Sophie May

“ Human people don't die of grief, do they, mamma?"
"Not often, Edith. Such instances have been known, but they are very rare."
"Well," struck in wee Lucy, who had been listening to the touching story, "well, I guess some folks would! Bab would die for grief of me, and I would die for grief of Bab; we said we would!"
She made this absurd little speech with tears in her eyes; but Kyzie and Edith dared not laugh, for mamma's forefinger was raised. ”

“ Bab was quite as pretty, but in another way. She had brilliant dark eyes and straight dark hair with a satin gloss. She was half a head shorter than her "auntie," though their ages were about the same. People liked to see them together, for they were always sociable and happy, and loved each other "dearilee."
"Oh, Bab," said wee Lucy, "I had such a loneness without you!"
"I had a loneness too, Auntie Lucy. Seemed as if the time never would go." ”

“ As the "bonnie Dunlees" and their elders entered the hotel, a merry voice called out:—
"A hearty welcome to you, my friends, and three cheers for Castle Cliff!"
Mr. and Mrs. Dunlee and the Sanfords walked on smiling, and the children lingered awhile outside; but it was a full minute before any of them discovered that the cheery voice belonged to a parrot, whose cage swung from a tall sycamore overhead.
"Polly's pretty sociable," laughed Mr. Templeton. "Do you like animals, young ladies? If so, please stand up here in a group, and you shall have another welcome." ”

“ The scholars all appeared pretty much as usual; raising their hands very often to ask, "May I speak?" or, "May I have a drink of water?" The little teacher had always wished they would not do so, but how could she help it? It was "an old-fashioned school," perhaps that was why it was so noisy. Whatever went wrong, Kyzie always said to herself, "Oh, it's just an old-fashioned school."
Nate Pollard and Jimmy sat to-day as far apart as possible, almost turning their backs upon each other. At the bottom of his heart Nate was truly ashamed of himself, though he would not have owned it. ”

“ Then after a pause he burst forth again, "Or, I might pick berries—if there were any berries!"
"It's not so very easy for little boys to earn money; is it, dear?" said Aunt Vi, putting her arm around her young nephew and drawing him toward her. "But when they've done wrong—you still think you did wrong, don't you, Jimmy?"
"He knows he did," broke in Lucy. "My papa lent me the watch."
"She wasn't talking to you," remonstrated Jimmy. "Yes, auntie, I did wrong; but Lucy needn't twit me of it! I won't be characteristic any more as long as I live." ”

“ And when their cats died they went into mourning for them."
"How queer!"
"It does seem so, but it's just as you look at it, Edith. Cats are a sight of company. I didn't care so much about them or about birds either when my husband was alive and my little children, but now—"
Again she paused, and this time she did not go on again. Some one out of doors laughed; it was Jimmy Dunlee, and the mocking-bird took up the merry sound and echoed it to perfection.
"Doesn't that seem human?" cried Mrs. McQuilken. And really it did. ”

“ But if you go you'll be good, won't you—you and Jimmy both?"
She spoke with some concern. "For if you're naughty, the other boys will think they can be naughty too; and I shan't know what in the world to do with them."
"Oh, we'll sit up as straight as ninepins; we'll show 'em how city boys behave," said Nate, making a bow to Kyzie.
He could be a perfect little gentleman when he chose. He liked to tease Jimmy, younger than himself, but had always been polite to Kyzie. Still Kyzie did not altogether like the thought of having a boy of twelve for a pupil. ”

“ McQuilken had been there she would have said the child looked "as if she was possessed of the fox."
"The little goosies! Let them enjoy it!" whispered Mrs. Hale to Mrs. Dunlee. " But those topknots will have to come down before the child can go to the dinner-table."
And then both the ladies laughed privately behind a large tree. The mountain air was doing them good, and they often had as merry times together as the young people.
"Hear the boyoes," cried Edith, meaning Jimmy and Nate, who had now reached the air-castle and were shouting with all their might. ”

“ I said glasses with sand inside; that's what Uncle James has got. Runs out every hour. Sits on the table."
"Oh, I know what you mean, auntie! You mean an hour-glass! Grandpa Hale has one and I've seen lots of 'em in France."
Lucy felt humbled. Though pretending to be Bab's aunt, she often found that her little niece knew more than she knew herself!
"Seems queer about Adam and Eve," said she, hastening to change the subject; "who do you s'pose took care of 'em when they were little babies?"
"Why, Auntie Lucy, there wasn't ever any babiness about Adam and Eve! ”

“ If Aunt Vi had a plan, it was sure to be worth hearing.
"It is this: mightn't we get up some entertainments,—good ones that would be worth paying for?"
"And sell the tickets? Oh, auntie, that's just the thing! That's capital!" cried Edith and Kyzie. "You'd do it beautifully."
"I'm not so sure of that, girls. But we might join together and act a little play that I've been writing; that is, we might try. What have you to say, Jimmy? Could you help?" ”

“ The children had a delightful half hour with the captain's widow and her pets; only Lucy could not be satisfied because Bab was away.
"Too bad you went off riding yesterday," said she as they sat next morning playing with their dolls. "You never saw that blind canary that shoots himself, and comes to life and rings a bell."
"But can't I see him sometime, Auntie Lucy?"
"You can, oh, yes, and I'll go with you. But, Bab, you ought to have heard our talk about the play! Kyzie is going to be as much as a hundred years old, and I guess Uncle James will be a hundred and fifty. ”

“ Something may happen at the last minute that will spoil the whole thing."
She was right. Something did happen which no one could have foreseen. For an "empty" town Castle Cliff was famous for events.
As Jimmy left the hotel just after luncheon he overtook Nate Pollard and Joe Rolfe standing near a big sand bank, talking together earnestly.
"Come on, Jimmum," said Nate; "we've got a spade for you. We're going to dig a cave in the side of this bank."
"What's the use of a cave?"
"Why, for one thing, we can run into it in time of an earthquake." ”

“ It was necessary to tear his clothes still more in order to get them free from the tangle of wires. As the poor young culprit crept unwillingly back to the hotel all the cats, dogs, donkeys, and chickens in Castle Cliff seemed to combine in a chorus of mewing, barking, braying, and cackling to inform the whole world that here was a boy who had stolen a chimney!
What wretched little beggar was this coming to the house? No one thought of its being Jimmy Dunlee.
"We caught this young rogue stealing a chimney," said Mr. Templeton. ”

“ Did he blush? His face was of a brownish red hue at any time, being much tanned; she could not be quite sure of the blush. But why did he look so sober? Children generally smile when they are praised.
She had been to Bab and Lucy and said, "How still you are, darlings!" and they had seemed delighted.
Next she tried Chicken Little. He certainly jumped when she spoke his name close to his ear, "Henry." Now why should he jump and seem so confused unless he knew he had done something wrong? She forgot that he was a very timid boy.
"Henry, what is the matter with you?" she asked, frowning severely. ”

“ Joe Rolfe has some sense."
As the little party walked on, Miss Katharine turned her head more than once for another look at the schoolhouse.
"Wouldn't it be fun, Edy, to teach school in there and ring that 'lin-lan-lone bell' to call in the scholars? I'd make you study botany harder'n you ever did before."
"No, thank you, Miss Dunlee," replied Edith, courtesying. "You'll not get me to worrying over botany. I studied it a month once, but when I go up in the mountains I go to have a good time." ”

“ Why, an earthquake could hardly shake it."
"The steps that lead up to it are not dreamy either," said Mrs. Dunlee. "Real granite; and there's a large flag up there floating from the evergreen tree."
The "boyoes" had already climbed the steps, and Nate called down to Mrs. Dunlee, "It's the Mexican flag!" But she had known that at a glance. The colors were red, white, and green, and the device was an eagle on a prickly pear with a snake in his mouth.
"I wonder if there's anybody at home," said Nate, and would have lifted the knocker if Jimmy had not said, "Wait for Uncle James." ”

“ Templeton says the Castle Cliff people are as pleased as they can be."
"I heard what he said," struck in Nate. "He said they jumped at it like a dolphin at a silver spoon."
"He's always talking about that dolphin and that silver spoon," laughed Edith. "If I knew how a dolphin looks, I'd draw one and give it to him just for fun. But mamma, you don't expect me to go to school to that little girl; now do you?"
"Certainly not, Edith; oh, no."
"Must I go to Grandmother Graymouse?" whined Jimmy, "She's only my sister. And I came up here to play."
"Play all you like, my son. ”

“ Jimmy sauntered on slowly toward the door of the tent. There were a great many benches inside, but it was not time yet for the audience to arrive. Uncle James and Katharine and Edith were on the stage, and Aunt Vi was adding a few touches to Edith's dress.
"O dear," said Grandmamma Graymouse, "I hope I shan't forget my part. Tell me, Uncle James, do I look old enough?"
"You look too old to be alive," he answered; "fifty years older than I do, certainly! Mrs. Mehitable Whalen, are you my wife or my very great grandmamma?"
"But where's Nate Pollard?" Aunt Vi asked. ”

“ Aunt Vi said "Capital!" and gave Jimmy a look which said, "Everything seems to be going on famously for our new play."
Jimmy led the way to Mrs. McQuilken's room, his face wreathed with smiles.
"Ah, good morning; how do you all do?" said the lady, meeting the children with courteous smiles." I see you've brought your kitten, Edith."
"Yes, ma'am; will you please look at her wounds again?"
"They are pretty well healed, dear. I've never felt much concerned about Zee's wounds. She makes believe half of her sufferings for the sake of being petted." ”

“ As Edith heard this she could not help smiling, and Mrs. McQuilken paused in the entry a moment to say:—
"I guess you like cats."
"I do, ma'am. Oh, yes, very much."
"That's right. I like to see children fond of animals. Now, I've got a new kitty upstairs, a zebra kitty, that you'd be pleased with. It's a beauty, and such a tail! Come up to my room and see it if you want to. My room's Number Five. But don't you come now; I shall be busy an hour and a half. Remember, an hour and a half."
Edith thanked her and ran to tell Kyzie what the "knitting-woman" had been saying. ”

“ By afternoon the news had spread about among the children that there was to be a terrible earthquake that day. They huddled together like frightened lambs. The little teacher, wishing to reassure them, planted herself against the wall, and made what Edith would have called a "little preach."
She pointed out of the window to the clear sky and said she "could not see the least sign of an earthquake." But even if one should come they need not be afraid, for their heavenly Father would take care of them. ”

“ But for Kyzie and Edith and Jimmy the good times had begun already. The five Dunlees entered the house, little Eddo clinging fast to Jimmum's forefinger. They passed an old lady who sat on the veranda knitting. She gazed after them through her spectacles, and said to Mr. Templeton in a tone of inquiry:—
"Boarders?"
"Yes," he replied, rubbing his chin, "and they have lots of jingle in 'em too; they're just the kind I like."
"Well, I hope they won't get into any mischief up here, that's all I've got to say. Nobody wants to take children to board anyway, but you can't always seem to help it." ”

“ He's a splendid mining engineer, great for finding lost veins. He'll be here next week and bring a lot of men."
"Whoop-ee!" cried Jimmy, "he'll find the vein and things, and we'll be having gold as plenty as blackberries!"
"Just what I was talking about yesterday when you laughed," broke in Lucy. "I said I'd go down in a bucket; don't you know I did?"
Edith was gazing spellbound at the yawning chasm.
"Look at those rickety steps! The men will get killed! 'Twill all cave in!"
"No danger," said Nate, "there are walls down there, stone walls, papa says, that keep it all safe." ”