Laddie: A True Blue Story

st Day

heir little

y can'

i-r, their, l-i-t-t-l-e, little, n

l, while, a letter at a time, I spelled aloud my first sentence. Nothing ever had happened to me as bad as that. I was not used to so much clothing. It was like taking a co

her. She was a gentle, loving little thing, until some one went too

ss the way, and what he intended to say was, "Still sits the schoolhouse by the road," but he was a little excited and the s's do

in freedom, as I had two years before. All forenoon I had shivered in my seat, while classes were arranged, and the elder pupils were started on their work; then Miss Amelia called me to her on the platform and tried to find out how much schooling I had. I was ashamed that I knew

eed your st

nd your teac

darted here and there, until the hour of opening. Then in the stress of arranging classes and getting started, all her birdlike ways slipped from her. Stern and bony she stood before us, and with a cold light in her pale eyes, she began business in a manner that made Johnny Hood forget all about his paper wads, and Leon commenced studying like a good boy, and never even tried to have f

been putting me through memory tests, and I had recited poem after poem, even long ones in the Sixth Reader, and never made one mistake when the piece was about birds. At our house, we heard next day's lessons for all ages gone over every night so often, that we couldn't help knowing them by heart, if we had any brains at all, and I just loved to get the big folk's readers and learn the bird pieces. Father had been telling her about it, so for that reason she thought she would start me on the birds, but I'm sure she made me sp

ght" to sink in: "There is a lesson in this for all of us. We are here in our schoolroom, like little birds in their nest. Now how charming it would be if all of us would follow the example of

ight Leon had said it would come, yet whoever would

They fight like anything! Every

a couple had paired, and were nest building, the father always drove every other bird from his location. In building I had seen him pecked for trying to place a twig. I had seen that happen again for merely offering food to the mother, if she didn't happen to be hungry, or for trying to make love to her when she was brooding. If a young bird failed to get the bite it wan

of times old birds pull out bunches of feathers fighting, an

hard as she could; and she proved to be stronger

cried. "You are a ru

ted, as I held my head h

hy Leon started it, at least partly. He said afterward it was the funniest sight he ever saw. My cheek smarted and burned. I could scarc

ia would have another chance at me. That was too much to risk, so I followed the others outdoors, and oh joy! there came Laddie down the r

re until I come back. I'll go explain to her about the bir

at the water bucket, and now he bathed my face and eyes, straigh

d. "I must wear them. All the girl

e-fourths of the day is enough to begin o

are you

ings as he looked into my eyes, a

ried. "Will you

in and then he

d. "Sometimes I wish shoes

etty good whe

do!" sa

our redbird swamp shut the schoolhouse and cross old Miss Amelia from sight. Then we

ers getting alon

ot one paper wad, and Leon hadn't done a thing until he laughed

"I didn't suppose the

y looking at him, how far

d Laddie. "Are your f

die, isn't my

"We'll bathe it again at the creek. We m

the Princ

ll, perhaps,

e tear

We washed t

o wrong,

think

't true, wha

not th

e lifted me to the top rail and explained, w

. This is what made her angry: it is her first day. She wanted to make a good impression on her pupils, to arouse their interest, and awaken their

but from the way she hit me, yo

my cheek softly. "Poor little woman! Wh

e told her how m

, probably she would have thanked you. Then she could have co

ask her

d try to understand how she felt. Then if you think you wouldn't

ught fast-there was no need t

"Now let's go to the Enchanted Wood and

ht!" sai

histling the loveliest little dancy tune. It made your head whirl, and your toes tingle, and you knew it was singing that way in his heart, and he was just

d with one foot. No wonder the Queen makes her daughter grow big when she sends her to you

care whether this secret is secret another minute or not. Secrets don't agree with me. I'm too big, and broad, and too muc

snow and ice, A banner with

strange device,'" laughest Lad

told the

addie fairl

E like s

re tha

n wh

er a name that I have doubts about being theirs, and sent them across an ocean, 'strangers in a strange land,' as it says in the Bible. It's something that keeps a cultured gentleman and scholar raging up and down the roads and over the country like a madman. It shuts a white-faced, lovely, little woman from her neighbours, but I have p

them for her to

't become acquainted with me,

force them

Princess a short time ago, and there would be no use i

n't she,

see, people reared in England have ideas of class, that two or three generations spent here wash out. The Princess an

ly would think you're not go

act

ls, and wicked people; and that if she would have y

cise

you goin

must f

d go on like you did before she came? Then, all of us were

re, Little Sister, right in my face

ev

can you

I meant not come here and do thing

en he loved me the very most of all. I don't believe any one except me ev

you remember the other day when he tipped her head against him and kissed her throat as he left the table; that he asked her if she 'loved him yet,' and

incess! Now, can I forget her? Can I keep away

an't, Laddie. But can yo

try; so you be a woman and keep my secret a little while longe

, Laddie. Can't you make her un

ddie. "Not that there is no God-I don't mean that-

do other little thi

been against there being a God. Now, she is learning something on the other side. After a while she can judge for herse

house; and yet she did it, beautifully too, just to give her a chance to see that very thing. But I alm

ddie. "Thank you, Little Sister." He picked me up

mes for themselves, like Sally and Peter are going to. If it is with

Here we are!

we had been so busy when we passed the water, and I doubt if we were thinking much then. We just waited. The willow walls waved gently, the moss carpet was spotted with little gold patches of sunlight, in the shade a few of the red flowers still bloomed, and big, lazy bumblebees hummed around them, or a hummingbird stood on air before them. A sort of g

same way. I thought sure there was going to be something to remember a lifetime-I was so excited I couldn't stand still. Before it could happen Laddie went and said it was a "beautiful day," and she said "it didn't show in the woods, but the pastures needed rain." Then she kissed me. Well if I ever! I sank on the throne and sat there. They went on talking

mated wi

his nature, will ha

wn

he laughed! The Princess put down th

me because you think it a

ed to be one of the most beautiful po

egan that you would

thought of s

ather would regard any relations

held responsible for w

that you shou

cently that you didn't agree wit

'clown' because I'm not schooled to the point on all questions

riendly hour with you here is sufficient answer. I have not found the slighte

rankly, exactly what

dly consents to put a touch of human interest into an hour, for a

ttle ridges in places, smooth purple gray between, big lichens for ornament, the low flat branches, the waxy, wavy-edged leaves, with clear veins, and the delicious nuts in their little brown burrs. The Princess and I both stared at the branches and waited while a little breath o

foot of yonde

ts old fantasti

gth at noontide

the brook th

what was in his mind, and it was not about the brook

humanely interesting, even for an hour; you might think worse, much worse! You might consider me a 'clown.' 'A co

mean?" asked

e road is to give half to a vehicle similar to the one you are driving, but to keep all of it when you are heavily loaded, if you are passing people afoot or horseback. The man took half the road, and kept it until the nose of his horse touched one of the tea

do?" asked

just knew she guessed the man

ip to strike my h

ys an arm raised to strike. And you, M

nly," said Laddie, "and I

breathed t

e my horse. It never has been struck, and it can't defend itself. If you want to come a

said the

d Laddie, "or at

he st

king forceful remarks as he passed about 'country clods,' and there was an inter

r pardon for him. He always had a domineering temper, and trouble he had lately has almos

myself credit if I had recognized that, and given

d. If you had turned from his way, he would have considered you a clod all his life. Since you

to laugh, and h

arter to have seen it," she cried.

t me?" he demanded. "Does s

e and stood very

said. "Whatever led you to suppose that I would

rted toward

te!" crie

ace he might have kissed her cheek if he had dared risk it; but he didn't seem to notice. Then she stooped and kissed me, and turned toward home, while Laddie and I crossed the woo

climbed to the catalpa to think, and the more I thought, the more I feared he couldn't; but still mother always says one never can tell until they try, and I knew he would try with every ounce of brain and muscle in him. I sat there until the supper bell rang, and then I washed and reached the table last. The very first thing, mother aske