Peggy in Her Blue Frock

e started to make bread, "this yeast-cake isn't fresh. What a shame

she always liked to be out of doors better than in. It was Saturday morning so

o the village," said Peggy's mother. "You can

, with a small covered basket in her hand, for her mother had told her she might get half a dozen lemons a

ny strange children, and don't call on any of the neighbors. Don't run, it is too hot, b

to be alive. She had not gone far when she saw a boy coming out of a crossr

!" sai

istopher. He join

n your basket?" Pegg

the Miller farm. What

t me to the grocery st

he cat?"

for if we let her out she'd go straight to your ho

e we are such a big family; and then I suppose sh

crazy about her: Alice is

just as craz

hought you had, and I guesse

l name! What made you thin

ame into my head that he

, it

hastened to add, hoping that the cre

guess and guess and you'd never gu

guessed several uncommon names,

it begin with?"

ins wit

rot

common name. I know

or

mmon, either. I

or

mmon, either. I

e was very envious. She wished she knew all those Dorothys and Dorises and Doras. She wanted to

again,"

rls' names beginning with a D

n't Do

el

N

l me; I can't think

ame is

pretty name!

; and she has to stay in bed a lot when she is sick, and the cat amus

ould never let her g

ousy when she thought of that adorable gray striped pussy, with her soft fur and her greenish eyes,

sister you've g

es

only one

e. He's some brother," he adde

nly mine is just nursery rhymes to amuse

ting a poem

deeply interested. "

d and looked confused. "I

remember s

eased and teased him to repeat it until he said, "All right, if you must hear it, I suppose you

tfully. The poem was a distinct shock. Sh

guess he's longer and le

right the

aid Peggy. "They are so useful

th new interest. "Do you lik

ove to,"

across it. At one end was a pine tree, with convenient branches that she had often longed to climb. It

eggy had never had a more blissful time. She had often envied Lady Jane her power to scramble up trees with no mother at hand to tell her to come down, or to warn her against spoiling her frock. But now she envied nobody. It was too wonderful

over my dress! Oh, dear, what will mother say? She told me to be s

aid Christopher. "She wouldn

dear, I'm afraid my dress is spoiled! Oh, what will mother say? I've only worn

How many are you

is clothes and would have some sympathy for her, so she added: "You see, it doesn't tear e

g it wouldn't have happened," he said. "I'll take you round to Aunt Betsy's.

he same as Clara's Au

son we came here to live. She told us your house was going

e house she lives in," he said, pointing t

," said Peggy. "She'

hildren to come in. She was tall and thin, with gray hair and dark eyes. Peggy thought of her as an old lady, but much more interesting tha

iece of my gingerbread," she said. "

eeply interested in the

d, when the children had told her the whole sto

etsy, with its many lines. It seemed so impossible to t

Aunt Betsy, going to a cupboard in the other room. "It

to eat and run when Miss Betsy had been so kind about taking the stain out of her dress, so Peggy stayed to make a call, after the gingerbread had been eaten. And she and Christopher

"for mother told me to hurry and not to stop on

asket when you came in

all," said Christopher. "I forgot all a

Peggy. "I guess I can

to run, children," Miss

suit was a little ahead, but he was closely followed by Peggy in he

n her attention was caught by the melodious singing of Mrs. Butler's canary-bird. "He's

ee, she's got the window open and the cage hanging the

t strange things

"because it sounds so joyous, and there's nev

ldren. She didn't look at all joyous, for she had been h

st baked some gingerbread. You must be h

Butler's cool parlor. This time it was crisp, thin gingerbread. One could eat several pieces and it seemed nothing at all. And all the time, the canary-bird in the sunshine was singing his glad song, "Spring is coming, spring is really

aid Peggy. "Mother told me to hu

or the butter and eggs," said Christ

w pleasant it looked with its new coat of paint, behind the two horse-chestnut trees, which would soon be coming into blossom.

as sure her mother would like some raisins if she had only happened to remember about them, and it would be such a good chance to get some oranges and grapefruit. But she remembered that her mother ha

said to the clerk, "and two pounds

all?" h

t of the yeast-cake, for so many excitin

you been doing, Peggy? You are an hour and a half late.

ered the yeast-cake. She turn

east-cake," she confessed miserab

he only important thing, you forgot. I wonder what I can do to make you less careless. Wha

other's confidence, but Peggy had not intended to tell her abou

ce, and I got pitch all over me, and I thought you'd be so discourage

to stop to talk

e children.' He w

y. While you were out Mrs. Horton telephoned to say that she and Miss Rand and Clara had come up to spend part of the Easter

ested, "that would be pu

e too awful a punis

ughtfully. She was a very just mother, and Pe

ouse, Peggy, until I come back. Old Michael may come with some seed catalogues. If he does you can keep him until I get back. As soon as I do, you can