Phronsie Pepper

“They’re pulling all the hair out of my mamsie’s cushion,” shouted King-Fisher, in a tone of anger; and, struggling with the two delinquents on the floor, he bestowed several sm...

“Oh, what richness!” sighed Polly ecstatically, “as Alexia would say;” and, clasping her parcel closely, she sank into a big chair, and examined her treasure. “O Jasper!” she cr...

“What a pity that Johnny couldn’t come to the candy party,” sighed Phronsie the next day, looking over at the little brown house across the lane, which presented the same serene...

“I’ll do up my hair, and pull down my face--so,” lengthening her round cheeks--“anything, to just get the chance of going,” she cried. “O Uncle Carroll! and I’m sixteen. You’re...

“We’re in an awful hole,” gasped Bella, pulling Grace off to the farthest corner of the dressing-room. “Er--do get away from that maid; you don’t want her sharp eyes all over yo...

Charley Swan stood like a statue, with no eyes for any one but Phronsie. She turned a grave face on him. “I’m afraid she’s badly hurt,” she said. “I think you will have to get D...

It was the first time that Phronsie had said anything to show she wished the mother back; and Polly, who knew so well how all such utterance had been controlled, turned and star...

Joel ran off for a little visit to Grandma Bascom, at which time he unloaded himself of various packages, to find places for them on her cupboard shelves alongside the cracked s...

But Polly didn’t take Miss Fitzwilliam in charge; for Phronsie came to early breakfast the next morning with her little brown bonnet on, that, with the walking-suit, meant a day...

The grand extra concert, the best of the year, given by the Symphony Orchestra, with Mrs. Jasper King as pianist, was over, and only a delightful memory. Every member of the orc...

“I’m going down to see dear Mr. Beebe and dear Mrs. Beebe,” cried Elyot suddenly the next morning; and he threw down the small trowel with which he had been spatting his mud-pie...

When they turned the corner of High Street, which was the former post-road of the old town, and began to descend its somewhat crooked slope, Elyot flew off from his basket, and...

“Well, well, King,” he said, going over to the little desk, and laying his hand on it, “do you know I said just those words you’ve used, once to Mamsie; and I wish I could forge...

The “Scrannage girls,” as their neighbors called them, were seated in high-back chairs in the big hall at “The Oaks;” their gig, in which they had followed as best they could th...

“But I can’t do it--do beg off for me some way. Why, it’s impossible for me to look the girl in the face after what I’ve said. How I could ever have spoken so, I don’t see,” wen...

Phronsie passed slowly up the path to the little brown house door. The last of the party of guests at “The Oaks” had just departed. She turned the key in the lock and went in, p...

“Well, if I’m not glad to get you here!” cried Alexia that same morning, dragging Grace into the front doorway of “The Pumpkin.” “Now you shall make me such a visit! Dear me, wo...

“No, no, child; that is, only sick of myself,” he answered with a short laugh. Phronsie stood quite still in a puzzled way, regarding him closely. “There’s nothing to worry abou...

“So we all want her,” said Grace with set teeth; “but, O King! don’t cry, dear. There, there, I’m sorry for you.” She smoothed his stubby head with a kind hand, wishing she coul...

“Oh, I don’t have anything to do with Phronsie Pepper,” declared Mr. Bayley, in a very bad temper, and sitting down, after carefully adjusting the creases along his trousers leg...

Phronsie thought a moment, and then said to herself, “Yes, I think I better bring her here, and then we will all be together.” So slipping out of her stateroom, she went hurried...

“Oh, you dear!” exclaimed Polly, clasping her closely, and turning a happy face. “Barby, _do_ you know that dear Grandpapa and Aunt Phronsie and Uncle Joel are probably safe on...

“But what shall we do when this great place is empty of Peppers?” Alexia rolled her eyes up to the vaulted ceiling. They were in the music-room waiting for Polly, who had gone u...

“Mrs. Benson,” said Joel, regarding her fixedly, “they used to say of me in the old days, that I was perfectly dreadful when I was sick, to make them stand round, you know, and...

“Oh! now I know that Roslyn is worse,” mourned Polly, not to be comforted; “and they would not tell me.” But Jasper said cheerfully, “Oh, no, Polly! probably Father Fisher has t...

“Now,” said Mr. Tisbett, “see here, young man, ef you’re a-goin’ to ride along with me, you’ve jest got to set still. My senses, that ma of yourn would give me fits ef anythin’...

How they worked--every man, woman, and child on the place--to save it! There was no time for the fire-department down in the village to get there, although the private alarm fro...

Polly and Jasper and the children were home once more, and everything was back in the old ways, with Joel in his parish, and David in his instructor’s chair at the college. And...