Lills Travels in Santa Claus Land | Page 8

fastened.
"Let me out! out! out!" cried Ninny, pounding with both hands.
Flaxie was perfectly delighted. She had not known till then that the door was locked, and if Ninny had been quiet she would probably have kept fumbling away till she opened it. But now she wouldn't so much as touch the key, you may be sure. O, Flaxie Frizzle was a big rogue, as big as she could be, and be so little! There she stood, hopping up and down, and laughing, with the blind kitty hugged close to her bosom.
"Laugh to me, Ninny!"
"What do I want to laugh for? Let me out, you naughty girl!"
"Well, you needn't laugh, but I shall. Now I's goin' to grandma's, and carry my white kitty."
"No, no, you mustn't, you mustn't!"
"You can't help it! I is a goin'!"
"Flaxie! Flax-ee!"
Oh! where was Eva Snow? Would she never come? There was a sliding-door in the wall above the middle shelf, and Ninny climbed up and pushed it back. It opened into the parlor-closet, where the china dishes stood. If she could only crawl through that sliding door she might get out by way of the parlor, if she did break the dishes.
But, oh dear! it wasn't half big enough. She could only put her head in, and part of one shoulder. What should she do?
It was of no use screaming to that witch of a Frizzle; but she did scream. She threatened to "whip her," and "tie her," and "box her ears," and "burn up her dollies."
But Flaxie knew she wouldn't; so she calmly pulled off her boots and put on her rubbers.
Then Ninny coaxed. She promised candy and oranges and even wedding-cake, for she forgot she hadn't a speck of wedding-cake in the world.
But, while she was still screaming, Flaxie was out of sight and hearing. She hadn't found her hat; but, with her new rubbers on her feet, and the blind kitty still hugged to her bosom, she was "going to grandma's." She ran with all her might; for what if somebody should catch her before she got there!
"The faster I hurry the quicker I can't go," said she, puffing for breath.
It was a beautiful day. The wind blew over the grass, and the grass moved in green waves; Flaxie thought it was running away like herself.
It was half a mile to the bridge. By the time she reached Mr. Pratt's store, which was half way, she thought she would stop to rest.
"'Cause he'll give me some candy," said she, and walked right into the store, though it was half full of men,--oh fie! Flaxie Frizzle!
Mr. Jones, a lame man, was sitting next the door, and she walked boldly up to him.
"Mr. Lame Jones, does you want to see my kitty?"
He laughed, and took it in his hands; and another man pinched its tail. Flaxie screamed out:
"You mustn't hold it by the handle, Mr. Man!"
Then they all laughed more than ever, and clapped their hands; and Mr. Jones said:
"You're a cunning baby!"
"Well," replied Flaxie, quickly, "what makes you have turn-about feet?"
This wasn't a proper thing to say, and it made Mr. Jones look sober, for he was sorry to have such feet. Mr. Pratt was afraid Flaxie would talk more about them; so he frowned at her and said:
"Good little girls don't run away bare-headed, Miss Frizzle! Is your mamma at home?"
"Guess I'll go now," said Flaxie; "some more folks will want to see my kitty."
Mr. Pratt's boy ran after her with a stick of candy, but could not catch her. She called now at all the houses along the road, ringing the bells so furiously that people rushed to the doors, afraid something dreadful had happened.
"I fought you'd want to see my kitty," said the runaway, holding up the little blind bundle; and they always laughed then; how could they help it?
But somehow nobody thought of sending her home.
When she reached the bridge she was hungry, and told the "bridge-man" she was "fond of cookies." His wife gave her a caraway-cake shaped like a leaf.
"I'm fond o' that one," said she, with her mouth full. "Please give me two ones."
Just fancy it! Begging food at people's houses! Yet her mamma had tried to teach her good manners, little as you may think it.
"I don't believe she has had any supper. It must be she is running away," said the bridge-man's wife, as Flaxie left her door. "I ought to have stopped her; but somebody will, of course."
But nobody did. People only laughed at her kitty, and then passed on.
Soon the sun set, and the new moon shone white against the blue sky. Flaxie had often seen the moon, but it looked larger and rounder than this. What ailed it now?
"Oh, I know," said she, "God has doubled it up."
She had changed her mind,