Part 3 (1/2)

Then what should Nancy do, but take out of her ap.r.o.n _a wee bit of a toad_, and drop it in Prudy's mouth! I can't see how she dared do such a thing; but she did it. She had found the toad in the street, and picked it up to frighten little Prudy.

The moment the toad was dropped on the child's tongue of course it began to hop. Prudy hopped too. She seized her tongue with one hand and the toad with the other, screaming at the top of her voice.

The scholars were all frightened to hear such a scream, and to see Prudy running out to the teacher so fast.

”Do tell me what ails you?” said Miss Parker.

By that time Prudy had got rid of the toad, and could speak.

”O, dear, dear, _dear_,” cried she, ”I didn't know it was a toad till it hopped right up!”

”A _toad_ here in the house!” cried Miss Parker.

”No, ma'am,” said Prudy, trembling and sobbing. ”It wasn't in the house,--it was in my mouth,--right here on my tongue.”

Prudy showed Miss Parker her tongue. Miss Parker laughed, thinking her a very funny child.

”I've heard, before now, of little folks having frogs in their throats,” said she. ”Is that what you mean?”

”I guess so,” sobbed Prudy. ”And it was alive--just as alive as could be! O, O!--Nancy, she told me to shut up my eyes, you know, and I didn't see the toad till it hopped right up in my mouth,--and _then_ I didn't see it! O, O!”

”Nancy, come here,” said Miss Parker, sternly. ”What have you been doing to this little child?”

Nancy came out, with her fingers in her mouth, but did not speak.

”Answer me; did you drop a toad into Prudy's mouth?”

”Yes,” replied Nancy, sulkily; ”but she stuck a knitting-needle into my ear _fust_!”

”For shame, you wicked child,” said Miss Parker. ”Take up that toad, Nancy, and carry it out of doors; then come to me, for I must punish you.”

”Now, Prudy,” added Miss Parker, ”what do you think I ought to do to Nancy for being so naughty?”

”I don't know,” answered Prudy, crying still. ”I don't s'pose my mother would be willing to have folks put toads in my mouth.”

”But what do you think I ought to do to her?” said Miss Parker, smiling.

”Was you goin' to whip her?” asked Prudy, looking up through her tears.

”I think I must, my child.”

”Well, I hope you won't hurt her,” said dear little Prudy. ”Please to don't.”

But Miss Parker struck Nancy with a piece of whalebone, and hurt her a good deal. It was the only way to make Nancy remember not to do such a cruel trick again.

When Prudy saw how much Nancy was hurt, it was more than her tender heart could bear. She ran up to Miss Parker, and caught hold of the skirt of her dress, hiding her head in it.

”O, Miss Parker!” said she, ”I've got to cry. Nanny won't do so no more. The toad was just as alive as could be, but it never bit a bit!