Peggy in Her Blue Frock

she was tired out; and she felt sad and lonely in the small house where her husband had never lived. The children did not mind so much, but it w

were all so busy that no one missed her until dinnertime, and then Peggy and Alice looked everywhere

ew York and their mother was too bus

e said. "I want you children to help me unp

so nice as the linen closet i

but we have a great deal to be thankful for. If we haven't much money, we have health and strength and each other. Your father said to me when he went away: 'Mary, if I don't come back, I don't

h interested in arranging

cases don't go in that drawer," said her mothe

er dimples, and Peggy sto

hands," said Peggy; "and I can't re

heir mother put bowls of milk on the table for the children, with plenty of bread and jam; and there was a big saucer of milk for Lady Jane, warmed just the way she liked it. Again they cal

aid their mother; but the chil

hat fate had befallen Lady Jane; but their m

an downstairs eagerly

me, mother?

mother, whose mind was on

y Ja

e hasn'

ooked at the falling rain; "she'll get d

shelter somewhere. A cat can

, I'm worrie

the oatmeal into the double-boiler, "t

ldn't like strange people

st if the rain holds up you and Alice can run over to the Hortons' house and telephone

anches looked black against the gray sky as they were tossed about by the wind. There were patches of snow by the side of the road. It all looked very dismal, for the house was closed, as the family did not come back until June, and only the care-takers were living in the back p

mportant or we would no

her isn't sick,"

is about

t in all this ra

s as if she was our

. Jones, as she led the w

number. It made her a litt

?" she asked as a shr

eggy. "There's one boy in th

her," and presently Mrs. Ca

arter, in a warm voi

She's lost-I mean the cat. We thought she might be at your house. She doesn't se

en around or not. I'll ask them in the kitch

. She may get her mixed with the gray tramp ca

ipes on her tail-first a dark and then a light, and so on; and her eyes are the shiniest things-most as bright as lights, only

s been a gray cat around," she said, "but she isn't here no

Peggy to Alice, "so th

when the children waked up the next morning, and no pussy had yet appeared. They wanted to go back and hunt for her themselves, but it wa

worried about Lady Jan

s to think about, and I a

e day seemed very long. They helped their mother get dinner and they washed and wiped the inside dishes for

wash to-day," Al

a lot faster. However, it is your turn," she s

n and they were beginning to get tire

er; go to the door, P

ain came in. The wind was so strong it almost blew the door to. A freckled-faced boy with a pleas

rain," sa

our cat in that ba

boy. "Why should I know anything about your

d Peggy, as the occupant of

ow her voice!" crie

ggy asked, as the boy stepped inside t

e into the house, and Peggy saw that his hair was as yellow

s had! They could go ou

s glance followed him regretfully. He was a big boy; he must b

s name or if he had brothe

too much taken up with the return of Lady Jane to think of anything else at th

roked her gray striped coat. "You do

ve spoken, she would have said, "I like old friends, but I do like old