Baby Pitchers Trials | Page 4

did not fall. Flora caught her by the neck just in time to prevent a terrible blow. When Flora said "Goody," Amy opened the window.
"It is you, is it?" she said. "I thought it was a mouse."
"It is only me," said Flora. "I am going out when the sun has drunk up all the water."
"The sun is a thirsty fellow, my dear."
"He is," sighed Flora. "Dinah is tired of waiting."
"Flora is tired of waiting, I guess."
"Yes, Flora is."
"And what would she like to do while the sun is drinking?"
"Have fun," said Flora, laying the black baby down for a nap, with the shawl drawn up over her head. "Dinah is asleep and I am ready."
"You are a dear little thing for keeping so still while I was studying, and we will have some fun."
"Oo!" said Flora. "I have fifteen minutes to do whatever I please with, and then I must be off. Now, what would you like to do?"
"Play something," said Flora, joyfully.
"Well."
"I should like to get out my china set and play dinner, with real sugar in the sugar bowl, and apple cut up for meat."
"That would be jolly if we only had the time; but we have not."
"Oh!" sighed Flora.
Amy put on hat and coat, and tightened the strap around her books.
"How would you like 'mother' or 'tag?'"
"First rate," said Flora. "I will be the mother, and you may be 'it.'"
"All at once?"
"Yes. But if you catch me, it won't be fair."
"No, indeed," said Amy. "And you musn't start till I get my hand on the post."
"No."
"And if you don't 'bey the rules we must begin over again."
"Yes."
"Ready?"
"Ready."
As Flora started to run, somebody called "Holloa!" So she stopped short and asked, "Who is that?"
It was Charley passing by on his way to school, alone.
"You had better hurry up," he cried. "If you stop there fooling with the Baby Pitcher, you will be late."
"It is early yet," said Amy; but Flora was angry and she stamped her foot and screamed,
"'Taint late, either, Charley Waters; and you are an ugly boy to call me that. My name ain't Baby Pitcher; my name is Flora Lee!"
"Whew!" said Charley. "The Lee spunk is running away with the little pet. Catch it somebody!"
"You must not tease her," said Amy; "she wants to play."
"Don't either," pouted Flora.
"I thought you did."
"She wants coaxing," said Charley.
"Don't either, Charley Waters."
"You will play to oblige sister, won't you?" said Amy, soothingly.
No, Flora would not. Charley had interfered with their plans and ruffled her temper. It was too bad of Charley, but then Charley was not wholly to blame, for the Baby Pitcher's temper was easily ruffled. And now it was really time for Amy to go. The fifteen minutes had melted away.
"I do not like to leave the little sister with such a sour face," she whispered in Flora's ear. "If you will brush away the black looks and be pleasant, you may ask mamma to let you write on my white slate."
"Till you come home?"
"Yes."
Flora with a quick motion brushed away the gloomy clouds and held up her sunny face for a kiss.
"That is a lady," said Amy, approvingly.
"I will be very careful, and I won't break it," said Flora, gratefully; "and Dinah must not touch it."
"Well! If you haven't got an April face I wouldn't say so," declared Charley, at the risk of banishing the smiles.
But Flora did not care. She was thinking of the pretty white slate. She had never held it in her hands but once, and then Amy stood by to watch and to caution her. Now she was to have it all to herself.
"I am off," said Charley. "Will somebody kiss me before I go?"
"Dinah will."
Flora held up the black baby, but Charley made a wry face and said "Pah!" That amused Flora, and she ran after Charley and insisted upon his kissing Dinah, but before she knew it, Charley caught her in his arms and left a kiss on the tip of her nose. He did not mean to leave it there, he was trying to put it on her cheek, but the little nose was right in the way, so it caught the kiss.
"Ho, ho!" laughed Charley. "Let me take it back and put it where it belongs."
So Flora held quite still, and Charley made believe take it back; and he put another one on the cheek. Then he and Amy trudged along to school, leaving Flora and Dinah in a very happy mood.
CHAPTER III.
THE STORY OF POOR ROBIN.
Flora waited until they had turned the corner. When they looked back, she waved her hand, and, before passing out of sight, Charley threw a farewell kiss.
"It was not for you," she said to the black baby, "so you need not look so pleasant about it. It was for me. And now