The Curlytops at Silver Lake

make Trou

ooking up from her sewing and across the table to w

funny little brother, who was smiling and holding something in

f my buttons down on the flo

put 'em on a stwing!" and the little boy, whose name was William, but who was more often called

mean Mother-please make him stop!" and

ed Trouble, just a trace of

r have the red buttons. We're playing a game wit

Janet was doing her best to stop William from doing this, there was a little scramble at the table. Tr

n!" cried Janet, as she leaned back in her c

e. He opened his fat little fist, and out rolled

g all our game!" said Jan

y, with a sigh. "I guess this is abou

r, with a smile, as she thrust her needle into the cl

sked Janet. "Is that a new ga

eans to tell what isn't exactly so so as to make anything seem bigger than it is. Now I don't really bel

it was-six!" replied the

mother. "That's exaggeration-makin

ted, isn't she, Mother?" asked Janet, as Teddy was busy

ed? Why, Jan, what do you

ow," explained the little girl. "Sh

much,' Janet. That's exaggeration, too. But, Trouble, I think it's time for you to go to bed. I'll take him upstairs," she said

the little boy tried to reach over the table to where

, Theodore or Janet, instead of Trouble, Ted or Jan, the little folks knew Mrs. Martin was in earnest and that it was use

more wed button?"

answered

. Den I g

the buttons from his mother's mending bag into two

kiss!" begged J

orgiven her for not letting him have all the fu

she kissed him. "I'll let you have

e to Ted, as the older boy b

as he wiggled his fingers i

again. It was a simple little game. They spread out on the table all the butt

le and hold it in her hand with her finger

or it is!" Jan

ight be. If he guessed the right color Janet had to give Ted five buttons of the color he had

it. But if he guessed wrong it was his sister's turn again. And so they played the game, takin

hen Trouble, or Baby William, made the t

s of fun, and Ted had just taken a number of buttons

asleep?" a

too," said Mrs. Martin, as she took up her sewing again. "Even if

ow why they were called "Curlytops." It was because their head

es," said Ted. "I'll have

o win, now!" la

the other guessing right, and finally, with

lytops! Off to

until daddy come

ok her head wit

ght tell us where we were going to stay this

be home for an hour yet, and I can't have you staying up until then. You can fin

one last appeal to be allowed to stay up, but a glance at t

to a nice place this

ink so," answe

can go in swimming, and have a boat and go

ust as well let you stay up playing the button

s mind where we'll go for the summer vacation we'll tell you. Maybe

fter that. But Teddy sudd

if Skyrocket is all right? I put a new piece of carpet in his b

want to see, too!" b

Skyrocket," agreed Mrs. Martin, "and

!" promised Ted

rocket, I am sure, felt that nowhere in the world were there such delightful children as the Curl

Jan. It was a little after eight

like his new carpet?" asked

eeze. Carpet dust makes you sneeze, you know. It made me

s rather dark inside. There was only one window, and when the children had stood still for a mo

ight, Skyrocke

your new carpet

er in words, but whenever they spoke to him he always either barked softly, w

bark, whine nor thump of tail. A

ou all right?" asked

asleep," s

d being woke up. Sometimes they sleep with one eye open anyhow. I'll cal

k, no whine, no

ed so much he doesn't wan

a moment to t

come out and see us. I'm going in t

ite well now, from the faint light that came in through the window, a

uffy back of Skyrocket. But, instead, his hand only met the carpet which the litt

right?" a

here at all!"

mean Skyrocket isn

her brother. "You can co

d Teddy in the half-da

red. "But maybe he's hiding from us

ver us now," said Teddy in a strangely quiet

l about them, and sometimes climb half over them, in his jo

, and his voice trembled.

he little girl. "Let'