Five Little Peppers Grown Up

ing, at sight of Phronsie's peaceful little face. "I n

ily, all such time as Miss Carruth, the governes

o think, will be home pretty soon; and Helen is going to get well, because you know I asked God to let her, and he wouldn'

celebrated doctor for throat diseases; knew when he came; and knew also when each hour those who were fighting the foe, were driven back baffled. And several times she attempted to tell Phrons

two white little hands were folded

ered into her little white bed, after saying her old prayer;

leep." And presently Mrs. Fisher, stealing in, with unshed tears in her eyes, fou

orning, when s

, dear." It was after breakfast, and Phr

iss Carruth?" asked Phronsie won

mary self-control, and held out her arms. "Come here, mother's b

en, astonished brown eyes, and clim

lump in her throat, and looking at the child

aid Phronsie, s

suffered, dear

er hastened to say, "But oh. Phronsie, she can't ever su

harp little voice, so unlike her own tha

tell you? Yes, dear, Go

av

ut any little girl?" asked

ws what is best," s

face gave way to a grieved expression

he said, quietly, and gently

going to do?" cried Mrs. F

e decision, getting on her feet, and she went slowly up

f." But she was gentle and sweet with Baby, and never relaxed any effort for his amusement. And at last, when they were folding Helen away lovingly in flowers, from al

ian can spare me now. Oh, that blessed child! And

so much better, she joined them; and as soon as it was a possible thing, there they

d the word, and threw h

y's

ried Polly cheerily, "

Grand

ly. "Here, Phronsie," and she was in his ar

, putting up his hand at the shower. "W

id Phronsie, drawing back in dismay.

ie," said Mr. King. "So you

his side, while she clung

r and very pale blue eyes, standing composedly in one corner of the hall, and watching the w

ctly at her ease. "You take care of th

Charlotte Chatterton. Then she smil

TE, STANDING COMPOSEDL

LL

ed to her, and said, "Thank you," then

hronsie's trouble was touched upon. Th

ll me all about it, Pet. Just think," and Polly set warm kisses on the p

ronsie wearily, and

so much better?" cried Polly cheer

t she sighed again, and did not

"you'd feel better, Phronsie, to tell sister about it. I may not

l, and folded and unfol

Helen?" she asked sud

nice of him," she adde

er bro

HRONSIE WENT OVE

on't, dear; that isn't like you, Pet. Why, God mad

rmly, "to take Helen now. Why doesn't He make another little girl

don't look so. There, there," and she drew her close to her, in a loving, hungry clasp. "I told you I didn't think I could say the right things to you," she went on hurriedly, "but, Phronsie, I know God d

And she never-never would want to leave her mother

want to go to Heaven unless Helen was there to meet her? It may be, Phronsie; and that would be very dreadful, you know. And God loved Mrs.

down from Polly's lap. "Is

. "Oh, can't you see how much nicer it is in God to make Mrs. Fargo happy

is a long way off," she said, but the bitter tone had gone, and it w

"perhaps God wants you to do some things for Mrs.

onderingly. "Papa Fisher says I am not to go

t right in taking Helen away," said Polly; "and that would be the very best thing

?" asked

, de

d wants me to like Heaven better

th arms around Phronsie's neck. "Oh, Phronsie, can't you see-I never thought of it till

ngly. "I don't know what y

sie. "Oh, Phronsie, you can't think; it's been dreadfully hard and dull

ie, turning away from the window,

n back, Phronsie climbing into Polly's lap, while a

go out, you know, very much, nor keep the house, and so the two great-aunts came to live with them.

laimed Phronsi

old Grandpapa all about it; and by and by her mother died, and then things got worse and worse; but Mr. Chatterton never knew half how bad it was. But when he was sick it all came out, and it worried him so that

o die?" broke in P

rlotte that made him so bad. Oh, you ought to have seen him, Phronsie, when Grandpapa o

cried Phronsie in great satis

because you haven't Helen. I do, Phronsie, and you can make Cha

wing a deep pink. "Oh, Polly, how? Char

Well, come now," kissing her, "we must hurry back to Gr

they hurried over the stai

tumble on my nose, I'm afraid. Well, here we are. Now th

Polly's rosy cheek, "that I said God wasn't nice to

"Well, here's Grandpapa," as the library do

ome of the girls who were determined to make the most of her litt

A COOLLY READ ON, ON

that's to hurry you back, Polly. She sha'n't read it, girls."

y merrily, waving her off, and sitting d

s able to sit down beside her, when she

lly mean!" cried one of the other girls,

ar, and coolly read on

y, she raced over the remaining stairs to the bottom, where she danced up and dow

girls. "Oh, do stop,

n up and quickly possessed

k-oh, how perfectly lovely in him!" cried Alexia, bringin

ll the girls, cla

ooking up from her letter to peer through the stair-railing at

Mr. Whitney says you are not needed, isn't that enoug

ning the letter with perplexed fingers, "for I know dear Aunty o

s quite right about it, and now you're here, why, you've j

ed," cried

ad, as she still sat on

ng her neck at the sound of the opening of a door above them

begged Polly, s

ampering up over the stairs. "Oh, Mr. King, ma

," called all the other

eman, well pleased at the onslaught. "

m," said Alexia, trying to run up over the

her arms. "It's bad enough to have on

ack stairs," cried Alex

rs!" exclaimed the othe

! Polly's com

rtake the bevy, who, laughing and panting,

tleman, laughing heartily, "but agains

them, Grandpapa d

stay at home

olly. "Oh, Grandpapa de

son to write the le

son, and I was just going to show it to you." He pulled out of his vest pocket

o easily going over to the enemy. With that, all the gi

of you young things come back here this minute. Goodnes

lly come back on any account. It worries me dreadfully to think of all that she

t old Mr. King's eyes

, "I really don't dare aft

screamed a

d you so," ex