Five Little Peppers at School

by Margaret Sidney

  X JOEL AND HIS DOG

  "Now, children," hummed Phronsie, pausing in the midst of combing herdoll's flaxen hair, "you must keep still, and be very good; then I'llget through pretty soon," and she bowed to the several members of hernumerous family set up in a row before her, who were awaiting their turnfor the same attention. Then she took up the little comb which haddropped to her lap, and set herself busily to her task again.

  Alexia looked in at the door of the "baby-house," as Phronsie's littleroom devoted to her family of dolls, was called. "Oh my goodness me!"she exclaimed, "don't you ever get tired of everlastingly dressing thosedolls, Phronsie?"

  Phronsie gave a sigh, and went patiently on with her work. "Yes, Alexia,I'm tired sometimes; but I'm their mother, you see."

  "And to comb their hair!" went on Alexia, "Oh dear me! I never could doit in all this world, Phronsie. I should want to run and throw them allout of the window."

  "Oh Alexia!" exclaimed Phronsie in horror, "throw them all out of thewindow! You couldn't do that, Alexia." She tightened her grasp on thedoll in her arms.

  "Yes, I should want to throw every one of those dreadful dolls out ofthe window, Phronsie Pepper!" declared Alexia recklessly.

  "But they are my children," said Phronsie very soberly, trying to getall the others waiting for their hair to be fixed, into her arms too,"and dear Grandpapa gave them to me, and I love them, every single one."

  "Well, now, you see, Phronsie," said Alexia, getting down on the floorin front of the doll's bureau, by Phronsie's side, "you could come outwith me on the piazza and walk around a bit if it were not for thesedreadfully tiresome dolls; and Polly is at school, and you are throughwith your lessons in Mr. King's room. Now how nice that would be, ohdear me!" Alexia gave a restful stretch to her long figure. "My!" at atwinge of pain.

  "Does your arm hurt you, Alexia?" asked Phronsie, looking over her dollsup to Alexia's face.

  "Um--maybe," said Alexia, nursing her arm hanging in the sling; "it's abad, horrid old thing, and I'd like to thump it."

  "Oh, don't, Alexia," begged Phronsie, "that will make it worse. Pleasedon't, Alexia, do anything to it." Then she got up, and went over withher armful of dolls to the sofa, and laid them down carefully in a row."I'll fix your hair to-morrow, children," she said; "now I'm going awayfor a little bit of a minute," and came back. "Let's go down to thepiazza," she said, holding out her hand.

  "You blessed child, you!" exclaimed Alexia, seizing her with the wellhand, "did you suppose I'd be such a selfish old pig as to drag you offfrom those children of yours?"

  "You are not a selfish old pig, Alexia, and I like you very much," saidPhronsie gravely, trying not to hit the arm in the sling, while Alexiaflew up to her feet and whirled around the room with her. "And, oh, I'mso afraid you'll make it sick," she panted. "Do stop."

  "I just can't, Phronsie," said Alexia; "I shall die if I don't dosomething! Oh, this horrid old arm!" and she came to a suddenstandstill, Phronsie struggling away to a safe distance.

  "Papa Fisher would not like it, Alexia," she said in great disapproval,her hair blown about her face, and her cheeks quite pink.

  "Oh dear me!" Alexia, resting the sling in the other palm, and tryingnot to scream with the pain, burst out, "It's so tiresome to be alwaysthinking that some one won't like things one does. Phronsie, there's nouse in my trying to be good, because, you see, I never could be. I justlove to do bad things."

  "Oh no, Alexia," said Phronsie greatly shocked, "you don't love to dobad things. Please say you don't;" and before Alexia could say anotherword, the tears poured down the round cheeks, wetting Phronsie'spinafore. And although she clasped her hands and tried to stop them, itwas no use.

  "There now, you see," cried Alexia, quite gone in remorse. "Oh, whatshall I do? I must go and get Mrs. Fisher," and she rushed out of theroom.

  Phronsie ran unsteadily after her, to call, "Oh Alexia!" in suchdistress that the flying feet turned, and up she came again.

  "What is it, Pet?" she cried. "Oh dear me! What shall I do? I must tellyour mother."

  "I will stop," said Phronsie, struggling hard with her tears, "if youonly won't tell Mamsie," and she wiped her cheeks hard with herpinafore. "There, see, Alexia," and tried to smile.

  "Well, now, come back." Alexia seized her hand, and dragged her up thestairs. "Now I'm just going to stay up here with you, if you'll let me,Phronsie, and try not to do bad things. I do so want to be good likePolly. You can't think how I want to," she cried in a gust, as she threwherself down on the floor again.

  "Oh Alexia, you never could be good like Polly," said Phronsie, standingquite still in astonishment.

  "Of course not," said Alexia with a little laugh, "but I mean--oh, youknow what I mean, Phronsie. I want to be good so that Polly will say shelikes it. Well, come on now, get your horrible old--I mean, your dolls,and--"

  "I wish very much you wouldn't call them dolls, Alexia," said Phronsie,not offering to sit down; "they are my children, and I don't think theylike to be called anything else."

  "Well, they sha'n't hear it, then," declared Alexia decidedly, "so getsome of them, and brush their hair, just as you were doing when I camein, and I'm going to read aloud to you out of one of your books,Phronsie."

  "Oh--oh!" Phronsie clapped her hands in glee. Next to Polly's stories,which of course she couldn't have now as Polly was at school, Phronsiedearly loved to be read to. But she suddenly grew very sober again.

  "Are you sure you will like it, Alexia?" she asked, coming up to peerinto Alexia's face.

  "Yes, yes, Pet, to be sure I will," cried Alexia, seizing her to halfsmother her with kisses. "Why, Phronsie, it will make me very happyindeed."

  "Well, if it will really make you happy, Alexia," said Phronsie,smoothing down her pinafore in great satisfaction, "I will get mychildren." And she ran over to the sofa, and came back with an armful.

  "Now what book?" asked Alexia, forgetting whether her arm ached or not,and flying to her feet. "I'm going down to your bookshelf to get it."

  "Oh Alexia," cried Phronsie in great excitement, "will you--could youget 'The Little Yellow Duck'?"

  As this was the book Phronsie invariably chose when asked what shewanted read, Alexia laughed and spun off, perfectly astonished to findthat the world was not all as blue as an indigo bag. And when she cameback two steps at a time up the stairs, Phronsie was smiling away, andhumming softly to herself, while the hair-brushing was going on.

  "She had a blue ribbon on yesterday--Almira did," said Phronsie,reflecting. "Now, wouldn't you put on a pink one to-day, Alexia?"

  "I surely should," decided Alexia--"that pretty pale pink one that Pollygave you last, Phronsie."

  "I am so very glad you said that one," said Phronsie, running over onhappy feet for her ribbon-basket, "because I do love that ribbon verymuch, Alexia."

  "Well, now then," said Alexia, as Phronsie began to tie up the pink bowlaboriously, "we must hurry and begin, or we never shall see whathappened to this 'Little Yellow Duck.'"

  "Oh, do hurry, Alexia," begged Phronsie, as if she hadn't heard thestory on an average of half a dozen times a week. So Alexia proppedherself up against the wall, and began, and presently it was so stillthat all any one could hear was the turning of the leaves and theticking of the little French clock on the mantel.

  "Well, dear me, how funny!" and Polly rushed in; then burst into a merrylaugh.

  "Polly Pepper--you home!" Alexia tossed "The Little Yellow Duck" halfacross the room, flew to her feet again, and spun Polly round and roundwith her well hand.

  "Yes," said Polly, "I am, and I've been searching for you two all overthis house."

  "Take me, Polly, do." Phronsie laid down Almira carefully on the carpet,and hurried over to Polly.

  "I guess I will. Now then, all together!" and the three spun off untilout of breath.

  "Oh dear me!" Polly stopped suddenly. "I never thought of your arm,Alexia. Oh, do you suppose we've hurt it?" It was so very dreadful tothink of, that all the colo
r deserted her cheek.

  "Nonsense, no!" declared Alexia, "that spin put new life into me,Polly."

  "Well, I don't know," said Polly critically; "at any rate, we mustn't doit any more. And we must tell Papa-Doctor about it as soon as he getshome."

  "Oh, what good is it to worry him?" cried Alexia carelessly. "Well,Polly, tell all the news about school," as they hurried downstairs toget ready for luncheon.

  "We must tell Papa-Doctor everything about it, Alexia," said Polly inher most decided fashion, putting her arm carefully around Alexia'swaist; and with Phronsie hanging to the other hand, down they went,Polly retailing the last bit of school news fresh that day.

  "And, oh, Alexia, Miss Salisbury said we are not to have the picnicuntil you get quite well; she said so in the big schoolroom, before usall."

  "Did she, Polly?" cried Alexia, immensely gratified.

  "Yes, she did." Polly stood on her tiptoes at the imminent danger ofgoing on her nose, and pulling the other's down, to get a kiss on thelong sallow cheek. "She said it very distinctly, Alexia, and all thegirls talked about it afterward."

  "Well, she's a dear old thing," exclaimed Alexia, with remorseful littlepangs at the memory of certain episodes at the 'Salisbury School,' "andI shall try--oh, Polly, I'll try so hard to be nice and please her."

  Polly gave her two or three little pats on her back.

  "And don't you think," cried Polly, flying off to brush her hair, andcalling back through the open door, "that the boys are going to havetheir club meet with ours. Just think of that!"

  "Oh Polly!" Alexia came flying in, brush in hand. "You _don't_ reallymean it!"

  "I do. Jasper just told me so. Well, hurry, Alexia, else we'll be late,"warned Polly, brushing away vigorously. "Yes, Phronsie,"--for Phronsiehad gone off for Jane to put on a clean apron,--"we're ready now--thatis, almost."

  "When--when?" Polly could hear Alexia frantically asking, as she rushedback into her room, which was next to Polly's own.

  "Oh, just as soon as you are able," called Polly. "Now don't ask anymore questions, Alexia," she begged merrily. "Yes, Mamsie, we'recoming!"

  * * * * *

  That afternoon, Percy and Joel were rushing back to school from anerrand down to the village, and hurrying along with an awful feelingthat the half-past-five bell in the big tower on the playground wouldstrike in a minute.

  "Hold on," called Percy, considerably in the rear; "how you get over theground, Joe!"

  "And you're such a snail," observed Joel pleasantly. Nevertheless hepaused.

  "What's that?" pricking up his ears.

  "I don't hear anything." Percy came up panting.

  "Of course not, when you're puffing like a grampus."

  "What's a grampus?" asked Percy irritably.

  "I don't know," said Joel honestly.

  "Well, I wouldn't say words I didn't know what they meant," said Percyin a patronizing tone, and trying not to realize that he was very hot.

  "Well, do keep still, will you!" roared Joel. "There, there it isagain." He stooped down, and peered within a hedge. "Something's cryingin here."

  "You'll get your eyes scratched out, most likely, by an old, cross cat,"suggested Percy.

  Joel, who cared very little for that or any warning, was now on hisknees. "Oh whickets!" he exclaimed, dragging out a small yellow dog,who, instead of struggling, wormed himself all up against his rescuer,whining pitifully.

  "He's hurt," declared Joel, tossing back his stubby locks, and pattingthe dog, who stopped whining, and licked him all over, as much of hisface and hands as he could reach.

  "Oh, that dirty thing--faugh! How can you, Joel Pepper!" cried Percy indistress.

  But Joel didn't even hear him, being occupied in setting the dog on theground to try his paces.

  "No, he's not hurt, after all, I guess," he decided, "but look at hisribs,--he's half starved."

  "I don't want to look at them," said Percy, turning his back, "and youought to let him alone; that bell will ring in half a second, JoelPepper!"

  "True enough!" cried Joel. "Come on, Perky," this being the school nameof the older Whitney, and he picked up the dog, and shot off.

  "What are you going to do with that dog?" yelled Percy after him. But aswell talk to the wind, as Joel arrived hot and breathless at the bigdoor long before him.

  Luckily for him, none of the boys were about; and Joel, cramming the dogwell under his jacket, plunged up the stairs, and down the hall to hisroom.

  "Joe!" roared two or three voices; but he turned a deaf ear, and got insafely; slammed to the door, and then drew a long breath.

  "_Whew!_ Almost caught that time," was all he had the wind to say."Well, now, it's good Dave isn't in, 'cause I can tell him slowly, andget him used to it." All this time he was drawing out his dog from itsplace of refuge, and putting it first on the bed, then on the floor, tostudy it better.

  It certainly was as far removed from being even a good-looking dog aspossible. Having never in its life had the good fortune to hear itspedigree spoken of, it was simply an ill-favored cur that looked as ifit had exchanged the back yard of a tenement house for the greaterdangers of the open street. Its yellow neck was marked where a cruelcord had almost worn into the flesh, and every one of its ribs stuck outas Joel had said, till they insisted on being counted by a strictobserver.

  Joel threw his arms around the beast. "Oh dear!" he groaned, "you'restarved to death. What have I got to give you?" He wrinkled his foreheadin great distress. "Oh goody!" He snatched the dog up, and bore him tothe closet, then pulled down a box from the shelf above. "Mamsie'scake--how prime!" And not stopping to cut a piece, he broke off a goodlywedge. "Now then, get in with you," and he thrust him deep into onecorner, cramming the cake up to his nose. "Stay there on my side, anddon't get over on Dave's shoes. _Whee!_"

  The dog, in seizing the cake, had taken Joel's thumb as well.

  "Let go there," cried Joel; "well, you can't swallow my thumb," as thecake disappeared in one lump; and he gave a sigh for the plums withwhich Mamsie always liberally supplied the school cakes, nowdisappearing so fast, as much as for the nip he had received.

  The dog turned his black, beady eyes sharply for more cake. When he sawthat it wasn't coming, he licked Joel's thumb; and in his crampedquarters on top of a heap of shoes and various other things not exactlyclassified, he tried hard to wag his stump of a tail.

  "Whickets! there goes that bell! Now see here, don't you dare to stirfor your life! You've got to stay in this closet till to-morrow--thenI'll see what to do for you. Lie down, I tell you."

  There was a small scuffle; and then the dog, realizing here was amaster, curled himself on top of some tennis shoes, and looked as if heheld his breath.

  "All right," said Joel, with an approving pat. "Now don't you yip, evenif Dave opens this door." Then he shut it carefully, and rushed off downto the long dining-room to the crowd of boys.

  Joel ate his supper as rapidly as possible, lost to the chatter going onaround him. He imagined, in his feverishness, that he heard faint "yaps"every now and then; and he almost expected to see everybody lay downknife and fork.

  "What's the matter with you?" He was aroused by seeing the boy next tohim lean forward to peer into his face. And in a minute he was consciousthat on the other side he was just as much of an object of attention. Heburied his face in his glass of milk; but when he took it out, they werestaring still the same.

  "Ugh! stop your looking at me," growled Joel.

  "What's the matter with you, anyway?" asked the other boy.

  "Get away--nothing," said Joel crossly, and bestowing as much of a kickas he dared on the other boy's shin.

  "Ow! There is too."

  "You're awfully funny," said the first boy, "you haven't spoken a wordsince you sat down."

  "Well, I ain't going to talk, if I don't want to," declared Joel. "Dostop, Fletcher; everybody's looking."

  But Fletcher wouldn't stop, and Joel had the satisfaction of
seeing thewhole table, with the under-teacher, Mr. Harrow, at the head, makinghim, between their mouthfuls, the centre of observation. The onlyalleviation of this misery was that Percy was at another table, and withhis back to him.

  David looked across in a worried way. "Are you sick, Joe?" he asked.

  "No." Joel laughed, and began to eat busily. When he saw that, Davidgave a sigh of relief.

  Mr. Harrow was telling something just then that seemed of more thancommon interest, and the boys, hearing Joel laugh once more, turned offto listen. "Yes," said the under-teacher, "it was a dog that was--"

  "Ugh!" cried Joel. "Oh, beg pardon," and his face grew dreadfully red,as he tried to get as small as possible on his chair.

  "It's a dog I used to own, Joel," said Mr. Harrow, smiling at him. "AndI taught him tricks, several quite remarkable ones."

  "Yes, sir," mumbled Joel, taking a big bite of his biscuit; and for thenext quarter of an hour he was safe, as the funny stories lasted tillback went the chairs, and the evening meal was over.

  To say that Joel's life was an easy one till bedtime, would be very farfrom the truth. Strange to say, David did not go to the closet once. Tobe sure, there was a narrow escape that made Joel's heart leap to hismouth.

  "Let's have Mamsie's cake, Joe, to-night," said David in an aside tohim. The room was full of boys; it was just before study hour, and howto tell David of the dog, was racking Joe's powers of mind.

  "Ugh!--no, not to-night, Dave." He was so very decided that althoughDavid was puzzled at his manner, he gave it up without a question. Andthen came study hour when all the boys must be down in "Long Hall," andJoel lingered behind the others. "I'll be down in a minute." He flewover to the closet, broke off another generous wedge of Mamsie's cake,stifling a second sigh as he thought of the plums. "You haven't eaten myhalf yet," he said as the dog swallowed it whole without winking. "Keepstill now." He slammed to the door again, and was off, his books underhis arm.

  And after the two boys went up to bed, David was too tired and sleepy totalk, and hopped into his bed so quickly that long before Joel wasundressed he was off to dreamland.

  "That's good,--now I haven't got to tell him till morning." Joel wentover to the other bed in the corner, and listened to the regularbreathing, then tiptoed softly off to the closet, first putting out thelight. "I know what I'm going to do." He got down on all-fours, and puthis hand out softly over the pile of shoes, till he felt the dog's mangyback. "I'm going to take you in my bed; you'll smother in here. Now,sir!" The dog was ready enough to be quiet, only occupied in lickingJoel's hands. So Joel jumped into his bed, carrying his charge, andhuddled down under the clothes.

  After being quite sure that he was really to remain in this paradise,the dog began to turn around and around to find exactly the bestposition in which to settle down for the night. This took him so long,interrupted as the process was with so many lickings of Joel's brownface, that it looked as if neither would get very much sleep thatnight; Joel, not averse to this lengthy operation, hugging his dog andpatting him, to his complete demoralization just as he was about toquiet down.

  At last even Joel was tired, and his eyes drooped. "Now go tosleep"--with a final pat--"I'm going to call you Sinbad." Joel, havingalways been mightily taken with Sinbad the Sailor, felt that no othername could be quite good enough for his new treasure. And Sinbad,realizing that a call to repose had actually been given, curled up, inas round a ball as he could, under Joel's chin, and both were soon soundasleep.

  It was near the middle of the night. Joel had been dreaming of his oldmenagerie and circus he had once in the little brown house, in whichthere were not only trained dogs who could do the most wonderfulthings,--strange to say, now they were all of them yellow, and hadstumpy tails,--but animals and reptiles of the most delightful variety,never seen in any other show on earth; when a noise, that at oncesuggested a boy screaming "_Ow!_" struck upon his ear, and brought himbolt upright in his bed. He pawed wildly around, but Sinbad was nowhereto be found.