her little nest, and then + was in such a hurry to see what was under her pillow that she forgot, and + called out crossly,-- + </p> + <p> + "Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang up my clothes, you slow old + thing! Go, go!" + </p> + <p> + That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away without her good-night kiss. + But May didn't care, and felt under her pillow the minute the door was + shut. A lamp was always left burning; so she could see the little gold box + she drew out. + </p> + <p> + "How pretty! I hope there is some candy in it," she said, opening it very + carefully. + </p> + <p> + Oh, dear! what <i>do</i> you think happened? A wasp flew out and stung her + lips; then both wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry alone, with + a sharp pain in the lips that said the unkind words. + </p> + <p> + "What a dreadful present! I don't like that spiteful fairy who sends such + horrid things," she sobbed. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay still and thought about it; for she dared not call any one, + because nobody must guess the secret. She knew in her own little heart + that the cross words hurt Nursey as the sting did her lips, and she felt + sorry. At once the smart got better, and by the time she had resolved to + ask the good old woman to forgive her, it was all gone. + </p> + <p> + Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged pardon, and tried hard to be + good till tea-time; then she ran to see what nice things they were going + to have to eat, though she had often been told not to go into the dining- + room. No one was there; and on the table stood a dish of delicious little + cakes, all white like snowballs. + </p> + <p> + "I must have just a taste, and I'll tell mamma afterward," she said; and + before she knew it one little cake was eaten all up. + </p> + <p> + "Nobody will miss it, and I can have another at tea. Now, a lump of sugar + and a sip of cream before mamma comes, I so like to pick round." + </p> + <p> + Having done one wrong thing, May felt like going on; so she nibbled and + meddled with all sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, then she + ran away; and by and by, when the bell rang, came in with the rest as prim + and proper as if she did not know how to play pranks. No one missed the + cake, and her mother gave her another, saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my good child." + </p> + <p> + May turned red, and wanted to tell what she had done, but was ashamed + because there was company; and people thought she blushed like a modest + little girl at being praised. + </p> + <p> + But when she went to bed she was almost afraid to look under the pillow, + knowing that she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew out the box, and + slowly opened it, expecting something to fly at her. All she saw was a + tiny black bag, that began at once to grow larger, till it was big enough + to hold her two hands. Then it tied itself tight round her wrists, as if + to keep these meddlesome hands out of mischief. + </p> + <p> + "Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful as the wasp. I hope no one + will see it when I'm asleep. I do wish I'd let those cakes and things + alone," sighed May, looking at the black bag, and vainly trying to get her + hands free. + </p> + <p> + She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke the bag was gone. No one had + seen it; but she told her mamma about the cake, and promised not to do so + any more. + </p> + <p> + "Now this shall be a <i>truly</i> good day, every bit of it," she said, as + she skipped away, feeling as light as a feather after she had confessed + her little sins. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, that May spoilt her day + before dinner by going to the river and playing with the boats, in spite + of many orders not to do it. She did not tell of it, and went to a party + in the afternoon, where she was so merry she never remembered the naughty + thing till she was in bed and opened the fairy box. A little chain + appeared, which in a flash grew long and large, and fastened round her + ankles as if she were a prisoner. May liked to tumble about, and was much + disgusted to be chained in this way; but there was no help for it, so she + lay very still and had plenty of time to be sorry. + </p> + <p> + "It is a good punishment for me, and I deserve it. I won't cry, but I + will--I <i>will</i> remember." And May said her prayers very soberly, + really meaning to keep her word this time. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she was very careful to keep her lips from cross words, + her hands from forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. Nothing + spoilt this day, she watched so well; and when mamma gave the good-night + kiss, she said,-- + </p> + <p> + "What shall I give my good little daughter, who has been gentle, obedient, + and busy all day?" + </p> + <p> + "I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a pink ribbon on its neck," + answered May. + </p> + <p> + "I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, and happy dreams!" said + mamma, with many kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that was a + reward. + </p> + <p> + May was so busy thinking about the kitty and the good day that she forgot + the box till she heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped up her head to see. + </p> + <p> + Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, on a red cushion, lay a + white kit about two inches long. May couldn't believe that it was alive + till it jumped out of its nest, stretched itself, and grew all at once + just the right size to play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its + tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow was on its neck. It danced + all over the bed, ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, nipped May's + toes, licked her face, patted her nose with its soft paw, and winked at + her in such a funny way that she laughed for joy at having such a dear + kitty. Presently, as if it knew that bed was the place to lie quiet in, + puss cuddled down in a little bunch and purred May to sleep. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose that darling kit will be gone like all the other things," said + May, as she waked up and looked round for her first pretty gift. + </p> + <p> + No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the sun among the flower-pots, + washing her face and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic they had; + and how surprised every one was to see just the pussy May wanted! They + supposed it came as kitties often come; and May never told them it was a + fairy present, because she had promised not to. She was so happy with + little puss that she was good all day; and when she went to bed she + thought,-- + </p> + <p> + "I wish I had a dog to play with darling Snowdrop, and run with me when I + go to walk." + </p> + <p> + "Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the pillow; and out of the box trotted a + curly black dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such bright, kind + eyes May was not a bit afraid of him, but loved him at once, and named him + Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked him too; and when May was + sleepy they both snuggled down in the same basket like two good babies, + and went to by-low. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I never! What shall we find next?" said Nurse, when she saw the dog + in the morning. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the whole house, and scare you + out of your wits," laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop chasing her + bare toes, while Floss shook and growled over her shoes as if they were + rats. + </p> + <p> + "If your cousin John wants to give you any more animals, I wish he'd send + a pony to take you to school, and save my old legs the pain of trotting + after you," said Nurse; for May did have a rich cousin who was very fond + of her, and often gave her nice things. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled with the idea that it was a + fairy, and not Cousin John, who sent the cunning little creatures to her. + </p> + <p> + But she didn't get the pony that night; for in the afternoon her mother + told her not to sit on the lawn, because it was damp, and May did not + mind, being busy with a nice story. So when she took up her box, a loud + sneeze seemed to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of red + flannel. + </p> + <p> + "What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; and as if to answer, the + strip of flannel wrapped itself round her neck. + </p> + <p> + "There! my throat <i>is</i> sore, and I <i>am</i> hoarse. I wonder how + that fairy knew I sat on the damp grass. I'm so sorry; for I did want a + pony, and might have had it if I'd only minded," said May, angry with + herself for spoiling all her fun. + </p> + <p> + It <i>was</i> spoilt; for she had such a cold next day she couldn't go out + at all, but had to take medicine and keep by the fire, while the other + children had a lovely picnic. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't deserve a present, I was so + disobedient. But I <i>have</i> tried to be patient," said May, feeling for + the box. + </p> + <p> + The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was a beautiful picture-book, + full of new, nice stories printed in colored ink. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid to read to-morrow while I'm shut up!" she said, and went to + sleep very happily. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she enjoyed the pretty pictures and funny tales, and + never complained or fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor said + she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine. + </p> + <p> + "Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in her bed. But there was + nothing in the box except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She did + not know what to do with it that night, but she did the next morning; for + just as she was dressed her brother called from the garden,-- + </p> + <p> + "May, look out and see what we found in the stable. None of us can catch + him, so do come and see if you can; your name is on the card tied to his + mane." + </p> + <p> + May looked, and there was a snow-white pony racing about the yard as if he + was having a fine frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, and ran + down to catch him. The minute she appeared, the pony went to her and put + his nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,-- + </p> + <p> + "This is my little mistress; I will mind her and serve her well." + </p> + <p> + May was delighted, and very proud when the pony let her put on the saddle + and bridle that lay in the barn all ready to use. She jumped up and rode + gayly down the road; and Will and mamma and all the maids and Floss and + Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The children at school were much + excited when she came trotting up, and all wanted to ride Prince. He was + very gentle, and every one had a ride; but May had the best fun, for she + could go every day for long trots by the carriage when mamma and Will + drove out. A blue habit and a hat with a long feather were bought that + afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at night that she said to + herself as she lay in bed,-- + </p> + <p> + "I'll wish for something for Will now, and see if I get it. I don't want + any more presents yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give away to + other people who have no fairy box." + </p> + <p> + So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box lay a key with the name + "Water Lily" on it. She guessed what it meant, and in the morning told her + brother to come to the river and see what she had for him. There lay a + pretty green and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all spread, and + at the mast-head a little flag flying in the wind, with the words "Water + Lily" on it in gold letters. + </p> + <p> + Will was so surprised and pleased to find that it was his, he turned heels + over head on the grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, crying, + "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at once. + </p> + <p> + May followed, and they sailed away down the lovely river, white with real + lilies, while the blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either side, and + boys and girls stopped on the bridges to see them pass. + </p> + <p> + After that May kept on trying to be good, and wishing for things for + herself and other people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and was the + sweetest little girl in the world. Then there was no need of fairies to + help her; and one night the box was not under the pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I've had my share of pretty things, and must learn to do without. + I'm glad I tried; for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need to be + rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, quite happy and contented, though + she did wish she could have seen the fairy just once. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the first thing she saw was a beautiful bracelet, shining on + the table; and while she stood admiring it, she heard the little voice + sing,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Here is the bracelet<br /> For good + little May<br /> To wear on her arm<br /> By + night and by day.<br /> When it shines like the sun,<br /> + All's going well;<br /> But when you + are bad,<br /> A sharp prick will tell.<br /> Farewell, + little girl,<br /> For now we must part.<br /> + Make a fairy-box, dear,<br /> Of your + own happy heart;<br /> And take out for all<br /> Sweet + gifts every day,<br /> Till all the year round<br /> Is + like beautiful May." + </p> + <p> + As the last words were sung, right before her eyes she saw a tiny creature + swinging on the rose that stood there in a vase,--a lovely elf, with wings + like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and a star on her forehead. She smiled, + and waved her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away into the + sunshine, till she vanished from sight, leaving May with the magic + bracelet on her arm, and the happy thought that at last she had <i>really</i> + seen a fairy. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar170.jpg"><img src="images/lar170th.jpg" + alt="Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired peek." /></a> <br /> <i>Johnny + leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek."</i> <br /> <a + href="images/lar170.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="ix" id="ix">IX.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + A HOLE IN THE WALL. + </h3> + <p> + PART I. + </p> + <p> + If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were his best friends, he would + have answered,-- + </p> + <p> + "The sun and the wind, next to mother." + </p> + <p> + Johnny lived in a little court that led off from one of the busiest + streets in the city,--a noisy street, where horse-car bells tinkled and + omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great depots + near by. The court was a dull place, with only two or three shabby houses + in it, and a high blank wall at the end. + </p> + <p> + The people who hurried by were too busy to do more than to glance at the + lame boy who sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess that there + was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library in the court. But Johnny + had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be grateful + enough to the wind that brought him his books and pictures, nor to the sun + that made it possible for him to enjoy them in the open air, far more than + richer folk enjoy their fine galleries and libraries. + </p> + <p> + A bad fall, some months before the time this story begins, did something + to Johnny's back which made his poor legs nearly useless, and changed the + lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. His mother took in fine washing, and + worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her boy, who could + no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to school. He could + only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on his bed in pain for hours, + and, each fair day, hobble out to sit in a little old chair between the + water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he kept his library. + </p> + <p> + But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty and pain; and the day a great + gust came blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty newspaper down + the court to his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for patient + Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other pictured bits + found their way to him; for the frolicsome wind liked to whisk the papers + around the corner, and chase them here and there till they settled under + the chair or flew wildly over the wall. + </p> + <p> + Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all came to cheer the boy, who + was never tired of collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out the big + pictures to paste on the wall with the leavings of mother's starch, and + the smaller in the scrap-book he made out of stout brown wrappers or + newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a very gay + wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large pictures + up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. The books were + laid carefully away in the boiler, after being smoothly ironed out and + named to suit Johnny's fancy by pasting letters on the back. This was the + circulating library; for not only did the papers whisk about the court to + begin with, but the books they afterward made went the rounds among the + neighbors till they were worn out. + </p> + <p> + The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading the anecdotes on Sunday when he + could not work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look over + advertisements of the fine things which she longed for; and Patsey Flynn, + the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the station, often + paused to look at the play-bills,--for he adored the theatre, and + entertained Johnny with descriptions of the splendors there to be beheld, + till he felt as if he had really been, and had known all the famous + actors, from Humpty Dumpty to the great Salvini. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a flock of dirty children would stray into the court and ask + to see the "pretty picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy boy; for, + armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the beauties of + his gallery, feeling that he was a public benefactor when the poor babies + thanked him warmly, and promised to come again and bring all the nice + papers they could pick up. + </p> + <p> + These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had two sorrows,--one, a very real + one, his aching back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb the wall + and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderful and + delightful place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal court, with no + playmates and few comforts. + </p> + <p> + He amused himself with imagining how it looked over there, and nearly + every night added some new charm to this unseen country, when his mother + told him fairy tales to get him to sleep. He peopled it with the dear old + characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on the wall + was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. Blue-beard's wives + were hidden in the house of whose upper windows the boy could just catch + glimpses. Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove of chestnuts that + rustled over there; and Jack's Beanstalk grew up just such a wall as that, + he was sure. + </p> + <p> + But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood;" for he + was sure some lovely creature lived in that garden, and he longed to get + in to find and play with her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of damp + earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as strong a + ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny was so + impatient that he promised Patsey his best book "for his ownty-donty," if + he would climb up and report what was to be seen in that enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + "Faix, and I will, thin." And up went good-natured Pat, after laying an + old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all along + the top of the wall, and only cats and sparrows could walk there. + </p> + <p> + Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for Pat's Sunday best! The board + broke, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled + Johnny half out of his wits and brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler + to the rescue. + </p> + <p> + After this sad event Pat kept away for a time in high dudgeon, and Johnny + was more lonely than ever. But he was a cheery little soul, so he was + grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,--for the March + winds had brought him many treasures, and after April rains were over, May + sunshine made the court warm enough for him to be out nearly all day. + </p> + <p> + "I'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this piece and told me about it, + and he'd like to help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, + one breezy morning, as he sat examining a big poster which the wind had + sent flying into his lap a few minutes before. + </p> + <p> + The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures represented the hero getting + out of prison by making holes in the wall, among other remarkable + performances. + </p> + <p> + "This is a jolly red one! Now, where will I put it to show best and not + spoil the other beauties?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around and surveyed his gallery with + as much pride and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders of art. + </p> + <p> + It really <i>was</i> quite splendid; for every sort of picture shone in + the sun,--simpering ladies, tragic scenes, circus parades, labels from tin + cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny + advertisements, and gay bills of all kinds. None were perfect, but they + were arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, Johnny thought. + </p> + <p> + Presently his eyes wandered from these treasures to the budding bushes + that nodded so tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran along the + top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; lilacs tossed their purple plumes + above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents + with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like + candles on a mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping gayly + everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh blue bow, basked on the coping of + the wall, and from the depths of the enchanted garden came a sweet voice + singing,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "And she bids you to come in,<br /> With + a dimple in your chin,<br /> Billy boy, Billy + boy." + </p> + <p> + Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his finger to the little dent in his + own chin, wishing the singer would finish this pleasing song. But she + never did, though he often heard that, as well as other childish ditties, + sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the sound of + lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny longed + intensely to know who the singer was; for her music cheered his solitude, + and the mysterious sounds he heard in the garden increased his wonder and + his longing day by day. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where are you?" and Johnny was sure + "Fay" was short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard talking in a + strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A little + dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, and some + elfish bird scolded, screamed, and laughed so like a human being, that + Johnny felt sure that magic of some sort was at work next door. + </p> + <p> + A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the wall as of flowers, and the + poor boy imagined untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he tended + the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she had time + to stop and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, and tried to make + them out of colored paper, since he could have no sweeter sort. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited his curiosity to such a pitch + that once he hobbled painfully up the court till he could see into the + trees; and once his eager eyes caught glimpses of a little creature, all + blue and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, + and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched his + hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and would + have fallen if he had not caught by the shutter of a window so quickly + that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and when he could look up again, + the fairy had vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the leaves dancing + in the wind. + </p> + <p> + Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a fall, and every step cost + him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat + staring at the wall on that memorable May day. + </p> + <p> + "How I <i>should</i> like to peek in and see just how it all really looks! + It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it must be + splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller what you see?" + </p> + <p> + Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white cat purred politely; for she + liked the boy who never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But + Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy hunting-ground below; + and, to console himself for the disappointment, Johnny went back to his + new picture. + </p> + <p> + "Now, if this man in the play dug his way out through a wall ten feet + thick with a rusty nail and a broken knife, I don't see why I couldn't + pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's a + good place, and nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the hole. And + I'll try it, I declare I will!" + </p> + <p> + Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on a small scale, Johnny caught + up the old scissors in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar around a + brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. His mother smiled at + his energy, then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces with a heavy + heart,-- + </p> + <p> + "Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he'd make his way in the world. + But now he's like to find a blank wall before him while he lives, and none + to help him over." + </p> + <p> + Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked on, wise as the cat in the + story, but offered no advice. The toad who lived behind the water-barrel + hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, like Jack waiting to + climb; and just then the noon bells began to ring as if they sang clear + and loud,-- + </p> + <p> + "Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." + </p> + <p> + So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped and dug vigorously till the old + brick fell out, showing another behind it. Only pausing to take breath, he + caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, which soon + cleared the way and let the sunshine stream through, while the wind tossed + the lilacs like triumphal banners, and the jolly sparrows chirped,-- + </p> + <p> + "Hail, the conquering hero comes!" + </p> + <p> + Rather scared by his unexpected success, the boy sat silent for a moment + to see what would happen. But all was still; and presently, with a beating + heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." He could + not see much; but that little increased his curiosity and delight, for it + seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the dust and noise and dingy + houses of the court. + </p> + <p> + A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay garments in the middle of a + grass-plot; a strange and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on a + golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the sun; and on a red carpet + under the trees lay the Princess, fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + "It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh of pleasure; "that's the + Sleeping Beauty, sure enough. There's the blue gown, the white fur-cloak + sweeping round, the pretty hair, and--yes--there's the old nurse, spinning + and nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother got me when I + cried because I couldn't go to see the play." + </p> + <p> + This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, and make him believe that + fairy tales <i>might</i> be true, after all, for how could he know that + the strange woman was an Italian servant, in her native dress, with a + distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took + another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A + basket of oranges stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung from a + limb of the tree to keep the wind off, and several books fluttered their + pictured leaves temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and read 'em and speak to 'em and + see all the splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked from one + delight to another, and felt shut out from all. "I can't go and wake her + like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, now I <i>can</i> + see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or holler, it might + scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows are too busy scolding one + another. I know! I'll fly a kite over, and that will please her any way. + Don't believe she has kites; girls never do." + </p> + <p> + Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a long string to his gayest + poster, and then fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished + in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh breezes blowing down the + court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with a strong + breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a moment on the + trees and then drop among the tulips, where its frantic struggles to + escape waked the dog, and set him to racing and barking, as Johnny + hurriedly let the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole. + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, and she clapped her hands + when Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, + with a long yawn, went away, carrying her distaff, like a gun, over her + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + "She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some more to send over. This will + come off, I'll poke it through, and maybe she will see it." + </p> + <p> + Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore from the wall his most cherished + picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he thrust it + through the hole and waited to see what followed. + </p> + <p> + Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer croak from the splendid bird, + which set the canaries to trilling sweetly. + </p> + <p> + "She don't see, maybe she will hear," said Johnny. And he began to whistle + like a mocking-bird; for this was his one accomplishment, and he was proud + of it. + </p> + <p> + Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter from the parrot, and then the + voice said,-- + </p> + <p> + "No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I wonder where he is? Among the + bushes over there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him." + </p> + <p> + "Now she's coming!" And Johnny grew red in the face trying to give his + best trills and chirrups. + </p> + <p> + Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs rustled as if shaken, and + presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and then the little voice + exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,-- + </p> + <p> + "Why, there's a hole! I never saw it before. Oh! I can see the street. How + nice! how nice!" + </p> + <p> + "She likes the hole! I wonder if she will like me?" And, emboldened by + these various successes, Johnny took another peep. This was the most + delicious one of all; for he looked right into a great blue eye, with + glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and red + lips below. It was like a flash of sunshine, and Johnny winked, as if + dazzled; for the eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the pretty + mouth broke into a laugh as the voice cried out delightedly,-- + </p> + <p> + "I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!" + </p> + <p> + "I'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite trembling with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + "Did you make this nice hole?" + </p> + <p> + "I just poked a brick, and it fell out." + </p> + <p> + "Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?" + </p> + <p> + "No; it's me. I whistled." + </p> + <p> + "It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded the voice, as if used to give + orders. + </p> + <p> + Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of breath, a small hand came + through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could hold, + and the Princess graciously expressed her pleasure by saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. Here are some flowers for + you. Now we will talk. Are you a nice boy?" + </p> + <p> + This was a poser; and Johnny answered meekly, with his nose luxuriously + buried in the lovely flowers,-- + </p> + <p> + "Not very,--I'm lame; I can't play like other fellers." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Porverino</i>!" sighed the little voice, full of pity; and, in a + moment, three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel + as if he really had slipped into fairy-land through that delightful hole. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, thank you! Aren't they just elegant? I never see such beauties," + stammered the poor boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they might + vanish away. + </p> + <p> + "You shall have as many as you like. Nanna will scold, but papa won't + mind. Tell me more. What do you do over there?" asked the child, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing but paste pictures and make books, when I don't ache too bad. I + used to help mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered + the boy, ashamed to mention how many laces he patiently picked or clapped, + since it was all he could do to help. + </p> + <p> + "If you like pictures, you shall come and see mine some day. I do a great + many. Papa shows me how. His are splendid. Do you draw or paint yours?" + </p> + <p> + "I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em on this wall or put 'em in + scrap-books. I can't draw, and I haven't got no paints," answered Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "You should say 'haven't any paints.' I will come and see you some day; + and if I like you, I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you want it?" + </p> + <p> + "Guess I do!" + </p> + <p> + "I think I <i>shall</i> like you; so I'll bring it when I come. Do you + ache much?" + </p> + <p> + "Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all day, and can't do a thing." + </p> + <p> + "Do you cry?" + </p> + <p> + "No! I'm too big for that. I whistle." + </p> + <p> + "I <i>know</i> I shall like you, because you are brave!" cried the + impetuous voice, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling + through the hole, as if the new acquaintance longed to do something to + help the "ache." + </p> + <p> + "Isn't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but mother can't afford 'em often." + And Johnny took one delicious taste on the spot. + </p> + <p> + "Then I shall give you many. We have loads at home, much finer than these. + Ah, you should see our garden there!" + </p> + <p> + "Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to ask; for there was a homesick + sound to the voice as it said those last words. + </p> + <p> + "In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while papa arranges his affairs; then + we go back, and I am happy." + </p> + <p> + "I should think you'd be happy in there. It looks real splendid to me, and + I've been longing to see it ever since I could come out." + </p> + <p> + "It's a dull place to me. I like better to be where it's always warm, and + people are more beautiful than here. Are <i>you</i> beautiful?" + </p> + <p> + "What queer questions she does ask!" And poor Johnny was so perplexed he + could only stammer, with a laugh,-- + </p> + <p> + "I guess not. Boys don't care for looks." + </p> + <p> + "Peep, and let me see. I like pretty persons," commanded the voice. + </p> + <p> + "Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as he obeyed. But he liked it, + and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay was + pleased to say, after a long look at him,-- + </p> + <p> + "No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are bright, and you look + pleasant, so I don't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness of + your face. I think you are good. I am sorry for you, and I shall lend you + a book to read when the pain comes." + </p> + <p> + "I couldn't wait for that if I had a book. I do <i>love</i> so to read!" + And Johnny laughed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; + for he seldom got one, being too poor to buy them, and too helpless to + enjoy the free libraries of the city. + </p> + <p> + "Then you shall have it <i>now</i>." And there was another quick rush in + the garden, followed by the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed + through the hole in the wall. + </p> + <p> + "This is the only one that will pass. You will like Hans Andersen's fairy + tales, I know. Keep it as long as you please. I have many more." + </p> + <p> + "You're so good! I wish I had something for you," said the boy, quite + overcome by this sweet friendliness. + </p> + <p> + "Let me see one of <i>your</i> books. They will be new to me. I'm tired of + all mine." + </p> + <p> + Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old boiler, and out came half- + a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to be crammed through the wall, with the + earnest request,-- + </p> + <p> + "Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, but they're the best I've got. + I'll do some prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice pictures and + pieces." + </p> + <p> + "They look very interesting. I thank you. I shall go and read them now, + and then come and talk again. Addio, Giovanni." + </p> + <p> + "Good-by, Miss." + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the first interview of little Pyramus and Thisbe through the + hole in the wall, while puss sat up above and played moonshine with her + yellow eyes. + </p> + <p> + PART II. + </p> + <p> + After that day a new life began for Johnny, and he flourished like a poor + little plant that has struggled out of some dark corner into the sunshine. + All sorts of delightful things happened, and good times really seemed to + have come. The mysterious papa made no objection to the liberties taken + with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad to have his + little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to see the new + neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the affliction of the boy and the + gentle manners of the mother. She brought all the curtains of the house + for Mrs. Morris to do up, and in her pretty broken English praised + Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring Fay to see him some day. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the little people prattled daily together, and all manner of + things came and went between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and bonbons kept + Johnny in a state of bliss, and inspired him with such brilliant + inventions that the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise would come + next. Astonishing kites flew over the wall, and tissue balloons exploded + in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in that court; + for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because she liked it. + The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin bank to buy paper + and pictures for the gay little books he made for her. His side of the + wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; and, as the last offering his + grateful heart could give, he poked the toad through the hole, to live + among the lilies and eat the flies that began to buzz about her Highness + when she came to give her orders to her devoted subjects. + </p> + <p> + She always called the lad Giovanni, because she thought it a prettier name + than John; and she was never tired of telling stories, asking questions, + and making plans. The favorite one was what they would do when Johnny came + to see her, as she had been promised he should when papa was not too busy + to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; for Fay was a true artist's + child, and thought nothing so lovely as pictures. Johnny thought so, too, + and dreamed of the happy day when he should go and see the wonders his + little friend described so well. + </p> + <p> + "I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a lazy fit coming on, and then + he always plays with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he goes + out or smokes in the garden. So be ready; and if he says you can come, I + will have the flag up early and you can hurry." + </p> + <p> + These agreeable remarks were breathed into Johnny's willing ear about a + fortnight after the acquaintance began; and he hastened to promise, adding + soberly, a minute after,-- + </p> + <p> + "Mother says she's afraid it will be too much for me to go around and up + steps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the pain + comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can only see the pictures--and + you." + </p> + <p> + "Won't you ever be any better? Nanna thinks you might." + </p> + <p> + "So does mother, if we had money to go away in the country, and eat nice + things; and have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use worrying." And + Johnny gave a great sigh. + </p> + <p> + "I wish papa was rich, then he would give you money. He works hard to make + enough to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but perhaps I can sell <i>my</i> + pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me sweets for + kisses; I will have money instead, and that will help. Yes, I shall do + it." And Fay clapped her hands decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you mind about it. I'm going to learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget + says he'll teach me. That doesn't need legs, and he gets enough to live on + very well." + </p> + <p> + "It isn't pretty work. Nanna can teach you to braid straw as she did at + home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says. I + shall speak to her about it, and you can try to-morrow when you come." + </p> + <p> + "I will. Do you really think I <i>can</i> come, then?" And Johnny stood up + to try his legs; for he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him. + </p> + <p> + "I will go at once and ask papa." + </p> + <p> + Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny + hobbling in to tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his only + jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes looked so shabby he feared to show + himself to the neighbors he so longed to see. + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah! I'm really going to-morrow. And you, too, mammy dear," cried the + boy, waving his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; I'm used to it. Pull me up, and I'll rest while we talk about + it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, where he + forgot his pain in thinking of the delights in store for him. + </p> + <p> + Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, and Fay early at the hole, + but no Johnny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she returned + with the sad news that the poor boy was suffering much, and would not be + able to stir for some days. + </p> + <p> + "Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly. + </p> + <p> + "Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, so damp, so poor, it is enough + to break the heart," said Nanna, decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "If papa was here, he would let me go. I shall not play; I shall sit here + and make some plans for my poor boy." + </p> + <p> + Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and went to cook a nice bowl of + soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was more + remarkable, carried it out. + </p> + <p> + For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay in pain, and for a week Fay + worked quietly at her little easel in the corner of the studio, while her + father put the last touches to his fine picture, too busy to take much + notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, and the + great picture was done. So were the small ones; for as her father sat + resting after his work, Fay went to him, with a tired but happy face, and, + putting several drawings into his hand, told her cherished plan. + </p> + <p> + "Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar for every good copy I made of + the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. I want some + money very, very much. Could you pay for these?" + </p> + <p> + "They are excellent," said the artist, after carefully looking at them. + "You <i>have</i> tried, my good child, and here are your well-earned + dollars. What do you want them for?" + </p> + <p> + "To help my boy. I want him to come in here and see the pictures, and let + Nanna teach him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you will like him, + and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three quarters the + friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would that be enough to send poor + Giovanni into the country and have doctors?" + </p> + <p> + No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this queer jumble, because, being + absorbed in his work, he had never heard half the child had told him, and + had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, studying + the effect of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while Fay told him the + little story, and begged to know how much money it would take to make + Johnny's back well. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would need more than I can spare or + you earn in a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what can + be done," answered papa, smoking comfortably, as he lay on the sofa in the + large studio at the top of the house. + </p> + <p> + "You say that about a great many things, papa. 'By and by' won't be long + enough to do all you promise then. I like <i>now</i> much better, and poor + Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I new frocks," + said Fay, stroking her father's tired forehead and looking at him with an + imploring face. + </p> + <p> + "My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in this soothing smoke I find + inspiration, and though you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so + wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy--later." He was going to say "by + and by" again, but paused just in time, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Then <i>I</i> shall take him to the country all myself. I cannot wait for + this hateful 'by and by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. Now, + now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with an indignant glance at the lazy + papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down many + stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna and scattering the salad as + if a whirlwind had gone by, and never paused for breath till she stood + before the garden wall with a little hatchet in her hand. + </p> + <p> + "This shall be the country for him till I get enough money to send him + away. I will show what <i>I</i> can do. He pulled out two bricks. <i>I</i> + will beat down the wall, and he <i>shall</i> come in at once," panted Fay; + and she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without + delay,--for she was an impetuous little creature, full of love and pity + for the poor boy pining for the fresh air and sunshine, of which she had + so much. + </p> + <p> + Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down came one brick after + another, till the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head + through; and being breathless by that time, she paused to rest and take a + look at Johnny's court. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her lettuce leaves and her wits, went to + see what the child was about; and finding her at work like a little fury, + the old woman hurried up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that his little + daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself under the ruins + of the wall. This report, delivered with groans and wringing of the hands, + roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, as he well knew that his + angel was a very energetic one, and capable of great destruction. + </p> + <p> + When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, a pile of bricks among the + lilies, and the feet of his child sticking out of a large hole in the + wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, + yet fearful that the stone coping might come down on her, he pulled her + back with the assurance that he would listen and help her now immediately, + if there was such need of haste. + </p> + <p> + But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; for it was bathed in tears, her + hands were bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot. + </p> + <p> + "My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, and he will do anything you + wish." + </p> + <p> + "No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' and now that I have seen it + all, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, look, + and see if it is not sad to live there all in pain and darkness, and so + poor." + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward the hole; and to please her he + looked, seeing the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and close by the + low room, where Johnny's mother worked all day, while the poor boy's pale + face was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for deliverance. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, it <i>is</i> a pitiful case; and easily mended, since Fay is + so eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says, and nothing catching + about his illness. Nanna can tell me." + </p> + <p> + Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay to the seat, took her on his + knee, all flushed, dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by saying + tenderly,-- + </p> + <p> + "Now let me hear all about it, and be sure I'll not forget. What shall I + do to please you, dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?" + </p> + <p> + Then Fay told her tale all over again; and being no longer busy, her + father found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking + into his, and the wounded hands clasped beseechingly as she pleaded for + poor Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "God bless your tender heart, child; you shall have him in here to-morrow, + and we will see what can be done for those pathetic legs of his. But + listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a grand + surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to show you + that I am in earnest, I will go this instant and begin the work. Come and + wash your face while I get on my boots, and then we will go together." + </p> + <p> + At these words Fay threw her arms about papa's neck and gave him many + grateful kisses, stopping in the midst to ask,-- + </p> + <p> + "Truly, <i>now</i>?" + </p> + <p> + "See if it is not so." And putting her down, papa went off with great + strides, while she ran laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by + this agreeable energy on his part. + </p> + <p> + If Johnny had not been asleep in the back room, he would have seen strange + and pleasant sights that afternoon and evening; for something went on in + the court that delighted his mother, amused the artist, and made Fay the + happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next day, that + Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat up till + eleven to get his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had been to see + her, and became interested in the boy, as no one could help being when + they saw his patient little face. + </p> + <p> + So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels dug, and wonderful changes were + made, while Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent upon some + pretty prank, and papa quoted <i>Snout</i>, [<a href="#f1">1</a>] the + tinker's parting words, as appropriate to the hour,-- + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "Thus have I, wall, my part dischargèd so;<br /> And, + being done, thus wall away doth go." + </p> + <p> + <a name="f1" id="f1">1.</a> A character in Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's + Dream."] + </p> + <p> + PART III. + </p> + <p> + A lovely Sunday morning dawned without a cloud; and even in the dingy + court the May sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes blew freshly + from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much + better, his mother consented, helping him to dress with such a bright face + and eager hands that the boy said innocently,-- + </p> + <p> + "How glad you are when I get over a bad turn! I don't know what you'd do + if I ever got well." + </p> + <p> + "My poor dear, I begin to think you <i>will</i> pick up, now the good + weather has come and you have got a little friend to play with. God bless + her!" + </p> + <p> + Why his mother should suddenly hug him tight, and then brush his hair so + carefully, with tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was in such + a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hobble away to + see how his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a joyful "peek" at + the enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it was well she did; for he nearly + tumbled down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old familiar + wall after the good fairies Love and Pity had worked their pretty miracle + in the moonlight. + </p> + <p> + The ragged hole had changed to a little arched door, painted red. On + either side stood a green tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; from + the arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; and before the threshold + lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a childish hand. As + soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this splendid + transformation scene, Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft cushion had + been placed, and read his note, with little sighs of rapture at the + charming prospect opening before him. + </p> + <p> + DEAR GIOVANNI,--Papa has made this nice gate, so + you can come<br /> in when you like and not be + tired. We are to have two keys, and no one<br /> else + can open it. A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and<br /> + we can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. + Papa did it,<br /> and the men put up the door last + night. I helped them, and did not go<br /> in my + bed till ten. It was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like<br /> + it. Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready. + </p> + <p> + Your friend, + </p> + <p> + FAY. + </p> + <p> + "Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all that, mustn't she?" said + Johnny, leaning back to look at the dear door behind which lay such + happiness for him. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good fairy, and I just wish I + could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed little life," + answered Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor. + </p> + <p> + "You shall! you shall! Do come in! I cannot wait another minute!" cried an + eager little voice as the red door flew open; and there stood Fay, looking + very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of spring flowers + on her pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, while the brilliant + bird sat on her shoulder, and the little white dog danced about her feet. + </p> + <p class="ind"> + "So she bids you to come in,<br /> With a dimple + in your chin,<br /> Billy boy, Billy boy," + </p> + <p> + sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked that song; and waving her + wand, she went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed + under the blooming arch into a new world, full of sunshine, liberty, and + sweet companionship. + </p> + <p> + Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot that happy day, for it was the + beginning of help and hope to both just when life seemed hardest and the + future looked darkest. + </p> + <p> + Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at the little party as they sat + under the chestnuts, Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden to their + guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor mother folded her + tired hands with unutterable content, and the boy looked like a happy soul + in heaven. + </p> + <p> + Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of bells and the feet of church- + goers, brooded over the city; sunshine made golden shadows on the grass; + the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods; and every flower + seemed to nod and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate to their lovely + home. + </p> + <p> + While the women talked together, Fay led Johnny up and down her little + world, showing all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the seats + that stood all about, and amusing him immensely by relating the various + fanciful plays with which she beguiled her loneliness. + </p> + <p> + "Now we can have much nicer ones; for you will tell me yours, and we can + do great things," she said, when she had displayed her big rocking-horse, + her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, where a fleet of toy boats lay at + anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land under the lilacs, + with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, that tossed one high + up among the green boughs, and the basket of white kittens, where Topaz, + the yellow-eyed cat, now purred with maternal pride. Books were piled on + the rustic table, and all the pictures Fay thought worthy to be seen. + </p> + <p> + Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the visitors could remember it was + noon and tear themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and oranges Johnny + never ate before; such delightful little tarts and Italian messes of + various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because served + in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee that + perfumed the air put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved herself + that the boy might be fed; and he drank milk till Nanna said, laughing, as + she refilled the pitcher,-- + </p> + <p> + "He takes more than both the blessed lambs we used to feed for Saint Agnes + in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear child, to the + best we have; for he is as innocent and helpless as they." + </p> + <p> + "What does she mean?" whispered Johnny to Fay, rather abashed at having + forgotten his manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls of good milk + had given him. + </p> + <p> + So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, Fay told the pretty story + of the lambs who are dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied to their + snowy wool, and then raised with care till their fleeces are shorn to make + garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child thought, and went + on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's head was filled with a + splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint Peter's and apple-tarts, + holy lambs and red doors, ancient images and dear little girls, were + delightfully mixed. It all seemed like a fairy tale, and nothing was too + wonderful or lovely to happen on that memorable day. + </p> + <p> + So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding it impossible to keep away + from the happy little party any longer, Johnny decided at once that the + handsome man in the velvet coat was the king of the enchanted land, and + gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved to be; + for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on storming + the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny off, and catching him up, strode + away with the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the little girl danced + before to open doors and clear the way. + </p> + <p> + Johnny thought he couldn't be surprised any more; but when he had mounted + many stairs and found himself in a great room with a glass roof, full of + rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and pictures everywhere, he + just sat in the big chair where he was placed, and stared in silent + delight. + </p> + <p> + "This is papa's studio, and that the famous picture, and here is where I + work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said Fay, + skipping about to do the honors of the place. + </p> + <p> + "I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," answered Johnny, in a low tone, + as his eyes went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the windows to the + great sunny picture of a Roman garden, with pretty children at play among + the crumbling statues and fountains. + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad you like it, for we mean to have you come here a great deal. I + sit to papa very often, and get <i>so</i> tired; and you can talk to me, + and then you can see me draw and model in clay, and then we'll go in the + garden, and Nanna will show you how to make baskets, and <i>then</i> we'll + play." + </p> + <p> + Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming prospect, and for an hour + explored the mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and papa for an + amused spectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay had so + harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. He + assented to every plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to help these + poor neighbors; for he had a kind heart, and loved his little daughter + even more than his art. + </p> + <p> + When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to call Johnny away, he went + without a word, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining + with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, hungry for just such + pleasures, and never fed before. + </p> + <p> + After that day everything went smoothly, and both children blossomed like + the flowers in that pleasant garden, where the magic of love and pity, + fresh air and sunshine, soon worked miracles. Fay learned patience and + gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food Nanna + gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent very + happy days working and playing, sometimes under the trees, where the + pretty baskets were made, or in the studio, where both pairs of small + hands modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing pictures with + the artist's old brushes and discarded canvases. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in the house, and did up Fay's + frocks so daintily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her + head shone out from the fluted frills, like the yellow middle of a daisy + with its white petals all spread. + </p> + <p> + As he watched the children playing together, the artist, having no great + work in hand, made several pretty sketches of them, and then had a fine + idea of painting the garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It + pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made a + charming thing of it, putting in the cat, dog, bird, and toad as the + various characters in Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were the + elves, peeping and listening in all manner of merry, pretty ways. + </p> + <p> + He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," and it so pleased a certain rich + lady that she paid a large price for it; and then, discovering that it + told a true story, she generously added enough to send Johnny and his + mother to the country, when Fay and her father were ready to go. + </p> + <p> + But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had ever read of in his fairy + books, and to a happier life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In the + autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in sunny + Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint with a kind + master and a faithful young friend, who always rejoiced that she found and + delivered him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall. + </p> + <p class="ctr"> + <a href="images/lar214.jpg"><img src="images/lar214th.jpg" + alt="She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and eating." /></a> + <br /> <i>She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and eating.</i> + <br /> <a href="images/lar214.jpg">View larger image</a> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="x" id="x">X.</a> + </h2> + <h3> + THE PIGGY GIRL. + </h3> + <p> + "I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" screamed little Betty, kicking and + slapping the maid who undressed her one night. + </p> + <p> + "You'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty child," said Maria, + scrubbing away at two very grubby hands. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I could! I love to be dirty,--I <i>will</i> be dirty!" roared + Betty, throwing the sponge out of the window and the soap under the table. + </p> + <p> + Maria could do nothing with her; so she bundled her into bed half wiped, + telling her to go to sleep right away. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's pigs, and have nothing to + do but eat and sleep, and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed any + more," said Betty to herself. + </p> + <p> + She lay thinking about it and blinking at the moon for a while; then she + got up very softly, and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, to + the sty where two nice little pigs were fast asleep among the straw in + their small house. They only grunted when Betty crept into a corner, + laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy and live here with no Maria + to wash her and no careful mamma to keep saying,-- + </p> + <p> + "Put on a clean apron, dear!" + </p> + <p> + Next morning she was waked up by hearing Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the + trough. She lay very still till the woman was gone; then she crept out and + drank all she wanted, and took the best bits of cold potato and bread for + her breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till she was done. While + they ate and rooted in the dirt, Betty slept as long as she liked, with no + school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She liked it, and kept hidden till + night; then she went home, and opened the little window in the store + closet, and got in and took as many good things to eat and carry away as + she liked. She had a fine walk in her nightgown, and saw the flowers + asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the nest, and watched the + fireflies and moths at their pretty play. No one saw her but the cats; and + they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in the moonlight, and had + great fun. + </p> + <p> + When she was tired she went to sleep with the pigs, and dozed all the next + day, only coming out to eat and drink when the milk was brought and the + cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good care of her pigs, and gave them + clean straw often, and kept them as nice as she could. + </p> + <p> + Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and soon looked more like a pig + than a little girl; for her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never + combed, her face was never washed, and she loved to dig in the mud till + her hands looked like paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as the + pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, and squealed when they + crowded her, and quarrelled over the food, eating with her nose in the + trough like a real pig. At first she used to play about at night, and + steal things to eat; and people set traps to catch the thief in their + gardens, and the cook in her own house scolded about the rats that carried + off the cake and pies out of her pantry. But by and by she got too lazy + and fat to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and never left the + sty. She went on her hands and knees now, and began to wonder if a little + tail wouldn't grow and her nose change to a snout. + </p> + <p> + All summer she played be a pig, and thought it good fun; but when the + autumn came it was cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel + nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and began to wish she had a + fire to sit by and good buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go + home, and wondered what she should do after this silly frolic. She asked + the pigs how they managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she could + not remember what became of them, for the sty was always empty in cold + weather. + </p> + <p> + One dreadful night she found out. She was smuggled down between the great + fat piggies to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she was trying to + pull the straw over them when she heard Mr. Gleason say to his boy,-- + </p> + <p> + "We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They are fat enough; so come and help + me sharpen the big knife." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear, what will become of <i>me</i>?" thought Betty, as she heard the + grindstone go round and round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I + look so like a pig they will kill me too, and make me into sausages if I + don't run away. I'm tired of playing piggy, and I'd rather be washed a + hundred times a day than be put in a pork barrel." + </p> + <p> + So she lay trembling till morning; then she ran through the garden and + found the back door open. It was very early, and no one saw her, for the + cook was in the shed getting wood to make her fire; so Betty slipped + upstairs to the nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when she saw in + the glass an ugly black creature, all rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, + and a little round nose covered with mud. + </p> + <p> + "Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I am!" And she could not spoil her + nice white bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good scrubbing. Next + she got a clean nightgown, and brushed her hair, and cut her long nails, + and looked like a tidy little girl again. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the pink cover and the lace + curtains, and fell fast asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft blankets, + and her own little pillow once more. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "Come, darling, wake up and see the new frock I have got for you, and the + nice ruffled apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the cousins are coming + to dinner," said her mamma, with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek. + </p> + <p> + Betty started up, screaming,-- + </p> + <p> + "Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I'm not a truly pig, I'm a little girl; + and if you'll let me run home, I'll never fret when I'm washed again." + </p> + <p> + "What is the dear child afraid of?" said mamma, cuddling her close, and + laughing to see Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the stuffy + sty. + </p> + <p> + She told her mother all about the queer time she had had, and was much + surprised to hear mamma say,-- + </p> + <p> + "It was all a dream, dear; you have been safely asleep in your little bed + ever since you slapped poor Maria last night." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made me love to be clean. Come, + Maria, soap and scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and scream ever + any more," cried Betty, skipping about, glad to be safe in her pleasant + home and no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl. + </p> + <p> + The Louisa Alcott Reader, by Louisa M. Alcott + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Louisa Alcott Reader, by Louisa M. Alcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Louisa Alcott Reader + A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School + +Author: Louisa M. Alcott + + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7425] +This file was first posted on April 28, 2003 +Last Updated: May 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER *** + + + + +Text file produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER + </h1> + <h3> + <i>A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School</i> + </h3> + <h2> + By Louisa M. Alcott + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="middle"> + <p> + {Illustration: "Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the + little tree."} <b><i>There are no illustrations in this version.</i></b> + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: She actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."} + </p> + </div> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II. THE CANDY COUNTRY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III. NAUGHTY JOCKO. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> V. COCKYLOO. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VIII. THE FAIRY BOX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_PART"> PART I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_PART2"> PART II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_PART3"> PART III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> X. THE PIGGY GIRL. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. + </h2> + <p> + "I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" + exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching her + mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be given. + </p> + <p> + "Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! You are as bad as old Scrooge; + and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, if you + don't care for dear Christmas," answered mamma, almost dropping the silver + horn she was filling with delicious candies. + </p> + <p> + "Who was Scrooge? What happened to him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of + interest in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest lemon-drop + she could find; for nothing sweet suited her just then. + </p> + <p> + "He was one of Dickens's best people, and you can read the charming story + some day. He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how dear and + beautiful it was, and made a better man of him." + </p> + <p> + "I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have a great many curious ones + myself. But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," said Effie, + poking discontentedly among the sweeties for something worth eating. + </p> + <p> + "Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" + asked mamma, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the same, + and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of goodies + in my stocking. Don't like some of them, and soon get tired of those I do + like. We always have a great dinner, and I eat too much, and feel ill next + day. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll on top, or a + stupid old Santa Claus, and children dancing and screaming over bonbons + and toys that break, and shiny things that are of no use. Really, mamma, + I've had so many Christmases all alike that I don't think I <i>can</i> + bear another one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as if the mere + idea was too much for her. + </p> + <p> + Her mother laughed at her despair, but was sorry to see her little girl so + discontented, when she had everything to make her happy, and had known but + ten Christmas days. + </p> + <p> + "Suppose we don't give you <i>any</i> presents at all,—how would + that suit you?" asked mamma, anxious to please her spoiled child. + </p> + <p> + "I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, to + remember some very nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful little + body, full of odd whims and notions, which her friends loved to gratify, + regardless of time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of three + little girls, and very dear to all the family. + </p> + <p> + "Well, my darling, I will see what I can do to please you, and not say a + word until all is ready. If I could only get a new idea to start with!" + And mamma went on tying up her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, + while Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain that kept her + in-doors and made her dismal. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones. I can't go + out, and there is a girl about my age splashing along, without any maid to + fuss about rubbers and cloaks and umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a + beggar-girl." + </p> + <p> + "Would you like to be hungry, cold, and ragged, to beg all day, and sleep + on an ash-heap at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would come next. + </p> + <p> + "Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the end. This girl out here has a + basket of scraps on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, and + doesn't seem to care a bit, though the water runs out of the toes of her + boots. She goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and eating a cold + potato as if it tasted nicer than the chicken and ice-cream I had for + dinner. Yes, I do think poor children are happier than rich ones." + </p> + <p> + "So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum today I saw two dozen merry + little souls who have no parents, no home, and no hope of Christmas beyond + a stick of candy or a cake. I wish you had been there to see how happy + they were, playing with the old toys some richer children had sent them." + </p> + <p> + "You may give them all mine; I'm so tired of them I never want to see them + again," said Effie, turning from the window to the pretty baby-house full + of everything a child's heart could desire. + </p> + <p> + "I will, and let you begin again with something you will not tire of, if I + can only find it." And mamma knit her brows trying to discover some grand + surprise for this child who didn't care for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Nothing more was said then; and wandering off to the library, Effie found + "A Christmas Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, read it + all before tea. Some of it she did not understand; but she laughed and + cried over many parts of the charming story, and felt better without + knowing why. + </p> + <p> + All the evening she thought of poor Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the + pudding, and the stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that "his legs + twinkled in the air." Presently bedtime arrived. + </p> + <p> + "Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's nurse, "while I do your + pretty hair and tell stories." + </p> + <p> + "I'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very interesting one," commanded + Effie, as she put on her blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers + to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed. + </p> + <p> + So Nursey told her best tales; and when at last the child lay down under + her lace curtains, her head was full of a curious jumble of Christmas + elves, poor children, snow-storms, sugarplums, and surprises. So it is no + wonder that she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, which she never + quite forgot. + </p> + <p> + She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, all + alone. The snow was falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and night was + coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and tired, and did not know where to go + nor what to do. + </p> + <p> + "I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it, and + wish somebody would come and take care of me. I don't know who I am, and I + think I must be lost," thought Effie, with the curious interest one takes + in one's self in dreams. + </p> + <p> + But the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she felt. Faster + fell the snow, colder blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor Effie + made up her mind that she was quite forgotten and left to freeze alone. + The tears were chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, and her + heart died within her, so hungry, frightened, and forlorn was she. Laying + her head on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and sat there with + the great flakes fast turning her to a little white mound, when suddenly + the sound of music reached her, and starting up, she looked and listened + with all her eyes and ears. + </p> + <p> + Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was heard singing. She tried to + run toward the welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood like a small + statue of expectation while the light drew nearer, and the sweet words of + the song grew clearer. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + From our happy home + Through the world we roam + One week in all the year, + Making winter spring + With the joy we bring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Now the eastern star + Shines from afar + To light the poorest home; + Hearts warmer grow, + Gifts freely flow, + For Christmas-tide has come. + + Now gay trees rise + Before young eyes, + Abloom with tempting cheer; + Blithe voices sing, + And blithe bells ring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Oh, happy chime, + Oh, blessed time, + That draws us all so near! + "Welcome, dear day," + All creatures say, + For Christmas-tide is here. +</pre> + <p> + A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried the little candle; and in the + circle of soft light it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her + through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling creature, wrapped in white + fur, with a wreath of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, the + magic candle in one hand, and the other outstretched as if to shower gifts + and warmly press all other hands. + </p> + <p> + Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision came nearer, leaving no trace + of footsteps in the snow, only lighting the way with its little candle, + and filling the air with the music of its song. + </p> + <p> + "Dear child, you are lost, and I have come to find you," said the + stranger, taking Effie's cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, + while every holly berry glowed like a little fire. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no fear, but a great gladness, at + his coming. + </p> + <p> + "I know all children, and go to find them; for this is my holiday, and I + gather them from all parts of the world to be merry with me once a year." + </p> + <p> + "Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking for the wings. + </p> + <p> + "No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with my mates in a pleasant place, + getting ready for our holiday, when we are let out to roam about the + world, helping make this a happy time for all who will let us in. Will you + come and see how we work?" + </p> + <p> + "I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave me again," cried Effie, gladly. + </p> + <p> + "First I will make you comfortable. That is what we love to do. You are + cold, and you shall be warm, hungry, and I will feed you; sorrowful, and I + will make you gay." + </p> + <p> + With a wave of his candle all three miracles were wrought,—for the + snow-flakes turned to a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and + shoulders, a bowl of hot soup came sailing to her lips, and vanished when + she had eagerly drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal field changed + to a new world so full of wonders that all her troubles were forgotten in + a minute. + </p> + <p> + Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard to keep from dancing. Green + garlands hung on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree full of + toys, and blazing with candles that never went out. + </p> + <p> + In one place many little spirits sewed like mad on warm clothes, turning + off work faster than any sewing-machine ever invented, and great piles + were made ready to be sent to poor people. Other busy creatures packed + money into purses, and wrote checks which they sent flying away on the + wind,—a lovely kind of snow-storm to fall into a world below full of + poverty. + </p> + <p> + Older and graver spirits were looking over piles of little books, in which + the records of the past year were kept, telling how different people had + spent it, and what sort of gifts they deserved. Some got peace, some + disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great joy and hope. The rich + had generous thoughts sent them; the poor, gratitude and contentment. + Children had more love and duty to parents; and parents renewed patience, + wisdom, and satisfaction for and in their children. No one was forgotten. + </p> + <p> + "Please tell me what splendid place this is?" asked Effie, as soon as she + could collect her wits after the first look at all these astonishing + things. + </p> + <p> + "This is the Christmas world; and here we work all the year round, never + tired of getting ready for the happy day. See, these are the saints just + setting off; for some have far to go, and the children must not be + disappointed." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, out of which four great + sleighs were just driving, laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa Claus + sat in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and tucking up his wraps + for a long cold drive. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a humbug," + cried Effie, astonished at the sight. + </p> + <p> + "Never give up your faith in the sweet old stones, even after you come to + see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth." + </p> + <p> + Just then the sleighs went off with a great jingling of bells and + pattering of reindeer hoofs, while all the spirits gave a cheer that was + heard in the lower world, where people said, "Hear the stars sing." + </p> + <p> + "I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus again. Now, show me more." + </p> + <p> + "You will like to see this place, I think, and may learn something here + perhaps" + </p> + <p> + The spirit smiled as he led the way to a little door, through which Effie + peeped into a world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, with dolls + of all sorts going on like live people. Waxen ladies sat in their parlors + elegantly dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; nurses walked out + with the bits of dollies; and the streets were full of tin soldiers + marching, wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, and little men + hurrying to and fro. Shops were there, and tiny people buying legs of + mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and everything dolls use or wear + or want. + </p> + <p> + But presently she saw that in some ways the dolls improved upon the + manners and customs of human beings, and she watched eagerly to learn why + they did these things. A fine Paris doll driving in her carriage took up a + black worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a basket of clean clothes, + and carried her to her journey's end, as if it were the proper thing to + do. Another interesting china lady took off her comfortable red cloak and + put it round a poor wooden creature done up in a paper shift, and so badly + painted that its face would have sent some babies into fits. + </p> + <p> + "Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who didn't give her things to poor + girls. I wish I could remember who she was, and tell her to be as kind as + that china doll," said Effie, much touched at the sweet way the pretty + creature wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in her little gray + gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a wooden platter for her invalid + mother's dinner. + </p> + <p> + "We recall these things to people's minds by dreams. I think the girl you + speak of won't forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he enjoyed + some joke which she did not see. + </p> + <p> + A little bell rang as she looked, and away scampered the children into the + red-and-green school-house with the roof that lifted up, so one could see + how nicely they sat at their desks with mites of books, or drew on the + inch-square blackboards with crumbs of chalk. + </p> + <p> + "They know their lessons very well, and are as still as mice. We make a + great racket at our school, and get bad marks every day. I shall tell the + girls they had better mind what they do, or their dolls will be better + scholars than they are," said Effie, much impressed, as she peeped in and + saw no rod in the hand of the little mistress, who looked up and shook her + head at the intruder, as if begging her to go away before the order of the + school was disturbed. + </p> + <p> + Effie retired at once, but could not resist one look in at the window of a + fine mansion, where the family were at dinner, the children behaved so + well at table, and never grumbled a bit when their mamma said they could + not have any more fruit. + </p> + <p> + "Now, show me something else," she said, as they came again to the low + door that led out of Doll-land. + </p> + <p> + "You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; let me show you where we love + best to send our good and happy gifts," answered the spirit, giving her + his hand again. + </p> + <p> + "I know. I've seen ever so many," began Effie, thinking of her own + Christmases. + </p> + <p> + "No, you have never seen what I will show you. Come away, and remember + what you see to-night." + </p> + <p> + Like a flash that bright world vanished, and Effie found herself in a part + of the city she had never seen before. It was far away from the gayer + places, where every store was brilliant with lights and full of pretty + things, and every house wore a festival air, while people hurried to and + fro with merry greetings. It was down among the dingy streets where the + poor lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas. + </p> + <p> + Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, longing to buy meat and bread, + but empty pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in the + bar-rooms; and in many cold dark chambers little children huddled under + the thin blankets, trying to forget their misery in sleep. + </p> + <p> + No nice dinners filled the air with savory smells, no gay trees dropped + toys and bonbons into eager hands, no little stockings hung in rows beside + the chimney-piece ready to be filled, no happy sounds of music, gay + voices, and dancing feet were heard; and there were no signs of Christmas + anywhere. + </p> + <p> + "Don't they have any in this place?" asked Effie, shivering, as she held + fast the spirit's hand, following where he led her. + </p> + <p> + "We come to bring it. Let me show you our best workers." And the spirit + pointed to some sweet-faced men and women who came stealing into the poor + houses, working such beautiful miracles that Effie could only stand and + watch. + </p> + <p> + Some slipped money into the empty pockets, and sent the happy mothers to + buy all the comforts they needed; others led the drunken men out of + temptation, and took them home to find safer pleasures there. Fires were + kindled on cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and warm clothes + wrapped round shivering limbs. Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers of + the sick; old people found themselves remembered; sad hearts were consoled + by a tender word, and wicked ones softened by the story of Him who forgave + all sin. + </p> + <p> + But the sweetest work was for the children; and Effie held her breath to + watch these human fairies hang up and fill the little stockings without + which a child's Christmas is not perfect, putting in things that once she + would have thought very humble presents, but which now seemed beautiful + and precious because these poor babies had nothing. + </p> + <p> + "That is so beautiful! I wish I could make merry Christmases as these good + people do, and be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, softly, as + she watched the busy men and women do their work and steal away without + thinking of any reward but their own satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + "You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how happy + your own holiday will be hereafter." + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his arms about her, and vanished + with a kiss. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, trying to hold him fast. + </p> + <p> + "Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are smiling in your sleep," said a + voice in her ear; and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending over her, + and morning sunshine streaming into the room. + </p> + <p> + "Are they all gone? Did you hear the bells? Wasn't it splendid?" she + asked, rubbing her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty child who + was so real and sweet. + </p> + <p> + "You have been dreaming at a great rate,—talking in your sleep, + laughing, and clapping your hands as if you were cheering some one. Tell + me what was so splendid," said mamma, smoothing the tumbled hair and + lifting up the sleepy head. + </p> + <p> + Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told her dream, and Nursey + thought it very wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously things + the child had thought, read, heard, and seen through the day were mixed up + in her sleep. + </p> + <p> + "The spirit said I could work lovely miracles if I tried; but I don't know + how to begin, for I have no magic candle to make feasts appear, and light + up groves of Christmas trees, as he did," said Effie, sorrowfully. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do it!" And clapping her hands, + mamma suddenly began to dance all over the room as if she had lost her + wits. + </p> + <p> + "How? how? You must tell me, mamma," cried Effie, dancing after her, and + ready to believe anything possible when she remembered the adventures of + the past night. + </p> + <p> + "I've got it! I've got it!—the new idea. A splendid one, if I can + only carry it out!" And mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls + flew wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as if she would die. + </p> + <p> + "Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie. "No, no; it is a surprise,—a + grand surprise for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently charmed with her + happy thought. "Now, come to breakfast; for we must work like bees if we + want to play spirits tomorrow. You and Nursey will go out shopping, and + get heaps of things, while I arrange matters behind the scenes." + </p> + <p> + They were running downstairs as mamma spoke, and Effie called out + breathlessly,— + </p> + <p> + "It won't be a surprise; for I know you are going to ask some poor + children here, and have a tree or something. It won't be like my dream; + for they had ever so many trees, and more children than we can find + anywhere." + </p> + <p> + "There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and no + presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed at Effie's + bewildered face. + </p> + <p> + "Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't ask any questions, so it + will all burst upon me when the time comes," she said; and she ate her + breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be a new sort of Christmas. + </p> + <p> + All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey in and out of shops, buying + dozens of barking dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny tea-sets, + gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, dolls and candy. Parcel after parcel + was sent home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace of them, though + she peeped everywhere. Nursey chuckled, but wouldn't give a hint, and went + out again in the afternoon with a long list of more things to buy; while + Effie wandered forlornly about the house, missing the usual merry stir + that went before the Christmas dinner and the evening fun. + </p> + <p> + As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, and came in at night so + tired that she could only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some very + pleasant thought made her happy in spite of weariness. + </p> + <p> + "Is the surprise going on all right?" asked Effie, anxiously; for it + seemed an immense time to wait till another evening came. + </p> + <p> + "Beautifully! better than I expected; for several of my good friends are + helping, or I couldn't have done it as I wish. I know you will like it, + dear, and long remember this new way of making Christmas merry." + </p> + <p> + Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie went to bed. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + The next day was a very strange one; for when she woke there was no + stocking to examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one said "Merry + Christmas!" to her, and the dinner was just as usual to her. Mamma + vanished again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and saying: "The dear + things! It's the prettiest idea I ever heard of. No one but your blessed + ma could have done it." + </p> + <p> + "Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because I don't know the secret!" + cried Effie, more than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, for at + seven in the evening the surprise was to come off. + </p> + <p> + The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the child was too excited to ask + questions when Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her to the carriage, + and they drove away, leaving their house the one dark and silent one in + the row. + </p> + <p> + "I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are led off to strange + places and see fine things," said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled + through the gay streets. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my deary, it <i>is</i> like a fairy tale, I do assure you, and you <i>will</i> + see finer things than most children will tonight. Steady, now, and do just + as I tell you, and don't say one word whatever you see," answered Nursey, + quite quivering with excitement as she patted a large box in her lap, and + nodded and laughed with twinkling eyes. + </p> + <p> + They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was led through a back door to a + little room, where Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her cloak + and hood, but her dress and shoes also. Effie stared and bit her lips, but + kept still until out of the box came a little white fur coat and boots, a + wreath of holly leaves and berries, and a candle with a frill of gold + paper round it. A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she was dressed + and saw herself in the glass, she started back, exclaiming, "Why, Nursey, + I look like the spirit in my dream!" + </p> + <p> + "So you do; and that's the part you are to play, my pretty! Now whist, + while I blind your eyes and put you in your place." + </p> + <p> + "Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of wonder; for as they went out + she heard the sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, and, in spite + of the bandage, was sure a great light shone upon her when she stopped. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be; I shall stand close by, and your ma will be there." + </p> + <p> + After the handkerchief was tied about her eyes, Nurse led Effie up some + steps, and placed her on a high platform, where something like leaves + touched her head, and the soft snap of lamps seemed to fill the air. + </p> + <p> + Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her hands, the voices outside sounded + nearer, and the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs. + </p> + <p> + "Now, my precious, look and see how you and your dear ma have made a merry + Christmas for them that needed it!" + </p> + <p> + Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie really did think she was + asleep again, for she actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," all + gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on a side, in two rows down the + room, stood the little pines, each on its low table; and behind Effie a + taller one rose to the roof, hung with wreaths of popcorn, apples, + oranges, horns of candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary hearts to + gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees she saw many of her own discarded + toys and those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that seemed to have rained + down straight from that delightful Christmas country where she felt as if + she was again. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid! Who is it for? What is that noise? Where is mamma?" cried + Effie, pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood looking down the + brilliant little street from her high place. + </p> + <p> + Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the lower end flew open, and in + marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly, + until amazement changed the song to cries of joy and wonder as the shining + spectacle appeared. While they stood staring with round eyes at the + wilderness of pretty things about them, mamma stepped up beside Effie, and + holding her hand fast to give her courage, told the story of the dream in + a few simple words, ending in this way:— + </p> + <p> + "So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas spirit too, and make this a + happy day for those who had not as many pleasures and comforts as she has. + She likes surprises, and we planned this for you all. She shall play the + good fairy, and give each of you something from this tree, after which + every one will find her own name on a small tree, and can go to enjoy it + in her own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill your hands." + </p> + <p> + Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands were clapped heartily before + a single child stirred; then one by one they came to look up wonderingly + at the pretty giver of the feast as she leaned down to offer them great + yellow oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, and cakes, till + all were gone, and a double row of smiling faces turned toward her as the + children filed back to their places in the orderly way they had been + taught. + </p> + <p> + Then each was led to her own tree by the good ladies who had helped mamma + with all their hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would have + satisfied even Santa Claus himself,—shrieks of joy, dances of + delight, laughter and tears (for some tender little things could not bear + so much pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths full of candy and hands + full of toys). How they ran to show one another the new treasures! how + they peeped and tasted, pulled and pinched, until the air was full of + queer noises, the floor covered with papers, and the little trees left + bare of all but candles! + </p> + <p> + "I don't think heaven can be any gooder than this," sighed one small girl, + as she looked about her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron with + one hand, while she luxuriously carried sugar-plums to her mouth with the + other. + </p> + <p> + "Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, fascinated by the little + white figure with the wreath on its shining hair, who in some mysterious + way had been the cause of all this merry-making. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this splendid party," said a lame + child, leaning on her crutch, as she stood near the steps, wondering how + it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing, while she watched + the happy scene before her. + </p> + <p> + Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms about + the pale child, kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, "You may; + but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed about it." + </p> + <p> + Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was embracing her, and could only + stammer out her thanks, while the other children ran to see the pretty + spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she stood in a crowd of blue gowns + laughing as they held up their gifts for her to see and admire. + </p> + <p> + Mamma leaned down and whispered one word to the older girls; and suddenly + they all took hands to dance round Effie, singing as they skipped. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found it hard to break up the happy + revel; but it was late for small people, and too much fun is a mistake. So + the girls fell into line, and marched before Effie and mamma again, to say + goodnight with such grateful little faces that the eyes of those who + looked grew dim with tears. Mamma kissed every one; and many a hungry + childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender lips was their best + gift. Effie shook so many small hands that her own tingled; and when Katy + came she pressed a small doll into Effie's hand, whispering, "You didn't + have a single present, and we had lots. Do keep that; it's the prettiest + thing I got." + </p> + <p> + "I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until the last smiling face was + gone, the surprise all over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired and + happy for anything but sleep. + </p> + <p> + "Mamma, it was a beautiful surprise, and I thank you so much! I don't see + how you did it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever had, and + mean to make one every year. I had my splendid big present, and here is + the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that part of my + wish came true." + </p> + <p> + And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble gift + still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that never + changed through a long life spent in doing good. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. THE CANDY COUNTRY. + </h2> + <p> + "I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it is so warm, and none of the + children at school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, as she went + through the hall. + </p> + <p> + "The wind is very high; I'm afraid you'll be blown away if you carry that + big thing," called Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella went bobbing + down the garden walk with a small girl under it. + </p> + <p> + "I wish it would; I always wanted to go up in a balloon," answered Lily, + as she struggled out of the gate. + </p> + <p> + She got on very well till she came to the bridge and stopped to look over + the railing at the water running by so fast, and the turtles sunning + themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing stones at them; it was + so funny to watch them tumble, heels over head, splash into the water. + Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, she stooped for a stone, and + just at that minute a gale of wind nearly took the umbrella out of her + hand. She clutched it fast; and away she went like a thistle-down, right + up in the air, over river and hill, houses and trees, faster and faster, + till her head spun round, her breath was all gone, and she had to let go. + The dear red umbrella flew away like a leaf; and Lily fell down, down, + till she went crash into a tree which grew in such a curious place that + she forgot her fright as she sat looking about her, wondering what part of + the world it could be. + </p> + <p> + The tree looked as if made of glass or colored sugar; for she could see + through the red cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. An + agreeable smell met her nose; and she said at once, as any child would, "I + smell candy!" She picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good it was!—all + sugar and no stone. The next discovery was such a delightful one that she + nearly fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue here and there, she + found that the whole tree was made of candy. Think what fun to sit and + break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and leaves that tasted + like peppermint and sassafras! + </p> + <p> + Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree; then she + climbed down and strolled along, making more surprising and agreeable + discoveries as she went. + </p> + <p> + What looked like snow under her feet was white sugar; the rocks were lumps + of chocolate, the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every sort of + fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little white houses soon appeared; + and here lived the dainty candy-people, all made of the best sugar, and + painted to look like real people. + </p> + <p> + Dear little men and women, looking as if they had stepped off of wedding + cakes and bonbons, went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing and + talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of babies rocked in open-work + cradles, and sugar boys and girls played with sugar toys in the most + natural way. Carriages rolled along the jujube streets, drawn by the red + and yellow barley horses we all love so well; cows fed in the green + fields, and sugar birds sang in the trees. + </p> + <p> + Lily listened, and in a moment she understood what the song said,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Sweet! Sweet! + Come, come and eat, + Dear little girls + With yellow curls; + For here you'll find + Sweets to your mind. + On every tree + Sugar-plums you'll see; + In every dell + Grows the caramel. + Over every wall + Gum-drops fall; + Molasses flows + Where our river goes + Under your feet + Lies sugar sweet; + Over your head + Grow almonds red. + Our lily and rose + Are not for the nose; + Our flowers we pluck + To eat or suck + And, oh! what bliss + When two friends kiss, + For they honey sip + From lip to lip! + And all you meet, + In house or street, + At work or play, + Sweethearts are they. + So, little dear, + Pray feel no fear; + Go where you will; + Eat, eat your fill. + Here is a feast + From west to east; + And you can say, + Ere you go away, + 'At last I stand + In dear Candy-land, + And no more can stuff; + For once I've enough.' + Sweet! Sweet! + Tweet! Tweet! + Tweedle-dee! + Tweedle-dee!" +</pre> + <p> + "That is the most interesting song I ever heard," said Lily, clapping her + sticky hands and dancing along toward a fine palace of white cream candy, + with pillars of striped peppermint stick, and a roof of frosting that made + it look like the Milan Cathedral. + </p> + <p> + "I'll live here, and eat candy all day long, with no tiresome school or + patchwork to spoil my fun," said Lily. + </p> + <p> + So she ran up the chocolate steps into the pretty rooms, where all the + chairs and tables were of different colored candies, and the beds of spun + sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied drink; and floors of ice-cream that + never melted kept people and things from sticking together, as they would + have done had it been warm. + </p> + <p> + For a long while Lily was quite happy, going about tasting so many + different kinds of sweeties, talking to the little people, who were very + amiable, and finding out curious things about them and their country. + </p> + <p> + The babies were made of plain sugar, but the grown people had different + flavors. The young ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and orange; the + gentlemen were apt to have cordials of some sort inside of them, as she + found when she ate one now and then slyly, and got her tongue bitten by + the hot, strong taste as a punishment The old people tasted of peppermint, + clove, and such comfortable things, good for pain; but the old maids had + lemon, hoarhound, flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter things in them, + and did not get eaten much. Lily soon learned to know the characters of + her new friends by a single taste, and some she never touched but once. + The dear babies melted in her mouth, and the delicately flavored young + ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger was called to her more than once + when so much candy made her teeth ache, and she found him a very + hot-tempered little man; but he stopped the pain, so she was glad to see + him. + </p> + <p> + A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry girl were her favorite + playmates; and they had fine times making mud-pies by scraping the + chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with honey from the wells near by. + These they could eat; and Lily thought this much better than throwing away + the pies, as she had to do at home. They had candy-pulls very often, and + made swings of long loops of molasses candy, and bird's-nests with almond + eggs, out of which came birds who sang sweetly. They played football with + big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on lakes of syrup, fished in rivers + of molasses, and rode the barley horses all over the country. + </p> + <p> + Lily discovered that it never rained, but snowed white sugar. There was no + sun, as it would have been too hot; but a large yellow lozenge made a nice + moon, and red and white comfits were the stars. + </p> + <p> + The people all lived on sugar, and never quarrelled. No one was ill; and + if any got broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle creatures, they + just stuck the parts together and were all right again. The way they grew + old was to get thinner and thinner till there was danger of their + vanishing. Then the friends of the old person put him in a neat coffin, + and carried him to the great golden urn which stood in their largest + temple, always full of a certain fine syrup; and here he was dipped and + dipped till he was stout and strong again, and went home to enjoy himself + for a long time as good as new. + </p> + <p> + This was very interesting to Lily, and she went to many funerals. But the + weddings were better still; for the lovely white brides were so sweet Lily + longed to eat them. The feasts were delicious; and everybody went in their + best clothes, and danced at the ball till they got so warm half-a-dozen + would stick together and have to be taken to the ice-cream room to cool + off. Then the little pair would drive away in a fine carriage with white + horses to a new palace in some other part of the country, and Lily would + have another pleasant place to visit. + </p> + <p> + But by and by, when she had seen everything, and eaten so much sweet stuff + that at last she longed for plain bread and butter, she began to get + cross, as children always do when they live on candy; and the little + people wished she would go away, for they were afraid of her. No wonder, + when she would catch up a dear sugar baby and eat him, or break some + respectable old grandmamma all into bits because she reproved her for + naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on the biggest church, crushing it + flat, and even tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet one day. The + king ordered her to go home; but she said, "I won't!" and bit his head + off, crown and all. + </p> + <p> + Such a wail went up at this awful deed that she ran away out of the city, + fearing some one would put poison in her candy, since she had no other + food. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep walking; and I can't starve, + though I hate the sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, as she + hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar Rock that divided the city of + Saccharissa from the great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond. + </p> + <p> + Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and saw at last a great smoke in + the sky, smelt a spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if there are sugar savages here, roasting and eating some poor + traveller like me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and other + wanderers in strange lands. + </p> + <p> + She crept carefully along till she saw a settlement of little huts very + like mushrooms, for they were made of cookies set on lumps of the brown + sugar; and queer people, looking as if made of gingerbread, were working + very busily round several stoves which seemed to bake at a great rate. + </p> + <p> + "I'll creep nearer and see what sort of people they are before I show + myself," said Lily, going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting down on + a stone which proved to be the plummy sort of cake we used to call + Brighton Rock. + </p> + <p> + Presently one of the tallest men came striding toward the trees with a + pan, evidently after spice; and before she could run, he saw Lily. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her with his black currant + eyes, while he briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree. + </p> + <p> + "I'm travelling, and would like to know what place this is, if you + please," answered Lily, very politely, being a little frightened. + </p> + <p> + "Cake-land. Where do you come from?" asked the gingerbread man, in a crisp + tone of voice. + </p> + <p> + "I was blown into the Candy country, and have been there a long time; but + I got tired of it, and ran away to find something better." + </p> + <p> + "Sensible child!" and the man smiled till Lily thought his cheeks would + crumble. "You'll get on better here with us Brownies than with the lazy + Bonbons, who never work and are all for show. They won't own us, though we + are all related through our grandparents Sugar and Molasses. We are busy + folks; so they turn up their noses and don't speak when we meet at + parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and unsubstantial! I pity 'em." + </p> + <p> + "Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see how you live, and what you do. + I'm sure it must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself up after a + tumble, having eaten nearly all the stone, she was so hungry. + </p> + <p> + "I know you will. Come on! I can talk while I work." And the funny + gingerbread man trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, + rolling-pins, and molasses jugs. + </p> + <p> + "Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as this batch is baked. There are + still some wise people down below who like gingerbread, and I have my + hands full," he said, dashing about, stirring, rolling out, and slapping + the brown dough into pans, which he whisked into the oven and out again so + fast that Lily knew there must be magic about it somewhere. + </p> + <p> + Every now and then he threw her a delicious cooky warm from the oven. She + liked the queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being very curious + about this country. + </p> + <p> + "What is your name, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Ginger Snap." + </p> + <p> + Lily thought it a good one; for he was very quick, and she fancied he + could be short and sharp if he liked. + </p> + <p> + "Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, after watching the other + kitchens full of workers, who were all of different kinds of cake, and + each set of cooks made its own sort. + </p> + <p> + "I'll show you by and by," answered Snap, beginning to pile up the heaps + of gingerbread on a little car that ran along a track leading to some + unknown storeroom, Lily thought. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I never shall be till I've done my + best, and won the prize here." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, and how are you promoted? Is + this a cooking-school?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a cake of condensed yeast. That + puts a soul into me, and I begin to rise till I am able to go over the + hills yonder into the blessed land of bread, and be one of the happy + creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, and without which the + world below would be in a bad way." + </p> + <p> + "Bless me! that is the queerest thing I've heard yet. But I don't wonder + you want to go; I'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good piece of + bread, though I used to want cake and candy at home." + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my dear, you'll learn a good deal here; and you are lucky not to have + got into the clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets people if they + eat too much of such rubbish and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my ginger + behind when I go, and get white and round and beautiful, as you will see. + The Gingerbread family have never been as foolish as some of the other + cakes. Wedding is the worst; such extravagance in the way of wine and + spice and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to eat when it's done! I + don't wonder people get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung down a pan + with such a bang that it made Lily jump. + </p> + <p> + "Sponge cake isn't bad, is it? Mamma lets me eat it, but I like frosted + pound better," she said, looking over to the next kitchen, where piles of + that sort of cake were being iced. + </p> + <p> + "Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers will do for babies, but pound + has too much butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat cookies or + seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away + his car-load at a great pace. + </p> + <p> + Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and looked about her as she + went, for this was certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all + beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed here and there ready for + use. The earth was brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits were + raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon peel. It was a very busy place; + for every one cooked all the time, and never failed and never seemed + tired, though they got so hot that they only wore sheets of paper for + clothes. There were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it shouldn't + burn; and they made cook's white caps and aprons of it, and looked very + nice. A large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves to mark the hours + and two toothpicks for hands, showed them how long to bake things; and in + one place an ice wall was built round a lake of butter, which they cut in + lumps as they wanted it. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. Now, stand away while I pitch 'em down," said Snap, stopping + at last before a hole in the ground where a dumbwaiter hung ready, with a + name over it. + </p> + <p> + There were many holes all round, and many waiters, each with its name; and + Lily was amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," "Dooling," and others, + which she knew very well. + </p> + <p> + Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" and Lily said, "Why, that's + where mamma gets her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where we go for + ice-cream. Do <i>you</i> make cake for them?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the secrets of the trade. We cook + for all the confectioners, and people think the good things come out of + the cellars under their saloons. Good joke, isn't it?" And Snap laughed + till a crack came in his neck and made him cough. + </p> + <p> + Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm queen's cake that happened to + be near, and watched Snap send down load after load of gingerbread to be + eaten by children, who would have liked it much better if they had only + known where it came from, as she did. + </p> + <p> + As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the smell of many dinners, and the + sound of many voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, and a + Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken and + apple without," came up the next hole, which was marked "Copeland." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said Lily, longing to hop down, but + afraid of the bump at the other end. + </p> + <p> + "I'm done. Come along, I'll ride you back," called Snap, tossing the last + cooky after the dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with its spicy + load. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you'd teach me to cook. It looks great fun, and mamma wants me to + learn; only our cook hates to have me mess round, and is so cross that I + don't like to try at home," said Lily, as she went trundling back. + </p> + <p> + "Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and learn to make that. It's a + great art, and worth knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, though plain + gingerbread isn't bad to have in the house. I'll teach you that in a + jiffy, if the clock doesn't strike my hour too soon," answered Snap, + helping her down. + </p> + <p> + "What hour?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, of my freedom. I never know when I've done my task till I'm called + by the chimes and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his currant eyes + anxiously to the clock. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you <i>will</i> have time." And Lily fell to work with all her + might, after Snap had put on her a paper apron and a cap like his. + </p> + <p> + It was not hard; for when she was going to make a mistake a spark flew out + of the fire and burnt her in time to remind her to look at the receipt, + which was a sheet of gingerbread in a frame of pie-crust hung up before + her, with the directions written while it was soft and baked in. The third + sheet she made came out of the oven spicy, light, and brown; and Snap, + giving it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you know. Here's your + reward." + </p> + <p> + He handed her a receipt-book made of thin sheets of sugar-gingerbread held + together by a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on the back, and + each leaf crimped with a cake-cutter in the most elegant manner. + </p> + <p> + Lily was charmed with it, but had no time to read all it contained; for + just then the clock began to strike, and a chime of bells to ring,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Gingerbread, + Go to the head. + Your task is done; + A soul is won. + Take it and go + Where muffins grow, + Where sweet loaves rise + To the very skies, + And biscuits fair + Perfume the air. + Away, away! + Make no delay; + In the sea of flour + Plunge this hour. + Safe in your breast + Let the yeast-cake rest, + Till you rise in joy, + A white bread boy!" +</pre> + <p> + "Ha, ha! I'm free! I'm free!" cried Snap, catching up the silver-covered + square that seemed to fall from heaven; and running to a great white sea + of flour, he went in head first, holding the yeast-cake clasped to his + breast as if his life depended on it. + </p> + <p> + Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious working and bubbling went on, + as if Snap was tumbling about down there like a small earthquake. The + other cake-folk stood round the shore with her; for it was a great event, + and all were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so soon. Suddenly a + cry was heard, and up rose a beautiful white figure on the farther side of + the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," and ran over the hills + so fast they had only time to see how plump and fair he was, with a little + knob on the top of his head like a crown. + </p> + <p> + "He's gone to the happy land, and we shall miss him; but we'll follow his + example and soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge cake, with a sigh, + as all went back to their work; while Lily hurried after Snap, eager to + see the new country, which was the best of all. + </p> + <p> + A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from the valley as she stood on + the hill-top and looked down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of yellow + grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines grew from tree to tree; and many + windmills whirled their white sails as they ground the different grains + into fresh, sweet meal, for the loaves of bread that built the houses like + bricks and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed the people, + furniture, and animals. A river of milk flowed through the peaceful land, + and fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant foam and fizz. The + ground was a mixture of many meals, and the paths were golden Indian, + which gave a very gay look to the scene. Buckwheat flowers bloomed on + their rosy stems, and tall corn-stalks rustled their leaves in the warm + air that came from the ovens hidden in the hillsides; for bread needs a + slow fire, and an obliging volcano did the baking here. + </p> + <p> + "What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling the charm of the homelike + landscape, in spite of the funny plump people moving about. + </p> + <p> + Two of these figures came running to meet her as she slowly walked down + the yellow path from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a beaming face; + the other a little girl in a shiny brown cloak, who looked as if she would + taste very nice. They each put a warm hand into Lily's, and the boy said,— + </p> + <p> + "We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you were coming." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, feeling as if she had seen both + these little people before, and liked them. + </p> + <p> + "He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a Muffin now. We begin in that way, and + work up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is Johnny Cake, and she's + Sally Lunn. You know us; so come on and have a race." + </p> + <p> + Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing with these old friends of + hers; and all three ran away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, + over a bridge, into the middle of the village, where they stopped, + panting, and sat down on some very soft rolls to rest. + </p> + <p> + "What do you all do <i>here</i>?" asked Lily, when she got her breath + again. + </p> + <p> + "We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, and are as merry as grigs all day + long. It's school-time now, and we must go; will you come?" said Sally, + jumping up as if she liked it. + </p> + <p> + "Our schools are not like yours; we only study two things,—grain and + yeast. I think you'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the experiments + are very jolly," added Johnny, trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye + and Indian bread, where the school was kept. + </p> + <p> + Lily never liked to go to school, but she was ashamed to own it; so she + went along with Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that she was + glad she came. The brown loaf was hollow, and had no roof; and when she + asked why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and see why they chose + strong walls and plenty of room overhead. All round was a circle of very + small biscuits like cushions, and on these the Bread-children sat. A + square loaf in the middle was the teacher's desk, and on it lay an ear of + wheat, with several bottles of yeast well corked up. The teacher was a + pleasant, plump lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous for her good + bread that she was a Professor of Grainology. + </p> + <p> + When all were seated, she began with the wheat ear, and told them all + about it in such an interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never + known anything about the bread she ate before. The experiments with the + yeast were quite exciting,—for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how it + would work till it blew the cork out, and go fizzing up to the sky if it + was kept too long; how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the bread if + care was not taken to use it just at the right moment; and how too much + would cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance to it. + </p> + <p> + The children were very bright; for they were fed on the best kinds of + oatmeal and Graham bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes to + spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy boys and girls they were, and + their yeasty souls were very lively in them; for they danced and sung, and + seemed as bright and gay as if acidity, heaviness, and mould were quite + unknown. + </p> + <p> + Lily was very happy with them, and when school was done went home with + Sally and ate the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever tasted. In + the afternoon Johnny took her to the cornfield, and showed her how they + kept the growing ears free from mildew and worms. Then she went to the + bakehouse; and here she found her old friend Muffin hard at work making + Parker House rolls, for he was such a good cook he was set to work at once + on the lighter kinds of bread. + </p> + <p> + "Well, isn't this better than Candy-land or Saccharissa?" he asked, as he + rolled and folded his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked inside. + </p> + <p> + "Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better already, and mean to learn all + I can. Mamma will be so pleased if I can make good bread when I go home. + She is rather old-fashioned, and likes me to be a nice housekeeper. I + didn't think bread interesting then, but I do now; and Johnny's mother is + going to teach me to make Indian cakes to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell other people how to make + healthy bodies and happy souls by eating good plain food. Not like this, + though these rolls are better than cake. I have to work my way up to the + perfect loaf, you know; and then, oh, then, I'm a happy thing." + </p> + <p> + "What happens then? Do you go on to some other wonderful place?" asked + Lily, as Muffin paused with a smile on his face. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human being, and become a part of him + or her. That is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a poet and help + him sing, or feed a good woman who makes the world better for being in it, + or be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby prince who is to rule a + kingdom. Isn't that a noble way to live, and an end worth working for?" + asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily feel as if some sort of fine yeast + had got into her, and was setting her brain to work with new thoughts. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it is. I suppose all common things are made for that purpose, if we + only knew it; and people should be glad to do anything to help the world + along, even making good bread in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a sober way + that showed that her little mind was already digesting the new food it had + got. + </p> + <p> + She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and enjoyed and learned a great deal + that she never forgot. But at last, when she had made the perfect loaf, + she wanted to go home, that her mother might see and taste it. + </p> + <p> + "I've put a good deal of myself into it, and I'd love to think I had given + her strength or pleasure by my work," she said, as she and Sally stood + looking at the handsome loaf. + </p> + <p> + "You can go whenever you like; just take the bread in your hands and wish + three times, and you'll be wherever you say. I'm sorry to have you go, but + I don't wonder you want to see your mother. Don't forget what you have + learned, and you will always be glad you came to us," said Sally, kissing + her good-by. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing him, my dear old friend," + answered Lily, looking round for him. + </p> + <p> + "He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. "He was ready to go, and + chose to pass into your bread rather than any other; for he said he loved + you and would be glad to help feed so good a little girl." + </p> + <p> + "How kind of him! I must be careful to grow wise and excellent, else he + will be disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, touched by his + devotion. + </p> + <p> + Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged her loaf close, wished three + times to be in her own home, and like a flash she was there. + </p> + <p> + Whether her friends believed the wonderful tale of her adventures I cannot + tell; but I know that she was a nice little housekeeper from that day, and + made such good bread that other girls came to learn of her. She also grew + from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, because she ate + very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, when the oldest and + the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. NAUGHTY JOCKO. + </h2> + <p> + "A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, and see if he has got a monkey on + his organ," cried little Neddy, running to the window in a great hurry one + day. + </p> + <p> + Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and red suit, with a funny little + cap, and the long tail trailing behind. But he didn't seem to be a lively + monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad face turned anxiously to his + master, who kept pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff collar had + made his neck sore; and when the man twitched, the poor thing moaned and + put up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to dance, but was so + weak he could only hop a few steps, and stop panting for breath. The cruel + man wouldn't let him rest till Neddy called out,— + </p> + <p> + "Don't hurt him; let him come up here and get this cake, and rest while + you play. I've got some pennies for you." + </p> + <p> + So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, and sat on the window-ledge + trying to eat; but he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the man + pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, and lay as if he were dead. + Neddy and his aunt ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man scolded + and shook him; but he never moved, and the man said,— + </p> + <p> + "He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell him to some one to stuff." + </p> + <p> + "No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here a few days, and we will take + care of him; and if he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said Aunt + Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey. + </p> + <p> + The man said he was going on for a week through the towns near by, and + would call and see about it when he came back. Then he went away; and + Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice basket, and carried him in. The minute + the door was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped out with one + eye, and seeing only the kind little boy began to chatter and kick off the + shawl; for he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and dreadfully + afraid of the cruel man who beat and starved him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was delighted, and thought it very funny, and helped his aunt take + off the stiff collar and put some salve on the sore neck. Then they got + milk and cake; and when he had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself + up and slept till the next day. He was quite lively in the morning; for + when Aunt Jane went to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and + looking round the room for him, she saw the little black thing lying on + the boy's pillow, with his arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby. + </p> + <p> + "My patience! I can't allow that," said the old lady, and went to pull + Jocko out. But he slipped away like an eel, and crept chattering and + burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, till + he waked up, howling that crabs were nipping him. + </p> + <p> + Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko climbed all over the bed, up on + the tall wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the image of an + angel stood. He patted it, and hugged it, and looked so very funny with + his ugly black face by the pretty white one, that Neddy rolled on the + floor, and Aunt Jane laughed till her glasses flew off. By and by he came + down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them tie a red ribbon over the + bandage on his neck. He liked the gay color, and kept going to look in the + glass, and grin and chatter at his own image, which he evidently admired. + </p> + <p> + "Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all the children shall see my new + pet," said Neddy, as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + Every one laughed at the funny little fellow with his twinkling eyes, + brown hands, and long tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to the + store; then troubles began. He put Jocko on a table near the door, and + told him to stay there while he did his errands. Now, close by was the + place where the candy was kept, and Jocko loved sweeties like any girl; so + he hopped along, and began to eat whatever he liked. Some boys tried to + stop him; and then he got angry at them for pulling his tail, and threw + handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great fun; and the more they + laughed and scrambled and poked at him, the faster he showered chocolates, + caramels, and peppermints over them, till it looked as if it had rained + candy. The man was busy with Neddy at the other end of the store; but when + he heard the noise, both ran to see what was the matter. Neither of them + could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, and ran up on the high + shelves among the toys. Then down came little tubs and dolls' stoves, tin + trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden soldiers and whole villages + flew through the air, smash, bang, rattle, bump, all over the floor. The + man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys shouted, and there was a lively time in + that shop till a good slapping with a long stick made Jock tumble into a + tub of water where some curious fishes lived, and then they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man his aunt would pay for all the + broken things. Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go home and + tie him up, for it was plain this monkey was not to be trusted. But as + soon as they got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to a load of hay + passing underneath. Here he danced and pranced, and had a fine time, + throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some of the dinner tied + up in a cloth. The crusts of bread and the bones he threw at the horse; + this new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he ran away down a steep + hill, and upset the hay and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was worse + than the candy scrape; for the man swore, and the horse was hurt, and + people said the monkey ought to be shot, he did so much mischief. Jocko + didn't care a bit; he sat high up in a tree, and chattered and scolded, + and swung by his tail, and was so droll that people couldn't help laughing + at him. Poor Neddy cried again, and went home to tell his troubles to Aunt + Jane, fearing that it would take all the money in his bank to pay for the + damage the bad monkey had done in one hour. + </p> + <p> + As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping along, and jumped on his back, + and peeped at him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning and good + Neddy couldn't whip him; but he shut him up in a closet to punish him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all was quiet till dinner-time. + They were ready for the pudding, and Neddy had saved a place for a good + plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when shrieks were heard in the + kitchen, and Mary the maid rushed in to say,— + </p> + <p> + "Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the pudding, and is scaring Katy + out of her life!" + </p> + <p> + They all ran; and there sat that naughty monkey on the table, throwing the + nice white snow all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she was + ready to be shaved. His own face looked the same, for he had eaten all he + wanted while the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He had crept out of + a window in the closet, and had a fine rummage among the sugar-buckets, + butter-boxes, and milk-pans. + </p> + <p> + Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane and grandpa laughed, and + Neddy chased Jock into the garden with the broom. They had to eat bread + and jelly for dessert, and it took the girls a long time to clear up the + mess the rascal made. + </p> + <p> + "We will put his collar and chain on again, and keep him tied up all the + time till the man comes," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + "But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, watching the little imp whisk about + in the garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens and tossing green + apples round in high glee. + </p> + <p> + "Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he is tired; then he will come + to you, and you can hold him fast," said Aunt Jane. + </p> + <p> + So Neddy waited; and though he was much worried at his new pet's + naughtiness, he enjoyed his pranks like a boy. + </p> + <p> + Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the piazza, and he was dozing + comfortably when Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his long tail, + and tickled the old gentleman on the nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, + and opened one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. Then he went to + sleep again, and Jocko dropped a caterpillar on his bald head; this made + him open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy thing could be. Neddy + couldn't help laughing, for he often wanted to do just such things, but + never dared, because grandpa was a very stern old gentleman, and no one + took liberties with him. Jocko wasn't afraid, however; and presently he + crept to the table, stole the glasses lying there, put them on, and taking + up the paper held it before him, chattering as if he were reading it, as + he had seen people do. Neddy laughed out loud at this, and clapped his + hands, Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite of the tail curled + up behind. This time grandpa opened both eyes at once, and stared as if he + saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched off the spectacles, and + caught up his cane, crying angrily,— + </p> + <p> + "You rascal, how dare you!" + </p> + <p> + But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and with one jump lighted on the + back of old Tom, the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. Scared half + out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; but Jocko held fast to his collar, + and had a fine race round the garden, while the girls laughed at the funny + sight, and Neddy shouted, "It's a circus; and there's the monkey and the + pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when puss dashed up a tree, and + Jock tumbled off. He chased him, and they had a great battle; but Tom's + claws were sharp, and the monkey got a scratch on the nose, and ran crying + to Neddy for comfort. + </p> + <p> + "Now, you naughty fellow, I'll chain you up, and stop these dreadful + tricks. But you are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the boy; for he + knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, and poor Jocko had not had one for a + long time. + </p> + <p> + Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, and then was ready for more + frolics. Neddy had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that he could + enjoy the sun and air, and catch grasshoppers if he liked. But Jocko + wanted something more; and presently Neddy, who was reading in his hammock + on the piazza, heard a great cackling among the hens, and looked up to see + the monkey swinging by his tail from a bough, holding the great + cock-a-doodle by his splendid tail, while all the twenty hens clucked and + cackled with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank. + </p> + <p> + "Now, that's too bad; I <i>will</i> slap him this time," said Neddy, + running to save his handsome bird from destruction. But before he got + there poor cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his + struggles, and when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran + away and hid in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left him looking as meek as a baby, + all cuddled up in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as if crying + for his naughtiness. But he wasn't sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in half an + hour he had picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane was so fond of, + thrown all the tomatoes over the fence, and let the parrot out of his + cage. The sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a polite "How are + you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane to see what was going on. Neddy was fast + asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; and Jocko, having unhooked + his chain, was sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's house, eating + corn. + </p> + <p> + "We shall not live to the end of the week if this sort of thing goes on. I + don't know what to do with the little beast; he's as bad as an elephant to + take care of," said the poor lady, in despair, as she saw Jocko throw his + corncob down on the minister's hat as that stately gentleman went by. + </p> + <p> + As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane let him alone till Neddy waked + up and could go and find some of the big boys to help him. + </p> + <p> + Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a window that stood open. It + was little Nelly Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet doll Maud + Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the best bed, while she went down to get a + poppy leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because she had a high fever. + Jocko took a fancy to the pretty bed, and after turning the play-house + topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose Matilda out by her flaxen + hair, and stuffing her into the water-pitcher upside down, got into the + bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to doze deliciously under the + pink silk bed-cover. + </p> + <p> + Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear invalid, saying in her + motherly little voice,— + </p> + <p> + "Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I won't hurt you one bit." + </p> + <p> + But when she drew the curtain, instead of the lovely yellow-haired doll in + her ruffled nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at her, + and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. Nelly gave one scream, and flew + downstairs into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at work, + frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by her cries, as she clung to her + mother, wailing,— + </p> + <p> + "A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; and he snarled at me, and my + dolly is gone! What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?" + </p> + <p> + There was great confusion, for all the ladies talked at once; and it so + happened that none of them knew anything about the monkey, therefore they + all agreed that Nelly was a foolish child, and had made a fuss about + nothing. She cried dismally, and kept saying to her mother,— + </p> + <p> + "Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,—I found it there, and darling + Maudie is gone." + </p> + <p> + "We <i>will</i> go and see," said Mrs. Moses Merryweather,—a stout + old lady, who kept her six girls in such good order that <i>they</i> would + never have dared to cry if ten monkeys had popped out at them. + </p> + <p> + Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, with a sharp eye and pointed + nose, went with her; but at the door that led to the dining-room both + stopped short, and after one look came flying back, calling out together,— + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful beast has ruined it all!" + </p> + <p> + Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across the hall to behold Jocko + sitting on the great cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed in + cream from the overturned pitcher, while all around lay the ruins of + custards, tarts, biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins made + into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, on the floor, and the best + silver teapot in the fireplace. + </p> + <p> + While Nelly told her tale and the ladies questioned and comforted her, + this bad monkey had skipped downstairs and had a delightful party all by + himself. He was just scraping the jelly out of a tart when they disturbed + him; and knowing that more slaps were in store for him if he stayed, he at + once walked calmly down the ravaged table, and vanished out of the window + carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play with. + </p> + <p> + The ladies had no supper that night; and poor Mrs. Brown sent a note to + Aunt Jane, telling her the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite ill + with the fright and the loss of dear Maud Mabel Rose Matilda, drowned in + the water-pitcher and forever spoilt. + </p> + <p> + "John shall go after that man to-morrow, and bring him back to carry this + terrible monkey away. I can't live with him a week; he will cost me a + fortune, and wear us all out," said Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely shut + up in the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over the neighborhood + before they caught him. + </p> + <p> + Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but John was saved his journey, for + in the morning poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his inquisitive + head had been poked to see what the cheese tasted like. + </p> + <p> + So he was buried by the river, and every one felt much relieved; for the + man never came back, thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he had not + lived in vain; for after this day of trial, mischievous Neddy behaved much + better, and Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit by saying, as + her finger pointed to a little collar and chain hanging on the wall,— + </p> + <p> + "If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say so, and I'll tie you up. One + monkey is enough for this family." + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and + skippings as she made.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES. + </h2> + <p> + Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, who never wanted to do what + people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," and did not run at + once pleasantly, as obliging children do. + </p> + <p> + One day her mother gave her a pair of new shoes; and after a fuss about + putting them on, Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,— + </p> + <p> + "I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like Jack the Giant Killer's, then + it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep + trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't stir a step." + </p> + <p> + Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, and set her on her feet so + suddenly that it scared all the naughtiness out of her. She stood looking + at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed to wink at + her like eyes, while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of tune. Before + she dared to stir, her mother called from the next room,— + </p> + <p> + "Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie for dinner; I forgot it." + </p> + <p> + "I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine as usual. + </p> + <p> + But the words were hardly out of her mouth when the shoes gave one jump, + and took her downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at the kitchen + door. Her breath was nearly gone; but she gave the message, and turned + round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went + nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. + She was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a bit when she could. Now + she found that her feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not be + moved till her father said, as he passed the window close by,— + </p> + <p> + "You will have time to go to the post-office before school and get my + letters." + </p> + <p> + "I can't," began Kitty; but she found she could, for away went the shoes, + out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so fast that + the maid who ran after her with her hat could not catch her. + </p> + <p> + "I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not till the shoes took her + straight into the office. + </p> + <p> + "What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, as he saw her without any hat, + all rosy and breathless, and her face puckered up as if she did not know + whether to laugh or to cry. + </p> + <p> + "I won't tell any one about these dreadful shoes, and I'll take them off + as soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will + think I'm crazy," said Kitty to herself, as she took the letters and went + away. + </p> + <p> + The shoes walked nicely along till she came to the bridge; and there she + wanted to stop and watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and her + father's letters. But the shoes wouldn't stop, though she tried to make + them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; + and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadily that she + had to go, and she got up feeling that there was something very strange + about these shoes. The minute she gave up, all went smoothly, and she got + home in good time. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wear these horrid things another minute," said Kitty, sitting on + the doorstep and trying to unbutton the shoes. + </p> + <p> + But not a button could she stir, though she got red and angry struggling + to do it. + </p> + <p> + "Time for school; run away, little girl," called mamma from upstairs, as + the clock struck nine. + </p> + <p> + "I won't!" said Kitty, crossly. + </p> + <p> + But she did; for those magic shoes danced her off, and landed her at her + desk in five minutes. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm not late; that's one comfort," she thought, wishing she had + come pleasantly, and not been whisked away without any luncheon. + </p> + <p> + Her legs were so tired with the long skips that she was glad to sit still; + and that pleased the teacher, for generally she was fussing about all + lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble again; for one of the + children knocked down the house of corn-cobs she had built, and made her + angry. + </p> + <p> + "Now, I'll kick yours down, and see how you like it, Dolly." + </p> + <p> + Up went her foot, but it didn't come down; it stayed in the air, and there + she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children laughed to + see her, and she could do nothing till she said to Dolly in a great hurry,— + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll forgive you." + </p> + <p> + Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so glad about it that she tried to + be pleasant, fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She began to + see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any power over + them. So, when one of the children wanted his ball, which had bounced over + the hedge, she said kindly,—"Perhaps I can get it for you, Willy." + </p> + <p> + And over she jumped as lightly as if she too were an india-rubber ball. + </p> + <p> + "How could you do it?" cried the boys, much surprised; for not one of them + dared try such a high leap. + </p> + <p> + Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling pleased and proud to find there + was a good side to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and skippings as + she made, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was pretty to see; + for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of themselves. The + little girls were charmed, and tried to imitate her, but no one could, and + they stood in a circle watching her dance till the bell rang, then all + rushed in to tell about it. + </p> + <p> + Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never told how queerly they acted, + hoping to have good times now. But she was mistaken. + </p> + <p> + On the way home she wanted to stop and see her friend Bell's new doll, but + at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes and go + straight on, as mamma had told her always to do. + </p> + <p> + "Run and pick a nice little dish of strawberries for dinner," said her + sister, as she went in. + </p> + <p> + "I'm too ti—" There was no time to finish, for the shoes landed her + in the middle of the strawberry bed at one jump. + </p> + <p> + "I might as well be a grasshopper if I'm to skip round like this," she + said, forgetting to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with the + robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind lifting the leaves to + show here the reddest and ripest ones hid. + </p> + <p> + The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted to stay and eat a few, + warm and sweet from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, over + the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the dining-room before the + berry in her mouth was half eaten. + </p> + <p> + "How this child does rush about to-day!" said her mother. "It is so + delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her to + carry some bundles to my poor people this afternoon. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old clothes and bottles and baskets + of cold victuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the + shoes tapped on the floor under the table, as if to remind her that she + must, whether she liked it or not. + </p> + <p> + "It would be right and kind, and would please me very much. But you may do + as you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; for the + little Bryan baby is sick and needs what I send," said mamma, looking + disappointed. + </p> + <p> + Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, and no one spoke to her. She + was making up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked about + like a grasshopper against her will. When dinner was over, she said in a + cheerful voice,— + </p> + <p> + "I'll go, mamma; and when all the errands are done, may I come back + through Fairyland, as we call the little grove where the tall ferns grow?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy to please you." + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall have a lovely time," said + Kitty to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a bundle + in the other, and some money in her pocket for a poor old woman who needed + help. + </p> + <p> + The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to know just where to stop. The + sick baby's mother thanked her for the soft little nightgowns; the lame + girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round the + basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; and the old woman gave + her a beautiful pink shell that her sailor son brought home from sea. + </p> + <p> + When all the errands were done Kitty skipped away to Fairyland, feeling + very happy, as people always do when they have done kind things. It was a + lovely place; for the ferns made green arches tall enough for little girls + to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss and + wood-flowers. Birds flew about in the pines, squirrels chattered in the + oaks, butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond near by came + the croak of frogs sunning their green backs on the mossy stones. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and rest; it is so cool here, and + I'm so tired," said Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot of a + tree. + </p> + <p> + The words were hardly out of her mouth when her feet folded under her, and + there she sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the wood on her + throne. Something lighted with a bump close by her; and looking down she + saw a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at her curiously. + </p> + <p> + "Bless my heart! I thought you were some relation of my cousin + Grasshopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so I + stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, in its creaky voice. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy shoes to-day, and so do many + things that I never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised to be able + to understand what the cricket said. + </p> + <p> + "It is midsummer day, and fairies can play whatever pranks they like. If + you didn't have those shoes on, you couldn't understand what I say. Hark, + and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down here. Make + the most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes will stop skipping, and + the fun all be over." + </p> + <p> + While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all sorts of little voices, + singing, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word + they said. The squirrels called to one another as they raced about,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Here's a nut, there's a nut; + Hide it quick away, + In a hole, under leaves, + To eat some winter day. + Acorns sweet are plenty, + We will have them all: + Skip and scamper lively + Till the last ones fall." +</pre> + <p> + The birds were singing softly,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Rock a bye, babies, + Your cradle hangs high; + Soft down your pillow, + Your curtain the sky. + Father will feed you, + While mother will sing, + And shelter our darlings + With her warm wing." +</pre> + <p> + And the ants were saying to one another as they hurried in and out of + their little houses,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Work, neighbor, work! + Do not stop to play; + Wander far and wide, + Gather all you may. + + We are never like + Idle butterflies, + But like the busy bees, + Industrious and wise." +</pre> + <p> + "Ants always were dreadfully good, but butterflies are ever so much + prettier," said Kitty, listening to the little voices with wonder and + pleasure. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Hello! hello! + Come down below,— It's lovely and cool + Out here in the pool; + On a lily-pad float + For a nice green boat. + Here we sit and sing + In a pleasant ring; + Or leap frog play, + In the jolliest way. + Our games have begun, + Come join in the fun." +</pre> + <p> + "Dear me! what could I do over there in the mud with the queer green + frogs?" laughed Kitty, as this song was croaked at her. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "No, no, come and fly + Through the sunny sky, + Or honey sip + From the rose's lip, + Or dance in the air, + Like spirits fair. + Come away, come away; + 'Tis our holiday." +</pre> + <p> + A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up from a wild-rose bush, and + went dancing away higher and higher, till they vanished in the light + beyond the wood. + </p> + <p> + "That is better than leap-frog. I wish my skipping shoes would let me fly + up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to go + all the time," said Kitty, watching the pretty things glitter as they + flew. + </p> + <p> + Just at that minute a clock struck, and away went the shoes over the pool, + the hill, the road, till they pranced in at the gate as the tea-bell rang. + Kitty amused the family by telling what she had done and seen; but no one + believed the Fairyland part, and her father said, laughing,— + </p> + <p> + "Go on, my dear, making up little stories, and by and by you may be as + famous as Hans Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well." + </p> + <p> + "The sun will soon set, and then my fun will be over; so I must skip while + I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so prettily that + all the family came to see her. + </p> + <p> + "She dances so well that she shall go to dancing-school," said her mother, + pleased with the pretty antics of her little girl. + </p> + <p> + Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had longed to go, and went on + skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn some of the graceful + steps the shoes took before the day was done. + </p> + <p> + "Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your bath and bed. It has been a long + hot day, and you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants to go + out," said her mother, as the sun went down behind the hills with a last + bright glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, please, a few minutes more," began Kitty, but was off like a flash; + for the shoes trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against old + Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor, and + scolding in such a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that she could + hardly pick her up again. + </p> + <p> + By the time she was ready to undress the sun was quite gone, and the shoes + she took off were common ones again, for midsummer day was over. But Kitty + never forgot the little lessons she had learned: she tried to run + willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and danced like + a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and interesting + little creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever she was told she + might go to play with them, she hurried away almost as quickly as if she + still wore the skipping shoes. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: So Cocky was brought in, and petted.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. COCKYLOO. + </h2> + <p> + In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, feeling very happy because it + was time for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have a fine brood of + chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried the + chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy little + things one after the other, all ready to run and eat and scratch,—for + chickens are not like babies, and don't have to be tended at all. + </p> + <p> + There were eight little hens and two little cockerels, one black and one + as white as snow, with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on + his head. This was Cockyloo, the good chick; but the black one was named + Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud of her fine family; for the eight + little daughters were all white and very pretty. She led them out into the + farmyard, clucking and scratching busily; for all were hungry, and ran + chirping round her to pick up the worms and seeds she found for them. + Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice corn or + a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or Snowball + have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up the food + greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, and picked + the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. His mother + scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; but he + didn't care, and was very naughty. Cocky began to crow when he was very + young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear his loud, clear + "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke before the sun was + up, and began his song. Peck used to grumble at being roused at dawn, for + he was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were glad to get out of the + hen-house. + </p> + <p> + The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the + farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him. + </p> + <p> + "I came out of the shell first, and I am the oldest; so I ought to be + king," he said. + </p> + <p> + "But we don't like you, because you are selfish, cross, and lazy. We want + Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid bird, and + <i>he</i> must be our king," answered the hens; and Peck had to mind, or + they would have pulled every feather out of his little tail. + </p> + <p> + He resolved to do some harm to his good brother, and plagued him all he + could. One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a + bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near to + come and put his heavy foot on the bush. He did it, and crack went the + branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were drowned + but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, Chirp, and + Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, and were + never seen again. All the hens mourned for them, and put a black feather + in their heads to show how sorry they were. Mamma Partlet was heart-broken + to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted her, and never told + how it happened, because he was ashamed to have people know what a bad + bird Peck was. + </p> + <p> + A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny Cockletop about it; and the + hens were so angry that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and he had + to go and live in the woods alone. He said he didn't care; but he did, and + was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field where + the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show himself, for + they would have driven him out. But kind Cocky saw him, and would run with + some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, saying,—"Poor + brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with you, and tell you + the news." + </p> + <p> + Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had been planning to eat Peck as soon + as he was fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he used to have, and + grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berries. While he waited the sly + fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird knew that foxes ate hens. + </p> + <p> + "I'm not afraid, and I don't believe old Granny Cockletop's tales. I can + take care of myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing with the fox, + who got him to tell all about the hen-house,—how the door was + fastened, and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went to + bed,—so that he could creep in and steal a good supper by and by. + Silly Peck never guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when + Cocky said,— + </p> + <p> + "You will be sorry if you play with the fox. He is a bad fellow; so be + careful and sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, as I do." + </p> + <p> + Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, + because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. + This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and so + one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to the + fox,— + </p> + <p> + "See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it. + He has promised to bring me some food to-night, when all the rest are at + roost. He will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old + biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all I + want out of the pan. You hide on the top of the hen-house; and while he + talks to me, you can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only cock here, + and they will have to make me king." + </p> + <p> + "All right," said the fox, much pleased with the plan, and very glad that + Peck had a chance to get fatter. + </p> + <p> + So when it was night, Peck crept through the broken paling and waited till + he heard the signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from his own + dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread them all + out in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in a great hurry to eat + them, never stopping to say, "Thank you." + </p> + <p> + Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up. + </p> + <p> + "Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over you; then you will be dry, and + can go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till you are + done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to remember + anything else. + </p> + <p> + Now the fox had just crept up on the hen-house roof; and when he peeped + down, there was just light enough to see a white thing bobbing about. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good supper!" And with a jump he + seized Peck by the head before he could explain the mistake. + </p> + <p> + One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell off, + and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to eat + Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the farmer + ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through the hole + in the fence with the fowl in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when they + heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better than + ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them. + </p> + <p> + King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,—pure white, with a tall + red comb on his head, long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers in + his tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that it + could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, "Hark! + hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Isn't it a sweet sound to wake us in the + dawn?" All the other cocks used to answer him, and there was a fine + matinee concert every day. + </p> + <p> + He was a good brother, and led his five little sisters all about the + field, feeding, guarding, and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, and + could not stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run + home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, + who was very proud of her handsome son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who + scolded about everything, liked him; and often said, as the hens sat + scuffling in the dust,— + </p> + <p> + "A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and I know he will do something + remarkable before he dies." + </p> + <p> + She was right for once; and this is what he did. + </p> + <p> + One day the farmer had to go away and stay all night, leaving the old lady + alone with two boys. They were not afraid; for they had a gun, and quite + longed for a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer had a good + deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they waited for + him to go away that they might steal it. Cocky was picking about in the + field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping through a hole saw + two shabby men hiding there. + </p> + <p> + "At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we will creep in at the kitchen + window and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and whistle if + any one comes along while I'm looking for the box where the farmer keeps + it," said one man. + </p> + <p> + "You needn't be afraid; there is no dog, and no one to wake the family, so + we are quite safe," said the other man; and then they both went to sleep + till night came. + </p> + <p> + Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do. He could not tell the + old lady about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and she would not + understand that language. So he went about all day looking very sober, and + would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the big burdock + leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he did not go into + the hen-house with the rest, but flew up to the shed roof over the + kitchen, and sat there in the cold ready to scare the robbers with a loud + crow, as he could do nothing else. + </p> + <p> + At midnight the men came creeping along; one stopped outside, and the + other went in. Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and went back + for the money. Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a + loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys. The man + with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; the + other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and picked + at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned to run + some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him in the + legs. The old lady popped her head out of the upper window and rang the + dinner-bell, and called "Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused the + neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble could be. + </p> + <p> + They fished one man out of the well and picked up the wounded one, and + carried them both off to prison. + </p> + <p> + "Who caught them?" asked the people. + </p> + <p> + "We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we + shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the + rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this is the second time he has + caught a thief." + </p> + <p> + So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his + family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward. + </p> + <p> + When the robbers were tried, it was found that they were the men who had + robbed the bank, and taken a great deal of money; so every one was glad to + have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people would + go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was so brave + and handsome, they said at last,— + </p> + <p> + "We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow + let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky + ought to be remembered in some way. + </p> + <p> + So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye on + the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the + court-house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, and + twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were never + tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a procession + one moonlight night to see it,—yes, even Mamma Partlet and Granny + Cockletop, though one was lame and the other very old, so full of pride + were they in the great honor done King Cockyloo. + </p> + <p> + This was not the end of his good deeds; and the last was the best of all, + though it cost him his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his kingdom + in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other fowls + were taken for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But he did die at last; + and even then he was good and brave, as you shall hear. + </p> + <p> + One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and went behind the hen-house, so + nobody should see him do such a silly thing. He thought he heard his + father coming, and hid the pipe under the house. Some straw and dry leaves + lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the boy ran + away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to burning + nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to help. The door + was locked, and could not be opened, because the key was in the pocket of + the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe and chopped down the wall, + letting the poor biddies fly out, squawking and smoking. + </p> + <p> + "Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed + the king of the farmyard. + </p> + <p> + "Burnt up, I'm afraid," said the farmer, who was throwing water on the + flames. + </p> + <p> + Alas! yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky + sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks + whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away, and sat + chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke + choked <i>him</i> to death. + </p> + <p> + Every one was very sorry; and the children gave the good bird a fine + funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a green mound + over him, and a white stone, on which was written,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew: + We mourn for him with sorrow true. + Now nevermore at dawn his music shall we hear, + Waking the world like trumpet shrill and clear. + The hens all hang their heads, the chickens sadly peep; + The boys look sober, and the girls all weep. + Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest, + With grass and daisies on your faithful breast; + And when you wake, brave bird, so good and true, + Clap your white wings and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo." +</pre> + <p> + {Illustration: The lion walked awhile to rest himself.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY. + </h2> + <p> + Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with her mother in a small house in + the woods. They were very poor, for the father had gone away to dig gold, + and did not come back; so they had to work hard to get food to eat and + clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when she was able, for she was often + sick, and Rosy did all she could to help. She milked the red cow and fed + the hens; dug the garden, and went to town to sell the yarn and the eggs. + </p> + <p> + She was very good and sweet, and every one loved her; but the neighbors + were all poor, and could do little to help the child. So, when at last the + mother died, the cow and hens and house had to be sold to pay the doctor + and the debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no mother, no home, and + no money to buy clothes and dinners with. + </p> + <p> + "What will you do?" said the people, who were very sorry for her. + </p> + <p> + "I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, bravely. + </p> + <p> + "But he is far away, and you don't know just where he is, up among the + mountains. Stay with us and spin on your little wheel, and we will buy the + yarn, and take care of you, dear little girl," said the kind people. + </p> + <p> + "No, I must go; for mother told me to, and my father will be glad to have + me. I'm not afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, gratefully. + </p> + <p> + Then the people gave her a warm red cloak, and a basket with a little loaf + and bottle of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more to eat when the + bread was gone. They all kissed her, and wished her good luck; and she + trotted away through the wood to find her father. + </p> + <p> + For some days she got on very well; for the wood-cutters were kind, and + let her sleep in their huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by she + came to lonely places, where there were no houses; and then she was + afraid, and used to climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat berries + and leaves, like the Children in the Wood. + </p> + <p> + She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would not come near her; and if + she met other travellers, she was so young and innocent no one had the + heart to hurt her. She was kind to everything she met; so all little + creatures were friends to her, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw a tiny fish on the bank, + nearly dead for want of water. + </p> + <p> + "Poor thing! go and be happy again," she said, softly taking him up, and + dropping him into the nice cool river. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, dear child; I'll not forget, but will help you some day," said + the fish, when he had taken a good drink, and felt better. + </p> + <p> + "Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great girl as I am?" laughed Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam away with a flap of his + little tail. + </p> + <p> + Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. But she never forgot to be + kind; and soon after, as she was looking in the grass for strawberries, + she found a field-mouse with a broken leg. + </p> + <p> + "Help me to my nest, or my babies will starve," cried the poor thing. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that you can keep still till your + leg is better, and have something to eat." + </p> + <p> + Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little hand, and tied up the broken + leg with a leaf of spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she carried her to + the nest under the roots of an old tree, where four baby mice were + squeaking sadly for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown for the + sick mouse, and put close within reach all the berries and seeds she could + find, and brought an acorn-cup of water from the spring, so they could be + comfortable. + </p> + <p> + "Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this kindness some day," said + the mouse, when she was done. + </p> + <p> + "I'm afraid you are not big enough to do much," answered Rosy, as she ran + off to go on her journey. + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the little ones squeaked, as if + they said the same. + </p> + <p> + Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, waiting for the sun to rise, + she heard a great buzzing close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb that + went from one twig to another. The big spider was trying to spin him all + up, and the poor fly was struggling to get away before his legs and wings + were helpless. + </p> + <p> + Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the web, and the spider ran away at + once to hide under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on Rosy's hand, + cleaning his wings, and buzzing so loud for joy that it sounded like a + little trumpet. + </p> + <p> + "You've saved my life, and I'll save yours, if I can," said the fly, + twinkling his bright eye at Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "You silly thing, you can't help me," answered Rosy, climbing down, while + the fly buzzed away, saying, like the mouse and fish,— + </p> + <p> + "Wait and see; wait and see." + </p> + <p> + Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came to the sea. The mountains + were on the other side; but how should she get over the wide water? No + ships were there, and she had no money to hire one if there had been any; + so she sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a few big tears as + salt as the sea. + </p> + <p> + "Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close by; and the fish popped up + his head. Rosy ran to see what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + "I've come to help you over the water," said the fish. + </p> + <p> + "How can you, when I want a ship, and some one to show me the way?" + answered Rosy. + </p> + <p> + "I shall just call my friend the whale, and he will take you over better + than a ship, because he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts and + flounces about a good deal, he is only playing; so you needn't be + frightened." + </p> + <p> + Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to see what would happen; for + she didn't believe such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to help + her. + </p> + <p> + Presently what looked like a small island came floating through the sea; + and turning round, so that its tail touched the shore, the whale said, in + a roaring voice that made her jump,— + </p> + <p> + "Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. I'll carry you wherever you + like." + </p> + <p> + It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was rather scared at this big, + strange boat; but she got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a roll + and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting two fountains, while his tail + steered him like the rudder of a ship. + </p> + <p> + Rosy liked it, and looked down into the deep sea, where all sorts of queer + and lovely things were to be seen. Great fishes came and looked at her; + dolphins played near to amuse her; the pretty nautilus sailed by in its + transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh with their rough play. + Mermaids brought her pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to eat, and + at night sung her to sleep with their sweet lullabies. + </p> + <p> + So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran on shore with many thanks to + the good whale, who gave a splendid spout, and swam away. + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a desert. Hundreds of miles of + hot sand, with no trees or brooks or houses. + </p> + <p> + "I never can go that way," she said; "I should starve, and soon be worn + out walking in that hot sand. What <i>shall</i> I do?" + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Quee, quee! + Wait and see: + You were good to me; + So here I come, + From my little home, + To help you willingly," +</pre> + <p> + said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its + bright eyes full of gratitude. + </p> + <p> + "Why, you dear little thing, I'm very glad to see you; but I'm sure you + can't help me across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft back. + </p> + <p> + "That's easy enough," answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. "I'll + just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he'll take you across + with pleasure." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I'm afraid he'd rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce beast?" + cried Rosy, much surprised. + </p> + <p> + "I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a noble + animal, and he will keep his word." + </p> + <p> + Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "O lion, grand, + Come over the sand, + And help me now, I pray! + Here's a little lass, + Who wants to pass; + Please carry her on her way." +</pre> + <p> + In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with fiery + eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them. + </p> + <p> + "What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he said, looking at the mouse, who + was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every + moment to be eaten. + </p> + <p> + Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,— + </p> + <p> + "I'll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold fast + to my mane, for I'm a swift horse, and you might fall off." + </p> + <p> + Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was so + kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand till + her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she thought + it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers rolled their + fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion was king of + all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with loads on + their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered what queer thing + was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large monkey in a red + cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a little girl. + </p> + <p> + "How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little + creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert," said + Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself. + </p> + <p> + "And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have + come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make + them gentle and friendly by kindness," answered the lion. + </p> + <p> + Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green + country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one saw + him, they would try to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father," thought + Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads winding + up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts where the + men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took the wrong + road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in rocks over + which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for her food was + gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night was coming on, + and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before morning, but + dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole and be killed. + Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a little; then she + tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, and looking + carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if anxious to make + her listen to his song,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Rosy, my dear, + Don't cry,—I'm here + To help you all I can. + I'm only a fly, + But you'll see that I + Will keep my word like a man." +</pre> + <p> + Rosy couldn't help laughing to hear the brisk little fellow talk as if he + could do great things; but she was very glad to see him and hear his + cheerful song, so she held out her finger, and while he sat there told him + all her troubles. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will carry you right up the + mountains and leave you at your father's door," cried the fly; and he was + off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant what he said. + </p> + <p> + Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not at all afraid after the whale + and the lion; so when a great eagle swooped down and alighted near her, + she just looked at his sharp claws, big eyes, and crooked beak as coolly + as if he had been a cock-robin. + </p> + <p> + He liked her courage, and said kindly in his rough voice,— + </p> + <p> + "Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. Hold me fast round the + neck, or you may grow dizzy and get a fall." + </p> + <p> + Rosy nestled down among the thick gray feathers, and put both arms round + his neck; and whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, till the + trees looked like grass, they were so far below. At first it was very + cold, and Rosy cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as they came + nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and she peeped out to see the huts + standing in a green spot on the top of the mountain. + </p> + <p> + "Here we are. You'll find all the men are down in the mine at this time. + They won't come up till morning; so you will have to wait for your father. + Good-by; good luck, my dear." And the eagle soared away, higher still, to + his nest among the clouds. + </p> + <p> + It was night now, but fires were burning in all the houses; so Rosy went + from hut to hut trying to find her father's, that she might rest while she + waited: at last in one the picture of a pretty little girl hung on the + wall, and under it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew that this was the + right place; and she ate some supper, put on more wood, and went to bed, + for she wanted to be fresh when her father came in the morning. + </p> + <p> + While she slept a storm came on,—thunder rolled and lightning + flashed, the wind blew a gale, and rain poured,—but Rosy never waked + till dawn, when she heard men shouting outside,— + </p> + <p> + "Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all be drowned!" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, though the wind nearly blew her + away; she found that so much rain had made the river overflow till it + began to wash the banks away. + </p> + <p> + "What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried Rosy, watching the men rush + about like ants, getting their bags of gold ready to carry off before the + water swept them away, if it became a flood. + </p> + <p> + As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice say close by,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Splash, dash! + Rumble and crash! + Here come the beavers gay; + See what they do, + Rosy, for you, + Because you helped <i>me</i> one day." +</pre> + <p> + And there in the water was the little fish swimming about, while an army + of beavers began to pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep the + river back. How they worked, digging and heaping with teeth and claws, and + beating the earth hard with their queer tails like shovels! Rosy and the + men watched them work, glad to be safe, while the storm cleared up; and by + the time the dam was made, all danger was over. Rosy looked into the faces + of the rough men, hoping her father was there, and was just going to ask + about him, when a great shouting rose again, and all began to run to the + pit hole, saying,— + </p> + <p> + "The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows will be smothered! How can we + get them out? how can we get them out?" + </p> + <p> + Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would break; for her father was down + in the mine, and would die soon if air did not come to him. The men dug as + hard as they could; but it was a long job, and they feared they would not + be in time. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering along, and began to burrow down + through the earth, making many holes for air to go in; for they know how + to build galleries through the ground better than men can. Every one was + so surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt flew like rain as the + busy little fellows scratched and bored as if making an underground + railway. + </p> + <p> + "What does it mean?" said the men. "They work faster than we can, and + better; but who sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?" + </p> + <p> + Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, small voice singing,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "They come at my call; + And though they are small, + They'll dig the passage clear: + I never forget; + We'll save them yet, + For love of Rosy dear." +</pre> + <p> + Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on a stone, waving her tail + about, and pointing with her tiny paw to show the moles where to dig. + </p> + <p> + The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them who she was, when a cry came + from the pit, and they saw that the way was clear so they could pull the + buried men up. In a minute they got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows + safe on the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all shouting as if + they were crazy,— + </p> + <p> + "Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!" + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" cried the others; and then they saw Tom come up with the + biggest lump of gold ever found in the mountains. + </p> + <p> + Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was a good man, and had worked a + long time, and been sick, and couldn't go back to his wife and child. When + he saw Rosy, he dropped the lump, and caught her up, saying,— + </p> + <p> + "My little girl! she's better than a million pounds of gold." + </p> + <p> + Then Rosy was very happy, and went back to the hut, and had a lovely time + telling her father all about her troubles and her travels. He cried when + he heard that the poor mother was dead before she could have any of the + good things the gold would buy them. + </p> + <p> + "We will go away and be happy together in the pleasantest home I can find, + and never part any more, my darling," said the father, kissing Rosy as she + sat on his knee with her arms round his neck. + </p> + <p> + She was just going to say something very sweet to comfort him, when a fly + lit on her arm and buzzed very loud,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Don't drive me away, + But hear what I say: + Bad men want the gold; + They will steal it to-night, + And you must take flight; + So be quiet and busy and bold." +</pre> + <p> + "I was afraid some one would take my lump away. I'll pack up at once, and + we will creep off while the men are busy at work; though I'm afraid we + can't go fast enough to be safe, if they miss us and come after," said + Tom, bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; for some of the + miners were wild fellows, and might kill him for the sake of that great + lump. + </p> + <p> + But the fly sang again,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Slip away with me, + And you will see + What a wise little thing am I; + For the road I show + No man can know, + Since it's up in the pathless sky." +</pre> + <p> + Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in the wood; and there were the + eagle and his mate waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far that + no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of gold were put on the mother + eagle; Tom sat astride the king bird; and away they flew to a great city, + where the little girl and her father lived happily together all their + lives. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY. + </h2> + <p> + Two little boys sat on the fence whittling arrows one fine day. Said one + little boy to the other little boy,— + </p> + <p> + "Let's do something jolly." + </p> + <p> + "All right. What will we do?" + </p> + <p> + "Run off to the woods and be hunters." + </p> + <p> + "What can we hunt?" + </p> + <p> + "Bears and foxes." + </p> + <p> + "Mullin says there ain't any round here." + </p> + <p> + "Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare wood-chucks." + </p> + <p> + "Haven't got any guns and trap." + </p> + <p> + "We've got our bows, and I found an old trap behind the barn." + </p> + <p> + "What will we eat?" + </p> + <p> + "Here's our lunch; and when that's gone we can roast the squirrels and + cook the fish on a stick. I know how." + </p> + <p> + "Where will you get the fire?" + </p> + <p> + "Got matches in my pocket." + </p> + <p> + "I've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see." + </p> + <p> + And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy displayed his treasures, while + bold Tommy did the same. + </p> + <p> + Besides the two knives there were strings, nails, matches, a piece of + putty, fish-hooks, and two very dirty handkerchiefs. + </p> + <p> + "There, sir, that's a first-rate fit-out for hunters; and with the jolly + basket of lunch Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top for two or + three days," said Tommy, eager to be off. + </p> + <p> + "Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who liked to be comfortable both + night and day. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like the fellows in our books. If + you are afraid, stay at home; I'm going to have no end of a good time." + And Tommy crammed the things back into his pockets as if there were no + time to lose. + </p> + <p> + "Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And jumping down Billy caught up his rod, + rather ashamed of his many questions. + </p> + <p> + No one was looking at them, and they might have walked quietly off; but + that the "running away" might be all right, both raced down the road, + tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the woods as if a whole tribe of wild + Indians were after them. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when at last they stopped for breath. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but we'd better not keep to it, or + some one will see us and take us back. We are going to be <i>real</i> + hunters and have adventures; so we must get lost, and find our way by the + sun and the stars," answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' Books his + little head was a jumble of Texan Rangers, African Explorers, and Buffalo + Bills; and he burned to outdo them all. + </p> + <p> + "What will our mothers say if we really get lost?" asked Billy, always + ready with a question. + </p> + <p> + "Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like." + </p> + <p> + That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma was tired of trying to keep the + lively little fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him come out of + all his scrapes without much harm. + </p> + <p> + "Mine will be scared; she's always afraid I'm going to get hurt, so I'm + careful. But I guess I'll risk it, and have some fun to tell about when we + go home," said Billy, trudging after Captain Tommy, who always took the + lead. + </p> + <p> + These eleven-year-old boys were staying with their mothers at a farm-house + up among the mountains; and having got tired of the tame bears, the big + barn, the trout brook, the thirty colts at pasture, and the society of the + few little girls and younger boys at the hotel near by, these fine fellows + longed to break loose and "rough it in the bush," as the hunters did in + their favorite stories. + </p> + <p> + Away they went, deeper and deeper into the great forest that covered the + side of the mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it was cool + and green, with many brooks splashing over the rocks, or lying in brown + pools under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced in the tall pines; + now and then a gray rabbit skipped out of sight among the brakes, or a + strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries grew in the open places, + sassafras bushes were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready for + chewing. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, pausing at last in a little dell + where a noisy brook came tumbling down the mountain side, and the pines + sung overhead. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; but I'm awful hungry. Let's rest and eat our lunch," said Billy, + sitting down on a cushion of moss. + </p> + <p> + "You always want to be stuffing and resting," answered sturdy Tommy, who + liked to be moving all the time. + </p> + <p> + He took the fishing-basket, which hung over his shoulder by a strap, and + opened it carefully; for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch of bread + and butter, cake and peaches, with a bottle of milk, and two large pickles + slipped in on the sly to please the boys. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked in, for all he saw was a box of + worms for bait and an old jacket. + </p> + <p> + "By George! we've got the wrong basket. This is Mullin's, and he's gone + off with our prog. Won't he be mad?" + </p> + <p> + "Not as mad as I am. Why didn't you look? You are always in such a hurry + to start. What <i>shall</i> we do now without anything to eat?" whined + Billy; for losing his lunch was a dreadful blow to him. + </p> + <p> + "We shall have to catch some fish and eat blackberries. Which will you do, + old cry-baby?" said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face. + </p> + <p> + "I'll fish; I'm so tired I can't go scratching round after berries. I + don't love 'em, either." And Billy began to fix his line and bait his + hook. + </p> + <p> + "Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em if you can't wait for fish," said + Tommy, bustling about to empty the basket and pile up their few + possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool below here, you go and fish + there. I'll pick the berries, and then show you how to get dinner in the + woods. This is our camp; so fly round and do your best." + </p> + <p> + Then Tommy ran off to a place near by where he had seen the berries, while + Billy found a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling at the water + so crossly, it was a wonder any trout came to his hook. But the fat worms + tempted several small ones, and he cheered up at the prospect of food. + Tommy whistled while he picked, and in half an hour came back with two + quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry sticks for the fire. + </p> + <p> + "We'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, as the flames went + crackling up, and the dry leaves made a pleasant smell. + </p> + <p> + "Got four, but don't see how we'll ever cook 'em; no frying-pan," grumbled + Billy, throwing down the four little trout, which he had half cleaned. + </p> + <p> + "Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or toast 'em on a forked stick. + I'll show you how," said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding his + fire as much like a real hunter as a small boy could be. + </p> + <p> + While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed for bread and butter. At + last, after much trouble, two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly + eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very different from the nice brown + ones Mrs. Mullin gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles they would + fall in the ashes, and there was no salt to eat with them. By the time the + last were toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they could have eaten + anything, and not a berry was left. + </p> + <p> + "I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole among the vines, and I + shouldn't wonder if we got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when the + last bone was polished. "You go and catch some more fish, and I'll see if + I have caught any old chap as he went home to dinner." + </p> + <p> + Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went slowly back to the brook, wishing + with all his might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie. + </p> + <p> + The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, for not one bite did poor + Billy get; and he was just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him such + a fright that he tumbled into the brook up to his knees. + </p> + <p> + "I've got him! Come and see! He's a bouncer," roared Tommy, from the berry + bushes some way off. + </p> + <p> + Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his wet boots would let him, to + see what the prize was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round a fat gray + animal, who was fighting to get his paws out of the trap, and making a + queer noise as he struggled about. + </p> + <p> + "What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a tree as fast as possible, for + the thing looked fierce, and he was very timid. + </p> + <p> + "A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. Won't his fur make a fine cap? I + guess the other fellows will wish they'd come with us." said Tommy, + prancing to and fro, without the least idea what to do with the creature. + </p> + <p> + "He'll bite. We'd better run away and wait till he's dead," said Billy. + </p> + <p> + "Wish he'd got his head in, then I could carry him off; but he does look + savage, so we'll have to leave him awhile, and get him when we come back. + But he's a real beauty." And Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of gray fur + scuffling in the sand. + </p> + <p> + "Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, ready for a fried crocodile if + he could get it. + </p> + <p> + "If he's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know about woodchucks. The fellows + in my books don't seem to have caught any. He's nice and fat; we might try + him when he's dead," said Tommy, who cared more for the skin to show than + the best meal ever cooked. + </p> + <p> + The sound of a gun echoing through the wood gave Tommy a good idea,— + </p> + <p> + "Let's find the man and get him to shoot this chap; then we needn't wait, + but skin him right away, and eat him too." + </p> + <p> + Off they went to the camp; and catching up their things, the two hunters + hurried away in the direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that some + one was near them, for two or three hours of wood life made them a little + homesick. + </p> + <p> + They ran and scrambled, and listened and called; but not until they had + gone a long way up the mountain did they find the man, resting in an old + hut left by the lumbermen. The remains of his dinner were spread on the + floor, and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, while his dog dozed at + his feet, close to a well-filled game-bag. + </p> + <p> + He looked surprised when two dirty, wet little boys suddenly appeared + before him,—one grinning cheerfully, the other looking very dismal + and scared as the dog growled and glared at them as if they were two + rabbits. + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" said the man + </p> + <p> + "Hollo!" answered Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Who are you?" asked the man. + </p> + <p> + "Hunters," said Tommy. + </p> + <p> + "Had good luck?" And the man laughed. + </p> + <p> + "First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and we want you to come and shoot + him," answered Tommy, proudly. + </p> + <p> + "Sure?" said the man, looking interested as well as amused. + </p> + <p> + "No, but I think so." + </p> + <p> + "What's he like?" + </p> + <p> + Tommy described him, and was much disappointed when the man lay down + again, saying, with another laugh,— + </p> + <p> + "It's a woodchuck; he's no good." + </p> + <p> + "But I want the skin." + </p> + <p> + "Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's better for the skin," said the + man, who was tired and didn't want to stop for such poor game. + </p> + <p> + All this time Billy had been staring hard at the sandwiches and bread and + cheese on the floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at him. + </p> + <p> + "Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing the hungry look. + </p> + <p> + "I just do! We left our lunch, and I've only had two little trout and some + old berries since breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his eyes and a + hand on his stomach. + </p> + <p> + "Eat away then; I'm done, and don't want the stuff." And the man took up + his paper as if glad to be let alone. + </p> + <p> + It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in ten minutes nothing was + left but the napkin; and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much + refreshed, but ready for more. + </p> + <p> + "Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty cold on the mountain after + sunset, and you are a long way from town," said the man, who had peeped at + them over his paper now and then, and saw, in spite of the dirt and rips, + that they were not farmer boys. + </p> + <p> + "We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in the valley. No hurry; we + know the way, and we want to have some sport first. You seem to have done + well," answered Tommy, looking enviously from the gun to the game-bag, out + of which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail. + </p> + <p> + "Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. People tell me there is one + up here, and I'm after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt some of + the young folks round here," said the man, loading his gun with a very + sober air; for he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home. + </p> + <p> + Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown face beamed with joy as he said + eagerly,— + </p> + <p> + "I hope you'll get him. I'd rather shoot a bear than any other animal but + a lion. We don't have those here, and bears are scarce. Mullin said he + hadn't heard of one for a long time; so this must be a young one, for they + killed the big one two years ago." + </p> + <p> + That was true, and the man knew it. He did not really expect or want to + meet a bear, but thought the idea of one would send the little fellows + home at once. Finding one of them was unscared, he laughed, and said with + a nod to Tommy,— + </p> + <p> + "If I had time I'd take <i>you</i> along, and show you how to hunt; but + this fat friend of yours couldn't rough it with us, and we can't leave him + alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I wouldn't climb any higher, for + among the rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I know you'll like it. A real gun + and dog and hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," cried Tommy, + wild to go. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; you can go after your old bears + if you want to. I don't think much of hunting anyway, and wish I hadn't + come," growled Billy, very cross at being left out, yet with no desire to + scramble any more. + </p> + <p> + "Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and some day I'll come and take you + out with me, little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding off with the + dear gun and dog and bag, leaving Billy to wonder what he meant by that + queer name, and Tommy to console himself with the promise made him. + </p> + <p> + "Let's go and see how old Chucky gets on," he said good-naturedly, when + the man vanished. + </p> + <p> + "Not till I'm rested. I can get a good nap on this pile of hay; then we'll + go home before it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself on the + rough bed the lumbermen had used. + </p> + <p> + "I just wish I had a boy with some go in him; you ain't much better than a + girl," sighed Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some squirrels + seemed to be having a party, they chattered and raced up and down at such + a rate. + </p> + <p> + He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many times in vain, for the + lively creatures gave him no chance. He had better luck with a brown bird + who sat in a bush and was hit full in the breast with the sharpest arrow. + The poor thing fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green leaves as + it lay dying on the grass. Tommy was much pleased at first; but as he + stood watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty brown wings stop + fluttering, he felt sorry that its happy little life was so cruelly ended, + and ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so much pain. + </p> + <p> + "I'll never shoot another bird except hawks after chickens, and I won't + brag about this one. It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean to + kill it." + </p> + <p> + As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the ruffled feathers of the dead + thrush, and, making a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped in + green leaves, and left it there where its mate could sing over it, and no + rude hands disturb its rest. + </p> + <p> + "I'll tell mamma and she will understand: but I <i>won't</i> tell Billy. + He is such a greedy old chap he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird + to eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, and sat there, + restringing his bow, till Billy woke up, much more amiable for his sleep. + </p> + <p> + They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost their way, and wandered deeper + into the great forest till they came to a rocky place and could go no + farther. They climbed up and tumbled down, turned back and went round, + looked at the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras bark and + checkerberry leaves for supper, and grew more and more worried and tired + as hour after hour went by and they saw no end to woods and rocks. Once or + twice they heard the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried to find + him. + </p> + <p> + Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the man, who knew his way and was + probably safe in the valley when the last faint shot came up to them. + Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for proposing to run away; and both felt + very homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds at Farmer + Mullin's. + </p> + <p> + The sun set, and found them in a dreary place full of rocks and blasted + trees half-way up the mountain. They were so tired they could hardly walk, + and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; but, remembering the hunter's + story of the bear, they were afraid to do it, till Tommy suggested + climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot of it to scare away the + bear, lest he climb too and get them. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! the matches were left in their first camp; so they decided to + take turns to sleep and watch, since it was plain that they must spend the + night there. Billy went up first, and creeping into a good notch of the + bare tree tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with a big stick, + marched to and fro below. Every few minutes a trembling voice would call + from above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious voice would answer from + below, "Not yet. Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn." + </p> + <p> + At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy felt so lonely he couldn't + bear it; so he climbed to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying to + keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and the early moon saw the poor + boys roosting there like two little owls. + </p> + <p> + A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then a great shaking and howling + waked Tommy so suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and did not + know where he was. + </p> + <p> + "The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! Tommy, Tommy, come and make him + let go," cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls. + </p> + <p> + Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large bear eating his unhappy + friend; but the moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy dangling from + a bough, high above the ground, caught by his belt when he fell. He had + been dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so there he hung, + kicking and wailing, half awake, and so scared it was long before Tommy + could make him believe that he was quite safe. + </p> + <p> + How to get him down was the next question. The branch was not strong + enough to bear Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to unhook poor Billy. + The belt was firmly twisted at the back, and Billy could not reach to undo + it, nor could he get his legs round the branch to pull himself up. There + seemed no way but to unbuckle the belt and drop. That he was afraid to + try; for the ground was hard, and the fall a high one. Fortunately both + belt and buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though very uncomfortably, + while Tommy racked his boyish brain to find a way to help him. + </p> + <p> + Billy had just declared that he should be cut in two very soon if + something was not done for him, and Tommy was in despair, when they + thought they heard a far-off shout, and both answered it till their + throats were nearly split with screaming. + </p> + <p> + "I seem to see a light moving round down that way," cried Billy from his + hook, pointing toward the valley. + </p> + <p> + "They are looking for us, but they won't hear us. I'll run and holler + louder, and bring 'em up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything that + would put an end to this dreadful state of things. + </p> + <p> + "Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! The bear might come! Don't go! + don't go!" wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid. + </p> + <p> + "I won't go far, and I'll come back as quick as I can. You are safe up + there. Hold on, and we'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, rushing away + helter-skelter, never minding where he went, and too much excited to care + for any damage. + </p> + <p> + The moon was bright on the blasted trees; but when he came down among the + green pines, it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. Never minding + bumps and bruises, he scrambled over rocks, leaped fallen trunks, + floundered through brooks, and climbed down steep places, till, with a + reckless jump, he went heels over head into a deep hole, and lay there for + a moment stunned by the fall. It was an old bear-trap, long unused, and + fortunately well carpeted with dead leaves, or poor Tommy would have + broken his bones. + </p> + <p> + When he came to himself he was so used up that he lay still for some time + in a sort of daze, too tired to know or care about anything, only dimly + conscious that somebody was lost in a tree or a well, and that, on the + whole, running away was not all fun. + </p> + <p> + By and by the sound of a gun roused him; and remembering poor Billy, he + tried to get out of the pit,—for the moon showed him where he was. + But it was too deep, and he was too stiff with weariness and the fall to + be very nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and raged about very like a + little bear caught in the pit. + </p> + <p> + It is very difficult to find a lost person on these great mountains, and + many wander for hours not far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, + the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them in. Some have lost their + lives; and as Tommy lay on the leaves used up by his various struggles, he + thought of all the stories he had lately heard at the farm, and began to + wonder how it would feel to starve to death down there, and to wish poor + Billy could come to share his prison, that they might die together, like + the Babes in the Wood, or better still the Boy Scouts lost on the prairies + in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, the Wild Hunter of the West." + </p> + <p> + "I guess mother is worried this time, because I never stayed out all night + before, and I never will again without leave. It's rather good fun, + though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and it isn't very cold. I + always wanted to sleep out, and now I'm doing it. Wish poor Billy was + safely down and in this good bed with me. Won't he be scared all alone + there? Maybe the belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. Sorry now I + left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. There's the gun again! Guess it's that + man after us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! Hi! hi! hi!" + </p> + <p> + Tommy's meditations ended in a series of yells as loud as his shrill + little voice could make them, and he thought some one answered. But it + must have been an echo, for no one came; and after another rampage round + his prison, the poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and went fast + asleep because there was nothing else to do. + </p> + <p> + So there they were, the two young hunters, lost at midnight on the + mountain,—one hanging like an apple on the old tree, and the other + sound asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers meantime were weeping + and wringing their hands at the farm, while all the men in the + neighborhood were out looking for the lost boys. The hunter on his return + to the hotel had reported meeting the runaways and his effort to send them + home in good season; so people knew where to look, and, led by the man and + dog, up the mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. It was a mild night, + and the moon shone high and clear; so the hunt was, on the whole, rather + easy and pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through the dark forest + like fireflies, the lonely cliffs seemed alive with men, and voices echoed + in places where usually only the brooks babbled and the hawks screamed. + But as time went on, and no sign of the boys appeared, the men grew + anxious, and began to fear some serious harm had come to the runaways. + </p> + <p> + "I can't go home without them little shavers no way, 'specially Tommy," + said Mr. Mullin, as they stopped to rest after a hard climb through the + blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own heart, spry as a chipmunk, smart + as a young cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. He ain't afraid + of anything, and I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find him enjoyin' + himself first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber." + </p> + <p> + "The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. If it hadn't been for him + I'd have kept the lively fellow with me, and shown him how to hunt. Sorry + now I didn't take them both home," said the man with the gun, seeing his + mistake too late, as people often do. + </p> + <p> + "Maybe they've fell down a precipice and got killed, like Moses Warner, + when he was lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted himself + hoarse. + </p> + <p> + "Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' yonder, and he may have found + 'em," said the farmer, hurrying toward the place where the hound was + baying at something in a tree. + </p> + <p> + It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half unconscious with weariness + and fear. The belt had slipped up under his arms, so he could breathe + easily; and there he was, looking like a queer sort of cone on the blasted + pine. + </p> + <p> + "Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as the tall lad climbed up, and, + unhooking Billy, handed him down like a young bird, into the arms held up + to catch him. + </p> + <p> + "He's all right, only scared out of his wits. Come along and look for the + other one. I'll warrant he went for help, and may be half-way home by this + time," said the hunter, who didn't take much interest in the fat boy. + </p> + <p> + Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing it to the dog, his master told + him to find the boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then set off with + his nose to the ground, following the zigzag track Tommy had taken in his + hurry. The hunter and several of the men went after him, leaving the + farmer with the others to take care of Billy. + </p> + <p> + Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and began to bark again. + </p> + <p> + "He's got him!" cried the men, much relieved; and rushing on soon saw the + good beast looking down at a little white object in one corner of the dark + hole. + </p> + <p> + It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the rest of him was covered up + with leaves. The little round face seemed very quiet; and for a moment the + men stood quite still, fearing that the fall might have done the boy some + harm. Then the hunter leaped down, and gently touched the brown cheek. It + was warm, and a soft snore from the pug nose made the man call out, much + relieved,— + </p> + <p> + "He's all right. Wake up here, little chap; you are wanted at home. Had + hunting enough for this time?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave a stretch, and said, "Hollo, + Billy," as calmly as if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of the + leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the sight of several men staring + down at him startled him wide awake. + </p> + <p> + "Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, looking up at the hunter with a + grin. + </p> + <p> + "No; but I caught a little one, and here he is," answered the man, giving + Tommy a roll in the leaves, much pleased because he did not whine or make + a fuss. + </p> + <p> + "Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's Billy? I left him up a tree like + a coon, and he wouldn't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking off his brown + bed-clothes, and quite ready to get up now. + </p> + <p> + They all laughed with him; and presently, when the story was told, they + pulled the boy out of the pit, and went back to join the other wanderer, + who was now sitting up eating the bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for + their very late supper. + </p> + <p> + The men roared again, as the two boys told their various tribulations; and + when they had been refreshed, the party started for home, blowing the tin + horns, and firing shot after shot to let the scattered searchers know that + the lost children were found. Billy was very quiet, and gladly rode on the + various broad backs offered for his use, but Tommy stoutly refused to be + carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a very rough place, walked + all the way down on his own sturdy legs. He was the hero of the adventure, + and was never tired of relating how he caught the woodchuck, cooked the + fish, slid down the big rock, and went to bed in the old bear-pit. But in + his own little mind he resolved to wait till he was older before he tried + to be a hunter; and though he caught several wood-chucks that summer, he + never shot another harmless little bird. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: A wasp flew out and stung her lips.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. THE FAIRY BOX. + </h2> + <p> + "I wish I had a magic bracelet like Rosamond's, that would prick me when I + was going to do wrong," said little May, as she put down the story she had + been reading. + </p> + <p> + There was no one else in the room, but she heard a sweet voice sing these + words close to her ear:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Now hark, little May, + If you want to do right, + Under your pillow + Just look every night. + If you have been good + All through the day, + A gift you will find, + Useful or gay; + But if you have been + Cross, selfish, or wild, + A bad thing will come + For the naughty child. + So try, little dear, + And soon you will see + How easy and sweet + To grow good it will be." +</pre> + <p> + May was very much surprised at this, and looked everywhere to see who + spoke, but could find no one. + </p> + <p> + "I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide open, and I can't make up + poetry, asleep or awake." + </p> + <p> + As she said that, some one laughed; and the same voice sang again,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Ha, ha, you can't see, + Although I am here; + But listen to what + I say in your ear. + Tell no one of this. + Because, if you do, + My fun will be spoilt, + And so will yours too. + But if you are good, + And patient, and gay, + A real fairy will come + To see little May." +</pre> + <p> + "Oh, how splendid that will be! I'll try hard, and be as good as an angel + if I can only get one peep at a live fairy. I always said there were such + people, and now I shall know how they look," cried the little girl, so + pleased that she danced all about the room, clapping her hands. + </p> + <p> + Something bright darted out of the window from among the flowers that + stood there, and no more songs were heard; so May knew that the elf had + gone. + </p> + <p> + "I've got a fine secret all to myself, and I'll keep it carefully. I + wonder what present will come to-night," she said, thinking this a very + interesting play. + </p> + <p> + She was very good all day, and made no fuss about going to bed, though + usually she fretted, and wanted to play, and called for water, and plagued + poor Nursey in many ways. She got safely into her little nest, and then + was in such a hurry to see what was under her pillow that she forgot, and + called out crossly,— + </p> + <p> + "Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang up my clothes, you slow old + thing! Go, go!" + </p> + <p> + That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away without her good-night kiss. + But May didn't care, and felt under her pillow the minute the door was + shut. A lamp was always left burning; so she could see the little gold box + she drew out. + </p> + <p> + "How pretty! I hope there is some candy in it," she said, opening it very + carefully. + </p> + <p> + Oh, dear! what <i>do</i> you think happened? A wasp flew out and stung her + lips; then both wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry alone, with + a sharp pain in the lips that said the unkind words. + </p> + <p> + "What a dreadful present! I don't like that spiteful fairy who sends such + horrid things," she sobbed. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay still and thought about it; for she dared not call any one, + because nobody must guess the secret. She knew in her own little heart + that the cross words hurt Nursey as the sting did her lips, and she felt + sorry. At once the smart got better, and by the time she had resolved to + ask the good old woman to forgive her, it was all gone. + </p> + <p> + Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged pardon, and tried hard to be + good till tea-time; then she ran to see what nice things they were going + to have to eat, though she had often been told not to go into the + dining-room. No one was there; and on the table stood a dish of delicious + little cakes, all white like snowballs. + </p> + <p> + "I must have just a taste, and I'll tell mamma afterward," she said; and + before she knew it one little cake was eaten all up. + </p> + <p> + "Nobody will miss it, and I can have another at tea. Now, a lump of sugar + and a sip of cream before mamma comes, I so like to pick round." + </p> + <p> + Having done one wrong thing, May felt like going on; so she nibbled and + meddled with all sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, then she + ran away; and by and by, when the bell rang, came in with the rest as prim + and proper as if she did not know how to play pranks. No one missed the + cake, and her mother gave her another, saying,— + </p> + <p> + "There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my good child." + </p> + <p> + May turned red, and wanted to tell what she had done, but was ashamed + because there was company; and people thought she blushed like a modest + little girl at being praised. + </p> + <p> + But when she went to bed she was almost afraid to look under the pillow, + knowing that she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew out the box, and + slowly opened it, expecting something to fly at her. All she saw was a + tiny black bag, that began at once to grow larger, till it was big enough + to hold her two hands. Then it tied itself tight round her wrists, as if + to keep these meddlesome hands out of mischief. + </p> + <p> + "Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful as the wasp. I hope no one + will see it when I'm asleep. I do wish I'd let those cakes and things + alone," sighed May, looking at the black bag, and vainly trying to get her + hands free. + </p> + <p> + She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke the bag was gone. No one had + seen it; but she told her mamma about the cake, and promised not to do so + any more. + </p> + <p> + "Now this shall be a <i>truly</i> good day, every bit of it," she said, as + she skipped away, feeling as light as a feather after she had confessed + her little sins. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, that May spoilt her day + before dinner by going to the river and playing with the boats, in spite + of many orders not to do it. She did not tell of it, and went to a party + in the afternoon, where she was so merry she never remembered the naughty + thing till she was in bed and opened the fairy box. A little chain + appeared, which in a flash grew long and large, and fastened round her + ankles as if she were a prisoner. May liked to tumble about, and was much + disgusted to be chained in this way; but there was no help for it, so she + lay very still and had plenty of time to be sorry. + </p> + <p> + "It is a good punishment for me, and I deserve it. I won't cry, but I will—I + <i>will</i> remember." And May said her prayers very soberly, really + meaning to keep her word this time. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she was very careful to keep her lips from cross words, + her hands from forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. Nothing + spoilt this day, she watched so well; and when mamma gave the good-night + kiss, she said,— + </p> + <p> + "What shall I give my good little daughter, who has been gentle, obedient, + and busy all day?" + </p> + <p> + "I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a pink ribbon on its neck," + answered May. + </p> + <p> + "I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, and happy dreams!" said + mamma, with many kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that was a + reward. + </p> + <p> + May was so busy thinking about the kitty and the good day that she forgot + the box till she heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped up her head to see. + </p> + <p> + Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, on a red cushion, lay a + white kit about two inches long. May couldn't believe that it was alive + till it jumped out of its nest, stretched itself, and grew all at once + just the right size to play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its + tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow was on its neck. It danced + all over the bed, ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, nipped May's + toes, licked her face, patted her nose with its soft paw, and winked at + her in such a funny way that she laughed for joy at having such a dear + kitty. Presently, as if it knew that bed was the place to lie quiet in, + puss cuddled down in a little bunch and purred May to sleep. + </p> + <p> + "I suppose that darling kit will be gone like all the other things," said + May, as she waked up and looked round for her first pretty gift. + </p> + <p> + No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the sun among the flower-pots, + washing her face and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic they had; + and how surprised every one was to see just the pussy May wanted! They + supposed it came as kitties often come; and May never told them it was a + fairy present, because she had promised not to. She was so happy with + little puss that she was good all day; and when she went to bed she + thought,— + </p> + <p> + "I wish I had a dog to play with darling Snowdrop, and run with me when I + go to walk." + </p> + <p> + "Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the pillow; and out of the box trotted a + curly black dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such bright, kind + eyes May was not a bit afraid of him, but loved him at once, and named him + Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked him too; and when May was + sleepy they both snuggled down in the same basket like two good babies, + and went to by-low. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I never! What shall we find next?" said Nurse, when she saw the dog + in the morning. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the whole house, and scare you + out of your wits," laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop chasing her + bare toes, while Floss shook and growled over her shoes as if they were + rats. + </p> + <p> + "If your cousin John wants to give you any more animals, I wish he'd send + a pony to take you to school, and save my old legs the pain of trotting + after you," said Nurse; for May did have a rich cousin who was very fond + of her, and often gave her nice things. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled with the idea that it was a + fairy, and not Cousin John, who sent the cunning little creatures to her. + </p> + <p> + But she didn't get the pony that night; for in the afternoon her mother + told her not to sit on the lawn, because it was damp, and May did not + mind, being busy with a nice story. So when she took up her box, a loud + sneeze seemed to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of red + flannel. + </p> + <p> + "What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; and as if to answer, the + strip of flannel wrapped itself round her neck. + </p> + <p> + "There! my throat <i>is</i> sore, and I <i>am</i> hoarse. I wonder how + that fairy knew I sat on the damp grass. I'm so sorry; for I did want a + pony, and might have had it if I'd only minded," said May, angry with + herself for spoiling all her fun. + </p> + <p> + It <i>was</i> spoilt; for she had such a cold next day she couldn't go out + at all, but had to take medicine and keep by the fire, while the other + children had a lovely picnic. + </p> + <p> + "I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't deserve a present, I was so + disobedient. But I <i>have</i> tried to be patient," said May, feeling for + the box. + </p> + <p> + The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was a beautiful picture-book, + full of new, nice stories printed in colored ink. + </p> + <p> + "How splendid to read to-morrow while I'm shut up!" she said, and went to + sleep very happily. + </p> + <p> + All the next day she enjoyed the pretty pictures and funny tales, and + never complained or fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor said + she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine. + </p> + <p> + "Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in her bed. But there was + nothing in the box except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She did + not know what to do with it that night, but she did the next morning; for + just as she was dressed her brother called from the garden,— + </p> + <p> + "May, look out and see what we found in the stable. None of us can catch + him, so do come and see if you can; your name is on the card tied to his + mane." + </p> + <p> + May looked, and there was a snow-white pony racing about the yard as if he + was having a fine frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, and ran + down to catch him. The minute she appeared, the pony went to her and put + his nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,— + </p> + <p> + "This is my little mistress; I will mind her and serve her well." + </p> + <p> + May was delighted, and very proud when the pony let her put on the saddle + and bridle that lay in the barn all ready to use. She jumped up and rode + gayly down the road; and Will and mamma and all the maids and Floss and + Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The children at school were much + excited when she came trotting up, and all wanted to ride Prince. He was + very gentle, and every one had a ride; but May had the best fun, for she + could go every day for long trots by the carriage when mamma and Will + drove out. A blue habit and a hat with a long feather were bought that + afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at night that she said to + herself as she lay in bed,— + </p> + <p> + "I'll wish for something for Will now, and see if I get it. I don't want + any more presents yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give away to + other people who have no fairy box." + </p> + <p> + So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box lay a key with the name + "Water Lily" on it. She guessed what it meant, and in the morning told her + brother to come to the river and see what she had for him. There lay a + pretty green and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all spread, and + at the mast-head a little flag flying in the wind, with the words "Water + Lily" on it in gold letters. + </p> + <p> + Will was so surprised and pleased to find that it was his, he turned heels + over head on the grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, crying, + "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at once. + </p> + <p> + May followed, and they sailed away down the lovely river, white with real + lilies, while the blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either side, and + boys and girls stopped on the bridges to see them pass. + </p> + <p> + After that May kept on trying to be good, and wishing for things for + herself and other people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and was the + sweetest little girl in the world. Then there was no need of fairies to + help her; and one night the box was not under the pillow. + </p> + <p> + "Well, I've had my share of pretty things, and must learn to do without. + I'm glad I tried; for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need to be + rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, quite happy and contented, though + she did wish she could have seen the fairy just once. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the first thing she saw was a beautiful bracelet, shining on + the table; and while she stood admiring it, she heard the little voice + sing,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Here is the bracelet + For good little May + To wear on her arm + By night and by day. + When it shines like the sun, + All's going well; + But when you are bad, + A sharp prick will tell. + Farewell, little girl, + For now we must part. + Make a fairy-box, dear, + Of your own happy heart; + And take out for all + Sweet gifts every day, + Till all the year round + Is like beautiful May." +</pre> + <p> + As the last words were sung, right before her eyes she saw a tiny creature + swinging on the rose that stood there in a vase,—a lovely elf, with + wings like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and a star on her forehead. She + smiled, and waved her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away into the + sunshine, till she vanished from sight, leaving May with the magic + bracelet on her arm, and the happy thought that at last she had <i>really</i> + seen a fairy. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek."} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL. + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART" id="link2H_PART"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART I. + </h2> + <p> + If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were his best friends, he would + have answered,— + </p> + <h3> + "The sun and the wind, next to mother." + </h3> + <p> + Johnny lived in a little court that led off from one of the busiest + streets in the city,—a noisy street, where horse-car bells tinkled + and omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great + depots near by. The court was a dull place, with only two or three shabby + houses in it, and a high blank wall at the end. + </p> + <p> + The people who hurried by were too busy to do more than to glance at the + lame boy who sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess that there + was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library in the court. But Johnny + had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be grateful + enough to the wind that brought him his books and pictures, nor to the sun + that made it possible for him to enjoy them in the open air, far more than + richer folk enjoy their fine galleries and libraries. + </p> + <p> + A bad fall, some months before the time this story begins, did something + to Johnny's back which made his poor legs nearly useless, and changed the + lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. His mother took in fine washing, and + worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her boy, who could + no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to school. He could + only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on his bed in pain for hours, + and, each fair day, hobble out to sit in a little old chair between the + water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he kept his library. + </p> + <p> + But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty and pain; and the day a great + gust came blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty newspaper down + the court to his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for patient + Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other pictured bits + found their way to him; for the frolicsome wind liked to whisk the papers + around the corner, and chase them here and there till they settled under + the chair or flew wildly over the wall. + </p> + <p> + Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all came to cheer the boy, who + was never tired of collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out the big + pictures to paste on the wall with the leavings of mother's starch, and + the smaller in the scrap-book he made out of stout brown wrappers or + newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a very gay + wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large pictures + up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. The books were + laid carefully away in the boiler, after being smoothly ironed out and + named to suit Johnny's fancy by pasting letters on the back. This was the + circulating library; for not only did the papers whisk about the court to + begin with, but the books they afterward made went the rounds among the + neighbors till they were worn out. + </p> + <p> + The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading the anecdotes on Sunday when he + could not work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look over + advertisements of the fine things which she longed for; and Patsey Flynn, + the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the station, often + paused to look at the play-bills,—for he adored the theatre, and + entertained Johnny with descriptions of the splendors there to be beheld, + till he felt as if he had really been, and had known all the famous + actors, from Humpty Dumpty to the great Salvini. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a flock of dirty children would stray into the court and ask + to see the "pretty picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy boy; for, + armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the beauties of + his gallery, feeling that he was a public benefactor when the poor babies + thanked him warmly, and promised to come again and bring all the nice + papers they could pick up. + </p> + <p> + These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had two sorrows,—one, a very + real one, his aching back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb the + wall and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderful + and delightful place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal court, with + no playmates and few comforts. + </p> + <p> + He amused himself with imagining how it looked over there, and nearly + every night added some new charm to this unseen country, when his mother + told him fairy tales to get him to sleep. He peopled it with the dear old + characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on the wall + was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. Blue-beard's wives + were hidden in the house of whose upper windows the boy could just catch + glimpses. Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove of chestnuts that + rustled over there; and Jack's Beanstalk grew up just such a wall as that, + he was sure. + </p> + <p> + But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood;" for he + was sure some lovely creature lived in that garden, and he longed to get + in to find and play with her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of damp + earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as strong a + ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny was so + impatient that he promised Patsey his best book "for his ownty-donty," if + he would climb up and report what was to be seen in that enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + "Faix, and I will, thin." And up went good-natured Pat, after laying an + old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all along + the top of the wall, and only cats and sparrows could walk there. + </p> + <p> + Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for Pat's Sunday best! The board + broke, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled + Johnny half out of his wits and brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler + to the rescue. + </p> + <p> + After this sad event Pat kept away for a time in high dudgeon, and Johnny + was more lonely than ever. But he was a cheery little soul, so he was + grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,—for the + March winds had brought him many treasures, and after April rains were + over, May sunshine made the court warm enough for him to be out nearly all + day. + </p> + <p> + "I'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this piece and told me about it, + and he'd like to help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, + one breezy morning, as he sat examining a big poster which the wind had + sent flying into his lap a few minutes before. + </p> + <p> + The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures represented the hero getting + out of prison by making holes in the wall, among other remarkable + performances. + </p> + <p> + "This is a jolly red one! Now, where will I put it to show best and not + spoil the other beauties?" + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around and surveyed his gallery with + as much pride and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders of art. + </p> + <p> + It really <i>was</i> quite splendid; for every sort of picture shone in + the sun,—simpering ladies, tragic scenes, circus parades, labels + from tin cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny + advertisements, and gay bills of all kinds. None were perfect, but they + were arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, Johnny thought. + </p> + <p> + Presently his eyes wandered from these treasures to the budding bushes + that nodded so tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran along the + top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; lilacs tossed their purple plumes + above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents + with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like + candles on a mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping gayly + everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh blue bow, basked on the coping of + the wall, and from the depths of the enchanted garden came a sweet voice + singing,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "And she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy." +</pre> + <p> + Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his finger to the little dent in his + own chin, wishing the singer would finish this pleasing song. But she + never did, though he often heard that, as well as other childish ditties, + sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the sound of + lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny longed + intensely to know who the singer was; for her music cheered his solitude, + and the mysterious sounds he heard in the garden increased his wonder and + his longing day by day. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where are you?" and Johnny was sure + "Fay" was short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard talking in a + strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A little + dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, and some + elfish bird scolded, screamed, and laughed so like a human being, that + Johnny felt sure that magic of some sort was at work next door. + </p> + <p> + A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the wall as of flowers, and the + poor boy imagined untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he tended + the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she had time + to stop and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, and tried to make + them out of colored paper, since he could have no sweeter sort. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited his curiosity to such a pitch + that once he hobbled painfully up the court till he could see into the + trees; and once his eager eyes caught glimpses of a little creature, all + blue and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, + and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched his + hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and would + have fallen if he had not caught by the shutter of a window so quickly + that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and when he could look up again, + the fairy had vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the leaves dancing + in the wind. + </p> + <p> + Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a fall, and every step cost + him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat + staring at the wall on that memorable May day. + </p> + <p> + "How I <i>should</i> like to peek in and see just how it all really looks! + It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it must be + splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller what you see?" + </p> + <p> + Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white cat purred politely; for she + liked the boy who never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But + Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy hunting-ground below; + and, to console himself for the disappointment, Johnny went back to his + new picture. + </p> + <p> + "Now, if this man in the play dug his way out through a wall ten feet + thick with a rusty nail and a broken knife, I don't see why I couldn't + pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's a + good place, and nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the hole. And + I'll try it, I declare I will!" + </p> + <p> + Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on a small scale, Johnny caught + up the old scissors in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar around a + brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. His mother smiled at + his energy, then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces with a heavy + heart,— + </p> + <p> + "Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he'd make his way in the world. + But now he's like to find a blank wall before him while he lives, and none + to help him over." + </p> + <p> + Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked on, wise as the cat in the + story, but offered no advice. The toad who lived behind the water-barrel + hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, like Jack waiting to + climb; and just then the noon bells began to ring as if they sang clear + and loud,— + </p> + <p> + "Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." + </p> + <p> + So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped and dug vigorously till the old + brick fell out, showing another behind it. Only pausing to take breath, he + caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, which soon + cleared the way and let the sunshine stream through, while the wind tossed + the lilacs like triumphal banners, and the jolly sparrows chirped,— + </p> + <p> + "Hail, the conquering hero comes!" + </p> + <p> + Rather scared by his unexpected success, the boy sat silent for a moment + to see what would happen. But all was still; and presently, with a beating + heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." He could + not see much; but that little increased his curiosity and delight, for it + seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the dust and noise and dingy + houses of the court. + </p> + <p> + A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay garments in the middle of a + grass-plot; a strange and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on a + golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the sun; and on a red carpet + under the trees lay the Princess, fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + "It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh of pleasure; "that's the + Sleeping Beauty, sure enough. There's the blue gown, the white fur-cloak + sweeping round, the pretty hair, and—yes—there's the old + nurse, spinning and nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother + got me when I cried because I couldn't go to see the play." + </p> + <p> + This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, and make him believe that + fairy tales <i>might</i> be true, after all, for how could he know that + the strange woman was an Italian servant, in her native dress, with a + distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took + another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A + basket of oranges stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung from a + limb of the tree to keep the wind off, and several books fluttered their + pictured leaves temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and read 'em and speak to 'em and + see all the splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked from one + delight to another, and felt shut out from all. "I can't go and wake her + like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, now I <i>can</i> + see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or holler, it might + scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows are too busy scolding one + another. I know! I'll fly a kite over, and that will please her any way. + Don't believe she has kites; girls never do." + </p> + <p> + Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a long string to his gayest + poster, and then fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished + in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh breezes blowing down the + court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with a strong + breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a moment on the + trees and then drop among the tulips, where its frantic struggles to + escape waked the dog, and set him to racing and barking, as Johnny + hurriedly let the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole. + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, and she clapped her hands + when Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, + with a long yawn, went away, carrying her distaff, like a gun, over her + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + "She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some more to send over. This will + come off, I'll poke it through, and maybe she will see it." + </p> + <p> + Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore from the wall his most cherished + picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he thrust it + through the hole and waited to see what followed. + </p> + <p> + Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer croak from the splendid bird, + which set the canaries to trilling sweetly. + </p> + <p> + "She don't see, maybe she will hear," said Johnny. And he began to whistle + like a mocking-bird; for this was his one accomplishment, and he was proud + of it. + </p> + <p> + Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter from the parrot, and then the + voice said,— + </p> + <p> + "No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I wonder where he is? Among the + bushes over there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him." + </p> + <p> + "Now she's coming!" And Johnny grew red in the face trying to give his + best trills and chirrups. + </p> + <p> + Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs rustled as if shaken, and + presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and then the little voice + exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,— + </p> + <p> + "Why, there's a hole! I never saw it before. Oh! I can see the street. How + nice! how nice!" + </p> + <p> + "She likes the hole! I wonder if she will like me?" And, emboldened by + these various successes, Johnny took another peep. This was the most + delicious one of all; for he looked right into a great blue eye, with + glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and red + lips below. It was like a flash of sunshine, and Johnny winked, as if + dazzled; for the eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the pretty + mouth broke into a laugh as the voice cried out delightedly,— + </p> + <p> + "I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!" + </p> + <p> + "I'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite trembling with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + "Did you make this nice hole?" + </p> + <p> + "I just poked a brick, and it fell out." + </p> + <p> + "Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?" + </p> + <p> + "No; it's me. I whistled." + </p> + <p> + "It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded the voice, as if used to give + orders. + </p> + <p> + Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of breath, a small hand came + through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could hold, + and the Princess graciously expressed her pleasure by saying,— + </p> + <p> + "I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. Here are some flowers for + you. Now we will talk. Are you a nice boy?" + </p> + <p> + This was a poser; and Johnny answered meekly, with his nose luxuriously + buried in the lovely flowers,— + </p> + <p> + "Not very,—I'm lame; I can't play like other fellers." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Porverino</i>!" sighed the little voice, full of pity; and, in a + moment, three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel + as if he really had slipped into fairy-land through that delightful hole. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, thank you! Aren't they just elegant? I never see such beauties," + stammered the poor boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they might + vanish away. + </p> + <p> + "You shall have as many as you like. Nanna will scold, but papa won't + mind. Tell me more. What do you do over there?" asked the child, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing but paste pictures and make books, when I don't ache too bad. I + used to help mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered + the boy, ashamed to mention how many laces he patiently picked or clapped, + since it was all he could do to help. + </p> + <p> + "If you like pictures, you shall come and see mine some day. I do a great + many. Papa shows me how. His are splendid. Do you draw or paint yours?" + </p> + <p> + "I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em on this wall or put 'em in + scrap-books. I can't draw, and I haven't got no paints," answered Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "You should say 'haven't any paints.' I will come and see you some day; + and if I like you, I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you want it?" + </p> + <p> + "Guess I do!" + </p> + <p> + "I think I <i>shall</i> like you; so I'll bring it when I come. Do you + ache much?" + </p> + <p> + "Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all day, and can't do a thing." + </p> + <p> + "Do you cry?" + </p> + <p> + "No! I'm too big for that. I whistle." + </p> + <p> + "I <i>know</i> I shall like you, because you are brave!" cried the + impetuous voice, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling + through the hole, as if the new acquaintance longed to do something to + help the "ache." + </p> + <p> + "Isn't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but mother can't afford 'em often." + And Johnny took one delicious taste on the spot. + </p> + <p> + "Then I shall give you many. We have loads at home, much finer than these. + Ah, you should see our garden there!" + </p> + <p> + "Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to ask; for there was a homesick + sound to the voice as it said those last words. + </p> + <p> + "In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while papa arranges his affairs; then + we go back, and I am happy." + </p> + <p> + "I should think you'd be happy in there. It looks real splendid to me, and + I've been longing to see it ever since I could come out." + </p> + <p> + "It's a dull place to me. I like better to be where it's always warm, and + people are more beautiful than here. Are <i>you</i> beautiful?" + </p> + <p> + "What queer questions she does ask!" And poor Johnny was so perplexed he + could only stammer, with a laugh,— + </p> + <p> + "I guess not. Boys don't care for looks." + </p> + <p> + "Peep, and let me see. I like pretty persons," commanded the voice. + </p> + <p> + "Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as he obeyed. But he liked it, + and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay was + pleased to say, after a long look at him,— + </p> + <p> + "No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are bright, and you look + pleasant, so I don't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness of + your face. I think you are good. I am sorry for you, and I shall lend you + a book to read when the pain comes." + </p> + <p> + "I couldn't wait for that if I had a book. I do <i>love</i> so to read!" + And Johnny laughed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; + for he seldom got one, being too poor to buy them, and too helpless to + enjoy the free libraries of the city. + </p> + <p> + "Then you shall have it <i>now</i>." And there was another quick rush in + the garden, followed by the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed + through the hole in the wall. + </p> + <p> + "This is the only one that will pass. You will like Hans Andersen's fairy + tales, I know. Keep it as long as you please. I have many more." + </p> + <p> + "You're so good! I wish I had something for you," said the boy, quite + overcome by this sweet friendliness. + </p> + <p> + "Let me see one of <i>your</i> books. They will be new to me. I'm tired of + all mine." + </p> + <p> + Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old boiler, and out came + half-a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to be crammed through the wall, with + the earnest request,— + </p> + <p> + "Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, but they're the best I've got. + I'll do some prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice pictures and + pieces." + </p> + <p> + "They look very interesting. I thank you. I shall go and read them now, + and then come and talk again. Addio, Giovanni." + </p> + <p> + "Good-by, Miss." + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the first interview of little Pyramus and Thisbe through the + hole in the wall, while puss sat up above and played moonshine with her + yellow eyes. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART2" id="link2H_PART2"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART II. + </h2> + <p> + After that day a new life began for Johnny, and he flourished like a poor + little plant that has struggled out of some dark corner into the sunshine. + All sorts of delightful things happened, and good times really seemed to + have come. The mysterious papa made no objection to the liberties taken + with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad to have his + little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to see the new + neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the affliction of the boy and the + gentle manners of the mother. She brought all the curtains of the house + for Mrs. Morris to do up, and in her pretty broken English praised + Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring Fay to see him some day. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the little people prattled daily together, and all manner of + things came and went between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and bonbons kept + Johnny in a state of bliss, and inspired him with such brilliant + inventions that the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise would come + next. Astonishing kites flew over the wall, and tissue balloons exploded + in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in that court; + for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because she liked it. + The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin bank to buy paper + and pictures for the gay little books he made for her. His side of the + wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; and, as the last offering his + grateful heart could give, he poked the toad through the hole, to live + among the lilies and eat the flies that began to buzz about her Highness + when she came to give her orders to her devoted subjects. + </p> + <p> + She always called the lad Giovanni, because she thought it a prettier name + than John; and she was never tired of telling stories, asking questions, + and making plans. The favorite one was what they would do when Johnny came + to see her, as she had been promised he should when papa was not too busy + to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; for Fay was a true artist's + child, and thought nothing so lovely as pictures. Johnny thought so, too, + and dreamed of the happy day when he should go and see the wonders his + little friend described so well. + </p> + <p> + "I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a lazy fit coming on, and then + he always plays with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he goes + out or smokes in the garden. So be ready; and if he says you can come, I + will have the flag up early and you can hurry." + </p> + <p> + These agreeable remarks were breathed into Johnny's willing ear about a + fortnight after the acquaintance began; and he hastened to promise, adding + soberly, a minute after,— + </p> + <p> + "Mother says she's afraid it will be too much for me to go around and up + steps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the pain + comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can only see the pictures—and + you." + </p> + <p> + "Won't you ever be any better? Nanna thinks you might." + </p> + <p> + "So does mother, if we had money to go away in the country, and eat nice + things; and have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use worrying." And + Johnny gave a great sigh. + </p> + <p> + "I wish papa was rich, then he would give you money. He works hard to make + enough to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but perhaps I can sell <i>my</i> + pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me sweets for + kisses; I will have money instead, and that will help. Yes, I shall do + it." And Fay clapped her hands decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you mind about it. I'm going to learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget + says he'll teach me. That doesn't need legs, and he gets enough to live on + very well." + </p> + <p> + "It isn't pretty work. Nanna can teach you to braid straw as she did at + home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says. I + shall speak to her about it, and you can try to-morrow when you come." + </p> + <p> + "I will. Do you really think I <i>can</i> come, then?" And Johnny stood up + to try his legs; for he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him. + </p> + <p> + "I will go at once and ask papa." + </p> + <p> + Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny + hobbling in to tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his only + jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes looked so shabby he feared to show + himself to the neighbors he so longed to see. + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah! I'm really going to-morrow. And you, too, mammy dear," cried the + boy, waving his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind; I'm used to it. Pull me up, and I'll rest while we talk about + it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, where he + forgot his pain in thinking of the delights in store for him. + </p> + <p> + Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, and Fay early at the hole, + but no Johnny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she returned + with the sad news that the poor boy was suffering much, and would not be + able to stir for some days. + </p> + <p> + "Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly. + </p> + <p> + "Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, so damp, so poor, it is enough + to break the heart," said Nanna, decidedly. + </p> + <p> + "If papa was here, he would let me go. I shall not play; I shall sit here + and make some plans for my poor boy." + </p> + <p> + Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and went to cook a nice bowl of + soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was more + remarkable, carried it out. + </p> + <p> + For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay in pain, and for a week Fay + worked quietly at her little easel in the corner of the studio, while her + father put the last touches to his fine picture, too busy to take much + notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, and the + great picture was done. So were the small ones; for as her father sat + resting after his work, Fay went to him, with a tired but happy face, and, + putting several drawings into his hand, told her cherished plan. + </p> + <p> + "Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar for every good copy I made of + the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. I want some + money very, very much. Could you pay for these?" + </p> + <p> + "They are excellent," said the artist, after carefully looking at them. + "You <i>have</i> tried, my good child, and here are your well-earned + dollars. What do you want them for?" + </p> + <p> + "To help my boy. I want him to come in here and see the pictures, and let + Nanna teach him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you will like him, + and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three quarters the + friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would that be enough to send poor + Giovanni into the country and have doctors?" + </p> + <p> + No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this queer jumble, because, being + absorbed in his work, he had never heard half the child had told him, and + had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, studying + the effect of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while Fay told him the + little story, and begged to know how much money it would take to make + Johnny's back well. + </p> + <p> + "Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would need more than I can spare or + you earn in a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what can + be done," answered papa, smoking comfortably, as he lay on the sofa in the + large studio at the top of the house. + </p> + <p> + "You say that about a great many things, papa. 'By and by' won't be long + enough to do all you promise then. I like <i>now</i> much better, and poor + Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I new frocks," + said Fay, stroking her father's tired forehead and looking at him with an + imploring face. + </p> + <p> + "My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in this soothing smoke I find + inspiration, and though you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so + wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy—later." He was going to + say "by and by" again, but paused just in time, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Then <i>I</i> shall take him to the country all myself. I cannot wait for + this hateful 'by and by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. Now, + now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with an indignant glance at the lazy + papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down many + stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna and scattering the salad as + if a whirlwind had gone by, and never paused for breath till she stood + before the garden wall with a little hatchet in her hand. + </p> + <p> + "This shall be the country for him till I get enough money to send him + away. I will show what <i>I</i> can do. He pulled out two bricks. <i>I</i> + will beat down the wall, and he <i>shall</i> come in at once," panted Fay; + and she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without + delay,—for she was an impetuous little creature, full of love and + pity for the poor boy pining for the fresh air and sunshine, of which she + had so much. + </p> + <p> + Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down came one brick after + another, till the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head + through; and being breathless by that time, she paused to rest and take a + look at Johnny's court. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her lettuce leaves and her wits, went to + see what the child was about; and finding her at work like a little fury, + the old woman hurried up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that his little + daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself under the ruins + of the wall. This report, delivered with groans and wringing of the hands, + roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, as he well knew that his + angel was a very energetic one, and capable of great destruction. + </p> + <p> + When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, a pile of bricks among the + lilies, and the feet of his child sticking out of a large hole in the + wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, + yet fearful that the stone coping might come down on her, he pulled her + back with the assurance that he would listen and help her now immediately, + if there was such need of haste. + </p> + <p> + But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; for it was bathed in tears, her + hands were bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot. + </p> + <p> + "My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, and he will do anything you + wish." + </p> + <p> + "No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' and now that I have seen it + all, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, look, + and see if it is not sad to live there all in pain and darkness, and so + poor." + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward the hole; and to please her he + looked, seeing the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and close by the + low room, where Johnny's mother worked all day, while the poor boy's pale + face was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for deliverance. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well, it <i>is</i> a pitiful case; and easily mended, since Fay is + so eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says, and nothing catching + about his illness. Nanna can tell me." + </p> + <p> + Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay to the seat, took her on his + knee, all flushed, dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by saying + tenderly,— + </p> + <p> + "Now let me hear all about it, and be sure I'll not forget. What shall I + do to please you, dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?" + </p> + <p> + Then Fay told her tale all over again; and being no longer busy, her + father found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking + into his, and the wounded hands clasped beseechingly as she pleaded for + poor Johnny. + </p> + <p> + "God bless your tender heart, child; you shall have him in here to-morrow, + and we will see what can be done for those pathetic legs of his. But + listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a grand + surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to show you + that I am in earnest, I will go this instant and begin the work. Come and + wash your face while I get on my boots, and then we will go together." + </p> + <p> + At these words Fay threw her arms about papa's neck and gave him many + grateful kisses, stopping in the midst to ask,— + </p> + <p> + "Truly, <i>now</i>?" + </p> + <p> + "See if it is not so." And putting her down, papa went off with great + strides, while she ran laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by + this agreeable energy on his part. + </p> + <p> + If Johnny had not been asleep in the back room, he would have seen strange + and pleasant sights that afternoon and evening; for something went on in + the court that delighted his mother, amused the artist, and made Fay the + happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next day, that + Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat up till + eleven to get his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had been to see + her, and became interested in the boy, as no one could help being when + they saw his patient little face. + </p> + <p> + So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels dug, and wonderful changes were + made, while Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent upon some + pretty prank, and papa quoted <i>Snout</i>, {Footnote: A character in + Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."} the tinker's parting words, as + appropriate to the hour,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Thus have I, wall, my part dischargèd so; + And, being done, thus wall away doth go." +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART3" id="link2H_PART3"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART III. + </h2> + <p> + A lovely Sunday morning dawned without a cloud; and even in the dingy + court the May sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes blew freshly + from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much + better, his mother consented, helping him to dress with such a bright face + and eager hands that the boy said innocently,— + </p> + <p> + "How glad you are when I get over a bad turn! I don't know what you'd do + if I ever got well." + </p> + <p> + "My poor dear, I begin to think you <i>will</i> pick up, now the good + weather has come and you have got a little friend to play with. God bless + her!" + </p> + <p> + Why his mother should suddenly hug him tight, and then brush his hair so + carefully, with tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was in such + a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hobble away to + see how his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a joyful "peek" at + the enchanted garden. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it was well she did; for he nearly + tumbled down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old familiar + wall after the good fairies Love and Pity had worked their pretty miracle + in the moonlight. + </p> + <p> + The ragged hole had changed to a little arched door, painted red. On + either side stood a green tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; from + the arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; and before the threshold + lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a childish hand. As + soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this splendid + transformation scene, Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft cushion had + been placed, and read his note, with little sighs of rapture at the + charming prospect opening before him. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + DEAR GIOVANNI,—Papa has made this nice gate, so you can come + in when you like and not be tired. We are to have two keys, and no one + else can open it. A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and + we can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. Papa did it, + and the men put up the door last night. I helped them, and did not go + in my bed till ten. It was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like + it. Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready. + + Your friend, + + FAY. +</pre> + <p> + "Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all that, mustn't she?" said + Johnny, leaning back to look at the dear door behind which lay such + happiness for him. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good fairy, and I just wish I + could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed little life," + answered Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor. + </p> + <p> + "You shall! you shall! Do come in! I cannot wait another minute!" cried an + eager little voice as the red door flew open; and there stood Fay, looking + very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of spring flowers + on her pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, while the brilliant + bird sat on her shoulder, and the little white dog danced about her feet. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "So she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy," +</pre> + <p> + sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked that song; and waving her + wand, she went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed + under the blooming arch into a new world, full of sunshine, liberty, and + sweet companionship. + </p> + <p> + Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot that happy day, for it was the + beginning of help and hope to both just when life seemed hardest and the + future looked darkest. + </p> + <p> + Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at the little party as they sat + under the chestnuts, Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden to their + guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor mother folded her + tired hands with unutterable content, and the boy looked like a happy soul + in heaven. + </p> + <p> + Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of bells and the feet of + church-goers, brooded over the city; sunshine made golden shadows on the + grass; the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods; and every + flower seemed to nod and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate to their + lovely home. + </p> + <p> + While the women talked together, Fay led Johnny up and down her little + world, showing all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the seats + that stood all about, and amusing him immensely by relating the various + fanciful plays with which she beguiled her loneliness. + </p> + <p> + "Now we can have much nicer ones; for you will tell me yours, and we can + do great things," she said, when she had displayed her big rocking-horse, + her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, where a fleet of toy boats lay at + anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land under the lilacs, + with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, that tossed one high + up among the green boughs, and the basket of white kittens, where Topaz, + the yellow-eyed cat, now purred with maternal pride. Books were piled on + the rustic table, and all the pictures Fay thought worthy to be seen. + </p> + <p> + Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the visitors could remember it was + noon and tear themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and oranges Johnny + never ate before; such delightful little tarts and Italian messes of + various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because served + in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee that + perfumed the air put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved herself + that the boy might be fed; and he drank milk till Nanna said, laughing, as + she refilled the pitcher,— + </p> + <p> + "He takes more than both the blessed lambs we used to feed for Saint Agnes + in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear child, to the + best we have; for he is as innocent and helpless as they." + </p> + <p> + "What does she mean?" whispered Johnny to Fay, rather abashed at having + forgotten his manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls of good milk + had given him. + </p> + <p> + So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, Fay told the pretty story + of the lambs who are dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied to their + snowy wool, and then raised with care till their fleeces are shorn to make + garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child thought, and went + on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's head was filled with a + splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint Peter's and apple-tarts, + holy lambs and red doors, ancient images and dear little girls, were + delightfully mixed. It all seemed like a fairy tale, and nothing was too + wonderful or lovely to happen on that memorable day. + </p> + <p> + So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding it impossible to keep away + from the happy little party any longer, Johnny decided at once that the + handsome man in the velvet coat was the king of the enchanted land, and + gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved to be; + for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on storming + the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny off, and catching him up, strode + away with the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the little girl danced + before to open doors and clear the way. + </p> + <p> + Johnny thought he couldn't be surprised any more; but when he had mounted + many stairs and found himself in a great room with a glass roof, full of + rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and pictures everywhere, he + just sat in the big chair where he was placed, and stared in silent + delight. + </p> + <p> + "This is papa's studio, and that the famous picture, and here is where I + work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said Fay, + skipping about to do the honors of the place. + </p> + <p> + "I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," answered Johnny, in a low tone, + as his eyes went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the windows to the + great sunny picture of a Roman garden, with pretty children at play among + the crumbling statues and fountains. + </p> + <p> + "I'm glad you like it, for we mean to have you come here a great deal. I + sit to papa very often, and get <i>so</i> tired; and you can talk to me, + and then you can see me draw and model in clay, and then we'll go in the + garden, and Nanna will show you how to make baskets, and <i>then</i> we'll + play." + </p> + <p> + Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming prospect, and for an hour + explored the mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and papa for an + amused spectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay had so + harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. He + assented to every plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to help these + poor neighbors; for he had a kind heart, and loved his little daughter + even more than his art. + </p> + <p> + When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to call Johnny away, he went + without a word, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining + with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, hungry for just such + pleasures, and never fed before. + </p> + <p> + After that day everything went smoothly, and both children blossomed like + the flowers in that pleasant garden, where the magic of love and pity, + fresh air and sunshine, soon worked miracles. Fay learned patience and + gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food Nanna + gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent very + happy days working and playing, sometimes under the trees, where the + pretty baskets were made, or in the studio, where both pairs of small + hands modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing pictures with + the artist's old brushes and discarded canvases. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in the house, and did up Fay's + frocks so daintily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her + head shone out from the fluted frills, like the yellow middle of a daisy + with its white petals all spread. + </p> + <p> + As he watched the children playing together, the artist, having no great + work in hand, made several pretty sketches of them, and then had a fine + idea of painting the garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It + pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made a + charming thing of it, putting in the cat, dog, bird, and toad as the + various characters in Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were the + elves, peeping and listening in all manner of merry, pretty ways. + </p> + <p> + He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," and it so pleased a certain rich + lady that she paid a large price for it; and then, discovering that it + told a true story, she generously added enough to send Johnny and his + mother to the country, when Fay and her father were ready to go. + </p> + <p> + But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had ever read of in his fairy + books, and to a happier life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In the + autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in sunny + Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint with a kind + master and a faithful young friend, who always rejoiced that she found and + delivered him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and + eating.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X. THE PIGGY GIRL. + </h2> + <p> + "I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" screamed little Betty, kicking and + slapping the maid who undressed her one night. + </p> + <p> + "You'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty child," said Maria, + scrubbing away at two very grubby hands. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I could! I love to be dirty,—I <i>will</i> be dirty!" roared + Betty, throwing the sponge out of the window and the soap under the table. + </p> + <p> + Maria could do nothing with her; so she bundled her into bed half wiped, + telling her to go to sleep right away. + </p> + <p> + "I won't! I'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's pigs, and have nothing to + do but eat and sleep, and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed any + more," said Betty to herself. + </p> + <p> + She lay thinking about it and blinking at the moon for a while; then she + got up very softly, and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, to + the sty where two nice little pigs were fast asleep among the straw in + their small house. They only grunted when Betty crept into a corner, + laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy and live here with no Maria + to wash her and no careful mamma to keep saying,— + </p> + <p> + "Put on a clean apron, dear!" + </p> + <p> + Next morning she was waked up by hearing Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the + trough. She lay very still till the woman was gone; then she crept out and + drank all she wanted, and took the best bits of cold potato and bread for + her breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till she was done. While + they ate and rooted in the dirt, Betty slept as long as she liked, with no + school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She liked it, and kept hidden till + night; then she went home, and opened the little window in the store + closet, and got in and took as many good things to eat and carry away as + she liked. She had a fine walk in her nightgown, and saw the flowers + asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the nest, and watched the + fireflies and moths at their pretty play. No one saw her but the cats; and + they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in the moonlight, and had + great fun. + </p> + <p> + When she was tired she went to sleep with the pigs, and dozed all the next + day, only coming out to eat and drink when the milk was brought and the + cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good care of her pigs, and gave them + clean straw often, and kept them as nice as she could. + </p> + <p> + Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and soon looked more like a pig + than a little girl; for her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never + combed, her face was never washed, and she loved to dig in the mud till + her hands looked like paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as the + pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, and squealed when they + crowded her, and quarrelled over the food, eating with her nose in the + trough like a real pig. At first she used to play about at night, and + steal things to eat; and people set traps to catch the thief in their + gardens, and the cook in her own house scolded about the rats that carried + off the cake and pies out of her pantry. But by and by she got too lazy + and fat to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and never left the + sty. She went on her hands and knees now, and began to wonder if a little + tail wouldn't grow and her nose change to a snout. + </p> + <p> + All summer she played be a pig, and thought it good fun; but when the + autumn came it was cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel + nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and began to wish she had a + fire to sit by and good buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go + home, and wondered what she should do after this silly frolic. She asked + the pigs how they managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she could + not remember what became of them, for the sty was always empty in cold + weather. + </p> + <p> + One dreadful night she found out. She was smuggled down between the great + fat piggies to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she was trying to + pull the straw over them when she heard Mr. Gleason say to his boy,— + </p> + <p> + "We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They are fat enough; so come and help + me sharpen the big knife." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear, what will become of <i>me</i>?" thought Betty, as she heard the + grindstone go round and round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I + look so like a pig they will kill me too, and make me into sausages if I + don't run away. I'm tired of playing piggy, and I'd rather be washed a + hundred times a day than be put in a pork barrel." + </p> + <p> + So she lay trembling till morning; then she ran through the garden and + found the back door open. It was very early, and no one saw her, for the + cook was in the shed getting wood to make her fire; so Betty slipped + upstairs to the nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when she saw in + the glass an ugly black creature, all rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, + and a little round nose covered with mud. + </p> + <p> + "Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I am!" And she could not spoil her + nice white bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good scrubbing. Next + she got a clean nightgown, and brushed her hair, and cut her long nails, + and looked like a tidy little girl again. + </p> + <p> + Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the pink cover and the lace + curtains, and fell fast asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft blankets, + and her own little pillow once more. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + "Come, darling, wake up and see the new frock I have got for you, and the + nice ruffled apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the cousins are coming + to dinner," said her mamma, with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek. + </p> + <p> + Betty started up, screaming,— + </p> + <p> + "Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I'm not a truly pig, I'm a little girl; + and if you'll let me run home, I'll never fret when I'm washed again." + </p> + <p> + "What is the dear child afraid of?" said mamma, cuddling her close, and + laughing to see Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the stuffy + sty. + </p> + <p> + She told her mother all about the queer time she had had, and was much + surprised to hear mamma say,— + </p> + <p> + "It was all a dream, dear; you have been safely asleep in your little bed + ever since you slapped poor Maria last night." + </p> + <p> + "Well, I'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made me love to be clean. Come, + Maria, soap and scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and scream ever + any more," cried Betty, skipping about, glad to be safe in her pleasant + home and no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar001.jpg b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8f6072 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar001.jpg diff --git a/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar001th.jpg b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar001th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22c003f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar001th.jpg diff --git a/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar005.jpg b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar005.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bebd326 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old-2024-02-12/7425-h/images/lar005.jpg 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Alcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Louisa Alcott Reader + A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School + +Author: Louisa M. Alcott + + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7425] +This file was first posted on April 28, 2003 +Last Updated: May 9, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + +THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER + +_A Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School_ + + +By Louisa M. Alcott + + + +[Illustration: "Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the +little tree."] + + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. A CHRISTMAS DREAM + +II. THE CANDY COUNTRY + +III. NAUGHTY JOCKO + +IV. THE SKIPPING SHOES + +V. COCKYLOO + +VI. ROSY'S JOURNEY + +VII. HOW THEY RAN AWAY + +VIII. THE FAIRY BOX + +IX. A HOLE IN THE WALL + +X. THE PIGGY GIRL + + + +[Illustration: She actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees."] + + + + +I. + +A CHRISTMAS DREAM, AND HOW IT CAME TRUE. + + +"I'm so tired of Christmas I wish there never would be another one!" +exclaimed a discontented-looking little girl, as she sat idly watching +her mother arrange a pile of gifts two days before they were to be +given. + +"Why, Effie, what a dreadful thing to say! You are as bad as old +Scrooge; and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, +if you don't care for dear Christmas," answered mamma, almost dropping +the silver horn she was filling with delicious candies. + +"Who was Scrooge? What happened to him?" asked Effie, with a glimmer of +interest in her listless face, as she picked out the sourest lemon-drop +she could find; for nothing sweet suited her just then. + +"He was one of Dickens's best people, and you can read the charming +story some day. He hated Christmas until a strange dream showed him how +dear and beautiful it was, and made a better man of him." + +"I shall read it; for I like dreams, and have a great many curious ones +myself. But they don't keep me from being tired of Christmas," said +Effie, poking discontentedly among the sweeties for something worth +eating. + +"Why are you tired of what should be the happiest time of all the year?" +asked mamma, anxiously. + +"Perhaps I shouldn't be if I had something new. But it is always the +same, and there isn't any more surprise about it. I always find heaps of +goodies in my stocking. Don't like some of them, and soon get tired of +those I do like. We always have a great dinner, and I eat too much, and +feel ill next day. Then there is a Christmas tree somewhere, with a doll +on top, or a stupid old Santa Claus, and children dancing and screaming +over bonbons and toys that break, and shiny things that are of no use. +Really, mamma, I've had so many Christmases all alike that I don't think +I _can_ bear another one." And Effie laid herself flat on the sofa, as +if the mere idea was too much for her. + +Her mother laughed at her despair, but was sorry to see her little girl +so discontented, when she had everything to make her happy, and had +known but ten Christmas days. + +"Suppose we don't give you _any_ presents at all,--how would that suit +you?" asked mamma, anxious to please her spoiled child. + +"I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, +to remember some very nice person by," said Effie, who was a fanciful +little body, full of odd whims and notions, which her friends loved to +gratify, regardless of time, trouble, or money; for she was the last of +three little girls, and very dear to all the family. + +"Well, my darling, I will see what I can do to please you, and not say a +word until all is ready. If I could only get a new idea to start with!" +And mamma went on tying up her pretty bundles with a thoughtful face, +while Effie strolled to the window to watch the rain that kept her +in-doors and made her dismal. + +"Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones. I can't go +out, and there is a girl about my age splashing along, without any maid +to fuss about rubbers and cloaks and umbrellas and colds. I wish I was a +beggar-girl." + +"Would you like to be hungry, cold, and ragged, to beg all day, and +sleep on an ash-heap at night?" asked mamma, wondering what would come +next. + +"Cinderella did, and had a nice time in the end. This girl out here has +a basket of scraps on her arm, and a big old shawl all round her, and +doesn't seem to care a bit, though the water runs out of the toes of her +boots. She goes paddling along, laughing at the rain, and eating a cold +potato as if it tasted nicer than the chicken and ice-cream I had for +dinner. Yes, I do think poor children are happier than rich ones." + +"So do I, sometimes. At the Orphan Asylum today I saw two dozen merry +little souls who have no parents, no home, and no hope of Christmas +beyond a stick of candy or a cake. I wish you had been there to see how +happy they were, playing with the old toys some richer children had sent +them." + +"You may give them all mine; I'm so tired of them I never want to +see them again," said Effie, turning from the window to the pretty +baby-house full of everything a child's heart could desire. + +"I will, and let you begin again with something you will not tire of, +if I can only find it." And mamma knit her brows trying to discover some +grand surprise for this child who didn't care for Christmas. + +Nothing more was said then; and wandering off to the library, Effie +found "A Christmas Carol," and curling herself up in the sofa corner, +read it all before tea. Some of it she did not understand; but she +laughed and cried over many parts of the charming story, and felt better +without knowing why. + +All the evening she thought of poor Tiny Tim, Mrs. Cratchit with the +pudding, and the stout old gentleman who danced so gayly that "his legs +twinkled in the air." Presently bedtime arrived. + +"Come, now, and toast your feet," said Effie's nurse, "while I do your +pretty hair and tell stories." + +"I'll have a fairy tale to-night, a very interesting one," commanded +Effie, as she put on her blue silk wrapper and little fur-lined slippers +to sit before the fire and have her long curls brushed. + +So Nursey told her best tales; and when at last the child lay down under +her lace curtains, her head was full of a curious jumble of Christmas +elves, poor children, snow-storms, sugarplums, and surprises. So it is +no wonder that she dreamed all night; and this was the dream, which she +never quite forgot. + +She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, +all alone. The snow was falling fast, a bitter wind whistled by, and +night was coming on. She felt hungry, cold, and tired, and did not know +where to go nor what to do. + +"I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it, +and wish somebody would come and take care of me. I don't know who I am, +and I think I must be lost," thought Effie, with the curious interest +one takes in one's self in dreams. + +But the more she thought about it, the more bewildered she felt. Faster +fell the snow, colder blew the wind, darker grew the night; and poor +Effie made up her mind that she was quite forgotten and left to freeze +alone. The tears were chilled on her cheeks, her feet felt like icicles, +and her heart died within her, so hungry, frightened, and forlorn was +she. Laying her head on her knees, she gave herself up for lost, and sat +there with the great flakes fast turning her to a little white mound, +when suddenly the sound of music reached her, and starting up, she +looked and listened with all her eyes and ears. + +Far away a dim light shone, and a voice was heard singing. She tried +to run toward the welcome glimmer, but could not stir, and stood like a +small statue of expectation while the light drew nearer, and the sweet +words of the song grew clearer. + + From our happy home + Through the world we roam + One week in all the year, + Making winter spring + With the joy we bring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Now the eastern star + Shines from afar + To light the poorest home; + Hearts warmer grow, + Gifts freely flow, + For Christmas-tide has come. + + Now gay trees rise + Before young eyes, + Abloom with tempting cheer; + Blithe voices sing, + And blithe bells ring, + For Christmas-tide is here. + + Oh, happy chime, + Oh, blessed time, + That draws us all so near! + "Welcome, dear day," + All creatures say, + For Christmas-tide is here. + +A child's voice sang, a child's hand carried the little candle; and in +the circle of soft light it shed, Effie saw a pretty child coming to her +through the night and snow. A rosy, smiling creature, wrapped in white +fur, with a wreath of green and scarlet holly on its shining hair, the +magic candle in one hand, and the other outstretched as if to shower +gifts and warmly press all other hands. + +Effie forgot to speak as this bright vision came nearer, leaving no +trace of footsteps in the snow, only lighting the way with its little +candle, and filling the air with the music of its song. + +"Dear child, you are lost, and I have come to find you," said the +stranger, taking Effie's cold hands in his, with a smile like sunshine, +while every holly berry glowed like a little fire. + +"Do you know me?" asked Effie, feeling no fear, but a great gladness, at +his coming. + +"I know all children, and go to find them; for this is my holiday, and +I gather them from all parts of the world to be merry with me once a +year." + +"Are you an angel?" asked Effie, looking for the wings. + +"No; I am a Christmas spirit, and live with my mates in a pleasant +place, getting ready for our holiday, when we are let out to roam about +the world, helping make this a happy time for all who will let us in. +Will you come and see how we work?" + +"I will go anywhere with you. Don't leave me again," cried Effie, +gladly. + +"First I will make you comfortable. That is what we love to do. You are +cold, and you shall be warm, hungry, and I will feed you; sorrowful, and +I will make you gay." + +With a wave of his candle all three miracles were wrought,--for the +snow-flakes turned to a white fur cloak and hood on Effie's head and +shoulders, a bowl of hot soup came sailing to her lips, and vanished +when she had eagerly drunk the last drop; and suddenly the dismal field +changed to a new world so full of wonders that all her troubles were +forgotten in a minute. + +Bells were ringing so merrily that it was hard to keep from dancing. +Green garlands hung on the walls, and every tree was a Christmas tree +full of toys, and blazing with candles that never went out. + +In one place many little spirits sewed like mad on warm clothes, turning +off work faster than any sewing-machine ever invented, and great piles +were made ready to be sent to poor people. Other busy creatures packed +money into purses, and wrote checks which they sent flying away on the +wind,--a lovely kind of snow-storm to fall into a world below full of +poverty. + +Older and graver spirits were looking over piles of little books, in +which the records of the past year were kept, telling how different +people had spent it, and what sort of gifts they deserved. Some got +peace, some disappointment, some remorse and sorrow, some great joy and +hope. The rich had generous thoughts sent them; the poor, gratitude and +contentment. Children had more love and duty to parents; and parents +renewed patience, wisdom, and satisfaction for and in their children. No +one was forgotten. + +"Please tell me what splendid place this is?" asked Effie, as soon as +she could collect her wits after the first look at all these astonishing +things. + +"This is the Christmas world; and here we work all the year round, never +tired of getting ready for the happy day. See, these are the saints +just setting off; for some have far to go, and the children must not be +disappointed." + +As he spoke the spirit pointed to four gates, out of which four great +sleighs were just driving, laden with toys, while a jolly old Santa +Claus sat in the middle of each, drawing on his mittens and tucking up +his wraps for a long cold drive. + +"Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a +humbug," cried Effie, astonished at the sight. + +"Never give up your faith in the sweet old stones, even after you come +to see that they are only the pleasant shadow of a lovely truth." + +Just then the sleighs went off with a great jingling of bells and +pattering of reindeer hoofs, while all the spirits gave a cheer that was +heard in the lower world, where people said, "Hear the stars sing." + +"I never will say there isn't any Santa Claus again. Now, show me more." + +"You will like to see this place, I think, and may learn something here +perhaps" + +The spirit smiled as he led the way to a little door, through which +Effie peeped into a world of dolls. Baby-houses were in full blast, with +dolls of all sorts going on like live people. Waxen ladies sat in their +parlors elegantly dressed; black dolls cooked in the kitchens; nurses +walked out with the bits of dollies; and the streets were full of tin +soldiers marching, wooden horses prancing, express wagons rumbling, and +little men hurrying to and fro. Shops were there, and tiny people buying +legs of mutton, pounds of tea, mites of clothes, and everything dolls +use or wear or want. + +But presently she saw that in some ways the dolls improved upon the +manners and customs of human beings, and she watched eagerly to learn +why they did these things. A fine Paris doll driving in her carriage +took up a black worsted Dinah who was hobbling along with a basket of +clean clothes, and carried her to her journey's end, as if it were +the proper thing to do. Another interesting china lady took off her +comfortable red cloak and put it round a poor wooden creature done up in +a paper shift, and so badly painted that its face would have sent some +babies into fits. + +"Seems to me I once knew a rich girl who didn't give her things to poor +girls. I wish I could remember who she was, and tell her to be as kind +as that china doll," said Effie, much touched at the sweet way the +pretty creature wrapped up the poor fright, and then ran off in her +little gray gown to buy a shiny fowl stuck on a wooden platter for her +invalid mother's dinner. + +"We recall these things to people's minds by dreams. I think the girl +you speak of won't forget this one." And the spirit smiled, as if he +enjoyed some joke which she did not see. + +A little bell rang as she looked, and away scampered the children into +the red-and-green school-house with the roof that lifted up, so one +could see how nicely they sat at their desks with mites of books, or +drew on the inch-square blackboards with crumbs of chalk. + +"They know their lessons very well, and are as still as mice. We make +a great racket at our school, and get bad marks every day. I shall tell +the girls they had better mind what they do, or their dolls will be +better scholars than they are," said Effie, much impressed, as she +peeped in and saw no rod in the hand of the little mistress, who looked +up and shook her head at the intruder, as if begging her to go away +before the order of the school was disturbed. + +Effie retired at once, but could not resist one look in at the window of +a fine mansion, where the family were at dinner, the children behaved so +well at table, and never grumbled a bit when their mamma said they could +not have any more fruit. + +"Now, show me something else," she said, as they came again to the low +door that led out of Doll-land. + +"You have seen how we prepare for Christmas; let me show you where we +love best to send our good and happy gifts," answered the spirit, giving +her his hand again. + +"I know. I've seen ever so many," began Effie, thinking of her own +Christmases. + +"No, you have never seen what I will show you. Come away, and remember +what you see to-night." + +Like a flash that bright world vanished, and Effie found herself in a +part of the city she had never seen before. It was far away from the +gayer places, where every store was brilliant with lights and full of +pretty things, and every house wore a festival air, while people hurried +to and fro with merry greetings. It was down among the dingy streets +where the poor lived, and where there was no making ready for Christmas. + +Hungry women looked in at the shabby shops, longing to buy meat and +bread, but empty pockets forbade. Tipsy men drank up their wages in the +bar-rooms; and in many cold dark chambers little children huddled under +the thin blankets, trying to forget their misery in sleep. + +No nice dinners filled the air with savory smells, no gay trees dropped +toys and bonbons into eager hands, no little stockings hung in rows +beside the chimney-piece ready to be filled, no happy sounds of music, +gay voices, and dancing feet were heard; and there were no signs of +Christmas anywhere. + +"Don't they have any in this place?" asked Effie, shivering, as she held +fast the spirit's hand, following where he led her. + +"We come to bring it. Let me show you our best workers." And the spirit +pointed to some sweet-faced men and women who came stealing into the +poor houses, working such beautiful miracles that Effie could only stand +and watch. + +Some slipped money into the empty pockets, and sent the happy mothers +to buy all the comforts they needed; others led the drunken men out of +temptation, and took them home to find safer pleasures there. Fires were +kindled on cold hearths, tables spread as if by magic, and warm clothes +wrapped round shivering limbs. Flowers suddenly bloomed in the chambers +of the sick; old people found themselves remembered; sad hearts were +consoled by a tender word, and wicked ones softened by the story of Him +who forgave all sin. + +But the sweetest work was for the children; and Effie held her breath to +watch these human fairies hang up and fill the little stockings without +which a child's Christmas is not perfect, putting in things that once +she would have thought very humble presents, but which now seemed +beautiful and precious because these poor babies had nothing. + +"That is so beautiful! I wish I could make merry Christmases as these +good people do, and be loved and thanked as they are," said Effie, +softly, as she watched the busy men and women do their work and steal +away without thinking of any reward but their own satisfaction. + +"You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how +happy your own holiday will be hereafter." + +As he spoke, the spirit seemed to put his arms about her, and vanished +with a kiss. + +"Oh, stay and show me more!" cried Effie, trying to hold him fast. + +"Darling, wake up, and tell me why you are smiling in your sleep," said +a voice in her ear; and opening her eyes, there was mamma bending over +her, and morning sunshine streaming into the room. + +"Are they all gone? Did you hear the bells? Wasn't it splendid?" she +asked, rubbing her eyes, and looking about her for the pretty child who +was so real and sweet. + +"You have been dreaming at a great rate,--talking in your sleep, +laughing, and clapping your hands as if you were cheering some one. Tell +me what was so splendid," said mamma, smoothing the tumbled hair and +lifting up the sleepy head. + +Then, while she was being dressed, Effie told her dream, and Nursey +thought it very wonderful; but mamma smiled to see how curiously things +the child had thought, read, heard, and seen through the day were mixed +up in her sleep. + +"The spirit said I could work lovely miracles if I tried; but I don't +know how to begin, for I have no magic candle to make feasts appear, and +light up groves of Christmas trees, as he did," said Effie, sorrowfully. + +"Yes, you have. We will do it! we will do it!" And clapping her hands, +mamma suddenly began to dance all over the room as if she had lost her +wits. + +"How? how? You must tell me, mamma," cried Effie, dancing after her, and +ready to believe anything possible when she remembered the adventures of +the past night. + +"I've got it! I've got it!--the new idea. A splendid one, if I can only +carry it out!" And mamma waltzed the little girl round till her curls +flew wildly in the air, while Nursey laughed as if she would die. + +"Tell me! tell me!" shrieked Effie. "No, no; it is a surprise,--a grand +surprise for Christmas day!" sung mamma, evidently charmed with her +happy thought. "Now, come to breakfast; for we must work like bees if we +want to play spirits tomorrow. You and Nursey will go out shopping, and +get heaps of things, while I arrange matters behind the scenes." + +They were running downstairs as mamma spoke, and Effie called out +breathlessly,-- + +"It won't be a surprise; for I know you are going to ask some poor +children here, and have a tree or something. It won't be like my dream; +for they had ever so many trees, and more children than we can find +anywhere." + +"There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and +no presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?" And mamma laughed at +Effie's bewildered face. + +"Do it. I shall like it, I think; and I won't ask any questions, so it +will all burst upon me when the time comes," she said; and she ate +her breakfast thoughtfully, for this really would be a new sort of +Christmas. + +All that morning Effie trotted after Nursey in and out of shops, +buying dozens of barking dogs, woolly lambs, and squeaking birds; tiny +tea-sets, gay picture-books, mittens and hoods, dolls and candy. Parcel +after parcel was sent home; but when Effie returned she saw no trace of +them, though she peeped everywhere. Nursey chuckled, but wouldn't give +a hint, and went out again in the afternoon with a long list of more +things to buy; while Effie wandered forlornly about the house, missing +the usual merry stir that went before the Christmas dinner and the +evening fun. + +As for mamma, she was quite invisible all day, and came in at night so +tired that she could only lie on the sofa to rest, smiling as if some +very pleasant thought made her happy in spite of weariness. + +"Is the surprise going on all right?" asked Effie, anxiously; for it +seemed an immense time to wait till another evening came. + +"Beautifully! better than I expected; for several of my good friends are +helping, or I couldn't have done it as I wish. I know you will like it, +dear, and long remember this new way of making Christmas merry." + +Mamma gave her a very tender kiss, and Effie went to bed. + + * * * * * + +The next day was a very strange one; for when she woke there was no +stocking to examine, no pile of gifts under her napkin, no one said +"Merry Christmas!" to her, and the dinner was just as usual to her. +Mamma vanished again, and Nursey kept wiping her eyes and saying: "The +dear things! It's the prettiest idea I ever heard of. No one but your +blessed ma could have done it." + +"Do stop, Nursey, or I shall go crazy because I don't know the secret!" +cried Effie, more than once; and she kept her eye on the clock, for at +seven in the evening the surprise was to come off. + +The longed-for hour arrived at last, and the child was too excited +to ask questions when Nurse put on her cloak and hood, led her to the +carriage, and they drove away, leaving their house the one dark and +silent one in the row. + +"I feel like the girls in the fairy tales who are led off to strange +places and see fine things," said Effie, in a whisper, as they jingled +through the gay streets. + +"Ah, my deary, it _is_ like a fairy tale, I do assure you, and you +_will_ see finer things than most children will tonight. Steady, now, +and do just as I tell you, and don't say one word whatever you see," +answered Nursey, quite quivering with excitement as she patted a large +box in her lap, and nodded and laughed with twinkling eyes. + +They drove into a dark yard, and Effie was led through a back door to a +little room, where Nurse coolly proceeded to take off not only her cloak +and hood, but her dress and shoes also. Effie stared and bit her lips, +but kept still until out of the box came a little white fur coat and +boots, a wreath of holly leaves and berries, and a candle with a frill +of gold paper round it. A long "Oh!" escaped her then; and when she +was dressed and saw herself in the glass, she started back, exclaiming, +"Why, Nursey, I look like the spirit in my dream!" + +"So you do; and that's the part you are to play, my pretty! Now whist, +while I blind your eyes and put you in your place." + +"Shall I be afraid?" whispered Effie, full of wonder; for as they went +out she heard the sound of many voices, the tramp of many feet, and, +in spite of the bandage, was sure a great light shone upon her when she +stopped. + +"You needn't be; I shall stand close by, and your ma will be there." + +After the handkerchief was tied about her eyes, Nurse led Effie up some +steps, and placed her on a high platform, where something like leaves +touched her head, and the soft snap of lamps seemed to fill the air. + +Music began as soon as Nurse clapped her hands, the voices outside +sounded nearer, and the tramp was evidently coming up the stairs. + +"Now, my precious, look and see how you and your dear ma have made a +merry Christmas for them that needed it!" + +Off went the bandage; and for a minute Effie really did think she was +asleep again, for she actually stood in "a grove of Christmas trees," +all gay and shining as in her vision. Twelve on a side, in two rows +down the room, stood the little pines, each on its low table; and behind +Effie a taller one rose to the roof, hung with wreaths of popcorn, +apples, oranges, horns of candy, and cakes of all sorts, from sugary +hearts to gingerbread Jumbos. On the smaller trees she saw many of her +own discarded toys and those Nursey bought, as well as heaps that seemed +to have rained down straight from that delightful Christmas country +where she felt as if she was again. + +"How splendid! Who is it for? What is that noise? Where is mamma?" cried +Effie, pale with pleasure and surprise, as she stood looking down the +brilliant little street from her high place. + +Before Nurse could answer, the doors at the lower end flew open, and in +marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly, +until amazement changed the song to cries of joy and wonder as the +shining spectacle appeared. While they stood staring with round eyes +at the wilderness of pretty things about them, mamma stepped up beside +Effie, and holding her hand fast to give her courage, told the story of +the dream in a few simple words, ending in this way:-- + +"So my little girl wanted to be a Christmas spirit too, and make this +a happy day for those who had not as many pleasures and comforts as she +has. She likes surprises, and we planned this for you all. She shall +play the good fairy, and give each of you something from this tree, +after which every one will find her own name on a small tree, and can +go to enjoy it in her own way. March by, my dears, and let us fill your +hands." + +Nobody told them to do it, but all the hands were clapped heartily +before a single child stirred; then one by one they came to look up +wonderingly at the pretty giver of the feast as she leaned down to offer +them great yellow oranges, red apples, bunches of grapes, bonbons, and +cakes, till all were gone, and a double row of smiling faces turned +toward her as the children filed back to their places in the orderly way +they had been taught. + +Then each was led to her own tree by the good ladies who had helped +mamma with all their hearts; and the happy hubbub that arose would have +satisfied even Santa Claus himself,--shrieks of joy, dances of delight, +laughter and tears (for some tender little things could not bear so much +pleasure at once, and sobbed with mouths full of candy and hands full +of toys). How they ran to show one another the new treasures! how they +peeped and tasted, pulled and pinched, until the air was full of queer +noises, the floor covered with papers, and the little trees left bare of +all but candles! + +"I don't think heaven can be any gooder than this," sighed one small +girl, as she looked about her in a blissful maze, holding her full apron +with one hand, while she luxuriously carried sugar-plums to her mouth +with the other. + +"Is that a truly angel up there?" asked another, fascinated by the +little white figure with the wreath on its shining hair, who in some +mysterious way had been the cause of all this merry-making. + +"I wish I dared to go and kiss her for this splendid party," said a lame +child, leaning on her crutch, as she stood near the steps, wondering +how it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing, while she +watched the happy scene before her. + +Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms +about the pale child, kissing the wistful face, as she said sweetly, +"You may; but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed +about it." + +Lame Katy felt as if "a truly angel" was embracing her, and could only +stammer out her thanks, while the other children ran to see the pretty +spirit, and touch her soft dress, until she stood in a crowd of blue +gowns laughing as they held up their gifts for her to see and admire. + +Mamma leaned down and whispered one word to the older girls; and +suddenly they all took hands to dance round Effie, singing as they +skipped. + +It was a pretty sight, and the ladies found it hard to break up the +happy revel; but it was late for small people, and too much fun is a +mistake. So the girls fell into line, and marched before Effie and mamma +again, to say goodnight with such grateful little faces that the eyes of +those who looked grew dim with tears. Mamma kissed every one; and many +a hungry childish heart felt as if the touch of those tender lips was +their best gift. Effie shook so many small hands that her own tingled; +and when Katy came she pressed a small doll into Effie's hand, +whispering, "You didn't have a single present, and we had lots. Do keep +that; it's the prettiest thing I got." + +"I will," answered Effie, and held it fast until the last smiling face +was gone, the surprise all over, and she safe in her own bed, too tired +and happy for anything but sleep. + +"Mamma, it was a beautiful surprise, and I thank you so much! I don't +see how you did it; but I like it best of all the Christmases I ever +had, and mean to make one every year. I had my splendid big present, and +here is the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that +part of my wish came true." + +And Effie fell asleep with a happy smile on her lips, her one humble +gift still in her hand, and a new love for Christmas in her heart that +never changed through a long life spent in doing good. + + +[Illustration: "Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her.] + + + + +II. + +THE CANDY COUNTRY. + + +"I shall take mamma's red sun-umbrella, it is so warm, and none of the +children at school will have one like it," said Lily, one day, as she +went through the hall. + +"The wind is very high; I'm afraid you'll be blown away if you carry +that big thing," called Nurse from the window, as the red umbrella went +bobbing down the garden walk with a small girl under it. + +"I wish it would; I always wanted to go up in a balloon," answered Lily, +as she struggled out of the gate. + +She got on very well till she came to the bridge and stopped to look +over the railing at the water running by so fast, and the turtles +sunning themselves on the rocks. Lily was fond of throwing stones at +them; it was so funny to watch them tumble, heels over head, splash into +the water. Now, when she saw three big fellows close by, she stooped for +a stone, and just at that minute a gale of wind nearly took the +umbrella out of her hand. She clutched it fast; and away she went like +a thistle-down, right up in the air, over river and hill, houses and +trees, faster and faster, till her head spun round, her breath was all +gone, and she had to let go. The dear red umbrella flew away like a +leaf; and Lily fell down, down, till she went crash into a tree which +grew in such a curious place that she forgot her fright as she sat +looking about her, wondering what part of the world it could be. + +The tree looked as if made of glass or colored sugar; for she could see +through the red cherries, the green leaves, and the brown branches. An +agreeable smell met her nose; and she said at once, as any child +would, "I smell candy!" She picked a cherry and ate it. Oh, how good it +was!--all sugar and no stone. The next discovery was such a delightful +one that she nearly fell off her perch; for by touching her tongue here +and there, she found that the whole tree was made of candy. Think what +fun to sit and break off twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and +leaves that tasted like peppermint and sassafras! + +Lily rocked and ate till she finished the top of the little tree; +then she climbed down and strolled along, making more surprising and +agreeable discoveries as she went. + +What looked like snow under her feet was white sugar; the rocks were +lumps of chocolate, the flowers of all colors and tastes; and every +sort of fruit grew on these delightful trees. Little white houses soon +appeared; and here lived the dainty candy-people, all made of the best +sugar, and painted to look like real people. + +Dear little men and women, looking as if they had stepped off of wedding +cakes and bonbons, went about in their gay sugar clothes, laughing +and talking in the sweetest voices. Bits of babies rocked in open-work +cradles, and sugar boys and girls played with sugar toys in the most +natural way. Carriages rolled along the jujube streets, drawn by the +red and yellow barley horses we all love so well; cows fed in the green +fields, and sugar birds sang in the trees. + +Lily listened, and in a moment she understood what the song said,-- + + "Sweet! Sweet! + Come, come and eat, + Dear little girls + With yellow curls; + For here you'll find + Sweets to your mind. + On every tree + Sugar-plums you'll see; + In every dell + Grows the caramel. + Over every wall + Gum-drops fall; + Molasses flows + Where our river goes + Under your feet + Lies sugar sweet; + Over your head + Grow almonds red. + Our lily and rose + Are not for the nose; + Our flowers we pluck + To eat or suck + And, oh! what bliss + When two friends kiss, + For they honey sip + From lip to lip! + And all you meet, + In house or street, + At work or play, + Sweethearts are they. + So, little dear, + Pray feel no fear; + Go where you will; + Eat, eat your fill. + Here is a feast + From west to east; + And you can say, + Ere you go away, + 'At last I stand + In dear Candy-land, + And no more can stuff; + For once I've enough.' + Sweet! Sweet! + Tweet! Tweet! + Tweedle-dee! + Tweedle-dee!" + +"That is the most interesting song I ever heard," said Lily, clapping +her sticky hands and dancing along toward a fine palace of white cream +candy, with pillars of striped peppermint stick, and a roof of frosting +that made it look like the Milan Cathedral. + +"I'll live here, and eat candy all day long, with no tiresome school or +patchwork to spoil my fun," said Lily. + +So she ran up the chocolate steps into the pretty rooms, where all the +chairs and tables were of different colored candies, and the beds +of spun sugar. A fountain of lemonade supplied drink; and floors +of ice-cream that never melted kept people and things from sticking +together, as they would have done had it been warm. + +For a long while Lily was quite happy, going about tasting so many +different kinds of sweeties, talking to the little people, who were very +amiable, and finding out curious things about them and their country. + +The babies were made of plain sugar, but the grown people had different +flavors. The young ladies were flavored with violet, rose, and orange; +the gentlemen were apt to have cordials of some sort inside of them, as +she found when she ate one now and then slyly, and got her tongue +bitten by the hot, strong taste as a punishment The old people tasted of +peppermint, clove, and such comfortable things, good for pain; but the +old maids had lemon, hoarhound, flag-root, and all sorts of sour, bitter +things in them, and did not get eaten much. Lily soon learned to know +the characters of her new friends by a single taste, and some she +never touched but once. The dear babies melted in her mouth, and the +delicately flavored young ladies she was very fond of. Dr. Ginger was +called to her more than once when so much candy made her teeth ache, and +she found him a very hot-tempered little man; but he stopped the pain, +so she was glad to see him. + +A lime-drop boy and a little pink checker-berry girl were her favorite +playmates; and they had fine times making mud-pies by scraping the +chocolate rocks and mixing this dust with honey from the wells near by. +These they could eat; and Lily thought this much better than throwing +away the pies, as she had to do at home. They had candy-pulls very +often, and made swings of long loops of molasses candy, and bird's-nests +with almond eggs, out of which came birds who sang sweetly. They played +football with big bull's-eyes, sailed in sugar boats on lakes of syrup, +fished in rivers of molasses, and rode the barley horses all over the +country. + +Lily discovered that it never rained, but snowed white sugar. There was +no sun, as it would have been too hot; but a large yellow lozenge made a +nice moon, and red and white comfits were the stars. + +The people all lived on sugar, and never quarrelled. No one was ill; and +if any got broken, as sometimes happened with such brittle creatures, +they just stuck the parts together and were all right again. The way +they grew old was to get thinner and thinner till there was danger of +their vanishing. Then the friends of the old person put him in a neat +coffin, and carried him to the great golden urn which stood in their +largest temple, always full of a certain fine syrup; and here he was +dipped and dipped till he was stout and strong again, and went home to +enjoy himself for a long time as good as new. + +This was very interesting to Lily, and she went to many funerals. But +the weddings were better still; for the lovely white brides were so +sweet Lily longed to eat them. The feasts were delicious; and everybody +went in their best clothes, and danced at the ball till they got so warm +half-a-dozen would stick together and have to be taken to the ice-cream +room to cool off. Then the little pair would drive away in a fine +carriage with white horses to a new palace in some other part of the +country, and Lily would have another pleasant place to visit. + +But by and by, when she had seen everything, and eaten so much sweet +stuff that at last she longed for plain bread and butter, she began to +get cross, as children always do when they live on candy; and the little +people wished she would go away, for they were afraid of her. No wonder, +when she would catch up a dear sugar baby and eat him, or break some +respectable old grandmamma all into bits because she reproved her for +naughty ways. Lily calmly sat down on the biggest church, crushing it +flat, and even tried to poke the moon out of the sky in a pet one day. +The king ordered her to go home; but she said, "I won't!" and bit his +head off, crown and all. + +Such a wail went up at this awful deed that she ran away out of the +city, fearing some one would put poison in her candy, since she had no +other food. + +"I suppose I shall get somewhere if I keep walking; and I can't starve, +though I hate the sight of this horrid stuff," she said to herself, as +she hurried over the mountains of Gibraltar Rock that divided the city +of Saccharissa from the great desert of brown sugar that lay beyond. + +Lily marched bravely on for a long time, and saw at last a great smoke +in the sky, smelt a spicy smell, and felt a hot wind blowing toward her. + +"I wonder if there are sugar savages here, roasting and eating some +poor traveller like me," she said, thinking of Robinson Crusoe and other +wanderers in strange lands. + +She crept carefully along till she saw a settlement of little huts very +like mushrooms, for they were made of cookies set on lumps of the brown +sugar; and queer people, looking as if made of gingerbread, were working +very busily round several stoves which seemed to bake at a great rate. + +"I'll creep nearer and see what sort of people they are before I show +myself," said Lily, going into a grove of spice-trees, and sitting down +on a stone which proved to be the plummy sort of cake we used to call +Brighton Rock. + +Presently one of the tallest men came striding toward the trees with a +pan, evidently after spice; and before she could run, he saw Lily. + +"Hollo, what do you want?" he asked, staring at her with his black +currant eyes, while he briskly picked the bark off a cinnamon-tree. + +"I'm travelling, and would like to know what place this is, if you +please," answered Lily, very politely, being a little frightened. + +"Cake-land. Where do you come from?" asked the gingerbread man, in a +crisp tone of voice. + +"I was blown into the Candy country, and have been there a long time; +but I got tired of it, and ran away to find something better." + +"Sensible child!" and the man smiled till Lily thought his cheeks would +crumble. "You'll get on better here with us Brownies than with the lazy +Bonbons, who never work and are all for show. They won't own us, though +we are all related through our grandparents Sugar and Molasses. We are +busy folks; so they turn up their noses and don't speak when we meet at +parties. Poor creatures, silly and sweet and unsubstantial! I pity 'em." + +"Could I make you a visit? I'd like to see how you live, and what you +do. I'm sure it must be interesting," said Lily, picking herself up +after a tumble, having eaten nearly all the stone, she was so hungry. + +"I know you will. Come on! I can talk while I work." And the funny +gingerbread man trotted off toward his kitchen, full of pans, +rolling-pins, and molasses jugs. + +"Sit down. I shall be at leisure as soon as this batch is baked. There +are still some wise people down below who like gingerbread, and I have +my hands full," he said, dashing about, stirring, rolling out, and +slapping the brown dough into pans, which he whisked into the oven and +out again so fast that Lily knew there must be magic about it somewhere. + +Every now and then he threw her a delicious cooky warm from the oven. +She liked the queer fellow, and presently began to talk, being very +curious about this country. + +"What is your name, sir?" + +"Ginger Snap." + +Lily thought it a good one; for he was very quick, and she fancied he +could be short and sharp if he liked. + +"Where does all this cake go to?" she asked, after watching the other +kitchens full of workers, who were all of different kinds of cake, and +each set of cooks made its own sort. + +"I'll show you by and by," answered Snap, beginning to pile up the heaps +of gingerbread on a little car that ran along a track leading to some +unknown storeroom, Lily thought. + +"Don't you get tired of doing this all the time?" + +"Yes; but I want to be promoted, and I never shall be till I've done my +best, and won the prize here." + +"Oh, tell me about it! What is the prize, and how are you promoted? Is +this a cooking-school?" + +"Yes; the prize for best gingerbread is a cake of condensed yeast. That +puts a soul into me, and I begin to rise till I am able to go over the +hills yonder into the blessed land of bread, and be one of the happy +creatures who are always wholesome, always needed, and without which the +world below would be in a bad way." + +"Bless me! that is the queerest thing I've heard yet. But I don't wonder +you want to go; I'm tired of sweets myself, and long for a good piece of +bread, though I used to want cake and candy at home." + +"Ah, my dear, you'll learn a good deal here; and you are lucky not to +have got into the clutches of Giant Dyspepsia, who always gets people if +they eat too much of such rubbish and scorn wholesome bread. I leave my +ginger behind when I go, and get white and round and beautiful, as you +will see. The Gingerbread family have never been as foolish as some of +the other cakes. Wedding is the worst; such extravagance in the way of +wine and spice and fruit I never saw, and such a mess to eat when it's +done! I don't wonder people get sick; serves 'em right." And Snap flung +down a pan with such a bang that it made Lily jump. + +"Sponge cake isn't bad, is it? Mamma lets me eat it, but I like frosted +pound better," she said, looking over to the next kitchen, where piles +of that sort of cake were being iced. + +"Poor stuff. No substance. Ladies' fingers will do for babies, but pound +has too much butter ever to be healthy. Let it alone, and eat cookies or +seed-cakes, my dear. Now, come along; I'm ready." And Snap trundled away +his car-load at a great pace. + +Lily ran behind to pick up whatever fell, and looked about her as she +went, for this was certainly a very queer country. Lakes of eggs all +beaten up, and hot springs of saleratus foamed here and there ready for +use. The earth was brown sugar or ground spice; and the only fruits +were raisins, dried currants, citron, and lemon peel. It was a very busy +place; for every one cooked all the time, and never failed and never +seemed tired, though they got so hot that they only wore sheets of paper +for clothes. There were piles of it to put over the cake, so that it +shouldn't burn; and they made cook's white caps and aprons of it, and +looked very nice. A large clock made of a flat pancake, with cloves to +mark the hours and two toothpicks for hands, showed them how long to +bake things; and in one place an ice wall was built round a lake of +butter, which they cut in lumps as they wanted it. + +"Here we are. Now, stand away while I pitch 'em down," said Snap, +stopping at last before a hole in the ground where a dumbwaiter hung +ready, with a name over it. + +There were many holes all round, and many waiters, each with its name; +and Lily was amazed when she read "Weber," "Copeland," "Dooling," and +others, which she knew very well. + +Over Snap's place was the name "Newmarch;" and Lily said, "Why, that's +where mamma gets her hard gingerbread, and Weber's is where we go for +ice-cream. Do _you_ make cake for them?" + +"Yes, but no one knows it. It's one of the secrets of the trade. We cook +for all the confectioners, and people think the good things come out of +the cellars under their saloons. Good joke, isn't it?" And Snap laughed +till a crack came in his neck and made him cough. + +Lily was so surprised she sat down on a warm queen's cake that happened +to be near, and watched Snap send down load after load of gingerbread +to be eaten by children, who would have liked it much better if they had +only known where it came from, as she did. + +As she sat, the clatter of many spoons, the smell of many dinners, and +the sound of many voices calling, "One vanilla, two strawberries, and a +Charlotte Russe," "Three stews, cup coffee, dry toast," "Roast chicken +and apple without," came up the next hole, which was marked "Copeland." + +"Dear me! it seems as if I was there," said Lily, longing to hop down, +but afraid of the bump at the other end. + +"I'm done. Come along, I'll ride you back," called Snap, tossing the +last cooky after the dumb-waiter as it went slowly out of sight with its +spicy load. + +"I wish you'd teach me to cook. It looks great fun, and mamma wants me +to learn; only our cook hates to have me mess round, and is so cross +that I don't like to try at home," said Lily, as she went trundling +back. + +"Better wait till you get to Bread-land, and learn to make that. It's +a great art, and worth knowing. Don't waste your time on cake, though +plain gingerbread isn't bad to have in the house. I'll teach you that in +a jiffy, if the clock doesn't strike my hour too soon," answered Snap, +helping her down. + +"What hour?" + +"Why, of my freedom. I never know when I've done my task till I'm called +by the chimes and go to get my soul," said Snap, turning his currant +eyes anxiously to the clock. + +"I hope you _will_ have time." And Lily fell to work with all her might, +after Snap had put on her a paper apron and a cap like his. + +It was not hard; for when she was going to make a mistake a spark flew +out of the fire and burnt her in time to remind her to look at the +receipt, which was a sheet of gingerbread in a frame of pie-crust hung +up before her, with the directions written while it was soft and baked +in. The third sheet she made came out of the oven spicy, light, and +brown; and Snap, giving it one poke, said, "That's all right. Now you +know. Here's your reward." + +He handed her a receipt-book made of thin sheets of sugar-gingerbread +held together by a gelatine binding, with her name stamped on the back, +and each leaf crimped with a cake-cutter in the most elegant manner. + +Lily was charmed with it, but had no time to read all it contained; for +just then the clock began to strike, and a chime of bells to ring,-- + + "Gingerbread, + Go to the head. + Your task is done; + A soul is won. + Take it and go + Where muffins grow, + Where sweet loaves rise + To the very skies, + And biscuits fair + Perfume the air. + Away, away! + Make no delay; + In the sea of flour + Plunge this hour. + Safe in your breast + Let the yeast-cake rest, + Till you rise in joy, + A white bread boy!" + +"Ha, ha! I'm free! I'm free!" cried Snap, catching up the silver-covered +square that seemed to fall from heaven; and running to a great white sea +of flour, he went in head first, holding the yeast-cake clasped to his +breast as if his life depended on it. + +Lily watched breathlessly, while a curious working and bubbling went on, +as if Snap was tumbling about down there like a small earthquake. The +other cake-folk stood round the shore with her; for it was a great +event, and all were glad that the dear fellow was promoted so soon. +Suddenly a cry was heard, and up rose a beautiful white figure on the +farther side of the sea. It moved its hand, as if saying "Good-by," and +ran over the hills so fast they had only time to see how plump and fair +he was, with a little knob on the top of his head like a crown. + +"He's gone to the happy land, and we shall miss him; but we'll follow +his example and soon find him again," said a gentle Sponge cake, with +a sigh, as all went back to their work; while Lily hurried after Snap, +eager to see the new country, which was the best of all. + +A delicious odor of fresh bread blew up from the valley as she stood +on the hill-top and looked down on the peaceful scene below. Fields of +yellow grain waved in the breeze; hop-vines grew from tree to tree; and +many windmills whirled their white sails as they ground the different +grains into fresh, sweet meal, for the loaves of bread that built the +houses like bricks and paved the streets, or in many shapes formed +the people, furniture, and animals. A river of milk flowed through the +peaceful land, and fountains of yeast rose and fell with a pleasant foam +and fizz. The ground was a mixture of many meals, and the paths were +golden Indian, which gave a very gay look to the scene. Buckwheat +flowers bloomed on their rosy stems, and tall corn-stalks rustled their +leaves in the warm air that came from the ovens hidden in the hillsides; +for bread needs a slow fire, and an obliging volcano did the baking +here. + +"What a lovely place!" cried Lily, feeling the charm of the homelike +landscape, in spite of the funny plump people moving about. + +Two of these figures came running to meet her as she slowly walked down +the yellow path from the hill. One was a golden boy, with a beaming +face; the other a little girl in a shiny brown cloak, who looked as if +she would taste very nice. They each put a warm hand into Lily's, and +the boy said,-- + +"We are glad to see you. Muffin told us you were coming." + +"Thank you. Who is Muffin?" asked Lily, feeling as if she had seen both +these little people before, and liked them. + +"He was Ginger Snap once, but he's a Muffin now. We begin in that way, +and work up to the perfect loaf by degrees. My name is Johnny Cake, and +she's Sally Lunn. You know us; so come on and have a race." + +Lily burst out laughing at the idea of playing with these old friends of +hers; and all three ran away as fast as they could tear, down the hill, +over a bridge, into the middle of the village, where they stopped, +panting, and sat down on some very soft rolls to rest. + +"What do you all do _here_?" asked Lily, when she got her breath again. + +"We farm, we study, we bake, we brew, and are as merry as grigs all day +long. It's school-time now, and we must go; will you come?" said Sally, +jumping up as if she liked it. + +"Our schools are not like yours; we only study two things,--grain and +yeast. I think you'll like it. We have yeast to-day, and the experiments +are very jolly," added Johnny, trotting off to a tall brown tower of rye +and Indian bread, where the school was kept. + +Lily never liked to go to school, but she was ashamed to own it; so she +went along with Sally, and was so amused with all she saw that she was +glad she came. The brown loaf was hollow, and had no roof; and when +she asked why they used a ruin, Sally told her to wait and see why they +chose strong walls and plenty of room overhead. All round was a circle +of very small biscuits like cushions, and on these the Bread-children +sat. A square loaf in the middle was the teacher's desk, and on it +lay an ear of wheat, with several bottles of yeast well corked up. The +teacher was a pleasant, plump lady from Vienna, very wise, and so famous +for her good bread that she was a Professor of Grainology. + +When all were seated, she began with the wheat ear, and told them all +about it in such an interesting way that Lily felt as if she had never +known anything about the bread she ate before. The experiments with +the yeast were quite exciting,--for Fraulein Pretzel showed them how it +would work till it blew the cork out, and go fizzing up to the sky if it +was kept too long; how it would turn sour or flat, and spoil the bread +if care was not taken to use it just at the right moment; and how too +much would cause the loaf to rise till there was no substance to it. + +The children were very bright; for they were fed on the best kinds of +oatmeal and Graham bread, with very little white bread or hot cakes to +spoil their young stomachs. Hearty, happy boys and girls they were, and +their yeasty souls were very lively in them; for they danced and sung, +and seemed as bright and gay as if acidity, heaviness, and mould were +quite unknown. + +Lily was very happy with them, and when school was done went home with +Sally and ate the best bread and milk for dinner that she ever tasted. +In the afternoon Johnny took her to the cornfield, and showed her how +they kept the growing ears free from mildew and worms. Then she went +to the bakehouse; and here she found her old friend Muffin hard at work +making Parker House rolls, for he was such a good cook he was set to +work at once on the lighter kinds of bread. + +"Well, isn't this better than Candy-land or Saccharissa?" he asked, +as he rolled and folded his bits of dough with a dab of butter tucked +inside. + +"Ever so much!" cried Lily. "I feel better already, and mean to learn +all I can. Mamma will be so pleased if I can make good bread when I +go home. She is rather old-fashioned, and likes me to be a nice +housekeeper. I didn't think bread interesting then, but I do now; and +Johnny's mother is going to teach me to make Indian cakes to-morrow." + +"Glad to hear it. Learn all you can, and tell other people how to make +healthy bodies and happy souls by eating good plain food. Not like this, +though these rolls are better than cake. I have to work my way up to the +perfect loaf, you know; and then, oh, then, I'm a happy thing." + +"What happens then? Do you go on to some other wonderful place?" asked +Lily, as Muffin paused with a smile on his face. + +"Yes; I am eaten by some wise, good human being, and become a part of +him or her. That is immortality and heaven; for I may nourish a poet and +help him sing, or feed a good woman who makes the world better for being +in it, or be crumbed into the golden porringer of a baby prince who +is to rule a kingdom. Isn't that a noble way to live, and an end worth +working for?" asked Muffin, in a tone that made Lily feel as if some +sort of fine yeast had got into her, and was setting her brain to work +with new thoughts. + +"Yes, it is. I suppose all common things are made for that purpose, if +we only knew it; and people should be glad to do anything to help the +world along, even making good bread in a kitchen," answered Lily, in a +sober way that showed that her little mind was already digesting the new +food it had got. + +She stayed in Bread-land a long time, and enjoyed and learned a great +deal that she never forgot. But at last, when she had made the perfect +loaf, she wanted to go home, that her mother might see and taste it. + +"I've put a good deal of myself into it, and I'd love to think I had +given her strength or pleasure by my work," she said, as she and Sally +stood looking at the handsome loaf. + +"You can go whenever you like; just take the bread in your hands and +wish three times, and you'll be wherever you say. I'm sorry to have you +go, but I don't wonder you want to see your mother. Don't forget what +you have learned, and you will always be glad you came to us," said +Sally, kissing her good-by. + +"Where is Muffin? I can't go without seeing him, my dear old friend," +answered Lily, looking round for him. + +"He is here," said Sally, touching the loaf. "He was ready to go, and +chose to pass into your bread rather than any other; for he said he +loved you and would be glad to help feed so good a little girl." + +"How kind of him! I must be careful to grow wise and excellent, else he +will be disappointed and have died in vain," said Lily, touched by his +devotion. + +Then, bidding them all farewell, she hugged her loaf close, wished three +times to be in her own home, and like a flash she was there. + +Whether her friends believed the wonderful tale of her adventures I +cannot tell; but I know that she was a nice little housekeeper from that +day, and made such good bread that other girls came to learn of her. +She also grew from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, +because she ate very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, +when the oldest and the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land. + +[Illustration: As soon as he was alone, Jocko ... jumped on his back.] + + + + +III. + +NAUGHTY JOCKO. + + +"A music-man! a music-man! Run quick, and see if he has got a monkey on +his organ," cried little Neddy, running to the window in a great hurry +one day. + +Yes; there was the monkey in his blue and red suit, with a funny little +cap, and the long tail trailing behind. But he didn't seem to be a +lively monkey; for he sat in a bunch, with his sad face turned anxiously +to his master, who kept pulling the chain to make him dance. The stiff +collar had made his neck sore; and when the man twitched, the poor thing +moaned and put up his little hand to hold the chain. He tried to dance, +but was so weak he could only hop a few steps, and stop panting for +breath. The cruel man wouldn't let him rest till Neddy called out,-- + +"Don't hurt him; let him come up here and get this cake, and rest while +you play. I've got some pennies for you." + +So poor Jocko climbed slowly up the trellis, and sat on the window-ledge +trying to eat; but he was so tired he went to sleep, and when the man +pulled to wake him up, he slipped and fell, and lay as if he were dead. +Neddy and his aunt ran down to see if he was killed. The cross man +scolded and shook him; but he never moved, and the man said,-- + +"He is dead. I don't want him. I will sell him to some one to stuff." + +"No; his heart beats a little. Leave him here a few days, and we will +take care of him; and if he gets well, perhaps we will buy him," said +Aunt Jane, who liked to nurse even a sick monkey. + +The man said he was going on for a week through the towns near by, and +would call and see about it when he came back. Then he went away; and +Neddy and aunty put Jocko in a nice basket, and carried him in. The +minute the door was shut and he felt safe, the sly fellow peeped out +with one eye, and seeing only the kind little boy began to chatter and +kick off the shawl; for he was not much hurt, only tired and hungry, and +dreadfully afraid of the cruel man who beat and starved him. + +Neddy was delighted, and thought it very funny, and helped his aunt take +off the stiff collar and put some salve on the sore neck. Then they got +milk and cake; and when he had eaten a good dinner, Jocko curled himself +up and slept till the next day. He was quite lively in the morning; +for when Aunt Jane went to call Neddy, Jocko was not in his basket, and +looking round the room for him, she saw the little black thing lying on +the boy's pillow, with his arm round Neddy's neck like a queer baby. + +"My patience! I can't allow that," said the old lady, and went to pull +Jocko out. But he slipped away like an eel, and crept chattering and +burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, holding on to Neddy's toes, +till he waked up, howling that crabs were nipping him. + +Then they had a great frolic; and Jocko climbed all over the bed, up on +the tall wardrobe, and the shelf over the door, where the image of an +angel stood. He patted it, and hugged it, and looked so very funny with +his ugly black face by the pretty white one, that Neddy rolled on the +floor, and Aunt Jane laughed till her glasses flew off. By and by he +came down, and had a nice breakfast, and let them tie a red ribbon over +the bandage on his neck. He liked the gay color, and kept going to look +in the glass, and grin and chatter at his own image, which he evidently +admired. + +"Now, he shall go to walk with me, and all the children shall see my new +pet," said Neddy, as he marched off with Jock on his shoulder. + +Every one laughed at the funny little fellow with his twinkling eyes, +brown hands, and long tail, and Neddy felt very grand till they got to +the store; then troubles began. He put Jocko on a table near the door, +and told him to stay there while he did his errands. Now, close by was +the place where the candy was kept, and Jocko loved sweeties like any +girl; so he hopped along, and began to eat whatever he liked. Some boys +tried to stop him; and then he got angry at them for pulling his tail, +and threw handfuls of sugarplums at them. That was great fun; and the +more they laughed and scrambled and poked at him, the faster he showered +chocolates, caramels, and peppermints over them, till it looked as if +it had rained candy. The man was busy with Neddy at the other end of the +store; but when he heard the noise, both ran to see what was the matter. +Neither of them could stop naughty Jocko, who liked this game, and ran +up on the high shelves among the toys. Then down came little tubs and +dolls' stoves, tin trumpets and cradles, while boxes of leaden soldiers +and whole villages flew through the air, smash, bang, rattle, bump, +all over the floor. The man scolded, Neddy cried, the boys shouted, and +there was a lively time in that shop till a good slapping with a long +stick made Jock tumble into a tub of water where some curious fishes +lived, and then they caught him. + +Neddy was much ashamed, and told the man his aunt would pay for all the +broken things. Then he took his naughty pet, and started to go home and +tie him up, for it was plain this monkey was not to be trusted. But as +soon as they got out, Jocko ran up a tree and dropped on to a load of +hay passing underneath. Here he danced and pranced, and had a fine time, +throwing off the man's coat and rake, and eating some of the dinner tied +up in a cloth. The crusts of bread and the bones he threw at the horse; +this new kind of whip frightened the horse, and he ran away down a steep +hill, and upset the hay and broke the cart. Oh, such a time! It was +worse than the candy scrape; for the man swore, and the horse was hurt, +and people said the monkey ought to be shot, he did so much mischief. +Jocko didn't care a bit; he sat high up in a tree, and chattered and +scolded, and swung by his tail, and was so droll that people couldn't +help laughing at him. Poor Neddy cried again, and went home to tell his +troubles to Aunt Jane, fearing that it would take all the money in his +bank to pay for the damage the bad monkey had done in one hour. + +As soon as he was alone Jocko came skipping along, and jumped on his +back, and peeped at him, and patted his cheeks, and was so cunning and +good Neddy couldn't whip him; but he shut him up in a closet to punish +him. + +Jocko was tired; so he went to sleep, and all was quiet till +dinner-time. They were ready for the pudding, and Neddy had saved a +place for a good plateful, as he liked snow-pudding, when shrieks were +heard in the kitchen, and Mary the maid rushed in to say,-- + +"Oh, ma'am, that horrid beast has spoilt the pudding, and is scaring +Katy out of her life!" + +They all ran; and there sat that naughty monkey on the table, throwing +the nice white snow all over poor cook, till her face looked as if she +was ready to be shaved. His own face looked the same, for he had eaten +all he wanted while the pudding stood cooling in the pantry. He had +crept out of a window in the closet, and had a fine rummage among the +sugar-buckets, butter-boxes, and milk-pans. + +Kate wailed, and Mary scolded; but Aunt Jane and grandpa laughed, and +Neddy chased Jock into the garden with the broom. They had to eat bread +and jelly for dessert, and it took the girls a long time to clear up the +mess the rascal made. + +"We will put his collar and chain on again, and keep him tied up all the +time till the man comes," said Aunt Jane. + +"But I can't catch him," sighed Neddy, watching the little imp whisk +about in the garden among the currant-bushes, chasing hens and tossing +green apples round in high glee. + +"Sit quietly down somewhere and wait till he is tired; then he will come +to you, and you can hold him fast," said Aunt Jane. + +So Neddy waited; and though he was much worried at his new pet's +naughtiness, he enjoyed his pranks like a boy. + +Grandpa took naps in the afternoon on the piazza, and he was dozing +comfortably when Jocko swung down from the grape-vine by his long tail, +and tickled the old gentleman on the nose with a straw. Grandpa sneezed, +and opened one eye to brush away the fly as he supposed. Then he went to +sleep again, and Jocko dropped a caterpillar on his bald head; this made +him open the other eye to see what that soft, creepy thing could be. +Neddy couldn't help laughing, for he often wanted to do just such +things, but never dared, because grandpa was a very stern old gentleman, +and no one took liberties with him. Jocko wasn't afraid, however; and +presently he crept to the table, stole the glasses lying there, put them +on, and taking up the paper held it before him, chattering as if he were +reading it, as he had seen people do. Neddy laughed out loud at this, +and clapped his hands, Jocko looked so like a little old man, in spite +of the tail curled up behind. This time grandpa opened both eyes at +once, and stared as if he saw a hobgoblin before him; then he snatched +off the spectacles, and caught up his cane, crying angrily,-- + +"You rascal, how dare you!" + +But Jocko tossed the paper in his face, and with one jump lighted on +the back of old Tom, the big yellow cat, who lay asleep close by. Scared +half out of his wits, Tom spit and bounced; but Jocko held fast to his +collar, and had a fine race round the garden, while the girls laughed +at the funny sight, and Neddy shouted, "It's a circus; and there's the +monkey and the pony." Even grandpa smiled, especially when puss dashed +up a tree, and Jock tumbled off. He chased him, and they had a great +battle; but Tom's claws were sharp, and the monkey got a scratch on the +nose, and ran crying to Neddy for comfort. + +"Now, you naughty fellow, I'll chain you up, and stop these dreadful +tricks. But you are great fun, and I can't whip you," said the boy; for +he knew what it was to enjoy a holiday, and poor Jocko had not had one +for a long time. + +Jocko ate some lunch, took a nap in the grass, and then was ready for +more frolics. Neddy had fastened him to a tree in the garden, so that +he could enjoy the sun and air, and catch grasshoppers if he liked. But +Jocko wanted something more; and presently Neddy, who was reading in his +hammock on the piazza, heard a great cackling among the hens, and looked +up to see the monkey swinging by his tail from a bough, holding the +great cock-a-doodle by his splendid tail, while all the twenty hens +clucked and cackled with wrath and fear at such a dreadful prank. + +"Now, that's too bad; I _will_ slap him this time," said Neddy, running +to save his handsome bird from destruction. But before he got there poor +cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his struggles, and +when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran away and hid +in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him. + +Neddy gave Jocko a good whipping, and left him looking as meek as a +baby, all cuddled up in a little bunch, with his head in his hands as +if crying for his naughtiness. But he wasn't sorry. Oh, dear, no! for in +half an hour he had picked every one of the sweet peas Aunt Jane was so +fond of, thrown all the tomatoes over the fence, and let the parrot out +of his cage. The sight of Polly walking into the parlor with a polite +"How are you, ma'am?" sent Aunt Jane to see what was going on. Neddy was +fast asleep in the hammock, worn out with his cares; and Jocko, having +unhooked his chain, was sitting on the chimney-top of a neighbor's +house, eating corn. + +"We shall not live to the end of the week if this sort of thing goes +on. I don't know what to do with the little beast; he's as bad as an +elephant to take care of," said the poor lady, in despair, as she saw +Jocko throw his corncob down on the minister's hat as that stately +gentleman went by. + +As none of them could catch him, Miss Jane let him alone till Neddy +waked up and could go and find some of the big boys to help him. + +Jocko soon left the roof, and skipped in at a window that stood open. It +was little Nelly Brown's play-room, and she had left her pet doll Maud +Mabel Rose Matilda very ill in the best bed, while she went down to get +a poppy leaf to rub the darling's cheeks with, because she had a high +fever. Jocko took a fancy to the pretty bed, and after turning the +play-house topsy-turvy, he pulled poor Maud Mabel Rose Matilda out by +her flaxen hair, and stuffing her into the water-pitcher upside +down, got into the bed, drew the lace curtains, and prepared to doze +deliciously under the pink silk bed-cover. + +Up came Nelly, and went at once to the dear invalid, saying in her +motherly little voice,-- + +"Now, my darling child, lie quite still, and I won't hurt you one bit." + +But when she drew the curtain, instead of the lovely yellow-haired doll +in her ruffled nightcap, she saw an ugly little black face staring at +her, and a tiny hand holding the sheet fast. Nelly gave one scream, and +flew downstairs into the parlor where the Sewing-circle was at work, +frightening twenty-five excellent ladies by her cries, as she clung to +her mother, wailing,-- + +"A bogie! a bogie! I saw him, all black; and he snarled at me, and my +dolly is gone! What shall I do? oh, what shall I do?" + +There was great confusion, for all the ladies talked at once; and it +so happened that none of them knew anything about the monkey, therefore +they all agreed that Nelly was a foolish child, and had made a fuss +about nothing. She cried dismally, and kept saying to her mother,-- + +"Go and see; it's in my dolly's bed,--I found it there, and darling +Maudie is gone." + +"We _will_ go and see," said Mrs. Moses Merryweather,--a stout old lady, +who kept her six girls in such good order that _they_ would never have +dared to cry if ten monkeys had popped out at them. + +Miss Hetty Bumpus, a tall thin maiden lady, with a sharp eye and pointed +nose, went with her; but at the door that led to the dining-room +both stopped short, and after one look came flying back, calling out +together,-- + +"Mrs. Brown, your supper is spoilt! a dreadful beast has ruined it all!" + +Then twenty-five excited ladies flew across the hall to behold Jocko +sitting on the great cake in the middle of the table, his feet bathed +in cream from the overturned pitcher, while all around lay the ruins of +custards, tarts, biscuits, and sauce, not to mention nice napkins made +into hay-cocks, spoons, knives, and forks, on the floor, and the best +silver teapot in the fireplace. + +While Nelly told her tale and the ladies questioned and comforted her, +this bad monkey had skipped downstairs and had a delightful party all +by himself. He was just scraping the jelly out of a tart when they +disturbed him; and knowing that more slaps were in store for him if he +stayed, he at once walked calmly down the ravaged table, and vanished +out of the window carrying the silver tea-strainer with him to play +with. + +The ladies had no supper that night; and poor Mrs. Brown sent a note to +Aunt Jane, telling her the sad story, and adding that Nelly was quite +ill with the fright and the loss of dear Maud Mabel Rose Matilda, +drowned in the water-pitcher and forever spoilt. + +"John shall go after that man to-morrow, and bring him back to carry +this terrible monkey away. I can't live with him a week; he will cost me +a fortune, and wear us all out," said Aunt Jane, when Jocko was safely +shut up in the cellar, after six boys had chased him all over the +neighborhood before they caught him. + +Neddy was quite willing to let him go; but John was saved his journey, +for in the morning poor Jocko was found dead in a trap, where his +inquisitive head had been poked to see what the cheese tasted like. + +So he was buried by the river, and every one felt much relieved; for the +man never came back, thinking Jocko dead when he left him. But he +had not lived in vain; for after this day of trial, mischievous Neddy +behaved much better, and Aunt Jane could always calm his prankish spirit +by saying, as her finger pointed to a little collar and chain hanging on +the wall,-- + +"If you want to act like naughty Jocko, say so, and I'll tie you up. One +monkey is enough for this family." + + +[Illustration: Kitty laughed, and began to dance.... Such twirlings and +skippings as she made.] + + + + +IV. + +THE SKIPPING SHOES. + + +Once there was a little girl, named Kitty, who never wanted to do what +people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't," and did not run at +once pleasantly, as obliging children do. + +One day her mother gave her a pair of new shoes; and after a fuss about +putting them on, Kitty said, as she lay kicking on the floor,-- + +"I wish these were seven-leagued boots, like Jack the Giant Killer's, +then it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to keep +trotting, and I don't like new shoes, and I won't stir a step." + +Just as she said that, the shoes gave a skip, and set her on her feet +so suddenly that it scared all the naughtiness out of her. She stood +looking at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed +to wink at her like eyes, while the heels tapped on the floor a sort of +tune. Before she dared to stir, her mother called from the next room,-- + +"Kitty, run and tell the cook to make a pie for dinner; I forgot it." + +"I don't want to," began Kitty, with a whine as usual. + +But the words were hardly out of her mouth when the shoes gave one jump, +and took her downstairs, through the hall, and landed her at the kitchen +door. Her breath was nearly gone; but she gave the message, and turned +round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went +nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. +She was forbidden to touch it, but loved to take a bit when she could. +Now she found that her feet were fixed fast to the floor, and could not +be moved till her father said, as he passed the window close by,-- + +"You will have time to go to the post-office before school and get my +letters." + +"I can't," began Kitty; but she found she could, for away went the +shoes, out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so +fast that the maid who ran after her with her hat could not catch her. + +"I can't stop!" cried Kitty; and she did not till the shoes took her +straight into the office. + +"What's the hurry to-day?" asked the man, as he saw her without any hat, +all rosy and breathless, and her face puckered up as if she did not know +whether to laugh or to cry. + +"I won't tell any one about these dreadful shoes, and I'll take them off +as soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will +think I'm crazy," said Kitty to herself, as she took the letters and +went away. + +The shoes walked nicely along till she came to the bridge; and there she +wanted to stop and watch some boys in a boat, forgetting school and her +father's letters. But the shoes wouldn't stop, though she tried to make +them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; +and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadily that she +had to go, and she got up feeling that there was something very strange +about these shoes. The minute she gave up, all went smoothly, and she +got home in good time. + +"I won't wear these horrid things another minute," said Kitty, sitting +on the doorstep and trying to unbutton the shoes. + +But not a button could she stir, though she got red and angry struggling +to do it. + +"Time for school; run away, little girl," called mamma from upstairs, as +the clock struck nine. + +"I won't!" said Kitty, crossly. + +But she did; for those magic shoes danced her off, and landed her at her +desk in five minutes. + +"Well, I'm not late; that's one comfort," she thought, wishing she had +come pleasantly, and not been whisked away without any luncheon. + +Her legs were so tired with the long skips that she was glad to sit +still; and that pleased the teacher, for generally she was fussing about +all lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble again; for one of +the children knocked down the house of corn-cobs she had built, and made +her angry. + +"Now, I'll kick yours down, and see how you like it, Dolly." + +Up went her foot, but it didn't come down; it stayed in the air, and +there she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children +laughed to see her, and she could do nothing till she said to Dolly in a +great hurry,-- + +"Never mind; if you didn't mean to, I'll forgive you." + +Then the foot went down, and Kitty felt so glad about it that she tried +to be pleasant, fearing some new caper of those dreadful shoes. She +began to see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any +power over them. So, when one of the children wanted his ball, which had +bounced over the hedge, she said kindly,--"Perhaps I can get it for you, +Willy." + +And over she jumped as lightly as if she too were an india-rubber ball. + +"How could you do it?" cried the boys, much surprised; for not one of +them dared try such a high leap. + +Kitty laughed, and began to dance, feeling pleased and proud to find +there was a good side to the shoes after all. Such twirlings and +skippings as she made, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was +pretty to see; for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of +themselves. The little girls were charmed, and tried to imitate her, +but no one could, and they stood in a circle watching her dance till the +bell rang, then all rushed in to tell about it. + +Kitty said it was her new shoes, and never told how queerly they acted, +hoping to have good times now. But she was mistaken. + +On the way home she wanted to stop and see her friend Bell's new doll, +but at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up her wishes +and go straight on, as mamma had told her always to do. + +"Run and pick a nice little dish of strawberries for dinner," said her +sister, as she went in. + +"I'm too ti--" There was no time to finish, for the shoes landed her in +the middle of the strawberry bed at one jump. + +"I might as well be a grasshopper if I'm to skip round like this," she +said, forgetting to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with +the robins picking berries close by, and a cool wind lifting the leaves +to show here the reddest and ripest ones hid. + +The little dish was soon filled, and she wanted to stay and eat a few, +warm and sweet from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, +over the wood-pile, across the piazza, and into the dining-room before +the berry in her mouth was half eaten. + +"How this child does rush about to-day!" said her mother. "It is so +delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shall get her +to carry some bundles to my poor people this afternoon. + +"Oh, dear me! I do hate to lug those old clothes and bottles and baskets +of cold victuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the +shoes tapped on the floor under the table, as if to remind her that she +must, whether she liked it or not. + +"It would be right and kind, and would please me very much. But you may +do as you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; +for the little Bryan baby is sick and needs what I send," said mamma, +looking disappointed. + +Kitty sat very still and sober for some time, and no one spoke to her. +She was making up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked +about like a grasshopper against her will. When dinner was over, she +said in a cheerful voice,-- + +"I'll go, mamma; and when all the errands are done, may I come back +through Fairyland, as we call the little grove where the tall ferns +grow?" + +"Yes, dear; when you oblige me, I am happy to please you." + +"I'm glad I decided to be good; now I shall have a lovely time," said +Kitty to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a +bundle in the other, and some money in her pocket for a poor old woman +who needed help. + +The shoes went quietly along, and seemed to know just where to stop. The +sick baby's mother thanked her for the soft little nightgowns; the lame +girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round +the basket of food, like young birds eager to be fed; and the old woman +gave her a beautiful pink shell that her sailor son brought home from +sea. + +When all the errands were done Kitty skipped away to Fairyland, feeling +very happy, as people always do when they have done kind things. It was +a lovely place; for the ferns made green arches tall enough for little +girls to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss +and wood-flowers. Birds flew about in the pines, squirrels chattered in +the oaks, butterflies floated here and there, and from the pond near by +came the croak of frogs sunning their green backs on the mossy stones. + +"I wonder if the shoes will let me stop and rest; it is so cool here, +and I'm so tired," said Kitty, as she came to a cosey nook at the foot +of a tree. + +The words were hardly out of her mouth when her feet folded under her, +and there she sat on a cushion of moss, like the queen of the wood on +her throne. Something lighted with a bump close by her; and looking +down she saw a large black cricket with a stiff tail, staring at her +curiously. + +"Bless my heart! I thought you were some relation of my cousin +Grasshopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so +I stopped to say, How d' ye do," said the cricket, in its creaky voice. + +"I'm not a grasshopper; but I have on fairy shoes to-day, and so do many +things that I never did before," answered Kitty, much surprised to be +able to understand what the cricket said. + +"It is midsummer day, and fairies can play whatever pranks they like. +If you didn't have those shoes on, you couldn't understand what I say. +Hark, and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down +here. Make the most of this chance; for at sunset your shoes will stop +skipping, and the fun all be over." + +While the cricket talked Kitty did hear all sorts of little voices, +singing, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word +they said. The squirrels called to one another as they raced about,-- + + "Here's a nut, there's a nut; + Hide it quick away, + In a hole, under leaves, + To eat some winter day. + Acorns sweet are plenty, + We will have them all: + Skip and scamper lively + Till the last ones fall." + +The birds were singing softly,-- + + "Rock a bye, babies, + Your cradle hangs high; + Soft down your pillow, + Your curtain the sky. + Father will feed you, + While mother will sing, + And shelter our darlings + With her warm wing." + +And the ants were saying to one another as they hurried in and out of +their little houses,-- + + "Work, neighbor, work! + Do not stop to play; + Wander far and wide, + Gather all you may. + + We are never like + Idle butterflies, + But like the busy bees, + Industrious and wise." + +"Ants always were dreadfully good, but butterflies are ever so much +prettier," said Kitty, listening to the little voices with wonder and +pleasure. + + "Hello! hello! + Come down below,-- It's lovely and cool + Out here in the pool; + On a lily-pad float + For a nice green boat. + Here we sit and sing + In a pleasant ring; + Or leap frog play, + In the jolliest way. + Our games have begun, + Come join in the fun." + +"Dear me! what could I do over there in the mud with the queer green +frogs?" laughed Kitty, as this song was croaked at her. + + "No, no, come and fly + Through the sunny sky, + Or honey sip + From the rose's lip, + Or dance in the air, + Like spirits fair. + Come away, come away; + 'Tis our holiday." + +A cloud of lovely yellow butterflies flew up from a wild-rose bush, and +went dancing away higher and higher, till they vanished in the light +beyond the wood. + +"That is better than leap-frog. I wish my skipping shoes would let me +fly up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to +go all the time," said Kitty, watching the pretty things glitter as they +flew. + +Just at that minute a clock struck, and away went the shoes over the +pool, the hill, the road, till they pranced in at the gate as the +tea-bell rang. Kitty amused the family by telling what she had done +and seen; but no one believed the Fairyland part, and her father said, +laughing,-- + +"Go on, my dear, making up little stories, and by and by you may be as +famous as Hans Christian Andersen, whose books you like so well." + +"The sun will soon set, and then my fun will be over; so I must skip +while I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing round the lawn so +prettily that all the family came to see her. + +"She dances so well that she shall go to dancing-school," said her +mother, pleased with the pretty antics of her little girl. + +Kitty was delighted to hear that; for she had longed to go, and went on +skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn some of the graceful +steps the shoes took before the day was done. + +"Come, dear, stop now, and run up to your bath and bed. It has been a +long hot day, and you are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants +to go out," said her mother, as the sun went down behind the hills with +a last bright glimmer, like the wink of a great sleepy eye. + +"Oh, please, a few minutes more," began Kitty, but was off like a flash; +for the shoes trotted her upstairs so fast that she ran against old +Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor, and +scolding in such a funny way that it made Kitty laugh so that she could +hardly pick her up again. + +By the time she was ready to undress the sun was quite gone, and the +shoes she took off were common ones again, for midsummer day was over. +But Kitty never forgot the little lessons she had learned: she tried to +run willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and +danced like a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and +interesting little creatures in the woods and fields, and whenever she +was told she might go to play with them, she hurried away almost as +quickly as if she still wore the skipping shoes. + + +[Illustration: So Cocky was brought in, and petted.] + + + + +V. + +COCKYLOO. + + +In the barnyard a gray hen sat on her nest, feeling very happy because +it was time for her eggs to hatch, and she hoped to have a fine brood of +chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried +the chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy +little things one after the other, all ready to run and eat and +scratch,--for chickens are not like babies, and don't have to be tended +at all. + +There were eight little hens and two little cockerels, one black and one +as white as snow, with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on +his head. This was Cockyloo, the good chick; but the black one was named +Peck, and was a quarrelsome bad fowl, as we shall see. + +Mrs. Partlet, the mamma, was very proud of her fine family; for the +eight little daughters were all white and very pretty. She led them out +into the farmyard, clucking and scratching busily; for all were hungry, +and ran chirping round her to pick up the worms and seeds she found for +them. Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice +corn or a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or +Snowball have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up +the food greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, +and picked the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. +His mother scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; +but he didn't care, and was very naughty. Cocky began to crow when he +was very young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear +his loud, clear "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke +before the sun was up, and began his song. Peck used to grumble at being +roused at dawn, for he was lazy; but the hens bustled up, and were glad +to get out of the hen-house. + +The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the +farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him. + +"I came out of the shell first, and I am the oldest; so I ought to be +king," he said. + +"But we don't like you, because you are selfish, cross, and lazy. We +want Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid +bird, and _he_ must be our king," answered the hens; and Peck had to +mind, or they would have pulled every feather out of his little tail. + +He resolved to do some harm to his good brother, and plagued him all he +could. One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a +bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near +to come and put his heavy foot on the bush. He did it, and crack went +the branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were +drowned but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, +Chirp, and Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, +and were never seen again. All the hens mourned for them, and put a +black feather in their heads to show how sorry they were. Mamma Partlet +was heart-broken to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted +her, and never told how it happened, because he was ashamed to have +people know what a bad bird Peck was. + +A butterfly saw it all, and he told Granny Cockletop about it; and the +hens were so angry that they turned Peck out of the barnyard, and he had +to go and live in the woods alone. He said he didn't care; but he did, +and was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field +where the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show +himself, for they would have driven him out. But kind Cocky saw him, and +would run with some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, +saying,--"Poor brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with +you, and tell you the news." + +Now in this wood lived a fox, and he had been planning to eat Peck as +soon as he was fat; for he missed the good corn and meal he used to +have, and grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berries. While he +waited the sly fellow made friends with Peck, though the bird knew that +foxes ate hens. + +"I'm not afraid, and I don't believe old Granny Cockletop's tales. I +can take care of myself, I guess," he said, and went on playing with +the fox, who got him to tell all about the hen-house,--how the door was +fastened, and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went +to bed,--so that he could creep in and steal a good supper by and by. +Silly Peck never guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when +Cocky said,-- + +"You will be sorry if you play with the fox. He is a bad fellow; so be +careful and sleep on a high branch, and keep out of his way, as I do." + +Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, +because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. +This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and +so one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to +the fox,-- + +"See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it. +He has promised to bring me some food to-night, when all the rest are +at roost. He will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old +biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all +I want out of the pan. You hide on the top of the hen-house; and while +he talks to me, you can pounce on him. Then I shall be the only cock +here, and they will have to make me king." + +"All right," said the fox, much pleased with the plan, and very glad +that Peck had a chance to get fatter. + +So when it was night, Peck crept through the broken paling and waited +till he heard the signal. Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from +his own dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread +them all out in the barnyard and called; and Peck came in a great hurry +to eat them, never stopping to say, "Thank you." + +Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up. + +"Peck, dear, put this nice thick paper over you; then you will be dry, +and can go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till +you are done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to +remember anything else. + +Now the fox had just crept up on the hen-house roof; and when he peeped +down, there was just light enough to see a white thing bobbing about. + +"Ah, ha! that's Cockyloo; now for a good supper!" And with a jump he +seized Peck by the head before he could explain the mistake. + +One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell +off, and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to +eat Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the +farmer ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through +the hole in the fence with the fowl in his mouth. + +After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when +they heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better +than ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them. + +King Cockyloo grew to be a splendid bird,--pure white, with a tall red +comb on his head, long spurs on his yellow legs, many fine feathers in +his tail, and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that +it could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, +"Hark! hear Farmer Hunt's cock crow. Isn't it a sweet sound to wake us +in the dawn?" All the other cocks used to answer him, and there was a +fine matinee concert every day. + +He was a good brother, and led his five little sisters all about the +field, feeding, guarding, and amusing them; for mamma was lame now, and +could not stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run +home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, +who was very proud of her handsome son. Even old Granny Cockletop, who +scolded about everything, liked him; and often said, as the hens sat +scuffling in the dust,-- + +"A fine bird, my dears, a very fine bird, and I know he will do +something remarkable before he dies." + +She was right for once; and this is what he did. + +One day the farmer had to go away and stay all night, leaving the old +lady alone with two boys. They were not afraid; for they had a gun, and +quite longed for a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer +had a good deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they +waited for him to go away that they might steal it. Cocky was picking +about in the field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping +through a hole saw two shabby men hiding there. + +"At twelve, to-night, when all are asleep, we will creep in at the +kitchen window and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and +whistle if any one comes along while I'm looking for the box where the +farmer keeps it," said one man. + +"You needn't be afraid; there is no dog, and no one to wake the family, +so we are quite safe," said the other man; and then they both went to +sleep till night came. + +Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do. He could not tell +the old lady about it; for he could only cackle and crow, and she would +not understand that language. So he went about all day looking very +sober, and would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the +big burdock leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he +did not go into the hen-house with the rest, but flew up to the shed +roof over the kitchen, and sat there in the cold ready to scare the +robbers with a loud crow, as he could do nothing else. + +At midnight the men came creeping along; one stopped outside, and the +other went in. Presently he handed a basket of silver out, and went back +for the money. Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a +loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys. The man +with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; +the other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and +picked at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned +to run some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him +in the legs. The old lady popped her head out of the upper window and +rang the dinner-bell, and called "Fire! fire!" so loud that it roused +the neighbors, who came running to see what the trouble could be. + +They fished one man out of the well and picked up the wounded one, and +carried them both off to prison. + +"Who caught them?" asked the people. + +"We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we +shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the +rascals. He deserves half the praise, for this is the second time he has +caught a thief." + +So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his +family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward. + +When the robbers were tried, it was found that they were the men who had +robbed the bank, and taken a great deal of money; so every one was glad +to have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people +would go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was +so brave and handsome, they said at last,-- + +"We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow +let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow." + +"Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky +ought to be remembered in some way. + +So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye +on the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the +court-house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, +and twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were +never tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a +procession one moonlight night to see it,--yes, even Mamma Partlet and +Granny Cockletop, though one was lame and the other very old, so full of +pride were they in the great honor done King Cockyloo. + +This was not the end of his good deeds; and the last was the best of +all, though it cost him his life. He ruled for some years, and kept his +kingdom in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other +fowls were taken for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But he did die +at last; and even then he was good and brave, as you shall hear. + +One of the boys wanted to smoke a pipe, and went behind the hen-house, +so nobody should see him do such a silly thing. He thought he heard +his father coming, and hid the pipe under the house. Some straw and dry +leaves lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the +boy ran away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to +burning nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to help. +The door was locked, and could not be opened, because the key was in the +pocket of the naughty boy; so the farmer got an axe and chopped down the +wall, letting the poor biddies fly out, squawking and smoking. + +"Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed +the king of the farmyard. + +"Burnt up, I'm afraid," said the farmer, who was throwing water on the +flames. + +Alas! yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky +sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks +whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away, and sat +chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke +choked _him_ to death. + +Every one was very sorry; and the children gave the good bird a fine +funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a green mound +over him, and a white stone, on which was written,-- + + Here lies the bravest cock that ever crew: + We mourn for him with sorrow true. + Now nevermore at dawn his music shall we hear, + Waking the world like trumpet shrill and clear. + The hens all hang their heads, the chickens sadly peep; + The boys look sober, and the girls all weep. + Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest, + With grass and daisies on your faithful breast; + And when you wake, brave bird, so good and true, + Clap your white wings and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo." + + +[Illustration: The lion walked awhile to rest himself.] + + + + +VI. + +ROSY'S JOURNEY. + + +Rosy was a nice little girl who lived with her mother in a small house +in the woods. They were very poor, for the father had gone away to dig +gold, and did not come back; so they had to work hard to get food to eat +and clothes to wear. The mother spun yarn when she was able, for she was +often sick, and Rosy did all she could to help. She milked the red cow +and fed the hens; dug the garden, and went to town to sell the yarn and +the eggs. + +She was very good and sweet, and every one loved her; but the neighbors +were all poor, and could do little to help the child. So, when at last +the mother died, the cow and hens and house had to be sold to pay the +doctor and the debts. Then Rosy was left all alone, with no mother, no +home, and no money to buy clothes and dinners with. + +"What will you do?" said the people, who were very sorry for her. + +"I will go and find my father," answered Rosy, bravely. + +"But he is far away, and you don't know just where he is, up among the +mountains. Stay with us and spin on your little wheel, and we will buy +the yarn, and take care of you, dear little girl," said the kind people. + +"No, I must go; for mother told me to, and my father will be glad +to have me. I'm not afraid, for every one is good to me," said Rosy, +gratefully. + +Then the people gave her a warm red cloak, and a basket with a little +loaf and bottle of milk in it, and some pennies to buy more to eat when +the bread was gone. They all kissed her, and wished her good luck; and +she trotted away through the wood to find her father. + +For some days she got on very well; for the wood-cutters were kind, and +let her sleep in their huts, and gave her things to eat. But by and by +she came to lonely places, where there were no houses; and then she +was afraid, and used to climb up in the trees to sleep, and had to eat +berries and leaves, like the Children in the Wood. + +She made a fire at night, so wild beasts would not come near her; and if +she met other travellers, she was so young and innocent no one had the +heart to hurt her. She was kind to everything she met; so all little +creatures were friends to her, as we shall see. + +One day, as she was resting by a river, she saw a tiny fish on the bank, +nearly dead for want of water. + +"Poor thing! go and be happy again," she said, softly taking him up, and +dropping him into the nice cool river. + +"Thank you, dear child; I'll not forget, but will help you some day," +said the fish, when he had taken a good drink, and felt better. + +"Why, how can a tiny fish help such a great girl as I am?" laughed Rosy. + +"Wait and see," answered the fish, as he swam away with a flap of his +little tail. + +Rosy went on her way, and forgot all about it. But she never forgot +to be kind; and soon after, as she was looking in the grass for +strawberries, she found a field-mouse with a broken leg. + +"Help me to my nest, or my babies will starve," cried the poor thing. + +"Yes, I will; and bring these berries so that you can keep still till +your leg is better, and have something to eat." + +Rosy took the mouse carefully in her little hand, and tied up the broken +leg with a leaf of spearmint and a blade of grass. Then she carried her +to the nest under the roots of an old tree, where four baby mice were +squeaking sadly for their mother. She made a bed of thistledown for the +sick mouse, and put close within reach all the berries and seeds she +could find, and brought an acorn-cup of water from the spring, so they +could be comfortable. + +"Good little Rosy, I shall pay you for all this kindness some day," said +the mouse, when she was done. + +"I'm afraid you are not big enough to do much," answered Rosy, as she +ran off to go on her journey. + +"Wait and see," called the mouse; and all the little ones squeaked, as +if they said the same. + +Some time after, as Rosy lay up in a tree, waiting for the sun to rise, +she heard a great buzzing close by, and saw a fly caught in a cobweb +that went from one twig to another. The big spider was trying to spin +him all up, and the poor fly was struggling to get away before his legs +and wings were helpless. + +Rosy put up her finger and pulled down the web, and the spider ran away +at once to hide under the leaves. But the happy fly sat on Rosy's hand, +cleaning his wings, and buzzing so loud for joy that it sounded like a +little trumpet. + +"You've saved my life, and I'll save yours, if I can," said the fly, +twinkling his bright eye at Rosy. + +"You silly thing, you can't help me," answered Rosy, climbing down, +while the fly buzzed away, saying, like the mouse and fish,-- + +"Wait and see; wait and see." + +Rosy trudged on and on, till at last she came to the sea. The mountains +were on the other side; but how should she get over the wide water? No +ships were there, and she had no money to hire one if there had been +any; so she sat on the shore, very tired and sad, and cried a few big +tears as salt as the sea. + +"Hullo!" called a bubbly sort of voice close by; and the fish popped up +his head. Rosy ran to see what he wanted. + +"I've come to help you over the water," said the fish. + +"How can you, when I want a ship, and some one to show me the way?" +answered Rosy. + +"I shall just call my friend the whale, and he will take you over better +than a ship, because he won't get wrecked. Don't mind if he spouts +and flounces about a good deal, he is only playing; so you needn't be +frightened." + +Down dived the little fish, and Rosy waited to see what would happen; +for she didn't believe such a tiny thing could really bring a whale to +help her. + +Presently what looked like a small island came floating through the sea; +and turning round, so that its tail touched the shore, the whale said, +in a roaring voice that made her jump,-- + +"Come aboard, little girl, and hold on tight. I'll carry you wherever +you like." + +It was rather a slippery bridge, and Rosy was rather scared at this big, +strange boat; but she got safely over, and held on fast; then, with a +roll and a plunge, off went the whale, spouting two fountains, while his +tail steered him like the rudder of a ship. + +Rosy liked it, and looked down into the deep sea, where all sorts of +queer and lovely things were to be seen. Great fishes came and looked at +her; dolphins played near to amuse her; the pretty nautilus sailed by +in its transparent boat; and porpoises made her laugh with their rough +play. Mermaids brought her pearls and red coral to wear, sea-apples to +eat, and at night sung her to sleep with their sweet lullabies. + +So she had a very pleasant voyage, and ran on shore with many thanks to +the good whale, who gave a splendid spout, and swam away. + +Then Rosy travelled along till she came to a desert. Hundreds of miles +of hot sand, with no trees or brooks or houses. + +"I never can go that way," she said; "I should starve, and soon be worn +out walking in that hot sand. What _shall_ I do?" + + "Quee, quee! + Wait and see: + You were good to me; + So here I come, + From my little home, + To help you willingly," + +said a friendly voice; and there was the mouse, looking at her with its +bright eyes full of gratitude. + +"Why, you dear little thing, I'm very glad to see you; but I'm sure you +can't help me across this desert," said Rosy, stroking its soft back. + +"That's easy enough," answered the mouse, rubbing its paws briskly. +"I'll just call my friend the lion; he lives here, and he'll take you +across with pleasure." + +"Oh, I'm afraid he'd rather eat me. How dare you call that fierce +beast?" cried Rosy, much surprised. + +"I gnawed him out of a net once, and he promised to help me. He is a +noble animal, and he will keep his word." + +Then the mouse sang, in its shrill little voice,-- + + "O lion, grand, + Come over the sand, + And help me now, I pray! + Here's a little lass, + Who wants to pass; + Please carry her on her way." + +In a moment a loud roar was heard, and a splendid yellow lion, with +fiery eyes and a long mane, came bounding over the sand to meet them. + +"What can I do for you, tiny friend?" he said, looking at the mouse, who +was not a bit frightened, though Rosy hid behind a rock, expecting every +moment to be eaten. + +Mousie told him, and the good lion said pleasantly,-- + +"I'll take the child along. Come on, my dear; sit on my back and hold +fast to my mane, for I'm a swift horse, and you might fall off." + +Then he crouched down like a great cat, and Rosy climbed up, for he was +so kind she could not fear him; and away they went, racing over the sand +till her hair whistled in the wind. As soon as she got her breath, she +thought it great fun to go flying along, while other lions and tigers +rolled their fierce eyes at her, but dared not touch her; for this lion +was king of all, and she was quite safe. They met a train of camels with +loads on their backs; and the people travelling with them wondered +what queer thing was riding that fine lion. It looked like a very large +monkey in a red cloak, but went so fast they never saw that it was a +little girl. + +"How glad I am that I was kind to the mouse; for if the good little +creature had not helped me, I never could have crossed this desert," +said Rosy, as the lion walked awhile to rest himself. + +"And if the mouse had not gnawed me out of the net I never should have +come at her call. You see, little people can conquer big ones, and make +them gentle and friendly by kindness," answered the lion. + +Then away they went again, faster than ever, till they came to the green +country. Rosy thanked the good beast, and he ran back, for if any one +saw him, they would try to catch him. + +"Now I have only to climb up these mountains and find father," thought +Rosy, as she saw the great hills before her, with many steep roads +winding up to the top, and far, far away rose the smoke from the huts +where the men lived and dug for gold. She started off bravely, but took +the wrong road, and after climbing a long while found the path ended in +rocks over which she could not go. She was very tired and hungry; for +her food was gone, and there were no houses in this wild place. Night +was coming on, and it was so cold she was afraid she would freeze before +morning, but dared not go on lest she should fall down some steep hole +and be killed. Much discouraged, she lay down on the moss and cried a +little; then she tried to sleep, but something kept buzzing in her ear, +and looking carefully she saw a fly prancing about on the moss, as if +anxious to make her listen to his song,-- + + "Rosy, my dear, + Don't cry,--I'm here + To help you all I can. + I'm only a fly, + But you'll see that I + Will keep my word like a man." + +Rosy couldn't help laughing to hear the brisk little fellow talk as if +he could do great things; but she was very glad to see him and hear his +cheerful song, so she held out her finger, and while he sat there told +him all her troubles. + +"Bless your heart! my friend the eagle will carry you right up the +mountains and leave you at your father's door," cried the fly; and he +was off with a flirt of his gauzy wings, for he meant what he said. + +Rosy was ready for her new horse, and not at all afraid after the whale +and the lion; so when a great eagle swooped down and alighted near her, +she just looked at his sharp claws, big eyes, and crooked beak as coolly +as if he had been a cock-robin. + +He liked her courage, and said kindly in his rough voice,-- + +"Hop up, little girl, and sit among my feathers. Hold me fast round the +neck, or you may grow dizzy and get a fall." + +Rosy nestled down among the thick gray feathers, and put both arms round +his neck; and whiz they went, up, up, up, higher and higher, till the +trees looked like grass, they were so far below. At first it was very +cold, and Rosy cuddled deeper into her feather bed; then, as they came +nearer to the sun, it grew warm, and she peeped out to see the huts +standing in a green spot on the top of the mountain. + +"Here we are. You'll find all the men are down in the mine at this +time. They won't come up till morning; so you will have to wait for your +father. Good-by; good luck, my dear." And the eagle soared away, higher +still, to his nest among the clouds. + +It was night now, but fires were burning in all the houses; so Rosy went +from hut to hut trying to find her father's, that she might rest while +she waited: at last in one the picture of a pretty little girl hung on +the wall, and under it was written, "My Rosy." Then she knew that this +was the right place; and she ate some supper, put on more wood, and went +to bed, for she wanted to be fresh when her father came in the morning. + +While she slept a storm came on,--thunder rolled and lightning flashed, +the wind blew a gale, and rain poured,--but Rosy never waked till dawn, +when she heard men shouting outside,-- + +"Run, run! The river is rising! We shall all be drowned!" + +Rosy ran out to see what was the matter, though the wind nearly blew her +away; she found that so much rain had made the river overflow till it +began to wash the banks away. + +"What shall I do? what shall I do?" cried Rosy, watching the men rush +about like ants, getting their bags of gold ready to carry off before +the water swept them away, if it became a flood. + +As if in answer to her cry, Rosy heard a voice say close by,-- + + "Splash, dash! + Rumble and crash! + Here come the beavers gay; + See what they do, + Rosy, for you, + Because you helped _me_ one day." + +And there in the water was the little fish swimming about, while an army +of beavers began to pile up earth and stones in a high bank to keep the +river back. How they worked, digging and heaping with teeth and claws, +and beating the earth hard with their queer tails like shovels! Rosy and +the men watched them work, glad to be safe, while the storm cleared up; +and by the time the dam was made, all danger was over. Rosy looked into +the faces of the rough men, hoping her father was there, and was just +going to ask about him, when a great shouting rose again, and all began +to run to the pit hole, saying,-- + +"The sand has fallen in! The poor fellows will be smothered! How can we +get them out? how can we get them out?" + +Rosy ran too, feeling as if her heart would break; for her father was +down in the mine, and would die soon if air did not come to him. The men +dug as hard as they could; but it was a long job, and they feared they +would not be in time. + +Suddenly hundreds of moles came scampering along, and began to burrow +down through the earth, making many holes for air to go in; for they +know how to build galleries through the ground better than men can. +Every one was so surprised they stopped to look on; for the dirt flew +like rain as the busy little fellows scratched and bored as if making an +underground railway. + +"What does it mean?" said the men. "They work faster than we can, and +better; but who sent them? Is this strange little girl a fairy?" + +Before Rosy could speak, all heard a shrill, small voice singing,-- + + "They come at my call; + And though they are small, + They'll dig the passage clear: + I never forget; + We'll save them yet, + For love of Rosy dear." + +Then all saw a little gray mouse sitting on a stone, waving her tail +about, and pointing with her tiny paw to show the moles where to dig. + +The men laughed; and Rosy was telling them who she was, when a cry came +from the pit, and they saw that the way was clear so they could pull the +buried men up. In a minute they got ropes, and soon had ten poor fellows +safe on the ground; pale and dirty, but all alive, and all shouting as +if they were crazy,-- + +"Tom's got it! Tom's got it! Hooray for Tom!" + +"What is it?" cried the others; and then they saw Tom come up with the +biggest lump of gold ever found in the mountains. + +Every one was glad of Tom's luck; for he was a good man, and had worked +a long time, and been sick, and couldn't go back to his wife and child. +When he saw Rosy, he dropped the lump, and caught her up, saying,-- + +"My little girl! she's better than a million pounds of gold." + +Then Rosy was very happy, and went back to the hut, and had a lovely +time telling her father all about her troubles and her travels. He cried +when he heard that the poor mother was dead before she could have any of +the good things the gold would buy them. + +"We will go away and be happy together in the pleasantest home I can +find, and never part any more, my darling," said the father, kissing +Rosy as she sat on his knee with her arms round his neck. + +She was just going to say something very sweet to comfort him, when a +fly lit on her arm and buzzed very loud,-- + + "Don't drive me away, + But hear what I say: + Bad men want the gold; + They will steal it to-night, + And you must take flight; + So be quiet and busy and bold." + +"I was afraid some one would take my lump away. I'll pack up at once, +and we will creep off while the men are busy at work; though I'm afraid +we can't go fast enough to be safe, if they miss us and come after," +said Tom, bundling his gold into a bag and looking very sober; for some +of the miners were wild fellows, and might kill him for the sake of that +great lump. + +But the fly sang again,-- + + "Slip away with me, + And you will see + What a wise little thing am I; + For the road I show + No man can know, + Since it's up in the pathless sky." + +Then they followed Buzz to a quiet nook in the wood; and there were the +eagle and his mate waiting to fly away with them so fast and so far that +no one could follow. Rosy and the bag of gold were put on the mother +eagle; Tom sat astride the king bird; and away they flew to a great +city, where the little girl and her father lived happily together all +their lives. + + +[Illustration: Poor Billy dangling from a bough, high above the ground.] + + + + +VII. + +HOW THEY RAN AWAY. + + +Two little boys sat on the fence whittling arrows one fine day. Said one +little boy to the other little boy,-- + +"Let's do something jolly." + +"All right. What will we do?" + +"Run off to the woods and be hunters." + +"What can we hunt?" + +"Bears and foxes." + +"Mullin says there ain't any round here." + +"Well, we can shoot squirrels and snare wood-chucks." + +"Haven't got any guns and trap." + +"We've got our bows, and I found an old trap behind the barn." + +"What will we eat?" + +"Here's our lunch; and when that's gone we can roast the squirrels and +cook the fish on a stick. I know how." + +"Where will you get the fire?" + +"Got matches in my pocket." + +"I've got a lot of things we could use. Let's see." + +And as if satisfied at last, cautious Billy displayed his treasures, +while bold Tommy did the same. + +Besides the two knives there were strings, nails, matches, a piece of +putty, fish-hooks, and two very dirty handkerchiefs. + +"There, sir, that's a first-rate fit-out for hunters; and with the jolly +basket of lunch Mrs. Mullin gave us, we can get on tip-top for two or +three days," said Tommy, eager to be off. + +"Where shall we sleep?" asked Billy, who liked to be comfortable both +night and day. + +"Oh, up in trees or on beds of leaves, like the fellows in our books. If +you are afraid, stay at home; I'm going to have no end of a good time." +And Tommy crammed the things back into his pockets as if there were no +time to lose. + +"Pooh! I ain't afraid. Come on!" And jumping down Billy caught up his +rod, rather ashamed of his many questions. + +No one was looking at them, and they might have walked quietly off; but +that the "running away" might be all right, both raced down the road, +tumbled over a wall, and dashed into the woods as if a whole tribe of +wild Indians were after them. + +"Do you know the way?" panted Billy, when at last they stopped for +breath. + +"Yes, it winds right up the mountain; but we'd better not keep to it, or +some one will see us and take us back. We are going to be _real_ hunters +and have adventures; so we must get lost, and find our way by the sun +and the stars," answered Tommy, who had read so many Boys' Books his +little head was a jumble of Texan Rangers, African Explorers, and +Buffalo Bills; and he burned to outdo them all. + +"What will our mothers say if we really get lost?" asked Billy, always +ready with a question. + +"Mine won't fuss. She lets me do what I like." + +That was true; for Tommy's poor mamma was tired of trying to keep the +lively little fellow in order, and had got used to seeing him come out +of all his scrapes without much harm. + +"Mine will be scared; she's always afraid I'm going to get hurt, so I'm +careful. But I guess I'll risk it, and have some fun to tell about when +we go home," said Billy, trudging after Captain Tommy, who always took +the lead. + +These eleven-year-old boys were staying with their mothers at a +farm-house up among the mountains; and having got tired of the tame +bears, the big barn, the trout brook, the thirty colts at pasture, and +the society of the few little girls and younger boys at the hotel near +by, these fine fellows longed to break loose and "rough it in the bush," +as the hunters did in their favorite stories. + +Away they went, deeper and deeper into the great forest that covered the +side of the mountain. A pleasant place that August day; for it was cool +and green, with many brooks splashing over the rocks, or lying in brown +pools under the ferns. Squirrels chattered and raced in the tall pines; +now and then a gray rabbit skipped out of sight among the brakes, or +a strange bird flew by. Here and there blackberries grew in the open +places, sassafras bushes were plentiful, and black-birch bark was ready +for chewing. + +"Don't you call this nice?" asked Tommy, pausing at last in a little +dell where a noisy brook came tumbling down the mountain side, and the +pines sung overhead. + +"Yes; but I'm awful hungry. Let's rest and eat our lunch," said Billy, +sitting down on a cushion of moss. + +"You always want to be stuffing and resting," answered sturdy Tommy, who +liked to be moving all the time. + +He took the fishing-basket, which hung over his shoulder by a strap, +and opened it carefully; for good Mrs. Mullin had packed a nice lunch of +bread and butter, cake and peaches, with a bottle of milk, and two large +pickles slipped in on the sly to please the boys. + +Tommy's face grew very sober as he looked in, for all he saw was a box +of worms for bait and an old jacket. + +"By George! we've got the wrong basket. This is Mullin's, and he's gone +off with our prog. Won't he be mad?" + +"Not as mad as I am. Why didn't you look? You are always in such a hurry +to start. What _shall_ we do now without anything to eat?" whined Billy; +for losing his lunch was a dreadful blow to him. + +"We shall have to catch some fish and eat blackberries. Which will you +do, old cry-baby?" said Tommy, laughing at the other boy's dismal face. + +"I'll fish; I'm so tired I can't go scratching round after berries. I +don't love 'em, either." And Billy began to fix his line and bait his +hook. + +"Lucky we got the worms; you can eat 'em if you can't wait for fish," +said Tommy, bustling about to empty the basket and pile up their few +possessions in a heap. "There's a quiet pool below here, you go and fish +there. I'll pick the berries, and then show you how to get dinner in the +woods. This is our camp; so fly round and do your best." + +Then Tommy ran off to a place near by where he had seen the berries, +while Billy found a comfortable nook by the pool, and sat scowling at +the water so crossly, it was a wonder any trout came to his hook. But +the fat worms tempted several small ones, and he cheered up at the +prospect of food. Tommy whistled while he picked, and in half an hour +came back with two quarts of nice berries and an armful of dry sticks +for the fire. + +"We'll have a jolly dinner, after all," he said, as the flames went +crackling up, and the dry leaves made a pleasant smell. + +"Got four, but don't see how we'll ever cook 'em; no frying-pan," +grumbled Billy, throwing down the four little trout, which he had half +cleaned. + +"Don't want any. Broil 'em on the coals, or toast 'em on a forked stick. +I'll show you how," said cheerful Tommy, whittling away, and feeding his +fire as much like a real hunter as a small boy could be. + +While he worked, Billy ate berries and sighed for bread and butter. At +last, after much trouble, two of the trout were half cooked and eagerly +eaten by the hungry boys. But they were very different from the nice +brown ones Mrs. Mullin gave them; for in spite of Tommy's struggles they +would fall in the ashes, and there was no salt to eat with them. By the +time the last were toasted, the young hunters were so hungry they could +have eaten anything, and not a berry was left. + +"I set the trap down there, for I saw a hole among the vines, and I +shouldn't wonder if we got a rabbit or something," said Tommy, when the +last bone was polished. "You go and catch some more fish, and I'll see +if I have caught any old chap as he went home to dinner." + +Off ran Tommy; and the other boy went slowly back to the brook, wishing +with all his might he was at home eating sweet corn and berry pie. + +The trout had evidently gone to their dinners, for not one bite did poor +Billy get; and he was just falling asleep when a loud shout gave him +such a fright that he tumbled into the brook up to his knees. + +"I've got him! Come and see! He's a bouncer," roared Tommy, from the +berry bushes some way off. + +Billy scrambled out, and went as fast as his wet boots would let him, to +see what the prize was. He found Tommy dancing wildly round a fat gray +animal, who was fighting to get his paws out of the trap, and making a +queer noise as he struggled about. + +"What is it?" asked Billy, getting behind a tree as fast as possible, +for the thing looked fierce, and he was very timid. + +"A raccoon, I guess, or a big woodchuck. Won't his fur make a fine cap? +I guess the other fellows will wish they'd come with us." said Tommy, +prancing to and fro, without the least idea what to do with the +creature. + +"He'll bite. We'd better run away and wait till he's dead," said Billy. + +"Wish he'd got his head in, then I could carry him off; but he does +look savage, so we'll have to leave him awhile, and get him when we come +back. But he's a real beauty." And Tommy looked proudly at the bunch of +gray fur scuffling in the sand. + +"Can we ever eat him?" asked hungry Billy, ready for a fried crocodile +if he could get it. + +"If he's a raccoon, we can; but I don't know about woodchucks. The +fellows in my books don't seem to have caught any. He's nice and fat; we +might try him when he's dead," said Tommy, who cared more for the skin +to show than the best meal ever cooked. + +The sound of a gun echoing through the wood gave Tommy a good idea,-- + +"Let's find the man and get him to shoot this chap; then we needn't +wait, but skin him right away, and eat him too." + +Off they went to the camp; and catching up their things, the two hunters +hurried away in the direction of the sound, feeling glad to know that +some one was near them, for two or three hours of wood life made them a +little homesick. + +They ran and scrambled, and listened and called; but not until they had +gone a long way up the mountain did they find the man, resting in an old +hut left by the lumbermen. The remains of his dinner were spread on the +floor, and he lay smoking, and reading a newspaper, while his dog dozed +at his feet, close to a well-filled game-bag. + +He looked surprised when two dirty, wet little boys suddenly appeared +before him,--one grinning cheerfully, the other looking very dismal +and scared as the dog growled and glared at them as if they were two +rabbits. + +"Hollo!" said the man + +"Hollo!" answered Tommy. + +"Who are you?" asked the man. + +"Hunters," said Tommy. + +"Had good luck?" And the man laughed. + +"First-rate. Got a raccoon in our trap, and we want you to come and +shoot him," answered Tommy, proudly. + +"Sure?" said the man, looking interested as well as amused. + +"No, but I think so." + +"What's he like?" + +Tommy described him, and was much disappointed when the man lay down +again, saying, with another laugh,-- + +"It's a woodchuck; he's no good." + +"But I want the skin." + +"Then don't shoot him, let him die; that's better for the skin," said +the man, who was tired and didn't want to stop for such poor game. + +All this time Billy had been staring hard at the sandwiches and bread +and cheese on the floor, and sniffing at them, as the dog sniffed at +him. + +"Want some grub?" asked the man, seeing the hungry look. + +"I just do! We left our lunch, and I've only had two little trout and +some old berries since breakfast," answered Billy, with tears in his +eyes and a hand on his stomach. + +"Eat away then; I'm done, and don't want the stuff." And the man took up +his paper as if glad to be let alone. + +It was lucky that the dog had been fed, for in ten minutes nothing +was left but the napkin; and the boys sat picking up the crumbs, much +refreshed, but ready for more. + +"Better be going home, my lads; it's pretty cold on the mountain after +sunset, and you are a long way from town," said the man, who had peeped +at them over his paper now and then, and saw, in spite of the dirt and +rips, that they were not farmer boys. + +"We don't live in town; we are at Mullin's, in the valley. No hurry; +we know the way, and we want to have some sport first. You seem to +have done well," answered Tommy, looking enviously from the gun to the +game-bag, out of which hung a rabbit's head and a squirrel's tail. + +"Pretty fair; but I want a shot at the bear. People tell me there is one +up here, and I'm after him; for he kills the sheep, and might hurt some +of the young folks round here," said the man, loading his gun with a +very sober air; for he wanted to get rid of the boys and send them home. + +Billy looked alarmed; but Tommy's brown face beamed with joy as he said +eagerly,-- + +"I hope you'll get him. I'd rather shoot a bear than any other animal +but a lion. We don't have those here, and bears are scarce. Mullin said +he hadn't heard of one for a long time; so this must be a young one, for +they killed the big one two years ago." + +That was true, and the man knew it. He did not really expect or want to +meet a bear, but thought the idea of one would send the little fellows +home at once. Finding one of them was unscared, he laughed, and said +with a nod to Tommy,-- + +"If I had time I'd take _you_ along, and show you how to hunt; but this +fat friend of yours couldn't rough it with us, and we can't leave him +alone; so go ahead your own way. Only I wouldn't climb any higher, for +among the rocks you are sure to get hurt or lost." + +"Oh, I say, let's go! Such fun, Billy! I know you'll like it. A real gun +and dog and hunter! Come on, and don't be a molly-coddle," cried Tommy, +wild to go. + +"I won't! I'm tired, and I'm going home; you can go after your old bears +if you want to. I don't think much of hunting anyway, and wish I hadn't +come," growled Billy, very cross at being left out, yet with no desire +to scramble any more. + +"Can't stop. Good-by. Get along home, and some day I'll come and take +you out with me, little Leatherstocking," said the man, striding off +with the dear gun and dog and bag, leaving Billy to wonder what he meant +by that queer name, and Tommy to console himself with the promise made +him. + +"Let's go and see how old Chucky gets on," he said good-naturedly, when +the man vanished. + +"Not till I'm rested. I can get a good nap on this pile of hay; then +we'll go home before it's late," answered lazy Billy, settling himself +on the rough bed the lumbermen had used. + +"I just wish I had a boy with some go in him; you ain't much better than +a girl," sighed Tommy, walking off to a pine-tree where some squirrels +seemed to be having a party, they chattered and raced up and down at +such a rate. + +He tried his bow and shot all his arrows many times in vain, for the +lively creatures gave him no chance. He had better luck with a brown +bird who sat in a bush and was hit full in the breast with the sharpest +arrow. The poor thing fluttered and fell, and its blood wet the green +leaves as it lay dying on the grass. Tommy was much pleased at first; +but as he stood watching its bright eye grow dim and its pretty brown +wings stop fluttering, he felt sorry that its happy little life was so +cruelly ended, and ashamed that his thoughtless fun had given so much +pain. + +"I'll never shoot another bird except hawks after chickens, and I won't +brag about this one. It was so tame, and trusted me, I was very mean to +kill it." + +As he thought this, Tommy smoothed the ruffled feathers of the dead +thrush, and, making a little grave under the pine, buried it wrapped in +green leaves, and left it there where its mate could sing over it, and +no rude hands disturb its rest. + +"I'll tell mamma and she will understand: but I _won't_ tell Billy. He +is such a greedy old chap he'll say I ought to have kept the poor bird +to eat," thought Tommy, as he went back to the hut, and sat there, +restringing his bow, till Billy woke up, much more amiable for his +sleep. + +They tried to find the woodchuck, but lost their way, and wandered +deeper into the great forest till they came to a rocky place and could +go no farther. They climbed up and tumbled down, turned back and went +round, looked at the sun and knew it was late, chewed sassafras bark and +checkerberry leaves for supper, and grew more and more worried and tired +as hour after hour went by and they saw no end to woods and rocks. Once +or twice they heard the hunter's gun far away, and called and tried to +find him. + +Tommy scolded Billy for not going with the man, who knew his way and was +probably safe in the valley when the last faint shot came up to them. +Billy cried, and reproached Tommy for proposing to run away; and both +felt very homesick for their mothers and their good safe beds at Farmer +Mullin's. + +The sun set, and found them in a dreary place full of rocks and blasted +trees half-way up the mountain. They were so tired they could hardly +walk, and longed to lie down anywhere to sleep; but, remembering the +hunter's story of the bear, they were afraid to do it, till Tommy +suggested climbing a tree, after making a fire at the foot of it to +scare away the bear, lest he climb too and get them. + +But, alas! the matches were left in their first camp; so they decided to +take turns to sleep and watch, since it was plain that they must spend +the night there. Billy went up first, and creeping into a good notch of +the bare tree tried to sleep, while brave Tommy, armed with a big stick, +marched to and fro below. Every few minutes a trembling voice would call +from above, "Is anything coming?" and an anxious voice would answer from +below, "Not yet. Hurry up and go to sleep! I want my turn." + +At last Billy began to snore, and then Tommy felt so lonely he couldn't +bear it; so he climbed to a lower branch, and sat nodding and trying +to keep watch, till he too fell fast asleep, and the early moon saw the +poor boys roosting there like two little owls. + +A loud cry, a scrambling overhead, and then a great shaking and howling +waked Tommy so suddenly that he lost his wits for a moment and did not +know where he was. + +"The bear! the bear! don't let him get me! Tommy, Tommy, come and make +him let go," cried Billy, filling the quiet night with dismal howls. + +Tommy looked up, expecting to behold a large bear eating his unhappy +friend; but the moonlight showed him nothing but poor Billy dangling +from a bough, high above the ground, caught by his belt when he fell. He +had been dreaming of bears, and rolled off his perch; so there he hung, +kicking and wailing, half awake, and so scared it was long before Tommy +could make him believe that he was quite safe. + +How to get him down was the next question. The branch was not strong +enough to bear Tommy, though he climbed up and tried to unhook poor +Billy. The belt was firmly twisted at the back, and Billy could not +reach to undo it, nor could he get his legs round the branch to pull +himself up. There seemed no way but to unbuckle the belt and drop. That +he was afraid to try; for the ground was hard, and the fall a high one. +Fortunately both belt and buckle were strong; so he hung safely, though +very uncomfortably, while Tommy racked his boyish brain to find a way to +help him. + +Billy had just declared that he should be cut in two very soon if +something was not done for him, and Tommy was in despair, when they +thought they heard a far-off shout, and both answered it till their +throats were nearly split with screaming. + +"I seem to see a light moving round down that way," cried Billy from his +hook, pointing toward the valley. + +"They are looking for us, but they won't hear us. I'll run and holler +louder, and bring 'em up here," answered Tommy, glad to do anything that +would put an end to this dreadful state of things. + +"Don't leave me! I may fall and be killed! The bear might come! Don't +go! don't go!" wailed Billy, longing to drop, but afraid. + +"I won't go far, and I'll come back as quick as I can. You are safe up +there. Hold on, and we'll soon get you down," answered Tommy, rushing +away helter-skelter, never minding where he went, and too much excited +to care for any damage. + +The moon was bright on the blasted trees; but when he came down among +the green pines, it grew dark, and he often stumbled and fell. Never +minding bumps and bruises, he scrambled over rocks, leaped fallen +trunks, floundered through brooks, and climbed down steep places, till, +with a reckless jump, he went heels over head into a deep hole, and lay +there for a moment stunned by the fall. It was an old bear-trap, long +unused, and fortunately well carpeted with dead leaves, or poor Tommy +would have broken his bones. + +When he came to himself he was so used up that he lay still for some +time in a sort of daze, too tired to know or care about anything, only +dimly conscious that somebody was lost in a tree or a well, and that, on +the whole, running away was not all fun. + +By and by the sound of a gun roused him; and remembering poor Billy, he +tried to get out of the pit,--for the moon showed him where he was. But +it was too deep, and he was too stiff with weariness and the fall to be +very nimble. So he shouted, and whistled, and raged about very like a +little bear caught in the pit. + +It is very difficult to find a lost person on these great mountains, and +many wander for hours not far from help, bewildered by the thick woods, +the deep ravines, and precipices which shut them in. Some have lost +their lives; and as Tommy lay on the leaves used up by his various +struggles, he thought of all the stories he had lately heard at the +farm, and began to wonder how it would feel to starve to death down +there, and to wish poor Billy could come to share his prison, that they +might die together, like the Babes in the Wood, or better still the Boy +Scouts lost on the prairies in that thrilling story, "Bill Boomerang, +the Wild Hunter of the West." + +"I guess mother is worried this time, because I never stayed out all +night before, and I never will again without leave. It's rather good +fun, though, if they only find me. I ain't afraid, and it isn't very +cold. I always wanted to sleep out, and now I'm doing it. Wish poor +Billy was safely down and in this good bed with me. Won't he be scared +all alone there? Maybe the belt will break and he get hurt bumping down. +Sorry now I left him, he's such a 'fraid-cat. There's the gun again! +Guess it's that man after us. Hi! hollo! Here I am! Whoop! Hurrah! Hi! +hi! hi!" + +Tommy's meditations ended in a series of yells as loud as his shrill +little voice could make them, and he thought some one answered. But it +must have been an echo, for no one came; and after another rampage round +his prison, the poor boy nestled down among the leaves, and went fast +asleep because there was nothing else to do. + +So there they were, the two young hunters, lost at midnight on the +mountain,--one hanging like an apple on the old tree, and the other +sound asleep in a bear-pit. Their distracted mothers meantime were +weeping and wringing their hands at the farm, while all the men in +the neighborhood were out looking for the lost boys. The hunter on his +return to the hotel had reported meeting the runaways and his effort to +send them home in good season; so people knew where to look, and, led by +the man and dog, up the mountain went Mr. Mullin with his troop. It was +a mild night, and the moon shone high and clear; so the hunt was, on the +whole, rather easy and pleasant at first, and lanterns flashed through +the dark forest like fireflies, the lonely cliffs seemed alive with men, +and voices echoed in places where usually only the brooks babbled +and the hawks screamed. But as time went on, and no sign of the boys +appeared, the men grew anxious, and began to fear some serious harm had +come to the runaways. + +"I can't go home without them little shavers no way, 'specially Tommy," +said Mr. Mullin, as they stopped to rest after a hard climb through the +blasted grove. "He's a boy after my own heart, spry as a chipmunk, +smart as a young cockerel, and as full of mischief as a monkey. He ain't +afraid of anything, and I shouldn't be a mite surprised to find him +enjoyin' himself first-rate, and as cool as a coocumber." + +"The fat boy won't take it so easily, I fancy. If it hadn't been for +him I'd have kept the lively fellow with me, and shown him how to hunt. +Sorry now I didn't take them both home," said the man with the gun, +seeing his mistake too late, as people often do. + +"Maybe they've fell down a precipice and got killed, like Moses Warner, +when he was lost," suggested a tall fellow, who had shouted himself +hoarse. + +"Hush up, and come on! The dog is barkin' yonder, and he may have found +'em," said the farmer, hurrying toward the place where the hound was +baying at something in a tree. + +It was poor Billy, hanging there still, half unconscious with weariness +and fear. The belt had slipped up under his arms, so he could breathe +easily; and there he was, looking like a queer sort of cone on the +blasted pine. + +"Wal, I never!" exclaimed the farmer, as the tall lad climbed up, and, +unhooking Billy, handed him down like a young bird, into the arms held +up to catch him. + +"He's all right, only scared out of his wits. Come along and look for +the other one. I'll warrant he went for help, and may be half-way home +by this time," said the hunter, who didn't take much interest in the fat +boy. + +Tommy's hat lay on the ground; and showing it to the dog, his master +told him to find the boy. The good hound sniffed about, and then set off +with his nose to the ground, following the zigzag track Tommy had taken +in his hurry. The hunter and several of the men went after him, leaving +the farmer with the others to take care of Billy. + +Presently the dog came to the bear-pit, and began to bark again. + +"He's got him!" cried the men, much relieved; and rushing on soon saw +the good beast looking down at a little white object in one corner of +the dark hole. + +It was Tommy's face in the moonlight, for the rest of him was covered up +with leaves. The little round face seemed very quiet; and for a moment +the men stood quite still, fearing that the fall might have done the +boy some harm. Then the hunter leaped down, and gently touched the brown +cheek. It was warm, and a soft snore from the pug nose made the man call +out, much relieved,-- + +"He's all right. Wake up here, little chap; you are wanted at home. Had +hunting enough for this time?" + +As he spoke, Tommy opened his eyes, gave a stretch, and said, "Hollo, +Billy," as calmly as if in his own bed at home. Then the rustle of the +leaves, the moonlight in his face, and the sight of several men staring +down at him startled him wide awake. + +"Did you shoot the big bear?" he asked, looking up at the hunter with a +grin. + +"No; but I caught a little one, and here he is," answered the man, +giving Tommy a roll in the leaves, much pleased because he did not whine +or make a fuss. + +"Got lost, didn't we? Oh, I say, where's Billy? I left him up a tree +like a coon, and he wouldn't come down," laughed Tommy, kicking off his +brown bed-clothes, and quite ready to get up now. + +They all laughed with him; and presently, when the story was told, they +pulled the boy out of the pit, and went back to join the other wanderer, +who was now sitting up eating the bread and butter Mrs. Mullin sent for +their very late supper. + +The men roared again, as the two boys told their various tribulations; +and when they had been refreshed, the party started for home, blowing +the tin horns, and firing shot after shot to let the scattered searchers +know that the lost children were found. Billy was very quiet, and gladly +rode on the various broad backs offered for his use, but Tommy stoutly +refused to be carried, and with an occasional "boost" over a very rough +place, walked all the way down on his own sturdy legs. He was the hero +of the adventure, and was never tired of relating how he caught the +woodchuck, cooked the fish, slid down the big rock, and went to bed in +the old bear-pit. But in his own little mind he resolved to wait till he +was older before he tried to be a hunter; and though he caught several +wood-chucks that summer, he never shot another harmless little bird. + + +[Illustration: A wasp flew out and stung her lips.] + + + + +VIII. + +THE FAIRY BOX. + + +"I wish I had a magic bracelet like Rosamond's, that would prick me when +I was going to do wrong," said little May, as she put down the story she +had been reading. + +There was no one else in the room, but she heard a sweet voice sing +these words close to her ear:-- + + "Now hark, little May, + If you want to do right, + Under your pillow + Just look every night. + If you have been good + All through the day, + A gift you will find, + Useful or gay; + But if you have been + Cross, selfish, or wild, + A bad thing will come + For the naughty child. + So try, little dear, + And soon you will see + How easy and sweet + To grow good it will be." + +May was very much surprised at this, and looked everywhere to see who +spoke, but could find no one. + +"I guess I dreamed it; but my eyes are wide open, and I can't make up +poetry, asleep or awake." + +As she said that, some one laughed; and the same voice sang again,-- + + "Ha, ha, you can't see, + Although I am here; + But listen to what + I say in your ear. + Tell no one of this. + Because, if you do, + My fun will be spoilt, + And so will yours too. + But if you are good, + And patient, and gay, + A real fairy will come + To see little May." + +"Oh, how splendid that will be! I'll try hard, and be as good as an +angel if I can only get one peep at a live fairy. I always said there +were such people, and now I shall know how they look," cried the little +girl, so pleased that she danced all about the room, clapping her hands. + +Something bright darted out of the window from among the flowers that +stood there, and no more songs were heard; so May knew that the elf had +gone. + +"I've got a fine secret all to myself, and I'll keep it carefully. I +wonder what present will come to-night," she said, thinking this a very +interesting play. + +She was very good all day, and made no fuss about going to bed, though +usually she fretted, and wanted to play, and called for water, and +plagued poor Nursey in many ways. She got safely into her little nest, +and then was in such a hurry to see what was under her pillow that she +forgot, and called out crossly,-- + +"Do hurry and go away. Don't wait to hang up my clothes, you slow old +thing! Go, go!" + +That hurt Nurse's feelings, and she went away without her good-night +kiss. But May didn't care, and felt under her pillow the minute the door +was shut. A lamp was always left burning; so she could see the little +gold box she drew out. + +"How pretty! I hope there is some candy in it," she said, opening it +very carefully. + +Oh, dear! what _do_ you think happened? A wasp flew out and stung her +lips; then both wasp and box vanished, and May was left to cry alone, +with a sharp pain in the lips that said the unkind words. + +"What a dreadful present! I don't like that spiteful fairy who sends +such horrid things," she sobbed. + +Then she lay still and thought about it; for she dared not call any one, +because nobody must guess the secret. She knew in her own little heart +that the cross words hurt Nursey as the sting did her lips, and she felt +sorry. At once the smart got better, and by the time she had resolved to +ask the good old woman to forgive her, it was all gone. + +Next morning she kissed Nursey and begged pardon, and tried hard to be +good till tea-time; then she ran to see what nice things they were +going to have to eat, though she had often been told not to go into +the dining-room. No one was there; and on the table stood a dish of +delicious little cakes, all white like snowballs. + +"I must have just a taste, and I'll tell mamma afterward," she said; and +before she knew it one little cake was eaten all up. + +"Nobody will miss it, and I can have another at tea. Now, a lump of +sugar and a sip of cream before mamma comes, I so like to pick round." + +Having done one wrong thing, May felt like going on; so she nibbled and +meddled with all sorts of forbidden things till she heard a step, then +she ran away; and by and by, when the bell rang, came in with the rest +as prim and proper as if she did not know how to play pranks. No one +missed the cake, and her mother gave her another, saying,-- + +"There, dear, is a nice plummy one for my good child." + +May turned red, and wanted to tell what she had done, but was ashamed +because there was company; and people thought she blushed like a modest +little girl at being praised. + +But when she went to bed she was almost afraid to look under the pillow, +knowing that she had done wrong. At last she slowly drew out the box, +and slowly opened it, expecting something to fly at her. All she saw +was a tiny black bag, that began at once to grow larger, till it was +big enough to hold her two hands. Then it tied itself tight round her +wrists, as if to keep these meddlesome hands out of mischief. + +"Well, this is very queer, but not so dreadful as the wasp. I hope +no one will see it when I'm asleep. I do wish I'd let those cakes and +things alone," sighed May, looking at the black bag, and vainly trying +to get her hands free. + +She cried herself to sleep, and when she woke the bag was gone. No one +had seen it; but she told her mamma about the cake, and promised not to +do so any more. + +"Now this shall be a _truly_ good day, every bit of it," she said, as +she skipped away, feeling as light as a feather after she had confessed +her little sins. + +But, alas! it is so easy to forget and do wrong, that May spoilt her day +before dinner by going to the river and playing with the boats, in spite +of many orders not to do it. She did not tell of it, and went to a +party in the afternoon, where she was so merry she never remembered the +naughty thing till she was in bed and opened the fairy box. A little +chain appeared, which in a flash grew long and large, and fastened round +her ankles as if she were a prisoner. May liked to tumble about, and was +much disgusted to be chained in this way; but there was no help for it, +so she lay very still and had plenty of time to be sorry. + +"It is a good punishment for me, and I deserve it. I won't cry, but I +will--I _will_ remember." And May said her prayers very soberly, really +meaning to keep her word this time. + +All the next day she was very careful to keep her lips from cross words, +her hands from forbidden things, and her feet from going wrong. Nothing +spoilt this day, she watched so well; and when mamma gave the good-night +kiss, she said,-- + +"What shall I give my good little daughter, who has been gentle, +obedient, and busy all day?" + +"I want a white kitty, with blue eyes, and a pink ribbon on its neck," +answered May. + +"I'll try and find one. Now go to bed, deary, and happy dreams!" said +mamma, with many kisses on the rosy cheeks, and the smile that was a +reward. + +May was so busy thinking about the kitty and the good day that she +forgot the box till she heard a little "Mew, mew!" under her pillow. + +"Mercy me! what's that?" And she popped up her head to see. + +Out came the box; off flew the lid, and there, on a red cushion, lay a +white kit about two inches long. May couldn't believe that it was alive +till it jumped out of its nest, stretched itself, and grew all at once +just the right size to play with and be pretty. Its eyes were blue, its +tail like a white plume, and a sweet pink bow was on its neck. It danced +all over the bed, ran up the curtains, hid under the clothes, nipped +May's toes, licked her face, patted her nose with its soft paw, and +winked at her in such a funny way that she laughed for joy at having +such a dear kitty. Presently, as if it knew that bed was the place to +lie quiet in, puss cuddled down in a little bunch and purred May to +sleep. + +"I suppose that darling kit will be gone like all the other things," +said May, as she waked up and looked round for her first pretty gift. + +No; there was the lovely thing sitting in the sun among the flower-pots, +washing her face and getting ready for play. What a fine frolic they +had; and how surprised every one was to see just the pussy May wanted! +They supposed it came as kitties often come; and May never told them it +was a fairy present, because she had promised not to. She was so happy +with little puss that she was good all day; and when she went to bed she +thought,-- + +"I wish I had a dog to play with darling Snowdrop, and run with me when +I go to walk." + +"Bow, wow, wow!" came from under the pillow; and out of the box trotted +a curly black dog, with long ears, a silver collar, and such bright, +kind eyes May was not a bit afraid of him, but loved him at once, and +named him Floss, he was so soft and silky. Pussy liked him too; and when +May was sleepy they both snuggled down in the same basket like two good +babies, and went to by-low. + +"Well, I never! What shall we find next?" said Nurse, when she saw the +dog in the morning. + +"Perhaps it will be an elephant, to fill the whole house, and scare you +out of your wits," laughed May, dancing about with Snowdrop chasing her +bare toes, while Floss shook and growled over her shoes as if they were +rats. + +"If your cousin John wants to give you any more animals, I wish he'd +send a pony to take you to school, and save my old legs the pain of +trotting after you," said Nurse; for May did have a rich cousin who was +very fond of her, and often gave her nice things. + +"Perhaps he will," laughed May, much tickled with the idea that it was +a fairy, and not Cousin John, who sent the cunning little creatures to +her. + +But she didn't get the pony that night; for in the afternoon her mother +told her not to sit on the lawn, because it was damp, and May did not +mind, being busy with a nice story. So when she took up her box, a loud +sneeze seemed to blow the lid off, and all she saw was a bit of red +flannel. + +"What is this for?" she asked, much disappointed; and as if to answer, +the strip of flannel wrapped itself round her neck. + +"There! my throat _is_ sore, and I _am_ hoarse. I wonder how that fairy +knew I sat on the damp grass. I'm so sorry; for I did want a pony, and +might have had it if I'd only minded," said May, angry with herself for +spoiling all her fun. + +It _was_ spoilt; for she had such a cold next day she couldn't go out +at all, but had to take medicine and keep by the fire, while the other +children had a lovely picnic. + +"I won't wish for anything to-night; I don't deserve a present, I was +so disobedient. But I _have_ tried to be patient," said May, feeling for +the box. + +The fairy had not forgotten her, and there was a beautiful picture-book, +full of new, nice stories printed in colored ink. + +"How splendid to read to-morrow while I'm shut up!" she said, and went +to sleep very happily. + +All the next day she enjoyed the pretty pictures and funny tales, and +never complained or fretted at all, but was so much better the doctor +said she could go out to-morrow, if it was fine. + +"Now I will wish for the pony," said May, in her bed. But there was +nothing in the box except a little red-silk rope, like a halter. She did +not know what to do with it that night, but she did the next morning; +for just as she was dressed her brother called from the garden,-- + +"May, look out and see what we found in the stable. None of us can catch +him, so do come and see if you can; your name is on the card tied to his +mane." + +May looked, and there was a snow-white pony racing about the yard as if +he was having a fine frolic. Then she knew the halter was for him, and +ran down to catch him. The minute she appeared, the pony went to her and +put his nose in her hand, neighing, as if he said,-- + +"This is my little mistress; I will mind her and serve her well." + +May was delighted, and very proud when the pony let her put on the +saddle and bridle that lay in the barn all ready to use. She jumped up +and rode gayly down the road; and Will and mamma and all the maids and +Floss and Snowdrop ran to see the pretty sight. The children at school +were much excited when she came trotting up, and all wanted to ride +Prince. He was very gentle, and every one had a ride; but May had the +best fun, for she could go every day for long trots by the carriage when +mamma and Will drove out. A blue habit and a hat with a long feather +were bought that afternoon; and May was so happy and contented at night +that she said to herself as she lay in bed,-- + +"I'll wish for something for Will now, and see if I get it. I don't want +any more presents yet; I've had my share, and I'd love to give away to +other people who have no fairy box." + +So she wished for a nice boat, and in the box lay a key with the name +"Water Lily" on it. She guessed what it meant, and in the morning told +her brother to come to the river and see what she had for him. There lay +a pretty green and white boat, with cushioned seats, a sail all spread, +and at the mast-head a little flag flying in the wind, with the words +"Water Lily" on it in gold letters. + +Will was so surprised and pleased to find that it was his, he turned +heels over head on the grass, kissed May, and skipped into his boat, +crying, "All aboard!" as if eager to try it at once. + +May followed, and they sailed away down the lovely river, white with +real lilies, while the blackbirds sang in the green meadows on either +side, and boys and girls stopped on the bridges to see them pass. + +After that May kept on trying to be good, and wishing for things for +herself and other people, till she forgot how to be naughty, and was the +sweetest little girl in the world. Then there was no need of fairies to +help her; and one night the box was not under the pillow. + +"Well, I've had my share of pretty things, and must learn to do without. +I'm glad I tried; for now it is easy to be good, and I don't need to +be rewarded," said May, as she fell asleep, quite happy and contented, +though she did wish she could have seen the fairy just once. + +Next morning the first thing she saw was a beautiful bracelet, shining +on the table; and while she stood admiring it, she heard the little +voice sing,-- + + "Here is the bracelet + For good little May + To wear on her arm + By night and by day. + When it shines like the sun, + All's going well; + But when you are bad, + A sharp prick will tell. + Farewell, little girl, + For now we must part. + Make a fairy-box, dear, + Of your own happy heart; + And take out for all + Sweet gifts every day, + Till all the year round + Is like beautiful May." + +As the last words were sung, right before her eyes she saw a tiny +creature swinging on the rose that stood there in a vase,--a lovely elf, +with wings like a butterfly, a gauzy dress, and a star on her forehead. +She smiled, and waved her hand as she slowly rose and fluttered away +into the sunshine, till she vanished from sight, leaving May with the +magic bracelet on her arm, and the happy thought that at last she had +_really_ seen a fairy. + + +[Illustration: Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek."] + + + + +IX. + +A HOLE IN THE WALL. + +PART I. + + +If any one had asked Johnny Morris who were his best friends, he would +have answered,-- + +"The sun and the wind, next to mother." + +Johnny lived in a little court that led off from one of the busiest +streets in the city,--a noisy street, where horse-car bells tinkled +and omnibuses rumbled all day long, going and coming from several great +depots near by. The court was a dull place, with only two or three +shabby houses in it, and a high blank wall at the end. + +The people who hurried by were too busy to do more than to glance at +the lame boy who sat in the sunshine against the wall, or to guess that +there was a picture-gallery and a circulating-library in the court. But +Johnny had both, and took such comfort in them that he never could be +grateful enough to the wind that brought him his books and pictures, nor +to the sun that made it possible for him to enjoy them in the open air, +far more than richer folk enjoy their fine galleries and libraries. + +A bad fall, some months before the time this story begins, did something +to Johnny's back which made his poor legs nearly useless, and changed +the lively, rosy boy into a pale cripple. His mother took in fine +washing, and worked hard to pay doctors' bills and feed and clothe her +boy, who could no longer run errands, help with the heavy tubs, or go to +school. He could only pick out laces for her to iron, lie on his bed in +pain for hours, and, each fair day, hobble out to sit in a little old +chair between the water-butt and the leaky tin boiler in which he kept +his library. + +But he was a happy boy, in spite of poverty and pain; and the day a +great gust came blowing fragments of a gay placard and a dusty newspaper +down the court to his feet, was the beginning of good fortune for +patient Johnny. There was a theatre in the street beyond, and other +pictured bits found their way to him; for the frolicsome wind liked to +whisk the papers around the corner, and chase them here and there till +they settled under the chair or flew wildly over the wall. + +Faces, animals, people, and big letters, all came to cheer the boy, who +was never tired of collecting these waifs and strays; cutting out the +big pictures to paste on the wall with the leavings of mother's starch, +and the smaller in the scrap-book he made out of stout brown wrappers +or newspapers, when he had read the latter carefully. Soon it was a +very gay wall; for mother helped, standing on a chair, to put the large +pictures up, when Johnny had covered all the space he could reach. +The books were laid carefully away in the boiler, after being smoothly +ironed out and named to suit Johnny's fancy by pasting letters on the +back. This was the circulating library; for not only did the papers +whisk about the court to begin with, but the books they afterward made +went the rounds among the neighbors till they were worn out. + +The old cobbler next door enjoyed reading the anecdotes on Sunday when +he could not work; the pale seamstress upstairs liked to look over +advertisements of the fine things which she longed for; and Patsey +Flynn, the newsboy, who went by each day to sell his papers at the +station, often paused to look at the play-bills,--for he adored the +theatre, and entertained Johnny with descriptions of the splendors there +to be beheld, till he felt as if he had really been, and had known all +the famous actors, from Humpty Dumpty to the great Salvini. + +Now and then a flock of dirty children would stray into the court and +ask to see the "pretty picters." Then Johnny was a proud and happy +boy; for, armed with a clothes-pole, he pointed out and explained the +beauties of his gallery, feeling that he was a public benefactor when +the poor babies thanked him warmly, and promised to come again and bring +all the nice papers they could pick up. + +These were Johnny's pleasures: but he had two sorrows,--one, a very real +one, his aching back; and the other, a boyish longing to climb the wall +and see what was on the other side, for it seemed a most wonderful and +delightful place to the poor child, shut up in that dismal court, with +no playmates and few comforts. + +He amused himself with imagining how it looked over there, and nearly +every night added some new charm to this unseen country, when his mother +told him fairy tales to get him to sleep. He peopled it with the dear +old characters all children know and love. The white cat that sat on +the wall was Puss in Boots to him, or Whittington's good friend. +Blue-beard's wives were hidden in the house of whose upper windows the +boy could just catch glimpses. Red Riding-hood met the wolf in the grove +of chestnuts that rustled over there; and Jack's Beanstalk grew up just +such a wall as that, he was sure. + +But the story he liked best was the "Sleeping Beauty in the Wood;" for +he was sure some lovely creature lived in that garden, and he longed to +get in to find and play with her. He actually planted a bean in a bit of +damp earth behind the water-barrel, and watched it grow, hoping for as +strong a ladder as Jack's. But the vine grew very slowly, and Johnny +was so impatient that he promised Patsey his best book "for his +ownty-donty," if he would climb up and report what was to be seen in +that enchanted garden. + +"Faix, and I will, thin." And up went good-natured Pat, after laying an +old board over the hogshead to stand on; for there were spikes all along +the top of the wall, and only cats and sparrows could walk there. + +Alas for Johnny's eager hopes, and alas for Pat's Sunday best! The board +broke, and splash went the climber, with a wild Irish howl that startled +Johnny half out of his wits and brought both Mrs. Morris and the cobbler +to the rescue. + +After this sad event Pat kept away for a time in high dudgeon, and +Johnny was more lonely than ever. But he was a cheery little soul, so he +was grateful for what joys he had, and worked away at his wall,--for the +March winds had brought him many treasures, and after April rains were +over, May sunshine made the court warm enough for him to be out nearly +all day. + +"I'm so sorry Pat is mad, 'cause he saw this piece and told me about it, +and he'd like to help me put up these pictures," said Johnny to himself, +one breezy morning, as he sat examining a big poster which the wind had +sent flying into his lap a few minutes before. + +The play was "Monte Cristo," and the pictures represented the hero +getting out of prison by making holes in the wall, among other +remarkable performances. + +"This is a jolly red one! Now, where will I put it to show best and not +spoil the other beauties?" + +As he spoke, Johnny turned his chair around and surveyed his gallery +with as much pride and satisfaction as if it held all the wonders of +art. + +It really _was_ quite splendid; for every sort of picture shone in the +sun,--simpering ladies, tragic scenes, circus parades, labels from +tin cans, rosy tomatoes, yellow peaches, and purple plums, funny +advertisements, and gay bills of all kinds. None were perfect, but they +were arranged with care; and the effect was very fine, Johnny thought. + +Presently his eyes wandered from these treasures to the budding bushes +that nodded so tantalizingly over the wall. A grape-vine ran along the +top, trying to hide the sharp spikes; lilacs tossed their purple plumes +above it, and several tall chestnuts rose over all, making green tents +with their broad leaves, where spires of blossom began to show like +candles on a mammoth Christmas tree. Sparrows were chirping gayly +everywhere; the white cat, with a fresh blue bow, basked on the coping +of the wall, and from the depths of the enchanted garden came a sweet +voice singing,-- + + "And she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy." + +Johnny smiled as he listened, and put his finger to the little dent in +his own chin, wishing the singer would finish this pleasing song. But +she never did, though he often heard that, as well as other childish +ditties, sung in the same gay voice, with bursts of laughter and the +sound of lively feet tripping up and down the boarded walks. Johnny +longed intensely to know who the singer was; for her music cheered his +solitude, and the mysterious sounds he heard in the garden increased his +wonder and his longing day by day. + +Sometimes a man's voice called, "Fay, where are you?" and Johnny was +sure "Fay" was short for Fairy. Another voice was often heard talking +in a strange, soft language, full of exclamations and pretty sounds. A +little dog barked, and answered to the name Pippo. Canaries carolled, +and some elfish bird scolded, screamed, and laughed so like a human +being, that Johnny felt sure that magic of some sort was at work next +door. + +A delicious fragrance was now wafted over the wall as of flowers, and +the poor boy imagined untold loveliness behind that cruel wall, as he +tended the dandelions his mother brought him from the Common, when she +had time to stop and gather them; for he loved flowers dearly, and tried +to make them out of colored paper, since he could have no sweeter sort. + +Now and then a soft, rushing sound excited his curiosity to such a pitch +that once he hobbled painfully up the court till he could see into the +trees; and once his eager eyes caught glimpses of a little creature, all +blue and white and gold, who peeped out from the green fans, and nodded, +and tried to toss him a cluster of the chestnut flowers. He stretched +his hands to her with speechless delight, forgetting his crutches, and +would have fallen if he had not caught by the shutter of a window so +quickly that he gave the poor back a sad wrench; and when he could look +up again, the fairy had vanished, and nothing was to be seen but the +leaves dancing in the wind. + +Johnny dared not try this again for fear of a fall, and every step cost +him a pang; but he never forgot it, and was thinking of it as he sat +staring at the wall on that memorable May day. + +"How I _should_ like to peek in and see just how it all really looks! +It sounds and smells so summery and nice in there. I know it must be +splendid. I say, Pussy, can't you tell a feller what you see?" + +Johnny laughed as he spoke, and the white cat purred politely; for she +liked the boy who never threw stones at her, nor disturbed her naps. But +Puss could not describe the beauties of the happy hunting-ground below; +and, to console himself for the disappointment, Johnny went back to his +new picture. + +"Now, if this man in the play dug his way out through a wall ten feet +thick with a rusty nail and a broken knife, I don't see why I couldn't +pick away one brick and get a peek. It's all quiet in there now; here's +a good place, and nobody will know, if I stick a picture over the hole. +And I'll try it, I declare I will!" + +Fired with the idea of acting Monte Cristo on a small scale, Johnny +caught up the old scissors in his lap, and began to dig out the mortar +around a brick already loose, and crumbling at the corners. His mother +smiled at his energy, then sighed and said, as she clapped her laces +with a heavy heart,-- + +"Ah, poor dear, if he only had his health he'd make his way in the +world. But now he's like to find a blank wall before him while he lives, +and none to help him over." + +Puss, in her white boots, sat aloft and looked on, wise as the cat +in the story, but offered no advice. The toad who lived behind the +water-barrel hopped under the few leaves of the struggling bean, like +Jack waiting to climb; and just then the noon bells began to ring as if +they sang clear and loud,-- + +"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London." + +So, cheered by his friends, Johnny scraped and dug vigorously till the +old brick fell out, showing another behind it. Only pausing to take +breath, he caught up his crutch and gave two or three hearty pokes, +which soon cleared the way and let the sunshine stream through, while +the wind tossed the lilacs like triumphal banners, and the jolly +sparrows chirped,-- + +"Hail, the conquering hero comes!" + +Rather scared by his unexpected success, the boy sat silent for a moment +to see what would happen. But all was still; and presently, with a +beating heart, Johnny leaned forward to enjoy the long-desired "peek." +He could not see much; but that little increased his curiosity and +delight, for it seemed like looking into fairy-land, after the dust and +noise and dingy houses of the court. + +A bed of splendid tulips tossed their gay garments in the middle of a +grass-plot; a strange and brilliant bird sat dressing its feathers on +a golden cage; a little white dog dozed in the sun; and on a red carpet +under the trees lay the Princess, fast asleep. + +"It's all right," said Johnny, with a long sigh of pleasure; "that's the +Sleeping Beauty, sure enough. There's the blue gown, the white fur-cloak +sweeping round, the pretty hair, and--yes--there's the old nurse, +spinning and nodding, just as she did in the picture-book mother got me +when I cried because I couldn't go to see the play." + +This last discovery really did bewilder Johnny, and make him believe +that fairy tales _might_ be true, after all, for how could he know that +the strange woman was an Italian servant, in her native dress, with a +distaff in her hand? After pausing a moment, to rub his eyes, he took +another look, and made fresh discoveries by twisting his head about. A +basket of oranges stood near the Princess, a striped curtain hung from a +limb of the tree to keep the wind off, and several books fluttered their +pictured leaves temptingly before Johnny's longing eyes. + +"Oh, if I could only go in and eat 'em and read 'em and speak to 'em and +see all the splendid things!" thought the poor boy, as he looked from +one delight to another, and felt shut out from all. "I can't go and wake +her like the Prince did, but I do wish she'd get up and do something, +now I _can_ see. I daren't throw a stone, it might hit some one, or +holler, it might scare her. Pussy won't help, and the sparrows are too +busy scolding one another. I know! I'll fly a kite over, and that will +please her any way. Don't believe she has kites; girls never do." + +Eager to carry out his plan, Johnny tied a long string to his gayest +poster, and then fastening it to the pole with which he sometimes fished +in the water-cask, held it up to catch the fresh breezes blowing down +the court. His good friend, the wind, soon caught the idea, and with +a strong breath sent the red paper whisking over the wall, to hang a +moment on the trees and then drop among the tulips, where its frantic +struggles to escape waked the dog, and set him to racing and barking, as +Johnny hurriedly let the string go, and put his eye to his peep-hole. + +The eyes of the Princess were wide open now, and she clapped her hands +when Pippo brought the gay picture for her to see; while the old woman, +with a long yawn, went away, carrying her distaff, like a gun, over her +shoulder. + +"She likes it! I'm so glad. Wish I had some more to send over. This will +come off, I'll poke it through, and maybe she will see it." + +Very much excited, Johnny recklessly tore from the wall his most +cherished picture, a gay flower-piece, just put up; and folding it, he +thrust it through the hole and waited to see what followed. + +Nothing but a rustle, a bark, and a queer croak from the splendid bird, +which set the canaries to trilling sweetly. + +"She don't see, maybe she will hear," said Johnny. And he began to +whistle like a mocking-bird; for this was his one accomplishment, and he +was proud of it. + +Presently he heard a funny burst of laughter from the parrot, and then +the voice said,-- + +"No, Polly, you can't sing like that bird. I wonder where he is? Among +the bushes over there, I think. Come, Pippo, let us go and find him." + +"Now she's coming!" And Johnny grew red in the face trying to give his +best trills and chirrups. + +Nearer and nearer came the steps, the lilacs rustled as if shaken, and +presently the roll of paper vanished. A pause, and then the little voice +exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise,-- + +"Why, there's a hole! I never saw it before. Oh! I can see the street. +How nice! how nice!" + +"She likes the hole! I wonder if she will like me?" And, emboldened by +these various successes, Johnny took another peep. This was the most +delicious one of all; for he looked right into a great blue eye, with +glimpses of golden hair above, a little round nose in the middle, and +red lips below. It was like a flash of sunshine, and Johnny winked, as +if dazzled; for the eye sparkled, the nose sniffed daintily, and the +pretty mouth broke into a laugh as the voice cried out delightedly,-- + +"I see some one! Who are you? Come and tell me!" + +"I'm Johnny Morris," answered the boy, quite trembling with pleasure. + +"Did you make this nice hole?" + +"I just poked a brick, and it fell out." + +"Papa won't mind. Is that your bird?" + +"No; it's me. I whistled." + +"It's very pretty. Do it again," commanded the voice, as if used to give +orders. + +Johnny obeyed; and when he paused, out of breath, a small hand came +through the hole, grasping as many lilies of the valley as it could +hold, and the Princess graciously expressed her pleasure by saying,-- + +"I like it; you shall do it again, by and by. Here are some flowers for +you. Now we will talk. Are you a nice boy?" + +This was a poser; and Johnny answered meekly, with his nose luxuriously +buried in the lovely flowers,-- + +"Not very,--I'm lame; I can't play like other fellers." + +"_Porverino_!" sighed the little voice, full of pity; and, in a moment, +three red-and-yellow tulips fell at Johnny's feet, making him feel as if +he really had slipped into fairy-land through that delightful hole. + +"Oh, thank you! Aren't they just elegant? I never see such beauties," +stammered the poor boy, grasping his treasures as if he feared they +might vanish away. + +"You shall have as many as you like. Nanna will scold, but papa won't +mind. Tell me more. What do you do over there?" asked the child, +eagerly. + +"Nothing but paste pictures and make books, when I don't ache too bad. I +used to help mother; but I got hurt, and I can't do much now," answered +the boy, ashamed to mention how many laces he patiently picked or +clapped, since it was all he could do to help. + +"If you like pictures, you shall come and see mine some day. I do a +great many. Papa shows me how. His are splendid. Do you draw or paint +yours?" + +"I only cut 'em out of papers, and stick 'em on this wall or put 'em +in scrap-books. I can't draw, and I haven't got no paints," answered +Johnny. + +"You should say 'haven't any paints.' I will come and see you some day; +and if I like you, I will let you have my old paint-box. Do you want +it?" + +"Guess I do!" + +"I think I _shall_ like you; so I'll bring it when I come. Do you ache +much?" + +"Awfully, sometimes. Have to lay down all day, and can't do a thing." + +"Do you cry?" + +"No! I'm too big for that. I whistle." + +"I _know_ I shall like you, because you are brave!" cried the impetuous +voice, with its pretty accent; and then an orange came tumbling through +the hole, as if the new acquaintance longed to do something to help the +"ache." + +"Isn't that a rouser! I do love 'em, but mother can't afford 'em often." +And Johnny took one delicious taste on the spot. + +"Then I shall give you many. We have loads at home, much finer than +these. Ah, you should see our garden there!" + +"Where do you live?" Johnny ventured to ask; for there was a homesick +sound to the voice as it said those last words. + +"In Rome. Here we only stay a year, while papa arranges his affairs; +then we go back, and I am happy." + +"I should think you'd be happy in there. It looks real splendid to me, +and I've been longing to see it ever since I could come out." + +"It's a dull place to me. I like better to be where it's always warm, +and people are more beautiful than here. Are _you_ beautiful?" + +"What queer questions she does ask!" And poor Johnny was so perplexed he +could only stammer, with a laugh,-- + +"I guess not. Boys don't care for looks." + +"Peep, and let me see. I like pretty persons," commanded the voice. + +"Don't she order round?" thought Johnny, as he obeyed. But he liked it, +and showed such a smiling face at the peep-hole, that Princess Fay was +pleased to say, after a long look at him,-- + +"No, you are not beautiful; but your eyes are bright, and you look +pleasant, so I don't mind the freckles on your nose and the whiteness +of your face. I think you are good. I am sorry for you, and I shall lend +you a book to read when the pain comes." + +"I couldn't wait for that if I had a book. I do _love_ so to read!" And +Johnny laughed out from sheer delight at the thought of a new book; for +he seldom got one, being too poor to buy them, and too helpless to enjoy +the free libraries of the city. + +"Then you shall have it _now_." And there was another quick rush in the +garden, followed by the appearance of a fat little book, slowly pushed +through the hole in the wall. + +"This is the only one that will pass. You will like Hans Andersen's +fairy tales, I know. Keep it as long as you please. I have many more." + +"You're so good! I wish I had something for you," said the boy, quite +overcome by this sweet friendliness. + +"Let me see one of _your_ books. They will be new to me. I'm tired of +all mine." + +Quick as a flash, off went the cover of the old boiler, and out came +half-a-dozen of Johnny's best works, to be crammed through the wall, +with the earnest request,-- + +"Keep 'em all; they're not good for much, but they're the best I've got. +I'll do some prettier ones as soon as I can find more nice pictures and +pieces." + +"They look very interesting. I thank you. I shall go and read them now, +and then come and talk again. Addio, Giovanni." + +"Good-by, Miss." + +Thus ended the first interview of little Pyramus and Thisbe through the +hole in the wall, while puss sat up above and played moonshine with her +yellow eyes. + + + + +PART II. + + +After that day a new life began for Johnny, and he flourished like a +poor little plant that has struggled out of some dark corner into the +sunshine. All sorts of delightful things happened, and good times +really seemed to have come. The mysterious papa made no objection to the +liberties taken with his wall, being busy with his own affairs, and glad +to have his little girl happy. Old Nanna, being more careful, came to +see the new neighbors, and was disarmed at once by the affliction of the +boy and the gentle manners of the mother. She brought all the curtains +of the house for Mrs. Morris to do up, and in her pretty broken English +praised Johnny's gallery and library, promising to bring Fay to see him +some day. + +Meantime the little people prattled daily together, and all manner of +things came and went between them. Flowers, fruit, books, and bonbons +kept Johnny in a state of bliss, and inspired him with such brilliant +inventions that the Princess never knew what agreeable surprise would +come next. Astonishing kites flew over the wall, and tissue balloons +exploded in the flower-beds. All the birds of the air seemed to live in +that court; for the boy whistled and piped till he was hoarse, because +she liked it. The last of the long-hoarded cents came out of his tin +bank to buy paper and pictures for the gay little books he made for her. +His side of the wall was ravaged that hers might be adorned; and, as the +last offering his grateful heart could give, he poked the toad through +the hole, to live among the lilies and eat the flies that began to +buzz about her Highness when she came to give her orders to her devoted +subjects. + +She always called the lad Giovanni, because she thought it a prettier +name than John; and she was never tired of telling stories, asking +questions, and making plans. The favorite one was what they would do +when Johnny came to see her, as she had been promised he should when +papa was not too busy to let them enjoy the charms of the studio; +for Fay was a true artist's child, and thought nothing so lovely as +pictures. Johnny thought so, too, and dreamed of the happy day when he +should go and see the wonders his little friend described so well. + +"I think it will be to-morrow; for papa has a lazy fit coming on, and +then he always plays with me and lets me rummage where I like, while he +goes out or smokes in the garden. So be ready; and if he says you can +come, I will have the flag up early and you can hurry." + +These agreeable remarks were breathed into Johnny's willing ear about +a fortnight after the acquaintance began; and he hastened to promise, +adding soberly, a minute after,-- + +"Mother says she's afraid it will be too much for me to go around and +up steps, and see new things; for I get tired so easy, and then the +pain comes on. But I don't care how I ache if I can only see the +pictures--and you." + +"Won't you ever be any better? Nanna thinks you might." + +"So does mother, if we had money to go away in the country, and eat nice +things; and have doctors. But we can't; so it's no use worrying." And +Johnny gave a great sigh. + +"I wish papa was rich, then he would give you money. He works hard to +make enough to go back to Italy, so I cannot ask him; but perhaps I can +sell _my_ pictures also, and get a little. Papa's friends often offer me +sweets for kisses; I will have money instead, and that will help. Yes, I +shall do it." And Fay clapped her hands decidedly. + +"Don't you mind about it. I'm going to learn to mend shoes. Mr. Pegget +says he'll teach me. That doesn't need legs, and he gets enough to live +on very well." + +"It isn't pretty work. Nanna can teach you to braid straw as she did at +home; that is easy and nice, and the baskets sell very well, she says. I +shall speak to her about it, and you can try to-morrow when you come." + +"I will. Do you really think I _can_ come, then?" And Johnny stood up to +try his legs; for he dreaded the long walk, as it seemed to him. + +"I will go at once and ask papa." + +Away flew Fay, and soon came back with a glad "Yes!" that sent Johnny +hobbling in to tell his mother, and beg her to mend the elbows of his +only jacket; for, suddenly, his old clothes looked so shabby he feared +to show himself to the neighbors he so longed to see. + +"Hurrah! I'm really going to-morrow. And you, too, mammy dear," cried +the boy, waving his crutch so vigorously that he slipped and fell. + +"Never mind; I'm used to it. Pull me up, and I'll rest while we talk +about it," he said cheerily, as his mother helped him to the bed, where +he forgot his pain in thinking of the delights in store for him. + +Next day, the flag was flying from the wall, and Fay early at the +hole, but no Johnny came; and when Nanna went to see what kept him, she +returned with the sad news that the poor boy was suffering much, and +would not be able to stir for some days. + +"Let me go and see him," begged Fay, imploringly. + +"Cara mia, it is no place for you. So dark, so damp, so poor, it is +enough to break the heart," said Nanna, decidedly. + +"If papa was here, he would let me go. I shall not play; I shall sit +here and make some plans for my poor boy." + +Nanna left her indignant little mistress, and went to cook a nice bowl +of soup for Johnny; while Fay concocted a fine plan, and, what was more +remarkable, carried it out. + +For a week it rained, for a week Johnny lay in pain, and for a week Fay +worked quietly at her little easel in the corner of the studio, while +her father put the last touches to his fine picture, too busy to take +much notice of the child. On Saturday the sun shone, Johnny was better, +and the great picture was done. So were the small ones; for as her +father sat resting after his work, Fay went to him, with a tired but +happy face, and, putting several drawings into his hand, told her +cherished plan. + +"Papa, you said you would pay me a dollar for every good copy I made of +the cast you gave me. I tried very hard, and here are three. I want some +money very, very much. Could you pay for these?" + +"They are excellent," said the artist, after carefully looking at them. +"You _have_ tried, my good child, and here are your well-earned dollars. +What do you want them for?" + +"To help my boy. I want him to come in here and see the pictures, and +let Nanna teach him to plait baskets; and he can rest, and you will +like him, and he might get well if he had some money, and I have three +quarters the friends gave me instead of bonbons. Would that be enough to +send poor Giovanni into the country and have doctors?" + +No wonder Fay's papa was bewildered by this queer jumble, because, being +absorbed in his work, he had never heard half the child had told him, +and had forgotten all about Johnny. Now he listened with half an ear, +studying the effect of sunshine upon his picture meantime, while Fay +told him the little story, and begged to know how much money it would +take to make Johnny's back well. + +"Bless your sweet soul, my darling, it would need more than I can spare +or you earn in a year. By and by, when I am at leisure, we will see what +can be done," answered papa, smoking comfortably, as he lay on the sofa +in the large studio at the top of the house. + +"You say that about a great many things, papa. 'By and by' won't be long +enough to do all you promise then. I like _now_ much better, and poor +Giovanni needs the country more than you need cigars or I new frocks," +said Fay, stroking her father's tired forehead and looking at him with +an imploring face. + +"My dear, I cannot give up my cigar, for in this soothing smoke I find +inspiration, and though you are a little angel, you must be clothed; so +wait a bit, and we will attend to the boy--later." He was going to say +"by and by" again, but paused just in time, with a laugh. + +"Then _I_ shall take him to the country all myself. I cannot wait for +this hateful 'by and by.' I know how I shall do it, and at once. Now, +now!" cried Fay, losing patience; and with an indignant glance at the +lazy papa, who seemed going to sleep, she dashed out of the room, down +many stairs, through the kitchen, startling Nanna and scattering the +salad as if a whirlwind had gone by, and never paused for breath till +she stood before the garden wall with a little hatchet in her hand. + +"This shall be the country for him till I get enough money to send him +away. I will show what _I_ can do. He pulled out two bricks. _I_ will +beat down the wall, and he _shall_ come in at once," panted Fay; and +she gave a great blow at the bricks, bent on having her will without +delay,--for she was an impetuous little creature, full of love and pity +for the poor boy pining for the fresh air and sunshine, of which she had +so much. + +Bang, bang, went the little hatchet, and down came one brick after +another, till the hole was large enough for Fay to thrust her head +through; and being breathless by that time, she paused to rest and take +a look at Johnny's court. + +Meanwhile Nanna, having collected her lettuce leaves and her wits, went +to see what the child was about; and finding her at work like a little +fury, the old woman hurried up to tell "the Signor," Fay's papa, that +his little daughter was about to destroy the garden and bury herself +under the ruins of the wall. This report, delivered with groans and +wringing of the hands, roused the artist and sent him to the rescue, +as he well knew that his angel was a very energetic one, and capable of +great destruction. + +When he arrived, he beheld a cloud of dust, a pile of bricks among the +lilies, and the feet of his child sticking out of a large hole in the +wall, while her head and shoulders were on the other side. Much amused, +yet fearful that the stone coping might come down on her, he pulled +her back with the assurance that he would listen and help her now +immediately, if there was such need of haste. + +But he grew sober when he saw Fay's face; for it was bathed in tears, +her hands were bleeding, and dust covered her from head to foot. + +"My darling, what afflicts you? Tell papa, and he will do anything you +wish." + +"No, you will forget, you will say 'Wait;' and now that I have seen +it all, I cannot stop till I get him out of that dreadful place. Look, +look, and see if it is not sad to live there all in pain and darkness, +and so poor." + +As she spoke, Fay urged her father toward the hole; and to please her he +looked, seeing the dull court, the noisy street beyond, and close by +the low room, where Johnny's mother worked all day, while the poor boy's +pale face was dimly seen as he lay on his bed waiting for deliverance. + +"Well, well, it _is_ a pitiful case; and easily mended, since Fay is so +eager about it. Hope the lad is all she says, and nothing catching about +his illness. Nanna can tell me." + +Then he drew back his head, and leading Fay to the seat, took her on his +knee, all flushed, dirty, and tearful as she was, soothing her by saying +tenderly,-- + +"Now let me hear all about it, and be sure I'll not forget. What shall I +do to please you, dear, before you pull down the house about my ears?" + +Then Fay told her tale all over again; and being no longer busy, her +father found it very touching, with the dear, grimy little face looking +into his, and the wounded hands clasped beseechingly as she pleaded for +poor Johnny. + +"God bless your tender heart, child; you shall have him in here +to-morrow, and we will see what can be done for those pathetic legs of +his. But listen, Fay, I have an easier way to do it than yours, and a +grand surprise for the boy. Time is short, but it can be done; and to +show you that I am in earnest, I will go this instant and begin the +work. Come and wash your face while I get on my boots, and then we will +go together." + +At these words Fay threw her arms about papa's neck and gave him many +grateful kisses, stopping in the midst to ask,-- + +"Truly, _now_?" + +"See if it is not so." And putting her down, papa went off with great +strides, while she ran laughing after him, all her doubts set at rest by +this agreeable energy on his part. + +If Johnny had not been asleep in the back room, he would have seen +strange and pleasant sights that afternoon and evening; for something +went on in the court that delighted his mother, amused the artist, and +made Fay the happiest child in Boston. No one was to tell till the next +day, that Johnny's surprise might be quite perfect, and Mrs. Morris sat +up till eleven to get his old clothes in order; for Fay's papa had been +to see her, and became interested in the boy, as no one could help being +when they saw his patient little face. + +So hammers rang, trowels scraped, shovels dug, and wonderful changes +were made, while Fay danced about in the moonlight, like Puck intent +upon some pretty prank, and papa quoted _Snout_, [Footnote: A character +in Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream."] the tinker's parting words, +as appropriate to the hour,-- + + "Thus have I, wall, my part discharged so; + And, being done, thus wall away doth go." + + + + +PART III. + + +A lovely Sunday morning dawned without a cloud; and even in the dingy +court the May sunshine shone warmly, and the spring breezes blew freshly +from green fields far away. Johnny begged to go out; and being much +better, his mother consented, helping him to dress with such a bright +face and eager hands that the boy said innocently,-- + +"How glad you are when I get over a bad turn! I don't know what you'd do +if I ever got well." + +"My poor dear, I begin to think you _will_ pick up, now the good weather +has come and you have got a little friend to play with. God bless her!" + +Why his mother should suddenly hug him tight, and then brush his hair +so carefully, with tears in her eyes, he did not understand; but was in +such a hurry to get out, he could only give her a good kiss, and hobble +away to see how his gallery fared after the rain, and to take a joyful +"peek" at the enchanted garden. + +Mrs. Morris kept close behind him, and it was well she did; for he +nearly tumbled down, so great was his surprise when he beheld the old +familiar wall after the good fairies Love and Pity had worked their +pretty miracle in the moonlight. + +The ragged hole had changed to a little arched door, painted red. On +either side stood a green tub, with a tall oleander in full bloom; +from the arch above hung a great bunch of gay flowers; and before +the threshold lay a letter directed to "Signor Giovanni Morris," in a +childish hand. As soon as he recovered from the agreeable shock of this +splendid transformation scene, Johnny sank into his chair, where a soft +cushion had been placed, and read his note, with little sighs of rapture +at the charming prospect opening before him. + + DEAR GIOVANNI,--Papa has made this nice gate, so you can come + in when you like and not be tired. We are to have two keys, and no one + else can open it. A little bell is to ring when we pull the cord, and + we can run and see what we want. The paint is wet. Papa did it, + and the men put up the door last night. I helped them, and did not go + in my bed till ten. It was very nice to do it so. I hope you will like + it. Come in as soon as you can; I am all ready. + + Your friend, + + FAY. + +"Mother, she must be a real fairy to do all that, mustn't she?" said +Johnny, leaning back to look at the dear door behind which lay such +happiness for him. + +"Yes, my sonny, she is the right sort of good fairy, and I just wish +I could do her washing for love the rest of her blessed little life," +answered Mrs. Morris, in a burst of grateful ardor. + +"You shall! you shall! Do come in! I cannot wait another minute!" cried +an eager little voice as the red door flew open; and there stood Fay, +looking very like a happy elf in her fresh white frock, a wreath of +spring flowers on her pretty hair, and a tall green wand in her hand, +while the brilliant bird sat on her shoulder, and the little white dog +danced about her feet. + + "So she bids you to come in, + With a dimple in your chin, + Billy boy, Billy boy," + +sung the child, remembering how Johnny liked that song; and waving her +wand, she went slowly backward as the boy, with a shining face, passed +under the blooming arch into a new world, full of sunshine, liberty, and +sweet companionship. + +Neither Johnny nor his mother ever forgot that happy day, for it was the +beginning of help and hope to both just when life seemed hardest and the +future looked darkest. + +Papa kept out of sight, but enjoyed peeps at the little party as they +sat under the chestnuts, Nanna and Fay doing the honors of the garden to +their guests with Italian grace and skill, while the poor mother folded +her tired hands with unutterable content, and the boy looked like a +happy soul in heaven. + +Sabbath silence, broken only by the chime of bells and the feet of +church-goers, brooded over the city; sunshine made golden shadows on +the grass; the sweet wind brought spring odors from the woods; and every +flower seemed to nod and beckon, as if welcoming the new playmate to +their lovely home. + +While the women talked together, Fay led Johnny up and down her little +world, showing all her favorite nooks, making him rest often on the +seats that stood all about, and amusing him immensely by relating the +various fanciful plays with which she beguiled her loneliness. + +"Now we can have much nicer ones; for you will tell me yours, and we +can do great things," she said, when she had displayed her big +rocking-horse, her grotto full of ferns, her mimic sea, where a fleet of +toy boats lay at anchor in the basin of an old fountain, her fairy-land +under the lilacs, with paper elves sitting among the leaves, her swing, +that tossed one high up among the green boughs, and the basket of white +kittens, where Topaz, the yellow-eyed cat, now purred with maternal +pride. Books were piled on the rustic table, and all the pictures Fay +thought worthy to be seen. + +Here also appeared a nice lunch, before the visitors could remember it +was noon and tear themselves away. Such enchanted grapes and oranges +Johnny never ate before; such delightful little tarts and Italian messes +of various sorts; even the bread and butter seemed glorified because +served in a plate trimmed with leaves and cut in dainty bits. Coffee +that perfumed the air put heart into poor Mrs. Morris, who half starved +herself that the boy might be fed; and he drank milk till Nanna said, +laughing, as she refilled the pitcher,-- + +"He takes more than both the blessed lambs we used to feed for Saint +Agnes in the convent at home. And he is truly welcome, the dear child, +to the best we have; for he is as innocent and helpless as they." + +"What does she mean?" whispered Johnny to Fay, rather abashed at having +forgotten his manners in the satisfaction which three mugfuls of good +milk had given him. + +So, sitting in the big rustic chair beside him, Fay told the pretty +story of the lambs who are dedicated to Saint Agnes, with ribbons tied +to their snowy wool, and then raised with care till their fleeces are +shorn to make garments for the Pope. A fit tale for the day, the child +thought, and went on to tell about the wonders of Rome till Johnny's +head was filled with a splendid confusion of new ideas, in which Saint +Peter's and apple-tarts, holy lambs and red doors, ancient images and +dear little girls, were delightfully mixed. It all seemed like a +fairy tale, and nothing was too wonderful or lovely to happen on that +memorable day. + +So when Fay's papa at last appeared, finding it impossible to keep away +from the happy little party any longer, Johnny decided at once that the +handsome man in the velvet coat was the king of the enchanted land, and +gazed at him with reverence and awe. A most gracious king he proved +to be; for after talking pleasantly to Mrs. Morris, and joking Fay on +storming the walls, he proposed to carry Johnny off, and catching him +up, strode away with the astonished boy on his shoulder, while the +little girl danced before to open doors and clear the way. + +Johnny thought he couldn't be surprised any more; but when he had +mounted many stairs and found himself in a great room with a glass +roof, full of rich curtains, strange armor, pretty things, and pictures +everywhere, he just sat in the big chair where he was placed, and stared +in silent delight. + +"This is papa's studio, and that the famous picture, and here is where +I work; and isn't it pleasant? and aren't you glad to see it?" said Fay, +skipping about to do the honors of the place. + +"I don't believe heaven is beautifuller," answered Johnny, in a low +tone, as his eyes went from the green tree-tops peeping in at the +windows to the great sunny picture of a Roman garden, with pretty +children at play among the crumbling statues and fountains. + +"I'm glad you like it, for we mean to have you come here a great deal. I +sit to papa very often, and get _so_ tired; and you can talk to me, and +then you can see me draw and model in clay, and then we'll go in the +garden, and Nanna will show you how to make baskets, and _then_ we'll +play." + +Johnny nodded and beamed at this charming prospect, and for an hour +explored the mysteries of the studio, with Fay for a guide and papa for +an amused spectator. He liked the boy more and more, and was glad Fay +had so harmless a playmate to expend her energies and compassion upon. +He assented to every plan proposed, and really hoped to be able to help +these poor neighbors; for he had a kind heart, and loved his little +daughter even more than his art. + +When at last Mrs. Morris found courage to call Johnny away, he went +without a word, and lay down in the dingy room, his face still shining +with the happy thoughts that filled his mind, hungry for just such +pleasures, and never fed before. + +After that day everything went smoothly, and both children blossomed +like the flowers in that pleasant garden, where the magic of love and +pity, fresh air and sunshine, soon worked miracles. Fay learned patience +and gentleness from Johnny; he grew daily stronger on the better food +Nanna gave him, and the exercise he was tempted to take; and both spent +very happy days working and playing, sometimes under the trees, where +the pretty baskets were made, or in the studio, where both pairs of +small hands modelled graceful things in clay, or daubed amazing pictures +with the artist's old brushes and discarded canvases. + +Mrs. Morris washed everything washable in the house, and did up Fay's +frocks so daintily that she looked more like an elf than ever when her +head shone out from the fluted frills, like the yellow middle of a daisy +with its white petals all spread. + +As he watched the children playing together, the artist, having no great +work in hand, made several pretty sketches of them, and then had a fine +idea of painting the garden scene where Fay first talked to Johnny. It +pleased his fancy, and the little people sat for him nicely; so he made +a charming thing of it, putting in the cat, dog, bird, and toad as the +various characters in Shakspeare's lovely play, while the flowers were +the elves, peeping and listening in all manner of merry, pretty ways. + +He called it "Little Pyramus and Thisbe," and it so pleased a certain +rich lady that she paid a large price for it; and then, discovering that +it told a true story, she generously added enough to send Johnny and his +mother to the country, when Fay and her father were ready to go. + +But it was to a lovelier land than the boy had ever read of in his fairy +books, and to a happier life than mending shoes in the dingy court. In +the autumn they all sailed gayly away together, to live for years in +sunny Italy, where Johnny grew tall and strong, and learned to paint +with a kind master and a faithful young friend, who always rejoiced that +she found and delivered him, thanks to the wonderful hole in the wall. + + +[Illustration: She got too lazy to care for anything but sleeping and +eating.] + + + + +X. + +THE PIGGY GIRL. + + +"I won't be washed! I won't be washed!" screamed little Betty, kicking +and slapping the maid who undressed her one night. + +"You'd better go and live with the pigs, dirty child," said Maria, +scrubbing away at two very grubby hands. + +"I wish I could! I love to be dirty,--I _will_ be dirty!" roared Betty, +throwing the sponge out of the window and the soap under the table. + +Maria could do nothing with her; so she bundled her into bed half wiped, +telling her to go to sleep right away. + +"I won't! I'll go and live with Mrs. Gleason's pigs, and have nothing to +do but eat and sleep, and roll in the dirt, and never, never be washed +any more," said Betty to herself. + +She lay thinking about it and blinking at the moon for a while; then she +got up very softly, and crept down the back stairs, through the garden, +to the sty where two nice little pigs were fast asleep among the straw +in their small house. They only grunted when Betty crept into a corner, +laughing at the fun it would be to play piggy and live here with no +Maria to wash her and no careful mamma to keep saying,-- + +"Put on a clean apron, dear!" + +Next morning she was waked up by hearing Mrs. Gleason pour milk into the +trough. She lay very still till the woman was gone; then she crept out +and drank all she wanted, and took the best bits of cold potato and +bread for her breakfast, and the lazy pigs did not get up till she was +done. While they ate and rooted in the dirt, Betty slept as long as she +liked, with no school, no errands, no patchwork to do. She liked it, and +kept hidden till night; then she went home, and opened the little window +in the store closet, and got in and took as many good things to eat and +carry away as she liked. She had a fine walk in her nightgown, and +saw the flowers asleep, heard the little birds chirp in the nest, and +watched the fireflies and moths at their pretty play. No one saw her +but the cats; and they played with her, and hopped at her toes, in the +moonlight, and had great fun. + +When she was tired she went to sleep with the pigs, and dozed all the +next day, only coming out to eat and drink when the milk was brought +and the cold bits; for Mrs. Gleason took good care of her pigs, and gave +them clean straw often, and kept them as nice as she could. + +Betty lived in this queer way a long time, and soon looked more like a +pig than a little girl; for her nightgown got dirty, her hair was never +combed, her face was never washed, and she loved to dig in the mud till +her hands looked like paws. She never talked, but began to grunt as the +pigs did, and burrowed into the straw to sleep, and squealed when they +crowded her, and quarrelled over the food, eating with her nose in the +trough like a real pig. At first she used to play about at night, and +steal things to eat; and people set traps to catch the thief in their +gardens, and the cook in her own house scolded about the rats that +carried off the cake and pies out of her pantry. But by and by she got +too lazy and fat to care for anything but sleeping and eating, and never +left the sty. She went on her hands and knees now, and began to wonder +if a little tail wouldn't grow and her nose change to a snout. + +All summer she played be a pig, and thought it good fun; but when +the autumn came it was cold, and she longed for her nice warm flannel +nightgown, and got tired of cold victuals, and began to wish she had a +fire to sit by and good buckwheat cakes to eat. She was ashamed to go +home, and wondered what she should do after this silly frolic. She asked +the pigs how they managed in winter; but they only grunted, and she +could not remember what became of them, for the sty was always empty in +cold weather. + +One dreadful night she found out. She was smuggled down between the +great fat piggies to keep warm; but her toes were cold, and she was +trying to pull the straw over them when she heard Mr. Gleason say to his +boy,-- + +"We must kill those pigs to-morrow. They are fat enough; so come and +help me sharpen the big knife." + +"Oh, dear, what will become of _me_?" thought Betty, as she heard the +grindstone go round and round as the knife got sharper and sharper. "I +look so like a pig they will kill me too, and make me into sausages if +I don't run away. I'm tired of playing piggy, and I'd rather be washed a +hundred times a day than be put in a pork barrel." + +So she lay trembling till morning; then she ran through the garden and +found the back door open. It was very early, and no one saw her, for +the cook was in the shed getting wood to make her fire; so Betty slipped +upstairs to the nursery and was going to whisk into bed, when she saw in +the glass an ugly black creature, all rags and dirt, with rumpled hair, +and a little round nose covered with mud. + +"Can it be me?" she said. "How horrid I am!" And she could not spoil her +nice white bed, but hopped into the bathtub and had a good scrubbing. +Next she got a clean nightgown, and brushed her hair, and cut her long +nails, and looked like a tidy little girl again. + +Then she lay down in her cosey crib with the pink cover and the +lace curtains, and fell fast asleep, glad to have clean sheets, soft +blankets, and her own little pillow once more. + + * * * * * + +"Come, darling, wake up and see the new frock I have got for you, and +the nice ruffled apron. It's Thanksgiving day, and all the cousins are +coming to dinner," said her mamma, with a soft kiss on the rosy cheek. + +Betty started up, screaming,-- + +"Don't kill me! Oh, please don't! I'm not a truly pig, I'm a little +girl; and if you'll let me run home, I'll never fret when I'm washed +again." + +"What is the dear child afraid of?" said mamma, cuddling her close, and +laughing to see Betty stare wildly about for the fat pigs and the stuffy +sty. + +She told her mother all about the queer time she had had, and was much +surprised to hear mamma say,-- + +"It was all a dream, dear; you have been safely asleep in your little +bed ever since you slapped poor Maria last night." + +"Well, I'm glad I dreamed it, for it has made me love to be clean. Come, +Maria, soap and scrub as much as you like, I won't kick and scream ever +any more," cried Betty, skipping about, glad to be safe in her pleasant +home and no longer a dirty, lazy piggy girl. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Louisa Alcott Reader, by Louisa M. Alcott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOUISA ALCOTT READER *** + +***** This file should be named 7425.txt or 7425.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/4/2/7425/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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