Margaret Sidney

Name: Five Little Peppers and How They Grew — 14. A Letter to Jasper
Author: Margaret Sidney

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

Summary

“Five Little Peppers and How They Grew — 14. A Letter to Jasper”, published in 1909, is a work by Margaret Sidney. It explores elements such as Polly, Phronsie and Ben.

Quotes from Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (Margaret Sidney)

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

“ So Ben reached down from the upper shelf in the cupboard the ink bottle, and a pen in a black wooden penholder.
“Oh, mamsie,” cried Polly, “that's where Phronsie bit it off when she was a baby, isn't it?” holding up the stubby end where the little ball had disappeared.
“Yes,” said Mrs. Pepper, “and now you're going to write about her 'gingerbread boy' with it—well, time goes, to be sure.” And she bent over her work again, harder than ever. Poor woman! if she could only scrape together enough money to get her children into school—that was the earnest wish of her heart. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

“ Pepper, in pride.
So Polly began: “Dear Mister Jasper we were all dreadfully sorry that you didn't come and so we baked you some cakes.'—You didn't say anything about his being sick, Ben.”
“I forgot it,” said Ben, “but I put it in farther down—you'll see if you read on.”
“Baked you some cakes—that is, Polly did, for this is Ben that's writing.”
“You needn't said that, Ben,” said Polly, dissatisfied; “we all baked 'em, I'm sure. 'And just as soon as you get well we do want you to come over and have the baking. We're real sorry you're sick—boneset's good for colds.” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

“ Pepper, going up back of the child, who sat patiently in her high chair waiting for Polly to let her begin, “hadn't you rather wait and give your 'gingerbread boy' to Jasper for his father, when he comes?”
“Oh, no, no,” cried Phronsie, twisting in her chair in great apprehension, “I want to send it now, I do.”
“Well, Polly,” said her mother, laughing, “after all it's best, I think, to let her; it can't do any harm anyway—and instead of Mr. King's not letting Jasper come, if he's a sensible man that won't make any difference ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

“ Pepper, “I guess his father knows what to give him.”
“And oh! the bitter stuff!” cried Polly, with a wry face.
“Well, it's hard work to write,” said Ben, yawning. “I'd rather chop wood.”
“I wish! knew how,” exclaimed Joel, longingly.
“Just you try every day; Ben'll teach you, Joe,” said his mother, eagerly, “and then I'll let you write.”
“I will!” cried Joe; “then, Dave, you'll see how I'll write—I tell you!”
“And I'm goin' to—ma, can't I?” said Davie, unwilling to be outdone.
“Yes, you may, be sure,” said Mrs. Pepper, delighted; “that'll make a man of you fast.” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

“ Pepper, seeing Phronsie's delighted face, and laughing as she went back to her work, “but what that gingerbread boy'll go.”
When the little cakes were done, eight of them, and set upon the table for exhibition, they one and all protested that they never saw so fine a lot. Polly was delighted with the praise they received, and her mother's commendation that she was “growing a better cook every day.” “How glad Jasper'll be, won't he, mamsie?” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

“ And her forehead puckered up in a little hard knot.
“We'll have to do 'em up in a paper, Polly,” said Ben; “there isn't any other way; they'll look nice in anything, 'cause they are nice,” he added, comfortingly.
“If we only had some flowers,” said Polly, “that would set 'em off.”
“You're always a-thinkin' of flowers, Polly,” said Ben. “I guess the cakes'll have to go without 'em.”
“I suppose they will,” said Polly, stifling a little sigh. “Where's the paper?”
“I've got a nice piece up-stairs,” said Ben, “just right; I'll get it.” ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (1909)

“ Pepper, cheerily, “when you can't do any other way.”
“Yes,” said Ben, “that's so, Polly; tie 'em up quick's you can, and I'll take 'em over to Deacon Blodgett's, for he's goin' to start early in the morning.”
So after another last look all around, Polly put the cakes in the paper, and tied it with four or five strong knots, to avoid all danger of its undoing.
“He never'll untie it, Polly,” said Ben; “that's just like a girl's knots!”
“Why didn't you tie it then?” said Polly; “I'm sure it's as good as a boy's knots, and they always muss up a parcel so.” ”

Margaret Sidney

Summary

Quotes from Five Little Peppers and How They Grew… (Margaret Sidney)

Common terms

Similar works

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature