stayed in the house. The Morris children never minded the
weather. Even in the pouring rain, the boys would put on rubber
boots and coats and go out to play. Miss Laura walked along, the
high wind blowing her cloak and dress about, and when we got
past the houses, she had a little run with us.

We jumped, and frisked, and barked, till we were tired; and then
we walked quietly along.

A little distance ahead of us were some boys throwing sticks in the
water for two Newfoundland dogs. Suddenly a quarrel sprang up
between the dogs. They were both powerful creatures, and fairly
matched as regarded size. It was terrible to hear their fierce
growling, and to see the way in which they tore at each other's
throats. I looked at Miss Laura. If she had said a word, I would
have run in and helped the dog that was getting the worst of it. But
she told me to keep back, and ran on herself.

The boys were throwing water on the dogs and pulling their tails,
and hurling stones at them, but they could not separate them. Their
heads seemed locked together, and they went back and forth over
the stones, the boys crowding around them, shouting, and beating,
and kicking at them.

"Stand back, boys," said Miss Laura, "I'll stop them." She pulled a
little parcel from her purse, bent over the dogs, scattered a powder
on their noses, and the next instant the dogs were yards apart,
nearly sneezing their heads off.

"I say, Missis, what did you do? What's that stuff? Whew, it's