CHAPTER IX.
BROTHER ZIP.
There was to be a remarkable supper at grandma Parlin's, in honor ofColonel Augustus Allen, who was expected in the cars. There had been agrand excursion to welcome the soldiers, and the stage would probably bevery late. Susy and Prudy had the promise of sitting up till it got in,if Dotty Dimple was only willing. But Dotty said,--
"O, no; you better go to bed when I go, Prudy, or you'll hear somebodyscream."
"Let's see," said Prudy. "I've thought of something nice. Wouldn't youlike to go to aunt Martha's, and stay all the afternoon and all night?"
Dotty gave a little purr, like a happy kitten.
"O, yes, if they'll let me drink choclid out o' that silver mug."
"But who'll go with you?" said Prudy. "There, I know--Abby Grant! I'llgo ask mother."
Prudy thought that she herself could not possibly be spared just now towalk as far as aunt Martha's.
Abby Grant, who was supposed to be a good child, was very glad to takecharge of Dotty, and called for her at two o'clock.
Aunt Louise was in the kitchen, whipping cream. "O, my suz," saidDotty, with shining eyes; "mayn't I taste o' those bubbles 'fore I go?"
Aunt Louise poured the foaming cream over some jellies, which stood inglasses.
"You shall have some to-morrow," said she, pausing to kiss Dotty, herfavorite niece. Then she led the two little girls into the dining-room,where the long table was already spread for Company. Dotty could hardlykeep her hands off the nice things.
"There," said aunt Louise, giving each of the children an orange, "nowyou may go. Abby, be sure to take good care of Dotty. Don't trust herout of your sight one minute.--Hark! there's the door-bell. You may goout of the house by the back-door."
Then Miss Louise hastened from the dining-room, without looking back tosee whether the children obeyed her or not. Dotty was, in general,prompt to do as she was bidden by older people; but just now both thechildren found it hard to leave that tempting table. They dared nottaste the dainties, but Abby thought it could surely do no harm just totouch them. But when they had gone as far as that, Abby, who was a sly,half-taught child, grew bolder, and a sudden impulse seized her topocket a few sweetmeats, if she could only do so without being seen byDotty's keen eyes.
"Come, Dotty Parling," said she, "you just go ask somebody to brush yourhair; it's all over your head."
Dotty sighed as she cast a last glance at the table, and then, without aword, went up stairs, unwilling to be seen by aunt Martha with her "hairall over her head."
Then Abby's heart beat fast. She heard voices in the parlor, and knewthat at any moment some one might enter the dining-room, and discoverher. So making a hasty choice of two large pieces of jelly-cake, andhalf a dozen tarts, she swept out of the room just in time to escapemeeting grandma Parlin.
Her pocket was stuffed quite full, and one end of a slice of cake peepedout, though she tried her best to press it down. But Abby had a hopethat no one would notice it through her white apron.
As Dotty's hair was now in fine order, the two children set out on theirwalk. They had gone but a few steps when Zip came trotting along, withall speed, looking up in their faces as if to say, "What have I done,that I can't go too?"
"Queer what made _him_ want to come," said Abby, tartly.
"He loves his little sister," said Dotty, stroking his nose. "He shallgo, he shall; he's a darling."
The dog kept beside the children, and every now and then Abby secretlypunched him with a stick, while Dotty was patting his head, and chattingwith him.
It was a long way to aunt Martha's, and Abby, besides feeling guilty,and ashamed of herself, was also very anxious to eat the goodies whichmade such a bunch in her pocket. Zip seemed to know there was cakesomewhere, and sniffed about in a way which made her rather nervous.
"Here, let's creep under this fence," said she; "what's the use to go'round by the road? It's a great deal nearer to your aunt's housethrough the field."
"There, child," cried she, when they were on the other side of thefence, "now I want to go behind this clump of trees, to--to find a bookI left here yesterday: but you mustn't come, Dotty."
"What for can't I? Yes, I shall, Abby Grant; you shame yourself! I'mgoin' every single where you go; so, now, you'll have to give up!"
"Dot Parling, you go right along with your doggie! I'll come in aminute."
Dotty thought a girl of Abby's age had no right to command her. Shestamped her little foot, but it made no sound in the soft grass.
"I isn't a-goin' to go long with my doggie, Abby Grant; 'cause--sothere!"
"But you must. You know, Dot Parling," said Abby, more gently, "yourgrandma expects you to do just what I tell you. I'm afraid, dear, youwon't get any of that bubbled cream if you don't mind, nor any tarts."
The child queen began to think it was wisest to obey; but she did sowith a very ill grace.
"Well, Abby Grant, I will go long with my doggie; but it's cause I'mtired, and don't want to help you find your old book--so, there!"
"That's right. Dotty. Start quick--can't you?"
Dotty took "high ground" at once. She looked Abby full in the face.
"Do you like _yourself_, Abby Grant?"
"I don' know. Yes: why?"
"'Cause I shouldn't think you would! I 'spise you!"
Having freed her mind, Dotty walked on with Zip, only turning back once,to exclaim,--
"There, Abby, now you'll have to give up!"
Abby, naughty girl, ate her cake in secret, staining her white apronwith the jelly, while little Miss Dimple trudged on, thinking it verystrange Abby should be so long finding that book.
Perhaps for the reason that she was rather out of sorts, and thinkingabout Abby rather than about the road, she missed her way, and soonfound herself in a narrow lane she had never seen before.
Zip looked rather uneasy, but followed close by her side. Dotty walkedon and on, till the track had faded quite away. This was not the road toaunt Martha's. Why didn't Abby come?
Dotty, too proud to cry, too angry to look back, wandered till she cameto the edge of the Parlin woods. Here was a little creek, tumbling oversome small gray rocks; the same "creek" where Horace had sometimes gonefishing.
"True as you live," said Dotty to herself, "here's a teenty-tontyriver."
There was no way of crossing the creek, and the child felt as if she hadcome to the very end of the world. Her courage began to fail.
"Dotty Dimple," said she, stamping her foot, "don't you cry! If you docry, Dotty Dimple, I'll shut you up in the closet."
But, in spite of these brave words, the unhappy child felt two or threetears raining down her cheeks. She now seated herself on the grass, andscreamed for Abby.
"When she comes," thought Dotty, "I'll tell her she's 'shamed herself!"
At first it seemed as if Abby were answering her; but the sound provedto be only the echo of Dotty's own voice. O, she might scream all theafternoon, and Abby wouldn't try to hear! O, dear; before anybody wouldcome, a bear, or a wolf, or a whale might rush right out of the woodsand eat her up! Then how Abby would cry! Abby's mother would whip herwith a big stick, and say, "there, now; what made you go behind thetrees, and let that little Parlin girl lose herself, and get ate up! Idon't think you're very polite, you naughty girl!"--O, how everybodywould cry!
But what was that little funny thing on the water? Forgetting her suddenfear of bears and whales, a fear which Abby herself had put into herlittle head, Dotty gazed at the "funny thing." Could it be a littletruly sailboat? Yes, it certainly was. How it got into the creek Dottynever stopped to think; the question was, how could she get it out?
She blew it with her breath, but it only floated farther away. Shewaited, hoping it would turn about, and come towards her. She threwsticks at it, but in vain. The boys, who had set it sailing had goneinto the woods for raspberries, would have laughed to see her efforts.Presently she took off her hat, held it by one string, and flung it in,as if it h
ad been a fishing-net. It was all of no use; the boat acted asif it were alive, and did not choose to be caught.
Dotty had forgotten all about Abby and the visit to aunt Martha's.
"I know what I'll do," thought she, winking very fast. "I'll catch thatboat; I will!"
When Dotty had made up her mind, she never stopped for trifles. She drewoff her stockings and gaiters, and stepped into the creek. Boys waded inthe water, why couldn't she? There was nothing to bite her! She wasn'tafraid!
She had supposed the water would only cover her feet, but she foundherself sadly mistaken. The creek was remarkably deep, and, more thanthat, the bottom was so soft that she sank down, down, at every step.
Poor child! It was hard enough to get lost; it was harder still to bedrowned!
"O, papa!" she screamed; "O, mamma! O, Prudy! can't you come? I don'twant to drown, and not have _you_ drown, Prudy. Can't you come, somebodycome!"
But there were no human ears near enough to hear her piteous cries. Shemust have drowned--there is no doubt of it--if Zip had not been close athand. The moment he saw her sinking, he gave a low bark and swam afterher.
Before he could reach the unfortunate child the water was up to herwaist, and she was wringing her little helpless hands, and saying, "NowI lay me down to sleep!"
Faithful old Zip lost not a moment, but seized her skirts and draggedher to the bank, laying her on the ground as tenderly as her own mothercould have done.
Now you see why it is that God had put it into Zip's loving heart to"want to come with his little sister."
Abner, who arrived a few minutes later, in order to cut some youngbirches for his fence, said,--
"Wasn't it lucky, that that dog _happened_ to be right on the spot? Andlucky, too, that I _happened_ along in the nick of time, to carry thepoor little girl home in my arms?"
But the truth is, in this world which our Heavenly Father watches over,nothing ever comes by chance, and events do not _happen_.
Abby shed many bitter tears, but they were not so much tears of sorrowfor her sin, as of shame for being found out. Such weeping does no good.Indeed I am afraid it only hardened Abby's heart.
But the day ended gloriously for Dotty. She was handed about to bekissed by everybody, and was, after all, allowed to sit up till nineo'clock, and actually ate a "bubbled cream," sitting as close as shecould beside Colonel Allen's elbow.