Baby Pitcher's Trials Part 19

Grandma did not make another Dinah. It would have been a new one, and could never take the place of the old; and as Flora was so hopeful, Grandma thought she would be happier in looking forward to the return of her long-tried friend than she could ever be with a new favorite. But Dinah's place was not long vacant. Towzer fitted into it quite naturally, and, as he was in many respects a more pleasant companion, Flora did not miss the black baby as she otherwise would have done.

CHAPTER XV.

FLORA NEVER OPENS THE BIG GATE.

Flora seemed to be none of the worse for her perilous adventure. After a refres.h.i.+ng sleep, she awoke happy and bright, not the least like the miserable child of the night before. And indeed, she could not remember how miserable she had been. When she tried to think how cold and wet and lonely it was out there in the night, she could not; for now it was no longer cold; the sun was s.h.i.+ning, and there was no more darkness. Papa had said she would never forget that day; she had almost forgotten it already. So hard is it to realize our perils, when we look back upon them. But there was the blue dress that never could be worn again, and the water-soaked garden hat. The sight of these brought back a momentary feeling of loneliness, and when she looked out upon the pleasant morning, there was Jack Midnight's dog, with his nose between the bars of the big gate. It was really true, then, the groping about in the dark, and all the rest; and Towzer had not forgotten yet. When Flora appeared at the window, he dropped his ears and turned sadly away. He was looking for his friend of the night before, the little girl that clung so closely around his neck, and begged him to take her to mamma.

He did not know Flora. But when she called to him, he answered with a joyful cry. He knew the voice.

"Keep away from the big gate," she said, warningly. "Must not open that."

"Bow-wow!" said Towser; "I don't care a straw for the big gate. I would jump over it if I was younger, and I would squeeze myself through the bars if the s.p.a.ce was only wide enough. Bow-wow, who cares for the big gate?"

"Go round the other side," said Flora, "and I will let you in."

Towzer wagged his tail, and started off, as if he meant to go round, but he was only making believe. He was back again in a moment, dancing about like a young puppy. You would never have supposed him to be the old, sedate dog that he was.

"What makes you so frisky," asked Flora.

"Bow-wow," said he. "Cannot a poor old cur be frisky when he is happy?"

He was happy, because a stream of suns.h.i.+ne had struggled into his sober life. It promised him friends and kind words, and that which he needed most of all,--a streak of fat to cover his bare bones. Flora said they were "nice, fat bones;" she called them fat because they were so large; and indeed they were sadly large and prominent. Bertie's plaster proved to be the proper remedy.

Under its influence the bones gradually disappeared, and, according to Flora's theory, became leaner and smaller. Jack declared that the way that dog was a picking up, beat all nature! Flora never admitted Towzer at the big gate, and he very soon learned to go round. It was the big gate that opened the way to Flora's troubles, and she had a wholesome fear of it in consequence.

"Never open it again," she said, when she had finished the story of her trials.

And she never did, without permission. The little blue cart and the limping horse sometimes pa.s.sed, and, although the soap man was always on the lookout, he never again found Flora waiting to take a ride. She did not forget what mamma told her: "Ladies do not ride in carts, and they never ask to ride with strangers. Little girls cannot be expected to _do_ right always; but good children always _try_ to do right."

"I am glad I did not see you riding with the soap man," said Amy. "I should have felt ashamed of my little sister."

"She would have come off that box in a hurry if I had been anywhere about," added Charley, in a threatening tone.

That stirred up the Baby Pitcher.

"Wouldn't either," she answered, tartly.

Charley tossed his head in a provoking way, that made Bertie say "Don't!"

"I shall do so again," said Flora.

"I wouldn't," said Bertie.

"Wouldn't you, truly?"

"No," answered Bertie, seriously, "not if I were a little girl."

"Then I won't, and Dinah won't. Oh! She has gone to be a blackbird--I forgot."

Amy kissed her little sister and talked to her in a gentle, soothing manner, that smoothed out all the wrinkles. And then Charley felt sorry he had roused the "Leo s.p.u.n.k," and he told such funny stories that Flora felt very placid and comfortable, and quite at peace with everybody. In losing the perfumery she lost a treasure, and for that she was sorry; but she was glad to be restored to all her social rights and privileges.

She was no longer obliged to stand out on the door-stone when she talked to Grandma, for the odor of musk was dying out. Grandma's doors were thrown wide open, and no one was more welcome than the Baby Pitcher.