PREFATORY NOTE.

PREFATORY NOTE.

The author has received from mothers and other persons interested in the Pepper Family, so many requests for the Stories told by Polly Pepper (to which frequent allusion has been made in the Series called the “Five Little Peppers’” Books), that this initial volume of Polly’s earlier stories has been prepared in obedience to these requests.

Wayside, Concord, Mass.March, 1899.

PAGEPolly telling her stories.Frontispiece.“Take me, Polly,” implored Phronsie.12“And—he—saw—the—bear.”22Polly threw her arms around Ben.31“In came the Princess Esmeralda.”35“The circus story,” said Polly, “is about so many best and splendid things that you must keep quite still.”45“Where’s the Circus-man?” asked the great big man.57Ben was mending Mother Pepper’s washboard.63The little tin soldiers.66Grandpapa had taken out all the papers.74Joel laid his head in Polly’s lap and burst out crying.82“I want my Mamsie!” cried poor Phronsie.87“What’s the matter down there?” asked Mr. Kangaroo.93The two pulled out the kitchen table.101The mince-pie boy and the beasts.109“O Polly!” she cried, scuttling over to her.112Joel came racing back.119The cunning little duck.122“Dear me, yes,” said Mrs. Pepper.130“Mind the house, now,” she said to the cat.141She crept into Polly’s lap, and put her little hand up on her neck.152The pink and white sticks.157“Take care, Joe,” she warned.161The old stage-coach.165So Polly smoothed and patted his stubby head in a way that Joel liked.179“You are scaring that poor old man most to death,” said Polly.186Polly began to parade up and down the old kitchen floor.201And the pigs wouldn’t go the way he wanted ’em to.205“I guess I’ll tell you of the Runaway Pumpkin,” said Polly.216“Pumpkin! say, Pumpkin, don’t you hear me?”225Mrs. Whitney heard the noise, and ran in to see what the fun was.243The robbers and their bags.247Ben grasped it tightly under one arm and flew home.255The old gray goose holds a conversation with the black chicken.262“Oh! I am so hungry, Polly.”275“Phronsie Pepper’s new shoes.”282And there was the shoe tumbled right over her nose.292“You said so, Polly Pepper,” cried little Dick with big eyes.298Sally Brown and the old gray goose.305“Polly,” said Mrs. Pepper, “you needn’t tell any story just now.”311“Go right away! my daughter makes all the music I want.”318“Look within!” screamed the old woman.323“Here she is!” cried Van, throwing open the door of Jasper’s den.337Phronsie smoothed down her white apron in satisfaction.344The umbrella runs away with the queer little man.353The boys bringing home the meal and potatoes.368The little snow-house.373Lucy Ann’s garden.391She put her head in her hands, like this.394Little Dick plucked off the big bit of wet brown paper from his eye.407The beautiful man and the lovely lady on the china mug.410“O Polly, a hundred ants!” cried little Dick with an absorbed face.424Brown Betty and the ants.429Phronsie shook her yellow head mournfully.442The birds and the silly little brook.446“’Twas as big as this!”459The Little White Rabbit and Mister Fox.464

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