The Project Gutenberg EBook of Better than Play, by Mabel Quiller-Couch

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Title: Better than Play

Author: Mabel Quiller-Couch

Release Date: April 1, 2010 [EBook #31836]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BETTER THAN PLAY ***

Produced by Lionel Sear

Illustration: "Flowers, Ma'am? Tuppence and a penny a bunch."
(Artist unattrib.)

BETTER THAN PLAY.

By

MABEL QUILLER-COUCH.

Author of "A waif and a Welcome," "Zach and Debby,"
"The Story of Jessie," etc.

LONDON
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard, E.C.4

CONTENTS.

Chapter.

I. WASHING DAY TEMPERS.

II. HOW THE DAY ENDED.

III. THE LITTLE HERB-BED.

IV. SAGE BUSHES AND ROSE BUSHES.

V. WHAT AUNT MAGGIE SUGGESTED.

VI. FIRST CUSTOMERS.

VII. WHAT LAY BEYOND THE MILESTONE.

VIII. ROCKET'S HELP IS REQUIRED.

IX. HOME AGAIN.

X. CHRISTMAS.

XI. A STEP FORWARD.

XII. SUCCESS.

CHAPTER I.

WASHING DAY TEMPERS.

Down at the Henders' cottage all was misery and discomfort; the house was
full of bad temper, steam, and the smell of soap-suds. It was
washing-day, and the children hated washing-day. For one thing, Aunt Emma
was always very cross, and for another, they never knew what to do with
themselves. They were not allowed indoors, for they "choked up the
place," she said, "and there wasn't room to move,"; so they had to stay
outside; but they must make no noise, for she could not bear it, and they
must not wander away to play, for they might be wanted at any minute, to
run an errand, or chop up a few sticks. Bella, too, the eldest of them
all, was needed every now and again to hang a few things on the bushes;
but that was all the break they had in the weary day.

Bella often wished her aunt would let her do more to help her. She was
sure she could, and it would have been ever so much more pleasant than
standing around seeing everything go wrong, yet doing nothing.

Her aunt was always scolding her for being idle, and grumbling at the
amount of work she herself had to do; yet, if Bella attempted to help in
an