Little Prudy

en and get some currants. While she was picking with all her might, and breathing very

was to school

s eyes, and looking ashamed. "The teacher don't keep

should know too much. I can say all my letters now

out, and I shouldn't care, if I was you. But you ought to know how to fish, M

aid Prudy, dropping her little dipper,

f. They needn't bite i

y want to get out, and that's why they bite. Of course

ch a cunning little spud. Come, now, here's another fish-pole for you. I'll sho

might go down to the river

likes it when you go with me, Prudy, because you see I'm a boy, and s

any of 'em know I can fish, and how they'll laugh. But

and then you 'scooch' down

river, "now I've been and put a bait on the end of your hook,

ied Prudy; and as she spoke she

next time, and I'll prop up the pole with a rock-this way. There, now,

?" asked Prudy,

? Why, it

the hot sun glaring on Prudy's bare h

she suddenly, "I

ng to draw

my neck," said the chil

. You made me drop my line just when I was going to have a nibble. Wa

then a wagon going over the bridge. But they might as well have dropped their lines

ed, "I never did see such fishes. I

y," said Horace. "If it hadn't been for you I shou

emble, and two big roun

e; "you're a nice little girl if you

ace and Susy in tears, but coul

when Prudy's eyes were clear again, "I

neither," returned Prudy, "'c

Horace. "When we boys 'out west' stay out

to go home now, if we c

'll do-we'll walk out on t

" Prudy was really afraid to walk on it, because it was "so round," but not liking to be lau

but the moment he stepped on the log it

e had been older he might have plunged in after Prudy, but he was only

rd heavy breathing, and the quick pattering of feet

looking wildly at the boy's fa

t across the field towards the river, as if she had wings on he

houghts that rushed across aunt Madge's dizzy brain. "I shall be too late! too

s if any one was t

ild crying dow

It sounds like her voice, but it c

r. Allen, who was just behind aun

louder: it was

hild was out of the water, struggling to climb the bank, but slippi

there she lay, sobbing as if her heart

, in soft blankets, and had had a

d. I thought my father would say I was a nice little girl not to get

huddering, and looking at Hor

ad and humble, and w

it, 'Race?" said Prudy, smiling; "

fell into the water, the boy ran out of the room, and hid in

face; "won't you forgive him, aunt 'Ria? he feels so bad; and he didn'

forgiven for