Part 21 (1/2)

”Don't, Phronsie,” cried Polly, alhtly

”Oh, Polly, you hurt me!” cried Phronsie

”Did I, Pet? well, I won't do so any o into the kitchen!” and Polly set her down on the floor

”It is nice to ithstretch to her fat little legs ”Little things kept sticking into 'em, Polly,still,” said Polly ”Oh, Phronsie dear, I never shall forgiveyou,” as Phronsie pattered across the kitchen, to cla all the wonderful things that happened that day, Joel didn't quite forget the circus, and he whispered to David that night, after they had hopped into bed, and pulled the sheet over their heads, ”I'oin' to have a circus of my own, so there!”

Little David was all worn out with the exciting events of the day, and he didn't hear him, as he fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow So Joel, not finding it very much fun to talk when there was no one to listen, closed his eyes, and before he knew it, he was asleep too Ben, looking across at the two little faces, as he cao to bed, said to hiave a sigh of relief

The next days were full of work ”Play can't come all the time,”

Mrs Pepper observed wisely She sent Polly doith the money for the doctor's visit, pinned up carefully in a paper, which the little doctor pro left it, as he ay on his rounds So Mrs Pepper could do nothing but tie it into the old stocking-leg again, in the bureau drawer ”Children,” she said, drawing the for Dr Fisher, and ood to us”

”There never'll come a chance, Mamsie,” said Polly, disconsolately, ”we're so poor”

”Chances come, if people look for 'em,” observed Mrs Pepper, shortly, as she shut the drawer

”We ain't poor,” cried Joel, who never could bear to be called so

”Yes, we are,” said Polly, positively, ”we are poor, Joel

That's the truth, Joel, and you oughtn't to oin' to be poor,” declared Joel, confidently

”When Joel's shi+ps come in, I s'pose he means,” said Ben, and the children shouted

”I don't care,” said Joel, when the laugh died doe ain't goin' to be poor when I git to be a oin' to be awful rich”

”Well, you'll have to hen you're a boy, then,” said Mrs

Pepper, sensibly ”Riches don't tuht straight off,” cried Joel, springing away on nimble feet ”Come on, Dave, and help pick those old rocks”

But a terrible shower carew so dark that Polly couldn't see to sew So the three youngest children gathered around her and claet down on the floor in a ring” So they all sat down in the middle of the kitchen floor, after some delay, caused by Joel's vociferous demand to sit next to Polly

”Phronsie must be one side,” said Polly, ”of course”

”Yes, Iup closer yet to Polly

”Well, the other side, then,” said Joel, struggling to slip in between Polly and little David, and twitching Davie's arm

”Stop, Joe, and sit down over here,” cried Ben, seizing him by the jacket, ”else you shan't sit anywhere”

”Ow!” howled Joel, pulling sot here first,” said Polly, ”and he's younger How can you, Joe?” she added reproachfully