[Illustration: "WHAT FOR YOU LOOK THAT WAY TO ME?"]

 DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES. 

 DOTTY DIMPLE'S FLYAWAY. 

 By SOPHIE MAY, AUTHOR OF "LITTLE PRUDY STORIES. "

 Illustrated. 

 BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM. 1871. 

 * * * * *

TO THE

LITTLE LINDSAYS. 

 * * * * *

CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER

I. BEGINNING TO REMEMBER. 

II. RUNNING AWAY TO CHURCH. 

III. RUNNING AWAY TO HEAVEN. 

IV. A RAILROAD SAVAGE. 

V. EAST AGAIN. 

VI. THE RAG-BAG. 

VII. THE WICKED GIRL. 

VIII. "WHEELBARROWING. "

IX. TIN-TYPES. 

X. WAKING. 

XI. AUNT POLLY'S STORY. 

XII. FULL NIPPERKIN. 

 * * * * *

DOTTY DIMPLE'S FLYAWAY. 

CHAPTER I. 

BEGINNING TO REMEMBER. 

Katie Clifford was a very bright child. She almost knew enough to keepout of fire and water, but not quite. She looked like other littlegirls, only so wise, --O, so very wise!--that you couldn't tell her anynews about the earth, or the sun, moon, and stars, for she knew allabout it "byfore. "

Her hair was soft and flying like corn-silk, and when the wind took ityou would think it meant to blow it off like a dandelion top. She wasso light and breezy, and so little for her age, that her father said"they must put a cent in her pocket to keep her from flying away;" so, after that, the family began to call her _Flyaway_. She thought it washer name, and that when people said "Katie, " it was a gentle way theyhad of scolding. 

Everybody petted her. Her brother Horace put his heart right under herfeet, and she danced over it. Her "uncle Eddard" said "she drove roundthe world in a little chariot, and all her friends were harnessed toit, only they didn't know it. "

Her shoulders were very little, but they bore a crushing weight ofcare. From the time she began to talk, she took upon herself theburden of the whole family. When Mrs. Clifford had a headache, Flyawaywas so full of pity that nothing could keep her from climbing uponthe sufferer, stroking her face, and saying, "O, my _dee_ mamma, " orperhaps breaking the camphor bottle over her nose. 

She sat at table in a high chair beside her father, and might havelearned good manners if it had not been for the care she felt ofHorace. She could scarcely attend to her own little knife and fork, because she was so busy watching her brother. She wished to see forherself that he was sitting straight, and not leaning his elbows onthe table. If he made any mistake she cried, "Hollis!" in a tone assweet as a wind-harp, though she meant it to be terribly severe, adding to the effect by shaking the corn-silk on her head in highdispleasure. If she could correct him she thought she had done as muchgood in the family as if she had behaved well herself. He received allrebukes very meekly, with a "Thank you, little Topknot. What would bedone here without you to preserve order?"

Flyaway could remember as far back as the beginning of theworld, --that is to say, she could remember when _her_ world began. 

It is strange to think of, but the first thing she really knew for acertainty, she was standing in a yellow chair, in her grandmotherParlin's kitchen! It was as if she had always been asleep till thatminute. People did say she had once been a baby, but she could notrecollect that, "it was so MANY years ago. "

Her mind, you see, had always been as soft as a bag of feathers; andnothing that she did, or that any one else did, made much impression. But now something remarkable was taking place, and she would neverforget it. 

It was this: she was grinding coffee. How prettily it pattered down onthe floor! What did it look like? O, like snuff, that people sneezedwith. This was housework. Next thing they would ask her to wash dishesand set the table. She would grow larger and larger, and Gracie wouldgrow littler and littler; and O, how nice it would be when she coulddo all the work, and Gracie had to sit in mamma's lap and be rocked!

"Flywer'll do some help, " said she. "Flywer'll take 'are of g'amma'sthings. "

While she stood musing thus, with a dreamy smile, and turning thehandle of the mill as fast as it would go round, somebody sprang ather very unexpectedly. It was Ruth, the kitchen-girl. She seized Katieby the shoulders, carried her through the air, and set her on her feetin the sink. 

"There, little Mischief, " said she, "you'll stay there one while!We'll see if we can't put a stop to this coffee-grinding! Why, you'reenough to wear out the patience of Job!"

Katie had often heard about Job; she supposed it was somethingdreadful, like a lion, or a whale. She looked up at Ruth, and saw herblack eyes flashing and the rosy color trembling in her cheeks. CruelRuth! She did not know Katie was her best friend, working and helpingget dinner as fast as she could. "Ruthie, " sobbed she, "you didn't askplease. "

"Well, well, child, I'm in a hurry; and when you set things to flying, you're enough to wear out the patience of Job. "

Job again. 

"You've said so two times, Ruthie! Now I don't like you tall, tennyrate. "

This was as harsh language as Katie dared use; but she frownedfearfully, and a tuft of hair, rising from her head like a waterspout, made her look so fierce that Ruth seemed to be frightened, and ranaway with her apron up to her face. 

The sink was so high that Katie could not get out of italone, --"course _indeed_ she couldn't. "

"It most makes me 'fraid, " said she to herself: "Ruthie's a big woman, I's a little woman. When I's the biggest I'll put Ruthie in _my_sink. "

Very much comforted by this resolve, she dried her eyes and began tolook about her for more housework. "Let's me see; I'll pump a bushelo' water. "

There was a pail in the sink; so, what should she do but jump intothat, and then jerk the pump-handle up and down, till a fine streampoured out and sprinkled her all over!

"Sing a song, O sink-spout, " sang she, catching her breath: butpresently she began to feel cold. 

"O, how it makes me _shivvle_!" said she. 

"Katie!" called out a voice. 

"Here me are!" gurgled the little one, her mouth under the pump-nose. 

When Horace came in she was standing in water up to the tops of herlong white stockings. He took her out, wrung her a little, and set heron a shelf in the pantry to dry. 

"Oho!" said she, shaking her wet plumage, like a duckling; "what foryou look that way to me? I didn't do nuffin, --not the leastest nuffin!The water kep' a comin' and a comin'. "

"Yes, you little naughty girl, and you kept pumping and pumping. "

"I'm isn't little naughty goorl, " thought Katie, indignantly; "butRuthie's naughty goorl, and Hollis _velly_ naughty goorl. "

"O, here you are, you little Hop-o'-my-thumb, " said Mrs. Clifford, coming into the pantry; "a baby with a cough in her throat and pillsin her pocket musn't get wet. "

Flyaway thrust her hand into her wet pocket to make sure the wee vialof white dots was still there. 

"I fished her out of a pail of water, " said Horace; "to-morrow I shallfind her in a bird's nest. "

Mrs. Clifford sent for some fresh stockings and shoes. Herbaby-daughter was so often falling into mischief that she thought verylittle about it. She did not know this was a remarkable occasion, andthe baby had to-day begun to remember. She did not know that ifFlyaway should live to be an old lady, she would sometimes say to hergrandchildren, --

"The very first thing I have any recollection of, dears, is grindingcoffee in your great-grandmamma's kitchen at Willowbrook. The girl, Ruth Dillon, took me up by the shoulders, carried me through the air, and set me in the sink, and then I pumped water over myself. "

This is about the way little Flyaway would be likely to talk, sixtyyears from now, adding, as she polished her spectacles, --

"And after that, children, things went into a mist, and I don'tremember anything else that happened for some time. "

Why was it that things "went into a mist"? Why didn't she keep onremembering every day? I don't know. 

But the next thing that really did happen to Miss Thistleblow Flyaway, though she went right off and forgot it, was this: She persuaded hermother to write a letter for her to "Dotty Dimpwill. " As it was herfirst letter, I will copy it. 

 "MY DEAR DOTTY DIMPWILL first, then MY PRUDY:

 "I'm going to say that I dink milk, and that girl lost my pills. 

 "I see a hop-toad. He hopped. Jennie took _her_ up in _his_ dress. 

 "And 'bout we put hop-toad in wash-dish. He put his foots out, _stwetched_, honest! He was a slippy fellow. First thing we knowed it, he hopped on to her dress. Isn't that funny?

 "Now 'bout the chickens; they are trottin' round on the grass: they didn't be dead. _We_ haven't got any only but dead ones; but Mis' Gray has. 

 "I like Dr. Gray ever so much!

 "Mis' Gray gave me the kitty to play with. I bundled it all up in my dress, 'cause I didn't want the cat to get it. When I went home I gave it to the cat. [You got that _wroten_?]

 "There wasn't any _dead_ little kittens. She gave me a cookie, and I eated it, and I told her to give me another to bring home, 'cause I liked her cookies; they was curly cookies. [Got it wroted, mamma?]

 "Now 'bout I pumped full a pail full o' water. 

 "[She _knows_ we've got a house?]

 "Now say good by, and I kiss her a pretty little kiss. O, no; I want her to come and see me, --her and Prudy, --_two_ of 'em! I's here yet. ['Haps she knows it!]

 "That's all--I feel sleepy. 

 (Signed) "From

 "DOTTY DIMPWILL TO FLYWER. "

This letter "went into a mist, " and so did the next performance, whichyou will read in the following chapter. 

CHAPTER II. 

RUNNING AWAY TO CHURCH. 

The little Parlins came the next week. One Sunday morning Dotty Dimplestood before the glass, putting on her hat for church. Katie came andpeeped in with her, opening her small mouth and drawing her lips overher teeth, as her grandfather did when he shaved. 

"See, Flyaway, you haven't any dimples at all!" said Dotty, primping alittle. "Your hair isn't smooth and curly like mine; it sticks up allover your head, like a little fan. "

"O, my shole!" sighed Flyaway, scowling at herself. She did not knowhow lovely she was, nor how

 "The light of the heaven she came from Still lingered and gleamed in her hair. "

"I wisht 'twouldn't get out, " said she. 

"What do you mean by _out_?"

"O, unwetted, and un-comb-bid, and un-parted. "

"That's because you fly about like such a little witch. "

"I doesn't do the leastest nuffin, Dotty Dimpwill! Folks ought to letme to go to churches. "

"I _should_ laugh, Fly Clifford, to see _you_ going to churches! Allthe ministers would come down out of the pulpits and ask what littlemischief that was, and make aunt 'Ria carry you home!"

"No, he wouldn't, too! I'd sit stiller'n two, free, five hundredmouses, " pleaded Flyaway, climbing up the back of a chair to show howquiet she could be. 

"O, it's no use to talk about it, darling. Give me one kiss, and I'llgo get my sun-shade. "

"Can't, Dotty Dimpwill! My mamma's kiss I'll keep; it's ahind my mouf;she's gone to 'Dusty. 

"Well, 'keep it ahind your mouf, ' then; and here's another to put withit. What _do_ you s'pose makes me love to kiss you so?"

"O, 'cause I so sweet, " replied Flyaway, promptly; but she was notthinking of her own sweetness, just then; she was wondering if shecould manage to run away to church. 

"I'se a-goin' there myse'f! Sit still's a--a--" She looked around fora comparison, and saw a grasshopper on the window-sill: "still's a_gas-papa_. Man won't say nuffin' to me, see 'f he does!"

Strange such an innocent-looking child could be so sly! She ran downthe path with Horace, kissing her little hand to everybody for goodby, all the while thinking how she could steal off to church withoutbeing seen. 

"You may go up stairs and lie down with me on my bed, " said grandma, who was not very well. So Katie climbed upon the bed. 

"My dee gamma, I so solly you's sick!" said she, stroking Mrs. Parlin's face, and picking open her eyelids. But after patting and"pooring" the dear lady for some time, she thought she had made her"all well, " and then was anxious to get away. Mrs. Parlin wished tokeep her up stairs as long as possible, because Ruth had a toothache. 

"Shan't I tell you a story, dear?" said she. 

"Yes, um; tell 'bout a long baby--no, a long story 'bout a shortbaby. "

"Well, once there was a king, and he had a daughter--"

"O, no, gamma, not that! Tell me 'bout baby that _didn't_ be on thebul-yushes; I don't want to hear 'bout _Mosey_!"

Grandma smiled, and wondered if people, in the good old Bible days, were in the habit of using pet names, and if Pharaoh's daughter evercalled the Hebrew boy "Mosey. " She was about to begin another story, when Flyaway said, "Guess I'll go out, now, " and slid off the bed. There was an orange on the table. She took it, held it behind her, andwalked quickly to the door. Looking back, she saw that hergrandmother was watching her. 

"What you looking at, gamma? 'Cause I'm are goin' to bring the ollingeright back. "

And so she did, but not because it was wrong to keep it. Flyaway hadno conscience, or, if she had any, it was very small, folded up out ofsight, like a leaf-bud on a tree in the spring. 

"Ask Ruthie to wash your face and hands, and then come right back tograndma and hear the story. "

"Yes um. "

Down stairs she pattered. The moment Ruth had kissed her, and turnedaway to make a poultice, she crept into the nursery, and put onHorace's straw hat. Then she took from a corner an old cane of hergrandfather's, and from the paper-rack a daily newspaper, and startedout in great glee. The "Journal" she hugged to her heart, and hershort dress she held up to her waist, "'Cause I s'pect I mus' keep itout o' the mud, " said she, as anxiously as any lady with a train. 

She had no trouble in finding the church, for the road was straight, but the cane kept tripping her up. 

"Naughty fing! Wisht I hadn't took you, to-day, you act so bad!" saidshe, picking herself up for the fifth time, and slinging the "naughtyfing" across her shoulder like a gun. When she came to themeeting-house there was not a soul to be seen. "Guess they's eatin'dinner in here, " decided Flyaway, after looking about for a fewseconds. "Guess I'll go up chamer, see where the folks is. "

[Illustration: RUNNING AWAY TO CHURCH. ]

Up stairs she clattered, hitting the balusters with her cane. Good Mr. Lee was preaching from the text, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep itholy, " and people could not imagine who was naughty enough to makesuch a noise outside--thump, thump, thump. 

"Who's that a-talkin'?" thought Flyaway, startled by Mr. Lee's voice. "O, ho! that's the _prayer-man_ a-talkin'. He makes me kind o''fraid!"

But just at that minute she had reached the top of the stairs, and wasstanding in the doorway. 

"O, my shole! so _many_ folks!"

She trembled, and was about to run away with her newspaper and cane;but her eyes, in roving wildly about, fell upon grandpa Parlin and allthe rest of them, in a pew very near the pulpit. Then she thought itmust be all right, and, taking courage, she marched slowly up theaisle, swinging the cane right and left. 

Everybody looked up in surprise as the droll little figure crept by. Grandpa frowned through his spectacles, and aunt Louise shook herhead; but Horace hid his face in a hymn-book and Dotty Dimple actuallysmiled. 

"They didn't know _I_ was a-comin', " thought Flyaway, "but I camed!"

And with that she fluttered into the pew. 

"Naughty, naughty girl, " said aunt Louise, in an awful whisper. 

She longed to take up the morsel of naughtiness, called Katie, in herthumb and finger, shake it, and carry it out. But there was a twinklein the little one's eye that might mean mischief; she did not daretouch her. 

"O, what a child!" said aunt Louise, taking off the big hat andsetting Flyaway down on the seat as hard as she could. 

Flyaway looked up, through her veil of flossy hair, at her prettyauntie with the roses round her face. 

"Nobody didn't take 'are o' me to my house, " said she, in a loudwhisper, "and _that's_ what is it!"

"Hush!" said aunt Louise, giving Flyaway another shake, whichfrightened her so that she dropped her head on her brother's shoulder, and sat perfectly still for half a minute. 

Aunt Louise was sadly mortified, and so were Susy and Prudy. Theydared not look up, for they thought everybody was gazing straight atthe Parlin pew, and laughing at their crazy little relative. Horaceand Dotty Dimple did not care in the least; they thought it veryfunny. 

"They shan't scold at my cunning little Topknot, " whispered Horace, consolingly. "Sit still, darling, and when we get home I'll give you acent. "

"Yes um, I will, " replied poor brow-beaten Flyaway, and held up herhead again with the best of them. Perhaps she had been naughty;perhaps folks were going to snip her fingers; but "Hollis" was on herside now and forever. She began to feel quite contented. She had gotinside the church at last, and was very well pleased with it. It waseven queerer than she had expected. 

"What was that high-up thing the prayer-man was a-standin' on?"

Flyaway merely asked this of her own wise little brain. She concludedit must be "a chimley. "

"Great red curtains ahind him, " added she, still conversing with herown little brain. "Lots o' great big bubbles on the walls all round. Big's a tea-kiddle! Lamps, I s'pose. There's that table. Where's thecups and saucers for the supper? And the tea-pot?

"All the bodies everywhere had their bonnets on; why for? Didn't say aword, and the prayer-man kep' a-talkin' all the time; why for? Flywerdidn't talk; no indeed. Folks mus'n't. If folks did, then the manwould come down out the chimley and tell the other bodies to carry 'emhome. 'Cause it's the holy Sabber-day, --and _that's_ what is it. "

Flyaway's airy brain went dancing round and round. She slid away fromHorace's shoulder, spread her little length upon the seat, closed herwondering, tired eyes, and sailed off to Noddle's Island. A fly, buzzing in from out doors, had long been trying to settle on Flyaway'srestless nose. He never did settle: Horace kept guard with a palm-leaffan, and "all the other bodies" in the pew sat as still as if they hadbeen nailed down; so anxious were they to keep the little sleepersafely harbored at Noddle's Island. 

"Such a relief!" thought aunt Louise, venturing to look up once more. 

Flyaway did not waken till the last prayer, when Horace held her fast, lest she should make a sudden rush upon a speckled dog, which cametrotting up the aisle. 

On the steps they met Ruth, with wild eyes and face tied up in ascarf, hunting for Flyaway. Mrs. Parlin, she said, was going up thehill, so frightened that it would make her "down sick. "

When grandma got home, all out of breath, she found Flyaway lookingvery downcast. Her heart was heavy under so many scoldings. "O, Katie, " said grandma, "how could you run away?"

"I didn't yun away, " replied Flyaway, thrusting her finger into hermouth; "I _walked_ away!"

"There, if that isn't a cunning baby, where'll you find one?"whispered brother Horace to Prudy. "Grandmother can't punish her aftersuch a 'cute speech. "

But grandmother could, and did. She took her by the little soft hand, led her to the china closet, and locked her in. 

"Half an hour you must stay there, " said she, "and think what anaughty girl you've been!"

"Yes um, " said Flyaway, meekly, and wiped off a tear with the hem ofher frock. 

But the moment she was left alone, her quick, observing eyes sawsomething which gave her a thrill of delight. It was a jar of quincejelly, which had been left by accident on the lower shelf. 

"'Cause I spect I likes um, " said she, serenely, after eating all shepossibly could. 

At the end of half an hour grandma came and turned the key. 

"Have you been thinking, dear, and are you sorry and ready to comeout?"

"Yes, um, " replied the little culprit, with her mouth full, andfeeling very brave as long as the door was shut between her and herjailer. "Yes, um, I've thought it all up, --defful solly. _But_ youwon't never shut me up no more, gamma Parlin!"

"Katie Clifford!" said grandma, sternly; and then she opened the door, and faced Flyaway. 

"'Cause--'cause--_'cause_, " cried the little one, in great alarm; "youwon't shut me up, 'cause I won't never walk away no more, gammaParlin!"

Mrs. Parlin tried hard not to smile; but the mixture on Flyaway'slittle face of naughtiness, jelly, and fright, was very funny to see. 

The child noticed that her grandmother's brows knit as if indispleasure, and then she remembered the jelly. 

"I hasn't been a-touchin' your 'serves, gamma, " said she. 

Mrs. Parlin really did not know what to do, --Flyaway's conscience was_so_ little and folded away in so many thicknesses, like a tiny pearlin a whole box of cotton wool. How could anybody get at it?

"Gamma, I hasn't been a-touchin' your 'serves, " repeated the littlethief. 

"Ah, don't tell me that, " said grandma, sadly; "I see it in your eye!"

"What, gamma, the _'serves_ in my eye?" said Flyaway, putting up herfinger to find out for herself. "'Cause I put 'em in my _mouf_, Idid. "

Mrs. Parlin washed the little pilferer's face and hands, took her inher lap, and tried to feel her way through the cotton wool to the tinyconscience. 

The child looked up and listened to all the good words, and when theyhad been spoken over and over, this was what she said:--

"O, gamma, you's got such pitty little wrinkles!"

CHAPTER III. 

RUNNING AWAY TO HEAVEN. 

About ten o'clock one morning, Flyaway was sitting in the little greenchamber with Dotty Dimple and Jennie Vance, bathing her doll's feet ina glass of water. Dinah had a dreadful headache, and her forehead wasbandaged with a red ribbon. 

"_Does_ you feel any better?" asked Flyaway, tenderly, from time totime; but Dinah had such a habit of never answering, that it was of nouse to ask her any questions. 

Dotty Dimple and Jennie were talking very earnestly. 

"I do wish I did know where Charlie Gray is!" said Dotty, lookingthrough the open window at a bird flying far aloft into the blue sky. 

"You do know, " answered Jennie, quickly; "he's in heaven. "

"Yes, of course; but so high up--O, so high up, " sighed Dotty, "itmakes you dizzy to think. "

"Can um see we?" struck in little Flyaway, holding to Dinah's flatnose a bottle of reviving soap suds. 

"Prudy says it's beautiful to be dead, " added Dotty, without heedingthe question; "beautiful to be dead. "

"Shtop!" cried Flyaway; "I's a-talkin'. Does um see _we_?"

"O, I don' know, Fly Clifford; you'll have to ask the minister. "

Flyaway squeezed the water from Dinah's ragged feet, and dropped herunder the table, headache and all. Then she tipped over the goblet, and flew to the window. 

"The Charlie boy likes canny seeds; I'll send him some, " said she, pinning a paper of sugared spices to the window curtain, and drawingit up by means of the tassel. "O, dear, um don't go high enough. Charlie won't get 'em. "

"Why, what is that baby trying to do?" said Dotty Dimple. 

"Charlie's defful high up, " murmured Flyaway, heaving a little sigh;"can't get the canny seeds. "

"O, what a Fly! How big do you s'pose her mind is, Jennie Vance?"

"Big as a thimble, perhaps, " replied Jennie, doubtfully. 

"Why, I shouldn't think, now, 'twas any larger than the head of apin, " said Dotty, with decision; "s'poses heaven is top o' this room!Why, Jennie Vance, I _persume_ it's ever so much further off 'n MountBlue--don't you?"

"O, yes, indeed! What queer ideas such children do have! Flyawaydoesn't understand but very little we say, Dotty Dimple; not but verylittle. "

Flyaway turned round with one of her wise looks. She thought she didunderstand; at any rate she was catching every word, and stowing itaway in her little bit of a brain for safe keeping. Heaven was onMount Blue. She had learned so much. 

"But I knowed it by-fore, " said she to herself, with a proud toss ofthe silky plume on the crown of her head. 

"Shall we take her with us?" asked Jennie Vance. 

Flyaway listened eagerly; she thought they were still talking ofheaven, when in truth Jennie only meant a concert which was to begiven that afternoon at the vestry. 

"Take _that_ little snip of a child!" replied Dotty; "O, no; she isn'tbig enough; 'twouldn't be any use to pay money for _her!_"

With which very cutting remark Dotty swept out of the room, in herqueenly way, followed by Jennie. Flyaway threw herself across apillow, and moaned, --

"O, dee, dee!"

Her little heart was ready to bleed; and this wasn't the first time, either. Those great big girls were always running away from her, andcalling her "goosies" and "snips;" and now they meant to climb toheaven, where Charlie was, and leave her behind. 

"But I won't stay down here in this place; I'll go to heaven too, now, _cerdily_!" She sprang from the pillow and stood on one foot, like astrong-minded little robin that will not be trifled with by a worm. "I'll go too, now, cerdily. "

Having made up her mind, she hurried as fast as she could, and tuckeda stick of candy in her pocket, also the bottle of soap suds, and twothirds of a "curly cookie" shaped like a leaf. "Charlie would be soglad to see Fly-wer!" She purred like a contented kitten as shethought about it. "'Haps they've got a _bossy-cat_ up there, and apiggy, and a swing. O, my shole!"

There was no time to be lost. Flyaway must overtake the girls, and, ifpossible, get to heaven before they did. She flew about like adistracted butterfly. 

"I must have some skipt; her said me's too little to pay for money;"and she curled her pretty red lip; "but I'm isn't much little; man'll_want_ some skipt. "

For she fancied somebody standing at the door of heaven holding outhis hand like the ticket-man at the depot. She found her mother'spurse in the writing-desk, and scattered its contents into thewash-bowl, then picked out the wettest "skipt, " a five-dollar bill, and tucked it into her bosom. This would make it all right at the doorof heaven. 

"Now my spetty-curls, " she added, hunting in the "uppest drawer" tillshe found the eyeless spectacles used for playing "old lady. " Withthese on, Flyaway thought she could see the way a great deal better. Horace's boots would help her up hill; so she jumped into those, andclattered down the back stairs with Dinah under her arm. 

There was nobody in the kitchen, for Ruthie was down cellar sweeping. Flyaway caught her shaker off the "short nail, " and stole out withoutbeing seen. Sitting in the sun on the piazza was the "blue" kittie. "Finkin' 'bout a mouse, I spect, " said little Flyaway, seizing her andblowing open her eyes like a couple of rosebuds. 

"Does you know where I's a-goin'? Up to heaven. We don't let tintyfolks, like cats, go to heaven. "

Pussy winked sorrowfully at this, and baby's tender heart was touched. 

"Yes, we does, " said she; "but you musn't scwatch the Charlie boy;"and she tucked the "tinty folks" under her left arm. Then all wasready, and the little pilgrim started for heaven. 

"Um's on the toppest hill, " said she, looking at the far-offmountains, reaching up against the blue sky. One mountain was muchhigher than the others, and on that she fixed her eye. It was MountBlue, and was really twenty miles away. If Flyaway should ever reachthat cloud-capped peak, it was not her wee, wee feet which would carryher there. But the baby had no idea of distances. She went out of theyard as fast as the big boots would allow. She felt as brave as alittle fly trying to walk the whole length of the Chinese Wall. 

Where were Dotty Dimple and Jennie Vance? O, they were half way toheaven by this time; she must "hurry quick. "

The fact was, they were "up in the Pines, " picking strawberries. Nobody saw Flyaway but a caterpillar. 

"O, my shole! there's a _catty-pillow_--what he want, you fink?"

Kitty winked and Dinah sulked, but there was no reply. 

The next thing they met was a grasshopper. "O, dee, a _gas-papa_!Where you s'pose um goin'?"

Kitty winked again and Dinah sulked. 

Flyaway answered her own question. "Diny, dat worm gone see hismamma. "

Dinah did not care anything about the family feelings of the "worms;"so she kept her red silk mouth shut; but she grew very heavy--soheavy, indeed, that once her little mother dropped her in the sand, but picking her up, shook her and trudged on. Presently she droppedsomething else, and this time it was the kitty. Flyaway turned aboutin dismay. 

"Shtop, " cried she, scowling through her "spetty-curls, " as she sawthree white paws and one blue one go tripping over the road. "Shtop!"But the paws kept on. 

"O, Diny, " said Flyaway, as pussy's tail disappeared round acorner, --"O, Diny, her don't want to go to heaven!"

Then Flyaway sat down in the sand, and pulled off one of the bigboots. 

"Um won't walk, " said she; but, before she had time to pull off thesecond one, a dog came along and frightened her so she tried to run, though she only hopped on one foot, and dragged the other. She did notknow what the matter was till she fell down and the boot came off ofitself, after which she could walk very well. What cared she that both"Hollis's" new boots were left in the road, ready to be crushed bywagon wheels?

She kept on and kept on; but where was that blue hill going to? Itmoved faster than she did. 

"Makes me povokin', " said she, giving Dinah a shake. "Um runs away andaway, and all off!"

Sometimes she remembered she was going to heaven, and sometimes sheforgot it. She was on the way to the "Pines, " and many little flowersgrew by the road-side. She began to pick a few, but the thorns on theraspberry bushes tore her tender hands, and one of the naughtybranches caught Dinah by the frizzly hair, and carried her under. Whatdid Flyaway spy behind the bushes? Dotty Dimple and Jennie Vance. Theywere eating wintergreen leaves; they did not see her. Flyaway kept asstill as if she were sitting for a photograph, picked up Dinah, gaveher a hug, and crept on. 

She went so quietly that nobody heard her. When she was out of sightshe purred for joy. She had got ahead of the girls on the way toheaven! She took the stick of candy out of her pocket and nibbled itto celebrate the occasion. "A little hump-backed bumblebee" saw her doit. He wanted some too, and followed Flyaway as if she had been amoving honeysuckle. For half a mile or more she "gaed" and she "gaed, "all the while nibbling the candy; but now she was growing very tired, and did it to comfort herself. Suddenly she remembered it wasCharlie's candy. She held it up to her tearful eyes. 

"O dee, " said she, "it was big, but it keeps a-gettin' little!"

The hungry bumblebee, who was just behind her, thought this was hislast chance: so he pounced down upon Charlie's candy; and beingcross, and not knowing Flyaway from any other little girl, he stungher on the thumb. Then how she cried, "'Orny 'ting me! 'Orny 'tingme!" for she had been treated just so before by a hornet. "O my deemamma! My dee mamma!"

But her "dee" mamma could not hear her; she was in the city ofAugusta; and as for the rest of the family, they supposed Flyaway wasplaying "catch" with Dotty Dimple in the barn. 

CHAPTER IV. 

"A RAILROAD SAVAGE. "

It now occurred to little Flyaway, with a sudden pang, that she musthave come to the end of the world. "Yes, cerdily!" The world was fullof folks and houses, --this place was nothing but trees. The world hadhorses and wagons in it, --this place hadn't. "O dee!"

Where was the hill gone, on the top of which stood that big house theycalled heaven, --the house where Charlie lived and played in thegarden? Why, that hill had just walked off, and the house too! Sheparted the bushes and peeped through. Nothing to be seen but trees. Flyaway began to cry from sheer fright, as well as pain. "'Tis adefful day! I can't _stay_ in this day!"

More trouble had come to her than she knew how to bear; but worst ofall was the cruel stab of the bumblebee. She pitied her aching "fum, "and kissed it herself to make it feel better; but all in vain; "thepain kept on and on;" the "fum" grew big as fast as the candy hadgrown little. 

"Somebody don't take 'are o' me, " wailed she; "somebody gone off, lef'me alone!"

She was dreadfully hungry. "When _was_ it be dinner time?" She wouldnot have been in the least surprised, but very much pleased, if a birdhad flown down with a plate of roast lamb in his bill, and set it onthe ground before her. Simple little Flyaway! Or if her far-awaymother had sprung out from behind a tree with a bed in her arms, thetired baby would have jumped into the bed and asked no questions. 

But nothing of the sort came to pass. Here she was, without any heavenor any mother; and the great yellow sun was creeping fast down thesky. 

"I'm tired out and sleepy out, " wailed the young traveller, the tearsrolling over the rims of her "spetty-curls, "--"all sleepy out; and Ican't get rested 'thout--my--muvver!"

She sat down and hid her head in her black dolly's bosom. 

"Diny, you got some ears? We wasn't here by-fore!"

This was all the way she had of saying she was lost. 

The sky suddenly grew dark; a shower was coming up. 

"Where has the bwight sun gone?" said Flyaway, with a shudder. 

She was answered by a peal of thunder, --wagon-wheels, she supposed. 

"Here I is!" shouted she. 

Some one had come for her. Perhaps it was Charlie, and they meant togive her a ride up to heaven. A flash of light, and then anothercrash. Flyaway understood it then. It was logs. People were rollinglogs up in the sky, on the blue floor. She had seen logs in a mill. Such a noise!

Then she dropped fast asleep, and somebody came right down out of theclouds and gave her a peach turnover as big as a dinner basket, or soshe thought. Just as she was about to cut it, she was awakened by therain dripping into her eyes. She started up, exclaiming, "If you peesum, I want some cheese um. "

But the turnover had gone! Then the feeling of desolation swept overher again. She had come to the end of the world, and dinner, andmother, and heaven had all gone off and left her. 

"O, Diny, " sobbed she, turning to her unfeeling dolly for sympathy. "I's free years old, and you's one years old. Don't you want to go toheaven, Diny, and sit in God's lap? What a great big lap he musthave!"

A gust of wind lifted the frizzles on Dinah's forehead, but that wasall. 

"O dee, dee, dee! you don't hear nuffin 't all, Diny, " saidFlyaway--the only sensible remark she had made that day. It was of nouse talking to Dinah; so she began to talk to herself. 

"What you matter, Flywer Clifford?" said she, scowling to keep hercourage up. "What you matter?"

And after she had said that, she cried harder than ever, and creptunder the bushes, moaning like a wounded lamb. 

"I'm defful wetter, but I'm colder'n I's wetter; makes me shivvle!"

After a while the clouds had poured out all the rain there was inthem, and left the sky as clear as it was before; but by that time thesun had gone to bed, and the little birds too, sending out their goodnights from tree to tree. Then the new moon came, and peeped over theshoulder of a hill at Flyaway. She sprang out from the bushes like arabbit. 

"O, my shole!" cried she, clapping her hands, "the sun's camed again!A little bit o' sun. I sawed it!"

[Illustration: LOST IN THE WOODS. ]

Inspired with new courage, she and Dinah concluded to start forhome; that is to say, they turned round three or four times, and thenstruck off into the woods. 

 * * * * *

Now you may be sure all this could not happen without causing greatalarm at grandpa Parlin's. When the dinner bell rang, everybody asked, twice over, "Why, where is little Fly?" and Dotty Dimple answered, asinnocently as if it were none of her affairs, --

"Why, isn't she in the house? We s'posed she was. Jennie Vance and Ihave just been out in the garden, under your little _crying willow_, making a wreath. Thought she was in the barn, or somewhere. "

"But you haven't been in the garden all the while?"

"No'm; once we went up in the Pines, --grandma, you said we might, --butwe haven't seen Fly, --why, we haven't seen her for the longest while!"

Grace had dropped her knife and fork and was looking pale. 

"It was Susy and I that had the care of her, grandma; when you wentout to see the sick lady, you charged us, and we forgot all about it. "

"Pretty works, I should think!" cried Horace, springing out of hischair; "I wouldn't sell that baby for her weight in gold; but I reckon_you_ would, Grace Clifford, and be glad of it, too. "

Grandma held up a warning finger. "I declare, " said aunt Louise, verymuch agitated, "I never shall consent to have Maria go out of townagain, and leave Katie with us. If she will try to swim in thewatering-trough, she is just as likely to take a walk on theridgepole of the house. "

Horace darted out of the room with a ghastly face, but came backlooking relieved. He had been up in the attic, and climbed through thescuttle, without finding any human Fly on the roof, or on the dizzytops of the chimneys, either. 

But where was the child? Had Ruth seen her? Had Abner?

No; the last that could be remembered, she had been playing by herselfin the green chamber, soaking Dinah's feet in a glass of water. The"blue kitty, " the only creature who had anything to tell, sat washingher face on the kitchen hearth, and yawning sleepily. Fly's shaker wasgone from the "short nail, " and aunt Louise discovered some bank-billsin a wash-bowl, --"Fly's work, of course. " But this was all they knew. 

Grandpa searched the barn, Abner the fields, Ruth the cellar; auntLouise and Horace ran down to the river. In half an hour several ofthe neighbors had joined in the search. 

"I always thought there would be a last time, " said poor Mrs. Dr. Gray, putting on her black bonnet, and joining Grace and Susy. "Thatchild seems to me like a little spirit, or a fairy, and I neverthought she would live long. She and Charlie were too lovely for thisworld. "

"O, _don't_, Mrs. Gray, " said Grace. "If you knew how often she'd beenlost, you would not say so! We always find her, after a while, somewhere. "

Horace, who had gone on in advance, now came running back, swinginghis boots in the air. 

"A trail!" cried he. "I've found a trail! Who planted these boots inthe road, if it wasn't Fly Clifford?"

"Perhaps she has gone to aunt Martha's, " said Mrs. Parlin, "or triedto. Strange we did not think of that!"

But aunt Martha had not seen her, nor had any one else. Horace andAbner went up to the Pines, but the forest beyond they never thoughtof exploring; it did not seem probable that such a small child couldhave strolled to such a distance as that. 

Supper time came and went. There was a short thunder-shower. TheParlins shuddered at every flash of lightning, and shivered at everydrop of rain; for where was delicate, lost little Fly?

Abner and Horace were out during the shower. Horace would have bravedhurricanes and avalanches in the cause of his dear little Topknot. 

"There's one thing we haven't thought of, " said Abner, shaking thedrops from his hat and looking up at the sky, which had cleared again;"we haven't thought of the railroad surveyors! They are round the towneverywhere with their compasses and spy-glasses. "

It was not a bad idea of Abner's. He and Horace went to the hotelwhere the railroad men boarded. The engineer's face lighted at once. 

"I wish I had known before there was a child missing, " he said. "I sawthe figure of a little girl, through my glass, not an hour ago. It wasa long way beyond the Pines, and I wondered how such a baby happenedup there; but I had so much else to think of that it passed out of mymind. "

About eight o'clock, Flyaway was found in the woods, sound asleep, under a hemlock tree, her faithful Dinah hugged close to her heart. 

There was a shout from a dozen mouths. Horace's eyes overflowed. Hecaught his beloved pet in his arms. 

"O, little Topknot!" he cried. "Who's got you? Look up, look up, little Brown-brimmer. "

All Flyaway could do was to sob gently, and then curl her head down onher brother's shoulder, saying, sleepily, "Cold, ou' doors stayin'. "

"Why did our darling run away?"

"Didn't yun away; I's goin' up to heaven see Charlie, " repliedFlyaway, suddenly remembering the object of her journey, and gazingaround at Abner, Dr. Gray, and the other people, with eyes full ofwonder. "Where's the toppest hill? I's goin' up, carry Charlie somecanny. "

The people formed a line, and, as Prudy said, "processed" behind Katieall the way to the village. 

"Is we goin' to heaven?" said the child, still bewildered. "It yunnedaway and away, and all off!"

"No, you blessed baby, you are not going to heaven just yet, if we canhelp it, " answered Dr. Gray, leaning over Horace's shoulder to kissthe child. 

Flyaway was too tired to ask any more questions. She let first oneperson carry her, and then another, sometimes holding up her swollenthumb, and murmuring, "'Orny 'ting me--tell my mamma. " And after thatshe was asleep again. 

Dotty Dimple, Susy, and Prudy were pacing the piazza when the partyarrived, but poor grandma was on the sofa in the parlor, quiteovercome with anxiety and fatigue, and Miss Polly Whiting wasmournfully fanning her with a black feather fan. The sound of voicesroused Mrs. Parlin. "Safe! safe!" was the cry. Dotty Dimple rushed in, shouting, "A railroad savage found her! a railroad savage found her!"

In another moment the runaway was in her grandmother's lap. All shecould say was, "'Orny 'ting me on my fum! 'Orny 'ting me on my fum!"For this one little bite of a bee seemed greater to Flyaway Cliffordthan all the dangers she had passed. If grandma would only kiss her"fum, " it was no matter about going to heaven, or even beingundressed. 

But after she had had a bowl of bread and milk, and been nicelybathed, she forgot her sufferings, and laughed in her sleep. She wasdreaming how Charlie came to the door of heaven and helped her up thesteps. 

CHAPTER V. 

EAST AGAIN. 

A whole year passed. Dotty Dimple became a school-girl, with a "bosomfriend" and a pearl ring. Prudy, who called herself "the middle-agedsister, " grew tall and slender. Katie was four years old, and just alittle heavier, so she no longer needed a cent in her pocket to keepher from blowing away. 

The Parlins had been at Willowbrook a week before the Cliffordsarrived. There was a great sensation over Katie. She was delighted tohear that she had grown more than any of the others. 

"I'm gettin' old all over!" said she, gayly. "Four--goin' to be five!Wish I was most six. Dotty Dimpul, don't you wish _you's_ most a_hunderd_?"

"O, you cunning little cousin!" said Dotty, embracing her rapturously;"I wish you loved me half as well as I love you; that's what I wish. Itold Tate Penny you were prettier than Tid; and so you are. Such redcheeks! But what makes one cheek redder than the other?"

"O, I eat my bread 'n' milk that side o' my mouf, " replied Flyaway;"and that's why. "

"What an idea! And your hair is just as fine as ever it was; the colorof my ring--isn't it, Prudy?"

Flyaway put her little hand to her head, and felt the floss flyingabout as usual. 

"My hair comes all to pieces, " explained she; "_or nelse_ I have aribbon to tie it up with. "

"Are you glad to come back to Willowbrook, you precious little dear?"asked two or three voices. 

"Yes 'm, " said Flyaway, doubtfully; "Y--es--um. "

"She doesn't remember anything about it, I guess, " said Prudy, kneeling before the little one, and kissing the sweet place in herneck. 

"Yes, I do, " said Flyaway, winking hard and breathing quick in theeffort to recall the very dim and very distant past; "yes, I 'member. "

"Well, what do you 'member?"

"O, once I was grindin' coffee out there in a yellow chair, andsomebody she came and put me in the sink. "

"She does know--doesn't she?" said Dotty. "That was Ruthie; come outin the kitchen and see her. "

But when Flyaway first looked into Ruth's smiling face, with its blackeyes and sharp nose, she could not remember that she had ever seen itbefore. Abner, too, was strange to her. 

"Come here, " said he, "and I can tell in a minute if you are a goodlittle girl. "

Flyaway cast down her soft eyes, and sidled along to Abner. 

"Here, touch this watch, " said he, "and if you are a good little girlit will fly open; if you are naughty it will stay shut. "

Flyaway looked askance at Abner, her finger in her mouth, but darednot touch the watch. 

"Who'd 'a thought it, now?" said Abner, pretending to be shocked. "Looks to be a nice child; but of course she isn't, or she'd comeright up and open the watch. "

Flyaway thrust another finger in her mouth, and pressed her eyelidsslowly together. Abner did not understand this, but it meant that hehad not treated her with proper respect. 

"Here, Ruth, " said he, in a low tone, "hand me one of your plum tarts;that'll fetch her. --Come here, my pretty one, and see what's inside ofthis little pie. "

Flyaway was very hungry. She took a step forward, and held her handout, though rather timidly. 

"But she mustn't eat it without asking her mamma, " said Ruth. 

"Yes; O, yes, " cried Miss Flyaway, opening her little mouth for thefirst time, and shutting it again over a big bite of tart; "I want toeat it and _s'prise_ my mamma. "

Abner laughed in his hearty fashion. "Some of the old mischief leftthere yet, " said he, catching Flyaway and tossing her to the ceiling. "Have you come here this summer to keep the whole house in commotion?Remember the Charlie boy--don't you--that had the meal-bags tied tohis feet?"

"Did he? What for?"

Flyaway had not the least recollection of Charlie; but Horace hadtalked to her about him, and she said, after a moment's thought, --

"Yes, he washed the pig. Me and Charlie, we played all everything whatwe thinked about. "

"So you did, surely, " said a woman who had just come in at the backdoor, and begun to drop kisses, as sad as tears, on Flyaway'sforehead. "Do you know who this is?" Flyaway looked up with a sweetsmile, but her mind had lost all impression of her melancholy friend, Miss Whiting. "Look again, " said the sad-eyed stranger, who did notlike to have even a little child forget her; "you used to call me the'Polly woman. '"

Katie looked again, and this time very closely. 

"There's a great deal o' yellowness in your face, " exclaimed she, after a careful survey; "but you was made so!"

Miss Polly laughed drearily. "So you don't remember how I took you outof the watering-trough, you sweet lamb! 'I's tryin' to swim, ' yousaid; 'and _that's_ what is it. ' Here's a summer-sweeting for you, dear; do you like them?"

"Yes'm, thank you, " said Flyaway, "but I like summer-_sourings_ thebest. "

At the same time she allowed herself to be taken in Miss Polly's lap, and won that tender-hearted woman's love by putting her arms round herneck, and saying, "Let me kiss you so you'll feel all better. Whatmakes you have tears in your eyes?--tell me. "

"We're good friends--I knew we should be, " said Miss Polly, quitecheerily. "Look out of the window, and see that swing. How many timesI've pushed you and Dotty in that swing when it seemed as if it wouldbreak my back!"

Flyaway looked out. There stood the two trees, and between them hungthe old swing; but the charm was forgotten. In the field beyond, hereye fell on an object more interesting to her. 

"O, O, " said she, "I don't see how God _could_ make a man so homeblyas that!"

"So homely as what?"

"Why, " laughed Dotty, "she means that scarecrow. "

The corn was up long ago, but one direful image had still been left toflaunt in the sunlight and soak in the rain. 

"That isn't a man, " said Prudy; "it's only a great monstrous rag baby, with a coat on. "

"Put there to frighten away the crows, " added Miss Polly. "When Abnerdropped corn in the ground, the great black crows wanted to come andpick it out, and eat it up. "

Flyaway frowned in token of strong dislike to the crows. "I wouldn'teat gampa's corn for anything in this world, " said she, --"'thout it'spopped! 'Cause I don't like it. "

Miss Polly laughed quite merrily. 

"There, " said she, "I've dropped a stitch in my side; it never agreeswith me to laugh. I must be going right home, too; but there is onething more I want to ask you, Katie; do you remember how you ran away, one day, and frightened the whole house, trying to climb up toheaven?"

Katie's face was blank; she had forgotten the journey. 

"You passed Jennie Vance and me in the Pines, " said Dotty, "and wentdeep into the woods, and a bee stung you. "

"O, now I 'member, " said Katie, suddenly. "I 'member the bee as plainas 'tever 'twas!" And she curled her lip with contempt for that smallFlyaway, of long ago--that silly baby who had thought heaven was on ahill. 

"_I_ went up on a ladder when I was three years old, " said Prudy. 

"Did you?" said Flyaway. This was a consolation. "Well, I was threeyears old, too; I didn't know 'bout angels--didn't know they had tohave wings on. "

Here Flyaway curled her lip again and smiled. 

"You are wiser now, " sighed Miss Polly. "You and I won't try to go toheaven till our time comes--will we, dear?"

Katie took Miss Polly's large, thin hand, and measured it beside herown tiny one. 

"Miss Polly, " said she, with one of her extremely wise looks, "whenyou go up to God you'll be a very little girl!"

"Ah, indeed!" said Miss Polly, weaving the third pin into her shawl;"how do you make that out?"

"Your body'll all be cut off, " replied Katie, making the motion of apair of scissors with her fingers; "all be cut right straight off;there won't be nuffin' left but just your little spirit!"

"Since you know so much, dear, how large is my spirit?"

Katie put her hand on the left side of the belt of her apron. 

"Don't you call that small, right under my hand a-beatin'?" said she. "'Bout's big as a bird, Miss Polly. Little round ball for a head, little mites o' eyes; but you won't care--you can see _just_ as well. "

"It does beat all where children get such queer ideas--doesn't it, Ruth?" said Miss Whiting. 

"Didn't you know it?" cried Katie, finding she had startled MissPolly. "Didn't you know you's goin' to be little, and fly in the airjust so?" throwing up her arms. "I want to go dreffully, for there's agold harp o' music up there, and I'll play on it: it'll be mine. "

"You don't feel in a hurry to die, I hope, " said Miss Polly, anxiously. 

Katie's eager face clouded. "No, " said she, sorrowfully; "I want to, but I hate to go up to God and leave my pink dress. I can't go into itthen, I'll be so little. "

"You'll be just big enough to go into the pocket, " laughed Dotty. 

"Hush!" said Miss Polly, gravely; "you shouldn't joke upon suchserious subjects. Good by, children. Your house is full of company, and I didn't come to stay. Here's a bag of thoroughwort I've beenpicking for your grandmother; you may give it to her with my love, andtell her my side is worse. I shall be in to-morrow. "

So saying, Miss Polly went away, seeming to be wafted out of the roomon a sigh. 

The high-chair was brought down from the attic for Flyaway, who satin it that evening at the tea-table, and smiled round upon her friendsin the most benevolent manner. 

"I's growing so big now, mamma, " said she, coaxingly, "don't you spectI must have some tea?"

Grandmother pleaded for the youngest, too. "Let me give her some justthis once, Maria. "

"Well, _white_ tea, then, " returned Mrs. Clifford, smiling; "and willFlyaway remember not to ask for it again? Mamma thinks little girlsshould drink milk. "

"Yes'm, I won't never. She gives it to me _this_ night, 'cause I's herlittle _grand-girl_. Mayn't Hollis have it too, 'cause he's her littlegrand-_boy_?"

"Cunning as ever, you see, " whispered the admiring Horace to cousinSusy, who replied, rather indifferently, --

"No cunninger than our Prudy used to be. "

Flyaway made quick work of drinking her white tea, and when she cameto the last few drops she swung her cup round and round, saying, --

"Didn't you know, Hollis, that's the way gampa does, when _he_ getsmost froo, to make it sweet?"

No, Horace had not noticed; it was "Fly, with her little eye, " who saweverything, and made remarks about it. 

"O, O, " cried Grace, dropping her knife and fork, and patting herhands softly under the table, "isn't it so nice to be at Willowbrookagain, taking supper together? Doesn't it remind you of pleasantthings, Susy, to eat grandma's cream toast?"

"Reminds me, " said Susy, after reflecting, "of jumping on the hay. "

"'Minds me of--of--" remarked Flyaway; and there she fell into a brownstudy, with her head swaying from side to side. 

"I don't know why it is, " said Prudy, "but since you spoke, this creamtoast makes me think of the rag-bag. Excuse me for being impolite, grandma, but where _is_ the rag-bag?"

"In the back room, dear, where it always is; and you may wheel it offto-morrow. "

It had been Mrs. Parlin's custom, once or twice every summer, to allowthe children to take the large, heavy rag-bag to the store, and sellits contents for little articles, which they divided among themselves. Sometimes the price of the rags amounted to half or three quarters ofa dollar, and there was a regular carnival of figs, candy, andfire-crackers. 

Horace was so much older now, that he did not fancy the idea of beingseen in the street, trundling a wheelbarrow; but he went on with hiscream toast and made no remark. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE RAG-BAG. 

Next morning there was a loud call from the three Parlins for therag-bag, in which Flyaway joined, though she hardly knew thedifference between a rag-bag and a paper of pins. 

"I wish you to understand, girls, " said Horace, flourishing his hat, "that I'm not going to cart round any such trash for you this summer. "

"Now, Horace!"

"You know, Gracie, you belong to a Girls' Rights' Society. Do yousuppose I want to interfere with your privileges?"

"Why, Horace Clifford, you wouldn't see your own sister trundling awheelbarrow?"

"O, no; I shan't be there, " said Horace, coolly; "I shan't see you. Ipromised to weed the verbena bed for your aunt Louise. Good by, girls. Success to the rag-bag!"

"Let's catch him!" cried Susy, darting after her ungallant cousin; buthe ran so fast, and flourished his garden hoe so recklessly, that shegave up the chase. 

"Let him go, " said Grace, with a fine-lady air: "who cares aboutrag-bags? We've outgrown that sort of thing, you and I, Susy; let thelittle girls have our share. "

"Yes, to be sure, " replied Susy, faintly, though not without a pang, for she still retained a childish fondness for jujube paste, and wasnot allowed a great abundance of pocket-money. "Yes, to be sure, letthe _little_ girls have our share. "

"Then may we three youngest have the whole rag-bag?" said Prudy, brightly. "Dotty, you and I will trundle the wheelbarrow, and Flyshall go behind. "

"What an idea!" exclaimed Grace. "I've seen little beggar childrendrawing a dog-cart. Grandma'll never allow such a thing. "

"Indeed I will, " said grandma, tying on her checked apron. "Dog-cartsor wheel-barrows, so they only take care not to be rude. In a city itis different. "

"Yes, grandma, " said Dotty, twisting her front hair joyfully; "buthere in the country they want little girls to have good times--don'tthey? Why don't everybody move into the country, do you s'pose? Lotsof bare spots round here, --nothing on 'em but cows. "

"Yes, nuffin' but gampa's cows, " chimed in Flyaway, twisting _her_front hair. 

"Louisa, " said Mrs. Parlin, "you may help me about this loaf of 'Maineplum cake, ' and while you are beating the butter and sugar I will lookover the rag-bag. Dotty, please run for my spectacles. "

When Dotty returned with the spectacles, Jennie Vance came with her, pouting a little at the cool reception she had met, and thinking MissDimple hardly polite because she was too much interested in an oldrag-bag to pay proper attention to visitors. 

"Grandma, what makes you pick over these rags? We can take them justas they are. "

"I always do so, my dear, and for several reasons. One is, thatwoollen pieces may have crept in by mistake. As we profess to sellcotton rags, it would be dishonest to mix them with woollen. "

"Yes'm, I understand, " said Jennie, who often spoke when it was quiteas well to keep silent; "it's always best to be honest--isn't it, Mrs. Parlin?"

The rags were spread out upon the table, giving Flyaway a fineopportunity to scatter them right and left. 

"O, here's a splendid piece of blue ribbon to make my doll a bonnet, "said Dotty. 

"That's another reason why she picks 'em over, " remarked Jennie; "soshe won't waste things. Only, Dotty, that has got an awfulgrease-spot. "

"There, children, " said Mrs. Parlin, presently, "I have taken out acard of hooks and eyes, a flannel bandage, and a shoe-string. You mayhave everything else. "

Dotty caught her grandmother's arm. "Please, grandma, don't sweep 'eminto the bag; let us look some more. I've just found a big Lisleglove; if I can find another, then Abner can go blackberrying; he sayshis hands are ever so tender. "

"And you thought he was in earnest, " said Prudy. "While you arelooking, I'll go into the nursery and finish that holder. "

Flyaway, having climbed upon the table, had rolled herself into somemosquito netting, like a caterpillar in a cocoon. They were all somuch interested, that grandma, in the kindness of her heart, did notlike to disturb them. 

"You are welcome to all the treasures you can find, but as soon as thecake is made I shall want the table; so be quick, " said she, lookingout from the pantry, where she was beating eggs. 

"Yes, indeed, grandma, we'll hurry; and may we have every single thingwe like the looks of? now, honest. "

"Yes, Dotty. "

Then Mrs. Parlin and Miss Louise talked about currants, and citron, and quite forgot such trifles as rag-bags. 

"Here's another big glove, " said Dotty, "not the same color, but nomatter; and here are some saddle-bags, Jennie. I'm going to be adoctor. "

"Saddle-bags, Dotty! those are pockets. " Jennie took them from MissDimple's hands. They were held together by a narrow strip of brownlinen, and had once belonged to a pair of pantaloons. 

"I'm going to see if there isn't something inside, " said Jennie. "Why, yes, here's a raisin, true's you live. And here, in the other one, --O, Dotty!"

But Dotty had run into the nursery to show Prudy a muslin cap. 

"A wad of--"

Jennie was determined to see what; so she unrolled it. 

"Scrip, " cried she, holding up some greenbacks. 

"Skipt, " echoed Flyaway, who had come out of the cocoon and gone intothe form of a mop, her head adorned with cotton fringe. 

Yes; a two dollar bill and a one dollar bill, as green as lettuceleaves. This was a great marvel. Columbus was not half so muchsurprised when he discovered America. 

"Mrs. Parlin, do you hear?"

But Mrs. Parlin heard nothing, for the din of the egg-beating drownedboth the shrill little voices. 

A sudden idea came to Jennie. Whose money was this? Mrs. Parlin's? No;hadn't Mrs. Parlin looked over the rags once, and said the childrenmight have what was left? "'You are welcome to all the treasures youcan find;' that was what she said, " repeated Jennie to herself. "I'mthe one that found this treasure, --not Dotty, not Flyaway. This ishonest, and I do not lie when I say it. "

Jennie began to tremble, and a hot color flew into her cheeks, andadded new lustre to her black eyes. "If I could only make Flyawayforget it, " thought she, with a whirling sensation of anger towardsthe innocent child, who knew no better than to proclaim aloud everypiece of news she heard. "I'll make her forget it. " Jenny hastilyconcealed the money in the neck of her dress. 

"Where's that skipt? that skipt?" said Flyaway. 

"Fly Clifford, " said Jennie, severely, "you've climbed on the table!Just think of it! Your grandmother doesn't allow you on her table. What made you get up here. "

"'Cause, " replied Flyaway, seizing the kitty by the tail, andthrusting her into a cabbage-net, "'cause I fought best. "

"But you must get right down, this minute. "

"No, " said Flyaway, shaking her head-dress of white fringe with greatsolemnity; "I isn't goin' to get down. "

"Ah, but you must. "

Flyaway opened and shut her eyes slowly, in token of deep displeasure. "I don't never 'low little girls to scold to me, " said she. "You'dbetter call grandma; 'haps _she_ can make me get down. "

But it was not Jennie's purpose to wait for that; she seized thelittle one roughly by the arms, pulled her from the table, and hurriedher into the parlor. 

Flyaway was indignant. "Does you--feel happy?" said she, with areproachful glance at Jennie. 

"There, look out of the window, Flyaway, darling, and watch to see ifHorace isn't coming in from the garden. "

"Can't Hollis come, 'thout me watching him?" returned Flyaway, winkingslowly again, for her sweet little soul was stirred with wrath. Thememory of the "skipt" had indeed been driven away, and she could onlythink, --

"Isn't Jennie so easy fretted! I wasn't doin' nuffin'; and then shejumped me right down. Unpolite gell! that's one thing. "

And Jennie was thinking, "She never'll remember the money now, or, ifshe does, I don't believe Mrs. Parlin will pay any attention to whatshe says. " Jennie was still very much excited, and wondered why shetrembled so. 

"I don't mean to keep it unless it's perfectly proper, " thought she;"I guess I know the eighth commandment fast enough. I shan't keep itunless Dotty thinks best. I'll tell her, and see what she says. "

Jennie had often pilfered little things from her mother's cupboard, such as cake and raisins; but a piece of money of the most triflingvalue she had never thought of taking before. 

Leaving Flyaway busy with block houses, she ran to the nursery door, and motioned with her finger for Dotty to come out. 

"What is it?" said Dotty, when they were both shut into the chinacloset; "don't you want my sister Prudy to know?"

Jennie replied, in a great flutter, "No, no, no. You musn't tell asingle soul, Dotty Dimple, as long as you live, and I'll give youhalf. "

"Half what?"

Jennie produced the money from her bosom, feeling, I am glad to say, very guilty. "Out o' those saddle-bag pockets out there, " added she, breathlessly; "true's the world. "

"Why, Jennie Vance!"

"One had a raisin in and a button, and nobody but me would havethought of looking. You wouldn't--now would you? My father says I'vegot such sharp eyes!"

"H'm!" said Dotty, who considered her own eyes as bright as anydiamonds; "you took the saddle-bag right out of my hand. How do youknow I shouldn't have peeked in?"

Jennie did not reply, but smoothed out the wrinkled notes with many aloving pat. 

"What did grandma say?" asked Dotty; "wasn't she pleased?"

"Your grandmother doesn't know anything about it, Dotty Dimple; whatbusiness is it to her?"

Jennie's tone was defiant. She assumed a courage she was far fromfeeling. 

Dotty was speechless with surprise, but her eyes grew as round assoap-bubbles. 

"The pockets don't belong to her, Dotty, and never did. They nevercame out of any of her dresses--now did they?"

Dotty's eyes swelled like a couple of bubbles ready to burst. 

"Jennie Vance, I didn't know you's a thief. "

"You stop talking so, Dotty. She was going to sweep everything intothe rag-bag--now wasn't she? And this money would have gone in too, ifit hadn't been for my sharp eyes--now wouldn't it?"

"But it isn't yours, Jennie Vance--because it don't belong to you. "

"Now, Dotty--"

"You go right off, Jennie Vance, and carry it to my grandma thisminute. "

The tone of command irritated Jennie. She had not felt at all decidedabout keeping the money, but opposition gave her courage. Her temperand Dotty's were always meeting and striking fire. 

"It isn't your grandma's pockets, Miss Parlin. If it was the last wordI was to speak, it isn't your grandmother's pockets!"

"Jane Sidney Vance!"

"You needn't call me by my middle name, and stare so at me, DottyDimple. I was going to give you half!"

"What do I want of half, when it isn't yours to give?" said Dotty, gazing regretfully at the money, nevertheless. Three dollars! Why, itwas a small fortune! If it only did really belong to Jenny!

"Your grandmother said everything we liked the looks of, Dotty. Don'tyou like the looks of this?"

"But you know, Jennie--"

"O, you needn't preach to me. You wasn't the one that found it. If I'dtruly been a thief, or if I hadn't been a thief, it would have beenright for me to keep it, and perfectly proper, and not said a word toyou, either; so there. "

"Jennie Vance, I'm going right out of this closet, and tell my grandmawhat you've said. "

"Wait, Dotty Dimple; let me get through talking. I meant to buy thingsfor your grandmother with it. O, yes, I did--a silk dress, and cap, and shoes. "

Dotty twirled her hair, and looked thoughtful. 

"Of course I did. Wouldn't it surprise her, when she wasn't expectingit? And Flyaway, too, --something for her. We wouldn't keep anythingfor ourselves, only just enough to buy clothes and such things as wereally need. "

Before Dotty had time to reply there was a loud scream from theparlor. 

"Fly is killed--she is killed!" cried Dotty; but Jennie had presenceof mind enough to tuck the bills into the neck of her dress. 

"Don't you tell anybody a word about it, Dotty. If you tell I'll dosomething awful to you. Do you hear?"

Dotty heard, but did not answer. The fate of her cousin Flyaway seemedmore important to her just then than all the bank-bills in the world. 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE WICKED GIRL. 

Flyaway had only been climbing the outside of the staircase, and wouldhave done very well, if some one had not rung the door-bell, andstartled her so that she fell from the very top stair to the floor. Itwas feared, at first, that several bones were broken and her intellectinjured for life; but after crying fifteen minutes, she seemed to feelnearly as well as before. 

"If ever a child was made of thistle-down it is Flyaway Clifford, "said aunt Louise. 

Still it was not thought best for her to fatigue herself that day byselling rags, and the wheelbarrow enterprise was put off until thenext morning. 

The person who rang the door-bell was Mrs. Vance's girl Susan, whocalled for Jennie to go home and try on a frock. Jennie did notreturn, and Dotty had a sense of uneasiness all day. The guilty secretof the three dollars weighed upon her mind. Should she, or should shenot, tell her grandmother?

"I don't know but Jennie would do something to my things if I told, "thought she; "but then I never promised a word. Here it is fouro'clock. Who knows but she's gone and spent that money, and mygrandmother never'll know what's 'come of it?"

This possibility was very alarming. "Jennie Vance doesn't seem to haveany little whisper inside of _her_ heart, that ticks like a watch;but _I_ have. _My_ conscience pricks; so I know that perhaps it's myduty to go and tell. "

Dotty drew herself up virtuously and looked in the glass. There sheseemed to see an angelic little girl, whose only wish was to do justright--a little girl as much purer than Jennie Vance, as a lily ispurer than a very ugly toadstool. 

Well, Miss Dotty, there is some truth in the picture. Jennie is not agood child; but neither are you an angel. There is more wickedness inyour proud little heart than you will ever begin to find out. And waita minute. Who teaches you all you know of right and wrong? Is it yourmother? Suppose she had died, as did Jennie's mamma, when you were atoddling baby?

There, that's all; you do not hear a word I say; and if you did, youwould not heed, O, self-righteous Dotty Dimple!

Dotty ran up stairs to find her grandmother. 

"Grandma, " whispered she, though there was no one else in the room;"something dreadful has happened. You've lost three dollars!"

"What, dear?"

"O, you needn't look in your pocket. Jennie found 'em in the rag-bag, and tried to make me take half; but of course I never; and now she'srun off with 'em!"

"Found three dollars in the rag-bag? I guess not. "

"Yes, grandma; for I saw her just as she was going to find em', in apair of pockets. I should have seen 'em myself if she hadn't lookedfirst. "

"Indeed! Is this really so? But she ought to have come and given themto me. "

"That was just what I told her, over and over, grandma, and overagain. But she's a dreadful naughty girl, Jennie Vance is. If there'sanything bad she can do, she goes right off and does it. "

"Hush, my child. "

"Yes'm, I won't say any more, _only_ I don't think my mother wouldlike to have me play with little girls that take money out ofrag-bags. "

Dotty drew herself up again in a very stately way. 

"Jennie _said_ she was going to buy you a silk dress and so forth; butshe does truly lie so, 'one to another, ' that you can't believe herfor certain, not half she says. "

Grandma looked over her spectacles and through the window, as iftrying to see what ought to be done. 

[Illustration: "YOU CAN'T BELIEVE HER FOR CERTAIN. "]

"You did right to tell me this, my child, " said she; "but I wish youto say nothing about it to any one else: will you remember?"

"Yes'm, " replied Dotty, trying to read her grandmother's face, andfeeling a little alarmed by its solemnity. "What you going to do, grandma? Not put Jennie in the lockup--are you? 'Cause if you do--O, don't you! She said 'twas her sharp eyes, and she didn't mean tosteal, and 'twasn't your pockets, and she promised she'd give mehalf--yes, she truly did, grandma. "

"Go, dear, and bring me my bonnet from the band-box in my bed-roomcloset. "

Then Mrs. Parlin folded the sheet she was making, put on her bestshawl and bonnet, and kid gloves, and taking her sun umbrella, set outfor a walk. There was a look in her face which made her littlegranddaughter think it would not be proper to ask any questions. 

Mrs. Parlin met Jennie Vance coming in at the gate. 

"O, dear, " thought Dotty, "I don't want to see her. Grandma says I'vedone right, but Jennie'll call me a tell-tale. I'll go out in the barnand hide. "

The guilty secret had lain heavy at Jennie's heart all day. As soon asher dress-maker could spare her, and a troublesome little cousin hadleft, she asked permission to go to Mrs. Parlin's. 

"Dotty thinks I meant to keep it, " she thought. "I never did see sucha girl. You can't say the least little thing but she takes it soberearnest, and says she'll tell her grandmother. "

Jennie stole round by the back door, and timidly asked for MissDimple. 

"I'm sure I don't know where she is, " answered Ruthie, with a pleasantsmile; "nor Flyaway either. I have been living in peace for half anhour. "

Ruthie made you think of lemon candy; she was sweet and tart too. 

While Jennie, with the kind assistance of Prudy, was hunting forDotty, Mrs. Parlin was in Judge Vance's parlor, talking with Jennie'sstep-mother. Mrs. Vance was shocked to hear of her daughter's conduct, for she loved her and wished her to do right. 

"My poor Jennie, " said she; "from her little babyhood until she wassix years old, there was no one to take care of her but a hired nurse, who neglected her sadly. "

"I know just what sort of training Jennie has had from Serena Pond, "said Mrs. Parlin; "it was most unfortunate. But you are so faithfulwith her, my dear Mrs. Vance, that I do believe she will outgrow allthose early influences. "

"I keep hoping so, " said Mrs. Vance, repressing a sigh; "I take itvery kindly of you, Mrs. Parlin, that you should come to me with thisaffair. I shall not allow Jennie to go to your house very often. Youdo not like to wound my feelings, but I am sure you cannot wish tohave your little granddaughter very intimate with a child who is slyand untruthful. "

"My dear lady, " said grandma Parlin, taking Mrs. Vance's hand, andpressing it warmly; "since we are talking so freely together, and Iknow you are too generous to be offended, I will confess to you thatif Jennie persists in concealing this money, I would prefer not tohave Dotty play with her very much; at least while her mother is nothere to have the care of her. " It was hard for Mrs. Parlin to saythis, and she added presently, --

"Please let Jennie spend the night at our house. She may wish to talkwith me; we will give her the opportunity. "

Mrs. Vance gladly consented. She had observed that Jennie seemedunhappy, and was very anxious to see Dotty again. She hoped she hadgone to return the money of her own free will. 

When Mrs. Parlin opened the nursery door at home, she found Jenniebuilding block houses, to Flyaway's great delight, while at the otherend of the room sat Dotty Dimple, resolutely sewing patchwork. 

"O, grandma, " spoke up Flyaway, "Jennie came to see me; she didn'tcome to see Dotty, 'cause Dotty don't want to talk. There, now, Jennie, make a rat to put in the cupboard. R goes first to rat. "

Innocent little Flyaway! She had long ago forgotten her pique againstJennie for being "so easy fretted, " and jumping her down from thetable. 

Wretched little Jennie! The new blue and white frock, just finished byher dress-maker, covered a heart filled with mortification. DottyDimple would not talk to her. It seemed as if Dotty had climbed to thetop of a high mountain, and was looking down, down upon her. 

Dotty did feel very exalted to-day; but there was another reason whyshe would not talk with Jennie: she might have to confess that grandmaknew about the money; and then what a scene there would be! So Dottyset her lips together, and sewed as if she was afraid somebody wouldfreeze to death before she could finish her patchwork quilt. 

Mrs. Clifford, who did not understand the cause of Dotty's lofty mood, took pity on Jennie, and tried to amuse her. After a while, Dotty camesoftly along, and sat down close to her aunt Maria, ready to listen tothe story of the "Pappoose, " though she had heard it fifty timesbefore. 

She did not see Jennie alone for one moment. Grandma Parlin did. "Jennie, " said she, taking her into the parlor to show her a newshell, "are you going with our little girls, to-morrow, to sell rags?"

"I don't know, ma'am, I'm sure, " replied Jennie, looking hard at thesofa. She longed to make an open confession, and get rid of thetroublesome money, but had not the courage to do it without some helpfrom Dotty. 

"O, dear, " thought she, "I feel just as wicked with that money in mybosom! Seems as if she could hear it crumple. If Dotty would only letme talk to her first!"

But Dotty continued as unapproachable as the Pope of Rome. Eighto'clock came, and the two unhappy little girls went slowly up stairsto bed. Dotty, in her lofty pride, tried to make her little friendfeel herself a sinner; while Jennie, ready to hide herself in thepotato-bin for shame, was, at the same time, very angry with theself-satisfied Miss Dimple. She was awed by her superior goodness, butdid not love her any the better for it. Why should she? Dotty'sgoodness lacked

 "_Humility_, that low, sweet root, From which all heavenly virtues shoot. "

"Here, Miss Parlin, " said Jennie, angrily, as she took off her dress;"here it is, right in my neck. I should have gone and given it to yourgrandmother, ever so long ago, if you hadn't acted so!"

Dotty pulled off her stockings. 

"I 'spose you thought I was going to keep it. Here, take your oldmoney!"

"You did mean to keep it, Jane Sidney Vance, " retorted Dotty, asfierce as a thistle; and finished undressing at the top of her speed. 

The money lay on the floor, and neither of the proud girls would pickit up. Jennie, who always prayed at her mother's knee, forgot herprayer to-night, and climbed into bed without it. But Dotty, feelingmore than ever how much better she was than her little friend, kneltbeside a chair, and prayed in a loud voice. First, she repeated the"Lord's Prayer, " then "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, " and "Now I layme down to sleep. " She was not talking to her heavenly Father, but toJennie, and ended her petitions thus:--

"O God, forgive me if I have done anything naughty to-day; and pleaseforgive _Jennie Vance, the wickedest girl in this town_. "

Then the little Pharisee got into bed. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

"WHEELBARROWING. "

"The wickedest girl in this town!" Jennie's eyes flashed in the darklike a couple of fireflies. At first she was too angry to speak; andwhen words did come, they were too weak. She wanted words that were sostrong, and bitter, and fierce, that they would make Dotty quail. Butall she could say was, --

"O, dreadful good you are, Miss Parlin! Good's the minister! Ah! guessI'll get out and sleep on the floor!"

Dotty made no reply, but rolled over to the front of the bed, andJennie pushed herself to the back of it. There the little creatureslay in silence, each on an edge of the bedstead, and a whole mattressbetween. Sleep did not come at once. 

"She's left that money on the floor, " thought Dotty; "what if a mouseshould creep down the chimney, and gnaw it all up? But she must takecare of it herself. _I_ shan't!"

And Jennie thought, wrathfully, "Dotty says such long prayers shecan't stop to pick up that scrip! If she expects me to get out of bed, she's made a mistake; I won't touch her old money. "

About nine o'clock grandma Parlin came quietly into the room with alamp. A smile crept round the corners of her mouth, as she saw thelittle girls sleeping so widely apart, their faces turned away fromeach other. 

"How is this?" said she, as the two bills caught her eye. "Of all thefoolish children! Dropping money about the room like waste paper!"

The light awoke Jennie, who had only just fallen asleep. "Now is thetime, " said she to herself; and without waiting for a second thought, which would have been a worse one, she sprang out of bed, and caughtMrs. Parlin by the skirts. 

"That money is yours, Mrs. Parlin, " said she, bravely. "Yours; I foundit in the rag-bag. Something naughty came into me this morning, andmade me want to keep it; but I'm ever so sorry, and never'll do itagain. Will you forgive me?"

Then grandma Parlin seated herself in a rocking-chair, took Jennieright into her lap, and talked to her a long while in the sweetestway. Jennie curled her head into the good woman's neck, and sobbedout all her wretchedness. 

"She knew she was real bad, and people didn't like to have her playwith their little girls, and Dotty Dimple thought she was awful; but_was_ she the wickedest girl in this town?"

"No; O, no!"

"Wasn't Dotty some bad, too?"

"Yes, Dotty often did wrong. "

Then Jenny wept afresh. 

"She knew she _was_ worse than Dotty, though. She wished, --O, dear, astrue as she lived, --she wished she was dead and buried, and drowned inthe Red Sea, and the grass over her grave, and shut up in jail, andeverything else. "

Then Mrs. Parlin soothed her with kind words, but told the truth withevery one. 

"No 'm, " Jennie said; "it wasn't right to take fruit-cake withoutleave, or tell wrong stories either; she wouldn't any more. Yes'm, shewould try to be good--she never had tried much. --Yes 'm, she would askGod to help her. Should you suppose He would do it?

"Yes 'm, she would ask Him not to let her have much temptation. Shedid believe she would rather be a good girl--a real good girl, likePrudy, _not like Dotty_!--than to have a velvet dress with spanglesall over it. "

All this while Dotty did not waken. In the morning she was surprisedto see her little bedfellow looking so cheerful. 

"I've told your grandmother all about it, " said Jennie with a smile. "I knew I did wrong, but I don't believe I should have meant to if youhadn't acted so your _own_ self--now that's a fact. "

"You haven't seen my grandmother, " returned Dotty, not noticing thelast clause of her friend's remark. "You dreamed it. "

"No, she came in here and forgave me. She's the best woman in thisworld. What do you think she said about you, Dotty Dimple? She saidthere were other little girls full as good as you are. There!"

"O!"

"Said you 'often did wrong, ' that's _just_ what, " added Jennie, correcting herself, and making sure of the "white truth. "

Step by step Dotty came down from the mountain-top, and, beforebreakfast was ready, had led her visitor through the morning dew tothe playhouse under the trees, chatting all the way as if nothing hadhappened. 

It proved that the money belonged to Abner. He had missed it severalweeks before, and ever since that had been suspecting old DanielMcQuilken, a day laborer, of stealing it. 

"I'm ashamed of it now, " said Abner to Ruth, "though I didn't tellanybody but you. I wish you'd mix a pitcher of sweetened water, andlet me take it out to the field to old Daniel. I feel as if I wantedto make it up to him some way. "

Ruth laughed; and when Abner came into the house at ten o'clock, shehad a pitcher of molasses and water ready for him, also a plate ofcherry turnovers. Flyaway insisted upon toddling over the ground withone of the turnovers in her apron. 

"Man, " said she, when they reached the field, and she saw the Irishmanwith his funny red and white hair, "what's your name, man?"

He wiped his face with his checked shirt-sleeve, and took a turnoverfrom her hand, bowing very low as he did so. 

"Thank ee, my little lady; sense you're plazed to ask me, --my name'sDannul. "

"O, are you?" said Flyaway, looking up in surprise at the large andoddly-dressed stranger. "Are you Daniel? My mamma's just been readingabout you. You was in the lions' den--_wasn't_ you, Daniel?"

Mr. McQuilken smiled at bareheaded, flossy-haired little Katie, andreplied, with a wink at Abner, --

"Fath, little lady, and I suppose I'm that same Dannul; but 'twas solong ago I've clane forgot aboot it entirely. "

"O, did you? Well, you _was_ in the lions' den, Daniel, but theydidn't bite you, you know, 'cause you prayed so long and so loud, with your winners up; and then God wouldn't let 'em bite. "

Old Daniel laid both his huge hands on Katie's head. 

"Swate little chirrub, " said he, "don't she look saintish?"

Katie moved away; she did not like to have her hair pulled, and Danielwas unconsciously drawing it through the big cracks in his fingers, asif he was waxing silk. 

"I guess I'll go home now, " said she, with a timid glance at the manwhom the lions did not bite; "they'll be spectin' me. "

Abner and Daniel both watched the tiny figure across the fields tillRuth came out to meet it, and it fluttered into the east door of thehouse. 

"There, she's safe, " said Abner; "she needs as much looking after asa young turkey. "

"She runs like a little sperrit, bliss her swate eyes, " said Daniel. "I had one as pooty as her, but she's at Mary's fate, Hivven rist hersowl!"

The moment Flyaway reached the house, she rushed into the parlor totell her mother the news. 

"The man you readed about in the book, mamma, he's out there! Daniel, that the lions didn't bite, mamma, 'cause he prayed so long and soloud with his winners up; he's out there--got a hat on. "

"O, no, my child; it is thousands of years since Daniel was in thelions' den; he died long and long ago. "

"But he said he did, mamma; he told me so. I _fought_ he was dead, mamma, but he said he wasn't. "

Mrs. Clifford shook her head. "I dare say his name is Daniel, but hewas never in a lion's den. "

Flyaway opened and closed her eyes in the slowest and most impressivemanner. "Mamma, " said she, solemnly, "does--folks--tell--lies?"

It was an entirely now idea to the innocent child: it stamped itself uponher mind like a motto on warm sealing-wax, "Folks--does--tell--lies. "

Mrs. Clifford was sorry to see the look of distrust on the young face. 

"Listen to me, little Flyaway. I think the man was in sport; he wasonly playing with you, as Horace does sometimes, when he calls himselfyour horse. "

Flyaway said no more, but she pressed her eyelids together again, andfelt that she had been trifled with. Half an hour afterwards Prudyheard her repeating, slowly, to herself, "Folks--does--tell--lies. "

"Why, here she is, " called Dotty from the piazza; "come, Fly; we'regoing wheel-barrowing. "

"Wait a minute, cousin Dotty, " said Mrs. Clifford; "Flyaway must puton a clean frock; she is not coming home with you, but you are toleave her at aunt Martha's. I shall meet her there at dinner time. "

"O, mamma, may I? I love you a hundred rooms full. Let me go bring my_buttoner bootner_ quick's a minute. "

Flyaway was not long in getting ready. She was never long aboutanything. 

"You said we might have all the money, we three--didn't you, grandma?"asked Dotty again, at the last moment, thinking how glad she wasJennie had gone home, and would not claim a share. 

"Yes, " replied patient grandma for the fifth time; "you may doanything you like with it, except to buy colored candy. "

As they were trundling the wheelbarrow out of the yard, Horace came upfrom the garden. 

"Prudy, " said he, with rather a shame-faced glance at his favoritecousin, "you girls will cut a pretty figure, parading through thestreets like a gang of pedlers. Come, let me be the driver. "

"O, we thought you couldn't leave your flower-beds, sir, " repliedPrudy, sweeping a courtesy. 

"Well, the weeds _are_ pretty tough, ma'am; roots 'way down in China, and the Emperor objects to parting with 'em; but--"

"Poh! we don't need any boys, " cried the self-sustained Miss Dimple;"if your hands are too soft, Prudy, you mustn't push. Wait and seewhat Dotty Dimple can do. "

"O, then, if you spurn me and my offer, good by. I suppose my littleTopknot goes for _surplusage_, " said Horace, who liked now and then topuzzle Dotty with a new word. He meant that Flyaway was of no use, butrather in the way. 

"No, she needn't do any such thing, " returned Dotty. "Jump in, Fly, and sit on the bag. " And off moved the gay little party, "themiddle-aged sister" laughing so she could hardly push, Flyaway dancingup and down on the rag-bag, like a humming-bird balancing itself on atwig; Grace and Susy looking down from the "green chamber" window, andsaying to each other, with wounded family pride, "_Should_ you thinkgrandma would allow it?" Out in the street the young rag-merchantswere greeted by a cow lowing dismally. Flyaway, in her rusticcarriage, felt as secure as the fabled "kid on the roof of a house;"so she called out, "Don't cry, old cow; I 'shamed o' you. "

At this Prudy and Dotty laughed harder than ever. 

"'Sh right up, old cow, " said Flyaway, standing on her "tipsy-toes, "and making a threatening gesture with her little arms; "'Sh rightup!--O, why don't that cow mind in a minute?"

In her earnestness the little girl pushed the bag to one side, andPrudy and Dotty, shaking with laughter, tipped over the wheelbarrow. No harm was done except to give Flyaway a dust-bath in her nice cleanfrock. Just as they were struggling with the bag, to get it in again, they were overtaken by a droll-looking equipage. It was a long houseon wheels, and instantly reminded Dotty of Noah's ark. 

"O, a house a-ridin'! a house a-ridin'!" exclaimed Flyaway, gazingafter it with the greatest astonishment. 

Dotty thought the world was going topsy-turvy. She looked at the treesto see if they stood fast in the ground. But Prudy explained it assoon as she could stop laughing. 

"Only a photograph saloon, " said she. "Didn't you ever see one before?We don't have them in the city going round so, but things aredifferent in the country. Let's watch and see where it stops. "

"O, dear me, " said Dotty; "I shouldn't want to live in a house thatcouldn't stand still! Stove tipping over, and the gingerbread fallingout of the oven! There, I declare!"

The look of wonder on Dotty's face was so amusing that Prudy wasobliged to hold on to her sides. 

"There, look!" said she; "it has stopped down by the corner. Now theman can bake his gingerbread if he wants to, and the stove won't tipover. Jump in, Flyaway, and finish your ride. "

"No-o, " said Flyaway, wavering between her fear of the cow, some yardsahead, and her fear of the rocking, unsteady wheelbarrow. "Guess Iwon't get in no more, Prudy; it wearies me. "

"Wearies you?"

"Yes: don't you know what 'wearies' means, Prudy? It means it makes mea--a--little--scared!"

And in her "weariness" Flyaway nestled between her two cousins, andkept fast hold of their skirts till the cow was safely passed and thered store reached. 

"Bravo!" exclaimed Mr. Bradley, the merchant, as he came out anddragged the rag-bag into the store; "so you've taken the business intoyour own hands, my little women? Ah, this is a progressive age! Walkin--walk in. "

Prudy blushed, Dotty smiled, and Flyaway took off her hat, as sheusually did when she did not know what else to do. 

"Take some seats, young ladies, " said Mr. Bradley, placing threechairs in a row, and bowing as if to the most distinguished visitors. Two or three men, who were lounging about the counter, looked on witha smile. Dotty was very well satisfied, for she enjoyed attention; butPrudy, who was older, and had a more delicate sense of propriety, blushed and cast down her eyes. She had thought nothing of driving awheelbarrow through the street, but now, for the first time, a feelingof mortification came over her. If Mr. Bradley would only keep quiet!

"A fine morning, my young friends! Rather warm, to be sure. And so youhave brought rags to sell? Would you like the money for them, or doyou think we can make a trade with some articles out of the store?"

"Grandma said we could have the money between us, we three, " repliedDotty, with refreshing frankness, "and buy anything we please exceptred and yellow candy. "

"I want a _music_, " said Flyaway, in an eager whisper; "a music, and aollinge, and a pig. "

"Hush!" said Prudy, for the man with a piece of court-plaster on hischeek was certainly laughing. 

Mr. Bradley took the bag into another room to weigh it. A boy was inthere, drawing molasses. "James, " said Mr. Bradley, "run down cellar, and bring up some beer for these young ladies. "

There was a smile on James's face as he drove the plug into thebarrel. Prudy saw it through the open door, and it went to her heart. The cream beer was excellent, but Prudy did not relish it. She andDotty had been whispering together. 

"We will take two thirds of the rags in money, if you please, " saidPrudy, in such a low tone that Mr. Bradley had to bend his ear tohear. 

"Because, " added Dotty, who wished to have everything clearlyexplained, "because we want to have our tin-types taken, sir. We sawa saloon riding on wheels, and we thought we'd go there, and see ifthe man wasn't ready to take pictures. "

"And our little cousin may use her third, and buy something out of thestore, if you please, " said the blushing Prudy. 

CHAPTER IX. 

TIN-TYPES. 

Mr. Bradley said he did not often allow any one behind his counter, asall the boys in the village could testify; but these young ladies werewelcome in any part of the store. 

"That little one is the spryest child I ever saw, " said the man withthe court-plaster, as Flyaway hovered about the candy-jars, like abutterfly over a flower-bed. "She isn't a Yankee child--is she?"

"No, sir, " replied Dotty, quickly; "she is a _westerness_. "

She had heard Horace use the word, and presumed it was correct. 

"I do wish Dotty would be more afraid of strangers, " thought Prudy. "Inever will take her anywhere again--with a wheelbarrow. "

Flyaway fluttered around for a minute, and then alighted upon herfavorite sweet-meats, "_pepnits_. " She chose for her portion a largeamount of these, an harmonica, and a sugar pig, which Dotty assuredher was not "colored. " "Nothing but pink dots, and those you can pickoff. "

"The rags came to seventy-five cents, and this young lady has now hadher third; here is the remainder, " said Mr. Bradley, smiling as hegave each of the little Parlins some money, and bowed them out of thestore. 

"I'll put it in _my_ porte-monnaie, sir; my sister Prudy didn't bringhers. "

"What makes you talk so much, Dotty Dimple?" said Prudy, "that manhas been making sport of us all the time. "

"Did he?" said Dotty, solemnly. "I'm 'stonished at grandma Parlinletting us sell rags! Wish this wheelbarrow was in the _StifticOcean_. "

"But it isn't, little sister, and the worst of it is, we've got totake it to the photograph saloon; it's so far home and back again. "

"Got to take the ole _wheelbarrel_ every single where we go, " poutedFlyaway, as drearily as either of her cousins. 

"You needn't mind it, though, " said Dotty, giving the one-wheeledcoach a hard push; "a little girl that's going visiting, and havesuccotash for dinner. "

"I didn't know I was. O, I _am_ so glad! What is it!"

"Corn and beans. Aunt Martha's girl is the best cook, --makes cherrypudding. Dear, dear, dear! Wish I was in Portland; see 'f I wouldn'tgo to Tate Penny's, and have some salmon and ice-cream!"

Down the beautiful shaded street walked the three little rag-pedlers;and it did seem as if they were met by all the people in town, fromthe minister down to the barefoot boys going fishing. At last theyarrived at the house on wheels. 

"Now I'll tell you, Fly, what we're going to do, " said Prudy. "Dottyand I want to have our tin-types taken, to give to grandma, as apleasant surprise. We'll pay for yours too, if you'll sit for it. "

"_Tin-tybe_? Of course, indeed I will. Won't I have nuffin to do butjust sit still? But I'd rather be gentle (generous), and give it to mymamma. "

"Well, to your mamma, then. What will be the harm, Dotty, in leavingthis wheelbarrow out here at the door?"

"I don't know, " said Dotty; "I hope there won't any 'bugglers' comealong, and steal it. "

"I shall watch it, " replied Prudy, with a care-worn look; and they allwent up the steps and entered the little picture-gallery. 

The windows were closed, and the odor of chemicals was so stifling, that the children almost gasped for breath. The artist seemed glad tosee them, made no remarks about the wheelbarrow, though he must havenoticed it, and said he would be ready in a few minutes. While theywaited, they walked about the room, looking at the pictures on thewalls. 

"See, " said Dotty; "there is Abby Grant, with her hair frizzed. Prudy"(in a low whisper), "you don't s'pose he will carry us off--do you? Iforgot about the wheels, or I wouldn't have come! O, see that littleboy; hands as big as my father's! Here comes Jennie Vance; I'm goingto call her in. "

Dotty had forgotten her contempt for her lively friend. Jennie camein, twirling the rim of her hat, and looking quite gratified by thismark of friendship in Dotty. 

"Going to have your picture taken, Dotty Dimple? Well, so I would if Iwas as pretty as you are. O, dear" (with a sly peep at the glass), "Iwish I wasn't so homely. "

Now Jennie was a handsome child, and knew it well; but Dotty took herwail in earnest. "Why, Jennie, " said she, with ready sympathy, "Idon't think you're so _very_ homely; not half so homely, any way, assome of the girls at Portland. "

Jennie frowned and bit her thumb. Prudy smiled "behind her mouth, " butDotty was serenely unconscious that she had given offence. By thistime the artist was ready, and thought it best to try Flyaway first;for he had had enough experience with children to see at a glance thatthis one would be as difficult to "take" as a bird on the wing. Prudymade sure the wheelbarrow was safe, and then turned to arrange herlittle cousin. 

"Here, put your hands down in your lap. "

Up went the little hands to the flossy hair. "It won't stay, Prudy, _or nelse_ you tie it. "

"I shall brush it, the very last minute, Flyaway. All you must do issit still. Mayn't she look at your watch, sir, just to keep her eyesfrom moving?"

"No matter what she looks at, " replied the artist; "but she must keepthat little head of hers straight. "

His tone was firm; he hoped to awe her into quietness. Flyaway wasfrightened, and clung to Prudy for protection. "Don't the gemplum lovelittle gee--urls?" said she, in a voice as low and sad as a dyingdove's. 

Mr. Poindexter laughed, and stroked the beautiful floss lovingly. 

"Just turn your sweet little face this way, dear child; that's all. "

"O, my shole! Must I turn my face to my back!" said Flyaway, bewildered. 

"No, no; look at this picture on the wall. See what it is, so you cantell your mother. "

"It's a bridge, and a man, and a fish, " said Flyaway, flashing aglance at it. 

"There, smooth your forehead; now you will do. " And so she did, fortwo seconds, till she began to squint, to see whether it was a fish ora dog; and that picture was spoiled. 

Next time she tried so very hard to sit still that she swayed to andfro like a slender-stemmed flower when the wind goes over it. Thepicture was blurred. 

"O, Fly, you must keep your shoulders still, " said Prudy, looking asanxious as the old woman in the shoe. 

"I didn't never want to come here, " said the child; "when I sit sostill, Prudy, it 'most gives me a pain. "

"But you haven't sat still yet, not a minute. "

"I could, you know, Prudy, _or nelse_ I didn't have to breeve, "groaned Flyaway, lifting her eyebrows. 

"Another one spoiled, " said the artist, trying to smile. 

"Yes, " said Dotty, who felt none of the care. "Once it was her head, and then it was her shoulders; and now her eyebrows are all of aquirk. "

Poor little Flyaway felt as much out of place as a grape-vine wouldfeel, if it had to make believe it was a pine tree. 

"Wisht I'd said 'no, ' 'stead o' 'yes, '" murmured she, puckering hermouth to the size of a very small button-hole. 

"This will never do, " said the patient artist, almost in despair. "Hold your little chin up, there's a lady. Don't put it in your neck. Now! Ready!"

But at the critical moment there was a jerk, and Flyaway cried out, --

"I've got a sneeze; but, O, dear, I can't sneeze it. "

"Why, where's that head of yours, little Tot? I declare, I believe itgoes on wires, like a jumping-jack. "

"My head's wrong side up, " said Flyaway, mournfully; "my mother saidit was. "

Mr. Poindexter laughed: it was impossible to be vexed with such agentle child as Flyaway. "Really, my young friends, " said he, rubbinghis stained fingers through his hair, "I believe I shall be obliged togive it up for the present. Have the child's mother come with herto-morrow, and we'll do better, I am sure. "

With the likenesses of the other girls he succeeded very well; andPrudy and Dotty were glad to find, that after paying for theirs, theyeach had ten cents left. 

"Now, Fly, we will go to aunt Martha's. "

But Fly was amusing herself by scraping dirt out of the cracks of herboots with a bit of glass. 

"Dotty won't be to aunt Marfie's. I don't want to stay where Dottyisn't. "

"But your mamma will be there, you know; and I told you what they aregoing to have for dinner. "

"Yes, _secretary_, " said Flyaway, proud of her memory. "She is a verynice _cooker_, but you'll have hard work to get me to go. "

She drawled out the words languidly, and seemed on the point of goingto sleep. 

"O, girls, girls, girls, " cried Prudy, opening the door and lookingout, "our wheelbarrow is gone--it's gone!"

"It's bugglers; I told you so, " said Dotty. 

Mr. Poindexter was quite amused by his little sitters. "I saw that youcame in a coach, " said he, "and without any horses. "

"Our grandmother said we might, " spoke up Dotty, anxious to divert allblame from herself. "She said we might; but Prudy ought to have gonestraight home. I knew it all the time. "

"I dare say some one has driven off your carriage in sport, " said thekind-hearted photographer; "never fear. "

"O, no, sir; it was new and red. Folks wanted it to haul stones in, and that was why they took it, " said Dotty, wrathfully. 

The children looked up street and down street. No wheelbarrow insight. "We must go to aunt Martha's, and then come back and hunt forit, if we have to go without our dinners, " they said. They tookFlyaway between them, and marched her off. She was almost as passiveas a rag baby, ready to drop down anywhere, and fall asleep. "'Cause I_am_ so tired, " said she. 

Aunt Martha cordially invited the two cousins to dine. They thankedher, but no, they must find the wheelbarrow. "We shan't say, certainpositive, that bugglers took it, but we s'pose so, " said Dotty, softening her judgment, as she remembered her mistake about the"screw-up pencil. " They went home through the broiling sun, but foundno trace of the wheelbarrow. 

"It's a dreadful thing, " said Prudy, lazily, "but I don't feel as badas I should if I was fairly awake. "

"Me, too, " yawned Dotty; "I wish we could lie down under the trees, and go to sleep. "

They had been a long while in the close saloon, inhaling ether, andthis was the cause of their languor. As they entered the yard they metHorace. 

"O, dear, " said Dotty, trying to look as sorry as she knew she oughtto feel, "that wheel--"

"What!" exclaimed Prudy. 

There, under a syringa tree in the garden, stood the wheelbarrow. Thegirls rubbed their eyes, and wondered if they were walking in theirsleep. 

"That thing trundled itself in here about half an hour ago, " saidHorace, gravely. "You may know I was surprised to look up, and see itcoming without hands, just rolling along like a velocipede. "

Dotty eyed the runaway wheelbarrow stupidly. "I don't believe it, "said she, flatly. 

Horace laughed; and then the fog cleared away from Dotty's mind in aminute. 

"Why, girls, " said he, "how long did you think I could wait to hauloff my weeds? You were gone two hours. I watched you on your parade, and followed at a respectful distance. "

"There, Horace Clifford!"

"In order not to disturb the procession. Then, when I saw you goinginto the saloon, I went up and claimed my wheelbarrow. Didn't want itany longer--did you?"

"No, and never want it again, " said Prudy. 

"By the way, here's a conundrum for you, girls, Why's a wheelbarrowlike a potato?"

"I shouldn't think it was like it at all, " answered Dotty. "Where didyou read that?"

"Didn't read it anywhere. I've given up books since I undertookgardening. Never was much of a bookworm. Make a very respectable_earth-worm_; ask aunt Louise if I don't. "

The little girls entered the house, too tired and sleepy to make anyreply. 

CHAPTER X. 

WAKING. 

Flyaway was very much sleepier than either of her cousins, and reallydid not know where she was, or what she was doing. Lonnie Adams, a boyof Horace's age, tried to interest her. He made believe the old catwas a sheep, killed her with an iron spoon, and hung her up by thehind legs for mutton, all which Pussy bore like a lamb, for she hadbeen killed a great many times, and was used to it. But it did notplease Flyaway; neither did aunt Martha's collection of shells andpictures call forth a single smile. There was a beautiful clock inthe parlor, and the pendulum was in the form of a little boy swinging;but Flyaway would not have cared if it had been a gallows, and the boyhanging there dead. 

Uncle John took her on his knee, asked her what her name was, whereshe lived, and whom she loved best; but she only answered she "didn'tknow. " She might have been Daniel in the lions' den, or Joseph in thepit, for all the difference to her. 

"How very singular!" said aunt Martha. "I wish her mother would come. Do feel her pulse, John, and see if it is fever. "

"Nothing of the kind, " said uncle John, as the little one's headdropped on his shoulder. "Overcome by the heat; that's all. I'll justlay her down on the sofa. "

When Mrs. Clifford came, she was surprised to find the child fastasleep. She would not have her wakened for dinner; so Flyaway missedher "secretary. " But when it was three o'clock, and she still slept, Mrs. Clifford feared something was wrong, and decided to take herhome. Uncle John had "Lightning Dodger" harnessed, and brought aroundto the door. 

"Wake up, little daughter, " said Mrs. Clifford; "we are going homenow. "

Flyaway looked around vacantly, her eyes as heavy as drenched violets. 

"You must come again, and stay longer, " said aunt Martha; "it ishardly polite not to let little girls have their dinners--do you thinkit is?"

"Yes 'm, " replied Flyaway, faintly. She did not understand a word anyone said; it all sounded as indistinct as the roaring of a sea-shell. By the time she was lifted into her mother's arms in the carriage, she was nodding again. When they reached home she scarcely spoke, but, dropping upon the sofa, went on with her dreams. It was odd forFlyaway to take a nap in the daytime, and such a long one as this!

"It must be a very warm day, " said Mrs. Parlin, "for Prudy and Dottyhave been asleep too. "

"Where did they go after they sold the rags?" asked Mrs. Clifford;"they all look pale. "

"To a photograph saloon. Here are the tin-types they brought home tome, " replied grandma, producing them from her pocket, with a gratifiedsmile. 

"Very good, mother--don't you think so? I would be glad to have astruthful a likeness of our little Katie; but she must be taken asleep. I wonder, by the way, if there wasn't something in the air of thesaloon which made the children all so languid?"

"Why, yes, Maria; very likely it was the ether. Now you speak of it, Iam confident it must have been the ether. "

"I knew just such an instance before, " said Mrs. Clifford; "and thatis why I happened to think of it now. "

About four o'clock Flyaway came to her senses. 

"Where's the wheelbarrel?" said she, rubbing her eyes. 

"O, Horace came and took it, " said Dotty. "Hasn't this been thequeerest day!"

"You said you's goin' to take me to aunt Marfie's; why didn't you?"

"O, we did; we took you, you know. "

"Dotty Dimpul, I shouldn't think you'd make any believe. "

"I'm not 'making any believe'--am I, Prudy?"

"No, Fly, she isn't. We pulled you along, --don't you remember?--andyou hung back, and said, 'I _am_ so tired. '"

"I don't 'member, " said Flyaway, slowly and sadly. "I shouldn't think_you'd_ make any believe, Prudy. "

"We'll ask your mamma, then; she tells the truth. Aunt 'Riah, didn'twe take Flyaway to aunt Martha's this morning, and didn't you go theretoo?"

"Certainly, " said Mrs. Clifford; "but it wasn't much of a visit, --wasit, darling!--when you slept most of the time, and didn't have amouthful of dinner?"

Flyaway sighed heavily, and looked at her mother. "O, mamma! mamma!"

"What is it, dear?"

"O, mamma, " repeated she, sorrowfully, "why did you say those words?"

"What words, darling?"

"Those naughty, naughty words, mamma. " Flyaway's gentle eyes wereafloat. She crossed the room, and knelt by Mrs. Clifford's chair, looking up at her with an expression of anguish. 

"That man, he wasn't in the lions' den, that prayed so long and soloud, mamma. "

"Well, dear. "

"_He_ telled a wrong story to me, mamma. "

"My darling baby, " said Mrs. Clifford, catching Flyaway in her arms, "do you think your own dear mother is telling you a wrong story thisminute?"

"'Cause, 'cause, mamma, I didn't go to aunt Marfie's!"

"Yes, you did, my precious daughter; but you were asleep and dreaming. We brought you home in the carriage, and you didn't know it. Can't youbelieve it because I say so?"

Flyaway made no reply except to curl her head under Mrs. Clifford'sarm, like a frightened chicken under its mother's wing. Mrs. Cliffordlooked troubled. She was afraid the little one could not be made tounderstand it. Horace came to her aid. 

"Hold up your head, little Topknot, and hear brother talk. Once therewere three little girls, and they all travelled round with awheelbarrow. By and by they came to a man's house on wheels. "

"Yes, " said Flyaway, starting up; "I 'member. "

"And the wee girl, with dove's eyes--"

"O, O, that's me!"

"She couldn't keep still, and couldn't get any picture. "

"No, _tin-tybe_; 'cause--'cause--"

"And all the while there was something in the man's house they keptbreathing into their noses, and it made them grow sleepy. "

"Just so?" asked Flyaway, sniffing. 

"Yes; and by and by the little one with dove's eyes was as stupid asthat woman you saw lying down in the street with the pig looking ather. "

"Me? Was I a _drunken_?" said Flyaway, in a subdued tone. 

"O, no, " put in Dotty; "it wasn't whiskey, it was _either_; and Ididn't know much more than you did, Fly Clifford. That was why I lostyour money, Prudy; I just about know it was. "

Flyaway began to understand. The look of fear and distrust went out ofher eyes, and she threw her arms round her mother's neck, kissing heragain and again. 

"_'Haps_ I did go to aunt Marfie's, mamma; _'haps_ I was asleep!"

"That's right, Miss Topknot, " cried Horace; "now your brother'll carryyou pickaback. "

A little while afterward Mrs. Clifford began a letter to her husband. 

"I am going to tell papa about his little girl--that she is verywell. "

"O, no, you needn't, mamma, " said Flyaway, laughing; "papa knows it. Iwas well at home. "

"What shall I tell him, then?"

Flyaway thought a moment. 

"Tell him all the folks doesn't tell lies, " said she, earnestly; "onlybut the naughty folks tells lies. "

So that was settled; and Flyaway decided to write off the whole story, and send to her father--a mixture of little sharp zigzags, curves, anddots. When Horace asked her what these meant, she said "she couldn't'member now; but papa would know. "

There was another matter which troubled grandma Parlin somewhat. Dottyhad gone to the store, after dinner, with two ten-cent pieces in herporte-monnaie. She had bought for herself some jujube paste, but inreturning had lost the other dime. 

"Grandma, do you think that is fair?" said Prudy. "She has lost mymoney, but she doesn't care at all; only laughs. I was going to put itwith some more I had, and buy mother a collar. "

"No, it is not right, " replied grandma. "I will talk with her, and tryto make her willing to give you some of hers in return. "

Ah, grandma Parlin, you little knew what you were undertaking when youcalled Dotty Dimple into the back parlor next morning, and began totalk about that money! Children's minds are strange things. They arelike bottles with very small necks; and when you pour in an idea, youmust pour very slowly, a drop at a time, or it all runs over. Dottydid not know much more about money than Flyaway. 

"My child, " said her grandmother, "it seems you have lost somethingwhich belonged to Prudy. "

Dotty looked up carelessly from the picture of a rose she held in herhand, which she meant to adorn with yellow paint. 

"O, yes 'm; you mean that money. "

"There are several things you don't know, Dotty; and one is, that youhave no right to lose other people's things. "

"No 'm. "

"The money you dropped out of your porte-monnaie, yesterday, wasPrudy's, not yours; and what are you going to do about it?"

"Let me see; my mother'll come to-morrow; I'll ask her to give me somemore. "

"But is that right? Dotty lost the money; must not Dotty be the one togive it back?"

"O, grandma, I can't find it! The wind blew it away, or a horsestepped on it. I can't find it, certainly. "

"No; but you have money of your own. You can give some of that toPrudy. "

"Why-ee!" moaned Dotty. "Prudy's got ever so much. O, grandma, shehas; and my box is so empty it can't but just jingle. "

"But, my dear, that has nothing to do with the case. If Prudy has agreat deal of money, you have no right to lose any of it. Don't youthink you ought to give it back?"

"O, no, grandma--I don't; because she doesn't need it! I wish she'dgive _me_ ten cents, for I do need it; I haven't but a tinty, tontymite. "

Here Dotty threw herself on the sofa, the picture of despair. Grandmawas perplexed. Had she been pouring ideas into Dotty's mind too fast?What should she say next?

"My dear little girl, suppose Prudy should lose some of yourmoney--what then?"

"I shouldn't like it at all, grandma. Don't let her go to my box--willyou?"

"Selfish little girl!" said grandma, looking keenly at Dotty'stroubled face. "You would expect Prudy to return every cent, if shewere in your place. "

"Because--because--grandma--"

"Yes; and when I explain your duty to you, you don't understand me. You would understand if you were not so selfish!"

Dotty winced. 

"Don't come to me again, and complain of Jennie Vance. "

Dotty could not meet her grandmother's searching gaze: it seemed tocut into her heart like a sharp blade. 

"Am I as bad as Jennie Vance? Yes, just us bad; and grandma knows it. But then, " said she aloud, though very faintly, "Prudy needn't haveput it in my porte-monnaie; she might have known I'd lose it. "

"Dotty, I am not going to say any more about it now. You may think itover to-day, and decide for yourself whether you are following theGolden Rule. Or, if you choose, you may wait and talk with yourmother. "

"Yes 'm. " Dotty was glad to escape into the kitchen. 

CHAPTER XI. 

AUNT POLLY'S STORY. 

Flyaway sat on the kitchen floor, feeding Dinah with a roasted apple. As often as Dinah refused a teaspoonful, she put it into her ownmouth, saying, with a wise nod, "My child, she's sick; hasn't any_appletite_. "

Out of doors it was raining heartily. It seemed as if the "upper deep"was tipping over, and pouring itself into the lap of the earth. 

"O, Ruthie, " sighed Dotty Dimple, "my mother won't come while it'ssuch weather. Do you s'pose 'twill ever clear off?" [Blank Page]

[Illustration: FLYAWAY AND DINAH. ]

"Yes, I do, " replied Ruth, trimming a pie briskly; "it only began lastnight at five. "

"Why, Ruthie Dillon! it began three weeks ago, by the clock! Don't youknow that day I couldn't go visiting? Only sometimes it stops a while, and then begins again. "

"If you're going to have the blues, Miss Dotty, I'll thank you kindlyjust to take yourself out of this kitchen. Polly Whiting is here, andshe is as much as a body can endures in this dull weather. "

"It's pitiful 'bout the rain, Dotty; but you mustn't scold when Godsended it, " said Flyaway, dropping the feeble Dinah, and pursuing hercousin round the room with a pin. In a minute they were both laughinggayly, till Flyaway caught herself on her little rocking-chair, and"got a _torn_ in her apron. " That ended the sport. 

"What shall I do to make myself happy?" said Dotty, musingly; for shewished to put off all thought of Prudy's money. "I should like to rollout some thimble-cookies, but Ruthie hasn't much patience thismorning. I never dare do things when her lips are squeezed togetherso. "

But Flyaway dared do things. She took up the kitty, and played to heron the "music, " till Ruth's ears were "on edge. " After this theharmonica fell into a dish of soft soap, and in cleaning it with ashesand a sponge, the holes became stopped. 

"It won't _muse_ no more, " said Flyaway, in sad surprise, blowing intothe keys in vain. Ruth loved the little child too well to say she wasglad of it. 

Flyaway's next dash was into the sink cupboard, where she found awooden bowl of sand. This she dragged out, and filling her "nipperkin"with water, carried them both to Ruth, saying, in her sweet, pleadingway, --

"_If_ you please, Ruthie, will you tell _how_ God does when he takesthe 'little drops of water and little grains of sand, ' and makes 'themighty _oshum_' with um, '_and_ the pleasant land'?"

Ruthie had no answer but a kiss and a smile. 

"There, away with you into the nursery, both of you. I know PollyWhiting is lonesome without you. "

Off went the children, Flyaway "with a heart for any fate, " but Dottystill oppressed by the shadow of the ten-cent piece. 

"If I don't give it to Prudy, will I be dishonest? Will I be as badas Jennie Vance?"

When they entered the nursery, Miss Polly was standing before themirror, arranging her black cap, and weaving into her collar a squareblack breast-pin, which aunt Louise said looked like a gravestone. Flyaway peeped in too, placing her smooth pink cheek beside MissPolly's wrinkled one. 

"I don't look alike, Miss Polly, " said she; "and you don't look aliketoo. "

Certainly not; no more alike than a blush-rose bud and a dried apple. 

"What makes the red go out of folks' cheeks when they grow old, andthe wrinkles crease in, like the pork in baked beans?" queried Dotty. 

"I couldn't tell you, " replied the good lady, giving a pat to her cap, and settling the bows carefully; "but if you had asked how I happenedto grow old before my time, I should say I'd had such a hard chancethrough life, and trouble always leaves its mark. "

"Does it? O, dear! I have trouble, --ever so much; will it quirk myface all up, like yours?"

"You have trouble, Dotty Parlin? Haven't you found out yet that thelines have fallen to you in pleasant places?"

"I don't know what you mean by lines, " said Dotty, thinking offish-hooks; "but when it rains, and folks want me to do things thatare real hard, then why, I'm blue, now truly. "

"Then we're blue, now truly, " added Flyaway by way of finish. 

"What would you do, children, if you were driven about, as I used tobe, from post to pillar, with no mother to care for you?"

"If I hadn't no mamma, I could go barefoot, like a dog, " said Flyaway, brightening with the new idea; "I could paddle in the water too, andeat pepnits. "

"O, child! But what if you had neither father nor mother?"

"Then, " said Flyaway coolly, "I should go to some house where there_was_ a father'n mother. "

"Why, you little heartless thing! But that is always the way withchildren; their parents set their lives by them, but not a 'thank you'do they get for their love! Try a pinch, " continued she, offering hersnuff-box to the little folks, who both declined. This Polly thoughtwas strange. They must like snuff if they followed the natural bent oftheir noses. 

"Yes, Katie, as I was saying, you little know how your mother lovesyou. "

"Yes um, I do. She loves me more 'n the river, and the sky, and thebridge. My papa loves me too, only but he don't _say_ nuffin' 'boutit. "

"Yes, yes; just so, " said Miss Polly, who talked to the simplestinfants just as she did to grown people. "One of these days you willlook back, and see how happy you are now, and be sorry you didn'tprize your parents while you had them. "

Flyaway rested her rosy cheek on Polly's knee, and watched the grayknitting-work as it came out of the basket. She did not understand thesad woman's words, but was attracted by her loving nature, and likedto sit near her, a minute at a time, and have her hair stroked. 

"There, now, " said Dotty, "you are knitting, Miss Polly; and it's solonesome all round the house, with mother not coming till to-morrow, that I should think you might tell--well, tell an anecdote. "

"I don't know where to begin, or what to say, " replied Polly, fallinginto deep thought. 

"I just believe she does sigh at the end of every needle, " musedDotty; "I'm going to keep 'count. That's once. "

"Please, Miss Polly, tell a _nanny-goat_, " said Flyaway, dancingaround the room. "Please, Miss Polly, and I'll kiss you a prettylittle kiss. "

"Twice, " whispered Dotty. 

"Well, I'll tell you something that will pass for an anecdote, oncondition that you call me _aunt_ Polly; that name warms my heart agreat deal better than _Miss_ Polly. "

"Three!" said Dotty aloud. "We will, honestly, if we can think of it, aunt Polly. --Four. "

"Le'me gwout for the sidders, first, " said busy Flyaway. 

"There, aunt Polly, you forgot it that time! You sprang up quick toshut the door, and forgot it. "

"Forgot what?"

"You didn't sigh at the end of your needle. "

"Why, Dotty, how you do talk! Any one would suppose, by that, I was inthe habit of sighing! I have a stitch in my side, child, and it makesme draw a long breath now and then; that's all. "

Flyaway was back again, "With step-step light, and tip-tap slight Against the door. "

"Come in, " said Dotty, "and see if you can keep still two wholeminutes; but I know you can't. "

Miss Polly let her work fall in her lap, and drew up the left sleeveof her black alpaca dress. "Do you see that scar, children?"

It was just below the elbow, --an irregular, purple mark, about thesize of a new cent. 

"Why, Miss--why, aunt Polly!"

"I've got one on me too, " said Flyaway, pulling at her apron sleeve;"Hollis did it with the tongs. "

"It can't be; not a scar like mine. "

"Bigger 'n' larger 'n' yours; only but I can't find it, " said Flyaway, carefully twisting around her dainty white arm, which Polly kissed, and said was as sweet as a peach. "Bigger 'n' larger 'n' yours. Where'sit gone to? O, I feegot--'twas on my _sleeve_, and I never put it onto-day. "

"You're a droll child, not to know the difference between scars anddirt! When I was almost as young and quite as innocent, that wickedlittle boy bit me, and I shall carry the marks of his teeth to mygrave. " With another lingering glance at the purple mark, Polly drewdown her sleeve, sighed, and began to knit again. 

"Was it the woman's child that made you dig, that you told about lastsummer?"

"Yes; I was a bound girl. "

"Bound to what?" Dotty was trying to drown the remembrance of Prudy'sten cents; so she wished to keep Miss Polly talking. 

"Bound to Mrs. Potter till I was eighteen years old. Her husband keptpublic house. They made a perfect slave of me. When I was twelveyears old I had to milk three cows, besides spinning my day's work onthe flax-wheel. And very often all I had for supper was brown breadand skim milk. I didn't have any grandfather's house to go to, with aseat in the trees, and a boat on the water, and a swing, and a summerhouse, and a _crocky-set_ (croquet set). Not I!"

Flyaway was cutting paper dolls with all speed, but her sweet littleface was drawn into curves of pity. 

"Too bad! Naughty folks to give you _skilmick_. "

"I had to scour all the knives too. I did it by drawing them back andforth into a sand-bank back of the house. This Isaac I speak of was alazy boy, and very unkind to me; but his mother wouldn't hear a wordagainst him. One day I brushed a traveller's coat, and got a silverquarter for my trouble. I thought everything of that quarter. I hadnever had so much money before in my life. I had half a mind to put itin the Savings Bank; 'and who knows, ' thought I, 'but I can add moreto it, one of these days, and buy my time. '"

"Why, Miss Polly, I didn't know you could _buy_ time!"

"But you knew you could throw it away, I suppose, " said Polly, with asad smile. "What I mean is this: I wanted to pay Mrs. Potter somemoney, so I could go free before I was eighteen. "

"Then you would be _unbound_, aunt Polly. "

"Yes; but one day Isaac found my money, --I kept it in an oldtobacco-box, --and, just to hector me, he kept tossing it up in theair, till all of a sudden it fell through a crack in the floor; andthat was the last I saw of it. "

[Illustration: "HERE HE IS!"]

"What a naughty, careless boy!"

After Dotty had said this, she blushed. 

"Naughty, careless boy!" echoed Flyaway. "Here he is!" holding up apaper doll shaped very much like a whale, with the fin divided forlegs, the ears of a cat, and the arms of a windmill. "Here he is!"

"He didn't look much like that, " said Polly, laughing. "He had plentyof money of his own, and I tried to make him give me back a quarter;but do you believe he wouldn't, not even a ninepence? And when Iteased him, that was the time he bit my arm. "

"He oughtn't to bitted your arm, course, indeed not!"

"But, aunt Polly, " faltered Dotty, whose efforts to forget theten-cent piece had proved worse than useless, "but it didn't do Isaacany good to lose your money down a crack. "

"No, it was sheer mischief. "

"And if it doesn't do folks any good to lose things, you know, why, what's the use--to--to--go and get his own money to pay it backwith?--Isaac I mean. "

"What do you say, Dotty Parlin? You, a child that goes to Sabbathschool! Don't you know it is a sin to steal a pin? And if we lose orinjure other people's things, and don't make it up to them, we're asgood as thieves. "

"As good?"

"As bad, then. "

"But s'posin'--s'posin' folks lose things when they _don't_ toss 'emup in the air, and don't mean to, --the wind, you know, or a kind of anaccident, Miss Polly, --"

"Well?"

"And s'posin' I didn't have any more money 'n I wanted myself, andPrudy had the most--H'm--"

"Well?"

"Then it isn't as bad as thieves; now is it? She's got the most. Prudy's older 'n I am--"

"Honesty is honesty, " said Miss Polly, firmly, "in young or old. Ifyou've lost your sister's money, you must make it up to her. "

"O, must I, Miss Polly? Such a tinty-tonty mite of money as I'vegot, --only sixty-five cents. "

"Honesty is honesty, " repeated Miss Polly, "in rich or poor. "

"Dear me! will my mother say so, too?"

"Your mother is on the right side, Dotty. The Bible tells us to 'dealjustly. ' There's nothing said there about excusing poor folks. "

"O, dear! do you s'pose the Bible expects me to pay Prudy Parlin tencents, when it just blew out of my hands, and didn't do me a speck ofgood?"

"Why, Dotty, you surprise me! Any one would think you were brought upa heathen! If you were a small child I could understand it. "

"I knew I should have to do it, " moaned Dotty. 

"I advise you to lose no time about it, then; that is the cause ofyour blues, I guess. We can't be happy out of the line of our duty, "sighed Miss Polly, who regarded herself as a pattern of cheerfulness. 

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do, " said Dotty, resolutely; "I'mgoing right off to pay that money to Prudy, and then I'll be in theline of my duty. "

CHAPTER XII. 

FULL NIPPERKIN. 

Prudy scorned to take the ten cents. "Did you think your 'middle-aged'sister would do such a thing, when she has more money than you have, Dotty Dimple? If you're only sorry, that's all I ask. I didn't like tohave you laugh, as if you didn't care. "

"But, Prudy, I want to be honest. "

"And so you have been, dear child, " said grandma Parlin, with anapproving smile. "If Prudy chooses now to give you the money, receiveit as a present, and say, 'Thank you. '"

"O, thank you, Prudy Parlin, over and over, and up to the moon, " criedDotty, throwing her arms around her kind sister's neck. "I'll neverlose anything of yours again; no, never, never!"

This lesson was laid away on a shelf in Dotty's memory. Close besideit was another lesson, still more wholesome. 

"Dotty Dimple isn't the best girl that ever lived. She had to betalked to and talked to, before she was willing to do right. She isn'tany better than Jennie Vance, after all. Why did she pray that naughtyprayer, just to make Jennie feel bad? God must have thought it wasvery strange!"

Grandma saw that Dotty's "blues" were dissolving like a morning mist;still she knew the child was in need of patchwork, and told her so. 

"Let us all take our work, " said she, "and sit together in thenursery, so we may forget the dull weather. "

Grace brought her piqué apron down stairs to make, Susy her tatting, Prudy a handkerchief, Dotty a square of patchwork, while Flyawaydanced about for a needle and thread. 

"What a happy group!" said Mrs. Clifford, looking up from her sewing. She had forgotten Polly Whiting, who was mournfully toeing off a sockfor Horace, while he sat on the floor, at her feet, mending herdouble-covered basket. 

"Why, Katie, darling, " said Grace, "what are you doing with thatbeautiful ribbon?"

"Aunt Louise said I might make a bag, Gracie--"

"Seems to me aunt Louise lets you do everything; I shouldn't want youto spoil that ribbon. "

"They shan't bother my little Topknot, " said Horace, with a sweep ofhis thumb. "She is going to have all my clothes to make bags of, whenshe grows up. "

Flyaway, who knew she had a good right to the ribbon, pressed hereyelids together slowly. 

"If I's Gracie, " said she, severely, "I'd make aprons; if I's mammaI'd sew dresses; if I's Flywer, I'd do just's I want to. "

And then she went on sewing; without any thimble. 

"Girls, have you guessed yet why a wheelbarrow is like a potato?"

"No, Horace; why is it?"

"O, I was in hopes you could tell. I don't know, I am sure. It is asmuch as I can do to make up a conundrum, without finding out theanswer. "

The children laughed at this, but none of them so loud as Flyaway, who thought her brother the wisest, wittiest, and noblest specimen ofboyhood that ever lived. 

"How our needles do fly!" said Dotty, merrily. 

She was a neat and swift little seamstress, even superior to Prudy. 

"See, " said Flyaway to Horace; "I work faster 'n my mamma, 'cause she'sgot a big dress to work on: of course she can't sew so quick as I canon a little bag. "

"Prudy can sew better and faster than I can, " said Dotty, with asudden gush of humility. 

"Why, Dotty Dimple, I don't think so, " returned Prudy, quitesurprised. 

"Neither do I, " said aunt Maria; "I am afraid our little Dotty ishardly sincere. "

Dotty's head drooped a little. "I know it, auntie; I do sew thenicest; but I was afraid it wouldn't be polite if I told it just as itwas, and Prudy so good to me, too. "

"If she is good, is that any reason why you should tell her a wrongstory?" remarked the plain-spoken Susy, giving a twitch to hertatting-thread. 

"Children, " said Mrs. Clifford, laughing, "do you remember thosehideous green goggles I wore a year ago?"

"O, yes 'm, " replied Grace; "they made your eyes stick out so! Why, you looked like a frog, ma', more than anything else. "

"Well, a certain lady of my acquaintance was so polite as to tell memy goggles were very becoming. "

"O, ma, who could it have been?"

"I prefer not to give you her name. I appreciated her kind wish toplease me, but I could not think her sincere. "

"O, Susy, " said Grace, "if you could have seen those goggles! A littlebasket for each eye, made of green wire, like a fly cover! Ma, did youever believe a word that lady said afterwards?"

"Flatterers are not generally to be trusted, " replied Mrs. Clifford. "Flyaway, that is the fourth needle you have lost. "

Here was another lesson for Dotty's memory-shelf. "I must not saythings that are not true, just to be polite. It is flattering andwicked; and besides that, people always know better. "

It was a quiet, busy, cheerful day. Dotty forgot to complain of theweather. Just before supper Flyaway jumped down from her grandpapa'sknee, where she had been talking to him through his "conversation-tube, "and ran to the window. 

"Why, 'tisn't raining, " cried she; "true's I'm walking on this floor'tisn't raining!"

Dotty clapped her hands, and watched the sun coming out like puregold, and turning the dark clouds into silver. 

"We were patient and willing for it to rain, " said she; "but of coursethat wasn't why it cleared off. "

And it wasn't why Flyaway lost her thumb-nail, either. She lostthat--or half of it--in the crack of the door. The poor little thumbwas very painful, and had to be put in a cot. 

"It wearies me, " said Flyaway; "it makes me afraid I shan't ever havea nail on there again. "

Her mother assured her she would. The same God who calls up the littleblades of grass out of the ground could make a finger-nail grow. 

"Will He?" said Flyaway, smiling through tears; "but 'haps He'llforget how it looks. Musn't I save a piece of my nail, mamma, and layit up on the shelf, so He can see it, and make the other one like it?"

Mrs. Clifford put the nail in her jewel-box, and I dare say it may bethere to this day. 

Just as Flyaway, in her nightie, was having a frolic with Grace, therewas a sound of wheels. The stage, which Horace called the "Oriole"because it had a yellow breast, was rolling into the yard. 

"It's my mother--my mother, " cried the three Parlins together. 

Yes, and who was that little girl getting down just after her? Her hatcovered her eyes. "It isn't Tate Penny!" Why, to be sure it was! Therewas her dimpled chin; and if that wasn't proof enough, there was thewart on her thumb!

To think such a glorious thing as this could happen to Dotty! and shenot the best girl in the world either! A visit from her bosom friend!"Aunt 'Ria, do you understand? Aunt Louise? Gracie? This is _TatePenny_!"

"Who asked her to come? How did she happen to be with mamma, the sameday, in the same cars?"

Well, grandma Parlin invited her to come. "When one lives in anIndia-rubber house, " she said, "a few people more or less make nodifference at all. She wished Dotty's 'nipperkin' of happiness to befull for once. "

And it was: it ran over. There were joyful days for the nextfortnight. I could never draw the picture of them with my pen, even ifI had the paper left to put it on. They kept house under the trees;they baked their food in a brick oven Horace made; they gave a party;they had boat rides; they had swings; they never went into the houseunless it rained; they were never cross to one another, or rude toJennie Vance; it was like living in fairy-land. 

It was a glorious summer. I almost wish it had not come to an end;though, in that case, I suppose I should never have stopped tellingabout it. By and by vacation was over, and Tate went off in the samestage with the Parlins. You could never guess what she and Dotty eachput so carefully into their bosoms, to keep "forever. " It was asplinter of the dear old barn where they had had such good timesjumping!

Three weeks afterwards the "Oriole" drove up to grandpapa Parlin'sagain, and this time for the Cliffords. Flyaway danced into it like apiece of thistle-down. Everybody threw good-by kisses, and the stagerattled away. 

And after that, dears, as Flyaway will say to her grandchildren, "things went into a mist. " And this is all I have to tell you aboutthe Parlins, the Cliffords, and the Willowbrook home. 

THE END. 

 * * * * *

DOTTY DIMPLE STORIES. 

To be completed in six vols. Handsomely Illustrated. Each vol. , 75 cts. 

1. DOTTY DIMPLE AT HER GRANDMOTHER'S. 2. DOTTY DIMPLE AT HOME. 3. DOTTY DIMPLE OUT WEST. 4. DOTTY DIMPLE AT PLAY. 5. DOTTY DIMPLE AT SCHOOL. 6. DOTTY DIMPLE'S FLYAWAY. 

BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 

LITTLE PRUDY STORIES. 

Now complete. Six vols. 24mo. Handsomely Illustrated. In a neat box. Per vol. , 75 cts. Comprising

LITTLE PRUDY. LITTLE PRUDY'S SISTER SUSIE. LITTLE PRUDY'S CAPTAIN HORACE. LITTLE PRUDY'S COUSIN GRACE. LITTLE PRUDY'S STORY BOOK. LITTLE PRUDY'S DOTTY DIMPLE.