The Goody-Naughty Book Part 7

One spring Bobby had a very fine new kite that he and his father had made together. They named it the Skylark, because they thought it would fly higher than any of the other kites. But something was wrong. Instead of sailing up gracefully, as it should, the first time Bobby tried to fly it, the Skylark pitched about so violently that Bobby had to wind it in.

Just then he heard Mary Jane calling, "Bobby, will you get me some water?"

"All right," cried Bobby. "I wonder what ails it," he added, as he turned the kite about.

"Bob-by-y!"

"I'm going to," answered the Going-To Club impatiently, and straightway forgot all about it.

Pretty soon Mary Jane came down the path with the water pail. Mary Jane had little brothers. Perhaps she could tell what was the matter.

"Mary Jane," said Bobby, "my kite won't fly straight. Will you help me fix it?"

A naughty twinkle came into Mary Jane's eyes. "All right, Bobby," she said, and went on to the well.

"Will you?" urged Bobby, as she came back with her pail full.

"I'm going to, Bobby."

Bobby followed Mary Jane to the house.

"Mary Jane----"

Mary Jane set down the pail and went on with her washing. "I'm going to," she promised.

Rub-a-dub! Rub-a-dub! Rub-a-dub! went the clothes.

"Mary Jane----"

And this time Mary Jane dried her hands and picked up the kite.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mary Jane dried, her hands and picked up the kite]

"Tail's too long," she said. "And, by the way, Bobby," she added with a laugh, "what do you think about the Going-To Club _now_?"

Bobby grinned and hung his head.

WHEN P'RAPSY SAID "YES"

P'rapsy Perrin was never quite certain about things. She always said "P'raps" instead of "Yes," or "No." That's how she came to be called P'rapsy.

But there was one thing P'rapsy _was_ certain about--she loved to go barefoot; and just as soon as the first warm spring day came, P'rapsy teased to take off her shoes and stockings.

But Mrs. Perrin only laughed. "You'll catch cold, P'rapsy. And you know what you have to take when you get sick."

P'rapsy thought of the big white bottle on the bathroom shelf, and stopped teasing. But she didn't forget.

That afternoon Mrs. Perrin went out to make some calls.

"Be a good girl, P'rapsy," she said as she left the house.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "You'll take cold," finally ventured the biggest little girl]

"Yessum," promised P'rapsy. But she must have added "P'raps" inside; for she ran straight to the back yard and called to the two little girls next door.

"Yoo-hoo!" she cried. "Come on over and go wading."

A pool of water had been left in the hollow of the yard by the heavy spring rains. "Dare you!" it seemed to twinkle up at P'rapsy.

"Oo-o-o, I da.s.sent!" cried the biggest little girl, carefully smoothing down her stiff, clean dress.

"Oo-o-o, I da.s.sent!" echoed the littlest little girl.

P'rapsy eyed them scornfully as she took off her shoes and stockings and splashed into the pool.

"'Fraid cats!" she jeered. "'Fraid cats! 'Fraid cats! 'Fraid cats!"

The little girls watched P'rapsy in scared silence.

"You'll take cold," finally ventured the biggest little girl.

"P'raps I will," retorted P'rapsy.

"You're getting wet," said the littlest little girl.

P'rapsy only sniffed. But it wasn't so very much fun, after all. P'rapsy kept hearing, "Be a good girl, P'rapsy." "Yessum."

When she had proved that she, at least, was not a 'fraid cat, P'rapsy splashed out.

"You needn't tell," she cried over her shoulder, as her bare feet twinkled back to the house.

That night Mrs. Perrin heard strange sounds in P'rapsy's room: "Ker-choo! Ker-choo! Ker-choo!" She went to the door. P'rapsy was sitting up in bed.

"I'b dot sick, babba," she explained. "I'b just--ker-choo!"

Mrs. Perrin left the room. When she returned she carried a big white bottle and a spoon.

"Do, do, do!" screamed P'rapsy, as her mother poured out the thick, slippery oil. "I'b dot----"

What she was "dot" was lost in a gurgle and a splutter as the oil slid down her throat.

[Ill.u.s.tration: When she returned she carried a big white bottle and a spoon]

P'rapsy was not happy. She drew the blankets up around her, and buried her head among the pillows.