[Illustration: OUR PARTY. ]

THE SOCK STORIES, BY "AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER. 

NEIGHBOR NELLY SOCKS:

BEING

THE SIXTH AND LAST BOOK OF THE SERIES. 

BY

"AUNT FANNY'S" DAUGHTER, THE AUTHOR OF "THE LITTLE WHITE ANGEL. "

 NEW YORK: LEAVITT & ALLEN, 21 & 23 MERCER ST. 1863. 

 ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by S. L. BARROW, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. 

 JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER, STEREOTYPER, AND ELECTROTYPER, 50 Greene Street, New York. 

 TO

 MY DEAR FATHER, TO WHOSE KINDLY AND CHARMING WAYS WITH THE

 "LITTLE FOLK"

 I OWE THE CHARACTER OF "NEIGHBOR OLDBIRD, "

 THIS BOOK

 IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED. 

CONTEXTS OF VOL. VI. 

 PAGE

 NEIGHBOR NELLY. IN THREE STORIES. 

 1. THE OLD BACHELOR'S STORY, 7

 2. THE BIG BOY'S STORY, 45

 3. THE FAT GENTLEMAN'S STORY, 86

 POSTSCRIPT BY THE OLD BACHELOR, 90

 CONCLUSION, 132

NEIGHBOR NELLY. 

IN THREE STORIES. 

THE OLD BACHELOR'S STORY. 

IN the city block where I live, there are just twenty-four houses on theother side of the street, and twenty-four on this side, six lamp posts, and eight ailanthus trees in green boxes. Oh, dear me, what a tiresomerow! That's what I thought when I first came to lodge here; for, as I aman old bachelor, I don't want a whole house to myself; but now, when Isit at my window and look out at the street, I find no end of things toamuse and interest me; particularly when the gas is lighted of anevening, and I can see a little way into the parlors of the oppositeneighbors. I suppose they know that an old bachelor like Josiah Oldbirdcan do no harm by looking on at their evening amusements; so they do notpull the blinds down if they chance to see me, sitting lonely at mywindow, and willing to accept such crumbs of their society and happinessas I can glean over the way. 

First, then, is the family at No. 7, three maiden sisters and a bachelorbrother. As I don't in the least know their names, I have dubbed themthe Bluejays, because the three maiden sisters always wear blue merinogowns in winter, and blue muslin ones in summer; and because they areall so fond of singing that no family of birds could be more musical. They have a pet poodle and a pet squirrel, too. The poodle is very fat, and his hair sticks out so much all over him, that he looks perpetuallyastonished, as if he had just seen a spook. He always stands on thewindow sill, when the sash is raised of an afternoon, and glares intothe street until he sees the bachelor brother coming. Then he achieves aseries of frantic yells and bounces, until somebody comes to open thedoor and lets him out, when he waddles to the front steps to meet hismaster, wagging his tail to that tremendous extent, that it looks likethe shuttle of a steam power loom. 

The squirrel is slim and sleek, and seems to enjoy life amazingly, hehops about so. When one of the Miss Bluejays takes him in her arms, hewon't stay there, but gets away, and walks all over her head andshoulders; and at last runs down her back and disappears. 

Then, at No. 11, a very fat gentleman lives with his fat and prettywife, and round dumpling of a baby. As I don't know him either, I callhim Mr. Fatty, and he seems to be a "good-natured giant. " I saw a littleboy actually stop short to stare at him the other day, when he wassitting out at his front door--he is such a regular roly-poly of agentleman--but he only laughed good-temperedly, and never got vexed inthe least. I don't advise you to try this with all fat gentlemen though;they might accidentally sit down on a chair--where you were--afterward, and that would be the last of you. This piece of advice, however, is agreat secret between you and me!

[Illustration]

He is so glad to meet the fat baby when he comes home at night, that Ican see him in the parlor first kissing it almost black and blue, andthen tossing it up in the air until I feel as though its head must comebump against the ceiling, but it doesn't--and at last, carrying it offperched on his shoulder, and looking very much perturbed in its spirits. 

But the pleasantest neighbors of all live exactly opposite, at No. 9. They take tea every evening in the back parlor; and as the front windowshades are up, and only the back room lighted, I can always see them attheir cheerful meal. The rooms are furnished in winter with dark redvelvet carpets and furniture; with red damask curtains and red velvetpaper hangings. In summer they put up white curtains, and carpets andfurniture have cool, cream-colored linen coverings, so that the parlorslook cozy and charming at all seasons. 

As for the family there is a papa and mamma, of course, and a dearlittle girl and boy. The little girl is about ten years old, I shouldthink, with great, dark-blue eyes, and curling auburn hair. Her cheeksare as rosy as ripe peaches, and her teeth as white as so many pearls. Her nose does turn up at the end a little, to be sure; but that israther saucy and becoming than otherwise; and she always looks so sweettempered, and full of fun, too, when I see her of an evening, that I amsure she is as good as pie, and as merry as a cricket! Her littlebrother, who is a year or two younger, looks very much like her, andtheir obedient and pretty behavior at table is something reallybeautiful to observe. 

It is nearly a year now, since I moved into my lodging at "No. 10, " andbegan to wonder what No. 9's name was; and now I must make haste andtell you how, only last June, I became acquainted with these dear littleneighbors of mine. 

One pleasant Friday morning, after breakfast, I put on my old-fashionedbeaver hat, and taking my gold-headed cane in one hand and my marketbasket in the other, I trotted out to buy something nice for dinner;for, you see, I am a particular old bachelor, and like to market formyself. 

Just as I was coming down the steps, the door of No. 9 opened, and thelittle girl ran down _her_ steps. She looked so bright and pretty in hercunning round straw hat with the blue ribbons, and white Marseillescloak, carrying her satchel of books and lunch basket in her hand, thatI could not help nodding to her. So she nodded to me, and then _I_nodded again and smiled, and we each walked along on our own side of theway. When we came to the corner I thought I would cross over and scrapesome more acquaintance with my little neighbor. Now on the side of hersatchel, I saw, when I came near her, was printed in gold letters, "Nelly Lawson;" so I said, as cheerily as I could, in my old, quaveringvoice:

"Good morning, Neighbor Nelly!"

The little maiden looked up in my face in a shy fashion at first; butwhen she saw what a mild, gray-headed old bachelor had bade her goodmorning, she took courage, and answered, "Good morning, sir. "

"So you are going to school this fine day?"

"Yes; I go to school, but brother Jimmy doesn't; he learns at home. Ithink he is going next year. Have you got a baby at your house? Wehave. "

"No, " said I, sighing; "I haven't got any baby; I am an old bachelor. Will you marry me?"

"Oh, I am too little, " she replied quite seriously. "You will have towait until I grow up to you. "

I laughed, and asked her, "Don't you want to go to market with me beforeyou go to school? There is plenty of time. "

"No, " replied my little neighbor, firmly; "I can't go anywheres thatmamma does not know of. "

"That's right!" I said. "Don't do anything your mother would disapprove. Well, Neighbor Nelly, since you won't go to market with me, I must go toschool with you; and tell your mother that Neighbor Josiah Oldbird wouldlike you to take a walk with him to-morrow; will you?"

"Oh yes! that would be real nice!" said my little neighbor with ajoyous skip. 

By this time we were walking along hand in hand; and soon, seeing mylittle neighbor look in at the window of the candy shop round the cornerfrom our street, I thought I would take her in and buy her some candy. So in we marched, Nelly's great blue eyes dancing with pleasedexpectation, and stood close by the counter, waiting for our turn tocome. There were a good many people in the candy shop, and we had towait some time; so, to amuse ourselves, Neighbor Nelly and I turnedround, and began looking at the funny folks near us. 

There was one very fat old country woman, who seemed to be buying"quarter or pound, " as she said, of every kind of candy in the shop. Assoon as the papers were handed to her she began eating out of them, andbefore she left, I should think, she had eaten about two pounds ofcandy. Besides the old woman, there were a great many little children, who only wanted a penny's worth each; but they hesitated so long whetherto have "taffie" or "molasses, " a lemon-candy horse, or a cinnamon-candytrumpet, that they were the most troublesome customers of anybody. Thenthere were several older boys and girls; some, I am sorry to say, picking up a loose bit of candy every time the shopman turned away--asif that were not stealing; and finally, there was Neighbor Nelly and I, who did none of these things, but just looked on, and waited until theshopman came to serve us. 

I bought some lemon candy, as clear as a bit of yellow glass, and somepungent cinnamon, and delectable chocolate; and then I popped the papersinto Neighbor Nelly's satchel, and we hurried on to school. We had notfar to go now, and when we came to the house, my little new friend bidme good-by, and thanked me so sweetly, that I went away quite a happyold bachelor. 

In the evening I was looking out of my window as usual, when I saw theservant girl come in to light the gas in the back parlor at No. 9, withNeighbor Nelly and the little brother Jimmy behind her. While she wassetting the tea table, the children came running to the window, and bothnodded and smiled at me. Presently the little boy thrust both hands inhis pockets, and held them up crammed full of candy. "Thank you, Mr. OldBachelor!" he shouted; "we like you real well!"

That made me real happy; for I am not a crabbed old bachelor by anymeans. In a minute more their father came home; and as they all sataround the pleasant tea table, I hope they talked of their lonely oldneighbor, who watched them from his window. 

The next morning, as I was reading the paper, in came the servant andgave me the funniest little note! It was addressed on the outside, "Tomy neighbor Oldbird, " and ran thus:

 "MY DEAR NEIGHBOR:

 "Mamma says I may take a walk with you this morning, because you are a good old bachelor. Jimmy wants to go, and Gipsey. Gipsey is my dog. He is black and tan, and his tail curls round so, that papa says you might use it for a cork-screw. Jimmy and I mean to try some time. Gipsey likes to be on the seashore, and so does baby. We are going there next week--to Long Branch. I hope you will write me a letter when I am gone, and I am Your affectionate "NEIGHBOR NELLY. 

 "Saturday Morning. "

You may believe how pleased I was with this dear little note, and Ithought I would answer it. So I sat down at my writing desk, found acunning little sheet of paper, with a flag on it, and commenced. 

Now I happened to think, at that moment, of some very comical letterswritten by the great poet, Tom Hood, to his little friends on theseashore; and as they were ever so much funnier than anything I couldhave written, I copied one of them out, and sent it to my little newfriend. 

 "MY DEAR NEIGHBOR NELLY:

 "I am very glad you are to walk with me, and very sorry you are going away so soon. Do you like to be on the seashore? I did, when I was a boy. I and my brother chucked hundreds of stones into the sea, when we were there, but we came away before we could fill it up. Then there is the fun of finding shiny pebbles and jelly fish on the beach. I used to think jelly fish were made of sea-calves' feet, and no flavoring. I suppose the mermaids eat them at their parties. 

 "Then there's fishing on the seaside. I used to catch flat fish sometimes, with a long string line, it was like swimming a kite. If you go out in a surf boat, take care it does not "flounder" and get "squamped, " as some people say, instead of founder and swamped. 

 "Have you ever been bathed in the sea? I was, and, dear me! how I kicked and screamed; or, at least, tried to scream, but the sea, ships and all, began to run into my mouth, and so I shut it up. Remember, when you are bathing, if you meet with a shark, the best way is to bite off his legs, if you can, before he walks away with yours; and pray, pray, pray take care of yourself in the sea, for in some places, they say, it has not even a bottom to go to. 

 "Could you bring me a little crab off the beach? If you would catch one for me, and teach it to shake hands without nipping and biting, it would make me quite happy, for I have not had any toys or playthings in a long time. It would be a good plan to hire a little crab to teach the baby to crawl, if he can't walk yet. Bless him! But I must not write on him any more; he is so soft, and I have nothing but steel pens. 

 "Now good-by; give my love to everybody, and my compliments to all the rest, and believe me, up hill and down dale, "Your affectionate neighbor, "JOSIAH OLDBIRD. "

Then I put my letter in a flag envelope, sealed it up tight, and wroteon it, "To my dear Neighbor Nelly, " and had the maid take it to her. 

Presently I could see two little figures flitting about in one of theupper chambers, and soon after all four of us, Nelly, Jimmy, I, andGipsey, were in the street. Gipsey was a "toy terrier" that ought tohave belonged to "Commodore Nutt, " the dwarf at "Barnum's, " and ranalong on three legs most of the time, with the fourth, and hiscork-screw tail elevated in the air for joy at being allowed to join theparty; while the children were all hop, skip, and jump, and kept tighthold of a hand of mine apiece, as though they were afraid of flying awayif they let go. Meanwhile, I walked quietly along, with my market basketon my arm, a sober old bachelor. I expect the people who passed us inthe street thought me a rather incongruous addition to such a friskyparty; but then, you know, children _must_ caper about. Bless yourheart! it would never do in the world to see children mincing solemnlyalong, like little old men and women; it would be as absurd as to havemy Neighbor Nelly wearing her great-grandmother's coal-scuttle bonnet!The last idea struck me as so odd, that I drew a little picture ofNeighbor Nelly in this guise when I got home, and here it is. How do youlike it?

[Illustration]

We thought we would go to market first. So we walked slowly down FourthAvenue, and crossed over to the market where the Seventh Regiment armoryis, opposite the Cooper Institute. 

"My cousin is a Seventh Regimenter!" said Jimmy as we climbed up theiron steps; "he often let us look on at his company drills last winter, and afterward Nelly and I drilled in our yard. The big boy who comes tosee the old ladies next door, looked over the fence and laughed at us, but we didn't care; and we mean to fight for our country like everythingwhen we are bigger; that is, I mean to, and Nelly would like to, butshe's only a girl, you know. "

"Only a girl!" repeated Nelly, tossing her long curls; "girls are agreat deal of use, too; I mended all his stockings and all papa's thisweek--think of that, neighbor Oldbird!"

"That was really splendid!" said I; and just then we entered the market. 

The very first thing we met was a horrid big dog, that belonged to somebutcher; and, bless me! how he began to show his great rows of teeth, and growl at Gipsey! Nelly gave a little scream, and tried to hidebehind me; Jimmy valiantly flew at the big dog with my walking stick;and poor little Gipsey nearly stood on the end of his tail with fright, and squealed dismally. What a fuss we were all in, to be sure! So atlast, to quiet the disputants, I caught Gipsey up, and put him in mycoat pocket, where he sat, looking out at the top, very much comforted. 

Then we turned to the right, and went by the brightest and prettieststall in the whole market. It was kept by a Frenchman, who, in his ownlanguage, would be called a "_charcutier_;" but Jimmy and Nell shoutedout together "Oh, there's the _pig man_!" as loud as ever they could, and then stopped, blushing very much, because they were afraid the porkmerchant heard them. I expect he did; for he looked very funny when wecame close, and smoothing down his snowy apron with his fat hands, said"Bonjour, mademoiselle!" and laughed good humoredly. There was a great"head cheese" on the pig man's marble counter, moulded in the shape of aboar's head. The tusks were made of white carrots, the eyes of redjelly, and the sides of the dish it was on were beautifully ornamentedwith white roses, cut out of turnips, and parsley foliage. Then therewere ever so many pork pies, with the most elegant wreaths of flowers onthe top crust, comical little hams already cooked, and fat dumplings ofsucking pigs, as pink as baby himself!

When we had looked about us a little, we concluded to buy a pork pie ofthe pig man; and while that was being nicely packed up in paper, outpopped Gipsey from my pocket, and stood triumphant on the counter, inthe midst of the little pigs and savory pastries. I don't know whatforays he would not have made upon them, if he had not been captured bythe pig man, Jimmy, and me; but he did contrive to jump right into thevery middle of another pork-pie! and then we had to pay for that, too;and wipe the gravy off Gipsey's feet and the ends of his tail and nose, and button him up tight in the market basket for half an hour, as apunishment for his naughtiness. As to the pie we had bought, Jimmycarried that, and Gipsey cut up so many antics inside the basket, thathe nearly wriggled it out of my hand altogether. 

After that we went on, and found, dear me! such a comfortable old marketwoman, who sold us a nice little chicken, and some fresh vegetables, andgave the children each a great handful of cherries; but we had to tellher to send them home, with our pie, because Gipsey had the basket inpossession. 

Then we walked into the street again, and when we had let Gipsey out ofprison, concluded to leave the basket at my baker's, and take a walk inBroadway. Dear, dear me! what quantities of shop windows there were tostare into, and how we flattened our three noses, and spread our sixhands all over every one of them, while we admired the splendid picturebooks, the stores of sugar plums, or the wonders of toys they contained!While we were occupied in this way, a little girl, poorly dressed, andlugging a large bundle of work in both arms, came along, and stoppingbeside us at the window of the most splendid toy shop, stood lookingwistfully in. 

Neighbor Nelly straightway twitched my hand, and whispered, "Oh look, Neighbor Oldbird! what a poor little girl! I don't suppose she ever sawa doll before in her life. How she must wish she had one!"

"Suppose we ask her?" I said. 

"Will you ask?" she answered; "I don't like to. "

"Nonsense! ask her yourself; she won't eat you, or Gipsey either;" forGipsey was sidling away between my feet, as if he were alarmed too; thesaucy scamp!

Thereupon Nelly moved closer to the poor girl, and said, in a kind, little, timid voice, "Do you like dolls?"

"Yes, very much!" said the child, with a surprised look. 

"Oh, so do I!" cried Nelly, rapturously. "I have lots of them at home;let me see, there's Jenny, and Willie, and old black Nanny, and--" shestopped short, seeing the other look wistfully at her, and then said, "Oh, I forgot! you have none, perhaps; would you like to have one?"

"Oh yes, miss!" said the child; "not so much for myself, though, as mylittle sister; she is sick, and can't do anything, poor Clara! but Iwork, and help my mother!" she added, proudly. 

"What does your mother do?" asked Jimmy. 

"She makes shirts for the army; and I do all the button holes. "

"I can't make a button hole, " said Nelly, regretfully. 

Here I proposed we should walk into the shop, and after we had lookedall we wanted to at the pretty things, and the children, with screams ofdelight, had ridden in turn on a "spring rocking horse, " that sent themflying half way to the top of the glass cases behind the counter, I gaveJimmy and Nelly each two shillings, and told them to buy whatever thelittle girl would like best. The poor little thing's eyes sparkled withhappiness when Nelly bought her the composition doll she chose out of aheap that were piled in a great basket, gorgeously dressed in pinkmosquito netting, as I thought, but which Nelly informed me was a"tarletane;" and Jimmy laid out his money on a tiny bowl and pitcher ofsprigged china ware, and an astonished china baby sitting in a bath, andlooking as if it had turned on the hot water, and couldn't turn it offagain. 

Then we trundled Gipsey about a little in a wicker wagon we found, andput him in the patent baby-jumper to take an airing; and at last, whenwe had teased him till he barked like one of the toy poodles on theshelves, we took ourselves off, and sent the poor child on her wayrejoicing. 

But it was getting late, and time to trot home, before His Majesty theSun roasted us all like so many eggs. Our street is always shady andcool, it seems to me, and we were glad enough to find ourselves oncemore on its pavement. I invited Nelly and Jimmy and Gipsey all to takelunch with me, and didn't we have fun! We ate the pork pie, and stuffedGipsey with lumps of sugar, and discovered a pot of raspberry jam in thecloset, and ornamented ourselves with red rims round our mouths, diggingit out; and sliced, and buttered, and disposed of almost half a loaf ofFrench bread, and hardly stopped laughing, chattering, and barking asingle minute. 

And then, after all this was over, my little neighbors bid me good-by, and Gipsey barked at me and poked his cold nose into my hand, whichmeant "Good-by and thank you, " all the same, and the three went home asmerry as crickets. 

I could not see much of my little neighbors before they went away thenext Tuesday, but I was invited to take tea at No. 9 the very lastevening; and then, what should I find out but that Nelly's mamma was thedaughter of an old friend of mine whom I had not seen for years! So wefelt quite like relations right away. Just as tea was over, lo andbehold! there was a tremendous hullaballoo on the back piazza, and whenwe poked our heads out of the window to see what the matter was, therewas Gipsey high and dry on the back of Miss Bluejay's fat poodle--havingsqueezed through the railing which separated the two piazzas--with thesquirrel, which had come to the rescue of his friend, hanging on to histail! and all three setting up a squeal of remonstrance. Gipsey's plightwas so extremely well deserved, that we wouldn't go to his rescue; butat last, with a tremendous twist, he snatched away his cork-screw tail, and ran to hide himself and his injured feelings under the sofa in thefront room. How we laughed at him! and how Nelly tried to make him comeout and be lump-sugared into good humor, but he wouldn't; so, to makeup, we coaxed the fat poodle, which had been staring in at theperformance and sniffing satisfaction, to sit up and beg for us until wegave him the lump of sugar. Then Mrs. Lawson sat down to the piano, andbegan playing a funny little hornpipe tune that sounded just like abanjo; and, to our astonishment, the fat poodle developed anotheraccomplishment; for, getting on his hind legs, he gravely hopped up anddown on the piazza, keeping time to the music, until we nearly died oflaughter. 

You may fancy, after all these comical doings, that we managed to spenda merry evening, and when I at last bid my neighbors good night, it wasno longer with the feeling that I was a lonely old bachelor. 

I did find the street pretty lonely though, after they had gone, nextday, with two great big trunks strapped on behind the carriage, amiddling sized trunk hoisted up in front, and several small carpet bags, and tiny tawny bundles and baskets in every place where room could befound. I fancy Gipsey was in one of the baskets, by the way it bouncedand wriggled about in Neighbor Nelly's lap; but I don't know; I only sawit from my window, whence I waved an adieu to them as they rolled away. 

A few days after they had gone, I thought I would amuse myself, in theirabsence, by trying to find out if any of the other neighbors knewanything about my neighbor, Nelly. I succeeded in learning what two ofthem knew, and they shall tell it for themselves in the stories thatfollow, and which I have written out. And now, if any other dear littlechildren have been pleased with me, in what I have told of my walks andtalks with Neighbor Nelly, just let them come to No. 10, and meet thehearty greeting and loving welcome of the

 OLD BACHELOR!

THE BIG BOY'S STORY. 

YOU want me to tell you what I know about the pretty little girl nextdoor? Well, I'm ready to begin, if you won't mind my talk; I'm only aboy, you know, and can't use fine words--that's all humbug. 

My name is Tom Halstead. I am nephew to the Miss Brandlaws, who live atNo. 7. The idea of calling my darling old friskies "The Bluejays!" (Ifyou don't give me that Australian post stamp I saw in your desk, I'lltell 'em, too!) However, to go on with my story. 

One morning last winter, just at the end of the Christmas holidays, while I was on a visit there, I didn't know what on earth to do withmyself. So I caught Poddles (that's the poodle), dressed him up in AuntElsie's nightcap, tied a life preserver round him, and put him in theportable shower-bath, just for fun; it didn't hurt him a bit, and--wouldyou believe it? the hateful thing hopped out, squealing murder, shookhimself all over the carpet, scratched off the nightcap, and dancedround the room with it in a fury, till it was in perfect rags. 

Up rushed Aunt Elsie, and was so horrified when she saw the carpet andher cap in such a mess, and "darling doggie" all "wetsey-petsey, " thatshe locked me up in my room for the rest of the day on bread and water!and there was gingerbread, with raisins in it, baking down stairs!!Horrid!!!

Of course I couldn't spend my time sucking my thumbs; so, like asensible fellow, I set myself to find some better employment, and soon agrand idea came into my head. I had just finished reading a jollyold-fashioned novel I found in Uncle Herbert's room, called "The CastleSpectre: a Tale of Spain;" where a goose of a lover, such a spooney! hadscrambled down from the top of a castle, hanging on to his bedclothes. _Now_, don't you see it? Perhaps not, so I'll explain. 

My bedroom is the third floor, back room, always; and you know thatpiazza at the back of the house? Well, what did I do, but twitch off_my_ bedcover--nice white one it was, too--tie it to the bedpost, andlet the end hang out of the window. Then I scrambled out, and slid downthe wall like a streak of lightning! You can't think what jolly fun itwas!

There was lots of amusement in the yard; twelve cats on the fence toplague, and no end of snow to make balls and pelt the cook with; beside, the gingerbread was just baked, and I got a _brown corner_! So! there!while I was eating it, and it was so hot that it almost sizzled, all atonce I heard a lot of noise in the next yard. Some boys seemed to behaving a drill there; so I ran up the steps leading from the piazza tothe ground, and looked over the fence. But lor now! what do you think?one of the boys was a girl! She had on long india-rubber boots, and Icalled out, "Go it, Boots!"

Then the little boy that was with her, who seemed to be her brother, looked so mad at me! and, really and truly, I couldn't help plaguingthem a little. I know you think I was real mean; but if you had seen howfunny they looked, in paper cocked hats, with turkey tails for feathers, and the little boy thumping a big tin saucepan for a drum, you wouldhave laughed, too; so you needn't look so provoked, Neighbor Oldbird!

"Gee up, awkward squad!" I said; "double quick halt on the right flank!Ha-ahup!"

But the little girl only laughed good humoredly, and said: "Jimmy and Ibelong to the Seventh Regiment, and drill in the last fashion. Don't youwant to come and learn the Lefferts Tactics?"

Wasn't she a nice little thing! Never got mad or anything, but just gaveme back as good as I sent. I declare, I fell right smack in love withher that minute, and I don't care a fig now for the girl I met indancing school, upon my word I don't; so I rushed back into thekitchen, coaxed the cook to give me two more hunks of gingerbread, andcalled out, "Won't you have some cake?"

They came running up on the piazza like lamplighters; and while theywere eating the gingerbread, _I_ was eating something I got especiallyfor myself at the same time. Did you ever try it? You have a great bigsour apple, as cold as it can be, and a tremendous pickled pepper, ashot as it can be; then you take first a bite of the pepper, and nearlyburn all the skin off your throat, and then a bite of the apple to coolit again; and so on. It's gorgeous, I tell you!

Presently the little boy (whose name, as I said, was Jimmy), stoppedhis eating to ask me, "Do you live in New York?"

"No, I live at White Plains. I go to the Military Academy there; don'tyou want me to show you some drill?"

"Oh, Cousin Charley is going to teach us some time. He belongs to theSeventh Regiment. We love to be soldiers, though, and we know a boy, Freddy Jourdain his name is, who got up a whole regiment, and hasparades, and went into camp, and everything. "

"We have a camp at White Plains, " I told them. "Do you ever go there insummer, Miss----" here I stopped, rather awkwardly, not knowing what hername was. 

"Oh, I'm not 'Miss' anybody;" she said; "I'm Nelly; but we go to theseashore in summer 'most always. "

"Can't you dress up in your uniform, and show us how you look atschool?" said Jimmy. 

"Yes, if you like;" here I remembered that the key of my room was inAunt Elsie's pocket, and had to say, "but I can't get into my room now;I was locked in, and Aunt Elsie has the key. "

"How do you come to be here, then?" said Nelly; "why, dear me, just lookat the counterpane hanging out of the window; how funny!"

"Why, that's the way I got out!" I said; and so I told them all about"The Castle Spectre, " and "Lord Alonzo Algernon" Spooneyman, and we gotinto such a perfect _gig_ of laughter, that we nearly rode off in it!(Now, don't say that's not a good joke, or I'll not tell another word ofmy story. )

Just then out came Poddles, looking as surprised as ever; and Nellyexclaimed, "Oh, there's that funny old dog! what do you call him?"

"His name is Poddles!" said I; "_I_ christened him. "

"What a queer name!" said Jimmy; "let's take him into our house and seewhat Gipsey and he will do!"

"Good!" said I. So, without remembering that plaguey white spread, I cutover the piazza railings with Poddles under one arm, and we all threerushed up stairs together. 

They had such a famous play room, with a splendid swing, and ateetertorter, and ten-pins, and I don't know what beside; and there wasthe nattiest little dog! but you know him, that "toy-terrier" of theirs. Poddles looked a greater fright than ever beside him; so, to pay himoff, we put that wretched Pod into a basket, tied it fast to the swing, and swung him up to the ceiling. It frightened him half to death, andserve him right, for being so ugly! after which he and Gipsey went tosleep in a big rocking chair, as friendly as possible. Then I gave Nellya splendid swing, "ran under, " and cracked my cocoanut three times, beside making my arms ache like everything; but I didn't care, she wassuch a dear little thing. 

Afterward Jimmy went and got a great plateful of rosy apples; and justas we were eating them, and having such fun, up came one of our girls, and said that "Miss Brandlaw wanted Master Tom right home!" Wasn't ithateful? But, of course, I had to go; so I bundled Poddles under my armagain, bid them good-by, and walked off with Mary; but I poked her ribsand set Poddles at her all the way, which was some comfort. 

I expected a scolding when I came home, and I didn't have one--oh no!Aunt Elsie wanted to know where I thought I should die when I wentto--(no, I believe it was the other way, but never mind)--if I hungbest bed spreads out of the window, and left my room without permission?besides informing me that she should write to ma', and have me sent for. Finally, she marched me up stairs again; and when I said I _must_ havesomething to do to keep me out of mischief, she gave me a Sunday schoolbook to read, and took herself off. 

Of course you will say I was dreadfully wicked not to like the Sundayschool book, but I couldn't. It was so full of hard names and longwords, and was all about sanctification and justification andregeneration, and how was I to understand a word of it? I love Biblestories, but I don't think there is a boy or girl who _understands harddoctrines_. Do you, Neighbor Oldbird?

I pretty soon gave up that employment, and amused myself instead withpelting the cats on the fence with a few marbles, and trying on myuniform, to see how I looked in it; until Aunt Elsie relented, Isuppose, for she came up and asked me through the keyhole if I wassorry, and wouldn't do any more. You can fancy what my answer was, andafter dinner I got permission to go out and play on the sidewalk. 

Neighbor Nelly and Jimmy joined me there pretty soon, and we had suchfun playing "tag" and driving hoop. It wasn't hoop _time_, to be sure, but that was no matter. Then, when we were tired of that, we all satdown together on the upper step of No. 9, and began talking about theirschool and mine, and what we learned. 

"Do you ever learn pieces of poetry?" asked Nelly. "My teacher, MissBackboard, always gives the girls each a piece of poetry every Friday;so we call that poetry day. "

"I used to learn pieces too, " I said; "but I don't care much for poetryunless it's funny. "

"Tell us a funny piece, " said Jimmy. 

"Ah yes, do!" added Nelly; and, of course, when a _lady_ asked me I hadto, though I felt pretty bashful; so I began. 

A DAY OF MISHAPS. 

(AS TOLD BY BOBBY BREAKWINDOW, A SCHOOLBOY. )

[Illustration]

[Illustration: BOBBY AND ROVER. ]

[Illustration]

 Oh dear! was there ever anybody so unlucky as I am, From General ----, who lost that battle t'other day, all the way back to Priam! Come, sit down--do, and let me tell you all about it, and what's the matter; Perhaps it will do me good to have a nice, comfortable, miserable chatter. To begin, then. This morning I woke, and thought I was up with the sun. So never hurried myself; but dressed slow, and came down, to find breakfast all done, And nothing left for me but one cold slapjack, and all the chicken gone, Unless, to be sure, I could have eaten the drumsticks, and one perfectly clean breast bone! And, of course, I had to make haste, for it was nine o'clock and after, And the master had offered a prize to the earliest boy--and here was I beaten by even lazy Tommy Shafter! But it was no use to fret, so I snatched up my satchel, and would have been off in a minute, When lo and behold! my geography was gone; and though we hunted the house, it was plain it wasn't in it, Till at last I remembered that yesterday I had gone after school to the dog pound, And then been fishing with Fred Lee; so, probably, it was at the bottom of the frog pond! Well, off to school I went, and came in after every schoolmate; So, to pay me off, the schoolmaster and all the boys called me Bobby Toolate! But that wasn't all; for the class was just up for spelling, And I didn't know the lesson, and Tommy Shafter prompted me to spell boots _butes_; and that's all I got for telling, Besides going to the foot of the class, and having to get the lesson over; I tell you what! a hand-organ monkey's life, compared to a schoolboy's, is perfect rolling in clover! And I wish I was a monkey, if I did get beaten--yes, that I do-- In a red coat all over spangles, and blue trowsers, and a long tail behind to come through! Well, thank goodness, it's over; but that's not the half of my pother; For the very minute I got out of school, Tommy Shafter began to plague and bother, And wanted me to ride on the gate with him that goes in to his grandfather Chowser's; So I did; but there's spikes on the top of that gate; and, confound it, I went to work and tore my trowsers! Just then along came Miss Kitty Snow, and didn't I look dashing, And that hateful Tommy Shafter bawled out "How are you, trowsers?" and jumped down and walked off with her; but just see if I don't give him a thrashing! To pay him off for what he did and more too; for, when I came home weeping and wailing, Pa boxed my ears, and said I was such a bad boy I shouldn't go with him now out sailing; So I had the pleasure of seeing the rockaway drive up to the door, And pa and ma getting in, and sister Tilly, and brother Sam, and ever so many more, All looking so happy and gay, and not caring a bit for poor Bobby, Just as if I _wanted_ to get into scrapes, and mischief and bad conduct were quite my hobby! Then off they whirled; and as I was left alone, I thought I might as well be up and doing. Oh, good gracious, why didn't I sit still? but how could I tell what was brewing? So I went to the stable to see our big dog Rover, and thought I would take him out with me; When, just as I had slipped his chain, he broke loose, and ran, I don't know where! and, I'm sure, pa will never forgive me! For he thought so much of Rover. Oh, dear me, what shall I do? If it would be any use in the world, I really think I should begin to boohoo! The stable boy told me not to take him; but I should like to see myself minding him _rather_; And of course, out of revenge, he'll just go and make the worst of it to father. Well, one would think that was enough; but when I came back to the house, oh jolly! There was our big cat just making a spring at sister Tilda's pretty polly! And in my haste to save the bird I threw the poker at the cat and killed her! And got myself in for a scolding from ma, and no great thanks from Tilda. It's six o'clock now; so, I suppose, they'll soon be home as cross as any Tartar, To give it to me for being such a bad boy, though I'm sure I'm a regular martyr; Don't you think so now, after all that I've just been telling? No breakfast, no geography, late at school, tore my trowsers, kept at home, lost the dog, killed the cat, and didn't know my spelling! I think the best thing I can do is to go to bed, put my head under the clothes, And in a good, comfortable sleep try to forget all my sorrows and my woes; But you may be sure, after this, I shall not neglect to take warning, And begin to-morrow all right, without any sort of fail, by getting up early in the morning!

"There!" said I, when I had finished, and it quite wore my tongue thinto repeat such a long piece of poetry. "What do you think of _that_ fora story?"

"I think it is real funny, " said Nelly, laughing; "I wish I knewsomething to tell. "

"I can say a funny piece!" shouted Jimmy. 

"Well, say it, then, " we two--Nelly and I--put in. 

Up he jumped right off, struck a funny attitude, and began:

 "The boy stood on the burning deck, Peeling potatoes by the peck! The flames rolled on and scorched his shins, As he stood peeling potato skins! 'Oh pa'!' he cried, 'the flames is hot, Come, put the potatoes in the pot!' But his father, alas! ne'er came to sup, So the flames rolled on and frizzled him up!"

"Did you ever hear anything so ridiculous as that?" cried Nelly. "PoorCasabianca! I used to cry over him dreadfully; but I shall never thinkof him now without laughing. Where did you learn that, Jimmy?"

"Oh, Harry Agnew told it to me; he said he repeated it one day inschool, when the master asked him if he could say a piece of poetry, andeverybody burst out laughing. The master laughed too; so he couldn't putanybody down for a bad mark, though Harry was afraid he would. "

"That was almost equal to the trick we played at school, " said I. "Wewanted the doctor to give us a holiday, but he didn't seem to see it; sowhen we were called up for our reading after recess, we were told toread Montgomery's poem called 'Questions to Birds and their Answers. 'One of the verses is about the swallow, and reads thus:

 "'Swallow, why homeward turned thy joyful wing?' 'In a far land I heard the voice of spring; I found myself that moment on the way, My wings, my wings, they had not power to stay. '

--but we changed it as though the doctor was asking us a question and wewere answering--this way:

 "'Boys! why are you forever on the wing, Wanting a holiday for everything?' 'From you we are so glad to get away, Our legs, our legs, they will not let us stay. '"

How we all laughed over this; it was real true, too; and pretty soonafter, as it was getting dark, I bid them good-by and ran home. 

Next morning, what should Aunt Elsie and Aunt Ruth (Aunt Priscilla wasaway on a visit) take into their heads, but that they hadn't had any funhouse-cleaning--(I suppose they must think it's fun, or they wouldn't doit so often)--for ever so long; so nothing would suit them but to setthe whole house in an uproar as quick as possible. Of course, I was inthe way, whether I stayed in the garret or the kitchen; knocked downthree pails and a scrubbing brush every time I went down stairs, nearlydrowned Poddles in hot soapsuds, splashed myself all over with whitewashtrying to "do" the kitchen ceiling (on my own account, when nobody wasby), until I looked as if I had been out in a snowstorm, and wateringthe windows outside with the long hosepipe, until every one of them wasdripping _inside_ like a waterfall. 

Now, Neighbor Nelly and Jimmy had been looking out of their parlorwindow, and advising me which were the best parts of our windows to playon, when, all of a sudden, Nelly said:

"Why, Tom, it doesn't half clean the panes to do them that way; theyought to be washed with soap and hot water. Suppose we try it? Onlythink!" she went on, "how much your aunties would be obliged to us if wewere to find out a new way to make windows clean, ever so much betterthan the old one!"

"Splendid!" said I and Jimmy together. "Come, let's try it right away!"

With that, Nelly and Jimmy came into our house, and into the frontbasement; Aunt Elsie and Aunt Ruth were both up stairs; so we had thetwo lower stories all to ourselves. 

As Nelly was afraid of spoiling her frock, I dived into the cook'sdresser drawer, where she keeps her own table covers and clean dishcloths, and fished out a great big brown roller-towel, which we pinnedround her neck, making her look in front as if she was tied up in apotato sack, with only her head left out. Then Jimmy and I took off ournice jackets, rolled up our shirt sleeves, lugged in three big yellowdishes full of hot water, spilling plenty on the way, found a long barof brown soap, and helped ourselves to three more of Bridget's cleantowels; and then we all three began scrubbing away at the windows!

Such fun as we had! We put on the greatest lot of soap, and paid awaywith both hands, so as to make them good and _clean_, laughing andtalking all the time; and when we thought the water had been usedenough, or, rather when it was nearly all spilt, we took up our yellowbowls and marched into the kitchen for more. 

Our boiler, you must know, is a tin affair, like a large soup kettlewithout the handle, and has a faucet in front to draw the water off. Weput it on the middle of the range, and keep it always full and boiling;and now, instead of filling our dishes right away, we began playing thekitchen was a steamboat, and the water heater the boiler, just ready toburst; so, of course, it was necessary to let off steam, which we did bydrawing a little water at a time from the faucet into one of our yellowdishes, and tilting it back again as soon as the dish was full, beside"tooting, " as loud as we could, to represent the commotion going on toperfection. We were soon so busy over this, that we forgot all aboutthe front basement windows for ever so long, until we heard Aunt Elsiecalling out, "Tom! Tom! where are you?"

"Here I am, Aunt Elsie! come right along! Here we all are, washing thewindows for you as nice as anything!"

Down marched Aunt Elsie, short order; and the minute she came into thebasement we heard her give an "O----h!" about a quarter of a mile long. We all rushed to ask what was the matter; and such a pickle as thewindows were in you never did see. The soap was in streaks, and smears, and lumps all over the panes, making them look as if somebody had spilta lot of hasty pudding on them, and it had stuck fast. Of course, as weleft them so long, the soap had hardened on; and poor Nelly, frightenedhalf out of her wits, began to cry. That put me up, I can tell you; Iwas determined Aunt Elsie shouldn't scold her; so I begged her not to beangry with anybody but me, for it wasn't their fault at all. 

"And I must say you are old enough to know better, Tom, " said my aunt, looking at me reproachfully over the tops of her spectacles; "and as apunishment, you must get all the soap off the window before you have anydinner. The children had better go home. "

But now, what do you think that darling of a Nelly, and Jimmy did? Theydeclared I shouldn't do it all alone by myself, but they would stay andhelp me; so, after Aunt Elsie had been coaxed to let us, we filled ourdishes again, and went to work as busy as bees. It was pretty hard workgetting the soap off, but we made a joke of it, and by the time thewindows were fairly polished up, as bright as new pins, we were in aperfect frolic. I expect Nelly's bright eyes had something to do withit, for Aunt Elsie, after we had finished, and come shouting to her withour faces as red as fire, and considerable brown soap on us in spots, said, "we were famous workpeople, " and gave us New Year's cookies, andalmonds, and raisins for lunch. I had a Philopoena among my nuts, which I ate with Nelly; and pretty soon after they went home. 

I did hope she would catch me on the Philopoena, because I hadsomething that I meant to give her all along; and this would be a famouschance. It was a nest of little boxes, made of plaid papier-maché, abouta dozen, one inside the other; and when you came to the very last, andhad opened that, there was a gold thimble and scissors, and a littlegold bodkin, a needlecase full of tiny needles, and a puncher, just bigenough for the queen of the fairies; I won it at a raffle on ChristmasEve, and kept it to give to some little girl, for, of course, it wasn'tany use to me; what could I do with a thimble and needles? Sure enough, when I looked out of the back parlor window next morning, Neighbor Nellylooked out of _her_ window, said with a saucy smile, "Good morning, Mr. Tom--Philopoena!" and popped back again. 

"Good!" I said. So, after breakfast, I asked Aunt Elsie for a nice sheetof paper and a new pen, and then I ran up to my own room, and sat downto write a little note to my neighbor. I'm sure, that showed how much Iliked her, if anything could, for I'd rather do a sum in compoundfractions, or a French exercise, than write a note. It quite gives methe toothache; but at last I wrote something very pretty, as, I'm sure, you will say when I repeat it to you. This is what I said:

 "MY DEAR MISS NELLY:

 "I hope you will accept the little present I send you for a Philopoena, because I like you very much. I am real glad you caught me, for perhaps this will remind you of me when I go back to school. I hope the needles will sew all the holes in your clothes, that the thimble will keep you from pricking your pretty little finger, and that

 "If you loves I as I loves you, The scissors won't cut our love in two. 

 "Good-by. "From your affectionate friend "TOM. "

Then I packed up the boxes and the letter in nice white paper, andcoaxed Mary to take it in right away; and you can't tell how manypretty, smiling thanks I had in return. 

But you think I am making my story too long, Neighbor Oldbird? Well, perhaps I am, but there seems to be so much to tell about Nelly, and thenice times we had together, that I don't know when to stop. I am 'mostthrough now. 

The day I sent her the Philopoena present was the last of my stay intown; and after I had packed up my clothes ready to start (with agorgeous plum cake and two jars of raspberry jam in a box, which my dearold Friskies gave me, --they always do make everything of me, in spite oftheir lectures), I went to Uncle Herbert's room to bid him good-by, forI knew I should not see him again before I started, and he made me thebest present of all. It was a dear little watch and chain; for he said, as I was nearly fifteen, I was quite old enough to take care of one. Wasn't that kind of him?

Well, dear me, I don't want to say good-by a bit, and I did not then;but, of course, it had to come, and I shook hands with my dear littlefriends, only wishing to goodness that I lived in New York. 

We promised about twenty-five times apiece always to be friends; andthen I kissed Aunt Elsie and Aunt Ruth, pulled Poddles' ears forgood-by, and pranced off all alone; of course, boys that have watchesare plenty big enough to go from New York to White Plains bythemselves. I suppose we always shall stay there, for papa is abominablyfond of the country; but just wait until I am a man, and see if I don'tcome to live in New York, and marry Neighbor Nelly, if she will have me. Mind you keep that last remark a secret, now, Neighbor Oldbird! That'sall there is about it. 

THE FAT GENTLEMAN'S STORY. 

 I'M in love with Neighbor Nelly, Though I know she's only ten; While I am five and forty, And the _married-est_ of men. I've a wife as fat as butter, And a baby--such a boy! With the plumpest cheeks and shoulders, Who's his father's dearest joy. 

 Though a Square toes and a Buffer, Still I've sunshine in my heart; Still I'm fond of tops and marbles Can appreciate a tart. I can love my Neighbor Nelly, Just as though I were a boy, And would hand her cakes and apples, From my depths of corduroy. 

 She is tall, and growing taller; She is vigorous of limb; (You should see her playing soldiers With her little brother Jim!) She has eyes as blue as damsons; She has pounds of auburn curls; She regrets the game of leapfrog Is prohibited to girls. 

 I adore my Neighbor Nelly, I invite her in to tea, And I let her nurse the baby Her delightful ways to see. Such a darling bud of woman! Yet remote from any teens; I have learnt from Neighbor Nelly What the girls' doll instinct means. 

 Oh! to see her with the baby! (He adores her more than I); How she choruses his crowing, How she hushes every cry! How she loves to pit his dimples With her light forefinger deep; How she boasts, as one in triumph, When she gets him off to sleep!

 We must part, my Neighbor Nelly, For the summers quickly flee; And the middle-aged admirer Must, too soon, supplanted be. Yet, as jealous as a mother, A suspicious, cankered churl, I look vainly for the setting, To be worthy such a pearl!

 NOTE. --This charming little gem is not original, being gleaned from the pages of Putnam's Magazine. As it was there published anonymously, the author is unable to make any further acknowledgment. 

POSTSCRIPT TO THE THREE STORIES. 

BY THE OLD BACHELOR. 

WHEN I had finished copying out the stories of the Big Boy and the FatGentleman last summer, the thought struck me that, as I had been in townall the warm bright June weather, it would do my health a great deal ofgood to take a trip to Long Branch. Of course, it was not to seeNeighbor Nelly--certainly not. 

So, the very next Saturday afternoon I dusted up my valise, and put somenice cool summer clothes in it, and a great paper of candy, which Imeant for my little neighbors, in case I should see them by accident!Somebody had told me that the Mansion House was the best hotel to stopat. Shall I tell you why? Because there was a party there, of a papa andmamma, a dear little girl and boy, and a remarkably nice little toyterrier, which would put me in mind very much of some friends of minecalled Lawson. In fact, this family was called Lawson, too, and theyounger members were christened Nelly and Jimmy! Comical, wasn't it?

If you have never been to Long Branch, you can't think what a pleasantsail it is down the Bay in the "Thomas Collyer, " and how much I enjoyedmy trip. The pleasant shores of Long and Staten Islands (_I_ used tolive on Staten Island, and had some comical times there, which I mean towrite out one of these days) looked as verdant and beautiful as ever;the sea was as blue as a bluebottle fly, and the sun as light as a cork!As I looked at the great, rolling waves, I laughed to myself, thinkingwhat nice times we were going to have in bathing; ducking under them, when they came roaring along the shore after us, as if they meant togobble us up, and bouncing out again when they had passed, all drippingand laughing, and ready for the next one to play the same trick on us. Sometimes, to be sure, the waves play too rough, and knock you off yourfeet without "by your leave;" or a little crab will walk up and biteyour toes, just by way of welcoming you to Long Branch; but nobody mindsit. Bless you!--that only makes it more fun to go in bathing!

Well, the boat stopped at the pier, which extends a quarter of a milefrom the shore, putting one in mind of a long crab's claw stuck out for"shake hands" by old Neptune; and I jumped into the cars and was bouncedand rattled along to Long Branch. As it was Saturday afternoon, a greatcrowd of people were going there with me, and, deary me! when _I_ cameto the Mansion House, there wasn't any room left for me! Wasn't it toobad? Just when I had fixed to have such a nice time with my dear littlefriends! It would never do to go away, however, so I said: "Well, nevermind, Mr. Mansion House--that is, Mr. Neighbor Nelly--dear me!--Mr. Laird, I can do without a room; and at night you can put me to sleep inthe pigeon house, or the hen coop, or under the counter of the office, or up the chimney, I don't care which; but go away I can't!"

Now, I expect, Mr. Laird must have known I had come to see NeighborNelly, and what a disappointment it would be not to get in; for after aconsultation with his bookkeeper, he told me he could give me a roomafter all! and I was so glad, that I offered him my snuff boximmediately, which is a favor I only grant to very nice people!

So up stairs I hurried, to get ready for tea, in high good humor, and, would you believe it, when I came down again, whose table should I beput to sit at, but Neighbor Nelly's? Oh, how surprised and pleased shewas to see me! and Jimmy and his father and mother were just as glad. There was famous "clam chowder" for tea, and such great bigblackberries, that we really had to make two bites of them! not tomention the quantities of other good things; and after tea we strolledout on the bluff, which overlooks the ocean. There are three prettylittle summer houses before the Mansion House, and in one of these wetook our seats. Gipsey had come scampering up to me in delightedrecognition as we left the dining room, barking and wagging his tail, until I should think both his tail and his bark would have been quiteout of joint. 

"Oh, Neighbor Oldbird, I'm so glad you have come, " began Nelly, eagerly;"we have been having such fun, and, now you are here, it will be nicerthan ever. "

"Do you and Jimmy go in bathing?" I asked. 

"I guess we do!" cried Jimmy. "We rush into the water first of anybody, and go out real deep, when we have hold of the ropes. Some great bigboys are as afraid as anything! But we like to have the waves go overour heads. "

"Talking about big boys, " said I, looking wonderfully sly, "I made theacquaintance of a big boy in our street, not long ago, who knows acertain little lady very well; and likes her very well, too!"

"Oh, I know!" chimed both the children; "it's Tom Halstead. Isn't it?"

"Yes; he told me something funny about you, too; I did not know youcould wash windows before, Neighbor Nelly. "

My little neighbor laughed and blushed comically when I said that, andthen Jimmy said:

"He's a first rate fellow, I tell you. He sent us a letter the otherday, and what do you think? he's coming here!"

"Coming here!" I exclaimed; "my stars! I shall be quite thrown in theshade when such a nice friend makes his appearance. I think I shall haveto go home again Monday, and I did mean to stay till Wednesday, " and Imade up a dismal face, and pretended to be quite heart-broken. 

"No, indeed, Neighbor Oldbird! we shall always like you the best!" criedNelly, catching both my hands in hers. "He is a very nice boy, to besure, but we like _you_ just as much as if you were our bachelor uncle. "

"Then I move to be called Uncle Josiah directly!" I said, laughing;"so, my dear niece and nephew, don't you think it would be a good planfor us to go down on that nice yellow sand there, and look at thewaves?"

The children were delighted with this plan, so we all three walked tothe steep wooden steps that lead from the bluff to the beach below, andwere soon on the sands. Gipsey came racing after as usual, and in hishaste to join us, ran so fast down the steps, that he couldn't stophimself, but had to bring up on the sand past the water mark, lookingcomically astonished. To put a finishing touch to his misfortunes, agreat big wave came tumbling in just then, and over poor Gipsey it went!sousing him head and ears! It frightened him so much that he rusheddripping wet to Neighbor Nelly, and jumped into her lap, squealingdismally. Such a perfect shower-bath of cold salt water as rained allover her pretty muslin dress, and trim little gaiters and stockings! Wehad to shake her well, and put Gipsey to bed on a sandhill near us, where he went to sleep, and, I hope, forgot his miseries. 

Perhaps you don't know it, but the sand is a famous place to write yourname. You go as near the retreating wave as you dare, and then, with awalking stick or an umbrella, or your finger, if nothing better is to behad, write your name, or draw a hideous spook on the wet sand. You haveto be quick about it, too; for just as you are putting the finishingtouches to the work, another great billow is sure to come tearing atyou, with a wide, deep hollow of emerald green, and foaming crest, looking like molten silver in the moonlight. Crash! it falls on thebeach; and a long rush of foam slides up the sand as you scamper out ofreach, not always without a wet shoe or two. Now the water has all runback, but where is the writing? The sand is smooth once more, and ready, like a great blackboard, to be marked on anew. So the sea is alwaysclearing your writing book for you, and giving you a chance to beginagain and see how long it will last!

I should think we wrote "Nelly, " "Jimmy, " and "Neighbor Oldbird, " aboutfifty times each on the sand, with my walking stick; and then we "hungJeff. Davis on a sour apple tree, " and depicted him with Old Spookeycoming after him, and told the Atlantic Ocean, "We like blue fish, " and"We're going in bathing Monday, " and never succeeded in keeping one ofour achievements more than half a minute. 

We stayed down on the delightful beach until nearly half-past nine; and, dear me, what a heap of sand we got in our shoes! It was quite wonderfulhow it contrived to work its way in; but there it was, making us lift upour feet as heavily as though we had cannon balls tied to our ankles. 

But it was getting late, and high time for small people to be off tobed; so, with a shake of the hand from one of my little neighbors, and a"good kiss" from the other, I don't say _which_, Gipsey was waked up, and they all trotted off together. 

Next morning was Sunday, and a beautiful sunshiny day. The first thing Idid when I woke up, was to pop my head out of the window and take a lookat the ocean. There it was, as beautiful as ever, and now I found out afunny thing about Long Branch that I hadn't noticed the evening before. "Why, " said I, "is it possible I am in the country? Where are thetrees?" They were nowhere to be seen, not so much as a bush; while theflowers were represented by everybody's bathing dresses hanging overall the fences, and on ever so many clothes-lines besides, to dry. Thefact is, that the Atlantic Ocean is determined to let nothing be admiredbut itself; so it will not permit a tree to grow any nearer its shoresthan half a mile. So all the foliage there consists of the direful oldbathing dresses, flapping in the wind and looking like so manyscarecrows put up to frighten off the fishhawks. 

In the morning we went to the cunning little Episcopal church, andlistened to the earnest teachings of the noble young rector, who isworking so bravely in his Master's cause with such poor earthly reward. That he is laying up treasure where "neither moth nor rust dothcorrupt, " we cannot but believe. We did not like to leave the quietlittle church for the great noisy hotels, in one of which, as we passedit, they were _playing billiards_. Oh! what an occupation for God's holyday! I cannot believe they were Christians who were playing, but I knowI wanted to go and beg them to stop. 

In the afternoon it clouded up, and began to rain very hard; so we couldnot go to church, and as it was very little like Sunday in the crowdedhall and parlor, Mrs. Lawson proposed we should all come and sit in herroom, which opened on one of the upper piazzas. So we establishedourselves here, where it was quiet and cool, very glad to escape fromthe bustle down stairs. 

"Suppose you were to repeat that pretty German hymn I gave you the otherday, " said her mother to Nelly. "Perhaps Mr. Oldbird would like to hearit. "

"Yes, that I should, " I said; so Nelly began the beautiful versescalled--

"ALL THERE. "

 "Nothing is lost; the treasures which the ocean Hath taken to itself in ages fled, The lives that rest beneath its ceaseless motion Until 'the sea shall render up its dead:'

 "The dew drops that the warm bright sunshine drieth, The cloud that melts away in summer air, The bud that lifteth its sweet head--and dieth, They are not lost--God keeps them in his care. 

 "Nothing is lost; the anguish of the mourner, And bitter tears that fall like solemn rain, Are safely stored within the heavenly garner, Till Christ shall come unto his own again. 

 "And our beloved ones that Death doth gather To their calm, dreamless sleep beneath the tomb, Like tender flowers, are cherished by the Father In the celestial fields of Heaven to bloom. 

 "Nothing is lost; oh, let the promise cheer us; By God himself to weary mortals given; Our darling ones shall soon again be near us, Our hopes shall bloom, unfadingly, in Heaven. "

"I think that is the best hymn I know, " added Nelly, when she hadfinished. "Now, what shall we do?"

"Let's play church!" suggested Jimmy. 

"Oh yes! that's the very thing!" said Nelly. "Suppose we ask Kitty andRobby Morris to come in. "

So Kitty and Robby were found, and consented to join the play, whichstraightway began; mamma and I looking on, though we made believe not tobe taking notice, for fear of disturbing the little visitors. 

Robby, who was a dear little fellow, only five years old, with longgolden curls and great blue eyes, was the minister, at his own specialrequest. The children dressed him in a long white sack of Mrs. Lawson'sby way of a gown, and gave him a small table for a pulpit. The others, with Gipsey, and a large gray cat, the property of Robby and Kitty, which marched in after them, were the congregation, sitting on the edgeof the bed, to be like the long church pew. The minister took for histext, "Little children, love one another, " and his sermon was such adear, funny little discourse, that I must write it down for you. 

"Now, my dear peoples, " he said, "I hope, whenever you feel likekarrelling, [A] or being as cross as bears, you will 'member what theBible says 'bout loving one another. Gipsey fighted my tat to-day, andpulled some of her fur out; but he's only a dog, and I readed in my Dr. Watts--

 "Let dogs delight to bark and bite, For God has made 'em so; Let bears and lions growl and fight, For 'tis their nature too. But, children, _you_ s'ould _never_ let Your angry _pass'ons_ rise! Your little hands were _never_ made To sc'atch each other's eyes. "

----so I was not mad at him, 'cause he didn't _know_ he ought to lovepussy. 

"I _s'apped_ nurse the other day, 'cause she made me come out of thewater before I wanted to, and _that_ was _very_ naughty; I begged herpardon, though, and gave her a piece of my _tandy_, that papa hadbrought me. Now, my dear peoples, I think that is long enough. S'pose wesing, 'I want to be an angel. '"

[Illustration: PLAYING CHURCH. ]

Wasn't that a cunning little sermon? It put me in mind of how I used toplay church in my childhood, long ago; when my young brother, dearlittle Davy, would stand on a chair, while I sat on my stool at hisfeet, and preach a sermon something like Robby's. Darling Davy! Ifancied I could see his sweet face and earnest eyes looking down at me, from his happy home in heaven that Sunday afternoon; for he closed thosedark eyes on this weary earth many long years since, and I never thinkof him now but as standing on the chair in our father's study (with, perhaps, mother looking in, unknown to him), and preaching from somesimple text that we knew and loved, in quaint, yet childish words. Ah, well! perhaps it was better so, than that he should have lived to be agray-headed old bachelor like "brother Jose!"

So the children all sang the hymn, and that was the end of church. Wepassed the rest of the afternoon telling Bible stories, and repeatinghymns, and after tea it was clear once more, and dry enough to go out onthe bluff. 

You may be sure, we were all in famous spirits Monday morning, and readyfor any sort of a frolic. Who could help being good humored with suchcompany as my little neighbors? Mr. Lawson left us in the first trainfor the city; but, to make up, who should have come down in the earlymorning boat, but Tom Halstead and Miss Elsie Bluejay--or Brandlaw, Iought to say, since I know her name now; and they drove straight up tothe Mansion House, of course--who wouldn't, when Neighbor Nelly wasthere? The children received Tom with shouts of joy; and he looked sohandsome and happy, and his great black eyes sparkled so with good humorand fun, that I felt quite ready to admit him into my circle of littlepeople that I knew and loved. Neighbor Nelly and he were an admirablecontrast in point of appearance, and I shouldn't be surprised if thelast remark made to me in strict confidence, by my friend Tom in hisaccount of her, should come true some day. 

I wish I could sketch a little picture of our party as we clusteredtogether on the piazza, to show what manner of people we were then; andanother, of our appearance in the water afterward. Ten o'clock was thehour for bathing that morning; so we each armed ourselves with ourbathing clothes and a prodigious towel, like the main sail of a fishingsmack, and rushed down to the beach; that is, the younger members; AuntElsie, Mrs. Lawson, and I walked soberly along. Then we popped intoseparate bathing houses, still looking like respectable and responsiblemembers of society, and popped out five minutes afterward--scarecrows!spooks! animated rag-bags! with the last vestige of our gentility andgood looks departed. 

Aunt Elsie had taken leave of a most beautiful brown "front" andfourteen luxuriant curls, the absence of which gave her an appearancevery like a staid bald-headed owl; particularly as she would keep on hervery round spectacles, and wore a pair of extremely long-fingered greencotton gloves. The long ends of the glove fingers, waving about in thewater, were not unlike the owl's claws; while her gray woollen bathingdress might have passed for a new sort of flannel feathers. A mortifiedblue sunbonnet, with all the canes out, was perched lop-sided on herhead, and she wore a pair of bathing shoes, like brown poultices. Therest of us were just as bad, though; I was an ogre in green flannel, Tomand Jimmy monkeys in red, Mrs. Lawson tolerably lady-like in blue, withwhite tape trimmings, and Neighbor Nelly a ridiculous little old jumpingJenny in white, with gorgeous red facings; and all in hats that defiedour best friends to know us in. 

How we laughed at each other, and then made haste over the sand, whichwas so hot that it nearly scorched our feet, and plumped into the nicecool ocean, where ever so many other frights were already hopping about. 

Now for a rush into the deep water! here comes a big wave! down, downnow! and over our heads it went! dousing us as it had Gipsey theSaturday night, only we didn't squeal. 

Presently, some people who had come from the next hotel, began dancingthe "Lancers" in the water, ducking under instead of bowing, andseeming to have such a good time, that nothing would suit the childrenbut that they must begin dancing, too; in consequence of which a wavetwice as high as usual came roaring up, and carried Neighbor Nelly rightoff her feet. Under the water she went, and for an instant we were quitefrightened; but presently up she popped laughing, and trying to squeezethe salt water out of her eyes. 

However, that put a stop to the dancing; and here let me tell you, thatsurf bathing is always a pretty venturesome thing to attempt, unless yougrasp the ropes firmly, or have hold of some older and stronger person'shand. 

There was one gentleman flourishing about near us, who seemed bent upontrying how many odd things he could do in the water. Presently we sawhim going down head first, and then his feet coming up in the air like aduck's! It looked so comical to see any one besides a duck standingupside down in the water, that we all burst out laughing, and just thenalong came another billow, and treated us each to a mouthful of saltwater!

By this time we had been in long enough for one day, for you shouldalways remember to come out before you feel chilled, and so we waded tothe shore, looking more outlandish than ever, now the bathing dresseswere all soaked, and hurried into the houses to get dry and dressed. 

Surf bathing is a famous thing to give you an appetite; and I don'twonder Mr. Laird provides so bountiful and well cooked a dinner, when Ithink of the famishing five hundred people that were to be fed the day Iwas there, and every day beside. The "Charge of the Light Brigade" wasnothing to the charge we made upon the dishes; and as the dining room issensibly arranged with tables accommodating about a dozen people each, we all sat together; and had such a merry time that two or three crossold dames looked sharply at our party, very curious to know what all thelaughing was about. Our small friend Gipsey was the cause of it, partly, for he posted himself beside each of our chairs in turn, and made suchsurprising and despairing hops and skips after bits of chicken held upbeyond his reach, that he very nearly turned a somerset each time. 

We rewarded his patience at last by giving him some bones, which hecrunched under the table with perfect satisfaction, while we werediscussing the ice cream and other good things. 

In the afternoon I was sitting reading the paper on the upper piazza, and the children were amusing themselves in their own fashion near me. Nelly, with another little girl, whose name seemed to be "Baby, " forthey never called her anything else, were manufacturing a resplendentdoll's dress for a waxen angel in a white spencer--or whatever thosemuslin concerns are called, which the ladies wear with colored skirtsnowadays, and a black velvet pointed belt; while the boys, with theirarms fraternally entwined, were interchanging confidences on theimportant subjects of "My peg top, " "Don't you think thirty-eight centsis a tremendous price for kites?" "How many glass agates have you got?"and so on--when Tom, looking very mischievous, suddenly lifted up dollyby the toe of her shoe, and asked, "Why, Nelly, what's the matter withthis doll; has she got the spinal complaint?"

"No, you goose, " said Nelly, laughing. "What makes you ask that?"

"Because she has on a supporter, " said Tom, with perfect gravity, pointing to the velvet belt. "Poor thing! why don't you take her inbathing? It would do her health good, I'm sure; she looks fearfullypale. "

"Ah, make him put her down, Nelly, " said Baby; "he'll break her if hegoes on so;" for Tom was now amusing himself by balancing dolly on herhead in his hand, making a great display of embroidered trowsers andhoop petticoats; and now, catching her by both hands, he suddenly swungher over the railing. "This is the way she ought to be ducked under thewaves!" he added. Nelly sprang forward at the same moment with an "Oh, Tom! please!" and caught his arm rather suddenly. His hold relaxed atthe same moment, and crash! down tumbled poor dolly on the ground below, breaking one of her wax arms completely off, and making a fearful cavityin her forehead, which killed her completely! that is, I should thinkso. I never heard of any one who survived fracture of the skull. Didyou?

Poor Nelly! She tried hard not to mind it; but dolly's head was one toomany for her, and the tears came rolling quickly down her cheeks as shegazed at the unfortunate waxen damsel below, with quivering lip. Tomturned red and white alternately in silence for a moment, and then beganpouring forth apologies and regrets. He called himself all the impsthat ever were heard of for being so careless; he offered to go to NewYork that very day to buy another doll, and have his hair well pulledbeside, if she only would forgive him, and say she didn't think he haddone it on purpose; and, in short, we had quite a little scene; when, fortunately, there occurred to me a pleasant means of diverting theminds of the party from the accident that had happened. So I laid downmy paper, as though I had not been listening, and said:

"Well, little people, I believe I have discovered all the news there is;so what do you say to coming to a party I am thinking of giving in myroom?"

"A party!" cried the children, dropping the subject of the doll to lookat me; "why, we should like that very much. What sort of a party is it?"

"A reading party, " I answered. "I have some papers I have been thinkingof reading to you, to get your opinion of them before I put them in abook; and I shouldn't be surprised if there was a paper of candy in mydrawer besides. "

"Why, do you write books?" asked Baby, opening her bright eyes very wideindeed, as if to be certain what a real live author looked like. 

"To be sure I do, " I said, laughing. "Funny stories, and sad ones, too;and some that are every word of them true, and others that are told meby my friends; and you shall tell me whether they are true or not. "

So we all made haste into my room--not the same I had when I first came, but one on the front piazza, near Neighbor Nelly's. The papers I meantwere my own, Tom's, and the Fat Gentleman's stories, which I had broughtdown with me, to look over and correct. The candy I had bought for Nellyand Jimmy, as I told you, and forgotten all about to that moment. LittleRobby came trotting along just then, so we asked him to be of the party;and Mrs. Lawson, looking out to see why we were in such a bustle, madeup the company. 

I wish you could have been at Our Party that afternoon. We made a coseylittle group, I assure you. Mrs. Lawson sat by the table with hersewing; Tom established himself close to my chair, and Nelly nestled bymy other side. Baby and Jimmy sat on hassocks, contrived from carpetbags, at my feet; dear little Robby was lifted to my knee, and thereading began. Oh, the laughter, and comical wonder, and blushes, whenmy little neighbors found the stories were about them! Nelly burst outwith "Oh, Neighbor Oldbird!" and hid her face on my shoulder every timethere was some special praise of herself. Tom turned perfectly crimsonwhen we came to his story, and was in and out of his seat twenty times, begging me to stop, during its progress, his splendid black eyesglancing appealingly at me and Nelly by turns. I wouldn't spare him asingle word, however; and when I came to his declaration at the end, concerning Nelly, there was a general shout of laughter. 

"There's an eligible offer for you, Miss Nell, " I said solemnly. "You'dbetter take it into consideration!" and so on, until Mrs. Lawson beggedme to stop. She did not like to have ideas about marriage put into thechildren's heads; and I, when I reflected, was very sorry I had been sothoughtless. Tom bore my teasing manfully; but Nelly's face was rathergrave, as if she did not like such remarks to be made about her; so Ihurried on to the Fat Gentleman's story, and brought up at the end, andthen handed round the candy, amid general approbation. 

How we all passed that evening together on the beach, and had a wildlyhappy time; how we went in bathing the next day, and the next; and how, on Wednesday afternoon, I bid a most reluctant good-by to my littleneighbors, I have not room to tell. I want to write how gladly we metagain in the city in the fall; how Tom did come to live in New York, andfavored us with his company as often as possible; how we chanced againon the little girl whom we had met in the toy shop, and found her livingin a wretched tenement house in Cherry street, whence Mr. Lawson and I, with some other friends, removed them in haste, and established them ina nice little thread-needle store on one of the business avenues not farfrom our street; but all this would take too long. 

I must say, though, what a blessed change it has been for them, particularly for poor little crippled Clara, who never fails to greet uswith a smile when we go there to see her, as she sits in her comfortablearm-chair by the window, with her pet spaniel "Dandy" beside her. She isalways contented and cheerful, in spite of the sharp pain that oftenracks her slender limbs; and as I look on her pale face, which is soplainly not long for this earth, and think that now her suffering lifewill end amid comfort and peace, I whisper to myself with a heart fullof love, "All this through thy sweet influence, dear

 "NEIGHBOR NELLY!"

FOOTNOTE:

[A] Quarrelling. 

CONCLUSION. 

AND that was the end of the famous Sock Stories, which had affordedGeorge and Helen so much amusement during nearly three months; for ittook all that time for Aunt Fanny's daughter to write, and the childrento read them all. They could not tell which they liked the best; for itso happened that the "Funny Little Socks" made their appearance just atthe time when some dear little cousins of theirs, only four or fiveyears old, had come to spend a week or two with them, which made babystories doubly welcome; and I don't know what the good and delightfulgentleman to whom the fifth book is dedicated will say about it, when hesees his name at the front; but it was thought very appropriate byHelen's papa; as the very best story in the book is all aboutphilosophers, grave and gay. 

One thing in particular I am most happy to record; and that is, that thegood habits which keeping mamma's little code of rules had engendered, were not broken off at the close of the readings; but instead, wereformed more lastingly with every week; until now every one who knowsGeorge and Helen says, the first thing, "What good children they are!and yet, they never have to be whipped, or shut up in a dark closet tomake them so. " No! they are good from a higher motive than the dread ofpunishment; for they are inspired with the sincere desire to make theirdear mother as happy as they can; and it would not surprise me at all ifSanta Claus, who is a very discerning old gentleman, were to putsomething very nice indeed in both socks and stockings thisChristmas--in spite of the hard times!

And now, one last word, before Aunt Fanny's daughter bids you good-by, little reader. She hopes and prays, in all sincerity, that she hassucceeded not only in amusing you, but in giving you some lessons whichwill sink into your hearts for your real good. And if in the shadowytrain of personages who have moved before you in these Sock Stories, there is one who has pleased you especially, from Colonel Freddy andlittle tender-hearted Greta, to Little Mother and the Old Bachelor, Neighbor Nelly, with her bright eyes and merry ways, or Gipsey, of thecork-screw tail and yap! yap! bark, the knowledge of this fact will give_her_ what she wishes for you all, a very

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 THE END OF THE SIXTH AND LAST BOOK. 

 * * * * *

Transcriber's Notes:

Page 026, "anx" changed to "any" (him any more)

Page 32, "eat" changed to "ate" (We ate the)

Page 086, "found" changed to "fond" (fond of tops and marbles)

Page 126, "copmany" changed to "company" (made up the company)