The Story of the Big Front Door

STAR

Hazeltine, and the house he planned and built reflected,

ant more than just that, for there were few, even among the unimaginative, who did not feel drawn to that door. Hospitality shone from ev

it is enough to say at present that

iam Hazeltines had already built their fine mansion out on Dean avenue, where Aunt Marcia found thi

n and home-like neighborhood to the elegant monotony of her surroundings. The childre

chamber. This name had originated with Uncle William in the days when he and his brother Frank played and studied there, as Ca

sills made pleasanter resting-places. Here in the summer time you looked out into the soft greenness of the maple trees, getting glimpses of the quiet street, but when the branches were bare a fine outlook was to be had all over the neighborhood, and you saw how big houses and little houses stood sociably side by side, while an old gray church kept guard a

in the old wardrobe, which was now put to the same use by her little nieces, were not so very far back

after the excitement over the Brown house,

wanted to pl

s too

im come, it spoi

she asked in surprise, "What

; then little Helen, who was serenely busy with her paper dolls, replied, "Ikey's gr

t with the cloth

élie. You can do a great many things

for him at the banquet; and now he hasn't come

n the sofa and folded

our things have been carried over t

replied Bess, watching her aunt's face anxiously. There was another silence, during which Carl

his the more uncomfort

e why," cam

you know that there are people who say that no child

a beautiful rhyme," laughed Loui

den without leave, and you encouraged Ikey to carry off his grandmother's things without permission. I have trusted you all summer-I thought I could; but this makes me afraid th

ng her around the waist; Louise seized one of her hands tightly in

r, Aunt Zélie,"

, and taken the motherless little flock into her arms, comforting them and wrappi

ou?" Helen asked, leaving her

a and talked things over. It was astonishing what a difference it made-trying to look at the matter from all sides. Even Mrs. Ford's ind

Aunt Zélie," Carl acknowledged, "but it was such fun

ome day, would you think that because they had found that they

e not nice at all; we couldn't hav

the Brown house-it is

id Bess. "Just because it i

above thought for the feelings or property of others. I am sure you did not mean t

she was dreadfully mad at Ikey, and said he m

ady and is used to having her household affairs move on smoothly, and one day she finds her servants upset and so

ly, and her audience l

o inquire about the things left by the children in the garden. She returned with the

ns she met with. But she had only seen a middle-aged woman who was

rs. Ford for their share of the mischief. He did this so meekly and with such evident sincerity that the old lady was gr

els of propriety. No one would have dreamed th

merry men looked down on the transformatio

st. The bushes and vines were trimmed, the walk was reddened, the shutters were thrown open. Every

story of the man who made a fortune minding his own business. Uncle William, who was there at the time, said that probably the man was too s

children," said Bess, "for they cou

n, Father," asked little Helen, and co