Five Little Peppers Abroad

ranny where there was a possibility that the tiniest parcel could be tucked, until Phronsie, who kept bri

y the side of the big box, almost overflowing with billows of the

hands in her lap. "Jasper, what shall we do?" He was over by the window laying out the long nails that we

asper. Then he turned a

crowded in," he added,

rather have Polly mak

udgiest bundle, "because this is the c

e of the box. Jasper dropped the

were shaking, and she added gustily,

e to say. "There, give it to me, child," and he took it out of

sie, wonderingly, as she res

room enough to tuck that parcel in this corner," said Jasper, crowding his fingers down in bet

her brown gown in great satisfaction; "for the

erself. "And I know it's a perfectly awful cat, for Ph

Mr. King was nearly as excited as the young folks, and the Parson and Mrs. Henderson said it reminded them

into her own, to say "Good night," Polly turned on her pillow. "Mamsie," she said, "I do so very much wi

she said, "and I'm glad you thought of it. I'll speak to your fa

f course the Henderson boys are having a good time at dear Deacon Blodgett's, but then their mother and fat

big girl to her heart, "and we must look out for other

d, "and now that Ben's and Joel's and David's box is

ther first. And now, daughter, go to sleep, like Phronsie." She glanced ov

re going to Ma

ith a happy little wrig

orning. That would be very unkind to dear Mr. King, who is

ie." She set three or four kisses on Mother Fisher's

leep, Polly," said Mrs. Fisher, "then

-how the people wore the same kind of funny costume that their great-great-ever-so-many-times great-grandfathers and grandmothers had worn; and how the houses were of different colours, and built in different layers or

and she must hurry and get her bath and fly into her clothes. "Yes, Mamsie!" she cried, f

; Polly could see that, although she blinked at the sudden light. "It isn't morning, but the middle of the night. You must get up

down. "Now come." And Mamsie seized her hand and hurried her through her own room without another word. It was empty. Father Fisher and Phronsie were nowhere to be seen. And now for the first time Polly was conscious of a great noi

it is fire. The hotel is on fire; y

They were now in the cor

e; her fath

, Jasper an

ther ran and told them

urt Polly, as they hurried on through the d

blinking red light that sent a small bright spark out through the thick smoke, and in a minute, or very much less, they were out on the fire-escape, and look

e group drew her and Mamsie int

s," cried old Mr. King, his arm around Phronsie, "bu

son?" cried Polly, shive

and more people came down the fire-escape, and some were screaming and saying they had lost everything, and they must go back fo

e help them?" cried Po

at tha

lunging into the thickest of the crowd surging up again

to theirs in the dining room, with a slender, gentle, little old lady w

arm of the flying figure as she broke through the crowd, but she shook him

called Polly, hoarsely, "it will kill Grandpapa if you go-oh!" She turned at a cry from the gi

ng ago," said another

he white-haired old la

had pushed her way th

hurri

waiting to see to the belongings of the party; for the fire was now subdued, although the guests had to go elsewhere for shelter, and the l

covering her, called two stout men, who took her up in their arms-she screaming all the while for her treasure-and bore her to a neighbouring house that kindly opened i

t next." And when breakfast was really set before their party, he appeared with the others f

let me stay with you?" Polly had exclaimed in one breath, looking at the array of dresses, sacks,

s no one knew better than did Mother Fisher herself. "You were reall

you're tired to death, already. Oh, and you've brought my dear

imed Mother Fisher in a reproving tone, "when you've put it

kly, and running to her, little silk flag and all, to throw her arm

; "that will help me the most," giving her an armful. "I don't see how you eve

just at first," said Mother Fisher,

the fiftieth time, as she sorted, and hung

ng over the trunks," answered Mother Fisher, her head in the trunk. "I'v

breakfast table, little Mrs. Gray-for so the white-haired old lady was called-and her granddaughte

ep," said Mother Fisher, "when I went to call

ll. "So we were going there this morning. Well, we won't see that island now for a good many days; at least, till we get over this fr

Polly begged again, "first

and then he came back and told me what to do, and he took Phronsie and went for old Mr. King. But he had sent a porter to warn them

beamed at the little doctor, which so delighted him that his big spectacle

't help but show her pride. "He told me all about it the first day we go

ed the little doc

aid Mother Fisher, proudly, "the

shall," commanded Mr. King,

r party, so really it wasn't so very dreadful after all,-and she ran back of her mother's chair, and threw her arms around the little doc

" cried the little d

id little Mrs. Gray