curled up our lips. After a while they sobered down, and then
finding that the boys hadn't a handkerchief between them, Miss
Laura took her own soft one, and dipping it in a spring of fresh
water near by, wiped the red eyes of the sneezers.

Their ill humor had gone, and when she turned to leave them, and
said, coaxingly, "You won't make those dogs fight any more, will
you?" they said, "No, sirree, Bob."

Miss Laura went slowly home, and ever afterward when she met
any of those boys, they called her "Miss Pepper."

When we got home we found Willie curled up by the window in
the hall, reading a book. He was too fond of reading, and his
mother often told him to put away his book and run about with the
other boys. This afternoon Miss Laura laid her hand on his
shoulder and said, "I was going to give the dogs a little game of
ball, but I'm rather tired."

"Gammon and spinach," he replied, shaking off her hand, "you're
always tired."

She sat down in a hall chair and looked at him. Then she began to
tell him about the dog fight. He was much interested, and the book
slipped to the floor. When she finished he said, "You're a daisy
every day. Go now and rest yourself." Then snatching the balls
from her, he called us and ran down to the basement. But he was
not quick enough though to escape her arm. She caught him to her
and kissed him repeatedly. He was the baby and pet of the family,
and he loved her dearly, though he spoke impatiently to her oftener