Sarah Cory Rippey

“ Sammy looked about him in surprise. He was in a room filled with the queerest little men he had ever seen, men with funny clothes and twinkly eyes; while right in front of him on a throne sat a very splendid person. Sammy knew by his robes and his crown that this splendid person must be a king.
Sammy had never before seen a real king. He opened his mouth in awe.
The king thought Sammy was going to yawn.
"No yawning here!" he cried, giving Sammy a sharp little rap with his scepter. "This is the Land of the Wide-Awakes. We always wake up the sleepy people." ”

“ His eyes looked the question his lips wanted to ask.
"No, Teddy," said his mother. "For then it would be my present instead of yours."
"But Arthur's hands get so cold carrying the clothes!" Teddy's eyes fell to his own hands, which were always snug and warm in their red mittens. The washerwoman's little boy had no mittens.
"Earn some money, Teddy," suggested his mother.
Teddy's face fell. "How can I?" he said.
"Keep your eyes open and do the thing they tell you to do."
"All right," answered Teddy. "I'll try." ”

“ Redbreast," Helen answered. "I'm sure she needs it. But how shall I do it?"
Mr. Redbreast winked wisely. "You'll find a way—a way—a way!" he trilled.
Helen spanked a pillow and stood it in its place on the bed. "Thank you, Mr. Redbreast," she answered politely. "I'll try."
Mr. Redbreast gave his tail a pleased little shake and flew away, leaving Helen to spank the other pillow and to wonder what she could do to "help her-r-r, cheer her-r-r."
A blue ribbon was hanging out of the top bureau drawer. "The very thing!" cried Helen. "I'll straighten out her drawer. It's always in a muss!" ”

“ But Mollie thought the rabbits winked at her as she laid Dear Doll Dainty gently on the couch and put the book in its place on the table.
INDIAN HUGHIE
Hughie had always wanted to be an Indian. One day he told his mamma about it.
"Well," she said, "why not be an Indian?"
Hughie looked down at his little blue suit and his low shoes. "I can't be an Indian," he said. "I haven't any bow and arrow 'r—'r anything Indians have. And anyway, little boys can't be Indians."
"Oh, yes, they can," said his mamma. "Indians are strong and brave. Any little boy can be that. How do you do, Chief Hughie?" ”

“ I don't care to belong to a little girl with the Pouts."
Dear Doll Dainty walked to the door.
"Wait a minute, Dear Doll Dainty," squeaked the rabbits that were capering around the top of the wall; "we're coming too." And with a great scurry, down slid the bunnies. "We're tired of trying to make a cross little girl happy."
"So are we," added the roses on the curtains sweetly, as they let themselves down by their thorns and walked to the door on their stems.
"And we." The pillows Mollie's impatient little fists had punched dropped to the floor and started off. ”

“ Sammy Sleepyhead was cured.
Mary Jane came back with her pail full of water
THE GOING-TO CLUB
The Going-To Club had only one member. Bobby Brant was that member. In fact, Bobby was the club.
It was his mother who named him the Going-To Club. It always took at least two askings to get Bobby to do anything. Sometimes it took three or four. Bobby was always "going to."
This club always met when there was something Bobby wanted particularly to do; and it met most often in the spring, when the boys were out flying their kites. In the spring nobody could get Bobby to do anything. ”

“ That's the way people do, you know."
Just then Honor Bright came out. "Hail, President Honor Bright!" they all cried.
Honor Bright thought they said, "I love you." And really, it meant the same thing.
Every day Rose-Red cut fresh flowers and arranged them for the house
ROSE-RED AND RUTHIE
It was Rose Mary's mother who named her Rose-Red. Rose-Ready, it was at first, because Rose Mary was always ready to help. Then it became just Rose-Red, for short.
Rose-Red had much of the sweetness of her name flower, and few of the thorns. That is why, when Ruthie slapped her, Rose-Red didn't slap back. ”

“ Billy Boy's face clouded. "I—I'd rather not go there, mamma," he said. "Mrs. Thomas is so cross. That's what the boys say."
"That's because they tease her cat, Billy Boy. Remember about the key, and you'll be all right."
Chief Hughie thought it would be fun to shoot at something that moved
She plunged her hand deep down in her pocket and drew out a bright new nickel
Billy Boy picked up his baskets and marched off. ”

“ And if you should pass Jean's house some morning before breakfast, you could see the way for yourself. For every day Jean scatters crumbs and grain on the lawn for the birds and puts fresh water in their drinking bowl.
"For Goldie's sake," she whispers to herself, as the birds fly down for their breakfast.
As for the naughty imp "I Forgot," he is fast turning into the lovely fairy "I Remember."
HOW SAMMY WAS CURED
Sammy was a pretty good boy in some ways, but in one way he was a very naughty boy indeed. He never got up when he was called. ”

“ He dumped his wood into the box in the kitchen, and then ran proudly back with the precious glove. "Here it is."
The boys felt of it, pinched it, tried it on. "It's a dandy. Come on and catch!" they urged.
"Can't just yet. You can use it till I come." And Ned returned to his work, while the boys ran off with the glove.
The Three B's met at Ned's house that afternoon. The club always reported once a week on their success as B's.
Mrs. Brown was just coming in with a pitcher of lemonade.
"I don't have any chance to be B Number Three," complained Ned, when his turn came to talk. ”

“ Just then a thorn pricked Rose-Red's finger. "You'd prick her, would you?" Rose-Red laughed. "That's because you are only a rose and don't know any better. It wouldn't be nice for a little girl to prick. I do know something better!"
Rose-Red chose six of the finest roses and carefully clipped off all their thorns. Then she ran to the gate between her yard and Ruthie's, and slipped them into a covered box beside it. This box was Rose-Red's and Ruthie's post office. Nearly every day something went into it from one little girl to the other. ”