The Corner House Girls Under Canvas / How they reached Pleasant Cove and what happened afterward

o hold their attention, too, the minute they awoke on this

at dear Tom Jonah

so!" cried t

ippers, too, and the two girls pattered downstairs. Their baths, always overseen by Ru

ra hour in bed. There was the delicious smell of warm baked beans left over night in the range oven; the big, steaming pot would be

tered the kitchen. She had four little black and white blind babies in that

s. Sandyface's original family was quite grown up, and if these four were a

eper, "that's a whole lot more than any family

went out on the porch, Sandyface foll

one!" sighed D

t it-when we treated hi

at on which the dog had lain. Then she look

souls for music to tell how happy they were, in the tops of the cherry trees. Catbirds had not yet lost their lo

they were too quick for Sandyface to reach, and with unbounded faith in human beings. An

Billy Bumps bleated a wistful "Good-morning" from his pen. Then came a scramble

nah!" cried Tes

He cocked one ear and actually smiled when he saw the cat go up the t

been mostly shaken off his flanks and paws. He was rested, and he act

ried Tess, putting o

hake hands. He repeated the feat with Dot t

Dot, "he's

entleman," sighed Tess, happily. "Oh! I h

ot have been bathed and dressed in time for breakfast.

hands." When Agnes came down and heard about his first m

ength of time you might name, and never offer to eat it until you said, "Now, sir!" or something of

broken and discolored by age. For Tom Jonah was no puppy. Uncle Rufus d

slipped under the skin when he was in action like a tiger's. Now that he was somewhat re

f he'd gotten hold of him," Agnes declare

y have bitten that Gypsy man," Tess hastened to say

uess he would have h

he saved Ruthie's hen

se fee if he wants to stay

ing; at least, one panful was. Dot did not like "crusts"; she ha

nt Sarah Maltby (who was a very grim lady indeed with penetrating eyes

e, I have no doubt, when you will be hungry for that

vely. "And-and if I don't, do you think I shall real

"The Kenways was allus spend-thrifts. Why! when I was

een awfully poor, Aunt Sarah," she said, sympathetically.

but for once Aunt Sarah was rather nonplussed, and nob

l, and he was as much interested in the new boa

know about him," said the boy. "I'll make inquiries. Where

" demand

says on his collar,"

ed Ruth, seeing her sister's puzzled face. "There

dog like Tom Jonah," sputtered Tess.

olkses-don' he? I'se gwine tuh give him a reg'lar barf an' cur

ith the "insect-suicide" soap Dot had talked about-and afterward washed him down with the h

orch, all warm and dried and his hair "fluffy." They had asked everybody t

ps! He's going to be ours for

d away with swelling tails and muffled objections. But the old cat had to attend to the four little blind mites behind

a friendly wag of his bushy tail. To the four half-grown cats he gave little heed. But Tess and

," said Tess, "they'll all live to

he reference, having forgotten the particular cage thus

raging for her brood, Tess seized the basket and carried it out on

kittens. That would not do for the curious girls. They had to delve deeper i

t upon the porch before the dog's nose. The kitten became awake instantly. Blind as it was, it stiffened its spine

wailed Dot. "And poor Tom Jo

asped Tess, in a

e and would not look again at the spitting little animal. He evidently felt himself in a most ridiculous position and finally

aced in behind him into the dining-room. Seeing the roast placed before Mrs. MacCall, Tom Jonah sat down b

he big dog did not offer to eat it until he was given permission. And now he no longer "gobbled," but

ily of the old Corner House. She had heard the tale of his rescue of Rut

d silver and trash you girls insist upon keeping out of the plate-safe. Your Uncle P

g a thing if you don't make us

could turn her from her course if once she was convinced that what she did was right. Nor

ple smiled at him and forgave his peculiariti

herner in a New England town is just as likely to b

he girl's short life; but now Rosa was quite big enough to have some influence with her shiftless father, and they h

her chest." Dr. Forsythe found that the girl had weak lungs, but he was sane and old-fash

she will pull through and get as hearty and strong as our Northern girls,"

niper by no sickness," mut

d just like a darky (to their ears); but Uncle Rufus shook his head in scorn

emaining daughter, who was just Ruth's age and was in her class at High-when she was well enough to get there. I

in a most wonderful manner in a tongue entirely strange to Northern teamsters; and he was black with coal-dust from we

is nature to be shiftless. He would have gone hungry and ragged himse

to find out what was the matter. Not alone was the tenement the Wildwoods occupied a very poor one, but Rosa

s just dragging herself around to get something hot for Bob's dinn

observe that the metal teapot had probably not been thoroughly washe

and 'takes a swig,' as he calls it, out of the pot. He says it's good for the gnawin' in his stomach-it braces him up an' is so much be

artled. "I thought y

couldn't stand the toddies no more, she said-and her slavin' to keep the house nice, and

hink you are awfully smart,"

o. She was dark and handsome. She got mad, and run away, and then we started lookin' for her; but we've never found her yet," sighed Ro

is all ready to dish up. And I'll come back after school this

t she would be late in returning from school. She carried a voluminous apron with

lass and be promoted at the end of the term, as she was sure to b

deeply interested Ruth Kenway. She wanted, too,

after we were born. The others were all sickly-just drooped and faded. And

could stop drinking toddies. But, you see he has. He 'swigs' an awful lot of

she had found it. But she had put some washing soda in the pot, filled it with b

e bedroom the girl called her own, Bob brought his mules to a

but Ruth never thought of what the man's o

t the teapot. I hope you left

e Corner House girl, and darted o

the teapot to his lips and several swallows of the scalding and acrid m

pot and all away from him. "Who done tryin

tried a draught of cold water from the spigot-wh

with clasped hands and looking at the sooty man, ha

in' i

a. I-I--It won't po

rners do nex'? Wash out er teapot!" and he gru

degree. But Rosa thanked her very prettily for what she had

et-to the last dance of the season at her home. She lived in a huge old farmhouse, some distance out of town on the Bucksho

the chimneys came down into the side yard during the night with a noi

rls-at least, Ruth and Agnes-and Neale O'Neil, would ha

ng of the party, and he brought his

" he said to the two older Corner House girls, who

with his own. He left the parcel in the kitchen. Later it was discovere

bundle of dancing slippers. Neale carried it under his arm, and they walk

Cove this summer, Neale?" demand

has asked me.

er father's hotel for two we

e, doubtfully. "Ar

dmitted the older

complained Agnes. "You just say t

l be of the same mind when the

you," gru

t us to go." While Agnes was "spoons" with a girl, she was always strict

s a great deal of talking and laughter, and while Neale stood chatting with

ewspaper-wrapped bundle he carried. "

nstead of three pairs of dancing slippers, Neale produced two pairs of half-worn and lim

't dance!"

the young folk about them went o

t," grumbled Neale. "Agg

ght there with the masons' b