ttle
girl, fer her size, Trot is--we'll freely give it an' be glad to help
you."

"Thank you," replied Button-Bright. "I need a lot of things, I'm sure,
and p'raps advice is one of 'em."

THE MAGIC UMBRELLA

CHAPTER 2

When they reached the neat frame cottage which stood on a high bluff a
little back from the sea and was covered with pretty green vines, a
woman came to the door to meet them. She seemed motherly and good, and
when she saw Button-Bright, she exclaimed, "Goodness me! Who's this
you've got, Trot?"

"It's a boy I've just found," explained the girl. "He lives way off in
Phillydelphy."

"Mercy sakes alive!" cried Mrs. Griffith, looking into his upturned
face. "I don't believe he's had a bite to eat since he started. Ain't
you hungry, child?"

"Yes," said Button-Bright.

"Run, Trot, an' get two slices o' bread-an'-butter," commanded Mrs.
Griffith. "Cut 'em thick, dear, an' use plenty of butter."

"Sugar on 'em?" asked Trot, turning to obey.

"No," said Button-Bright. "Just bread-an'-butter's good enough when
you're hungry, and it takes time to spread sugar on."

"We'll have supper in an hour," observed Trot's mother briskly, "but a
hungry child can't wait a whole hour, I'm sure. What are you grinning
at, Cap'n Bill? How dare you laugh when I'm talking? Stop it this
minute, you old pirate, or I'll know the reason why!"

"I didn't, mum," said Cap'n Bill meekly. "I on'y--"

"Stop right there, sir! How dare you speak when I'm talking?" She
turned to Button-Bright, and her tone changed to one of much gentleness
as she said, "Come in the house, my poor boy, an' rest yourself. You
seem tired out. Here, give me that clumsy umbrella."

"No, please," said Button-Bright, holding the umbrella tighter.

"Then put it in the rack behind the door," she urged.

The boy seemed a little frightened. "I--I'd rather keep it with me, if
you please," he pleaded.

"Never mind," Cap'n Bill ventured to say, "it won't worry him so much
to hold the umbrella, mum, as to let it go. Guess he's afraid he'll
lose it, but it ain't any great shakes, to my notion. Why, see here,
Button-Bright, we've got half-a-dozen umbrellas in the closet that's
better ner yours."

"Perhaps," said the boy. "Yours may look a heap better, sir, but--I'll
keep this one, if you please."

"Where did you get it?" asked Trot, appearing just then with a plate of
bread-and-butter.

"It--it belongs in our family," said Button-Bright, begi