Five Little Peppers and their Friends | Page 8

comes
tomorrow."
"Best fly at it, then," said Mrs. Fisher, smiling at her. So Polly, with a
parting glance at the figure on the little bed, went downstairs and into
the big drawing-room, wishing that Phronsie was there, as usual, where
she dearly loved to stay, tucked up in a big damask-covered chair, one
of her dolls in her arms, waiting patiently till the practice hour should
be over.
But when Phronsie at last turned over, and said without a bit of warning,
"I want something to eat, I do." with an extremely injured expression,
Mother Fisher was so thankful that she had no time to question her, if,
indeed, she had considered it wise to do so. And Sarah was called, and
laughed with delight at the summons, and ran off to get the tray ready,
Phronsie watching her with hungry eyes in which the dew of sleep still
lingered. But old Mr. King was not so patient.
When he saw, as he soon did, his visits to the side of the little bed being
as frequent as Polly's own, that Phronsie was really awake and sitting
up, he could keep still no longer, but putting his arms around her,
fumed out:
"Oh, that careless Joanna! Poor lamb! There, there! Grandpapa will
take care of his little girl himself, after this."
"I'm hungry," announced Phronsie, looking up into his face. "Indeed I
am, Grandpapa dear, very hungry."

"Oh, to think of it! Yes, Pet"--soothing her. "Where is that Sarah? Can't
some one get this poor child a bit to eat?" he cried irascibly.
"Sarah will hurry just as fast as she can," said Mrs. Fisher, coming up
with a dainty white gown over her arm. "Phronsie must be a good girl
and wait patiently."
Phronsie wriggled her toes under the bedclothes.
"I wish you'd take me, Grandpapa dear," she said, holding up her arms.
"So I will--so I will, Pet!" cried old Mr. King, very much delighted; and
lifting her up to rest her head on his shoulder, he walked up and down
the room. "There, there, dear! Oh, why doesn't that Sarah
hurry!"--when in walked that individual with a big tray, and on it
everything that a hungry child could be supposed to desire. But
Phronsie had no eyes for anything but the glass of milk.
"Oh, Grandpapa," she piped out at sight of it, "Sarah's got me some
milk," and she gave a happy little crow.
"So she has," he laughed as gayly, "Well, now, we'll sit right down here
and have some of these good things," and, Mrs. Fisher drawing up a big
easy chair in front of the table where Sarah deposited the tray, he sat
down, with Phronsie on his knee. "Now, child----"
"Oh, Grandpapa, may I have the milk?" she begged, holding out a
trembling hand.
"Bless you, yes, child." He put the glass into her hand. "Take care,
Phronsie, don't drink so fast."
"Honey will choke herself," cried Sarah, in alarm, holding up warning
black fingers. "Oh, my! she's done drunk it mos' all up a'ready."
"There, there, Phronsie!" Grandpapa took hold of the glass.
"Phronsie," said Mother Fisher, and it was her hand that took the glass
away from the eager lips. "You must eat a roll now, or a little bit of

toast."
"But I want some more milk," said Phronsie, and her lips quivered.
"Not yet, Phronsie." Mother Fisher was cutting up the toast, and now
held up a morsel on the spoon. "See how very nice it is."
"We'll play it is five-o'clock tea," said old Mr. King, at his wit's end to
bring the smiles into her face. Phronsie turned and gave him one look,
then buried her face in his waistcoat and cried as hard as she could.
"There, there!" The old gentleman got up to his feet and began to pace
the floor again, his white hair bent over her face, his hand patting her
back gently. "Don't cry, poor little lamb." And as a sudden thought
struck him, "Just look at your mother, Phronsie; you are making her
sick."
Up popped Phronsie's yellow head, the tears trailing off from the round
cheeks till they fell on the floor. There stood Mother Fisher, quite still.
"I'm sorry, Mamsie," said Phronsie, and she put out a little hand, "I'll
eat the toast." So down old Mr. King sat again, with her on his lap, and
Mother Fisher cut up more toast, and Phronsie opened her mouth
obediently, and after the first mouthful she smiled: "I like it, I do." And
Mother Fisher smiled too, and said, "I knew you would, Phronsie." And
Grandpapa laughed, he was so happy, and Sarah kept crying, "Bress de
Lawd! yer maw knew best." And pretty soon Mrs. Fisher nodded to old
Mr.