s little child?"

Nancy came out, with her fingers in her mouth, but did not speak.

"Answer me; did you drop a toad into Prudy's mouth?"

"Yes," replied Nancy, sulkily; "but she stuck a knitting-needle into
my ear _fust_!"

"For shame, you wicked child," said Miss Parker. "Take up that toad,
Nancy, and carry it out of doors; then come to me, for I must punish
you."

"Now, Prudy," added Miss Parker, "what do you think I ought to do to
Nancy for being so naughty?"

"I don't know," answered Prudy, crying still. "I don't s'pose my
mother would be willing to have folks put toads in my mouth."

"But what do you think I ought to do to her?" said Miss Parker,
smiling.

"Was you goin' to whip her?" asked Prudy, looking up through her
tears.

"I think I must, my child."

"Well, I hope you won't hurt her," said dear little Prudy. "Please to
don't."

But Miss Parker struck Nancy with a piece of whalebone, and hurt her a
good deal. It was the only way to make Nancy remember not to do such a
cruel trick again.

When Prudy saw how much Nancy was hurt, it was more than her tender
heart could bear. She ran up to Miss Parker, and caught hold of the
skirt of her dress, hiding her head in it.

"O, Miss Parker!" said she, "I've got to cry. Nanny won't do so no
more. The toad was just as alive as could be, but it never bit a bit!
O, _won't you please to don't!_"

CHAPTER IV

PRUDY'S PICNIC

This was about the last of Prudy's going to school. In the first place
she was very tired of it, in the second place it was vacation, and in
the third place the whole family were going to Willowbrook on a visit.

It was very pleasant at grandpa Parlin's at any time. Such a stout
swing in the big oil-nut tree! Such a beautiful garden, with a
summer-house in it! Such a nice cosy seat in the trees! So many "cubby
holes" all about to hide in!

But this summer I speak of was pleasanter than ever; for the Western
cousins, Grace and Horace Clifford, had come from Indiana to visit
their friends in Maine. The Parlin children had not seen them for two
years; but Grace and Susy became fast friends in a very short time,
while little Prudy was thrown one side for Horace to take care of when
he could stop.

"O dear suz," said she, one morning, "I'm so glad there happened to be
a world, and God made me!"

"What, you here, Prudy?" said grandma Parlin. "What made you get up so
early?"

"O, the flies waked me, I s'pose. I was dreamin