started on a smart run to catch the stage, Prince scampering at his
heels, they all began to sing his praises and to wish for Thursday to
come.

But Jasper didn't come! Thursday came and went; a beautiful,
bright, sunny day, but with no signs of the merry boy whom all had
begun to love, nor of the big black dog. The children had made all
the needful preparations with much ostentation and bustle, and
were in a state of excited happiness, ready for any gale. But the
last hope had to be given up, as the old clock ticked away hour
after hour. And at last Polly had to put Phronsie to bed, who
wouldn't stop crying enough to eat her supper at the dreadful
disappointment.

"He couldn't come, I know," said both Ben and Polly, standing
staunchly up for their new friend; but Joel and David felt that he
had broken his word.

"He promised," said Joel, vindictively.

"I don't believe his father'd let him," said Polly, wiping away a sly
tear; "I know Jasper'd come, if he could."

Mrs. Pepper wisely kept her own counsel, simply giving them a
kindly caution:

"Don't you go to judging him, children, till you know."

"Well, he promised," said Joel, as a settler.