Five Little Peppers Abroad

ng out of the window to look up and down the canal where the many-coloure

answered musingly, and her hands dropped

prang to Mrs. Fisher's side,-"do you know, I think it was just the loveliest thing in all

as Polly threw herself down on the floor and laid her head in her mother's lap, just as

ing soothingly over Polly's head, "that there never seems to be time for the li

chin, "and I'm going to begin right now. It makes me think of the little brown h

black eyes were as serene as ever. "You u

me my new stove. Mamsie, wasn't Papa Fisher splendid? And then he saved my eyes. Just think, Mamsie, I never

gly. "Never think that you don't do anything. Why, it was only this very morning that your

ther. "Oh, I want to be, but I don't know how to help him. Papa Fisher always seems

they never complain. Your father, in going about as he does, day after day, to the hospitals and everywhere, where he can learn anything that will make him a better doctor, is

"I'm going to try harder than ever to see wherever I can find a

n the door opened, and Phronsie, fresh from the hands of Matilda, who had been changing her gown, came in with Araminta in

ir, do, Mamsi

bothers," said Polly

r, at which Phronsie gave a small sigh of content, and wriggled her toes as they were stretched out straigh

d Polly, "won't we, Pet?" l

Phronsie, with another w

aid Mother Fisher

nsie sprang to their feet, and a lively race ensued to see which should be th

en, and they both rushed into his arms; "so you did like to have yo

ted him in, and led him to the seat of honour, a bi

apa dear," said Phronsie, surveying him gravely as he

nta and all. She perched there in quiet content, while he set for

and they are working away at home, studying and all that, Joel and David are, and Ben is pegging away

ler, but she said not a word as she

cause it makes us all homesick after them, and it's best that they should be the

Fisher said

oint with wonderful directness, "I think the time has come for us to act, which is

ned over his chair and hung on his words, whil

tention of his audience, "I propose that we send a box of go

ve a little crow. "Oh, Grandpapa!" exclaimed Polly, "do you really mean it?" and she t

immensely pleased with the way his news was received. "She

it's the very thing; and oh! thank you, sir, for thinking of it. The boys won't be so homesick for us when th

ce around and around in the middle of the room. "Oh, I wish

bring him up here," said old Mr. King. "No, no, Phronsie, you want to stay and t

iently; "just let me lay Araminta down, Grandpapa, on

and then came and clambered up again into his lap. By this time Poll

k hair back from his forehead, and his eyes sparkled. "Oh,

Mrs. Fisher? If we are going to send the box, why isn't it best to begin the work at

anced around the room in glee. For old Mr. King set Phronsie down, with, "There, go, c

erful box to go home to the boys. And though Polly didn't know it, several other things, that boys wouldn't be supposed to care for in the least, were slyly added to the purchases, when she wasn't looking, to

that won't do; it's too big," as Phronsie protested that nothing was so nice as a huge Delft plate hanging on the wall. There was a big windmill and several little windmills in the distan

t's cows at home in Badgertown. And Ben would like it, and Joel, and David." And all P

we do?" she cried; "she is just as determined as she wa

d Jasper, with a look at the rapt little face. Phronsie was now kneeling o

arther corner with the proprietor of the shop, picking out some small articles that struck his fancy, turned and called Phronsie. She didn't

oking over her shoulder. "

. "I do, Grandpapa, like it

must have it. And it shall hang in y

Grandpapa," said Phronsie; "it must go

and just on the point of saying, like Polly, "it's too big, child," wh

e nod; "I love that nice cow, and that little girl. G

ong, child. Well, the plate shall go to the boys, and I o

gle in the shop at the two. "Well, it's a mercy it's got a cow on it instead of a

e found," said Polly; "don't you be