The Louisa Alcott Reader

o do what people asked her. She said "I won't" and "I can't,"

es; and after a fuss about putting them on, K

, then it would be easy to run errands all the time. Now, I hate to

out of her. She stood looking at these curious shoes; and the bright buttons on them seemed to wink at her like eyes,

e cook to make a pie fo

began Kitty, with

ve the message, and turned round, trying to see if the shoes would let her walk at all. They went nicely till she wanted to turn into the china-closet where the cake was. She was forbidden t

to the post-office before

hoes, out of the house at one bound, and trotted down the street so

d she did not till the shoes to

ithout any hat, all rosy and breathless, and her face puc

s soon as I get home. I hope they will go back slowly, or people will thin

s wouldn't stop, though she tried to make them, and held on to the railing as hard as she could. Her feet went on; and when she sat down they still dragged her along so steadi

r minute," said Kitty, sitting on the do

stir, though she got red an

tle girl," called mamma from up

said Kitt

oes danced her off, and landed

thought, wishing she had come pleasantly, an

acher, for generally she was fussing about all lesson time. But at recess she got into trouble aga

s down, and see how

she stood looking as if she were going to dance. The children laughed to

u didn't mean to,

readful shoes. She began to see how they worked, and thought she would try if she had any power over them. So, when one o

lightly as if she too w

oys, much surprised; for not one o

, such pretty steps and airy little bounds it was pretty to see; for it seemed as if her feet were bewitched, and went of themselves. The little girls were

r told how queerly they acted, hoping to

doll, but at the gate her feet stuck fast, and she had to give up

h of strawberries for dinner,"

ish, for the shoes landed her in the mi

g to feel tired out there in the pleasant garden, with the robins picking berries clos

et from the vines; but the bell rang, and away she went, over the wood-pile, across

so delightful to have such a quick little errand-girl that I shal

tuals round. Must I do it?" sighed Kitty, dismally, while the shoes tapped on the fl

s you choose about it. I am very tired, and some one must go; for the little

aking up her mind whether she would go pleasantly or be whisked about like a gra

one, may I come back through Fairyland, as we c

u oblige me, I am h

y to herself, as she trotted away with a basket in one hand, a bundle in t

tle nightgowns; the lame girl smiled when she saw the books; the hungry children gathered round the basket of food, like

e ferns made green arches tall enough for little girls to sit under, and the ground was covered with pretty green moss and wood- flowers. Birds flew about in the pine

it is so cool here, and I'm so tired," said Kitty,

shion of moss, like the queen of the wood on her throne. Something lighted with a bump close by

hopper's. You came down the hill with long leaps just like him; so I

so do many things that I never did before," answered Kitty,

you couldn't understand what I say. Hark, and hear those squirrels talk, and the birds, and the ants down

nging, laughing, chatting in the gayest way, and understood every word

nut, the

t quic

e, under

some wi

weet are

have t

d scamp

last on

were singi

a bye,

adle ha

wn your

rtain t

will fe

other w

ter our

er war

e another as they hurried in a

neighbo

stop

far a

all y

e nev

butte

e the b

ious an

s are ever so much prettier," said Kitty, listeni

lo!

own be

ovely

e in th

ily-pa

ice gre

e sit

leasan

p frog

jolli

es have

in in t

he mud with the queer green frogs?" laugh

, come

the su

oney

he ros

ce in

pirits

ay, com

ur hol

wild-rose bush, and went dancing away higher and hig

up somewhere, instead of carrying me on errands and where I ought to go

till they pranced in at the gate as the tea-bell rang. Kitty amused the family by telling what

d by and by you may be as famous as Hans Chri

must skip while I can," thought Kitty, and went waltzing ro

dancing-school," said her mother, pleased

went on skipping as hard as she could, that she might learn so

are tired; so get to sleep early, for Nursey wants to go out," said her mother, as the sun

airs so fast that she ran against old Nursey, and down she went, splashing the water all over the floor

ns she had learned: she tried to run willingly when spoken to; she remembered the pretty steps and danced like a fairy; and best of all, she always loved the innocent and interest

brought in,

large