Part 15 (2/2)
Peggy sat in the wheelbarrow one day while he was raking leaves and she explained the game to him.
”You are very lucky,” she ended, ”for you can live in so many States--Maine, Ma.s.sachusetts--” she began; and she said over the whole eight, ending with Minnesota.
”I think I'll try Minnesoty for a change,” said the old man. ”I've a cousin who went out to St. Paul. Will you be my grandchild and come and keep house for me?”
”I'd love to, Mr. Farrell, but I have to live in Pennsylvania. I'm learning all about William Penn and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and Betsy Ross, who made the first flag, so I can tell it to Uncle Joe when he comes back. And I have to read about New Hamps.h.i.+re to Alice, so I'm quite busy. Did you know it was called the Granite State, Mr.
Farrell?”
”I have heard tell as much.”
”Oh, Mr. Farrell,” said Peggy hopping up, ”do let me try to rake the leaves. They dance about as if they were at a party. What does Mrs.
Farrell's name begin with--can she go to Minnesota with you?”
”Her name is Hattie. I guess my old woman will have to stay right here in New Hamps.h.i.+re. It is hard to break up families that way. My old woman and I haven't been separated for forty-two years, come Christmas.”
Miss Betsy Porter was another of Peggy's friends who was greatly interested in the game. Peggy often dropped in to see her and her cat.
Miss Betsy Porter always had something very good and spicy to eat. This time it was spice cake. Peggy was on her way back from the village with some b.u.t.tons and tape for her mother, so she could not stop long. Miss Porter thought it a grand game.
”Only, I am a woman without a country,” she said. ”There are no States beginning with B, and I can't even come in on Elizabeth.”
”You can come in on your last name,” said Peggy. ”You can live in Pennsylvania with me.”
”That is great. I went to Philadelphia once when I was a girl.” And she told the eagerly listening Peggy all about the Quaker city with its straight streets and its old buildings.
”I am afraid if your mother is in a hurry for those b.u.t.tons and that tape,” said Miss Betsy, ”you'd better be going home now, but some afternoon when you can stay longer I'll read you a book about some of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.”
”What a lucky child I am to have my name begin with a P,” Peggy said.
”There can't be any other State as interesting as Pennsylvania.”
CHAPTER XII
HOW PEGGY SPENT HER MONEY
As Peggy was going out of Miss Betsy's kitchen door, some hens straggled along the gra.s.s. Some were brown and some were white and some were yellow. Peggy thought they were all fat, prosperous-looking hens. She admired their red combs and their yellow legs.
”I wish we had some hens,” she said to Miss Betsy. ”Eggs cost such a lot we can't ever have any cake.”
”I'd give you some fresh eggs to take back to your mother, only I am afraid you might slip and break them.”
Peggy looked thoughtful. It would be nice to have the eggs, but it would be hard to have to walk home with the eggs on her mind.
”Mother, I wish we kept hens,” she said as she ran into the kitchen.
”Miss Betsy has such nice ones.”
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