A Little Florida Lady

si

e Mexican hammock on the front porch. She held up a

y. He is not the least bit afraid

he railing directly by the side of Beth. His little head was co

up in the big live oak in the front ya

eter for beast and bird, thought

r lived? Are you surprised that I love him so? He

w restless. She spit at h

joy this beautiful music in

lack pussy sprang away, and Fri

stopped singing as cat and dog scampered away, but who had not yet flown b

ive Fritz. In an instant he was on her. Over and over they rolled in their wild play. Fritz became too rough to suit puss, and she gave him a sudden dab with her sharp

ared the impudent creatures approach that tree where

er young, and joined in the fray. Together Mr. and Mrs. Mocking Bir

sist the birds, if necessary

ay as fast as they could go. Thus, through the power of love, the weaker triumphed over the stronger. Later on the

ritz, puss, and Arabella, but she longed for diversion. Then one evening Mr. Da

ese, daughter, and

I want to take one of the

in so doing, she upset the coop. Away flurried the

they go to roost to-night, we can catch

and some on trees. A few had the hardihood to fly u

r young, and Mr. Mocking Bird was already asleep not far from

ise down-stairs. I think there must be burg

to be disturbed from a sound sleep, an

"do leave me alone; you'r

so lazy that you would see me and the children murdered before you'd move. If you do

own for a good night's rest. Such impudence aroused his ire. He did not hesitate a second, but dived into their midst and pecked furiously at the poor, unsuspecting intruders. The chickens, taken utterly

iumphant, ascended t

ried, "you're no

chickens who dared to sneak into the house, and I'm more than a match for any number o

surmise. The birds thereafter enjoyed

ed finely. They laid many an egg which i

he Davenport family when finally balls

ay, she found that she had enough to give every darky on

tation to spend a night in town with a little girl named Laura Corner. The Davenpor

e thought it would be a "sperience" to go, and prevail

e all her belongings with her, from Fritz to a small

be good during her absence, and the ch

ccountably, and she had a hard time to keep the tears back, when she kissed her mother go

one who especially attracted Beth. She was slight and graceful. Her hair was golden and her eyes

eth. "I wonder what her name is. I guess I'll call her 'Cherub' to mys

e "Cherub." The latter sat apart from the other children. She looked so very demure tha

g your doll? My mamma thought I h

e interest in the convers

en't a

surprise. "You haven't

ght be too poor to afford dolls. She was soon

't care for dolls; they're a nu

do

Do you? Say, can you climb tr

are st

They are long pieces of wood with places for your feet up from the ground. It's just

to walk

? Where do

he old sh

the people who bough

was delighted. She was beginning to think t

's Julia Gordon. Say, Beth, I'll come to see you

ally? When wi

rrow m

a pity. I shan't be home. I'm

d. I'll come the

ht, don'

here right aft

me refreshments. Soon afterwards, the guests too

stilts, Beth. I've been wanting

r, Florrie, told them stories. Beth was simply fascinated. She could listen forever, she thou

ldren to retire, Florrie took down

re in their night-dresses. Sad to relate, in the scuffle, their clothes were s

or her mother, and she resolved in future to be the best girl alive. That resolve somehow quieted her so that she fell asleep and forgot her heartache in pleasant dreams. She dreamed that it was the day after the morrow, and that Julia had come with stilts so high that they touched the clouds. Beth walked on them without the

"Laura, it must be lat

cried out in fright then. Flames shot and curled to the very window of their room. Laura could not tel

ng out of

ered. "Come quick or we'll burn." Still onl

chattering teeth. "Laura, you know the

ss first," a

sides, I don't know where my things are. Oh, why didn't I

om a chair where she had laid them, and led the w

pped. "Oh, Beth, I

ll burn,

w Easter hat. I

back for it. We ourselves might

ike a flash to rescue her Easter hat. Beth did not know the way sufficient

a Corner in the tre

r side. Such treatment was likely to do it great damage, b

riendly beams, Laura led the way there. No one was withi

d Laura's face was almost as whit

"He's so far away. I

if we pray. Get down o

et," answered Beth, who always be

must never go on the street without some grown

Laura folded her han

," sai

s were wide open from surpri

pray, o

the one who wanted to. Why

o scared. Go on,

say. Would 'Now I lay

to sleep. It's a fire. God's to kee

to," and Beth j

ed, Beth Davenport, and we'll burn to

come with me into the s

doing here?" asked Mrs. Cor

mamma and threw her

u'd forgotten us, and wou

lping, and we thought we would not waken you unless there was danger of this house burning. They're getting the flames under control. Char

again in bed and

want to make up for

after all, for God didn't le

rilling events of the night, slumber claimed