Ben Pepper

t now to the fact that the "really truly cat" f

to say, holding her hand fas

drums, and express wagons displayed on all sides as they threaded their way in among the crowds that surrounded the

one cry, then she sat right down on the flo

both of whose charms had held her for the past ten minutes, laid them down on the counter and ran over to the place where the cry came from. When she saw

pped his wails in surprise at her appearance, stood his ground

ntion to him. "How'd she ge

on the floor and wiped Phronsie's streaming tears with

l; "what a little goose to cry

injured tone; "my sister isn't a goose; so

er stalked up. "You're blocking the way," he said with a great deal of o

ing his hands nervously, had said nothing, now looked u

ing, repeated to Ben, "You've ju

own by Phronsie's side. "I'll go and find her for you," she said, putting her hands on Phronsie's two small ones, do

" looked up radiantly, the tears trailing off down the round cheeks, while Joel, whose face

Phronsie to her feet. "Here she is now, I guess." She gave a sharp, birdlike glance between the crowd, then started off like a flash

f Ben's blue cap and sturdy shoulders (she hadn't much hope of seeing the children

he little girl does. And I guess they

olly, turning on her, "pl

o her cheeks that had gone quite white, followed as nimbly as she could, till, "Here she is; here's Polly!" She heard Jo

opping at once; all except Ben, who looked here and there for the

n thank her," said

y for them through the crowd, Phronsie clinging to Polly's hand as if she never meant to let her go again. All at once Ben darted aside, then turned back to Pol

ed the saleswoman, crossly. "Take one, or

he small girl, "my brother w

e pig and reached out an impa

ered Ben; "she wants them for her

. "O dear me, I wish sh

n leather pocket-book. "You give it to her," he sa

oel, with his big eye

rriedly, and dragging him off; "here, ju

shoulder, which now she saw was thin, and touched the rusty black coat sleeve. "That's for the woolly do

h the silver half-dollar shining up at her from the mid

uld say a word, she had slipped back to Ben, and this time they were

half-dollar," gasped Joel,

lly flew back; "well, now, then, we mus

ill. "Oh, Ben, just think," she whispered, for Ben never could bear to

h!" beg

ring secrets," declared Joel, t

olly, "really and truly

ried out, Phronsie announcing gleefully that she was going to buy Grandpapa's cat, and pull

nk ribbon around her neck, looking down on the "Five Little Peppers" as if she had expected them all the while, as they hurried up to anxiously scan the assortment. And oh, she had really-and-truly fur on! When

down and paid for, and Phronsie had it in her hand, and was stroking its back lovingly, and telli

sked the saleswoman. "Here, give it to me,

the little yellow cat up in her neck, "she doesn't want to be wr

said Ben, w

all the afternoon in that way

a glance at her, "and I don't believe, Polly, she

ged away from the alluring toys of every descripti

am-engine," howled J

id David, who hadn't been able to take

pt; "a steam-engine'll go, like this!" He

y to be wrapped up. Smash went something-a big doll with pink cheeks and very blue eyes; and, with an awful feeling at his heart, Jo

at the mischief, and her teeth fairly chatter

ldly around for Ben and Polly. They were ahead wit

saying again, as they hu

her away. Too late! Phronsie rushed into the very middle of the group, just as the floor-walker was protesting, "Of course you didn't do it," to Joel, for it never would do to

hronsie, eagerly. "Polly, can't

"And I shall report you to the office. Now go ahead with those other things, and then come here and pick up these pieces, and take the doll back." W

ard the wrapping counter, and began to cry all over the re

e floor, and was cuddling up the doll with

the girl. "Don't cry,"

she stamped her foot in rage; "you've made me smash that doll, and they'll take it out of my pay, and now I can't

lared Joel, his bl

s'pose," said the cash-girl. "You go ri

stop!" for he had almost reached the office door. "Mister, please," and he seized the end of

floor-walker smoothed out hi

and you mustn't make tha

and I must make an example of her, or she'll break something else. It's all right, my boy," and he put

an awful hole that would make in his pocket-book! Perhaps he wouldn't be able to buy only half as many things for his Christmas presents as he had

ker, smiling pleasantly, till he showed his white teet

gleefully slapped his pocket till, encountering the big pin again, he thought better of that,

decidedly, "he wouldn't ever think of it; t

an's side. "Has that girl got to pay?" he demanded, his black eyes

he won't touch a cent of your money; and you keep

, and dashing up to the first door he saw, he opened i

ad run, of course lost track of him and had not

ored hair, who was doing his best to find the bottom of a long column of figures. As he paid no attention to Joel's sudden appearance, the floor-walker had time

l, "I'll fix that up for you." But Joel, not caring to wait for attentions that didn't a

ead in astonishment to stare into t

aid Joel, impatiently, waving his arms around co

eighboring desk. By this time everybody in the department had bec

ze the name that in his excitement had slipped awa

lowing its lead, Joel was soon within a little office, that, if he had taken t

out: "It was my fault, and I want to pay for it. Don't let him make the little girl pay, please don't." He

n astonishment. His mouth fle

alker, with deference, but he had a withe

worse than ever; "he wants that poor little girl to pay." He brought his black eyes so c

it is, sir," said

ly. "Now, then, what is it, my lad?" and he brought his eyes, just as sha

and never stopped to draw breath until he turned to pull out his pocket-book. Then he tugged at Mamsie's big sh

asked Mr. Persons, with a ke

demanded again, this time impatiently. Since it was all settl

the big office chair, and whispered the information

muscle, "you may give me a dollar, my lad, and we'll consider that

Persons's hand, the floor-walker staring in amazement at his employer. Then he f

ough the rows of men at their desks in the big coun

following closely, beyond saying a word, and Phronsie, who didn't know that

ried Ben, for even David was not q

look about on all sides. "Oh, whickets! There she is." And

a radiant face, Ben drew his charges off into a quiet corner, and said quite dec

r will get through in all this worl

se?" asked Ben, l

I know," said

e, let Po

know," sa

in Joel, "let me tell; I k

e," said Ben, "an

books," said Polly, slowly, wrinkl

n great disgust, "books

aid Ben, smiling approval. "An

. Grandpapa has got just every single thing in th

roken his gold pen," sa

, and seizing his arm, "how perfectly splendid

ion, but his cheek glowed. "You always get ahead o

y, squeezing his arm affectionately. "Oh

round at them, "because it must be something that we

such a quiet present. "What's an old pen, a

se," said Ben, "only it must be a black one, fo

a pen without a handle, Joey?" said Polly

aid pen," pe

s rising fast, "and handle, too. Well, now, do

"if you'll give

to Phronsie. "And just think, pet, you can sit by him a

ronsie, dreadfully excited and hopping up and down; "