na96issa9B■aBaHi■H■SH0BaEfi^-.•i^ UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022093985 MISTRESS MAY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill y http://www.archive.org/details/mistressmayOOblan MISTRESS MAY BY AMY E. BLANCHARD rhorof'A Sweet Liitle Maid," "Dimple Dallas," "LiUle Grandmother Jo," "Little Maid Marian," etc. (qi^^ NEW YORK HURST & COMPANY PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1901, hy George W. Jacobs & Co CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. Hek Home H II. Hee Neigheoes .25 III. Hek Pets . 43 VI. Hek Plats 61 V. Hek Beotheb '. 79 VI. Her Nattghttness ...... 97 Vn. Hek Goodness 115 Vm. Hek IiiiiNESS 135 IX. Hek School-days 155 X. Hek Visit 175 XI. Hek Teachek 193 XII. Hek Holidays 213 HER HOME Mistress May CHAPTER I Her Home MisTEESS May sat upon the lowest step of the porch by the back door. Before her were a large, seK-satisfied cat, and a small impertinent kitten ; at her elbow was an alert and inquisitive fox-ter- rier, while at a short distance a pair of diminutive bantam chickens pecked industriously. The place was rather new to them all, for they had just been brought here from the city and were hardly ac- customed to their strange quarters, although, with- out exception, they were pleased with them. Snap, the dog, because there was such a range of garden to run in ; the cats, because it was pleas- anter to lie in the sunshine on the porch or in the grass than to be shut up between four walls ; the hen and rooster, because here were fine pickings, 11 12 Mistress May and May, herself, because lier pets liked it, and because her own playground was extended. She was rather a romantic little soul and she had always been possessed with a longing to sit upon a doorstep and eat her supper from a bowl of bread and milk as did certain little girls in story-books ; consequently, upon the first oppor- tunity after her arrival in this new home, she had lost no time in carrying out her long-felt wish. She ate slowly with much satisfaction. Snap looked on with a pretended lack of interest in what she was doing, though all the time his mouth was watering and his eyes were eager. The mother cat kept her green eyes fixed upon her mistress, and the kitten every few moments opened its little pink mouth to give a subdued and long drawn mew. The hen and rooster were entirely content with their own pickings and did not ask for May's. "I declare, children," said the little girl, "you act as if you had never had anything to eat, and you have all had your supper. There, greedies ! " She threw two bits of the soaked bread upon the ground, and the two cats gobbled them up imme- Her Home 13 diately, while Snap, with his head to one side, looked on, putting a reminding paw upon his mis- tress' arm. "Biddy and Buff, jou are the only well-behaved ones of all the lot," May went on ; "See, you others, how they look out for them- selves. Snap, where is that bone I saw you hide this morning? Go get that. Turn your green eyes some other way, Pinky, you stare at me so, you old stare cat you. I am not going to pay any more attention to you, so there." She kept her eyes fixed on her bowl and began to murmer to herself : " ' And often after sunset, sir, When it is light and fair, I take my little porringer And eat my supper there.' No, I like the other one better : ♦ Thou knowest that twice a day I have brought thee in this can, Fresh water from the brook as clear as ever ran, And twice in the day when the ground is wet with dew I bring thee draughts of milk, warm milk it is and new.' If I wasn't so dreadfully afraid of the cow, I'd go and get some new milk now. I wish I had a r 14 Mistress May- lamb ; maybe papa will get me ona. I'd love to say, 'Drink, pretty creature, drink,' to it." She carefully finished her last drop of milk and ended by saying : " I really meant to give you kitties some of this, but I like the little crumbs in the bottom of the bowl, the best of all, so I can't let you have any. I'll go and get you a tiny bit more supper and then you'll be satisfied." She took up her bowl and went into the house, followed by her dog and cats. The hen and rooster had concluded that it was time to go to roost and had taken themselves off. The tiny bit of supper sufiiced, it seemed, for Pinky took her kitten to a quiet corner and Snap went out to hunt for some new diversion. Then it was that a tired little girl went to find her mother and to rest her head in that haven of refuge, a comforting lap. "Well, little girl," said her mother, "how has the day gone for you ? Have your children been troublesome ? " "Yes, very," returned May. "Have yours?'* She laughed a little as she asked. " So — so," returned her mother, smiling. Her Home 15 "You see," May went on, "tliere is so mucli more room for tliem here and they wander away where I can't find them. Snap will go rooting around and gets himself so dreadful dirty, and Pinky will go sneaking after the birds ; I had to give her a dousing twice to-day to stop hero Then Biddy and Buff will get under the fence into the next garden ; they are so little, you know, that they can creep through almost anywhere." " Then it would almost seem as if we had bet- ter have stayed in the city." "No, indeed. Don't say such a thing, mamma. I wouldn't go back for anything." "Well, you see I have the same trouble that you have. The baby trots off and gets into mud- puddles before I know it, and my other daughter gets under fences and down into hollows where she has no business to go, and my boy goes off where I can't find him, so you see my children are giving me lots of trouble." May hid her face and said with a little laugh, that sounded as if tears were not very far from her eyes : " I won't get under the fence any more, 1 6 Mistress May mamma ; I'll climb over it, for it is so lovely in that hollow ; you don't know how lovely it is." " That's what Buii' and Biddy think, no doubt, when they get away into pleasant places." May laid her cheek against her mother's hand. " I see, mamma, and I won't go unless you say I may, for I understand that you worry over your childi'en more than I do over mine." ' " I don't mind your going if others are with you, but I don't like you to go alone." " I wish I had a lamb," said May, turning the subject suddenly. Her mother laughed. " What a sudden wish. Haven't you pets enough ? You have just told me what a trouble those you have were to you." " I have wanted a lamb for ever so long ; ever since I learned about little ' Barbara Lewthwaite, a child of beauty rare.' " Her mother laughed. " What a romantic little chick it is. Well, some day perhaps you can have a lamb, but now I must see that my little lambkin is safe in bed. You'd better go down and keep papa company till I come. He is in the library." May ran down-stairs and entered the library Her Home 17 wliere lier father sat reading the evening paper. He looked up and smiled. " Well, May Garland, did you just come from an apple-tree or a thorn- bush?" May went up close to him and leaned against his shoulder. " There are May garlands every- where now, aren't there, papa ? I hope I haven't any thorns about me ; I'd rather be made of apple-blossoms." "And turn into a rosy-cheeked apple? I'd rather you would do that, for then you would be much more useful." May looked thoughtful. " I suppose I do have prickly thorns sometimes. I came so near scratch- ing Jack to-day," she told him solemnly. " How was that ? " "He pinched the kitten's tail and made poor little Pat cry, and I would have pinched and scratched him back only Pinky scratched him for me, so I didn't have to." Her father strove to hide a smile, but said gravely : " Even if he did wrong you shouldn't have wanted to do wrong, too, for two wrongs don't make a right." i8 Mistress May " No, but I liate to see poor little animals hurt when thej are so little and can't take care of i themselves." " In this case they seemed to be able to do so." " All animals can't. Lambs can't, can they ? " " Why yes, to a certain extent ; they can butt with their heads." "Real hard?" " "WTien they are strong and big, they can butt pretty hard." May considered this for a while, then she called : " Jack, Jack ! " Her little brother came in from the porch where he was swinging in the hammock. " Jack," said May, going to meet him, " I want you to butt me with your head. I want to see how it feels." Jack was nothing loath, and, before his sister was ready for him, over she went on the floor. She picked herself up laughing. " That wasn't fair, Jack. I was not ready." "You said butt, and I butted." " I know, but I didn't mean that very minute." " What did you want me to do it for, anyhow ? " Her Home 19 "Because I wanted to see if it Imrt very mucli to be butted. I don't think I'd mind it mucli. You know I bave always wanted a lamb so much and papa said lambs can butt." " Ho ! I'd rather have a goat. What's the use of a lamb, anyhow ? " " They're so pretty." "They're not a bit of use, and a goat can be hitched to a cart and can take you all around." "Oh, but I shouldn't like that; I'd feel so sorry for the poor little goat. I don't believe goats like it Papa, please don't get us a goat." " My dear, I never in my wildest moments con- templated such a thing." " But please, papa, I would like a lamb." " And a rabbit, and a monkey, and a parrot, and a canary-bird " " No, no, I wouldn't like anything that had to be sWt up in a cage." "But why do you want a lamb? " " They are so soft and woolly, and besides," she hung her head a trifle shyly, "I want to say * Drink, pretty creature, drink,' to it." Her father laughed heartily. " You are a sen- 20 Mistress May timental little goose," lie declared. " If that's all jou want a lamb for I think you can get along without it. What have you children been doing- to-day ? " " The cow came first thing this morning, you know, papa," said Jack, " and I helped Peter get her place in the stable ready, and what do you think, papa. May wouldn't eat her supper with us ; she said she didn't want anything but bread and milk, and she would eat it out on the back porch." *' That is what little country girls always eat," May declared. " This isn't real country." " Well, it most is, and I wanted to see how it would feel to eat it out there." " And how did you like it ? " asked her father. "Ever so much. It was so smell-sweety, and there were little birds flying into a tall chimney over there. They whirled around and dropped in one after another. I hope there wasn't any fire in the house below them to bum them up." Her father laughed. "You are incorrigible, IMay. The little birds were swallows and they Her Home 2i have tlieir neste in the chimney. They are called chimney-swifts, too." " Oh, have they nests in there ? Are they the kind : * When the swallows homeward fly?"' "Yery likely they are the same. They are rather interesting little creatures. I used to watch them when I was a boy, many and many a time. They seem to know theii' own special places in the ranks and they circle round and round and get into position like a body of soldiers." " Ho ! I'm going to watch them," said Jack, at once interested. " And so am I," May put in. " Do you believe there are any in our chimneys ? " She glanced toward the fireplace as she spoke. " No, I think not. This house is too new. The chimney where they went in is a very old one. The house belongs to a Mr. Atkinson, and I sup- pose the swallows have been living in that chim- ney for years and years." "I'd like to see one of those soldier fellows close, too," said Jack. " I'd like to see down the chimney when they're 22 Mistress May going in," May added. " How old is this house, papa ? " "Not more tlian a couple of years old. Mr. Dallas built it." " Is that the name of the people who live next door ? " May asked. "Yes, and I hojoe you and the little girl who lives there will be good friends." " Are there any boys ? " spoke up Jack. " No boys, only one little girl." " But there are jjlenty of boys all about," said May, reassuringly, " and you can play with us, Jack, until you get acquainted. I'm glad we came here where we can play out, papa, for it is so much better than to be shut up in a city house. There is the dearest little place down on the other side of the garden, between here and the place where the swallows live ? There is a little brook there and ever so many wild flowers. Jack and I f oiiud lots of violets there to-day, and it's just lovely." " I wouldn't advise you to spend too much time there, for it is rather damp, and when you do go you must keep off the wet ground." *' We will put on rubbers, won't we, Jack ? We Her Home 23 want to have a battle of Manila there to-mor- row; Jack is getting the fleet and Admiral Dewey ready now. Oh, Jack, we must not for- get that we are going to cut out soldiers this evening. We have a beautiful admiral, papa. Mamma gave him to us He was in a mag- azine." " Of powder ? " her father asked. May looked puzzled, and Jack looked im- portant " Pshaw ! I know what he means," said the latter. "That's where they store the gunpowder, isn't it papa? Girls are so stupid." " They are not, either," May retorted. " I know lots of things that you don't. Is it where they store powder, papa ? " " Yes, a storehouse for powder is called a pow- der magazine." " And if the admiral stays there he might get blown up. Hurry, hurry, Jack, let us get our admiral out before anything happens to him. "We've got to get Aguinaldo, too, and a whole lot of Fillipinos. Come on, it will be bedtime before you can say Jack Robinson, and 24 Mistress May we'll have to put oflf the attack till another day" Roused to a sense of immediate action, Jack followed his sister's lead and they were soon busy over their newspapers and magazines. HER NEIGHBORS CHAPTER n Her Neighbors The next day May and Jack betook themselves to tlie little lioUow by tlie side of the garden. It was not an unsafe spot in spite of tlie small run- ning brook wliich trickled tlirough it, for the brook was shallow and the place was sufficiently near to the house to be seen from the upper win- dows ; besides this, it was fenced in and a sign of warning to trespassers prevented any intrusion, so the children felt entirely to themselves. The were in the midst of the most thrilling part of their battle of Manila, and Jack was exploding fire-crackers from a toy cannon when they heard a voice say : " See, Rock, isn't that fine ? " Both chfldren looked up to see peeping over the fence a pretty fair-haired little girl and a boy somewhat older. They were both older than the Garland children who were somewhat abashed at sight of these witnesses to their play. 27 28 Mistress May " What is it ? Please tell us," said tlie strange little girl. " It's Manila," answered Jack, looking do^vn at Lis very primitive fleet anchored in a tiny cove, " and this is Dewey," He pointed to the large and imposing figure of his admiral towering loftily above the rest of the paper marines. " Oh ! Do you mind if we come over ? " Jack looked at May and the two looked at the smiling face on the other side of the fence. " Xo, I reckon not," said Jack. " I am Dimple Dallas," the little girl informed them ; " that is, most every one calls me Dimple, hut I am Eleanor, really." " Oh, I thought you lived the other side of us," May said. " So we do, but we came over to Mr. Atkinson's this morning. You know he lives here and we came down in this direction. Mamma lets me come when Rock is with me, but she doesn't like me to go the other side away from home and to- ward the river. I knoAV who you are. Papa told me all about you. Your name is May Garland and your brother is Jack, and there is a baby Her Neighbors 29 named Rose Garland. I tliink you liave tlie lov- liest name : Garland. I wisli mj name was Gar* land ; it sounds so beautiful, and I do want to see the baby." May's face beamed. This appealed to her. Here was some one who could understand her little sentiments, and she looked up, all her soul in her dark eyes. " I think Eleanor is a lovely name, too, and I am very glad to have you come over to our battle," offering the entertainment in her best manner. " Our baby is named Rosalie," she added, " but we call her Rosy. She isn't a little baby, you know, for she is two years old, but she is a dear, and I'd just love to have you come and see her." "This is my cousin, Rock Hardy," Eleanor said, " and he's an awfully nice boy. He can play anything," " Except the trombone," Rock put in, gravely. Eleanor gave him a soft little tap. " Goosey- gander, you know I didn't mean music ; I meant just play plays. Come on. Rock, and let's help to take Manila ; we are reinforcements, aren't we ? " " Oh, yes, they are reinforcements," repeated 30 Mistress May- May. And the bombarding and figbting went on more furionslj tban ever till a cbanoe sbot from a wicked fire-cracker popped tlie lofty admiral into tbe water and be bad to be fisbed out. Jack looked at bim ruefully. "Dewey wasn't wounded," be said. " No, so be wasn't," Rock agreed. " We'll bave to call bim Cervera, you know be was fisbed out of tbe water, and we'll pretend tbat tbe battle of Manila is over and tbat tbis is tbe battle of San- tiago ; tbat rock over tbere will make a splendid Morro Castle." Tbe boys continued tbeir play, but tbe girls concluded tbat one battle a day was enougb for tbem, and tbey wandered off a sbort distance, and sat down on a rock to talk over matters more in- teresting to tbem. " Is tbat your dear little pony tbat I saw yes- terday ? " May asked. "Yes. Isn't be a darling? I've bad bim about a year, and I'll come and take you out to '' drive some day, if you would like to go." " Ob, will you ? " May clasped ber bands in de- ligbt. " Tbat will be lovely. I'd just love to go. Her Neighbors 31 Tell me what tliat ciinning little lionse in jour yard is for. Jack sajs it is just a kind of work- house and I say it is for some of your pets." "It isn't for either of those things," Eleanor replied, laughing. "It is my playhouse. My dolls live there. Do you like dolls ? " "Tes, pretty well. I like live things better. Oh, that reminds me ; I forgot all about Pinky and Pat ; I must go and get them. I'll be right back." She went off to where, under a tree, stood a small baby-carriage, about large enough for a good-sized doll ; this she trundled over to where Eleanor sat. " They are all right," she announced, as she came up. " They have been fast asleep all this time ; the fire-crackers didn't scare them a bit." Eleanor peeped into the carriage expecting to see two dolls, when to her sui-prise she saw, snug- gled up closely together, a cat and kitten clad in the clothes of two dolls. Their furry faces, from under the borders of their caps, looked very funny and Eleanor laughed heartily. "What funny dolls ! " May lifted one out gently and smoothed out the 32 Mistress May long wliite frock it Avore. "I like them," slie said, " 'cause they are alive, and they don't mind a bit being dressed up ; I think they like it. See how good they are." She deposited the kitten on Eleanor's lap and took Pinky upon her own. They looked very helpless but seemed perfectly content. "I have a dog, too, that I sometimes dress up," May went on, " but he doesn't like it much, and I can't put clothes on Buif and Biddy." She laughed. " Who are they ? " " My little bantams." " Oh, yes, I saw them — " Eleanor paused. " They got under the fence into your garden, I know." May looked distressed. " I am so sorry ; they aren't obedient children, but jjapa has a man there to-day putting chicken wire all along so they can't get in." " We didn't mind," Eleanor hastened to reassure her. " It was Sylvy who shooed them out." " They will not do it again," May said. " Did you ever have a pet lamb ? " she asked, after a pause. " No, I don't believe that I would care for one." Her Neighbors 33 " I want one awfully, but I don't believe papa will get me one. Do tliey cost very mucli ? " " I don't think they do. I'll tell you what we will do : we will go out to Mr. Snyder's ; he is our butterman, and he is the nicest man. There are lots of lambs put there, and we will ask him all about them. Rock can drive us out. Mamma doesn't like me to go out in the country alone." May drew a long sigh of satisfaction. Surely this was the nicest soi-t of neighbor to have. The kitten by this time was beginning to get restless and so the two little girls decided to go up to the house, leaving the boys to follow when they had finished their game. " We're going to May's house," Eleanor informed Rock, " and when you have battered down Morro Castle you can come too. Rock." " Oh, I'll bring him with me," said Jack. He felt very much flattered that a boy so much older than himself should be willing to play with him, and he wanted to have it known that he consid- ered Rock his company. Eleanor and May proceeded tov/ard the house, wheeling the carriage before them. It was nearly 34 Mistress May noon, and tlie snn was liigli overhead. The air was sweet with apple blossoms, and the trees were beginning to make quite a shade. "Don't you like it here ? " Eleanor asked. " Indeed I do," May replied. " I am so glad papa brought us here, and that we are your nest- door neighbors." " So am I," Eleanor returned, " yet I was very sorry j)apa fenced off this side of our place and built this house. I was so afraid somebody I didn't like might come here to live, I was afraid Cousin Ellen might." "Who is she?" " Oh, some one I am not fond of. She lives at the other end of town." " I am glad we didn't go down that way ; I like this end so much better ; it seems more like the country, somehow, and that is such a lovely place of Mr. Atkinson's. I peep through the fence whenever I go by there, and wish I could go in." " So you can. I'll take you. Mr. Atkinson is a particular friend of mine and he tells me to come there whenever I want, and I know he won't Her Neighbors 35 mind my taking you. Are you going to scliool this year ? " "No, not till the fall. Papa said it was not worth while to begin so late, for it will only be two or three weeks before the summer holidays begin, and I have my lessons for a little while every day with mamma." " I wish you had come a week sooner." "Why?" "Because you could have come to my May party. My cousin Florence was here and she was queen of May." " Oh, how lovely." " Yes, it was nice ; it is too bad you couldn't have been here." May thought so, too. " "Where is your cousin now ? " she asked. "She has gone home. Her sister is going to be married the first of June and she couldn't stay." They had reached the house by this time and sat down on the step of the porch to rest. Across in Eleanor's garden some one was singing lustily : 36 Mistress May " I'm glad I'm in dis army, Yes, I'm glad I'm in dis army, Yes, I'm glad I'm in dis army, And I'm batter for de school." Eleanor rested lier cliin in her two hands and listened, laughing softly. " That's Bubbles," she told May. " She is our little colored girl and she always gets things in such a firony way. When she sings that thing she is singing now. Rock says he supposes she thinks she is singing about a game of base-ball, but I don't believe she thinks about it one way or the other. She sings things without caring for anything but the tune." May was busily engaged in freeing the cats from their garments. " Here, you may go, Pinky, and you, Pat," she said, putting them down on the walk. " I've seen that little gii'l," she said. " Has she always lived with you ? " "Always, and I love her dearly. There she comes now. She is looking for me. I suppose mamma thinks it is time for me to come home. I am glad it is Saturday, though I like school pretty well. I hope you will go to our school next year. I wonder if your mother will let you come over and play with me this afternoon." Her Neighbors 37 *' In your playhouse ? " " Yes, if you choose ; or anywhere." " Will your cousin Rock be there ? " May felt that she would rather he were not. "Tes, but bring Jack and then the boys can play by themselves." " Does Kock live here ? " " No, he is here for a visit ; he came up to go to the May party." " Is his father a soldier '? " "No he is a cotton-broker. What made you think he was a soldier ? " "Oh, because Rock seems to know so much about battles and such things." " That is only because he is a boy. Will you come over ? " " If mamma will let me." " All right I will expect you. Come as soon as you can and bring your dolls. Maybe mamma will let us have a tea-pai*ty, not a real one with lots of things, but just crackers and milk, or maybe cake and lemonade. Sylvy always bakes on Satur- day, so I think we can have cake. There, Bubbles is beckoning to me, so I must go." And she ran 38 Mistress May off, leaving May to look after lier. Presently, liow- ever, Eleanor stopped. "Don't forget to bring Jack, and I wish I liad time to see the baby, but I will come again." May nodded and went into the house to ask her mother's j)ermission to make the visit. " She is such a dear little girl, mamma," she said, " and I know you will let me play with her." " Certainly I will," her mother told her. " I am quite sure she is a nice little girl and I've not the slightest objection to your going over to play with her, but you must not stay too long, and you must ask Mrs. Dallas to allow Eleanor to come over and play with you." " May Jack go, too ? " " Was he invited ? " "Yes, mamma, he was. He and Bock are coming now." " Is that Eock ? " Mrs. Garland asked, " Why he is twice as old as Jack. I am afraid he will be bored by a little boy like Jack tagging after him." " Oh, no, he won't. They have been playing together all morning, and Eleanor said very par- ticularly to bring him." Her Neighbors 39 Mrs. Garland looked uncertain, but Eock him- self asked if Jack couldn't come over that after- noon. " You see," Rock said, " Eleanor won't use Spice this afternoon, and if you don't object, Mrs. Garland, Jack and I can take a drive. Spice is as gentle as a kitten and Eleanor drives him all about, except out in the lonely country roads, so there is no danger." Jack's eager eyes besought his mother's per- mission. " If you are sure you will like to have Jack I shall be very glad to have him go with you," Mrs. Garland said, finally. " I am sure it will be a great pleasure to him.'* Rock put his hand on the younger boy's shoul- der. " All right, old fellow. I'll be on hand about three o'clock, and if you feel like coming over with your sister just come down to the stable and you will find me there." May felt a little jealous that Jack should be the one to have the first drive, but she did not say anything except : " Eleanor is going to take me out some day." She soon forgot the little feeling of envy, how- 40 Mistress May ever, and with lier two prettiest dolls in the car- riage which the cats had occupied in the morning, she presented herself at Eleanor's playhouse soon after dinner. Kock had borne Jack off to the stable to harness up Spice while May waited at the door of the playhouse. Presently Eleanor's smiling face appeared, and May was ushered into the pretty little room where Eleanor's books and playthings were. May thought she had never seen such a fascinating place and she was divided between her longing to look at the books and her desire to play with the dolls. " This is my Rubina," Eleanor told her, holding up a large handsome doll, " and this is my dear little Ada. What are your dolls named ? " *'Violetta, is the big one, and the other is ClaribeL" " What sweet names," Eleanor declared. " Now you take whichever end of the room you want and make yourself at home. Bubbles will be here after while with the cakes and lemonade. She can make real good lemonade. Then we'll let the dolls have all they want and when we have had Her Neighbors 41 the party we will look at tlie books. Don't you love the Jungle books ? " " I love anything about animals," May replied, " and I love poetry." " Do you ? I do, sometimes. I like things that make my blood run cold, like the Pied Piper and such things." " I like about Barbara Lewthwaite, and, ' We are Seven,' and ' There's no dew left on the daisies and clover,' but I like stories, too." ] " Then I'll teU you what we'll do : we'll have a — a sort of reading for the dolls and you can say the daisy and clover piece for them. We'll have it for the — ^the benefit of — let me see — for the benefit of Mr. Atkinson's swallows." Eleanor spoke very soberly. May laughed. " Why, they don't need it." "Maybe they do, and anyhow they would be very grateful if we were to have the pay in worms." "Worms?" "Yes, or anything like that. Of course they wouldn't want real money, so we can have make believe money and they can be make believe peo- 42 Mistress May- pie. Thej must be poor, jou know, or so many of tliem wouldn't live in one big tenement house." May was delighted with this fancy. She fairly beamed on Eleanor. " You are so nice," she said. " I like you and I want you for my dearest fi'iend, but I'm not quite as old as you." " Oh, that is no matter. Of course I can't have anyone come before Florence, for she is almost my sister, but you can come next." May was very much pleased with this accept- ance of her friendship, and for the next hour the dolls were vastly entei*tained, first by the choice selections given them and then by the dainties of- fered, and even if they had to eat by proxy thej were so very attentive to the readings that we may suppose they heard, even if they did not say so. HER PETS CHAPTER m Her Pets It took a very few days for May and Eleanor to become good friends, and tlie very next Saturday the two little girls with Kock in attendance started for a drive out the country road which led to Mr. Snyder's. It was keen delight to May to watch the pretty little Shetland pony, which trotted along so briskly, shaking his shaggy mane and seeming to enjoy the outing as much as did the children. The woods were full of sweet odors and the or- chards along the way were a mass of bloom. Good Mrs. Snyder made them very welcome ; she was very fond of Eleanor and made a great pet of her. " Lambs ? You want to see lambs," she said. " Well you shall see 'em to your heart's content. We've as pretty a lot as anyone could wish, and young calves as well, not to mention chicks. You like all those things, sissy ? " She smiled down at May. " So do I. Now let me see 45 46 Mistress May how you like my doughnuts and then we'll go and look at the lambs." Eleanor had tasted Mrs. Snyder's doughnuts before, and knew how good they were, and she nodded to May as much as to say : " You'll be glad you came when you taste those." This treat was soon over for the children were hungry after their long drive and did not linger over their spicy twists. Then Mrs. Snyder led the way to the back of the house. Passing down a garden where green things were sprouting, where peas were a-bloom and strawberries were showing a little tinge of color, they went on to where upon a hillside they saw numbers of little lambs frisking about with their mothers, and bleat- ing in so many different keys that it made the children laugh to hear them, " Oh, how lovely they are ! " cried May. " Think so ? " Mr. Snyder had come up. " Well, I can't say I admhe 'em, awk'ard long-legged things. Look at that one now ; it's about the awk'ardest crittur I ever did see." " There's a little black one, two, of them," cried Eleanor. " Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any Ker Pets 47 ■wool ? " She went up and held out her hand, but the lambs kicked up theii- heels aud frolicked off. " T\Tiat's the matter with that tiny tottering one over there ? " May asked, wdth much concern. "That's rather a weakling," Mrs. Snyder told her. " Sometimes we have to raise them by hand, they are so puling ; but it is a nuisance. In the spring I often have my hands full with motherless lambs, and weakly calves, and chicks that have come out when it was too cold for them." " Oh, I should think it would be nice to have them in the house," said May. " Maybe, but it's a lot of trouble. However, I don't grudge the poor things a little attention when I have time to give it, though they do soon get so tame that they are forever under foot." " Suppose you take the children over into the next field, mother, and let 'em look at the calves," Mr. Snyder suggested. May hung back. " Are there any cows there ? " she asked, timidly. " Bless you, no, and if there were they woiddn't hurt you. The cows are all off down in the lower pasture ; they'll not come up till milking-time." 48 Mistress May " And don't the calves staj witli tlieir mothers ? " "No, not now, at least these don't. We feed 'em and let 'em run with their mothers onlj a little." " Then that's why they cry so." May looked at the pretty sleek-skinned, soft-eyed creatures with great sympathy. Then they must visit the poultry-yard and see the fluffly chicks and the ducklings and the cun- ning, peeping turkeys. It was really a great day io May who loved all these things so dearly. She drove home in a very happy frame of mind, loaded down with the various gifts Mrs. Snyder had bestowed : a pair of little chicks left mother- less, a tiny tiuile in a jar of water, a huge bunch of lilacs, a jar of honey and a bos of doughnuts. Rock laughed as he handed all these things out, but he very obligingly helped May to carry in her possessions, and with beaming face she sought her mother. Jack begged so hard for the turtle, to which he took a great fancy, that May let liun have it, while the chickens were settled in an old box for the night. " I hope Buff and Biddy won't peck at Her Pets 49 them," May said witli concern as she left the little things softly peeping in a contented way under their covering. "I expected you would bring back a lamb," Jack told her. " There were ever so many there, and I should love dearly to have one. I think I will save up my money and buy one," she added, suddenly tak- ing the resolve. " The very next time I see Mr. Snyder I will ask him what he will sell one for. He is going to bring us butter and eggs every week, you know." True to her intention she waylaid Mr. Snyder when he next called. "What do I ask for lambs? That depends. If they are clipped I don't get as much as if they are wooled. What do you want to know for ? " he asked, busying himself in counting out eggs from a big basket. " What would you want one for ? " " Why, just for a pet." "Thirty, and six are thirty-six. Well, let me see, I get anywhere from three or four dollars up to as high as seven, maybe, according to how 50 Mistress May- scarce they are and how heavy mine are. I sup- pose about five dollars just now is what they bring." " Oh ! " May's face fell. She was not allowed much pocket money and was a perfect little spend- thrift, so it would be a long time before she could save that amount. "I am afraid the lamb would be a sheep before I could get that much," she said, dolefully. Mr. Snyder laughed. "That's the tune, is it? "Well, now, let's see what I can do. How much could you pay, do you think ? " "Why, I don't know; 'bout a dollar." This seemed a large amount to May. "But I'd have to save it up. How many weeks would it take to make a dollar when you save ten cents a week ? " "'Cordin' to my calculations a matter of ten weeks." " Oh, that's a long time. Do lambs grow very much in ten weeks ? " "Not so monstrous. However, I'll see Avhat can be done and let you know next week when I come in. Sure, mamma will let you have one ? " "Ye-es, I think so." Her Pets 51 " Better go ask ter." May hunted up her motlier and made her in- quiry. "Why, dear, I never thought of it seri- ously," Mrs. Garland said. " I'm afraid it would be a troublesome pet, but I will go and ask Mr. Snyder about it." "Troublesome?" he repeated. "That's how you look at it. They'll eat anything in sight, but they're good for the grass ; keep it down and save you a lawn-mower, but if they get into your gar- den, good-bye to the shrubbery." " Then " — Mrs. Garland looked down at May. The little pleading face was too much for her. " Then what can we do about it ? " Mr. Snyder straightened himself up from his baskets and looked around. " I suppose it could run with your cow in the pasture-lot there, and when the little girl wanted to play with it she could bring it up in the yard and watch it that it did no mischief. It wouldn't be apt to do much damage for some time, anyhow." "Very well, we will see. You haven't concluded a bargain, as I understand," she said, smUing. "No, ma'am, not yet." Mr. Snyder smiled too. 52 Mistress May " Want any spring cliickens next week, Mrs. Gar- land ? I'll liave some first-rate fryers. My wife beats tlie Dutch, for raising cliickens." " You may bring me a pair, then, Mr. Snyder." He was already prepared to start, and called out as lie drove off : " I'll keep that there matter in mind, little gal." And he did, for the next week after he had finished with his supplies he asked : " Where's the little gal ? I've got some- thing for her." '• She's next door with Eleanor," Jack told him. "Just run fetch her, sonny." And Jack was very ready to go. Eleanor and May were not long in obeying the summons. " Something for me, Mr. Snyder," said May eagerly, before she had reached him. " Oh, it isn't a lamb, is it ? " " Looks mightily like it," Mr. Snyder told her. He dived into the back of the wagon and brought out a basket. The children crowded around it, and when it was uncovered a little weak-looking lamb was disclosed. "The crittur wants cod- dling," Mr. Snyder told them, " and my wife's got her hands full, and has had enough of this kind Her Pets 53 of thing anyhow, so, if you can raise the crittur yon can have it for a dollar, and if it dies before it gets well up, why you needn't pay me anything. I reckon it will come easier to you to give me that ten cents a week, won't it ? " " Oh, yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Snyder. 1 hope it will live." May's expression of tender concern was something to see. " And," continued Mr. Snyder, " when it gets to be a big sheep and you get tired of it I will buy it back from you at a fair price." " Oh, I shall never want to paii; with it," May declared, positively. Mr. Snyder winked at Jack. " All right, just mention it if you do. It's pretty young and I reckon you will have to raise it on a bottle." " Like a baby ? How lovely ! " May gathered the small creature into her arms and bent her face down over it, while Eleanor was scarcely less in- terested. For the rest of the day May devoted herself to the lamb and forgot so entirely that she was mis- tress of other small creatures, that it was bedtime before she remembered that Snap had not been 54 Mistress May- seen since morning. She was really very fond of her little dog. He was about the first pet that she remembered having, and had been given her by her grandfather. "Oh, mamma," she sobbed, when she discovered that Snap was actually gone, " won't papa go and look for him? Oh, dear, oh, dear, suppose you had a new child and neglected me so I'd get lost, and he is my oldest one just as I am yours. Oh, dear, I shall cry all night." She did not cry all night, but she cried herself to sleep and her first thought the next morning was : " Where is Snap ? " She jumped up and dressed herseK quietly, then she ran down-stairs. Martha, the cook, was already stirring, and to May's inquiry, " Has any- thing been seen of Snap ? " she shook her head. " No, child, not to my knowledge." May opened the door and went out into the fresh spring morning. The dew lay thickly on the grass and the birds were caroling gaily. " I wish you wouldn't sing," said May, looking up into the trees. " I wish you would cry. I want my little Snap. I want Snap." Pinky came rub- Her Pets 55 bing up against lier and the kitten came dancing from tlie porch toward her. She gave each a gentle pat, remembering that neither one had re- ceived anj attention from her the day before. Buff, strutting about, gave a sharp little crow, and with his nimble wife came running for crumbs. May went into the kitchen for scraps and threw them some bits. Her chicks were now big enough to run about alone, so she took them from their place in a comer of the woodhouse and allowed them to share with the others. She looked at the group for a moment and then went on, calling " Snap ! Snap ! Here Snap ! " But there was no joyous bark in answer, and at each step she grew more and more disheartened. She remembered all his cunning, affectionate ways. " You were the best of all, Snap, and you always loved me best" The tears which had gathered in her eyes were now rolling down her cheeks. She looked the stable over, went into all the outbuild- ings, but met with no success. "He has been stolen; that is what has hap- pened," May told herself. " Some one has stolen him and they have taken him where he can't get away." 56 Mistress May She ■wandered on and on ; down in tlie liollow where the violets w^ere swarming the sunny side of the hill ; into every hole and corner she peeped, climbing the hUl on the other side. Here she stopped and leaned over the fence iiinning along by Mr. Atkinson's place. " Snap, Snap," she called. She listened. Was it possible that she heard a distant yelp followed by a pitiful whine ? She lost no time in climbing the fence. This was no time to ask j)ermission, for she remembered, suddenly, that she and Eleanor had been over in Mr. Atkinson's grounds the day before. The family were away in Euroj^e and the place was in charge of a gardener. She could hardly run fast enough through the wet grass and at every step or two she called " Snap, Snap," each call being answered by a sharp little bark, which became more and more distinct the further she went. At last the sounds were located in an outhouse where the gardener kept some of his tools. May tried the door but it did not open. She must hunt up old Abner and get him to open the door. But first she put her mouth close to the keyhole to say : " Snap, dear Snap, we are coming, dar- Her Pets 57 ling dog. Don't crj, your own mitty is com- ing to you." Snap gave a sudden bark of ecstasy and lapsed into silence. " He under- stands, the precious dear," said May, as she ran off. Abner was at liis breakfast. He was a gruff old fellow, but really kind at heart, and he very willingly left his bacon and eggs when he heard May's story. " Wonder I didn't hear the crittur," he said, "but now I remember I w^ent over to Jenkin's last night after I shut up. I guess the dog followed me in. I recleck now he has always been mighty fond of gettin' in there after rats or some varmint, I suppose. Come along, sissy. You'd ought to look out better for him when you have him out." " I know it," responded May, very meekly. It was a very happy, dirty, hungry little dog that gave one bound as the door was opened. He had been down in the brook before he followed Abner, and he had rolled over in the dirt till he was a sight to behold. But May was aware of nothing but that he was found, and while he licked her face and hands with little whines of 58 Mistress May deliglit. slie kissed and hugged liini tdU even grim old Abner smiled. "You're not going back tkrougK that wet grass ? " he said, as May started oK "It is the nearest way," she said. " Well, go along, then. You're a sight to see as it is, and I don't reckon you'll look much wuss when you get home, but I advise your mother to give you a dose of medicine and put you to bed, or you'll be down with croup or pneumonj or somethin'." May did not argue the question, but only said : " Thank you, Mr. Abner, for helping me to get Snap." The little dog was welcomed by every one, for all were fond of him ; but alas, for himself and for May, the one had to have a good washing, a pro- cess which he did not enjoy, and the other was obliged to take a dose of a certain medicine which she found hard to swallow^. " "We'll give Snap his bath in his own old tub," Jack said. " I'll haul it out of the wood-shed, I saw it in there. Come, Snap." Snap wagged his tail and followed very obedi- Her Pets 59 ently, watching Jack witli much, interest as he went into the wood-shed, but when the tub ap- peared Snap's tail suddenly dropped and he slunk off only to be caught and brought back by May. If there was one thing above another that Snap hated it was his tub. This was a discarded one of Rosalie's and had been given over to Snap's use. " You've got to come, Snap ; there's no use try- ing to get out of it," May said. " I had to take my medicine and now it is your turn. I feel very sorry for you, for you do hate it so, but we'll all come and keep you company, so you won't feel as if it w^ere really a punishment." The three childi-en did gather around him, en- couragingly, calling him dear little dog, and nice Snap, and good fellow till he did feel as if this ordeal were less dreadful than usual Jack zeal- ously scrubbed him while May and Eosalie looked on. " He doesn't seem to mind it as much as usual," May remarked, and probably a night in the tool- house had subdued his spirit, for he stood very meekly and whimpered only once or twice. 6o Mistress May " Never mind, Snap, it will soon be over," May told him. "I'd take my medicine over again a dozen times if it was for the sake of getting you back again," to which Snap responded by a little whine of appreciation, but it must be said that though he received more than his usual share of attention upon this day, at last he became disdainful of it and trotted off in search of new experiences, to the detriment of his clean coat. HER PLAYS CHAPTER IV Her Plays All tlirougli tlie long summer days May and Eleanor played together, Eleanor was accus- tomed to the presence of her cousin Florence in summer time, but this year Florence had made her visit early and had gone with her family to the seashore for the season, therefore, but for her neigh- bors, Eleanor woiild have been rather lonely. To be sure her cousin Eock was spending the early part of his summer at her house, but she v/as very glad to have May for a companion. "Eock is a very nice boy," May told her mother, "and he plays with us without all the time saying : ' Ah, girls don't know.' I don't like boys that do that." Her mother laughed and said boys were not as polite when they were little as they were when they grew older. " That is, they are not often so," she added. 63 64 Mistress May- May pondered over this for awhile, and then she continued the conversation by saying : " Rock's father has such a funny way of making a living ; he breaks cotton." "Why, May," her mother said, "what do you mean ? " " He does, mamma, Eleanor told me so." Mrs. Garland looked piizzled. " Do you mean he has mills or something of that kind ? " May shook her head. " I don't think so, mamma, Eleanor said he had an office in the city and he was a cotton-broker." Mrs. Garland laughed heaiiily. "A cotton- broker ! That is quite another thing. I can hardly explain to you Just what it does mean, but it is one who buys and sells cotton for other people." " Oh, I thought it was one who breaks cotton. You know it is smoker, one who smokes ; baker, one who bakes, and I thought it was broker, one who breaks. Words are very funny things, I think. Before Rock goes away, mamma, what do you suppose Mr. Atkinson is going to do ? " " I am sure I don't know. What is it ? " Her Plays 65 "He is going to give a garden party at his place and all the children are going to wear some sort of fancy dress, like flowers and outdoor things. Eleanor is going to do all the inviting. May I go if I am invited, mamma ? " " I will see about it." May knew that was almost as good as consent, and she went off satisfied. She and Eleanor were quite excited over the prospect of their little fete, and when it was known that Mr. Atkinson really intended to give it, they could talk of little else, and even their plays must have something to do with what they called " dressing up," and one afternoon, when Eleanor proposed that they should be Revolutionary characters and wear caps, May was very ready to Join in. Rock, too, when he learned of their intention, wanted to be Paul Revere and Jack was made to do service as a minute-man. It was very exciting when Rock, mounted on Spice, came dashing up to the door of the playhouse, and giving a thunder- ing rap cried out : " The Regulars are coming ! Arm for resistance ! " And then Jack sprang from his improvised bed and was given sword 66 Mistress May and powder liorn, the latter rather useless since he had no gun, and was ready to sallj forth. " Tou must bid him God speed and say : ' Come back with your shield or on it,' — oh no, that was the Spartan mother or wife or something who said that," Eleanor told May. " I must say : ' I give you to your country, my son ; ' I am his mother you know, and you must say : ' Do your duty, John, and I will do mine ; ' you are his wife." And Jack, with a very fierce frown and prodigious stride, marched out. " I declare," said May, " I am almost scared to death, really I am, Eleanor. When Kock knocked at the door it was so real, and I felt as if I must hide from the Regulars. I think it is perfectly splendid. I forget what Paul Bevere did next." Eleanor took down her volume of Longfellow and read : " So through the night rode Paul Eevere, And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm, — A cry of defiance and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, And a word that shall echo forevermore." By this time Eock came clattering back again. Her Plays ^'j " They are fighting at Bunker's Hill, and Charles- town is burning," he said, " you will have to flee." " Oh, dear," said Eleanor, " I am so comfoi'table I don't want to flee. Must we really, Eock ? " " Unless you want to be burned up. Don't you see the smoke rising yonder ? " He pointed to the chimney of the Dallas's kitchen from which a slender spiral of smoke was ascending. Eleanor laughed. " Well, I think I will stay." " Pshaw, Dimple, you haven't any imagination," said Eock, in disgust. " Oh, well, the exciting part is over now. You and Jack go and play cowboys or Indians. May and I will find something else to do. I am tu'ed of battles and things." " I think you are real mean. I don't see why we can't all play together," protested Eock. But Eleanor, in rather a provoking way, began to hum a little tune, and Eock walked off. " I get tired of boys sometimes, don't you ? " she asked May. " Ye-es, but I think Eock is very good to play with Jack ; he is such a little fellow, you know, and Eock could easily find a bigger boy. Do you 68 Mistress May- know? I'll tell you sometliing, only you must never tell any one." " I promise." " It's about Jack. He lias a doll" « Oil, May." "Yes, lie has. He keeps lier in Lis pocket. Her name is Tiny, and Jack is devoted to her. He takes her out and looks at her when no one is looking." " I'd love to see her. I'm going to ask him to show her to me." " Oh, no, please don't ; he'd feel awfully. You see, he's sort of ashamed of her, but he doesn't like to give her up." " I don't care ; he needn't be ashamed. I am going to ask him." Eleanor was in rather a con- trary mood that day. "Jack, Jack," she called. "I want to see Tiny. Show her to me." The color flamed up into the little fellow's face, and his hand went to his pocket while he cast a reproa;chful glance at his sister. May looked quickly at Rock. She was so afraid he would laugh at her little brother, and Jack was so sensitive about ridicule. But Eock had a Her Plays 69 kindly smile on her face. " What are you all talk- ing about ? " he asked. " What is it you want to see, Dimple ? " "Something Jack carries around in his pocket," Eleanor replied, flippantly. Jack's face gxew redder and redder, and he jerked his hand from his pocket, threw the little doll on the ground and fled. Eock stooped and picked Tiny up. "'You oughtn't to have done that, Dimple," he said, in a low voice. The doll was not hurt and he carried it over to where Jack stood, his "back to them all. •' See here, old fellow/' began Eock, — " Why, what's the matter ? " for the tears were coursing down Jack's cheeks. " I'm afraid I broke her all to pieces," said Jack, in a tremulous voice. " Oh, no, jou didn't ; here she is as good as ever. Isn't she a cunning little thing?" He slipped the doll into Jack's hand. " Do you know T used to have two dolls when I was a little chap. I only gave them up a couple of years ago, but I have them yet, and I take them out every now and then and look at them." yo Mistress May The tears were still standing on Jack's lashes, but he looked up at Eock gratefully. If this big boy had played with dolls and wasn't ashamed of it he needn't be. Like most small boys he ad- mired an older one, such as Rock, immensely, and his little heart warmed all the more toward him as Rock went on. " See here, let us go off and play by ourselves^ I know a jolly game you'll like. We'll leave the girls to their own plays. Eleanor is in rather a bad humor to-day." Jack trotted off by Hock's side, ready to follow him to the end of the world in the gratitude of his heart. May felt rather uneasy, but did not say any- thing to Eleanor, who was beginning to feel quite ashamed of herself, but who sat on her little table swinging her feet. " I guess I had better go home," said May, after a silence which did not seem very promising. " Nora is out and I shall have to look after the baby a little." " Bring her over here and Bubbles will take care of her ; she will love to do it." " Oh, but perhaps she has something else to do and hasn't the time." Her Plays 71 " Yes, she has. She always has the time free before she has the supper table to set. Bring her over, anyhow, and she can stay here with us and be perfectly safe. I'll go ask your mother, if you don't want." Eleanor was anxious to make amends for her behavior to Jack. " Well," returned May, slowly. They went off together very amicably and re- turned with the little maid between them. " Rose Garland, you are a darling," Eleanor said, ecstat- ically. " I'd like to wear you on a hat, you are so sweet." "No, no," Rosalie shook her head. The idea did not please her. Eleanor laughed and hugged her. " Well, I won't then. We will go over and play in the little house and you shall be my child. Bubbles is coming to play with you in a minute. Do you like Bubbles?" " Bubble," responded Rosalie, contentedly. She was very fond of Bubbles, who knew just how to amuse her, and with the little colored girl in- stalled as nurse it seemed that there would be no more trouble. 72 Mistress May But tliej were hardly settled when Bubbles looking up exclaimed : " I 'clar, Miss Dimple, hyar come dat Oily Miu'der." " Who ? " May was quite startled by this dreadful name. *' She means my cousin, Olive Murdoch. She's not a very near cousin, but I wish she wasn't any relation at alL Let's keep very still and I'll lock the door so she won't know we are in here." They crouched giggling in one comer, having shut both door and windows. Presently rat-a-tat came Olive's knock at the door. The children pressed their hands against their lips to keep in their laughter. "She'll go directly," Eleanor whispered. But Olive was persistent. " I know you are in there, Eleanor. Your mother told me I should j&nd you here, and the boys said so, too." " "We'll have to let her in," May whispered, but Eleanor held her back as she attempted to get up. " No, no, don't. She just says that." But here a little mouse, attracted to the playhouse by the crumbs frequently to be found there, ran across the floor and Rosalie gave a squeal which betrayed them. Her Plays 73 " I heard you," said Olive. " Let me in." "Bubbles, go and let lier in," said Eleanor, re- signedly, an order wbicli Bubbles obeyed reluc- tantly, for there was no love lost between her and Olive. "Why didn't you let me in sooner?" Olive asked, as she entered. "We were playing," Eleanor replied, rather lamely. " Didn't you hear me knock ? " "Ye-es, but" " I think you are very impolite. I've come up to take tea with you." This was said in a very condescending manner as if it were a great favor. "Oh, have you?" Eleanor looked at May. "I'm going home," said May, not liking this visitor at all. " Come Bosy-Posy." " Oh, don't go on my account," said Olive, tartly. " I suppose this is your neighbor, Eleanor, though you haven't taken the trouble to introduce me." "It is May Garland," Eleanor told her. " Don't go. May, I want you to stay." i'And don't want me, I suppose," OlivG went 74 Mistress May on. " I'm going to staj anyway. Mamma said 1 was to. She has gone ont with Jessie and Alma and said Don and I were to come here." " Don ? Where is he ? " " He has gone to find Kock." " Then Jack must come home," said May, and with Rosalie she went out to gather up Jack and to return home, leaving Eleanor by no means pleased with the turn of affairs. Jack was quite ready to go with his sister. He had had some experience with Don before this, and although Kock would not have permitted any trouble, Don was inclined to bully and Jack had no idea of standing that. So he ran off at May's call, and the fence was soon between the Garland children and Eleanor and her company. May's various pets came to meet her. Snap was not on very good terms with Eleanor's cat, Nixy, and was not peiinitted to go with his mis- tress when she 'vdsited her neighbor. The lamb was growing apace and was ready to follow May all about. She was named Suzette, and she and Snap had struck up a queer friendship. Mrs, Garland was ready to take Rosalie, and Her Plays 'js May proposed to Jack that tliey slionld go to the hollow to play. They were interested in a tiny mysterious grotto which they were making here. They had adorned it with ferns and various lichens and mosses. In the centre they had placed a bit of looking-glass to represent a miniature lake and had paved the floor with the prettiest pebbles they could find. The finishing touch was the setting up of some odd little pieces of china furniture which some one had given May. Two wee china dolls reigned over the grotto, and the two children considered it a very fascinating secret, for not even Eleanor knew of it. It was hidden from sight by a large stone, which was rolled up against the entrance whenever the children left it. With the lamb and Snap in company they set off for the hollow, but had hardly started in with their play when they heard a voice call : " See here. Rock, did you ever know such a girl-boy, playing with dolls ? " May started to her feet. There stood Don Murdoch pointing a jeering finger at Jack, yet with curiosity examining the little cave. ^(i Mistress May "You've no business in liere," said May, iier cheeks very red. " What did jou come for ? This isn't your place and you have no right to come in without being asked." "Well, I reckon I have. It belongs to my cousins." " No, it doesn't, at least my father rents it with the rest of the place and you have no more right here than you have in any one's house, has he, llock? You shan't come in. I'll have you arrested. The sign says : ' No trespassing,' " " Yah ! yah ! yah ! Ain't you in a fine temper ? I'll come if I choose." " No, you won't," said Rock. " Come right back, Don. I didn't know you and Jack were here, May. We thought we would take the short cut." " Oh, I don't mind you, Rock ; you know that, for you never meddle and don't say hateful things, but we did so want to keep this from every one. It was such a nice secret." " I'm soiTy," Rock returned. " It is too bad. I won't tell, and say, Don, don't you do it either." But Don said nothing, and May was not at all Her Plays ']'] sure but that he would. At all events their fun was spoiled and they regretfully left the place and went down to the brook to gather more stones for their pavemeiit HER BROTHER CHAPTER V Her Brother The next day that May and Jack went to tlie lioUow, true enough, the stone had been removed from the entrance to the grotto, the glass was smashed, the pieces of furniture scattered about, the stones thrown in every direction and the dolls strung up by their necks to a branch. " It's that wicked Don," cried May, almost in tears. " I can't bear that boy, and I don't see why E,ock lets him tag after him. I don't know what we will do when Kock goes away. There is nothing to do now, Jack, but to find another place and build another grotto, but I don't believe we shall ever find all our pretty stones again." And indeed, they did not find them all, though they did manage to rebuild their grotto in another place and to keep it a secret for quite a long time. In fact it was not till Fourth of July that it was discovered and then it came about in this way. •1 82 Mistress May Jack had always longed to fire off a pistol or a rifle, but his parents thought him far too young to be allowed to use firearms, and had never -per- mitted it. Jack, himself, was persuaded that it was because they had always lived in the city where it would be dangerous. In this place where the houses were far apart, with grounds between, he could not see why it should not be perfectly safe. He thought about it so much that as Fourth of July approached he conti'ived a plan which he proceeded to carry out. The gardner, a good-natured Irishman, was very fond of Jack, and to him the little boy first made his wish known. "Patrick," he said, "won't you lend me your pistol to fire off early Foui-th of July ? I'll go 'way off and shoot it right up into the sky so it can't hit anyone." "Except yersel', beloike," returned Patrick. "No, I won't. If you only knew, Patrick, how I do want to do it, you'd lend it to me just this once." " What'U the mother say if you come home kilt entoirely ? " " I won't come home that way. I won't indeed, Patrick.' Her Brother 83 "I'll not lind it to yez." " Please." *' No, sorr, I'll noi I'll be losin' me job, an' yez'U be losin' an arrum or a leg or tlie top av yer head." " Then, please, Just let me look at it, Patrick." Patrick led the way to the stable and produced an old pistol. He had often explained its work- ings to Jack and the little fellow knew every part of it. He begged to be allowed to hold it, and Patrick so far consented as to let him take it in his hands, watching him very carefully. Jack sighed deeply as Patrick put the pistol back in its place, but his mind was made up. He must get that pistol for the Fourth, or life would not be worth living. He was out of bed bright and early on that holiday. All around firecrackers were j)opping. The boys in the town were having a good time. Once in a while came a louder report, and Jack decided that he must lose no time in adding to the noise. Patrick was driving the cow to pasture, and Jack with his heart beating fast, crept into the stable, precured the pistol, and holding it very gingerly, made off at a rapid rate. 84 Mistress May- He trotted along till lie was well out of siglit of the liouse, and liad readied a little bridge whicli spanned a stream into whicli flowed the brook in the hollow. Having reached this place the small boy looked around. No one was in sight. A fence this side, a field that, the creek between. Once, twice, he raised his pistol, his heart beating fast. "Where was his courage ? " Hurrah for Fourth of Jidy ! " he piped up, in rather a shaky voice, it must be admitted, but the sound of it gave him the courage he needed, and he raised the j)istol a third time, cocked it, pulled back the trigger and the hammer fell. " Bang ! " Jack staggered. "What had hit him ? He wasn't quite sure what had happened, but he heard a crash of glass and a cry of " Mujder ! Murder ! " He ran to the fence and peeped through a knot-hole. There were houses below there along a hillside. He had not dreamed of such a thing. A woman was screaming. Men were running in every direction. The child was paralyzed with fright. He had killed some one. They were running after him. Her Brother 85 For a minute lio stood, pistol in hand, and then lie ran with all his might toward the hollow, rolled the stone from the entrance of the grotto, laid the pistol inside, and with shaking hand, replaced the stone., Then he crept into the garden. He knew that Patrick would be away all day on some jolli- fication, and that here was a safe place of hiding between the rows of tall corn and beans. He crouched down under the rustling blades and lis- tened fearfully, each minute expecting that some one would pounce down upon him. Every vehicle that rattled by ; every shout struck terror to his souL Would they miss him at home ? Would they let the officers come to arrest him ? Had any one seen him? Oh, how dreadfully his mother and May would feel to see him dragged off. The tears ran down his cheeks at the thought. The hours wore on. He was very hungry, for he had had no breakfast, but he did not dare to show himself. He heard Rosalie's merry voice, and May laughing blithely. He heard Bubbles singing cheerily over in the Dallas's garden, and, after a time he heard Rock calling him, but he did not stir. S6 Mistress May " Jack, Jack," came the call, nearer aud nearer. Bock was hunting for him in the hollow. Sup- pose he knew ; or Don ; he was a much worse boy that Don, he considered, and the tears l>egan to fall faster and faster as he lay there hidden bj the whispering, rustling corn. He remembered the story of King Midas and how the reeds said, *' King Midas has asses' ears." To him the corn whispered, "John Garland has shot some one. Here he is : Jack Garland." All day long he cowered in his hiding place. During the afternoon he fell asleep, being worn out with fear and misery, and when he woke up it was evening, and being then overdone with hunger, he cautiously crejjt out and by a roundabout way reached the house. The family were at supper. How good the fried chicken and biscuits smelled. It seemed to Jack that he could eat anything that was set before him. He sidled into the room and up to the table. No one seemed surprised to see him. It was to be expected that upon the Fourth of July a boy would stay away from home all day ; moreover, Rock had gone to Mr. Snyder's for the day and every one supposed that Jack had gone with him. Her Brother 87 " I suppose there will be tlie usual list of acci- dents," said Mrs. Garland, as lier husband un- folded the evening paper. Jack nearly jumped from his chau-. They hadn't heard ! He waited in a perfect panic to hear more, yet his appetite was not satisfied and he helped himself to another biscuit. " I believe Jack could eat a whole chicken," said May. " Didn't they give you any dinner at Mr, Snyder's?" "Mr. Snyder's?" "Tes, haven't you been there all day with Eock?" "No." " Where were you, then ? " Ja