'I know why you're mad? Yes, I do, now! You think that Miss Ilsey likes you.

And I've heard her repeatedly call you the bold-facest boy that she knew;

And she'd "like to know where you learnt manners." Oh yes! Kick the table-that's right!

Spill the ink on my dress, and then go round telling Ma that I look like a fright!

'What stories? Pretend you don't know that they're saying I broke off the match

Twixt old Money-grubber and Mary, by saying she called him "Crosspatch !"

When the only allusion I made him about sister Mary was she

Cared more for his cash than his temper, and you know, Jack, you said that to me.

'And it's true!

But it's me and I'm scolded and Pa says if I keep on I might,

By and by set my name in the papers! Who cares? Why, 'twas only last night

I was reading how Pa and the sheriff were selling some lots, and it's plain

If it's awful to be in the papers why Papa would go and complain.

'You think it ain't true about Ilsey? Well I guess I know girls and I say

There's nothing I see about Ilsey to show she likes you anyway!

I know what it means when a girl who has called her cat after one boy

Goes and changes its name to another's. And she's done it-and I wish you joy!'

MISS EDITH MAKES ANOTHER FRIEND.

'O YOU'RE the girl lives on the corner?

want to come quick!

Come in-if you

There's no one but me in the house and the cook-but she's

only a stick.

Don't try the front way but come over the fence-through the window-that's how.

Don't mind the big dog-he won't bite you just see him obey me!-there now!

'What's your name, "Mary Ellen?" How funny, mine's Edith-it's nicer, you see,

But yours does for you, for you're plainer, though maybe you're gooder than me,

For Jack says I'm sometimes a devil, but Jack, of all folks,

needn't talk,

For I don't call the seamstress an angel 'till Ma say's the

thing must "walk."

poor

'Come in! It's quite dark in the parlour, for sister will

keep the blinds down,

For you know her complexion is sallow like yours, but she isn't as brown;

Though Jack says that isn't the reason she likes to sit here with Jim Moore.

Do you think that he meant that she kissed him? Would you-if your lips wasn't sore?

'If you like, you can try our piano. "Taint ours.

left it here

A man

To rent by the month, although Ma says he hasn't been paid for a year.

Sister plays-O, such fine variations !-why, I once heard a gentleman say

That she didn't mind that for the music-in fact it was just in her way!

'Ain't I funny? And yet it's the queerest of all, that whatever I say,

One half of the folks die a laughing, and the rest they all look tother way.

And some say "that child!" Do they ever say that to such people as you?

Though maybe you're naturally silly, and that makes your eyes so askew.

'Now stop-Don't you

dare to be crying! Just as sure as

you live, if you do

I'll call in my big dog to bite you, and I'll make my Papa

And then where'll you be? So play pretty. There's my

doll, and a nice piece of cake,

You don't want it—you think it is poison! Then I'll eat it, dear, just for your sake!"

MASTER JOHNNY'S NEXT-DOor neighbour. 287

MASTER JOHNNY'S NEXT-DOOR

NEIGHBOUR.

'Ir was Spring the first time that I saw her, for her papa and mamma moved in

Next door, just as skating was over, and marbles about to

begin,

For the fence in our back-yard was broken, and I saw as I peeped through the slat,

There were "Johnny Jump-ups" all around her, and I knew it was Spring just by that.

'I never knew whether she saw me-for she didn't say nothing to me,

But "Ma! here's a slat in the fence broke, and the boy that is next door can see."

But the next day I climbed on our wood-shed, as you know, mamma says I've a right,

And she calls out, "Well, peekin is manners!" and I answered her, "Sass is perlite!"

'But I wasn't a bit mad, no, Papa, and to prove it, the very

next day,

When she ran past our fence in the morning I happened to get in her way,

For you know I am "chunkéd" and clumsy, as she says are all boys of my size,

And she nearly upset me, she did, Pa, and laughed till tears came in her eyes.

288 MASTER JOHNNY'S NEXT-DOOR neighbouR.

'And then we were friends from that moment, for I knew that she told Kitty Sage,

And she wasn't a girl that would flatter, "that she thought I was tall for my age."

And I gave her four apples that evening, and took her to ride on my sled,

And-"What am I telling you this for?" Why, Papa, my neighbour is dead!

'You don't hear one-half I am saying-I really do think it's too bad!

Why, you might have seen crape on her door-knob, and noticed to-day I've been sad.

And they've got her a coffin of rosewood, and they say they have dressed her in white,

And I've never once looked through the fence, Pa, since she died-at eleven last night.

'And Ma says it's decent and proper, as I was her neighbour and friend,

That I should go there to the funeral, and she thinks that you ought to attend;

But I am so clumsy and awkward. I know 1 shall be in the

way

And suppose they should speak to me, Papa, I wouldn't know just what to say.

o I think I will get up quite early, I know I sleep late, but I know

I'll be sure to wake up if our Bridget pulls the string that I'll tie to my toe,