est anxiety, she worked them back and forth, and up and down.
"Nothing's broken," she said at last, and drew a long breath.

"It's there," said Phronsie, through a rain of tears; "and it hurts,
Polly;" and she began to wiggle the big toe, where around the nail was
settling a small black spot.

"Poor little toe," began Polly, cuddling up the suffering foot. Just
then, a small and peculiar noise struck her ear; and looking up she saw
Joel, with a very distorted face, making violent efforts to keep from
bursting out into a loud cry. All his attempts, however, failed; and
he flung himself into Polly's lap in a perfect torrent of tears. "I
didn't--mean to--Polly," he cried; "'twas the--ugly, old hammer! oh
dear!"

"There, there, Joey, dear," said Polly, gathering him up in the other
corner of the old chair, close to her side; "don't feel bad; I know you
didn't mean to," and she dropped a kiss on his stubby black hair.

When Phronsie saw that anybody else could cry, she stopped immediately,
and leaning over Polly, put one little fat hand on Joel's neck. "Don't
cry," she said; "does your toe ache?"

At this, Joel screamed louder than ever; and Polly was at her wit's
end to know what to do; for the boy's heart was almost broken. That he
should have hurt Phronsie! the baby, the pet of the whole house, upon
whom all their hearts centered--it was too much. So for the next few
moments, Polly had all she could do by way of comforting and consoling
him. Just as she had succeeded, the door opened, and Grandma Bascom
walked in.

"Settin' down?" said she; "I hope your cake ain't in, Polly," looking
anxiously at the stove, "for I've found it;" and she waved a small piece
of paper triumphantly towards the rocking-chair as she spoke.

"Do tell her," said Polly to little David, "what's happened; for I can't
get up."

So little Davie went up to the old lady, and standing on tiptoe,
screamed into her ear all the particulars he could think of, concerning
the accident that had just happened.

"Hey?" said grandma, in a perfect bewilderment; "what's he a-sayin',
Polly--I can't make it out."

"You'll have to go all over it again, David," said Polly, despairingly;
"she didn't hear one word, I don't believe."

So David tried again; this time with better success. And then he got
down from his tiptoes, and escorted grandma to Phronsie, in flushed
triumph.

"Land alive!" said the old lady, sitting down in the chair which he
brought her;