Under the Lilacs

finger, quite prepared to see it fly away in some mysterious and startling manner. It remained sitting tranquilly in the basket, however, and

didn't

didn't

o you

would have

o d

l, but I f

if it would be very difficult to settle down to

divided the contested delicacy with one chop of the big

s of milk, and ate as fast as possible, glancing round

ke my cake away," said Bab, defiantly

ty, choking over a raisin tha

suggested Bab, feeling that some such convulsion of Nature was neede

d, come to your mother and be fixed," purred Betty, lifting the fallen idol from a gro

etter make up some squills out of this sugar and water,"

eeze for my own children, thank you, ma'am," returned Betty, sharply, f

and cough for my own poor dears, without bothering abo

in as anything," and Betty looked up to the green roo

sh, but no other living thing was in sight. "Birds don't sne

of course

ughing and sneezing round here. May be it i

queer one, may be he can, though. I wonder where he went to?" and Bab took a

pron with more haste than care. "I'm going right straight home to tel

y way," answered Bab, taking advantage of the black clouds rolling

flung her children on the top and pronounced herself ready to depart. Betty lingered an instant to pick up and ends that might be

along, still looking about for her sworn foe, Sally Folsom. The flowers soothed the feelings of the little girls, because they had longed for them, and bravely resisted the temptation t

at amusement; for she saw in it only some playmate's prank,

ty. They took their dinner, and at noon regaled a crowd of comrades with an account of the mysterious dog, who appeared to be haunting the neighborhood, as several of the other children had seen him examining their back yards with interest. He had begged of them, but to none had he exhibited his accomplishments except Bab and Betty;

e remained suspended in the air for several minutes at a time, instead of vanishing with miraculous rapidity as usual. At afternoon recess, which the girls had first, Bab nearly dislocated every jo

e how he did it," she said, coming down with a b

e door. There was a general rush,-and sixteen small girls gazed out into the rain as eagerly as

girls, all chirping at once, till it sounded as if

ambled up, forgetting how she had chased th

not approach, but stood dripping in the rain, with his frills much bedraggled, while his tasselled t

ee that we don't want to hurt him," suggested Sally, star

or beast in to eat and be comforted. But he only came as far as the door, and, sitting up, be

; let him eat all he wants

was not rewarded as they expected, for, the minute the coast was clear, the dog marched boldly up, se

for the bell rang, and in they went, so much excited that the boys rushed tumultuously forth to discover the cause. By the time school

as he did before. As it is too wet for you to play out, you shall go and

wn the gravelled path, while Mrs. Moss followed, with skirts well tucked up, and a grea

the little girls ran in, too eager and curious even to cry out when they found themselves at last in possession of the long-coveted old carriage. A dusty,

ling down faster than they went up, when from the gloom of the interior

a stern tone, backing toward the door w

e alarmed, ladies; we won't hurt you. Come out this minute, or I shall have to come and get you," called Mrs.

of rags leaped out of the dark, followed by the poodle, who immediately sat down at the bare f

, trying to speak sternly, though her motherly eyes were already fu