A Little Mother to the Others

lin was seated on his chest, and several brownies were pulling him where he did not wish to go, and finally that a gnome of enormous dimensions

his chest was a small boy of the name of Orion, that a little black-eyed girl called Diana had comfortably ensconced herself on his knees, and that Iris

he'll be all right after a minute or tw

said Diana; "and it's very comf'ab

ry to disturb you,

ecause it's most solemnl

rrible dream. I am really glad that I have awakened and find that the hobgoblins, and gnomes, and brownies

the blinds; then the hot, blazin' sun will come in,

a clock which stood on the mante

is half-past five. Now, what have you four little children

and upset Diana's balance, and made Orion choke with

t," said Iris. "We have come to a

ited until the usual hour for getting up. What are

ent moment means," said Iris, "bu

more than any of the other children, "we has to think of the poor innocents, and the birds and the mice, and

y?" said Mr. Delaney. "Please, children, explai

plain ourselves quite easily. The th

Delaney spoke he had a very uncomfortable memory of a letter

; "we don't want t

place," said Diana, clenching her little f

," said Mr. Delaney. "So you

and she didn't like me 'cos I'm Orion, and 'cos I'm a giant, and 'cos sometimes I

aid Diana. "I don't like no aunts; th

y, very terrible to Apollo," she continued. "It's what she said, father, that we-we were to go away, away from the house and the garden-the garden where mother used to be, and the h

ly pale; there was a look in his eyes which Diana could not in the least understand, nor co

cho her mother's own voice in her ear. She gulped down a great sob in her throat,

ly settled," she said. "I

st little darling in the

d bear it, and that father is not to mind? But father must mind. If I go to Aunt Jane Dolman's, why-why, it will kill me." And the

last night and took me by surprise. I have been very lonely lately, and you know, you poor little mites, you cannot be left to the care of

have no right to abuse our s

be seen by this remark that some of his tim

moment, I lie corrected. Well, children, the truth must out-Aunt Jane took

r own mother is gone, except Iris," said Ap

thing, and I hate

anged. I hope you will try to be good, and also to be happy with Aunt Jane. You won't find her half bad

ff the bed and stood very pale and still, looking at her father with

et poor father have his sleep out. It is qui

, you dear little kids. I would n

t slowly forward and kissed her father on his forehead.

won't have no hobgoblins now to dweam about, for I has got off your kne

le cramp, to say nothing of my sensations at having this giant Orion planting himself on my chest. I will have a long ta

hat's more. Come 'long now, sildrens. It's a gweat nuisance getting up so early, particular when father ca

waking either Fortune or Susan, who slept in beds at the opposite side of the room. Iris and Apollo also returned to their beds, and presently Apollo dropped asleep, for, though he had an alarming

special lessons had been attended to since mother had gone away to the angels, and the children, snatching up their hats, rushed off as fast as possible to the garden. When they got there they all four breathed freely. This at least was their own domain-their fairyland, their countr

eemed as if an additional ray of sunshine had come out to fill all the happy world with light and love and beauty. The bees hummed

, Diana's dear little face looke

must 'tend to the funerals-there is such a lot of dead 'uns to

Scotch roses fir

'cide whether he is to have a public or a pwivate funeral, or whether he

which she always used in the most matter-of-fact st

at her now, and the four hurried off as fas

k and key, a nice little window, and everything fitted up for the keeping of tools and carpenters' implements. Long ago, howeve

ust in front of the public view. There was a dead bee, and two butterflies; there were two dead worms and a dead toad; also three or four beetles in different sta

a; "they will most fill up the cemetery. Now pl

must," answered Iri

and gazing anxiously at her sister. "The toad seems to me to be rather big

ely with the others. We always make it a rule-don't you remem

ris' view. In her heart of hearts she considered Iris' verdict like the la

a needle so as to sew up the poor dead 'uns in their coffins. We must get through the pwiv

uried exactly at elev

mourning, cour

black

nd the other animal

ws," repe

ovely and 'citi

o the far-famed cemetery. Here they were laid in that part of the ground apportioned to private funerals. Apollo made small holes with his spade, and each dead 'un in his small coffin was returned to mother earth. The ground was immediately covered over, and Apollo trampled on it with his feet. He did this on the present occasion with right good

ch indeed," a

't see no use in 'em. Now, do let us hurr

said Orion. "You know Rub-a-D

get his beautiful public funeral weady. Now, look here, 'Rion; w

oice which seemed to come from

an and their father standing close by. Mr. Delaney

ed, taking Diana by her arm and giving her a sli

d Diana; "it's most 'portant

eyes on her brother. Horror was exp

hings which these children do which will astonish you ver

e of the poor neglected mites the more I lo

and looked with

d Diana, who looked as if it was impossible for an

ion may as well be the thief as anyone else. In the old times of the hea

an. "Orion, I hate to pronounce your name, but listen to m

b must be buried, and I must have a box for

the father; "where do

ortune's box in the nigh

ou ste

ss if we asked her for some. We al

e your aunt's feelings, tell Fortune

us as well witness this ceremony. The children are fond of doing all honor to their pet

but as her object now was to humor her brother as f

ed, and she became pleasant and even talkative. The two were in the midst of a very interesting conversation, and were pacing up and down not far from the summer-house, when Orion's clear

ghing and chuckling as he spoke. "You mark my words, Jane,"

ot lived my thirty-five years for nothing; they cer

yes full of a sort of gloomy defiance. But now the funeral procession was coming on apace. Orion's mouth was much puffed out because he was blowing vigorously on his Jew's harp, Diana followed him beating a little drum, and Iris, with long black ribbons fastened to her f

ng, Rub-a-

y, Rub

in your l

y, Rub

one at your hea

y, Rub

sleep very s

y, Rub

ever know fe

le d

y, Rub

ese impressive lines in great haste while the other

coffin was supplied with strings of white satin ribbon, and was lowered with great solemnity into

never know f

le d

y, Rub

strewn upon the box, and Apollo with g

e as possible." Then she turned eagerly to her sister. "When are we to

ver this evening

of Mr. Delaney or of Mrs. Dolman. To them it was as if these two grown-up spec

right good thing-yes, I will say it frankly, David-that you are going abroad, and that your benighted children are handed over to me. When you come back in a year or two-I a

ou do, for to me and to their sainted mother they were ever the sweetest little quartette that breathed the breath of life." Mr. Delaney's eyes filled