Sophie May

“ Dotty hesitated; her nerves quivered at sight of the sharp blade.
"But that cruel little chègre is drinking your blood, my daughter. The more he drinks, the larger he will grow, and the harder it will be to cut him out."
"That's so," said Horace. "I could preach, with jigger for a text. Ahem! He is like sin—the more you let him stay, the more you'll wish you hadn't. Come, Dotty, be brave, and out with him!" ”

“ By this time the rest of the party had arrived. Grace and Cassy walked together very confidentially under the same umbrella which had sheltered them years ago—a black one marked with white paint, "Stolen from H.S. Clifford." "Bold thieves" Horace called them; but they deigned no notice of his remark.
"I'll get an answer," murmured Horace, repeating aloud,—
"'Hey for the apple and ho for the pear, But give me the girl with the red hair.'"
At this Grace turned around sharply, and shook her bare head, which gleamed in the sun like burnt gold. ”

“ Dotty spoke as if there could be no doubt about it.
"I like good little girls," said Major Lazelle, "such as can ride a whole day in the cars without growing cross."
This compliment gratified Dotty. She felt that she deserved it, for she had kept her temper admirably ever since she left home.
"I am sure you will grow up, one of these days, to be a very good woman," continued Major Lazelle, looking with an admiring smile at the graceful little girl seated on his knee. "You tell me you have never been at school. I hope you do not mean to frolic all your life? ”

“ Dotty, brushing her hair, looked in the glass so intently that she did not observe her Aunt Maria, who had quietly entered the room. Mrs. Clifford was a wise woman, but she could not look into her niece's heart. She thought Dotty was admiring her own beauty in the mirror, whereas the child was not thinking of it at all.
What Mr. Beecher once said of little folks is very true:—
"Ah, well, there is a world of things in children's minds that grown-up people do not understand, though they too once were young." ”

“ The group at the door looked after them wistfully.
"Be a good child," said Mrs. Parlin, waving her handkerchief, "and do just as papa tells you, my dear."
"Remember the three hugs to Gracie, and six to Flyaway," cried Prudy; "and don't let anybody see my letter."
Dotty threw kisses with such vigor that, if they had been anything else but air, somebody would have been hit.
The hack ride did not last long. It was like the preface to a story-book; and Dotty did not think much about it after she had come to the story,—that is to say, to the cars. ”

“ At Portsmouth, Captain Lally and son left the cars, much to Dotty's relief, though they did carry away the beautiful Spanish rabbit; and it seemed to the child as if a piece of her heart went with it.
"Is my little girl tired?" said Mr. Parlin, putting an arm around Dotty.
"No, papa, only I'm thinking. The north pole is top of the world—isn' it? As much as five hundred miles off?" ”

“ Horace enjoyed the distinction of walking with the handsome Miss Dimple. When they met one of the boys of his acquaintance, he found an opportunity to whisper in his ear,—
"This is our little cousin from Down East. Isn't she a beauty? She can climb a tree as well as you can."
Dotty heard the whisper, and unconsciously tossed her head a little. She could not but conclude that she was becoming a personage of some consequence.
"I'm a beauty; and now I'm growing pleasant, too. I don't have any temper, and haven't had any for a great while." ”

“ Clifford and Katinka carried him into the stable, and laid him upon a bed of sweet hay.
"I'm glad not to be a Hoojer," said Dotty, with a severe look at her Cousin Horace. "You don't ever see such bad men in the State of Maine. The whiskey is locked up; and I don't know as there is any whiskey."
"Down East is a great place, Dotty! Don't I wish I was a Yankee—I mean a 'Publican?"
"But you can't be, Horace," returned little Dotty, looking up at him with deep pity in her bright eyes; "you weren't born there. You're a Hoojer, and you'll have to stay a Hoojer." ”

“ The little girl chirruped, cooed, and sang; all in vain. She danced the baby "up, up, up, and down, down, downy," till its blue cloak was twisted like a shaving. Still it cried, and its unnatural mother refused to hear.
"I never'll hold another baby as long's I live. When ladies come to our house, I'll look and see if they've brought one, and if they have I'll always run up stairs and hide."
As a last resort, she gave the little screamer some pop-corn. Why not? It refused to be comforted with other devices. ”

“ All the quaintness of children, its originality, its tenderness and its teasing, is infinite uncommon drollery, the serious earnestness of its fun, the fun of its seriousness, the naturalness of its plays, and the delicious oddity of its progress, all these united for dear Little Prudy to embody them."—North American Review. ”

“ I liked him, for he gave me all the apples and peaches I could eat."
"I reckon it did him good to go to the war," exclaimed Horace, "for I remember, when I was a little fellow, how he boxed my ears!"
"He has suffered a great deal since then," said the gentle Cassy, thoughtfully. "You know people generally grow better by suffering."
"Dotty dear, you can't keep your eyes open," said Grace, after the candy had been pulled. "I don't believe it will make you any better to suffer. I'm going to put you to bed." ”

“ You see it is hard to make a choice, dear. Escaloped oysters; pigeon pie postponed."
"I'll take some of that, papa," broke in Dotty.
"What, dear?"
"Some of the pigeon pie 'sponed," answered Dotty, in a low voice, determined to come to a decision of some sort. It was not likely to make much difference what she should choose, when everything was alike wonderful and strange.
"Pigeon pie postponed," said Mr. Parlin to the man at the back of Dotty's chair; "turkey with oysters for me."
The polite waiter smiled so broadly that he showed two long rows of white teeth. ”

“ Dotty gave her an oyster. The next moment something grated against Katie's teeth, and she picked out the hard substance with her fingers. Mrs. Clifford happened to see it.
"That is a pearl," said she.
"A pearl, auntie? Why, isn't that something precious? Mamma has pearls in a ring."
"I will show it to your uncle," replied Mrs. Clifford, turning it over in her hand; "but I think it is a true pearl, only a little discolored by the heat it has undergone in being cooked."
"O, I'll have a ring made of it! What funny oysters you do have out West!" ”

“ Is your sister Prudy well? and how do you two contrive to amuse yourselves all the day long?"
"Yes, sir, she's well; and we don't amuse ourselves at all."
"Indeed! But you play, I presume."
"Yes, sir, we do."
"I feel sure you are just such another dear little girl as Prudy is, and it gives me pleasure to know you."
Dotty dropped her head. She was glad her father was too far off to hear this remark.
"Just such another dear little girl as Prudy is!"
Alas! Dotty knew better than that. She was not sure she ought not to tell Major Lazelle he had made a great mistake. ”

“ That isn't why they feel dreadfully; it's because, if they ever frighten me again, the Mayor'll have them put in the penitential, and they know it."
"They were mean fellows; that's a fact," said Horace, with genuine indignation. "I used to be full of mischief when I was small; but I never frightened a little girl in my life; and no boy would do it that thinks anything of himself."
Dotty looked up admiringly at the youth of twelve years, liking him all the better for his chivalry, as any of you little girls would have done. ”

“ Nothing to us can ever be quite so delightfully charming as were the 'Dotty Dimple' and the 'Little Prudy' books to our youthful imaginations, but we have no doubt the little folks of to-day will find the story of 'Flaxie Frizzle' and her young friends just as fascinating. ”

“ Her father smiled as he stepped leisurely into the hack; and he could not forbear kissing the little face which sparkled with such anticipation.
"It is a real satisfaction," thought he, "to be able to make a child so happy." ”

“ If it was to me, it would be Mr."
"Master, you mean," corrected Grace.
"No, Horace, you are not Mr. yet!" said Dotty, confidently; "you've never been married."
The next thing in order was the reading of the letter. Dotty tore it open with a trembling hand. I should like to see another letter that would make a child so happy as that one did! It was written by three different people, and all to the same little girl. Not a line to Uncle Henry or Aunt Maria, or Horace or Grace. All to Dotty's self, as if she were a personage of the first importance.
Mamma began it. ”

“ He knew you and Horace."
"Me and Horace? Who could it have been?"
"He's the major; his name is Lazelle."
"O, I remember him," said Grace and Horace together. "Does he wear a wig? He isn't old at all."
"He calls himself 'an old mustache,'" returned Dotty, "for he said so to me. He wears one of those hair-lips, and a wig." ”

“ It is a fable, written to show that it is of no use to expect people to do things which they have not the power to do. The wolf could catch lambs, but he could not learn his letters. So my little Alice can dress dollies, but she does not know how to take care of babies."
"O, papa, I didn't choke him very much."
"I was only telling you I do not think you at all to blame. Little girls like you are not expected to have judgment like grown women. If you only do the best you know how, it is all that should be required of you."
Dotty's face emerged from the cloud. ”

“ Dotty rode with her father, Mrs. Clifford, and Katie. Little Flyaway looked at the hired phaeton with contempt.
"It hasn't any cap on, like my papa's," said she; but she was prevailed upon to ride in it because her mamma did.
Horace went with his father and the "cup and saucer," as he called Grace and Cassy. He was in a state of irritation because his idolized Topknot was in the other carriage.
"You can't separate that cup and saucer," growled he to himself. "They'll sit and talk privacy, I suppose; and I might have had Brown-brimmer if it hadn't been for Cassy." ”

“ PENN SHIRLEY'S STORIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES
Miss Penn Shirley is a very graceful interpreter of child-life. She thoroughly understands how to reach out to the tender chord of the little one's feelings, and to interest her in the noble life of her young companions. Her stories are full of bright lessons, but they do not take on the character of moralizing sermons. Her keen observation and ready sympathy teach her how to deal with the little ones in helping them to understand the lessons of life. Her stories are simple and unaffected.—Boston Herald. ”

“ She was sure Adolphus would be impressed now.
"All the whole care of myself," repeated she. "My papa has one of the highest 'pinions of me; and he says I'm as good as a lady when I try. Were you ever in the cars before, Dollyphus?"
"O, yes," was the demure reply, "a great many times. I've been round the world."
Dotty started suddenly, dropping her porte-monnaie on the floor.
"Round the world! The whole round world?" gasped she, feeling as insignificant as a "Catharine wheel," which, having "gone up like a rocket," has come down "like a stick." ”

“ Dotty glanced at Horace stealthily; but his face was so serious that she was sure he could not be making sport of her. They were walking a little in advance of the others, Horace dragging Flyaway, who was intent upon digging her little heels into the ground.
"This place is sometimes called Goblin Valley," said the boy. "A goblin means a sort of ghost; but nobody but simpletons believe in such things," added he, quickly, for he was too high-minded to wish to frighten his little cousin. ”

“ Eel will walk along to the fire, and ask if we entertain travellers. 'If so,' says he, 'you may count me in.'"
"How dried up the river looks!" said Dotty.
"That is because the draymen have taken so much water out of it, little cousin. Haven't you seen them going by with barrels?"
"I shouldn't think the mayor'd 'low them to do it, Horace; for some time there won't be any river left."
"It's too bad to impose upon you," said Horace, laughing; "I was only joking." Dotty drew herself up with so much dignity that she nearly fell backward into the fire. ”

“ The faces were nearly all new to her.
"That woman in the next seat, how homely her little girl is, with freckles all over her face! Perhaps her mother wishes she was as white as I am. Why, who is that pretty little girl close to my father?"
Dotty was looking straight forward, and had accidentally caught a peep at her own face in the mirror.
"Why, it's me! How nice I look!" smiling and nodding at the pleasant picture.
"Sit up like a lady, Dotty, and you'll look very polite, and very style too." ”

“ Chègres in logs, pearls in oysters; and now somebody had fallen up stairs and broken her nose. In Maine who ever heard the like?
Dotty twirled her hair, in a state of wonder as to what would come next. It came before bedtime.
She and Grace had been marching about the dining-room, singing martial songs. They went into the darkened parlor, still promenading, Grace's arm about her little cousin's waist.
Suddenly Grace stopped, and whispered,—
"What's that?"
Dotty listened. It was a groan. It must proceed from a human throat; but there was no one in the room but their two selves. ”

“ Dotty sighed, and felt that fate had been rather cruel in depriving her of that picnic.
"But I have had something better than that," said she, brightening; "I've walked on an Ensmallment, and I have picked pecans."
But the best was to come. It was from Prudy.
"My dear little darling Sister: I want to see you more than tongue can tell. Norah let Susy bake some biscuits last night, because there wasn't anybody at home but mother, and grandma, and Susy, and Norah, and me. But they were as tough as sew leather. Susy forgot the creamor tartar, and soda, and salt. She wasn't to blame. ”

“ She smoothed back her tangled locks as well as she could, and tried every art of fascination to attract the baby's attention to something else.
"You are a pretty little girl, and a nice little girl," said the gratified mother. "You have a wonderful faculty for 'tending babies. Now, do you think, darling, you could take care of him a few minutes alone, and let me try to get a nap? I am very tired, for I got up this morning before sunrise, and had baking to do."
"O, yes'm," replied Dotty, overflowing with good nature; "you can go to sleep just as well as not. ”

“ There is a sprightliness about all of Miss Clarke's books that attracts the young, and their purity, their absolute cleanliness, renders them invaluable in the eyes of parents and all who are interested in the welfare of children."—Morning Star.
"Genius comes in with 'Little Prudy.' Compared with her, all other book-children are cold creations of literature; she alone is the real thing. ”