Pippin; A Wandering Flame

night. They certainly had missed him. No, they hadn't set the dough yet: they were just thinking of it, but they t

" said Pippin, "and

in white cap and apron, his arms bare to the

The great caldron stood ready, under the chute that led from the upper floor. Pippin pressed a knob, and down came the flour, i

f and half: more whiteness, brimming in a white pail. In it goes, with wonderful effects of bubb

te enamel-and round and round it goes, tossing, dropping, gathering, tossing

wonder of it. But presently Mrs. Baxter calls. "Sup

"Keep it up, old figger-head! I'll be back, time you're ready to lay off. She's all right, Buster," as the boy enters, munching his final doughnut. "In great shape, Elbert is! You want to scrap

nty," chuckles Buste

mournin' myself if I wait any longer for that cup

that story about Mike

'd tell you when your ma was ke

there was thieves about? No, Pippin hadn't; he wanted to know if there was! Well, 'twas so. Mis' Wilkins had two pies stole last night right off the butt'ry shelf, and a jug of cider, and matches all over the floor; and night befo

ughtful over his supper, so thoughtful that he was r

hat ailed the man that wouldn't eat a supper like t

hined comfortably. It was a soft, dark night, just cool enough for comfort, Pippin thought, and yet warm enough-well, warm enough for comfort, too. The back porch looked out on a little gully, the bed of a stream that fl

. "Now wouldn't it give you a

me were content to sit silent, rocking softly, breathing tranquilly, "just letting go," as Mrs. Baxter put it. But afte

he said, "I've

nocked out his own ashes. "That's right!" he said. "We'll be pleased to hear you,

be any too well pleased, Father Baxter. The heft of

rs creaked with

in't,

t mean it

e's jokin', mothe

u, and you'll see for yourselves. First place, I got to tell Mis' Baxter about before I come here. Yes, Boss, I just plain got to! I meant a

ng what glory there was to the Lord and Elder Hadley. When he finished this part, the baker was holdi

mite. "Why, he told me the very first day, mother! I didn't want to make you

to tell of his visit to Cyrus Poor Farm (omitting only the episode of

sed to the Old Man to find his little gal if she's to be found (and that means if she's alive), and promised to Mr. Bailey to get hold of that boy and give him a boost. You see how 'tis, don't you? Well, of course! I

y's sake

andy man, and Mis' Bailey ekally so woman, but they made a big mistake. What did that boy need? He needed other boys, and there wasn't none round, so happened. There was old folks, and blind folks, and wantin' folks, some good as

Pippin!" said Mr

o, 'less it's knead the youngster up in a batch of dough

rd, a hand on the knee of either. Hi

where the fireflies danced and shone. The stream droned on; the night clung closer. Look! Was that a blacker shadow there, just where the old willow overhung the stream? Was it a shadow that moved, followed by a second stealthy shade?