Suzanna Stirs the Fire

er. But even so marvelous an occurrence, so sweet a marking out of her above all the childr

r heart. Her customary joyous anticipation of living a whole day, ripe with possibilities, was quite absent. She decided to remain in bed, but at her mother's voice

reast. From far away came grumbles of thunder. Over to the east the sky seemed to open in a long thin path of vivid light

ll and into the dining-room, her little face downcast still, with no smile lightening i

ning, Maizie," said Suzanna at once

nd took her usual place, after placing him in his high chair. Maizie gazed for a moment at the

he middle," she said slowly, not addressing any

s morning," her mother answered. "

of my oatmeal," repeated Maizie; "

anna, "father must hav

asked

ather and he must ha

pparently unconvinced. "And I don't see why w

o many of us,"

us then?" said Maizie looking up. Belligeren

way. Father doesn't like syrup. It doesn't agree with him

rs. Lest they overflow she rose quic

umor today," said Mr

today, mother, beca

has the day to do with it

's not like Thursday, that's the shape of a great snowy white

"But it's not in my power to shape days

ther?" asked Suzan

cter admitted, "but I'm particularly tired this

began to gather up the dishes, while Peter escaped into the yard, "who has only one little girl, you would

h chair. "You're every one dear and wonderful to me," she

nt. Birds flew about, carolling madly, as though some elixir in the air sent their spirits bounding. Suzanna's every fiber responded. The desire whipped her to plunge into the beauty of outdoors, to run madly about, to shout, to sing. But alas, she knew ther

into the kitchen, Suzanna, near the window

the window. "Mother," she said, "when I'm gr

mean?" asked

uesday, and clean on Wednesday, and bake on

there'd be. You must have set times for eve

nything if you're happy?" as

ed. "But you can be

that I'd be happier t

on Monday we'd have to wash on Tuesday, and that ties

believe that to be out in the sun, to be under the trees, to be dreaming in the perfume of flowers, was more important than cleaning and dusting; anyway in a glorious, straight-from-Heaven day like

een playing peacefully in the yard, came rushing into the house. Out of the medley of

g so for, Suzanna? Is he hurt?

"He is crying because never in all hi

soon recovered. She was accustomed to o

to do about it?" sh

want to see my ears," he repeated

ut discovering that your ears are attached to your head, an

Peter," cried Suzanna at this juncture. At which

t enough for him to learn in one day that he'll never see his ears without telling him about the back

Her face was still sullen, but it also bore a rare expression of stubbornness. Satisf

oing to wash the window sills u

conciliatingly, "don't you re

hout change of expression, "but I'm

sued. Then Suzanna

of us feels right, do we

ays for doing steady tasks; Maizie hating her porridge, and Peter grieved because he couldn't see his ears; the baby too, not his usual sunny self. But set against the strange and varied emotions

r this week the window sills upstairs did remain unwashed, the rugs downstairs stay unshaken? She stole a glance out of the window at the one

mentally forecasting consent in her mother's question. "But I know so

is high chair g

h," said Maizi

eball," com

"if I'm going to have grumbling all the time, something the matter wit

time they were all ready to start away; even the lunch basket was packed and the baby put int

s. Reynolds to buy certain vegetables from a daily huckster an

the road. She had meant to bind them to sordid tasks within four walls when a jewel of a day beckoned to all! She visualized her house clean and in perfect order, but the children cross, she herself irritable and tired out, and wondering a little

mother's face, so she voiced a plea which had been in her hear

s eyes, and she's a weeny bit pigeon-toed. She's the lame and the halt, isn't she? Because when she looks at me I never think

does sh

the direction. "If you'll go on I'll run and get Mabel and then catch up

y we

l's hand. "I told her mother we had enough to eat with us and

ked up obliquely

getically; "and I told her mother to rub Gray's ointment into it, like you

o any good-"

ssion about the unfortunate dog. "Do you think y

er finger i

ay, mother," begged Suzanna

lds full of yellow daisies and they walked by one group of gentle, cud-chewing

lped to make this a day of days. When they reached Suzanna's little patch of woods with many spread

See, there's a tiny brook, too. I've been h

had time," her

of protection, "and I'll take care of the baby. Close your eyes, dear mother-love, and forget that God s

gift they were. How many truths they could teach! She sank down upon the gras

don't know, Suzanna; sometimes I wonder if I'll be able to

n't you remember last Sunday when I put on my legh

somewhat at a loss as to the conn

nd I forgot that there was Maizie and Peter and the baby, and I didn't even remember father, and I said to myself

ing," said Mrs. Procte

nd kissed her mot

he supporting tree and closing her eyes, blissfully conscious

covering him. And small bees had been working about her. Spread before her, reposing on a red table cloth lay a tempting meal. In the middle of the table cloth, to give an air of festivity, was a bunch of daisies. But mo

of her mother stirring, "Suzanna made us stay so quiet

hat fat sandwi

to eating with much

ve to pretend you hate to eat,

at I know of," said M

though he liked to eat," said Suzanna.

At length when the meal was concluded, and the basket repacked, and the pewter kniv

ily contented, till another hour passed and the baby awoke. He was a smiling, happy

heels was heard and shortly there came into sight a low carriage drawn by the two

he carriage did not stop she called ou

d be given him to move on, or what inquiry as to his sanity would scorchingly be made, but

cnic," said Suzanna, all excited. "We

e Eagle Man. "And how

ong; the baby kept mother awake last night and Maizie hated her oatmeal with the syrup in the middl

ver in all his life-and ne

e Man, after a look darted at his coachman's im

t sometimes, but never out loud, on top. But I felt funny this morning because I wished we didn't have to wash on Monda

wash on Saturday," the E

onday. Still I'll ask her if you say so, Eagle Man, because Saturday is kind of a wet day anyhow. You see Saturday is just th

o look at this morning,"

y. "I like your shiny shoes and your very hig

iage door, seized his cane and struggled to the ground. "Now, let's see your wonderful f

k Mabel along on our picnic because her eyes don't match, you know. They

tle wear and tear on his nerves as possible, and so in silence they walked till they rea

all looked with vivid i

im on Main Street. He loves to be comfortable. And he doesn't work during the day, either, but he

on. "How do you do?" she said.

Eagle Man responded. "Out fo

n were all in a bad humor this morning

stly, "we weren't in a bad humor. W

er mother, "and so Suzanna suggested a

said the Eagle Man. Mrs. Proc

e it is." She spread it down on the ground and the Eagle Man quite gladly accepted th

in, "most people can't affo

not answer. Suzanna, sensin

ing out babies stops at our gate often and looks into mother's eyes. Then he knows she'd be awful sweet t

rned to Mrs. Procter. "Your daught

rocter

ued, "are a trifle more hones

deeply. First he cast a glance out into the road to where hi

f you and your family would do

she awaited her mother's answer; Peter just stared, speech stricken from him; Mabel turn

her knees, sat beside Mr. Massey in the carriage, while the three little girls sat on a seat facing Mrs. Procter,

complacent horses refused any other. Sometimes vagrant chickens wandered into the road, exhibiting a daring that enthrall

asked Robert, hopefully. "Just take a feat

rty were silently, but with keen enjoyment, watching the passing country side. It was a ride to be long remembered; the smooth roads wound alluringly away, Suzanna wondered, to what beautiful hidden country. The breezes fanned their cheeks with delicate, fragrant breath; the bird

nna to her host; "and he doesn't kn

Eagle Man, and he moved in such a way tha

Procter. "I didn't suppose you wanted

ee, and she might think you meant it, though I know you better. Father, when he isn't thinki

k, but again the Eagle Man sto

eresting to find someone, if only a child,

s was upon all. Soon the birds ceased their calls; over in the west the clouds were soft delicate folds of b

tiful!" cried

d the Eagle Man, but he, to

e said at length, and so Robert turned

ge came into sight, and then Mrs. Procter said to the Eagle Man: "This has bee

say so," the Eagle Man answe

as Mr. Procter. He stared his amazement at

c," called Maizie, spri

ter, almost falling from his

g to him. "We went on a picnic and we took the lame and halt a

Maizie, taking her father's hand

ed the Eagle Man, who he

reverently. "When first I was a baby on this earth He ca

urned to Mr. Procter. "Glad t

the opportunity,"

ils, too; not underweight either, I noticed," said the Eagle

hed. "It is nearly finished. That is, sometimes I

ng your invention," he said, and stopped. Yet th

nd then said: "I'll be glad any time to show my machine; to tell you all about it-" H

e case, expect me a

said warmly, "only not on Tuesday nights, if you're coming to supp

e Man gravely, as he gave the

t down through the ya

ter. "I'm sorry you were kept waiting." She fel

d Mr. Procter, and added, "Why, I've not

sisted upon a picnic because the day started wrong. The house i

right to me. Suppose, Jane, he should really be won over to be

a great day," she answered

thout you to encoura

ivilege," she

, he ki

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