Prudy Keeping House

ngs. Better than all, you saw four young faces looking out at a snow-storm; Dotty with eyes like living diamonds, Prudy fair and sweet, Ho

ace; the plants will freeze," said

weather, Prue; but you children

look like little bits o' birdies, at

aid Aunt Madge. "That reminds

bird fea

t of Pa

the cas

night br

up to

ay hors

herless' must have been the

hout any horse, Dotty, and

sun-th

s those snow-specks fly down out o' he

om the clouds; they are nowhere

ldilocks," said Aunt Madge, brus

sudden alarm, remembering how crossly she had spoken to th

e Bible, there are 'ministering spirits,' and w

aising her eyes to the top of the window. "Nice, prett

t even you. Wait till y

ow, a-visiting; stay all nig

ldn't ever expect to go to heaven at all, if I said such things as you do.-O

" Fly, lost on the street, had spied her, and been attracted by the dog, and Maria had persuaded the child to go home with her. Afterwards Mrs. Brooks had taken Fly ba

e to-day, for Maria can hardly wait

"who ever heard of brooks minding the

en," said Nathaniel, app

cquainted with the waiting man, and called him Nat, though he was a very

en a letter, with a hesitating air,

ed Mrs. Allen, tu

owded close to her, and ove

? And why didn't Hollis bring the camphor

n to speak just then. As soon as Mrs.

cle Augustus. He can't come home to-night, as we expected. He

ty, and ceased fanning her

Fly, and left off patting

ou understand Uncle Augustus is sick-w

can't h

iss Dot, a

company,

wouldn't think that of

d Dotty, looking ashamed. "Auntie,

s this ever since he came out of the army. He is at a hotel in Trenton, New Jersey, and needs some one

u ought to go,

ticularly not

ite," cried little Echo. "Please le

k you'll have to stay

, and I think quite likely your uncle can come home t

to Christmas!" said Dotty; "and so m

l to know our little friends ar

ep house!" exclaimed Prudy,

e lady of the mansion, if that is

eat deal, Aunt Madge. You'd be surprised! I can cook cake, and pie, and biscuit, an

said Dotty. "I can make gin

ut in the youngest. "Only I shan't b

he girls manage. They'll get up qu

entered her brain, at that moment, a singular scheme, wh

will amuse them. Of course they will waste flour and sugar, but not very much, probably, and Mrs. Fixfax will be on the watch to see that they don't get too hungry. It will tax her severely, but I can pay

d Fly, peeping into her auntie's f

Fixfax about letting you all keep house; that

real help, auntie. She has so much care, you know. And i

only smil

Fixfax, the chambermaid; and Patty Diggles, the cook. They were all remarkably faithful, except pretty Rachel,

journey. Mrs. Fixfax had just returned from marke

t it; but I came to tell you, Mrs. Fixfax, that Colonel Allen is sick, an

her mistress, said, "Indeed, mum!" hoped Colonel Allen "wasn't sick to speak

ild is, I can but feel as if you was sitting a ton's weight on my

ing out of the house, unless you, or some other grown-up person, has charge of her. And really, with

st, mum," replied Mr

sit thus far, and if I go away and leave them, I fear they will feel rather forlorn. Can you consent to l

her apron. She would not have dared say the words, but her thoughts ran like this: "Pretty do

little old cooking-stove in the attic. Don't you remember you had

said the obliging housekeeper; "and I'll carry up flour and sugar, and what not, and

very pleasantly. "Let 'em come right into the kit

n. She was always full of polite

re at home in Mrs. Fixfax's room, with no one to watch

ove. As soon as the business was over, Nathaniel came into the kitchen, and held up

w to feather their

have I done

urse she'll get a splendid present for it. I should admire to have the little dears

ress his mind, however. He had a few fixed ideas. One was, that Mrs. Allen could do no wrong; and anoth