Title: The Goody-Naughty Book
Author: Rippey, Sarah Cory
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Goody-Naughty Book" ***


[Transcriber's Note: This book was printed with two stories, back to back.
Reading from the front cover, it is "The Goody Side," where children are
well-behaved and polite. Reading from the back cover forward is "The
Naughty Side," where children behave quite differently. The stories are
presented sequentially in this text. Page numbering is independent in
each story.]

------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE GOODY-NAUGHTY BOOK

THE GOODY SIDE

By
SARAH CORY RIPPEY

With illustrations by
BLANCHE FISHER WRIGHT

RAND McNALLY & COMPANY
CHICAGO--NEW YORK

Copyright, 1913, By Rand McNally & Company
All rights reserved

Edition of 1927

Made in U. S. A.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

THE CONTENTS
                                       PAGE

HONOR BRIGHT, PRESIDENT                   9

ROSE-RED AND RUTHIE                      11

THE TREE GAME                            14

BILLY BOY'S MAGIC KEY                    16

POLLY'S NEW APRIL FOOL                   18

THE THREE B'S                            23

TEDDY'S HELPERS                          26

THE RED-LETTER DAY                       30

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[Illustration: Honor Bright faithfully fed all his pets]

HONOR BRIGHT, PRESIDENT


When Honor Bright went to live in the country the very first thing he
asked for was some real live geese, to join the chickens, and the pussy,
and the rabbits already on the farm.

"Will you remember to feed them every day, son, if I get you a pair?"
asked his father.

"Yes, papa," said the little boy. "Honor bright!"

When he promised "Honor bright," he always kept his word. And he said
"Honor bright" so many times a day that finally Honor Bright became his
name.

"Quack, quack!" cried Mr. and Mrs. Goose the day Honor Bright's father
brought them home. "What a fine place!"

"Isn't it!" said Mother Hen.

"And just wait till you know Honor Bright!"

"Just wait!" echoed the Rabbit Gray family, and Mr. T. Cat.

Honor Bright was as good as his word, and the geese grew fatter, and
fatter, and fatter.

"Good morning, Mr. T. Cat," cried Mr. and Mrs. Goose early one morning.
"Had your breakfast?"

"Of course," answered Mr. T. Cat; "Honor Bright always feeds me the very
first thing."

"You must be mistaken!" cried Mr. and Mrs, Goose. "Honor Bright always
feeds us first."

"But Honor Bright gives my children their breakfast _very_ early!"
cackled Mother Hen.

"Well," squeaked Father Rabbit Gray, "we've all _had_ breakfast; and
that's the main thing. Now, let's make Honor Bright president, because
he's so good. That's the way people do, you know."

Just then Honor Bright came out. "Hail, President Honor Bright!" they
all cried.

Honor Bright thought they said, "I love you." And really, it meant the
same thing.



[Illustration: Every day Rose-Red cut fresh flowers and arranged them
for the house]

ROSE-RED AND RUTHIE


It was Rose Mary's mother who named her Rose-Red. Rose-Ready, it was at
first, because Rose Mary was always ready to help. Then it became just
Rose-Red, for short.

Rose-Red had much of the sweetness of her name flower, and few of the
thorns. That is why, when Ruthie slapped her, Rose-Red didn't slap back.
But she came home crying.

Rose-Red's mamma gathered her up in her arms and comforted her.
"Ruthie's probably sorry now, dear," she said. "Perhaps she will tell
you so by and by. Will my little girl be Rose-Ready, if she does?"

"Rose-Ready for what, mamma?" Rose-Red sat up and dried her eyes.

"Rose-Ready-to-Forgive."

Rose-Red nodded. "I think I'll gather the posies now," was all she said.

Every day Rose-Red cut fresh flowers in the garden and arranged them for
the house. It was the one thing in all the world she liked best to do.
The roses she always left till the last--"for dessert," she explained.

[Illustration: Rose-Red's mamma gathered her up in her arms and
comforted her]

"Roses, dear," she said, as she tucked them one by one into their
special bowl, "what would you do if your best friend slapped you?"

Just then a thorn pricked Rose-Red's finger. "You'd prick her, would
you?" Rose-Red laughed. "That's because you are only a rose and don't
know any better. It wouldn't be nice for a little girl to prick. I _do_
know something better!"

Rose-Red chose six of the finest roses and carefully clipped off all
their thorns. Then she ran to the gate between her yard and Ruthie's,
and slipped them into a covered box beside it. This box was Rose-Red's
and Ruthie's post office. Nearly every day something went into it from
one little girl to the other.

Four o'clock was mail time. Postman Rose-Red hid behind a bush and
watched.

Presently Postman Ruthie came down the path. She opened the box and took
out the fragrant "letter." Then she laid something inside, drew down the
cover, and ran back.

It was Postman Rose-Red's turn now to open the box. Her letter was a
_real_ one. It said, "I'm sorry."

Rose-Ready-to-Forgive flew through the gate.

"Ruthie! Ruthie!" she called.

And then Rose-Red kissed Ruthie, and Ruthie kissed Rose-Red. And that
was the last of Ruthie-Ready-to-Slap.



THE TREE GAME


When Margaret and Benjy were getting over the measles their mamma
invented a new game to amuse them.

"You might play you are trees," she suggested.

"I'm a pine tree!" cried Margaret.

"So'm I," agreed Benjy.

"Pine trees sing, you know, Benjy," Margaret went on, "so we must sing,
too." And the two struck up a lively tune.

Too-dle-dee, too-dle-dee, doo-o-o! It was not the pine trees, however,
that sang it.

"Oh, an organ man!" "Oh, a monkey!" And both little pine trees raced to
the window.

The organ man smiled. "Dance, Tessa, dance!" he cried to his little
girl, grinding away with all his might.

And then how Tessa's little brown legs did flash back and forth, and in
and out! And what funny tricks the wee monkey did!

[Illustration: How Tessa's little brown legs did flash back and forth]

When the music stopped Jocko scrambled up to the window and politely
presented a cup to the trees. "Pennies, please," the funny, wizzened
little face seemed to beg.

The pine trees brought their banks and shook the pennies out, one by
one, into the cup. Then the biggest pine tree thought of something.
"Wait a minute," she cried, and disappeared. When she came back she
carried two plump bananas.

"Here," she said, handing them out through the window.

Tessa smiled her thanks politely, but Jocko just fell to munching
greedily.

The pine trees hung out of the window and watched Tessa and her father
and Jocko as they went off down the street. Finally the biggest pine
tree turned to the littlest pine tree.

"I'm not a pine tree any longer, Benjy," she announced. "I'd rather be
the kind that _gives_ something. I'm a banana tree now."

"So'm I," echoed Benjy.



BILLY BOY'S MAGIC KEY


Billy Boy had a magic key. He carried it in his face. There was a secret
about this key--it always opened doors into pleasant things. His mamma
had taught him that.

Billy Boy was playing in the yard one day when his mamma came to the
door. "Billy Boy, Billy Boy!" she called. "I want you to do some errands
for me!"

When Billy Boy hurried up to the steps his mamma handed him two baskets.

"One is to carry the groceries I've ordered, Billy Boy," she said; "and
there's a cake for Mrs. Thomas in the other. You can leave it on the way
to the store."

Billy Boy's face clouded. "I--I'd rather not go there, mamma," he said.
"Mrs. Thomas is so cross. That's what the boys say."

"That's because they tease her cat, Billy Boy. Remember about the key,
and you'll be all right."

[Illustration: Chief Hughie thought it would be fun to shoot at
something that moved]

[Illustration: She plunged her hand deep down in her pocket and drew
out a bright new nickel]

Billy Boy picked up his baskets and marched off. Pretty soon, thump,
thump, thump! went Mrs. Thomas's brass knocker.

The door flew open. "No," said Mrs. Thomas's loud voice, "I don't
want--" Then she stopped. Billy Boy was using his magic key.

"I'm Mrs. Sheldon's little boy," explained Billy Boy, pulling off his
cap. "Mamma sent you a cake."

Mrs. Thomas just could not resist that key. "Thank you, child," she
said, smiling, and lifting out the cake. "Wait a minute," as Billy
started down the steps.

She plunged her hand deep down in her pocket and drew out a bright new
nickel. "Here," she said, "buy some candy."

The nickel was clutched tightly in Billy Boy's hand when he reached
home. "Look what she gave me!" he cried. "And she wasn't a bit cross. It
must have been 'count of the key."

And the magic key? Why, it was Billy Boy's own sunny smile, to be sure.



POLLY'S NEW APRIL FOOL


"You're losing your hair ribbon, Polly," remarked the twins as their
sister sat down to breakfast one first of April morning.

Polly hastily felt of her head.

"April fool! April fool! April fool!" shrieked the twins joyously,
pounding on the table.

Polly glared at them. It was raining, and Polly, who hated rain, never
could take a joke on a rainy day.

"You're a pair of very rude boys," she said. "Nobody but horrid, rough
boys like you would ever think April Fool's any fun!" And she sulked
through her breakfast without another word.

But Helen was different. Helen liked rain. Moreover, she didn't in the
least mind being fooled, and she laughed just as hard as anybody when
she put salt on her mush instead of sugar.

[Illustration: She fell to work with a will, rolling and folding]

When she went upstairs to put their room in order, however, the room
she and Polly shared, the steady drip, drip, drip of the rain made her
remember Polly's unhappiness, and it troubled her.

A robin, singing his rain song in the tree outside, cocked his head
saucily as Helen went to the window.

"Help her-r-r! Cheer her-r-r! Help her-r-r! Cheer her-r-r!" sang Mr.
Redbreast over and over again as he swung on the dripping branches.

"That's a good idea, Mr. Redbreast," Helen answered. "I'm sure she needs
it. But how shall I do it?"

Mr. Redbreast winked wisely. "You'll find a way--a way--a way!" he
trilled.

Helen spanked a pillow and stood it in its place on the bed. "Thank you,
Mr. Redbreast," she answered politely. "I'll try."

Mr. Redbreast gave his tail a pleased little shake and flew away,
leaving Helen to spank the other pillow and to wonder what she could do
to "help her-r-r, cheer her-r-r."

A blue ribbon was hanging out of the top bureau drawer. "The very
thing!" cried Helen. "I'll straighten out her drawer. It's always in a
muss!" And she fell to work with a will, rolling, and folding, and
arranging things in neat little piles.

The baby stood watching her. "There! What do you suppose she'll think of
that, Buddy?" she asked, as she gave the last pile a happy pat. Then a
new idea popped into her head. She flew downstairs, took a sheet of
writing paper out of the desk, and printed something on it in big black
letters. Then, running back to her room, she laid the paper on the rows
of nice neat piles and carefully closed the drawer.

"I hope she won't mind," she said with a twinkling little smile as she
pulled Buddy up on her lap for a story.

The story was only half finished when Polly burst in. "What do you
think, Helen!" she cried, tossing her hat and coat in an untidy heap on
the bed. "I'm invited to a party! What shall I wear?"

[Illustration: "Help her-r-r! Cheer her-r-r!" sang Mr. Redbreast]

She ran to the bureau and pulled open the top drawer with a jerk. Within
lay Helen's paper. Polly picked it up. "April fool!" she read aloud. She
looked into the drawer, then at Helen, her face brightening into a
sudden smile with her surprise.

"Helen, you're a dear!" she cried. "And I'm just a silly, cross old
bear! This is just the loveliest April fool that ever was. I didn't
suppose folks could play _nice_ April fool jokes."

Just then the sun came out from behind a cloud and peeped through the
window. Helen pointed to it. "Another nice April fool for you, Polly."

But Polly wasn't listening. She stood quietly thinking for a moment,
then she picked up her hat, shook out her coat, and started toward the
closet.

"April fool!" she said with a laugh, as she hung them inside. "That's
another joke on you, Miss Polly Untidy Crosspatch. A few more April
fools might turn you into neat Miss Polly Polite. It's about time you
turned over a new leaf."

"I think I hear it rustling," said Helen, listening.

"Hear-r-r! Hear-r-r! Hear-r-r!" chirped Mr. Redbreast joyously from the
tree.



[Illustration: He started for the house with an armful of wood]

THE THREE B's


The Three B's Club had only one rule--each member was to try every day
to be all three of the B's.

Usually it was quite easy to be one B. Often it was not so very
difficult to be two B's. But to be three B's was many times very, very
hard indeed.

The Saturday Ned Brown's father gave him the new catching glove was one
of those times. Ned wanted to go out and try the glove. Just as he was
starting, however, Mrs. Brown called him.

"Ned," she said, "the wood box is empty!"

Ned knew what that meant, but he remembered B Number Two in time to keep
from frowning.

"All right," he called back cheerily, and went out, whistling, to the
barn.

Thwack! went the ax into the wood. Ned was strong, and every blow told.
His mother, hearing the chopping, smiled to herself. She knew about the
B's.

"Whew!" said Ned presently, stopping for breath. "This is being B Number
One, all right. Two B's in one morning aren't so bad!"

"Hi, Ned!" came over the fence as he started for the house with an
armful of wood. "Why don't you come over? You said you had a new glove."

"Have," answered Ned as two other members of the Three B's climbed into
sight. "Wait a minute."

He dumped his wood into the box in the kitchen, and then ran proudly
back with the precious glove. "Here it is."

The boys felt of it, pinched it, tried it on. "It's a dandy. Come on and
catch!" they urged.

"Can't just yet. You can use it till I come." And Ned returned to his
work, while the boys ran off with the glove.

The Three B's met at Ned's house that afternoon. The club always
reported once a week on their success as B's.

[Illustration: Mrs. Brown was just coming in with a pitcher of lemonade.]

"I don't have any chance to be B Number Three," complained Ned, when his
turn came to talk.

Mrs. Brown was just coming in with a pitcher of lemonade. "I know
better, Ned," she said. "How about chopping wood when you wanted to play
ball? That made all three B's this morning--Busy, Bright, and Brave."

"And I know another B Number Three, too," cried Ned Baker. "How about
loaning us your catching glove when you hadn't used it yourself?"

Ned smiled shyly, and B Number Two was written all over his face as he
slowly sipped his lemonade.



TEDDY'S HELPERS


Christmas was near, and there were only a few pennies in Teddy's apple
bank.

"I'm afraid I won't have money enough to buy them, mummie," said Teddy
wistfully. "Won't you--" His eyes looked the question his lips wanted to
ask.

"No, Teddy," said his mother. "For then it would be my present instead
of yours."

"But Arthur's hands get so cold carrying the clothes!" Teddy's eyes fell
to his own hands, which were always snug and warm in their red mittens.
The washerwoman's little boy had no mittens.

"Earn some money, Teddy," suggested his mother.

Teddy's face fell. "How can I?" he said.

"Keep your eyes open and do the thing they tell you to do."

"All right," answered Teddy. "I'll try."

[Illustration: How the snow did fly as he dug and scraped and shoveled!]

At that moment Father Sun, who had been peeping through the window,
slipped behind a cloud.

"Children," he said to the little clouds, "there's a boy down below who
wants to earn money to buy mittens for a boy who hasn't any. I want you
to help him."

"We will, Father Sun," cried the little clouds. Then the sky began to
grow so dark that the earth people looked up and said, "I do believe
it's going to snow!" And it did.

Soon the air was filled with great fluffy, whirling flakes, tumbling
eagerly down to help Teddy.

"Not so close!" cried the first flake as the others came down on top of
him. "We'll make it too hard for Teddy if we pack tight together."

"That's so!" cried the others. And so they settled very, very gently.

All night the snowflakes fell. In the morning Father Sun poked his head
out from behind a cloud.

"My, my! How fine the earth looks!" he exclaimed. "I think that's about
enough, children." And Father Sun smiled so broadly that the earth
people said, "How dazzling the sun is!" and squinted, and rubbed their
eyes.

When the last flake had settled in its place, Teddy buttoned on his
leggings to go out.

"Are you keeping your eyes open this morning, Teddy?" asked his mother.

Teddy laughed. "Of course," he said. "I couldn't see if--" Then he
stopped abruptly. "It _is_ a way, isn't it, mummie!" he cried.

"Yes," she said. "I think I hear twenty-five cents dropping into the
apple. I will give you that much if you will shovel a path to the gate."

"Goody!" cried Teddy. Then he hunted up the snow shovel and fell to
work.

"Teddy! Teddy!" Teddy looked up. The old lady across the way was
standing in her door. "I'll give you a quarter if you'll clean my walk."

"All right!" Teddy shouted back. And then how the snow did fly as he dug
and scraped and shoveled!

"My, my!" said Father Sun. "What an industrious boy!" And he smiled
till Teddy grew quite warm, and the busy hands in the red mittens were
never once cold.

When the day was over, four bright quarters lay snugly in the apple
bank.

The day before Christmas Teddy emptied the bank and went shopping. And
that night, when the washerwoman's boy came for the clothes, on top of
the basket lay, not mittens, but a pair of thick gloves lined with wool.

Father Sun was so happy about it that he smiled all Christmas Day. And
so did Arthur. And so--more brightly than either--did Teddy.



THE RED-LETTER DAY


"What's a red-letter day, Nora?" asked Betty, coming into the kitchen
where Nora was doing the Saturday baking.

"It's a day when something 'specially nice happens," answered Nora.
"Why?"

"Mamma just said it would be a red-letter day if she got _all_ her
mending done by night. I wish," added Betty wistfully, "that I could
make it a red-letter day for her!"

"You can!" cried Nora. "I'll show you how to make a cake, and then she
won't have to make it. She can have the time to mend."

"Goody, goody!" cried Betty, when her mamma said she might try.

"I didn't tell her about the red-letter part," she explained, as she and
Nora measured and beat and stirred. "That will make it another kind of
red-letter day--S for S'prise."

The cake came out of the oven light and flaky and beautiful.

[Illustration: "I didn't tell her about the red-letter part," she
explained, as she beat and stirred]

"Wouldn't it be nice," sighed Betty, "if it could _only_ have a red S
right in the middle?"

"It can," said Nora. "Make it of those tiny red candies of yours. You'll
have to work fast before the icing dries."

When the S was finished it was pretty crooked, even for an S. But there
was no doubt at all about what it was.

When dinner was on the table Betty brought in the cake and set it before
her mother.

"Well, well, well!" cried Mrs. Arnold. "What a fine little cook I have!
But what is the S for, Betty?"

"It stands for Saturday, mamma," said Betty. And then she told all about
the red-letter plan.

"It was a dear plan," said her mother. "And I did finish the mending.
And now I'll tell my little girl something else. S stands for Saturday,
but it stands for another word, too--it stands for my Sunshine," she
finished, giving Betty a loving kiss.

[Illustration: TURN OVER]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

THE GOODY-NAUGHTY BOOK

THE NAUGHTY SIDE

By
SARAH CORY RIPPEY

With illustrations by
BLANCHE FISHER WRIGHT

RAND McNALLY & COMPANY
CHICAGO--NEW YORK

Copyright, 1913, By Rand McNally & Company

All rights reserved

Edition of 1927

Made in U.S.A.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

THE CONTENTS
                                       PAGE

"WILLIE WON'T"                            9

MOLLIE AND THE POUTS                     11

INDIAN HUGHIE                            14

"I FORGOT"                               16

HOW SAMMY WAS CURED                      18

THE GOING-TO CLUB                        23

WHEN P'RAPSY SAID "YES"                  26

WHAT HAPPENED TO WAGGLES                 30

-----------------------------------------------------------------------



[Illustration: "S-s-s-t!" spit pussy, scurrying to the top of the pump]

"WILLIE WON'T"


It was baking day at Willie Wright's house. Willie was on hand, as
usual, to scrape the dish and tease for raisins.

Suddenly Jennie the cook threw up her hands. "Oh, dear," she cried, "I
forgot to order baking powder! Willie, will you--"

Bang! went the door, and off ran Willie down the path, with Laddie at
his heels.

"I won't go to the store!" he grumbled.

"Wil-lie!" called Jennie from the house.

"Won't, won't, won't!" Willie screamed.

The next-door pussy was sunning herself in the Wrights' yard.

"Sic 'em, Laddie!" cried Willie.

"Wow-wow!" barked Laddie joyously.

"S-s-s-t!" spit pussy, scurrying to the top of the pump.

"Wil-lie-e-e!"

Willie dropped down beside the fence, out of Jennie's sight. "She c'n go
herself," he said.

Laddie cuddled down beside him. It was warm in the sun, and the locusts
were droning drowsily in the grass.

"Oo-ff! Oo-ff! Oo-ff!" snored Laddie.

Willie nodded--and nodded--and nodded.

"Ho-ho!" came a voice over the fence. "Willie Won't! That's a funny
name!"

"Funny!" retorted another voice. "It's ugly. Willie Will would be far
nicer."

"Nobody named Willie Will would ever set a dog on a cat," came a third
voice.

"No," said a fourth, "nor run off and hide when there are errands to
do."

And then the four began to sing--

    "Willie Won't's a horrid boy!
       No one will like him till
    He helps when people want him to
       And turns to Willie Will."

Willie jumped to his feet and looked around. The neighbors' sunflowers
nodded solemnly over the fence.

"Willie Will," they seemed to urge.

Willie started for the house. "Willie Will," he echoed, as he went up
the path.



[Illustration: She sat on the couch and sulked because she could not
go out to play with Little Sister]

MOLLIE AND THE POUTS


Until the Pouts got to work on Mollie she was a very pretty little girl.
But when she sat on the couch and sulked, and sulked, and sulked because
she could not go out to play with Little Sister, the Pouts turned her
into a very ugly little girl indeed.

"Ouch! You hurt!" cried a little voice, just as a Pout drew Mollie's
mouth down at the corners.

Mollie started. She had forgotten that she was holding Dear Doll Dainty
by the arm, and she let go of her in her surprise.

"Well!" cried Dear Doll Dainty. "It's a wonder that fall didn't break my
head. Why didn't you lay me nicely on the couch? My, what a sour face!"

With that, Dear Doll Dainty stepped up to her own special trunk, which
stood open in the center of the floor, and put on her hat and slipped
into her coat.

"Wh-what are you going to do?" asked Mollie, staring.

"Going away, of course. I don't care to belong to a little girl with the
Pouts."

Dear Doll Dainty walked to the door.

"Wait a minute, Dear Doll Dainty," squeaked the rabbits that were
capering around the top of the wall; "we're coming too." And with a
great scurry, down slid the bunnies. "We're tired of trying to make a
cross little girl happy."

"So are we," added the roses on the curtains sweetly, as they let
themselves down by their thorns and walked to the door on their stems.

"And we." The pillows Mollie's impatient little fists had punched
dropped to the floor and started off.

The trunk slammed down its lid and followed the pillows, the bureau
followed the trunk, the book Mollie had thrown on the floor followed the
bureau.

"Pardon me," said a deep voice, "but I am tired of being sat on and
having heels dug into me!" Up went the couch. Bump! went Mollie on the
floor.

The couch walked clumsily to the door. It couldn't get through.

"Tee-hee-hee!" giggled Mollie. The Pouts took to their heels.
"Tee-hee--"

Mollie stopped laughing and looked around in amazement. Everything in
the room was just as it ought to be, except that she and Dear Doll
Dainty were both on the floor.

But Mollie thought the rabbits winked at her as she laid Dear Doll
Dainty gently on the couch and put the book in its place on the table.



INDIAN HUGHIE


Hughie had always wanted to be an Indian. One day he told his mamma
about it.

"Well," she said, "why not _be_ an Indian?"

Hughie looked down at his little blue suit and his low shoes. "I can't
be an Indian," he said. "I haven't any bow and arrow 'r--'r anything
Indians have. And anyway, little boys can't be Indians."

"Oh, yes, they can," said his mamma. "Indians are strong and brave. Any
little boy can be that. How do you do, Chief Hughie?" she added, with a
low bow.

Hughie drew himself up until he was at least an inch taller. "Heap--heap
strong and brave, thank you," he said gravely.

That very day Hughie's mamma bought him a bow and arrow. Then Hughie
felt himself a real Indian indeed.

But Chief Hughie grew tired of shooting at a mark with his new bow and
arrow.

It would be much more fun, he thought, to shoot at something that
moved.

Just as he thought that, a bird flew up from the snowball bush. Chief
Hughie hastily slipped an arrow into his bow. Bing! it went, toward the
bird.

"Hughie!"

Hughie turned around. "Chief Hughie," he corrected, politely.

"No," said his mamma, "_not_ Chief Hughie. Squaw Hughie! Chiefs are
strong and brave. Chief Hughie would never shoot at a dear little bird.
Only a cowardly Indian, a squaw Indian, would do that."

She came down the path and took away Hughie's bow and arrow.

"Squaws don't carry weapons," she said.

Hughie threw himself down on his stomach and screamed with anger.

"Squaws cry," said his mamma.

She walked back to the house, leaving Hughie sitting on the grass. He
was wondering how long it would take for a squaw to become a chief once
more.



"I FORGOT"


Inside of little Jean there lived a naughty imp. His name was "I
Forgot." One time this imp made Jean do a very wicked thing.

Jean owned a canary, named Goldie because of his golden feathers.
Whenever Jean came into the room where his cage hung, Goldie would pour
out a flood of song.

But one morning when Jean came in there was no flood of song from the
yellow throat. The tiny singer lay still on the bottom of his cage. Jean
slipped in her hand in alarm and drew out her little pet.

"Mamma, mamma," she cried, "something's the matter with Goldie!"

The imp "I Forgot" laughed as he heard her, but Jean's mamma did not
laugh. She knew about "I Forgot," and she laid her hand tenderly on
Goldie's little body, all thin under the fluff of feathers.

[Illustration: Jean slipped her hand into the cage and drew out
Goldie]

"Goldie has starved to death, Jean," she said sadly. "Why didn't you
feed him?"

"I f-forgot!" sobbed the little girl.

"Forgot! Poor Goldie!" Jean's mamma stroked the golden feathers. "It's
too bad, Jean, that you couldn't remember to do that one small thing for
Goldie when he did so much for you, with his songs and his cheer."

Jean's tears fell fast. Her mamma looked thoughtfully at the bird. "We
can do nothing more for Goldie," she said at last, "but I have thought
of a way you can help other birds for his sake, Jean."

Jean wiped her eyes. "How?" she asked.

Jean felt happier when her mamma had explained the way to her.

And if you should pass Jean's house some morning before breakfast, you
could see the way for yourself. For every day Jean scatters crumbs and
grain on the lawn for the birds and puts fresh water in their drinking
bowl.

"For Goldie's sake," she whispers to herself, as the birds fly down for
their breakfast.

As for the naughty imp "I Forgot," he is fast turning into the lovely
fairy "I Remember."



HOW SAMMY WAS CURED


Sammy was a pretty good boy in some ways, but in one way he was a very
naughty boy indeed. He never got up when he was called.

"Ye-aw-w-w!" he would yawn. "Uh-huh!" And with that he would roll over
and go fast asleep again.

This always happened at least three times every morning. Often it
happened more times. Then when everybody was out of patience and
breakfast was nearly over, Sammy would come creeping down, digging his
fists into his eyes and still yawning "Ye-aw-w-w!"

One morning Sammy's father had just called him the second time, and
Sammy had grunted "Ye-aw-w-w!" and turned over for another nap, when the
door opened softly.

[Illustration: Sammy didn't see the little man with twinkling eyes and
queer clothes who entered the room]

Creep, creep, creep, came quiet steps. But Sammy didn't see the little
man with twinkling eyes and queer clothes enter the room. He didn't know
that the little man lifted him out of bed, slipped him quickly into a
sack, and swung him over his shoulder. Sammy was too fast asleep to know
anything.

"Crickety, flickety, fle-flo-fli!" cried the little man. And away they
flew, straight through the window!

And still Sammy slept. He didn't know he was not in his own bed till the
little man slipped him out of the sack and gave him a shake.

[Illustration: "You're the little boy that never gets up when he's
called"]

"Ye-aw-w-w!" muttered Sammy sleepily.

"So you are Sammy Sleepyhead!" a loud voice interrupted him. Sammy woke
up so quickly that he bit his tongue. "I know you. You're the little boy
that never gets up when he's called."

Sammy looked about him in surprise. He was in a room filled with the
queerest little men he had ever seen, men with funny clothes and twinkly
eyes; while right in front of him on a throne sat a very splendid
person. Sammy knew by his robes and his crown that this splendid person
must be a king.

Sammy had never before seen a real king. He opened his mouth in awe.

The king thought Sammy was going to yawn.

"No yawning here!" he cried, giving Sammy a sharp little rap with his
scepter. "This is the Land of the Wide-Awakes. We always wake up the
sleepy people."

And then, just because he knew he mustn't, Sammy yawned. "Ye-aw-w-w!" he
said, so loud that it frightened him, and he clapped his hand quickly
over his mouth.

But the king had heard him.

"Sleepy Cure Number One, men!" he cried.

The men in the funny clothes at once formed in two lines, facing each
other and twinkling more than ever.

"Sammy Sleepyhead, step forward between the lines," commanded the king
sternly.

Sammy saw each queer little man pull a small paddle from his pocket. His
knees were shaking with fear, but he dared not disobey.

"Run!" ordered the king.

Sammy started. Spat! went the first paddle. "Ouch!" screamed Sammy.

"Faster!" cried the king.

Spat! Spat! Spat! went the paddles as he ran. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"
screamed Sammy.

"Done!" cried the king, as Sammy, breathless and crying, reached the end
of the lines.

"Awake? Cured?" inquired the king.

"Uh--uh--uh-huh!" hiccoughed Sammy, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of
his nightie.

"No, you're not," cried the king. "Only sleepyheads say 'Uh-huh.' Cure
Number Two!"

Poor Sammy stood, scared and crying, while the little men, grinning
broadly now, brought big sponges dripping with water.

"Squeeze!" cried the king.

Squash! went the first sponge, right over Sammy's head.

"Ugh!" screamed Sammy as the ice-cold water poured down his back. "Ugh!
Ugh!"

The next little man stepped up, lifted his sponge, started to squeeze
it, then changed his mind.

"Crickety, flickety, fle-flo-fli!" he cried instead.

The next thing Sammy knew, he was standing in his own bathtub, wet and
shivering. His father stood beside him, holding a big dipper.

"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!" gasped Sammy, while the water dripped from his yellow
head.

"I'm sorry, Sammy," said his father, handing him a towel. "But we can't
have any more of this nonsense about getting up. This will happen every
time you have to be called more than once. Dry yourself now, and hurry
into your clothes."

Sammy gulped and nodded. He couldn't think of anything to say just then.
But he did as his father told him to, and never once dug his fists into
his eyes or said "Ye-aw-w-w."

The next day he joined the Wide-Awakes. Sammy Sleepyhead was cured.



[Illustration: Mary Jane came back with her pail full of water]

THE GOING-TO CLUB


The Going-To Club had only one member. Bobby Brant was that member. In
fact, Bobby was the club.

It was his mother who named him the Going-To Club. It always took at
least two askings to get Bobby to do anything. Sometimes it took three
or four. Bobby was always "going to."

This club always met when there was something Bobby wanted particularly
to do; and it met most often in the spring, when the boys were out
flying their kites. In the spring nobody could get Bobby to do anything.

One spring Bobby had a very fine new kite that he and his father had
made together. They named it the Skylark, because they thought it would
fly higher than any of the other kites. But something was wrong. Instead
of sailing up gracefully, as it should, the first time Bobby tried to
fly it, the Skylark pitched about so violently that Bobby had to wind
it in.

Just then he heard Mary Jane calling, "Bobby, will you get me some
water?"

"All right," cried Bobby. "I wonder what ails it," he added, as he
turned the kite about.

"Bob-by-y!"

"I'm going to," answered the Going-To Club impatiently, and straightway
forgot all about it.

Pretty soon Mary Jane came down the path with the water pail. Mary Jane
had little brothers. Perhaps she could tell what was the matter.

"Mary Jane," said Bobby, "my kite won't fly straight. Will you help me
fix it?"

A naughty twinkle came into Mary Jane's eyes. "All right, Bobby," she
said, and went on to the well.

"Will you?" urged Bobby, as she came back with her pail full.

"I'm going to, Bobby."

Bobby followed Mary Jane to the house.

"Mary Jane----"

Mary Jane set down the pail and went on with her washing. "I'm going
to," she promised.

Rub-a-dub! Rub-a-dub! Rub-a-dub! went the clothes.

"Mary Jane----"

And this time Mary Jane dried her hands and picked up the kite.

[Illustration: Mary Jane dried, her hands and picked up the kite]

"Tail's too long," she said. "And, by the way, Bobby," she added with a
laugh, "what do you think about the Going-To Club _now_?"

Bobby grinned and hung his head.



WHEN P'RAPSY SAID "YES"


P'rapsy Perrin was never quite certain about things. She always said
"P'raps" instead of "Yes," or "No." That's how she came to be called
P'rapsy.

But there was one thing P'rapsy _was_ certain about--she loved to go
barefoot; and just as soon as the first warm spring day came, P'rapsy
teased to take off her shoes and stockings.

But Mrs. Perrin only laughed. "You'll catch cold, P'rapsy. And you know
what you have to take when you get sick."

P'rapsy thought of the big white bottle on the bathroom shelf, and
stopped teasing. But she didn't forget.

That afternoon Mrs. Perrin went out to make some calls.

"Be a good girl, P'rapsy," she said as she left the house.

[Illustration: "You'll take cold," finally ventured the biggest little
girl]

"Yessum," promised P'rapsy. But she must have added "P'raps" inside; for
she ran straight to the back yard and called to the two little girls
next door.

"Yoo-hoo!" she cried. "Come on over and go wading."

A pool of water had been left in the hollow of the yard by the heavy
spring rains. "Dare you!" it seemed to twinkle up at P'rapsy.

"Oo-o-o, I dassent!" cried the biggest little girl, carefully smoothing
down her stiff, clean dress.

"Oo-o-o, I dassent!" echoed the littlest little girl.

P'rapsy eyed them scornfully as she took off her shoes and stockings and
splashed into the pool.

"'Fraid cats!" she jeered. "'Fraid cats! 'Fraid cats! 'Fraid cats!"

The little girls watched P'rapsy in scared silence.

"You'll take cold," finally ventured the biggest little girl.

"P'raps I will," retorted P'rapsy.

"You're getting wet," said the littlest little girl.

P'rapsy only sniffed. But it wasn't so very much fun, after all. P'rapsy
kept hearing, "Be a good girl, P'rapsy." "Yessum."

When she had proved that she, at least, was not a 'fraid cat, P'rapsy
splashed out.

"You needn't tell," she cried over her shoulder, as her bare feet
twinkled back to the house.

That night Mrs. Perrin heard strange sounds in P'rapsy's room:
"Ker-choo! Ker-choo! Ker-choo!" She went to the door. P'rapsy was
sitting up in bed.

"I'b dot sick, babba," she explained. "I'b just--ker-choo!"

Mrs. Perrin left the room. When she returned she carried a big white
bottle and a spoon.

"Do, do, do!" screamed P'rapsy, as her mother poured out the thick,
slippery oil. "I'b dot----"

What she was "dot" was lost in a gurgle and a splutter as the oil slid
down her throat.

[Illustration: When she returned she carried a big white bottle and a
spoon]

P'rapsy was not happy. She drew the blankets up around her, and buried
her head among the pillows.

"P'rapsy," said her mother when the dose was down, "you've disobeyed me.
Are you sorry?"

"P-p-pr--yes!" sobbed P'rapsy under the bedclothes.



WHAT HAPPENED TO WAGGLES


Waggles was Jimmie's chum. He was never cross, and he loved Jimmie. And
Jimmie loved Waggles, but sometimes Jimmie _was_ cross. It was when he
was cross that he tied the can to Waggles's tail.

Waggles thought it was a new game, but at his first jump the can bounced
up and struck him.

This frightened Waggles, and he tried to run away from the horrid,
bouncing Thing. But the faster he ran the harder the Thing bounced, and
the oftener it struck him. Waggles became wild with fright, and he
gasped for breath as he raced along.

Suddenly he heard a voice that he loved: "Waggles! Waggles! Waggles!"

Waggles stopped running, and dropped, exhausted, at the feet of Jimmie's
father.

"Poor Waggles!" said Mr. Brown tenderly as he cut the string. "I didn't
suppose there was a boy in this town mean enough to do a thing like
that."

[Illustration: Waggles thought it was a new game]

Waggles licked his hand and looked up at him gratefully. But Waggles
was too much of a gentleman to tell on Jimmie, even if he could have
spoken.

When Mr. Brown went home Waggles trotted along beside him.

"Jimmie," asked Mr. Brown that evening, "who tied that can to Waggles's
tail?"

Jimmie said nothing, but his face grew red.

"Very well," said his father. "A boy who could treat a dog like that,
doesn't deserve to have one. I shall give Waggles away."

Jimmie was very unhappy. He cried himself to sleep that night. But next
morning who should come bounding in but Waggles! He jumped, and barked,
and said "I forgive you" in every doggie way that he knew.

Jimmie hugged Waggles, and looked wistfully at his father.

"Well, Jimmie," said Mr. Brown, "since Waggles has forgiven you, I think
I shall have to forgive you, too. Waggles may stay."

[Illustration: TURN OVER]





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