Carrie L. May

“ Mamma decided that it could not longer be endured. Flora hid it somewhere in the garden, (the place was known only to herself and Dinah,) and every day enjoyed it as best she could, in the open air and alone. Even Charley and Bertie were tired of musk, and they tried first to coax and then to bribe Flora, without success. Finally they laughed at her, and called her a little cosset.
"I ain't that," she said to Charley, who gave her the name. She always doubted Charley. "I ain't anything but a little girl." ”

“ I could buy the Baby Pitcher's canary to-morrow. Couldn't I, pet?"
Flora had come in, as she did every morning, to inquire about the musk-rat.
"Buy it to-day," said Flora.
"Couldn't buy it to-day for want of money."
"You must not think anything about the bird," said Bertie, "for Charley never will have any money."
"What a prospect!" said Charley.
"Not a very bright one for Flora, I must confess." [Pg 74]
"She has my word, and that is as good as gold."
"Mustn't tell a story," said Flora. "If you don't have any money that will be a story." ”

“ He half expected to find a musk-rat in his trap. He had made the path to it so easy and inviting, surely something must have found the way thither. Not a musk-rat, perhaps, but something. When he got there, he was surprised to find a boy examining his trap. It was not an agreeable surprise, for the boy was Jack Midnight; the very last person in the world with whom he desired to have any dealings. It was the same Jack who dishonestly made way with Charley's calico rooster. Bertie was angry. ”

“ They always wiggle when the heart's a-beating. They are dead all the same, though. Now you want to take his hide off."
"Not yet," said Bertie, quickly.
"Better be a doing of it while he is warm."
"I must show him up first."
As he raised the musk-rat tenderly by the long, bare tail, his heart swelled in his breast. What would Charley say to musk-rat catching now? He himself had never dreamed of luck like this, and Charley would be astounded. He was absently moving off, when Jack called:
"Here, you young trapper! Don't be a-dodging off without making ready for more of the same family!" ”

“ When she knew that the birdy could be buried only once, and that she was not to disturb the spot, she mourned her loss afresh. But Amy told her she would plant a daisy on the little mound, and it should be her own, and she should think of her bird whenever the flowers bloomed. And Charley promised to buy a bright yellow canary, if he could ever save money enough, and it should be "a regular screamer." She wanted Bertie to make the cage at once, but Bertie thought he could not make a cage good enough for a canary. ”

“ Besides he would have been afraid, for Jack was a big boy. He was larger, stronger, and a great deal older than Bertie, and he was much better qualified [Pg 59] for fighting in every way. He had had a deal of practice. But when a boy is angry, he does not stop to consider consequences. It was fortunate for Bertie that Jack did not feel disposed to quarrel with him. He could have shaken him as easily as a dog shakes a squirrel, and resistance would have been of no avail. For once, Jack was doing nothing to be ashamed of, and he knew he was right. That helps a boy a great deal. ”

“ The sun had gone away from the step, and Flora was somewhat chilly, so she pinned the shawl tightly about Dinah and walked up and down the porch. "You don't know everything," she said, sharply, "because you ain't old enough. And I ain't. Did you think I was? No. I will tell you who is. Mamma is. She is ever so old, and she knows all there is in the world. When she tells me to put on my warm jacket, I don't cry. ”

“ He thought it the best piece of news he had ever heard, and he left his warm, corner to thank Bertie in his dumb but eloquent way. He looked up into Bertie's face and wagged his tail, and said as plainly as a dog could say, that he was grateful. Mamma exchanged the blue dress for a flannel wrapper. It never could be called pretty again. Then she brushed out the wet curls and chafed the rosy feet with her own warm hands. Under such treatment, Flora began to revive.
"Going to be a good girl," she said, gratefully. ”

“ The little princess made the sunshine."
"Oh, goody!" exclaimed Flora, clapping her hands. "How did she do it?"
"Why," said mamma, smiling, and putting her arm round the little girl's neck, "she brought her footstool to the queen's side and told the queen a story." ”

“ CHAPTER XIV. HAPPY TOWZER.
owzer lay on the warm hearth and blinked at the fire, while his thick coat was drying.
"I tell you what it is," said Bertie; "if there is any virtue in good living, I mean to put a streak of fat on that fellow's bones."
"You can't do it," returned Jack. "I have been a-working on him these two years. He is one of your lean kind."
"I intend to try it, to pay for his kindness to Flora."
"How would it do to plaster him all over with beef steak?" queried Charley. [Pg 143]
"That is my plan," said Bertie. "What do you think of it, my dog?" ”

“ Perhaps the black baby whispered her wishes in the ear of her mistress, and Flora was quite willing to oblige her. When they went out, the steps of the porch were dry, and there was no longer any mist; so Flora was at liberty to go where she pleased. That is to say, she was at liberty to go wherever mamma pleased. Down to the barn, over to auntie's, where Charley and Bertie lived, or in to see Grandma; but she was not to wander away or play in the public street, [Pg 32] and she was on no account to go where she could not keep home in view. She might roam about the grounds all day if she liked ”

“ Flora was not long in making that discovery, and she felt [Pg 150] worse about the perfumery than she did about Dinah. She knew that was lost when she put her hand in the pocket of her blue dress, but she did not give up Dinah for a long, long time. In fact she never felt certain that the black baby would not return to her. If she had gone to be a blackbird, as Charley suggested, why, she might be coming back some day. Perhaps she would get tired of being a bird, or she might break a wing as the robin had done, and if she did, she should never get another chance to fly away. ”

“ The little blue cart and the limping horse sometimes passed, and, although the soap man was always on the lookout, he never again found Flora waiting to take a ride. She did not forget what mamma told her: [Pg 156] "Ladies do not ride in carts, and they never ask to ride with strangers. Little girls cannot be expected to do right always; but good children always try to do right."
"I am glad I did not see you riding with the soap man," said Amy. ”

“ When he knows he is right, he does not feel half so much like striking back. Perhaps you think he did strike back when he replied to Bertie's uncivil words; but you must remember that Jack was a desperate fellow, and if he had not been well disposed he would hardly have taken the trouble to strike with his tongue. And language that would sound very rough from the lips of a better bred boy, was not so bad, after all, coming from Jack Midnight. He was secretly very [Pg 60] much ashamed of his conduct towards the rooster, particularly as Charley and Bertie had never taken any notice of it. ”

“ Flora knew where to look for nice, fat worms, so she left Bertie to take care of Dinah and the robin, while she went in pursuit of a breakfast for the birdy. There was a family that lived under a certain plank, and as it was a large family there was always somebody at home. ”

“ When she got tired of talking to Dinah, she walked over to state her grievance to Grandma, and to be on hand when the tarts were distributed. Flora was not old enough to go to school. Her troubles in that direction had not yet begun, but lunch with her [Pg 97] was a very important matter, and she never failed to be present when it was passed round. Grandma always had something good ready for the children. "The dear things get so hungry studying," she said. When she was young, three months schooling in the winter was enough for any one. ”

“ Big girls know where they want to go better than mamma does. Don't they? Course they do. Did you say no? That is what mamma says. So you may turn your head round. If you don't look that way, you will forget all about it. And I will."
Flora was right. She turned her head and forgot all about it. There was something else to think of. Somebody was getting over the wall at the foot of the garden. Who was it? She ran to the other end of the porch to see.
"Is that you?" she called. No answer. "Is that you, I say?"
Bertie (for it was Bertie,) looked up and nodded. ”

“ It is dreadful to be hungry when there is nothing good to eat in your pocket. There was nothing good to eat in Flora's pocket. She turned it wrong side out, hoping to find a few crumbs in the corners, but there was not one; and then she remembered that it was her blue dress which had been worn but a few days ”

“ Water was brought; but the birdy would not drink, although he opened his bill so wide when Flora pushed his head into the porringer that she thought he was drinking.
"He is only gasping," said Bertie. "Birds cannot breathe with their heads under water. Nobody can." ”

“ Charley and Bertie were more kindly disposed towards him than they had ever expected to be, and they concluded that he was not such a very bad boy, after all.
"I believe there is good in every one," said Bertie, "if you can only get at it." [Pg 92]
"Of course there is," said Amy, quickly. "Have you just found that out?"
"I admit that I have always looked upon Jack as bad clear through."
"Same here," confessed Charley.
"Nobody is," declared Amy, with emphasis.
"It takes these girls to stand up for a fellow, doesn't it?"
"That's so, Charley. Girls in general, and our Amy in particular." ”

“ Bertie caught it in a trap."
"That's what I have been smelling all along."
"Yes," said Flora.
"I thought there was a musquash somewhere near."
"It is only me."
She took a prolonged sniff, and restored the precious perfume to her pocket.
"Mamma don't like it, and Grandma don't. I do. And Dinah does. And you do."
"Not much, I don't."
"Smells good?" [Pg 119]
"Good and strong, yes. Now little musquash, farewell."
"No," said Flora.
"Look here, miss. Won't you catch it for running away?"
"Why, Mr. Podge! What a funny man! Ain't running away. Taking a ride. Runned away once. ”

“ He cautiously parted his hands, and Flora looked in; but the space was very narrow, and she was so eager that she could not see very well. So he separated his hands a little more, and then she saw the bright eyes and round head of a bird.
"Oo!" she exclaimed.
"Robin," said Bertie.
"Alive?"
"Can't you see?"
He stopped, and Flora took another look.
"It is alive. I am so glad."
"But you must not clap your hands. That [Pg 35] makes a wind, and he is awfully afraid of a wind. It makes him shake like everything. I wish you could feel his heart beat."
Flora eagerly held out her hands. ”

“ I know a man that buys all he can get. There you are! [Pg 69] A heap better off than you was before. I reckon that trap will hold a musquash next time it catches one."
"Thank you," said Bertie.
"And if the spring don't happen to kill him, just touch him on the head with a stone. A little tap will do it, for he is mighty tender about the head."
Bertie said "Thank you" again, and Jack helped him bait and set the trap, and this time a deadly snare was laid for the musk-rat. Bertie was late to breakfast. Charley looked up inquiringly as he walked in and took his seat at the table ”

“ The hand [Pg 111] was very red, and it was greasy; but Flora did not mind that. She grasped it firmly, and was lifted to the narrow seat, and then the lame horse started into a jog. Beside being narrow, the seat was so short that Flora had to sit very close to the greasy driver, and her pretty blue dress was not improved by contact with his frock, which was blue, also.
"Papa's horse does not dance that way," she said, regretfully.
"It isn't every horse that can be trained to that sort of thing," returned the driver, gravely. "Mine, now, is one out of a thousand. How will your pa swap?" ”

“ It is a robin. You can go because you have a black face. Always wear black to funerals. I will, and Bertie will,—round our hats. You mustn't [Pg 49] laugh. Good folks don't laugh at funerals, and I don't. Only bad. There's a worm. Want to look? That is the robin's breakfast going home. He lives down there under a plank. I can't lift it, and you can't. Bertie can. He don't want no more breakfast. Course not! He is going to be dead. Bury him when Amy and Charley come. Somewhere. Do you know where? I don't. Bertie does. ”

“ Everybody came out to examine Bertie's prize, and everybody said it was a beauty. Flora clapped her hands, for now she was to have all the 'fumery she wanted. It lay at full length on the piazza, until it had been duly admired by every one on the premises, and then it was carried over to Grandma's.
"Bless me!" exclaimed the old lady, as the children rushed in and laid the musk-rat at her feet.
"Bless me! Open that window, Amy [Pg 83] dear. I never can breathe with a creetur like that in the house. Take it right out, dears." ”

“ When they looked back, she waved her hand, and, before passing out of sight, Charley threw a farewell kiss.
"It was not for you," she said to the black baby, "so you need not look so pleasant about it. It was for me. And now we will go in and write on the white slate; but you must not touch it, for somebody has clumsy fingers and black fingers. It isn't me—my fingers are white; and it isn't Amy. It is you. Dolls don't know so much as other folks, and dolls break things. I don't. If [Pg 31] you break that slate, Amy will cry. ”

“ Jack was going to say "tender as a [Pg 68] chicken," but he remembered the calico and so avoided the use of the word.
"I am sure you are joking," declared Bertie.
"Not a bit of it," said Jack. "I wouldn't ask for a better dinner. The critter is like some other folks, not half so bad as you try to make him out. He has got a bad name, and that is the worst thing there is about him."
"Except his odor."
"That's not so bad either after you get used to it."
"Ugh!"
"Musquash is no better, if they do pay a good price for it."
"Do they?"
"They do. To make scent of for the ladies. ”