Baby Pitchers Trials | Page 3

girl."
"And was the queen a lady?"
"The queen was the little girl's mamma."
"Oh, I know!" said Flora, jumping about in high glee, "I am the little princess and you are the queen, and this is the palace."
"Yes," said mamma.
"And papa is the king, and sister is the tall princess."
"Yes, dear."
"And I hope," she added, earnestly, "that the princess will never forget that she knows how to make sunshine."
"The queen hopes so too," said mamma.
CHAPTER II.
FLORA WAITS FOR THE SUN TO DRINK UP THE WATER.
The next morning there was sunshine everywhere; inside of the palace and out. The long storm was over. Flora waited in the porch for the sun to drink up the moisture from the soaked ground, that she might run about and enjoy her freedom. She had been housed so long--three whole days! And now the grass was springing up all around, and the swelling buds were ready to burst forth into leaves. And the birds were singing gaily as if they too were glad to come out and play.
Flora watched them as they hopped from twig to twig, and wished she could borrow their brown wings, for she wanted to fly away over the tops of the houses and sing with them a joyful song. But she could not borrow the brown wings, and she could not turn herself into a bird. So she sat down on the upper step which the sun had dried, and tried to feel satisfied with the nimble feet and curious fingers that God had given to her instead of wings and claws.
The steam was rising from the ground, and the bright drops sparkled on the tender blades of grass. When the last bright drop had disappeared, and there was no longer any steam, she was at liberty to go where she pleased. She felt very comfortable in her thick jacket and leather boots, for it was as yet too early in the season to lay them by, but if she could have had her own way, she would have welcomed the pleasant morning in ankle-ties and a shaker.
"Mamma knows best," she whispered to Dinah, the black baby, with blue buttons for eyes and ravelled-out yarn for hair. "Mamma knows best, and I hope you are 'vinced of it."
The sun had gone away from the step, and Flora was somewhat chilly, so she pinned the shawl tightly about Dinah and walked up and down the porch. "You don't know everything," she said, sharply, "because you ain't old enough. And I ain't. Did you think I was? No. I will tell you who is. Mamma is. She is ever so old, and she knows all there is in the world. When she tells me to put on my warm jacket, I don't cry. But you do, and you ought to be ashamed of it. Will you do it without crying next time? Eh?" She gave the baby a little shake and went on with her lecture. "Naughty children say 'no' when mamma says 'yes.' Good ones don't. Good ones say just as mamma says. And naughty children tell stories. I don't tell stories and good children don't. If you say you don't cry when you do cry, that's a story. And if you say you do cry when you don't cry, that's a story. It is a story both ways, and both ways are wicked. Mamma says so, and she knows. When you are as old as mamma, you will know too. And I will. So don't ask any more questions about it."
Dinah had come out to take the air and be company for Flora. To be sure, Amy, the tall princess spoken of in the last chapter, was sitting at the window that opened on to the porch; but then she was busy. She could not be company for anybody, for she was studying her home lesson. Flora pitied her very much, for she looked very sober and kept repeating to herself words that Flora could not understand. It was a hard lesson, and Amy was determined to conquer it. Flora felt like talking, and there was no one to talk to but Dinah. Dinah was a good listener, but not much of a talker. In fact, she could not speak a word; so if she had any ideas, she did not express them. Flora was tired of having everything her own way. She thought it would be a great deal nicer if Amy would put down that stupid book, and pay some attention to her; but she did not say so aloud. She whispered it to Dinah in a tone that only Dinah could hear. By and by Amy did put down the book, and with it the sober, earnest look.
"Goody!" said Flora, clapping her hands, regardless of Dinah's peril. But Dinah