Five Little Peppers Grown Up

flying down the platform, "

ound, "'tisn't possible, child, that we've come of

distress, and clasping her hands to keep the tears b

t at home," said the old gentleman, "and there's no

ried Joel, rushing up,

; "Phronsie's box of dolls is left behind." Then he began to fume up

down at Phronsie, but her broad hat had drooped, the br

athing-space. "What is it, Joey

ter it; don't yo

rowing her head back quickly, "the trai

t back for this," said Joel, swallowing hard. "

ronsie, running after him

. King, forgetting his indignation to hurry a

falling off to her shoulders, "oh, do stop him, Grandpapa d

turning off to the little knots of his party s

with a pale face. "Oh, Grandp

nsie, clasping her hands in distre

" echoed Polly, st

"oh, Polly, do stop hi

oy's legs have carried him half over the town

up with "What is it?" and "Oh dear, what's the matter?" in time to hear

'S GONE," PANTED PHR

k a few long strides to peer around the station, and David and the other "Harvard Fresh." w

were arrested at once, "every one of you come back! Goodness me, the idea

Hamilton Dyce, "but I really don

ding quite still by her side. "Phronsie, precious pet," and she picked up her pretty stuff gown to kneel on

Phronsie slowly, and turning h

p it now. Grandpapa is feeling dreadfully; oh, Phronsi

adily over to the old gentleman. "Joel will

zing her hand; "I don't see what we are making

ton Bayley, sauntering up, and w

ded," said Mr.

E

sie's box of dolls," e

st like that boy." She still called him that, in spite of his

could bear to see Phronsie unhappy. "Hamilton, if you don't do something to help

d Ben, pulling out his watch,

Polly, "as it's Christmas day and a big train; so he may possibly get here-he'll

of the group, longing to be of service, but feeli

t cad?" asked Mr. Bayle

. D

Taylor Dyce, smiling up sweetly into his face, "and he's going

lack look at the tall figure stalking on. "

was no tim

g-room, began. "Oh dear me!" Then she forgot all about her late unpleasantness with Pickering Dodge, and

ng, "the train's late,

ut his hand to hel

a fight. Tisn't proper for you to help me, Pickering, an

g day before you recei

cap, and turning on his

ng Phronsie to the car, old Mr. King holding fast to Phro

g, with extended hand. "'Pon me word, i

leman, still holding Phronsie's little glove. "And I suppose

ring glance down the platform, and Jasper who saw it throug

out the conductor

e, from the doorway of the car, as the train moved

el badly, Polly," Jasper had time to beg befor

ase away the sorrowful expression of Phronsie's little face. And everybody tried his and her best to make it as festiv

powerful rich; but this ain't his affair. It all b'longs to that little girl with the big hat." Then he dashed off, and called a

d with the big hat." The conductor pointed his thumb at Phronsie, leaning over Mr. King's shoulder, the bet

?" cried the lis

INGING A BIG BOX RUSHE

. King's folks was in Europe, and now that child has turned a handsome old place down yonder"-he pointed with his thumb in the direction of Bedford- "Dunraven Lodge, the old lady alway

be seen again till he put his head

*

could, rushed into the spacious hall

roup around the big fire-place where t

d, precipitating hers

setting down the doll-box, while

y little hum, "you are all here yourself," as

head in its velvet lounging cap from the sofa wher

to Polly, appearing at the head. "We were finishing the tree, and we heard the noise. Dea

caught his crop of short black hair in her two hands. "Oh, Joe,"

nraven, his soul loved, but he covered up what he thought, by pulling Phronsie in

e, Polly Pepper, or it won't be ready. Dear me, I dropped a

started; the last one in the procession, picking up the doll-box, their movements

to Grandpapa's sofa, and leaping the stairs. "Goodness me, Alexia, I sho

h step sparkling with myriad little frosty gems, as if Jack Frost himself had sprinkled

ops whatever she has in her hand. You all go up the other

n waiting downstairs all this time for you to come. Let one of the maids do it;"

m," said a voice

pulling out what he wan

ou, Loughead?"

ll have the stuff up there soon," and before Joel knew it, he was racing over the back stai

utiful branching spruce, its countless arms shaking out brilliant pendants, and gay with streamers and candles, wh

the step-ladder where he was adj

he said, his e

n our 'Provision Room,' and Mrs. Henderson brought my

he snips of green from her white apron, "for you and Ben would

ides me," observed Joel from among the branches, where h

was our first Tree, and we were so afraid the child

, emerging from the depths of the Tree, the better

ly, "you were just a

"you told us stories, Pol

" finished David; "oh, Joe,

oel, smacking his lips, "I rememb

asked Phronsie, turnin

, you did,"

rget you, Phronsie?" asked

u remember it

I don't; but I remembe

me of Grandma Bascom's

o

ng," said Polly. "Oh dear, if only Mamsie wer

now," said Ben cheerful

taying at hom

Papa Fisher was master of ceremonies then; but he wouldn't en

did we," cried Phr

nd spoil

egin about that Little

n it," exclaimed Alexia

to be sure it was sec

horrid, if you d

d had come silently up into the long hall, and deposited a neat

," cried Polly, with a little laug

who had been wrinkling his brows in g

and Ben together; Joel and

y, "that Jasper and dear Grandpapa

and Ben had gotten the

! didn't I want to

cause you couldn't be," sai

because you see we children would have foun

wood-pile when we wanted to plan the Tree, Poll

e Little Brown House in sneaking of

we ever did anythin

Livingston Bayley, delighted

niscences, though her fingers kept on at their task; "you did cover those nu

Alexia, forgetting herself in her

, you know, and Ben covered hickory nuts with them,

exclaime

-corn, and fixed the candle-e

dn't you have whole

d Polly, "and we were g

just beautifully wit

Alexia's face, "we were very, very poor, Alexia. So

id Polly honestly, "for I didn't

rrected Ben hastily; "at any

ve a thing could be done, I imagine," dec

me see that we could do it," persisted Polly,

. "I always have to," she said to Mrs. Dyce, "when the Littl

arer yet; so near tha

what a Santa Claus Ben

old fellow," declared Ben, descending from the step-ladde

bt it," Jasp

r," laughed Polly. "And we had such a piece

all over me, for the sn

cracks, do," cried Joel, poking his head out

ged Alexia, tearing herself away to answer Joel's demand

aglow, "expecting to see our Tree just as we had left it; all but Ben, he

or, saying, 'Oh!'" cried Joel, t

ul Tree, full of just everything; and there was Mamsie, almost crying, she was so happy; and there

She used to give us hard old raisins sometimes

ight out," went on Polly

ryl

how most of the other workers followed her example, the circle of listeners closing around the little bunch of

olly took hold of hand

el; "I'll neve

tion room," said Parson Henderson's deep voice, as he suddenly appeared