Prudy Keeping House

It was all very well for a gentleman boarder to fire poor jokes; but they couldn't either of them know how every word cut like a lash. When the doctor said, care

lf-conceit; but hadn't she shown quite as much herself? Making her auntie suppose she understood cooking, and putting Mrs. Fixfax to all this trouble for nothi

young landlady, tipping the sugar-basin plump into the dish-tub; "you

gar, and completely discouraged by the aspect of things in general, Prudy burs

eful what they say to Dotty, for her temper's just like live coals;

s astonished as if Mother Hubbar

speak; but sometimes it seems as

with awe and alarm, as if there had been a s

ing at the brown dress; "and I'

are the fury of a patient ma

e and

unds were eatin

ittle Fly's hand. She did not care what she sa

how she tosses up her head like Aunt Martha's horse Lightning-Dodger! Haven't I always pacified Dotty, and humored her? Had to alter the play to suit her. An

t like hail-stones. Horace had never seen her in such a mood, and was half inclined to run away;

's the matter. Lie down, and let that lazy

erchief, while Dotty, strange to relate, actually slid the ring

kerchief; "what did possess me to talk so? I had been holding in all day; why

e never had it unless Dotty was willing. Was that a pleasant way to live? If you think so, dears, just try it. The secret of Prudy's sweetness was really this:

my teeth together to keep from scolding. I like to be called amiable, but n

into her handkerchief. She did not clearly know whether she was crying because she had

blue swallow-tails swept the floor, "you've told the truth. Everybody knows Dot'

plate in her hand, too much

t this is the first time I ever mistrusted you cared-you always take things so like a lamb,-or you'd better b

he little one, stirre

eart's jewel; that's generally understood. W

shaking, and she could not trust her voice to speak. Nothing more was said for some time. Dotty clattered away at the dishes, kitty purred by

ith my Toddlekins? What m

eplied the little philosopher, closing h

your throat

s bad

throat, and a high fever. He

the dish-clo

ve the measles; yo

eeves. "Let's give her a warm bath. That's what mother do

" said Fly, rousing a little, a

ses; I knew she would," sa

a Turkish bath; it takes me to interpret. She had a very gentle Turkish bath once. Liked it-didn

what could be nicer than this little bathroom, with the silver faucets and ivory t

presided, the little one was dressed in her

ng thoughtfully at the gas-light; "but now I was baved, a

?" said Horace; "don't you see, Prue

d something made her face grow red in

ht she would never, never tell of her own disobed

traight into the little guilty face. "For God se

ppose they were much in his mind; but to this precious little sister

es everythi

s much as a minute, and

sk you sumpin; does

ar; no,

hought

the light and in

hild

elf athout looki

I supp

es,-two to see Hisself, and two to see other things.

was listening fr

hoarse. I must go and look in

at the chi

can do anything fo

f amusement all day, without seeing the actors; and when she caught sight

nd the becapped Mother Hubbard, all replied in chorus, "O, yes'

er of cold hash." She had a strong, sensible look, as if she were capable of carrying a whole hospital full of children through

ut a cold-do you, Mrs. Fixfax? I

smile this time, as her eye r

hild, I should just gargle her throat with salt and wate

. When told she might do so, she tried to clap her hands; but her heart was

ousekeeping?" asked Mrs. Fixfax, carel

for no one else seemed ready to speak. "Rather har

on account of a throbbing

ntined Mrs. Fixfax, very coolly, as if she had n

-es

ing down and finishing off on roast tu

ied Lady Magnifico, ready to throw

ey myself," said the doctor,

h a good dinner as well as her boarders. They all went down b

esert island, by the dash we made at that turkey," whis

lifford, not to tell Mrs. Fi

ther," said Dotty. "Bu

n't that very minute laughing over the