Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 / Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore, Etc.

tless and very curious. She wanted to see every thing, do every thing, and go

d her shoes to the servants, the cat, the doves, and the flowers; and then opened the gate that the people in the street might see the trim little feet she was so proud of. Now Poppy had been forbidden to go out; but, when she saw Kitty Allen, her neighbor, playing ball down the street, she forgot ev

ldn't have red shoes for my best,

ely by, as if she was going on an errand, and hadn't heard a word. Round the corner she went, thinking she would wait till Kitty was gone; as she didn't like to pass again, fearing Jack might say somethin

full, enjoying herself immensely; for Betsy, the maid, never let her play in the pond, or roll down the hill, or make dirt-pies, and now she did all these things, besides playing with st

, up streets and down, amusing herself with looking in the shop-windows, and sitting to rest on doorsteps. Once she asked a pleasant-faced little girl to show her the way home; but, as she didn't know in what street it was, and said her father's name was "papa," the girl couldn't help her: so she gave her a bun and went away

of her face, licked her hands, and then lay down by her with such a friendly look in his brown eyes that Poppy was quite comforted. Sh

a man ringing a great bell. Poppy sat up, and wondered if anybody's supper was ready. The m

y brown hair, blue eyes; had on a white fr

ttle voice cried out of the

dats

man put his bell in his pocket, took her up

" asked Poppy, w

er fust, along of my little girl. I live close by;

funny little house, and his wife gave her bread and molasses on a new tin plate with letters all round the edge. Poppy thoug

th molasses, her gown torn, her hands very dirty, and her shoes-ah, the pretty new shoes!-all spoiled with mud and dust, scratched, and half worn out, the buttons dull, and the color quite gone. No one cared

the spoilt shoes over the mantle-piece; and, as soon as she was dressed, papa came in with a

a little dog; but I must, or you will forg

dow; and, when she heard mamma passing the door, she tried to run and meet her, but had to stop halfway, for the cord jerked her over. Cousin Fanny came up, but Poppy was so ashamed to be tied that she crept under the s

way. Fordive me one time more, and I

ne day she went with her sister Nelly to see a man plough, for that sort of thing was new to h

hat?" ask

r," said

ice?" as

" said

e taste it?" ask

u sick," said th

k. I'd like to try," sai

e good at all. She did it because Cy, her favorite playfello

eat any mor

ppy took another piece, just to show

, and I shan'

er. But the man shook his head, Nelly wa

ou sick

le, and began to look rather pensive. She stopped running, and walked slo

answer, "Oh, dear! no;" but a dreadful feeling came over he

ll," said the man, loo

ass to drop on. She kept on bravely for another turn; but suddenly stopped, and, quite regardless of the clean pink gown, dropped d

and tell my mot

ght, and burst upon Poppy's m

cco; and she's sick, layin' in the field; an

to Poppy's mishaps. Papa was away, and there was no carriage to bring Poppy home in

ved off. First came Cy, as grave as a sexton; then the wheelbarrow with Poppy, white and limp and speechless, all in a bunch; then mamma, looking a

e child was a reg'lar

s Cy said; and was led home quite blind and roaring with pain. She got into the pigsty to catch a young piggy, and was taken out in a sad state of dirt. She slipped into the brook, and was half drowned; broke a window and her own head, swinging a little f

e country boys and girls did; but mamma wa

t won't hurt me, just for

ever wish to see you bar

nd do it in the barn," mutter

Nelly's warnings. Nelly never got into scrapes, being a highly virtuous young lady;

a beam; and Nelly, with a peck measure on her head for a hat, and a stick for a gun, went bear-hunting, and banged away at the swallows, the barrels, and th

ork, and it's in my foot!

nted away, and Nelly screamed, and mamma ran, and the neighbors rushed in, and there was such

ed Poppy, feeling very important at having such a bustle made on her a

u might hav

d?" asked P

th shuts up, and you can't open

looking scared, and

at's why your ma cried, an

Poppy, for she always "came alive" again after her worst mishaps. She looked very solemn for a few minutes, and kept o

tle horse: he lost his tail; but I put on the lamb's tail, and he is as good as ever.

Nelly, sniffing

mamma. She'll want it, a

way all she could reach, giving directi

olly and the quacking duck. Tell Billy, if he wants my collection of bright bu

lp laughing, though tears stood in her eyes, as she

so we won't talk of it. But Poppy must keep qu

does it hurt much to die?"

not hard to die, dear," said mamma, with

d; so I won't mind, if

eir sins against her, let Nelly take such of her precious treasures as she liked, and pensively hoped baby would remember her when she was gone. She hopped about with a crutch, and felt as if she was an object

jaws remained as active as ever, and the fits didn't come. I think it did her good; for she never forgot

nd get our scrapings," said Poppy

rs; so when the children appeared, each armed with a spoon, and dema

always lets us have them, when we help her make jelly; d

little potful too," add

ff. Your ma can fuss with your p

k shut the door in their faces. "Never mind: I know how to pay her," she added, in a whisper, as they sat on the stairs bewailing their wrongs. "

asked Nelly, timid, but lon

she won't mind. I don't care for old cross Burney," said Poppy,

sten, she heard whispering, clattering of glasses, and smacking of lips in the big closet; and in a moment knew that her jelly was lost. She tried the door with her key; but sly Poppy had bolted it on the inside, and, feeling quite safe, defied Burney from among the jelly-pots, entirely reckless of consequ

! don't hurt her, please, but let me 'splain it to mamma when she come

," said Burney; and took Poppy, kicking and screaming, into the little library,

a would be very angry, and that she, Poppy, was going to spoil every thing in the room. But Burney was gone, and no one came near her. She kicked the paint off the door, rattled the latch, called Burney a "pig," and Cy "a badder boy than the man who smothered the little princes in the Tower." Poppy wa

dn't have been worse. Poppy wasn't particular about smells; but she got some in her mouth, and didn't like the taste. There was no water to wash in; and her hands, face, and pinafore were in a high state of grease. She was rather lonely too; for, though mamma had got home, she didn't come to let Poppy out: so the young rebel thought it was about time to surrender. She could write pretty we

r Ma

P. The oyl maks A bad smel. i tHink i wil Bee sik iF i

py

. Every one laughed over it; for, besides the bad spelling and the funny periods, it was covered with oil-spots, blots, and tear marks; f

Betsey put soap in her eyes, pulled her hair, and scolded all the time. They were not allowed any jelly for a long while; an

ppy was sent away to grandpa's for a visit. Now, grandpa was a very stately old gentleman, and every one

-"O grandpa! you do snore so loud when you take naps!"-"What ma

e spoke of his legs; for he was rather proud of them, and always wore long black silk stockings, and told every one that the legs were so handsom

t tired of hemming neat pocket-handkerchiefs, and putting her needle carefully away when she had done. She wanted to romp and shout, and slide down the banisters, and riot about; so, when she couldn't be quiet another minute, she went up into a great empty room at the top of the house, and cut up all sorts of capers. H

e day, when an old gentleman, who lived

on his spectacles. "Bless my soul! that child will kill herself. Hallo, there! little

oppy, staring at him w

ak your neck!" scream

py, much flattered by his intere

in and inform the colonel!" roared

py; and she didn't, for she

he old man, bustling up to the steps, and r

d, demurely playing with her doll, and looking quite innocent. Emily scolded; and Poppy promised never to do it again, if she might stay and p

"Never mind, dear: you shall hang out, if I can't

d put on again); she had been washed, buried, burnt, torn, soiled, and banged about till she was a mournful object. Poppy loved her very much; for she was two feet tall, and had once been very h

ormance, because in the opposite house lived five or s

people were at home for dinner. They came to the windows, and looked and laughed at

ore grandpa saw her, and dodged down as he went by. This made the people laugh again, and grandpa wondered what the joke was. The minute he went in out flew dolly, dancing more frantically than ever; and the children shouted so loud that grandpa w

ed, for Poppy and dolly were hidden again, and the old gentleman was puzzled. He went in and sat down to watch, feeling rather disturbed. Presently the fun began again: the children clapped their han

llows are making game of

ked him to come in and see the fun. Poppy didn't see grandpa go in, for she hid, and when she looked out he was gone: so she boldly began the dancing; but, in the midst of a lively c

that every one enjoyed that joke better than the other;

for her feet, and could only struggle and choke, and go down, down, with a loud roaring sound in her ears. That would have been the end of Poppy, if a little black boy hadn't jumped in and pulled her out. She was sick and dizzy, and looked like a drowned kitten; but a kind lady took her home in a carriage. After that misha