Ben Pepper

stairs and into Master Presbrey's big library. There stood

per," said the old

den, and stared up at the one the boy

r ado Ben was piloted into the back room, and there, looking eagerly

rst; then Ben, with a lump in his throat, lean

sper, his eyes roving affectiona

nodde

; then a wave of pain swept its trail over his face. And the doctor, seeing tha

lf-hour. And this time he found his tongue, for Dr. Smith said a little cheery talking was just the

his face in the pillow, his thoughts flying back to Polly and

rily, "and perhaps you'll be able to c

Christmas," said

n, for want of something else to say, he began on Mrs. Van Ruypen buying all sort

the moment off from the loss of Christmas to th

herself couldn't have told it better, Dr. Smith smiling to

g up to the bed, "time is up. But you can

stay now!"

too, smiled. And the first person he ran up against was a small boy, his hands fu

inst was a small boy, his hands fu

he fistful into Ben's hands, who involuntarily th

sked Ben, in

course; hurry and give 'em to him before the doctor sees. It's candy." He couldn't repress his longing as his eyes now fell o

olding the little packets toward the small figure, "I

"but he won't hurt you, 'cause you're a stranger, so h

things will hurt Jasper?" said Ben, k

"they'll make him well, do take 'em to him. O dear!" and his thin lips trembled,

ling the little wads all into one hand, a

against the wall, "and all the boys hate me, a

Ben turned the little figure s

e from his sticky fingers to peer up at the bi

ackets of sweets back into their owner's hands. "I'll tell Jasper all you wanted to do for him; it was nice of you." Ben was astounded to find how fast he was getting on in conversation. Really he hadn't supposed he could tal

class room. Meantime Pip, in the familiar borders of the school yard, and remembering everything again with a rush, began to snivel once more, s

head down at the cowering shoulders. "Can't you play ball

Ben in the least, he looked him all over contemptuously. "King was my great f

between his shoulders at that,

with you myself," said

d a gasp, "but the fellows wo-on't let

Ben. "Come, let's get you

bureau drawer. Once the ball was in Ben's hands he managed to follow him to a corner of the playground where, without any more words,

ing person in company with Pip, whom nobody had liked from the first, certainly not after the injury to their favorite, K

hat Pip!" he fumed, throwing d

off from his window quite readily, as there was noth

istress, for the great air which he assumed he fondly hope

urt," said Tim, thrusting his hands in his pockets and lo

rought up in disgust. "And that country lout-Great guns! how did that fellow dare to addres

and blowing out his cheeks, in step and manner imitating as much as his lo

d the roars of the delighted boys, "you quit t

said Tim, coolly, and folding his fists, which were long and mu

refuge in, "You're no gentl

ectionately, "but I don't see why these wouldn't do. I really

ed out of all the fun, seeing that Bony would not

A common country fellow just now spoke to me on the long path; fancy that, will you?

ever so many

looked big. "I'd had a long talk with him; his father knew my father very well, very well indeed, and he wa

aid one boy. Some of the

here last night," he added superciliously. "This is quite different,-q

th a chuckle. "Hush up, boys," for the room was

perior way, "for I never speak unless

in a hush now, every boy holding himself in check to lose

omething-what, the boys couldn't have told, even if the babel that now set up around him had been les

oh, no, sir, I-I only sat down a minute," and he

with the ball game going on between the two over in the playg

you?" cried Tim, his long

exercise. "Now then, Pip, wait a bit," the ball just

ving gained any color had quieted down from its nervousne

ng around brightly on the group as the other boys ru

n't play the most scientific game according to their rules, but he was a capital pitcher, and he took all errors in a sturdy good humor

dded over toward Pip, who was running after, having lingered behind a bit to

let him come

," said Tim; "take my advic

ingers closed on the thin little ones crowdi

per," said Ben,-he hated to preach, but it m

uck his hands deep

Ben, striking off on a side pa

to come up; "he's been here a little more than one day, and he leads us all by the nose.