Five Little Peppers Grown Up

, Grandpapa," she exclaimed softly, and plucking his

her, "why, they aren't all in, child," glancing down the aisle where Jasper as chief usher

h a little colored child perched on his shoulder. She was crying

advised Livingston Bayley, a

m a little knot of children, all turning excitedl

el, stalking on, "but s

about s

the platform where Phronsie always insisted that she should sit close to

her chair, she stepped to the platfor

Mr. King put forth an uneasy hand to stop all such proceedings, a

ark little one; "it's the new child that came yesterday," and she took her

to begin," glancing off at the clock under its wealth of everg

ispering so fast th

l me quickly, for it is

ee

in Phronsie's white lap. "May I have some of it, if I a

she put her lips on the dark little cheek. "Now you must get down, for I have to t

onsie's waist-ribbons. "I'm the only one th

on his arm. "Please, Grandpapa dear, may she have a little cricket up her

e little black object in Phronsie's lap. "Now what

ll have to let he

ike that, she won't ev

wise nod ove

ed as she was that day

d boy," cried Polly

Polly," he said. "See, Joel has just put a cricket-

nd took one step toward the platform edge, beginning, "Dear children." But the small creat

ody take this child down where she belongs?" While Polly with flushe

Livingston Bayley from the visitor's seat

latform, then thought better of it, and got back into his

little hands pulling her back. "Jasper," she begge

sie, standing close to the platform edge, began again, "Dear children, you know this is Christmas Day-your very own Christmas Day. And every Christmas Day since you came

l over the platform. It was painted in her youth by a celebrated French artist, and represented a beautiful

tage of the proceedings. "Now you must say after me, 'I th

ady for this Home," sai

ust always remember that, children. Now say it." She stood very pati

had it," said the children, one or t

?" asked Phronsie, looki

eautiful Tree," said Phron

necks away from the portrait to get a glimpse of the curtain-veiled Tree

as long as there is any Home. And she is going to smile at you, because you are all going to be good children and try to study and learn all that dear Mr. Henderson teaches you; a

hatterton's praises," whispered Mrs. Hamilton Dyce to her husband. "It

Mr. Dyce with a little laugh, "and grown callous. Your face is

red his wife, "when I th

her husband, "let's bur

. Dyce. "Oh, that blessed

n't ever have had this Home; not a bit of any of it"-here she turned and looked around the picture-hung walls, and out of the long windows to the dark pines and firs of the broad lawn, tossing their snow-laden bra

tle black creature got off from her cricket at Phronsie's

sper cried at this point, hurrying into the middle of the aisle, "and so, chi

nd high above it all rang the peals of happy, childish laughter. And when it was all done, everybody pausing to take breath, then Amy Loughead sent out the finest march ever heard, from the grand piano, and Polly and Jasper and all the rest marshaled the children into a procession, and Phronsie clinging to old Mr. King's hand on the one side, and holding fast to the small black palm on the other, away they all went, the visitors falling

folded her hands, not stirring till

hildren's noisy delight, and the best of it was, that no one wanted to. So for the next few moments it was exactly like the merry time over the Tree in the "Provisio

astonishing bow. And then the presents began to fly from the Tree, and Jack Loughead seemed to be all arms, for he was so tall he could reach down the hanging gifts from the higher branches, so that he was in great demand; and Pickering Dodge, one eye on all of Polly's movements, worked furiously, and Alexia Rhys and Cathie

e it to her mysel

eclared Jasper, h

little colored girl at her side. "Now you won't feel lonely ever, wi

n off their wealth of gifts, and the shi

h a basket of mottoes and bonbons enough to satisfy the demands of th

be time to march. Ah, it's a quarter of four this minute. Here, chil

t yours first, Grandpapa," she said slowly, lifting a silver paper-and-lace arr

ld of one end, and Phronsie held fast to the other of the bonbon, and a sharp little report gave the signal for all the bonbons t

ed surprise, drawing forth a pink and yellow crinkled tissue bit. "

asket. "Here, let me help you, child-there, that's straight. N

he said gallantly. So Phronsie set the pink and yellow crow

ere flying on to all the heads, and each right hand held a tinkling little bell that had swung right merrily on a green branch-tip. And away to Amy Loughead's second march-on and on, jangling their bells, the procession went, throug

for old Mr. King at the foot. And the other table was for the older people; both gay with Christmas holly, a

k Thee,

s Chris

y we l

ve Thee

esus

y Child

m

childish treble, floating off

able figure of a colored woman, resplendent in the gayest of turba

received the first plate to be passed, which

to the coat, or gown, or apron, and the procession was formed to march back to the hall; and Mr. Jack Loughead's stereopticon flashed out the most beautiful pictures, that his bright descriptions explained to the delighted children; an

wn driving glove-"this way," trying to lead her o

ake Phronsie see that it was not necessary to go back and comfort S

drive you to the station," said Mr. Bayley hurriedly

" cried Alexia, just flying into t

uld see that he stood by one o

old Mr. King, and Polly could hear her

over of the gay confusion. "And accordingly I prepared myself. Bu

ley, I will go, thank you," and without a backward glance at the others, she move

omebody else peered down the row of vehicle

y were

f under the collar of his driving coat; and the sparkling snow cut into little crystals by the horse's flying feet, dashed into their faces, and the scraps

ley had turned off, leaving the

starting forward, "Mr. Bayle

e depot," he answered has

ain-oh, do turn back, a

in a

k, he flicked the horse lightly with his whip. "You'll say, Miss Mary, that

last vehicle with its merry load. "Indeed, Mr. Bayley, I'm afraid we sha'n't get

ions for the Christmas festivity were keeping all the other people busy at Dunraven, and leaving him free to provide himself with sleighing facilities for the even

ff he had wrung with difficulty from the livery kee

turned-"everything is forgiven under such

ords, her heart on the rest of the party, e

me word it is impossible th

ering anxiously down the white winding highw

Mary," he began, "you are the first girl I ever cared to sp

the sleigh spun by. It was too late to turn back now, she knew; the best that could be done, was to hurry on-and she began to count the

I really don't know why I didn't choose one of them. Another man in my place would,

trees were making little zigzag paths in the moonlight, to fasten it o

rvously fingering the whip-handle, "I shouldn't, don't you know, because you a

ried poor Polly, growing

, you must, Miss Mary, for it began five years

mong her fur robe

place, kept constant, don't you know, to one idea. Been with other girls, of course

this," exclaimed Polly, springing forward to sit erect with flashing eye

ead means to speak soon-'pon me word, the fellow does. And I've never changed

remely kind,

wfully from the first, and always intended to marry you. You shall have everything in the world that yo

" here she sat quite erect with shining eyes, "the Peppers have always been the loveliest people that ever lived-

hich protruded two or three bags evidently containing apples and potatoes; one of the wheels determining to perform

suddenly, at sight of this, "for bringing you aroun

inging off from her side of the sl

on Mr. Bayley's part to induce the horse to stir a step, Polly desperately laid her hand on the bridle. "Let me try," she said. "There, you good creature," patting the horse's nose; "come, that's a dear old fellow," and

nly never say such perfectly dreadful things to me ag

and there was the entire party calling to them as they now spied their approach, to "Hu