LITTLE HELEN.

You can't have any dinner, said the cook.You can't have any dinner, said the cook.

"But you can't have your dinner yet," said the cook; "I'm just making the dumpling; the baker has not come, and there isn't a speck of bread in the house."

"Well, give me a piece of cake then," said Jack.

"Haven't got any cake," said the cook.

"Well, candy then," said Jack.

"Haven't got any candy," said the cook.

"Well, sugar, or sweetmeats, or something; I'm just as hungry as a little bear," said Jack.

"Haven't got 'em, Master Jack," said the cook; "but I tell you what! here is a penny; go to the baker that lives on top of the hill, and buy a loaf of bread for yourself."

"Oh, yes! so I will!" shouted Jack, jumping over a chair and upsetting the knife-board, and all the knives which the cook had just been cleaning; and this provoked her so, that she caught up the broomstick, and ran after him, and fell over the wash-tub herself; so Jack got off safe. Aren't you glad?

Then he called Carlo, the dog, and said—"Look here, Carlo;do you want to go to the baker's with me to buy a loaf of bread?"

"Bow, wow, wow," said Carlo; which meant, "Of course I do. Hurrah!"

Then he called Minnie, the cat, and said—"Look here, Minnie, do you want to go to the baker's with us to buy a loaf of bread?"

Minnie opened her eyes, stiffened her tail, and made herback as round as a hoop, and said, miau! miau! miau! which was cat-talk for "Of course I do. Hurrah!"

So they all started off together in a state of perfect delight. Presently, they came to where Bunny the rabbit lived.

"Bunny, Bunny," called Jack. Out popped little Bunny, flapping his long ears, and winking his red eyes, and gave a funny little squeak; which meant,"How-de-do, Jack, what do you want?"

"Bunny," said Jack, "do you want to go to the baker's with us to buy a loaf of bread?"

"Oh! of course I do," squeaked Bunny. So Jack the boy, and Carlo the dog, and Minnie the cat, and Bunny the rabbit, made quite a party.

Pretty soon they came to Jenny Wren's house, high upin a tree. "Jenny, Jenny," called Jack.

Out she popped from her nest, where she was sitting on top of her children, and jumped on a branch, and wagged her little head, and fluttered her little wings, and cocked up her little tail in the air, to show how glad she was to see her friend Jack.

"Jenny," said Jack, "do you want to go to the baker'swith us to buy a loaf of bread?"

"Chip, chip, chip," said Jenny; which was bird-talk for "Oh! of course I do."

"Well, come along, then," said Jack. Down flew Jenny, and hopped along with the rest. So Jack the boy, and Carlo the dog, and Minnie the cat, and Bunny the rabbit, and Jenny the wren, made a jolly little party, all going to the baker'stogether. I wish I had been there, don't you?

Pretty soon they came to where Ninny the goose lived. "Ninny, Ninny," called Jack; "do you want to go to the baker's with us to buy a loaf of bread?"

"Gabble, gabble, gabble," said Ninny; which was goose-talk for "Oh! of course I do;" and she flapped her wings, and stretched out her long neck,and made more of a goose of herself than ever, and was so glad at getting the invitation, that she created quite a hullabaloo with her gabbling; but for all that, Jack the boy, and Carlo the dog, and Minnie the cat, and Bunny the rabbit, and Jenny the wren, and Ninny the goose, all talking together, made a most enchanting party. They were all nice people; no owls, or tigers, or cross oldcooks with broomsticks, or grisly bears. No, indeed! They were all perfect darlings; and were quite ready to travel to the very top of the North Pole, if there was any fun to be found there.

But the baker lived considerably this side of the North Pole, on the very top of a steep hill; and up they all ran, and hopped, and leaped, and jumped, till they got to the house.

But when they arrived there, they found the front door locked.

So Jack began to knock, and Carlo began to bark, and Minnie began to mew, and Bunny began to squeak, and Jenny began to chip, and Ninny began to gabble; but for all the knocking, and barking, and mewing, and squeaking, and chipping, and gabbling, nobody came to the door; and poorlittle Jack began to think he would never get his loaf of bread after all.

All of a sudden, Jack thought of the back door. Off they hopped, and ran, and leaped, and jumped, to the back of the house.

The hill went down on this side perfectly straight, like the side of a house, and there was scarcely room for themtostand.

Dear me! that door was locked too. So they each began again to knock, and bark, and mew, and squeak, and chirp, and gabble, as hard as ever they could; all crowding round the door in a bunch.

Just as they were making all the noise they could, suddenly—open flew the door! and out jumped atremendousDOG!!! right into the middle of them,growling, and barking, andmaking his great white teeth snap together like a pistol shot!!

Frightened to death, Jack tumbled backwards over Carlo; Carlo tumbled backwards over Minnie; Minnie tumbled backwards over Bunny; Bunny tumbled backwards over Jenny; Jenny tumbled backwards over Ninny; and they all tumbled head over heels down the steep hill, with thetremendousDOGon top of the heap; and that's the last I ever heard of them.

"Oh! aren't you sorry?"

One day last spring when Aunt Fanny was in Charleston, she was walking up Meeting Street. Just before her she saw a pretty little girl, almost as white as snow, carried in the arms of a tall black woman, nearly as black as ink.

Aunt Fanny went softly up behind them, and heard the old nurse say—"You make nurse shame, for carry such a big girl."

"But I so tired," said the little thing. "O my!"

"How much you tired?" said the old black nurse.

"I tired a dollar," said the child.

Then Aunt Fanny laughed, and went up to her, and said—"Getdown my little kitten, and walk with me."

So the nurse put her down, and she took hold of Aunt Fanny's finger, and trotted along, quite pleased.

"What is your name little one?" said Aunt Fanny.

"My name Helen, and I'm mamma's dear little baby. Here's my house; come in my house, do, please?"

So she pulled Aunt Fannyin; and there at the side of the house was a large yard, and in it was such a lot of little children! all playing soldiers together; some were white;—they were Helen's sisters and little brother;—and some were black; they were old nurse's children; and they were having such a nice time; and the last little black boy was ringing the dinner bell. Aunt Fanny was glad enough to see them, butshe could not stay; so she kissed Helen, her little new friend, and went away down the street, and that's the whole of this story—there!

All playing soldiers together.All playing soldiers together.

Once upon a time there was a little old gentleman, very old indeed; his hair was as white as snow, his eyes were dim, and he had no more teeth than a baby. As to his ears, they were no use to him at all, forhe could not hear a single word that was said. You might have fired off twenty cannons close to him, and he would not start half as much as when some one comes behind you, and says—Boo!!!

What a pity! because he was such a kind, little old gentleman. If he saw a little child like you, he would smile, and put his hand in his pocket, and take out a piece of candy, andsay—"Do you love candy?" then the child would say—just what you would say, if anybody should ask you—youknow. Then the little old gentleman would say—"I can't hear you, but I know you love it, so here is a famous piece for you."

One day the little old gentleman thought he would take a walk; so he put his hat on his head, his great coat on his back, his spectacles on his nose, tookhis cane in his right hand, and off he went.

Little Old Gentleman

It was a bright, cold day in spring; the little birds were very busy building their nests,but he could not hear them chirping to each other so sweetly. Indeed, he could hardly see them. Poor little old gentleman!

As he was walking quietly along, he felt something very soft take hold of his hand, and grasp it tight. What do you think it was? He looked down, and there walking by his side, and holding his hand, was a tiny little girl.

She was looking up in his face, with her sweet blue eyes; her little bonnet had fallen back, and the fresh wind was blowing her pretty curls all about.

"My name is Susy," said the little girl; "please take me home; mamma will say—'Where is little Susy?'"

"I can't hear a word you say," answered the little old gentleman.

"Well, then, take me home 'ight away," said Susy; "mammacan hear what I say. Please take me home,grandpa."

The dear little thing called him "Grandpa," because she thought all old gentlemen must be grandfathers.

"I can't hear a word, my poor child; I am deaf. Oh dear! what is it she wants? she must be lost," said the poor little old gentleman.

"Yes, I am lost," said the child; "and mamma wants Susy. She can't do without me. Papa, too. I'm his little mouse. I bring him his slippers when he comes home, and I sing to him about 'Three little kittens, lost their mittens.' Come, grandpa, take Susy home; ah,do;" and she looked up into his face with a sweet, coaxing smile, and clasped his hand tighterwith her soft and pretty fingers.

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!" said the little old gentleman, "if I only could hear! But I can't! I am deaf."

So they walked along quite a distance, through the green lane, where the tender grass looked so dewy and fresh, and the first spring violets were peeping up; but no one came in sight, and the little oldgentleman in his trouble, looked north, south, east and west, for somebody to come that could hear what the little one said.

All at once he thought, I will ask God to help me; and he said aloud, in a voice trembling with age—"Oh, my Heavenly Father! help me to find assistance for this tender little lamb."

When Susy heard him say that, her rosy lip began to tremble,and a great tear came into each of her blue eyes. Poor little darling! she knew something was wrong, but she did not understand why he could not hear her. She could hearhim, and she did not know what it meant, to be deaf.

But now, as if in answer to the prayer, a carriage was seen approaching; and the little old gentleman said—"Don't cry, my little one; here, eat thiscandy, and don't cry. I will get you home safely."

As the carriage came near, he saw that there were two ladies inside, and he held up his hand and beckoned them to stop. One of them was a kind-looking lady, with soft gray hair; and he said to her—

"Madam, I am deaf. I cannot hear a single word. I was taking a walk, when this little child came up and put her handinto mine. I think she is lost; but I cannot hear what she says. Will you take her with you, and restore her to her home?"

"Certainly, I will, poor little darling," said the kind lady; and the door was opened, and Susy tenderly lifted in, and placed on the lady's lap.

The little old gentleman kissed Susy, and thanked the ladies; then taking off his hat, he madethem a low bow, and then they drove away.

"Can you tell me where you live?" said the lady.

"Oh, yes; I live with mamma and papa," said Susy, "and my kitty, and my doll; we all live together."

The lady smiled, and said—"Well, dear, we'll try to find them." So they rode on a little way, and soon came where the houses were nearer eachother. Susy looked out of the carriage window, and did not cry any more; because she thought she would very soon see her dear mamma.

Suddenly she screamed—"Mamma! mamma! here is Susy." Sure enough! there was a lady hurrying along; looking in every direction. As soon as she heard Susy, her face lost its troubled expression, and she ran to the carriage door,and opened it, caught her little child, and hugged her to her breast, and said—"Oh, my darling! my darling! Thank God you are safe!" and then she burst into tears—tears of joy and gratitude.

The kind ladies told her how Susy had strayed away into the green lane; and how the little deaf old gentleman had given her to them to take home; and Susy's mother thankedthem again, and again; and carried her precious child home.

What a kissing Susy got that evening from her father! and how glad he was that his little girl was there to bring him his slippers! They did not get angry with her—of course not! Dear me! who ever heard of such a thing? She did notmeanto do wrong; she had just wandered off, singing alittle song, and talking to herself, and picking the pretty butter-cups that grew in the grass; and when she looked up, she could not see her home; she only saw the little old gentleman that she called "Grandpa."

So her papa and mamma talked kindly to her, and kissed her, and made her promise that she would not go so far again—never! never! never! whichlittle Susy was very glad to do, for she had no idea of losing her dear parents. No, indeed.

But after that, she saw the little deaf old gentleman very often; and he grew to love little Susy dearly; and though they did not talk to each other, they smiled; and he always had something in his pocket for her. Guess what it was? Candy? Yes, that was the very thing.

The three friends.The three friends.

Sometimes he would come to her house, riding on a nice old white horse; and Susy would run out and smooth down his nose; the horse's nose I mean; and the old white horse liked it very much; he would not have bitten her little hand for a thousand dollars; and ever after that Susy, and the little old gentleman, and the old white horse, were called—"The Three Friends;"and that's the end of this story; rorum corum torum. How do you like it?

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTESThe following have been identified as typographical errors and have been emended. All other colloquialisms, typographical, spelling or punctuation errors have been left as in the original book.Page 23- added closing quotation mark toNow, shall I tell a _baby story_ instead?["]Page 111- changed "tp" to "to" inThe hill went down on this side perfectly straight, like the side of a house, and there was scarcely room for them [tp] stand.Page 112- changed "caowling" to "growling" inand out jumped atremendousdog!!! right into the middle of them, [caowling], and barking,

The following have been identified as typographical errors and have been emended. All other colloquialisms, typographical, spelling or punctuation errors have been left as in the original book.


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