Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

“ Mr. John Adams, Aunt Martha's husband, came in. "Whew! but it is a cold night! It seems mighty good to get home," he said. He kissed Martha and patted the children's and Emmeline's heads.
Then Annie came to the door and said that dinner was ready. After dinner Emmeline read a little while, then went to bed. When she had left the room after her good-night kisses, Mr. John Adams looked across his evening paper at his wife and sister-in-law.
"That girl is going to make havoc with young men's hearts before very long," said he.
"She is growing prettier every day," assented Martha. ”

“ Emmeline said, wonderingly, "you remember how you met him last summer when you had that sprig of boy's-love in your shoe."
"Huh!" said Anita, quite violently. "I don't know as I have much faith in that sign, anyway. Johnny Woodfield isn't the only boy in this town, and I don't waste my thoughts on any boy myself. I am going to begin to study French with Miss Laselle next week. Grandmother says perhaps I can go to Europe for a year after I am through the high school, and if I can't speak French nobody can understand a word I say. I might just as well be a cat travelling!" ”

“ Elizabeth Bussell gave a party for her nephew, and Emmeline was invited. Mrs. Russell sent her carriage for her. Emmeline had her first silk dress to wear. It was made over from one her mother had worn when a girl. It was white silk sprinkled with little silver dots. Emmeline's hair was tied with a great white bow, and she had white shoes, and she looked, her mother and aunt thought, the prettiest thing in the world. "I am glad the dear child doesn't know what a beauty she is," said Mrs. Ames, after the carriage had rolled away.
"She hasn't an idea," said Martha. ”

“ It is easy to see that the boy has been brought up by a good woman. He shows it." Mrs. Ames had a dreamy look in her eyes. Her sister smiled a little furtive smile.
They both thought Emmeline, up-stairs in her little room, was asleep, but she was not. She was too happy to sleep. She was one of the very few on the face of this earth who dream, and keep the precious crystal of the dream unshattered by the shock with reality. ”

“ He stopped and rested on his stick when he met Emmeline, and felt in his overcoat pocket, from which he drew a sticky molasses drop. Then he thrust the sweet into Emmeline's mouth with a loud cackle of intense enjoyment. ”

“ Emmeline walked along, gazing hopefully ahead. She was slight and straight, and carried her delicate chin high. She was very pretty, and she was glad on account of the Boy. She stepped daintily, carefully pointing her toes out. She had a tendency to toe in, which she was trying to overcome. She was going to the store. She had a number of commissions for her mother and aunt.
It was very cold, and the snow, which was trodden hard, gave out silvery creaks underfoot. ”

“ She sat miserably on the pile of corn, and waited for morning. She soon realized that there were mice, if not rats, in the corn-house. She had frequently to move about to keep them quiet.
Finally the sun rose. Then she took up her station at the window. People began to pass, on the road, walking and driving. Emmeline, whenever she thought she was safe in so doing, cried out, but her voice did not carry well and nobody heard her. ”

“ Mrs. Ames smiled proudly, but a little uneasily. "Don't put such ideas into the child's head, John," she said.
"There is no need of putting in things which are there already," said John, shrewdly. Then the door-bell rang and he had to go into another room to see a man on business.
Mrs. Ames regarded her sister with a troubled expression. "You don't think that baby has begun to even think of such things?" she said, piteously.
"Of course not, dear," replied Martha. "It is only John's nonsense."
"She always tells me everything," said Mrs. ”

“ Ticknor's brutal treatment of his family. She reflected that since Mr. Ticknor mistook her for his daughter Violetta he might, if he caught her, be brutal to her. She ran on. The hoarse shouts gained in intensity. ”