Princess Polly's Gay Winter

prite was happiest. She liked Len

th these new friends. One sunny morning Uncle John Atherton, with Rose in th

e, Rose, so tell Polly and

running down the walk, t

y reached the sidewalk. Without waiting

asked again. "Oh, let's a

to look at the t

e cried. "Three fine young ladies all

he merry chorus, "bu

that some business took me to a very charming place this morning, and

" cried three

Uncle John, as if he had been w

y flew, talking a

w where we're goi

ohn would tell h

ose, then; "did you, U

hour has passed, you three little friends must commence to look

our is up," said Polly,

where men were busy in the fields, and where

to notice bold bits of ledge, the roads became more sandy, and

ried Sprite her hands tightly clas

asked, her little hand patting his sho

turned to gaze up into

, looked for all the world like a sea fairy. Shading her eyes wit

nd brown eyes looking up at he

tle business trip to look after some of my property, and I took you for sweet company, and bec

water," cried Sprite. "Mother will b

," was the cheery repl

should call upon him to

ng some call

fun!" cr

be surprised

from the road, and

her hands tightly clasped, and her eyes riveted upon the distant speck that she knew to be he

ring to mend a net, but constant watching for the coming of

use this net," but in spite of his resolve, he was s

on which he had been sitting, throwi

usy, her needle flying in and out,

e if John Atherton is in sight. I never acted like that before. I'm always glad t

keep my mind on this mending. I take three stitche

horn made them ha

lly, and Rose, but with startling clearness they saw the

and ran to them, and wha

ght that made his eyes water, but gentle Mrs.

were invited to come in and rest in the

Sprite even more than you had dreamed possible. I have watched Sprite closely, and sometimes I h

as well as you know yourself. You are never quite content, unless plannin

to deny it," said Mrs. Seaford, "and now if you will a

ord would enjoy an hour when she could have Sprite quite by herself, he took Rose and Princess Polly o

had played during the summer, and Uncle John had satisfied himself that repairs that were being made

he driveway, laughing and talking, and soon

he door, sounded a long, sweet note on the horn. Polly and Ro

st, and when they were seated around the table, the big tureen fi

wed the chowder, and simple pudding, se

, but to the guests it seemed the fin

de them eager for the noon meal, and the

the three little friends listened, and laughed a

he big car when Ca

nd a basket in this car that I meant to leav

g what the parcel, or big bask

iend, as long as you like," and he hastened

said, when John Ath

parcel, and the basket. They'r

eavy parcel, and the loaded basket. The heart within thy brave

aptain Seaf

basket, he found it filled with luscious fru

tug to the house, was another large bag of sugar, a bag of flou

st this time, these gifts are espe

out, but surely they could not have come

rkin, set just inside the door, and, as if to keep it company, a large sack leaned against it. The firkin,

pinned to

cles I leave in

hn

ing be thine," said Mrs. Seaford, with trembling lip

over of the butter tub

will arrive this afternoon. I cou

said Captain Seaford, "and thus try to make light of his generosity. He d

ng, singing snatches of blithe little songs, as

e longed to see home, but now that I'm to go there every fortnight I'll be ga

Sprite, I'll ask a fa

as Rose does, and P

!" she cried. "I've

home with an uncle so

* *

l the eager ones, Sprite Seaford was the most excited. Her mother's careful trainin

s Polly, and Rose, but wherever her place in school m

st, and after pacing up and down for a while, they went down th

he shrubbery. An ear-piercing screech made them spring to their feet, and there, flying down the

head, as if not daring to look back, to learn if he were followed, he raced

ened him?" Polly asked.

patrolman passed, walking along as

e him run!" crie

" cried Sprite. "Why

raid of any one of the policemen in this town, that he

tched, until Gyp

go to school," said Polly, "but I shouldn't think they

r eyes dancing, "but I know I'll

wanted to because he wouldn't

ove us, because he's bi

ly laughed

school but a few months, as big as he

ldren," said Sprite, "and won't he

e'll have to be, if t