lding the apple to her mouth; 'it isn't
so very hard, and Jack says it's _so_ good. Do try!'
CHAPTER X.
THE MOTHER'S LEGACY.
And grandmother _did_ try--for she did not want to disappoint Poppy. But
somehow the two teeth would not go into the apple; they were too far
apart, and there were no teeth below to help them; and so, after many
attempts, the poor old woman was obliged to say she was afraid she could
not manage it.
'If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. That's a good rule,
my dear; but it doesn't always answer, Poppy. But I'll tell you what, my
little girl,' said she, as she noticed how disappointed the child was,
'I'll put it in the oven and bake it for my supper, and then I _shall_
have a treat!'
'Oh, granny, I'm _so_ glad!' said Poppy, throwing her arms around her
neck--'I do love you so very much--you are so good to me!'
'Why, you're John Henry's bairn,' said granny, as she held her fast in
her arms--'how could I help loving John Henry's bairn?'
'Polly, my dear,' said grandmother the next day to Poppy's mother,
'Polly, my dear, I'm going to take you home with me.'
But the sick woman shook her head.
'Don't shake your head, my dear,' said grandmother; 'I believe if I
could put you down on the top of the moors, and if you could get the
breezes off the heather, why, my lass, I believe you'd get well in no
time!'
'You must ask the doctor, grandmother,' said Poppy's mother; 'he is
coming to-day.'
So when the doctor had paid his usual visit, grandmother trotted after
him downstairs.
'Now, doctor,' said she, 'I'll tell you what I'm going to do; I'm going
to take her home with me. Country air is the best physic after all, now
isn't it, doctor? You can't say anything against that, I'll be bound!'
But the doctor shook his head.
'Dear me, doctor,' said grandmother, 'don't _you_ go and shake your
head. Surely she'll be well enough to go in a week or ten days. Or maybe
a fortnight or three weeks, doctor,' she added, as she saw that he
looked very grave.
'My good woman,' said the doctor, 'you don't know how ill she is! It is
only a question of time now.'
'You don't mean to say, doctor,' said grandmother, 'that she won't get
better?'
'She may live a week,' said the doctor, as he put on his hat, 'but I do
not think she will live so long.'
Poor old grandmother, it was a great downfall to her hopes; she had
thought, and hoped, and believed, that the country air wou
|