A Girl of the Limberlost

ance to the school grounds. She scarcely could comprehend that only a week ago she had gone there friendless, alone, and so sick at

nto the sitting-room. Mrs. Comstock sat in her chair holding a book and every few seconds a soft chuckle broke into a real laugh. Mark Twain was doing his w

u get this?"

it," sai

With all the

n myself and nothing at all on you. I was afraid to buy the dress I should have liked to, and I

fe. I've laughed all day, ever since I found it. I had a notion to go

ugh, it's a wise b

t's a wise book. It takes the smartest man there is to

, from the library every week, and leaving it on the sitting-room table. Each night she carried home at least two school books and studied until she had mastered the points of her le

s what to teach their pupils about the specimens; but recognizing how much more she knew than they, one after another begged her to study at home, and use her spare hours in school

ctioners' and take turns in treating to expensive candies, ice cream sodas, hot chocolate, or whatever they fancied. When first Elnora was asked she accepted without understanding. The

han usual for the next week, but she seemed to thrive on work. It was October and the red leaves were falling when her first t

on her home road. There she arranged the girls in two rows on the cement abutments and opening her basket she gravely offered each girl an exquisite little basket

containing a record of the number of weeks in the school year, the times it would be her turn to treat and the dates on which such occasions would fall, with a number of suggestions beside each. Once the girls almost fought over a basket lined with yellow leaves, and filled with fat, very ripe red haws. In late October there was a riot over one which was lined with red leaves and contained big fragrant pawpaws frost-bitten to a perfect degree. Then hazel nuts were ripe, and once they served. One day Elnora at her wit

or less than two dollars and if the basket proved to be nice, then the money would be wasted. She decided to risk it. As they went to the

at this is myself, so all of us are

y had melted in baking and made small transparent wells of waxy sweetness and in the centre of each cake was a fat turtle made from a raisin with cloves for head and feet. The remainder of the basket was filled

where she crossed the field to the swamp. At parting they kissed her good-bye. Elnora was a happy girl as she hurried h

gs to notice things, she had listened to every note to find what it was that literally hurt her heart, and at last she knew. It was the talking of the violins. They were human voices, and t

y for a violin. I am sure I could play one, sure as I l

ou live! I loathe them! They are a snare of the very devil himself! They were made to lure men and women

piano. That morning Elnora made her first mistake in algebra. At noon, as soon as the building was empty, she slipped into the auditorium, found the side door which led to the stage, and going t

w. Standing in the middle of the floor, she tried over and over. It seemed scarcely a minute before the hall was filled with the sound of hurrying feet, and she was forced to put away the violin and go to her classes. The next day she prayed that the violin would be left again, but her petition was not answered.

the snow an' if we have any nuts we have to fix 'em now. But I'm ahead, cos Uncle Wesley made m

d kissed him. "Billy, a

him make the dirt fly when he gets after a chipmunk. I

Margaret as she

don't, either. I ain't been twisty inside once since I been here,

rue. Dogs can't talk,

n the door when he asks

nd whining is

do things he wants done. Chipmunks can talk too. You ou

upper and I don't give it to you it

n swipes. "Well, for-anything! Did I go an' forget again! The cookies will

alnut too big to go through the holes, a

time and then Elnora said suddenl

n you all your life,

k," announced Elnora, and then in amazement

vered. "Where did

Aunt Margaret, I can make it do the wind in the swamp, the birds, and the animals. I can make any sound I ever heard on it

tion it to your mothe

d keep it at school, and practise at noon a whole hour. Soon they'd ask me to play in the orchestra. I could keep it in the case and practise in the woods in summer. You'd let me p

e a fine fiddle to make it sing. But there's no sense in your buying on

he arm. "My father had a violin! He played it. That's why I

. "Your mother will kill

y loves music

e man she loved away

my father'

nor

mentioned. I've never had a scrap that belonged to him. Was he my

r father. They lived right there when you were born. She doesn't dislike you; she merely tries to make h

other

mention it. It was not at

know whe

n on earth who does, exc

is

e it yet, and get it if I can. But if your mo

" said Elnora. "I

, and see if it ha

unt Margaret! Wou

as a good instrument. He

" breathe

right, and he might have to try again. He could almost drive you crazy when he wanted to, and no man that ever lived could make you dance as he could. He made it all up as he went. He seemed to listen for his dancing music, too. It appeared to come to him; he'd begin to play and you had to keep time. You couldn't be still; he loved to sweep a crowd around with that bow of hi

t you told me about him sooner? I feel as if you had given my father to me living, so tha

ything. If I hadn't promised her not to talk of him to you

as he a shame? W

took it out on you. At times, those first ten years, if I had talked to you, and you had repeated anything to her, she might have struck you too hard. S

one day, brought it home to her, and told her. Since, she has wanted me to carry a market basket and treat the crowd every day, she was so pleased. Life has been too monotonous for her. I think she enjoys ev

see if I can f

dded to her prayers: "Dear Lord, be merciful to my fa

ten rested on a plate of tempting cookies, and when Wesley offered them to the boy he re

you could remember! I can't sit and eat cookies before a little boy who h

y, but his chin was jumpin

aid Wesley. "It

rgaret. "You make

garet. "I know how he feels

illow and cried heart-brokenly. Wesley hurried to the barn, and Margaret t

gers heard a sound behind him

nd it's all so dark you c

y near," ans

p down and ope

without dividing with Jimmy and Belle. Since he had been separated from them, he shared with Wesl

y in delight. "It's all dark! I ca

s face level so that they could talk as men. He never towered from his height above

he commented. "Did you an

Ist as soon as you eat yours, I am going to take h

e cookies? You know Aunt Margare

"I didn't take them for me. I

ched their corn, a rat gnawed at a corner of the granary, and among t

steal?" wav

closed until he a

n, but you went at it the wrong way. You only made a mistake. All of us do that, Billy. The world grows that

n't it be

wanted to do, and asked her for the co

e wouldn't, and you

me to have it, Billy. I

take i

ard, and dec

ter a silence, "I got to put t

as he did so he paused one second a

ly slipped in and crept beside her. T

and held out her arms. Billy stood back. He gripped his little fists tigh

unlucky day! What

t a mistake, but it was worser 'an that. I

t was in despair

wered Billy in

d Margaret. "H

uldn't see. I thought maybe he could there. Then we might put out the light and you could have yours. He said I only mad

being, then he slipped to the floor and marched to the closet. Margaret opened the door. Billy gave one

set and it should run across his foot and frighten him into spasms. Somewhere she had heard-Margaret leaned forward with tense face and listened. Something dreadful mig

id. "I ain't been in he