Hildegarde's Holiday

lady very much,-"my dears, when I made the little suggestions this morning as to how you should amuse yourselves, I entirely forgot to mention Dr. Abernethy. I cannot imagine how

t you will both find him satisfactory, though possibly he may s

well! At least-of course, Rose is not strong yet; but she is gaining strength e

ttle joke as much as any one, and Dr. A

of your seeing him once a day, as a rule." Then, seeing that both girls were thoroughly mystified, she added: "Dr. Abernethy is a very distinguished physi

le, and kissed the soft cheek, like a crumpled blush rose. "A horse! How delightful! Rose, we were wishing that we might drive, weren't we? And what

vised me to try driving regularly, saying that he should resign in favor of Dr. Horse. So I bought this excellent beas

wasn't it?" said Hildegarde. "Did he do anyth

ed so to me then. He came to see my mother, who was ill, and

in a very gruff voice. 'Little gir

faintly, being frighten

che, lit

o,

-ache, li

no,

f the room as quickly as he had come in. I thought he was an ogre at first; for I was only seven y

n!" exclaimed Rose. "And

way one day, when he was in a great hurry,-but he was always in a hurry,-and pouring out a long string of symptoms, so fast that the doctor could not get in a word edgewise. At last he shouted 'Stop!' so loud that all the people in the street turned round to

ildegarde, laughing. "It is

st drawl, using always the longest words he could find. I never shall forget his coming to our house once when Bubble had the measles. He had come a day or two before, but I had not

ning?' he asked Mother,-'ame-e-lioration?' (He was very

didn't think the child had it. But luckily I was in the 'Fifth Reader' then, and had happened to have 'amelioration' in my spelling-le

an, 'craves food, doe

d it made him so cross, poor dear! he snapped out, in his funny

and looked at the boil carefully. 'Ah!' he said, 'f

acles at Bubble in a way that was perfectly irresistible. Bubble gave a sort of howl, and disappeared under the bedclothes; a

l almond-pudding, such as only Martha could make. She stopped a

errible to come in, Mam!"

Miss Wealthy, smiling.

oorway; but instead, a majestic black "coon" cat, with waving feathery tail and large

tant members of the family. Doctor, I hope you will be very friendly to these young ladies, and not take one of your absurd dislikes to either of them. Al

e other of the girls. At length Hildegarde could not endure his gaze any longer, and she said hastily but respectfully, "Ye

her dress, purred loudly. He then went round to Rose, who sat

im gently, and scratching him behin

aid. "Martha, he is delighted with the young ladies. Dear Doctor! he shal

but Miss Wealthy looked at it

Is it possible that you have forgotten? He has always

saucer this morning, Mam, as she was washing it after the Doc

began to help to the almond-pudding. "Yes, I am sure you are sorry, Martha!" she said;-"Hilda, my dear, a little pudding?-and probably Jenny is sorry too. You like the sauce, dear, don't you? We think Martha's almond-pudding one of her bes

nt Rose succeeded in separating the part that belonged

winter, did she not, Mar

she has broken since she came. She's young, you know, Mam; and she s

g when you came to me. But we will not say anything more, and I dare say Jenny will be more careful in future. The pudding is very good, Martha; and that will do, thank you." Martha w

rits of their kind hostess, "what did you mean, just now, by telling D

. I think I can say it in the very words of the book, they made so deep an impression on me: 'Dr. Johnson one day took Bishop Percy's little daughter on his knee, and asked her what she thought of 'Pilgrim's Progress.' The child answered that she had not read it. 'No!' replied the Doctor; 'then I would not give one farthing for you!' And he set her down, and took no further n

an important part of a child's education, certainly! Let me give you a little more pudding, H

al, drawn half-way down. Miss Wealthy drew one blind half an inch low

?" she asked, settling herself in her armchair, and smelling of her p

till she begins to be sleepy, and then I shall write to Mamma and wander about. This is such a happy place, Cousin Wealthy! One does not need to do anything in particular; it is enough just to be alive and well." Then she remembered h

ave nothing for you to do, and besides, I think the first day ought to be all play. If you can make yourself happy in this quiet place,

w, half reluctantly, and moved slowly toward the door. "It seems wic

turned and saw that the tidy on the back of the chair she had been sitting in had slipped down. She went back quickly, s

tidy. "Two of the sweetest girls, in fact, that I have seen for a good while. Mildred has brought up her daughter extremely well; and when on

ere were roses on the wall-paper and on the soft gray carpet. Here the ex-invalid, as she began to call herself, lay down on the cool white bed, in the pretty summer wr

or sing, Ros

you don't want to do somet

aid Hildegarde. "Qui

nd in the old song-book the other day. So pretty! it is t

sang, as

umbers kiss

ke you whe

ty wantons,

ll sing

rock them

avy, therefo

, and care m

ty wantons,

ll sing

rock them

t lines of the lullaby, she cast about in her mind for something else; and there came to her ano

, yet hast thou

et Co

, yet is thy

nish

o see how fo

den numbers g

t, O sweet, O

he waters of th

et Co

alth, yet sink'st

nish

atiently Want'

rs, but is a

t, O sweet, O

ll humming the lovely refrain, she slipped out of the room; for Rose