Part 2 (2/2)

”Where's your patchwork?”

”I don't know. You've got a double name, haven't you, doggie? It's Zip c.o.o.n; but it isn't a _very_ double name,--is it, mother?”

When Mrs. Parlin had finished her doughnuts, she said, ”p.u.s.s.y, you can't keep still two minutes. Now, if you want to sew this patchwork for grandma's quilt, I'll tell you what I shall do. There's an empty hogshead in the back kitchen, and I'll lift you into that, and you can't climb out. I'll lift you out when your stint is done.”

”O, what a funny little house!” said Prudy, when she was inside; and as she spoke her voice startled her,--it was so loud and hollow. ”I'll talk some more,” thought she, ”it makes such a queer noise. 'Old Mrs.

Hogshead, I thought I'd come and see you, and bring my work. I like your house, ma'am, only I should think you'd want some windows. I s'pose you know who I am, Mrs. Hogshead? My name is Prudy. My mother didn't put me in here because I was a naughty girl, for I haven't done nothing--nor nothing--nor nothing. Do you want to hear some singing?

”'O, come, come away, From labor now reposin'; Let _busy Caro, wife of Barrow_, Come, come away!'”

”Prudy, what's the matter?” said mamma, from the next room.

”Didn't you hear somebody singing?” said Prudy; ”well, 't was me.”

”O, I was afraid you were crying, my dear!”

”Then I'll stop,” said the child. ”Now, Mrs. Hogshead, you won't hear me singing any more,--it _mortifies_ my mother very much.”

So Prudy made her fingers fly, and soon said, ”Now, mamma, I've got it done, and I'm ready to be _took out_!”

Just then her father came into the house. ”Prudy's in the hogshead,”

said Mrs. Parlin. ”Won't you please lift her out, father? I've got baby in my arms.”

Mr. Parlin peeped into the hogshead. ”How in this world did you ever get in here, child?” said he. ”I think I'll have to take you out with a pair of tongs.”

Prudy laughed.

”Give me your hands,” said papa. ”Up she comes! Now, come sit on my knee,” added he, when they had gone into the parlor, ”and tell me how you climbed into that hogshead.”

”Mother dropped me in, and I'm going to stay there till I make a bedquilt,--only I'm coming out to eat, you know.”

Mr. Parlin laughed; but just then the dinner-bell rang, and when they went to the table, Prudy was soon so busy with her roasted chicken and custard pie that she forgot all about the patchwork.

Prudy soon tired of sewing, and her mother said, laughing, ”If Grandma Read has to wait for somebody's little fingers before she gets a bedquilt, poor grandma will sleep very cold indeed.”

The calico pieces went into the rag-bag, and that was the last of Prudy's patchwork.

One day the children wanted to go and play in the ”new house,” which was not quite done. Mrs. Parlin was almost afraid little Prudy might get hurt, for there were a great many loose boards and tools lying about, and the carpenters, who were at work on the house, had all gone away to see some soldiers. But at last she said they might go if Susy would be very careful of her little sister.

Susy meant to watch Prudy with great care, but after a while she got to thinking of something else. The little one wanted to play ”catch,”

but Susy saw a great deal more sport in building block houses.

”Now I know ever so much more than you do,” said Susy. ”I used to wash dishes and scour knives when I was four years old, and that was the time I learned you to walk, Prudy; so you ought to play with me, and be goody.”

”Then I will; but them blocks is too big, Susy. If I had _a axe_ I'd chop 'em: I'll go get _a axe_.” Little Prudy trotted off, and Susy never looked up from her play, and did not notice that she was gone a long while.

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