Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 / Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore, Etc.

e sun-shiny morning, doing nothing, exce

ard of before,-wouldn't that be jo

one that we don't get tired of

se mamma wouldn't like it," said little

utes. Suddenly Ned said, rather crossly, "I wish my shadow wouldn't mock

do just what you do, and be your slave all

. It will come after me; and in the night it scares me,

ws going about alone, and doing

see ours cut capers; that would be a

three little shadows on the sunny wall behi

ried Polly, st

s odd!" said Ne

" asked Will, a

ight. You want to see your shadows by themselves; and you can, if you promise to follow them as they have followed you so long. They

ise," answere

ht, and be faithful s

for Ned's was the tallest, and had its hands in its pockets; Polly's had a frock on, and two bows where its hair was tied up; while Will's

to move its hands as if busily picking peas. Ned stopped laughing when he saw that, and looked rather ash

old peas! I'm bu

t this?" he asked,

o a set of nice garden tools near by, and then seemed to blow a kiss fro

ht to do what I can for her, and love her dearly,

as little millers. Somehow Ned rather liked the work, with such an odd comrade near by; for, though the shadow didn't really help a bit, it

give up our peas to-day: I'm so busy, I can't s

shadow ran away to the woodpile, an

is shadow is. He isn't a bit like me, though he's been with me so lon

hated that work, and sulkily began to rattle the spoons and knock the things about. But the sha

s with the napkins, laying them all even in the drawer. And now she's at the salt-cellars, doing them just as mamma likes. I wish she'd live here, and do my work for me. Why, what's tha

one singing, ma

ing lay waiting for her, Biddy was turning things topsy-turvy in the ki

faint song came from it. Presently she began to hum the tune she caught by snatches; and, before

ing, and it's the music I

teeth; and Polly didn't feel like tending it one bit. Mamma hurried away to the kitchen; and Polly walked up and down the room with poor baby hanging over her arm, crying

creaming, and it's high time you went to sleep. Bless m

n to dance up and down the room, till the shadowy baby clapped its hands and kicked delightedly. Polly laughed, and did the

est a little," said Pol

began to sew, making her needle

do think handkerchiefs are the most pokey things in the world to sew. I dare say you think you c

or Polly wasn't a very neat little girl; but she got settled at

s his great trouble, and sometimes he couldn't bear it. Jane was so rough. She let soap get in his eyes, and water run down his neck, and she pinched his nose when she wiped him, and brushed his hair so hard that really it was dreadful; and even a bigger boy would have found it hard to bear. He shivered a

to him, Will ran after his shadow, as it flitted

ing, downy little creatures who pecked and fluttered at his feet. Little shadow hunted for eggs, drove the turkeys out of the garden, and picked a basket of

s cheek much, but it did his little feelings; and he lifted his hand to strike back, when he saw his shadow go and kiss Sammy's shadow. All his anger was gone in a minute, and he just put hi

shadows didn't forget baby even then, but got out the wagon, and Miss Baby, all fresh from her nap, sat among her pillows like a queen, while Ned was horse, Polly footman, and Will driver; and in

teeth, and played a regular rub-a-dub with her spoon on her mug, and tried to tell about the fine things she saw on her drive. The children said nothing about the new play, and no one observed the queer actions of their shadows but thems

told them they could go for a holiday frolic in the woo

," they answered, as they s

ar my best hat. Mamma won't see me, if I slip down the back way; and I do so want

othing her braids and putting on her blue ribbons. But when all was ready, and the boys getting impat

n that I mustn't wear my hat, b

koned, and patted its hea

ike, and not make a fright of myself," said Polly, rather sulkily

ig blackberries, she was quite contented. Polly had a basket to hold fruit or flowers, Ned his jackknife, and Will a long stick on which he rode, fancying that thi

all along the path, ferns and scarlet berries filled the little dells,

wild roses for baby: it's her birthday, and it will please mamma," s

ll be back in a minute." And Ned went cr

maybe I'll find some berries," said Will, tr

. She was a poor child: her feet were bare, her gown was ragged, she wore an old shawl over her head, and walked as if lame. Polly sat behind the ferns, and the child did not see her till P

o cry for a

didn't dare to go home till my pail was full,-mother scolds if I do,-and now they're

med to fold its little handkerchief round the girl's bruised foot, and give her something from its pocket. Polly jumped up

picked up, and none the worse for falling in the grass. If you'll take them to the w

bring her more whenever she likes," said the child gratefully, as she walked away

at would give him a nice, smooth pole. He forgot his promise, and down he went to the pond; where he cut his stick, and was whit

and get those cardinal-flowers for P

push off, when he saw his

said to it, remembering his promise now, but d

stream that ran between the banks, the rocks and m

'm sorry; and it will be such fun to row alone. Be

eluctantly, and scolded the shadow well as he went back to Polly; though all

thing to put in it; for kittens didn't like it, and caterpillars and beetlebugs got away. He chose the biggest bird, and, holding him carefully, walked away to f

on't hurt him, and his mother has thr

w stamped its foot and waved its hand, as if ordering the young robber to carry back the baby-bird. Will stood s

'll ask mamma to get me a canary, and wil

t it. A bush of purple berries grew by the path, and Will stopped to pick some. He didn't know what they were, and mamma had often told him never to eat

o," sighed Will. "I shall ask Polly if I tarn't e

e said they were poisonous, and

ied Will. "I like you; and I'll mind bett

re tired. As they crossed a field, a cow suddenly put down her head and ran at them, as if she was afraid they meant to hurt her calf. All turned, and ran as fast as they could toward the wall; but poor Will in his fright tumbled down, and lay screaming. Ned and Polly had reached the wall, and, looking back, saw that their shadows had not followed. Ned's stood before Will, brandi

hey had tumbled over the wall, and lay

I suppose my best hat would have gone

its own mother with tha

e been deaded if you hadn't," said Will, looking at his brothe

en they came to the corner where two roads met, Ned proposed they should

ou won't be able to do your jobs, Ned, nor I mine,

y, so let's enjoy it, and

a we'd come home

green and cool and level, along the river-side. They all chose the pleas

, and on either side; but

us at the corn

and try to find t

inding mine, and don't care if

his shadow, and then got into lots of trouble because he ha

et; but Polly clapped her

he man's wish in the fairy tale did, and the black

saw the three shadows trudging along, as if bent on getting home in good time. Without saying

ou glad y

s on the top; and mamma and baby, all nicely dressed, were waiting to welcome them to the birthday feast. Polly crowned the little queen, Ned ga

g and telling stories meanwhile to the three children who pranced about in their long nightgowns. This evening they had a gay time; for the shadows amused them by all sorts of antics, and kept them laughing till they were tired. As they sat resting on the big sofa, they heard a

adows, lit

n the cha

beside the

ed flames r

tgowns, caps

antic sha

d they make

x small fe

ayly, danc

ro all t

amily of

ut in win

ries, nimb

anks in th

ng the nur

hantoms lo

ppens, now w

shadow's t

it on th

bing its h

pers, no on

arted spri

others of

ent, sha

reeping; hush! t

my rock

their lov

eck and to

dows, litt

ptive, hol

b and cling

good night!

" then went away into their rooms, said their prayers, and nestled down into their beds. Ned slept alone i

lly, are y

at a queer day we've

the shadows showed us, as well as they could, what we oug

h obliged fo

in a very earnest, but rat

ill say, when we tell

me back to us at midnight, and follo

he's a good little one, and set me a righter zarmple t

em. All were fast asleep; and no one but the moon saw the shadows come stealing back at