uch about it as any one else, because from the day I could
understand, all of them, father, mother, Shelley, Sarah Hood, every one
who knew, took turns telling me how badly I was not wanted, how much
trouble I made, and how Laddie was the only one who loved me at first.
Because of that I was on the cordwood trying to find courage to go
farther. Over and over Laddie had told me himself. He had been to
visit our big sister Elizabeth over Sunday and about eight o'clock
Monday morning he came riding down the road, and saw the most dreadful
thing. There was not a curl of smoke from the chimneys, not a
tablecloth or pillowslip on the line, not a blind raised. Laddie said
his heart went--just like mine did when the Something jumped in the
creek bed, no doubt. Then he laid on the whip and rode.

He flung the rein over the hitching post, leaped the fence and reached
the back door. The young green girl, who was all father could get when
the cook left, was crying. So were Shelley and little May, although
she said afterward she had a boil on her heel and there was no one to
poultice it. Laddie leaned against the door casing, and it is easy
enough to understand what he thought. He told me he had to try twice
before he could speak, and then he could only ask: "What's the matter?"

Probably May never thought she would have the chance, but the others
were so busy crying harder, now that they had an audience, that she was
first to tell him: "We have got a little sister."

"Great Day!" cried Laddie. "You made me think we had a funeral! Where
is mother, and where is my Little Sister?"

He went bolting right into mother's room and kissed her like the
gladdest boy alive; because he was only a boy then, and he told her how
happy he was that she was safe, and then he ASKED for me.

He said I was the only living creature in that house who was not
shedding tears, and I didn't begin for about six months afterward. In
fact, not until Shelley taught me by pinching me if she had to rock the
cradle; then I would cry so hard mother would have to take me. He said
he didn't believe I'd ever have learned by myself.

He took a pillow from the bed, fixed it in the rocking chair and laid
me on it. When he found that father was hitching the horses to send
Leon for Doctor Fenner, Laddie rode back after Sarah Hood and spoiled
her washing. It may be that the interest he always took in me had its
beginning in all of them scaring him with t