A Dear Little Girl at School

ere in summer and out of the wind on cold days. If big Cousin Ben did not always like to be where Edna

which he had planned for the next day. Edna stood watching him, ready to hand a tool or run for a

n?" Edna always asked this for Cousin

oods," he said, "to

ked Edna in pleased expec

dog-wood ba

ssoms," returned Edn

say you know the dog-wo

I supp

ontinued after a moment, "the catkins will all be out and when I meet one I

g herself well content to continue this sort of talk, tho

r boy, any dog ought to know the way th

ughed.

ll reply, 'Chestnuts!' for I don't like to talk about hazing, being in a position to expect a little of it any day. Well, Ande, I must be off or I will find Pip's sis away." Cousin Ben always called Edna Ande because he decl

the winter when it was still dark at seven in the morning, and when the afternoons were so short, it had seemed better that they should not come home every day. Therefore, as Aunt Elizabeth Horner and Uncle Justus wanted much to have them remain, it was so arranged. Edna was a

g gray stone house with the lovely grounds. Margaret was having a pretty hard time of it, as she had never had much opportunity of going to school and was far behind the girls of her own age. Edna and Dorothy were her staunch defenders, however and when matters came to a too difficult pass the older girls were appealed to and could always straig

it, but first she must get together such things as she should want for Monday. "Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, and Monday, too. There are only four, after all," she said, counting the days on her fingers. "I

hat she ran upstairs to her mother, to tell of i

what is it?" sa

day but three, 'cause, you know, I don't start till after breakfast on Monday, so that's one day. Then Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

, I t

't it? I think I shall take Ada with me and leave her there. She is used to it, and won't mind as much as some of the other dolls

ll the time, but she ha

fraid of her when you

dn't know her. She is yo

place, and I suppose by the time he grew up he wasn't afraid of anybody

you mean,

ad a lot of lemon flavor in them. I used to ask Ellen to do them that way and she always would, except when Aunt Elizabeth was in the kitchen and then she had to do as Aunt Elizabeth told

n every week when you go, and Celia can tell

, feeling that this was an ordeal t

are some preserves mother thought would be nice for sup

uld have the proper effect. "I think myself it woul

a's awe of Aunt Elizabe

rl went on, "and that is, that you will always have hot cake

replied her m

ack," Edna continued, "and I'm rather glad he

you were fo

they'd do that than try to boss you the way boys do. Mother, there is another thing I wish you would do, and that is I wish you would tell Aunt Elizabeth that she will plea

ow you to have com

head and a si

rothy shall come," said

ed tone, "for I shall always have Celia to go to, and you will be so nea

ore fear of Uncle Justus than of Aunt Eliza

t was mostly on account of his

eard it said that he can be r

ut he isn't all the tim

ind out that it is only Aunt

her across with strips of wood glued on. Edna liked the trunk much better than a larger one which had been bought at the store. Aunt Elizabeth was very clever in making things of this kind and would sometimes surprise her little niece with some home-made gift which was the more prized because i

lied Mrs. Conway laughing, "you

lue dressing-gown and apron, she shut the lid. "I don't think I'll take her furs this week because she'll not need them," she remarked, "and I don't think I will

time I cert

e much better than last year. "Mother," she said, cha

sensible. He is silly only when he wants to teas

. I think he is very funny. He says such queer things about the trees and plants in the woods. He twists t

to those in a lower class; they play tricks o

they really

o a pond of water on an icy day in the fall, and who nearly died of pneumonia i

ill do anything like

doubt there will be some tricks p

to her and troubled her very much. Cousin Ben had gone out alone to t

s piece of woods. The college was on the outskirts of the city and the dormitories were within easy walking distance, so that one was liable to see a group of college boys at almost any time. Edna trotted along hoping to overtake her cousin. She did not believe any

Ben? She walked slowly that she

me this way?" she

y. "We saw him go in

to turn in at once for fear the boys might suspect, so she kept on a short distance to where the road turned and then she cut into the bit of forest scrambling up the bank and scratching her hands, with the brambles, but reaching the path in a few minutes. The further she went the darker it grew. The sun was setting and she could see long fingers of light between the trees. She wished she had some one with her, that Cousin Ben would appe