Teddy's Button

reek Me

omes T

W

resolute faces, stood opposite one another

her sailor dress, with her small hands placed on her hips, appeared quite a match for Ted

rday afternoon in roaming along the edge of a stream,

irst,' she asserted very emph

E TO LET ME COME OVER

! I'm not going to turn my back before the

' The tone was th

rosy red at once,

idge before you d

re you? No one knows anything about you. I

cross it now. My name is Na

e more royally. She added, after a pause,

I never

push you over

and try

defiantly, yet a little doubtfully, as if measuring one anoth

always,' Nancy said, using her stronges

l. You're wearing a boy'

y can see I am. You say you're a soldi

g the worst of it. He fi

hick of a bloody battle; that's more than you

to your old button, I b'lieve you just pic

d fight you!' sputtered Te

I don't b'lieve you have half as

scle! It's just

as what might have been expected-a great splash, a scream from Nancy, and both little figures were immersed in the stream. Happily the water was not very deep, and afte

ther you nearly

ughtn't to be afraid of the water; sa

never in

u're nearly crying! But you're only a girl, and a sailor's g

w would soldiers like the earth to swallow them up just when they've been fighting hard and got the victory? That's what the sea does to the poor sailors. Their ship begins t

s in her eloquence, and Ted

oldiers, and they have no banners, and red coats, and band; and they don't know how to march. A sailor walks

idest, rudest bo

rge for a girl, but you couldn't get past me!' And then with one of his loud whoops he raced home,

e never a day out of mischief. If I was your mothe

do, too

ised them to the grim face before hi

er, she's in the dairy;

er, and then was very silent about his adventure, merely saying, by way of explanation

nd a soldier together,

e Ja

hey're both good in the

su

you say the soldie

nny; but a sailor ca

all,' he said, in a disappointed tone; 'I thought they just

p the sailors to you?'

I told you of-Na

ave you

o the water together, because w

naughty for you not to

spoke re

unning away from the enemy. You see, we met in the middle, and she's not

f the redcoats, I gues

ke each other?' questioned

ave never seen them together that I remember, but I should t

't like a sailor's daughter, I know t

must have no enemies.

me t'other day,' put in his uncl

spoke; 'and, mother, I believe most good peopl

e one, as you'r

ooked p

because she's a stranger. She doesn't belo

rst came here,' his mother said; 'and the fact of h

said, looking at her little grandson with her keen grey

, granny. Please, I t

a, and there met one or two of his special chums, to whom he confided the events of the afternoon.

heard mother say; but I couldn't turn back,

is fiery hair, 'you could 'a done what the goats did in the primer at

ed thoughtfully. 'Besides, she's so proud, I

come up to the turnpike and see if she's about ther

dy beguiling the way by some of his wonderful stories till they came in sigh

te, her dark hair flying in the wind, and her eyes and cheeks

e said; 'you have to be take

y, 'because we ain't going to stand any ch

the topmost bar, asked saucily, 'Did the button-boy tell you

ight girls,

them into

did

ought you was a very rude boy n

e, then Carrots

have a strange girl like you stick yourself up so. We've com

ho! my lads, yo ho!' she sang. 'I'm on my ship, and I don't care for boys a b

certainly seemed to

ted Sam, his wrath rising at her calm

m up the rigging, and

y-com

was Nancy's laughter, as she clutched a firm hold with her small hands, and swayed to and fro, calling out excitedly, 'Furl t

her lips. To him they seemed wonderfully clever, but he was not one to stand aside

! Charge!

a perilous one. All the little people were screaming at the top of t

young ruffians! Teddy Platt, you're at the bottom of all the mischief brewing in the

'It's all the button-boy,' said Nancy eagerly, as she descended from her perch, and laid her little hand confidingl

girl,' protested Teddy indignan

the boys for?' demanded

if you were so cheeky you would soon get into

lass been doing, yo

leave them. They're the rudest boys I've ever seen, and the b

l from all thre

n she's so cheeky about. We ain't going to have Teddy

, or she wouldn't talk so. She's

ather's story is true, Sol!

old as the b

when it was in battle.

y in quieting the

d then she won't laugh at it any more. Ay, I remember seeing your father, youngster. He was a brave man, he was, but he would n

he listened, and she laughed.

e apart, and his hands in his

m sorry. I'm glad of what I said

to the cottage, and the boys returned t

a 'good-night' kiss, 'I haven't been good to-day, and I don't

it abou

Mrs. John said no more, only breathed a prayer that her little son might fi