The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple, by Sophie May

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Title: Little Prudy's Dotty Dimple

Author: Sophie May

Release Date: July 30, 2005 [EBook #16390]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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LITTLE PRUDY'S
DOTTY DIMPLE

_By_
SOPHIE MAY

NEW YORK
HURST & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

[Illustration]

DEDICATION.

TO

Little Nelly Clarke.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I. DOTTY'S BABYHOOD 7
II. THE BONE MAN 31
III. DOTTY'S VERSES 36
IV. THE NESTLINGS 52
V. FANNY HARLOW'S PARTY 65
VI. THE LITTLE TEACHER 83
VII. BOTH SIDES OF A STORY 98
VIII. THE WATER-KELPIE 117
IX. BROTHER ZIP 137
X. DR. PRUDY 154
XI. BUYING A BROTHER 173
XII. A WEDDING 189

DOTTY DIMPLE.

CHAPTER I.

DOTTY'S BABYHOOD.

Alice was the youngest of the Parlin family. When Grandma Read called
the children into the kitchen, and told them about their new little
sister, Susy danced for joy; and Prudy, in her delight, opened the
cellar door, and fell down the whole length of the stairs. However, she
rolled as softly as a pincushion, and was not seriously hurt.

"But you can't go into mother's room," said Susy, "you're crying so
hard."

"Poh!" replied three-years-old Prudy, twinkling off the tears; "yes, I
can neither. I won't go _crying_ in! I didn't hurt me velly bad. I'm
weller now!"

So she had the first peep at the wee dot of a baby in the nurse's arms.

"O, dear, dear," said she, "what shall I do? I _are_ so glad! I wish I
could jump clear up to the _sky_ of this room! How do you do, little
sister?"

The baby made no reply.

"Why! don't you love me? This is _me_: my name's Prudy. I've got a red
pocket dress;--Santa Claw bringed it."

Still the little stranger paid no heed,--only winked her small, bright
eyes, and at last closed them enti