Pearl and Periwinkle | Page 5

quarrel began. My father had a
very fine pig, a Poland China, very fat--I remember. One night it
strayed into neighbor Grey's cabbage patch, and being a pig, did much
damage. Mr. Grey came to father who promised to keep Glenny--the
pig--at home. That same night it got out again and Mr. Grey who was
rather hot tempered sicked his dog on it. The big fellow killed our
finest pig. Father went to law about it, but died before it came to court,
and the lawsuit was dropped. But the quarrel kept on just the same. The
Greys clung together and so did the Maises. Every one else in the
village sided with one or the other. I thought I'd better tell you this
before you started to school. The Maises and Greys pass each other
without speaking now."
"Why, I think that's silly," said Peri energetically "and Mr. Grey don't
look like a fellow to get sore over a pig."
"He did his best to avoid getting mixed up in the trouble," admitted
Miss Maise, "but it was his father's dog that killed the pig, and he just
couldn't help himself perhaps. Everyone got mixed up in it somehow,
and I don't believe any power under the sun can make the Maises and
the Greys friends again. But if you think I've forgotten how disobedient
you've been, you are much mistaken!"
"It's a shame, Periwinkle, to tie a big boy like you to a chair, but I see I
can't trust you." With these words she drew a ball of twine from her
pocket and to his great shame began securing him. Then she fastened

little Pearl in a like manner.
"I'll bring you bread and milk for your dinner," she said, "and perhaps
you won't be so anxious to run away the next time."
"But just the same," said Pearl when her aunt had left, as if she at least
had found much consolation in the thought, "we went to a good place."
Her brother however did not reply; he was thinking of a Poland China
pig in a cabbage patch and comparing its loss with that of Mr. Grey's
priceless friendship.
CHAPTER III
AT THE SHRINE OF JOE SMITH
The occasion of the first meeting with the minister was a memorable
one for Pearl and Periwinkle. "As good as Clown Jerry," was Pearl's
rather startling statement, while Periwinkle assured Aunt Hetty that the
preacher was even more brilliant than the Fat Woman.
It so happened that this meeting took place that very Sunday afternoon
when the two children were doing penance for their morning's escapade.
The minister had called for the special purpose of meeting Miss Hetty's
new charges, very much to that good lady's dismay. She afterward
declared it to be one of the tricks of fate that the minister should have
called at that particular time, especially since her niece still wore that
horrid blue dress of which she so much disapproved. But the minister
did not seem to notice neither the dress nor the fastenings which
confined the children. He seemed rather to be impressed by Pearl's
wonderfully expressive face and the startling sweetness of her voice,
while Periwinkle's precociousness and quaint, grown-up ways attracted
him very much.
"Let the children come to see me soon, Miss Hetty," he urged, "and I
may be able to give them some instruction along the lines in which you
say they lack so much. Joe could help them in their lessons too." And
then turning to Pearl and Periwinkle, he asked: "How would you like to

come to the parsonage, and go over your lessons with my son?"
"Would he play with us?" queried Pearl.
With a hearty laugh the minister replied: "I'm almost afraid he would.
He is still a boy even though he is nineteen and goes to college. I am
sure that he still knows how to play. He's the only boy I have--all I
have--and I suppose I've spoiled him."
"When shall I send the children, Rev. Smith?" asked Miss Maise.
"Tomorrow, or the next day," was the prompt reply. "This is
mid-August. We can't begin too soon."
Tuesday afternoon the children wended their way to the parsonage.
Pearl was clad in a starched gingham dress, uncomfortably high about
the neck, and with sleeves of an unaccustomed length. The minister
himself met them at the door and ushered them into a room that from
all appearances was meant to be used as a comfortable and cozy living
room--even though there were some evidences of disorder which they
knew their aunt would not have approved of.
"Amuse yourselves for a minute, while I try to find Joe. It is rather
difficult to keep track of him," said the minister as he left them alone.
When a