The Story of the Big Front Door

S ACC

lutter down, and each morning, from her sitting-room wi

or Elsie; then a few minutes later Ikey was at the gate whistling for Carl. In the five mon

their little daughter, while young Isaac was sent to his father's old home. Warmly attached to it himself, Dr. Ford could think of no better place for h

ad been. It was a question which suffered most during those first weeks, the elderly people whose lives had moved

rder. The stone steps and walk were spotless, the windows shone, and the shades and curtains were arranged in

blinds, who whistled when his grandfather was taking his nap, left his things lying about, and teased the snappish old pug was destined to be a trial. On the other hand, the change from a free and ea

ve been unendurable if the Hazeltines had not discovered him. Ikey was ready

across the street from the Fords most of her life; so she went to his grandmo

ds the freedom of the back yard, on condition that they would respect the front. Before the summer was over she had become so used to th

rence, and were accepted with a heroism born of long familiarity. But one morning when he an

growling, as if a lot of dogs were tearing one another to pieces. "Wh

fully, and giving a spring he grasped the top

some sharp teeth made themselves felt, and he dropped down groaning, "My nose! My nose!" Carl was very much alarmed at sig

e, is it?" he asked anxi

ft," came in muffled tones from the

, but advising his patient not to be in such a hurry to investigate strange dog

ing in the habit of making a fuss over hi

ss he would not have been so ready, for th

ntain himself, but laughed and laughed til

r at recess. It was decidedly trying to be the object of so much school-boy wit; to hear over and over again: "Ikey, what ails y

a blackbird, so

puppy dog that n

on the way home, at sight of the girls on the

Louise asked, in surp

is nose," answ

o look for it?

at you mean

hter the boys

n. Suppose it was your nose?"

turn up any more

to the ball-game; that wi

or a hasty lunch before they started. Carl ran over to beg Ikey to go in spite of his disfigurement, but a

hed the party start off, and felt

mations and questions had only made matters worse, and

f that nobody cared for him, except, perhaps,

e had heard that people often had it when they were bitten by

cked at his door. He lay on the couch with his face buried in the pillows

however, was not Katie's, nor th

unt Zélie as he always c

ould only struggle to a sitting position, with hi

n on the pillows again, and her soft hand was smoothing back his hair, just as Mamma did, while she told him that Mr.

ss. Then they talked of other things, and he actually lit the gas-for it wa

r his funny accident, and when with a kiss on his forehead

glass meanwhile. Then he went meekly downstairs and enjoyed his dinner. Mrs. Ford never petted anyone, sh

Louise exclaimed: "We haven't done anything to h

something to take him

ned it into a joke, and it was a most remarkable collection that

n all over the room in a life-like manner

twenty years as he did at the antics of the boys a

did care. The next day the doctor replaced the ugly yellow plaster with something white that was m

the Iron Mask," but owing to his rapid recovery it was given up. She was rather disappointed, for it seemed an interesting way in which

Dora does," she complained

been doing?"

meek little Mamie Garland kept walking up and down looking at us. Nobody likes her, because she is a telltale. Then before we knew what she was going to do Dora

he spoil t

But I suppose it is pretty mean to go on having a nice time when

said; "but don't be discouraged, you will be more quick to see an opportunity next time. If I am no

would count?" Bes

swered her aunt, pin