Youcan’tblamemymothersomuch。Shemusthavebeentiredofbabiesanddislikedtogobackandbeginalloverafterrestingsixyears。Andyoumustn’tbetoohardonmyfatherifhewasnotjustoverjoyed。Hefeltsurethecookwouldleave，andshedid。HeknewSallywouldobjecttoababy，whenshewantedtobeginhavingbeaus，soheandmothertalkeditoverandsentherawayforalongvisittoOhiowithfather’speople，andnevertoldher。TheyintendedtoleaveherthereuntilIwasoverthecolic，atleast。Theyknewthebigmarriedbrothersandsisterswouldobject，andtheydid。Theysaiditwouldbeembarrassingfortheirchildrentobetheniecesandnephewsofanauntoruncleyoungerthanthemselves。Theysaiditsooftenandsoemphaticallythatfatherwasprovokedandmothercried。Shelleydidn’tlikeitbecauseshewasgoingtoschoolinGroveville，whereLucy，oneofourmarriedsisters，lived，andshewasafraidIwouldmakesomuchworkshewouldhavetogiveupherbooksandfriendsandremainathome。ThereneverwasababybornwhowasanylesswantedthanIwas。Iknewasmuchaboutitasanyoneelse，becausefromthedayIcouldunderstand，allofthem，father，mother，Shelley，SarahHood，everyonewhoknew，tookturnstellingmehowbadlyIwasnotwanted，howmuchtroubleI
made，andhowLaddiewastheonlyonewholovedmeatfirst。
BecauseofthatIwasonthecordwoodtryingtofindcouragetogofarther。OverandoverLaddiehadtoldmehimself。HehadbeentovisitourbigsisterElizabethoverSundayandabouteighto’clockMondaymorninghecameridingdowntheroad，andsawthemostdreadfulthing。Therewasnotacurlofsmokefromthechimneys，notatableclothorpillowslipontheline，notablindraised。Laddiesaidhisheartwent——justlikeminedidwhentheSomethingjumpedinthecreekbed，nodoubt。Thenhelaidonthewhipandrode。
Heflungthereinoverthehitchingpost，leapedthefenceandreachedthebackdoor。Theyounggreengirl，whowasallfathercouldgetwhenthecookleft，wascrying。SowereShelleyandlittleMay，althoughshesaidafterwardshehadaboilonherheelandtherewasnoonetopoulticeit。Laddieleanedagainstthedoorcasing，anditiseasyenoughtounderstandwhathethought。Hetoldmehehadtotrytwicebeforehecouldspeak，andthenhecouldonlyask：“What’sthematter？“
ProbablyMayneverthoughtshewouldhavethechance，buttheothersweresobusycryingharder，nowthattheyhadanaudience，thatshewasfirsttotellhim：“Wehavegotalittlesister。“
“GreatDay！“criedLaddie。“Youmademethinkwehadafuneral！
Whereismother，andwhereismyLittleSister？“
Hewentboltingrightintomother’sroomandkissedherlikethegladdestboyalive；becausehewasonlyaboythen，andhetoldherhowhappyhewasthatshewassafe，andthenheASKEDforme。
HesaidIwastheonlylivingcreatureinthathousewhowasnotsheddingtears，andIdidn’tbeginforaboutsixmonthsafterward。Infact，notuntilShelleytaughtmebypinchingmeifshehadtorockthecradle；thenIwouldcrysohardmotherwouldhavetotakeme。Hesaidhedidn’tbelieveI’deverhavelearnedbymyself。
Hetookapillowfromthebed，fixeditintherockingchairandlaidmeonit。WhenhefoundthatfatherwashitchingthehorsestosendLeonforDoctorFenner，LaddierodebackafterSarahHoodandspoiledherwashing。Itmaybethattheinteresthealwaystookinmehaditsbeginninginallofthemscaringhimwiththeirweeping；evenSally，whomfatherhadtotelegraphtocomehome，wasupstairscrying，andshewasalmostawoman。ItmaybethatallthetearstheyshedovernotwantingmesoscaredLaddiethathewentfartherinhiswelcomethanheeverwouldhavethoughtofgoingifhehadn’tdoneitforjoywhenhelearnedhismotherwassafe。Idon’tcareaboutthereason。ItisenoughformethatfromthehourofmybirthLaddienamedmeLittleSister，seldomcalledmeanythingelse，andcaredformeallhepossiblycouldtorestmother。Hetookmetothefieldswithhiminthemorningandbroughtmebackonthehorsebeforehimatnoon。Hecouldplowwithmeridingthehorse，driveareaperwithmeonhisknees，andhoecornwhileIsleptonhiscoatinafencecorner。Thewintershewasawayatcollegeleftmelonely，andwhenhecamebackforavacationIwastoohappyforwords。
Maybeitwaswrongtolovehimmost。Iknewmymothercaredforandwantedmenow。AndallmysecretswerenotwithLaddie。I
hadonewithfatherthatIwasnevertotellsolongashelived，butitwasabouttheonehelovedbest，nextaftermother。
PerhapsIshouldnevertellit，butIwouldn’tbesurprisedifthefamilyknew。IfollowedLaddielikeafaithfuldog，whenI
wasnotgrippinghiswavinghairandridingintriumphonhisshoulders。Heneverhadtogosofasthecouldn’ttakemeonhisback。Heneverwasintoobigahurrytobekind。Healwayshadpatiencetoexplaineveryshell，leaf，bird，andflowerIaskedabout。Iwasjustasmuchhiswhenprettyyounggirlswerearound，andthehousefullofcompany，aswhenwewerealone。
ThatwasthereasonIwasshiveringonthecordwood，grippinghisletterandthinkingofallthesethingsinordertoforcemyselftogofarther。
IwasexcitedabouttheFairiestoo。Ioftenhadclosechancesofseeingthem，butIalwaysjustmissed。NowherewasLaddiewritinglettersandexpectinganswers；ourBigWoodsEnchanted，aMagicCarpetandtheQueen’sdaughterbecomingoursizesoshecouldspeakwithhim。NodoubttheQueenhadhergrowbigasShelley，whenshesentheronanerrandtotellLaddieabouthowtomakesunshine；becauseshewasafraidifshewentherrealsizehewouldaccidentallysteponher，hewassodreadfullybig。
Ormaybehervoicewassofinehecouldnothearwhatshesaid。
HehadtoldmeIwastohurry，andIhadgoneasfastasIcoulduntilSomethingjumped；since，IhadbeensettledonthatcordwoodlikeRobinsonCrusoeonhisdesertisland。Ihadtogetdownsometime；Imightaswellstart。
Igrippedtheletter，slidtotheground，andrantowardthebiggatestraightbeforeme。Iclimbedit，clutchedthenoteagain，andranblindlydowntheroadthroughtheforesttowardthecreek。Icouldhurrythere。OneithersideofitIcouldnothaveruntenstepsatatime。ThebigtreesreachedsohighabovemeitseemedasiftheywouldpushthroughthefloorofHeaven。ItriedtoshutmyearsandrunsofastIcouldn’thearasound，andsogoing，Isooncametothecreekbank。ThereI
turnedtomyrightandwentslower，watchingforthepawpawthicket。OnleavingtheroadIthoughtIwouldhavetocrawloverlogsandmakemyway；butthereseemedtobekindofapathnotveryplain，buttravelledenoughtofollow。Itledstraighttothethicket。AttheedgeIstoppedtolookforthebeech。Itcouldbereachedinonebreathlessdash，butthereseemedtobeagreenenclosure，soIwalkedarounduntilIfoundanentrance。
OncethereIwassoamazedIstoodandstared。Iwashalfindignanttoo。
Laddiehadn’tdoneathingbutmakeanexactcopyofmyplayhouseunderthebiggestmaiden’s-blushinourorchard。Heusedtheimmensebeechforonecorner，whereIhadtheappletree。HisMagicCarpetwaswoolly-dogmoss，andallthemagicaboutit，wasthatonthedampwoodsfloor，inthedeepshade，themosshadtakenrootandwasgrowingasifitalwayshadbeenthere。HehadbeenabletocutandstickmuchlargerwillowsproutsforhiswallsthanIcould，andinthewetblackmouldtheydidn’tlookasiftheyeverhadwilted。Theyweresofreshandgreen，nodoubttheyhadtakenrootandweregrowing。WhereIhadalowbenchundermytree，hehadusedalog；buthehadhewedthetopflat，andmadeamosscover。Ineachcornerhehadsetafernashighasmyhead。Oneithersideoftheentrancehehadplantedaclusterofcardinalflowerthatwasinfullbloom，andaroundthewallsinafewplacesthriftybunchesofOswegoteaandfoxfire，thatIwouldhavewalkedmilestosecureformywildgardenundertheBartlettpeartree。Itwassobeautifulittookmybreathaway。
“IftheQueen’sdaughterdoesn’tlikethis，“Isaidsoftly，“she’llhavetogotoHeavenbeforeshefindsanythingbetter，fortherecan’tbeanotherplaceonearthsopretty。“
Itwaswonderfulhowthesoundofmyownvoicegavemecourage，evenifitdidseemalittlestrange。SoIhurriedtothebeech，kneltandslippedtheletterinthebox，andputbackthebarkandstone。LaddiehadsaidthatnothingcouldhurtmewhileI
hadtheletter，somyprotectionwasgoneassoonasitleftmyhands。
Therewasnothingbutmyfeettosavemenow。IthankedgoodnessIwasafinerunner，andstartedforthepawpawthicket。Oncethere，Ipausedonlyoneminutetoseewhetherthewaytothestreamwasclear，andwhilestandingtenseandgazing，Iheardsomething。Foraninstantitwaseverybitasbadasatthedrycreek。ThenIrealizedthatthiswasasoftvoicesinging，andI
forgoteverythingelseinaglowofdelight。ThePrincesswascoming！
NeverinallmylifewasIsosurprised，andastonished，andbewildered。ShewasevenlargerthanourSally；herdresswaspalegreen，likeIthoughtaFairy’sshouldbe；hereyesweredeepanddarkasLaddiehadsaid，herhairhungfromapartinthemiddleofherforeheadoverhershoulders，andifshehadbeeninthesun，itwouldhavegleamedlikeablackbird’swing。
ShewasjustasLaddiesaidshewouldbe；shewassomuchmorebeautifulthanyouwouldsupposeanywomancouldbe，Istoodtheredumblystaring。Iwouldn’thaveaskedforanyonemoreperfectlybeautifulormorelikeLaddiehadsaidthePrincesswouldbe；butshewasnomorethedaughteroftheFairyQueenthanIwas。ShewasnotanymoreofaPrincess。Iffathereverwouldtellallaboutthelittlebaublehekeptinthetillofhisbigchest，maybeshewasnotasnear！ShewasnooneonearthbutoneofthosenewEnglishpeoplewhohadmovedonthelandthatcorneredwithoursonthenorthwest。Shehadriddenovertheroads，andbeenatourmeetinghouse。Therecouldbenomistake。
Andneitherfathernormotherwouldwantheronourplace。Theydidn’tlikeherfamilyatall。Mothercalledthemtheneighbourhoodmystery，andfatherspokeofthemastheInfidels。
Theyhaddroppedfromnowhere，mothersaid，boughtthatsplendidbigfarm，movedonandshutouteveryone。Beforeanyoneknewpeoplewereshutout，mother，dressedinherfinest，withLaddiedriving，wentinthecarriage，allshining，tomakefriendswiththem。Thisverygirlopenedthedoorandsaidthathermotherwas“indisposed，“andcouldnotseecallers。“In-dis-posed！“
That’sagoodwordthatfillsyourmouth，butourmotherdidn’tlikehavingitusedtoher。Shesaidthe“saucychit“wasinsulting。Thenthemancame，andhesaidhewasverysorry，buthiswifewouldseenoone。Hedidinvitemotherin，butshewouldn’tgo。Shetoldusshecouldseepasthimintothehouseandtherewassuchfineryasneverinallherdayshadshelaideyeson。Shesaidhewasmannerlyascouldbe，buthehadthecoldest，severestfacesheeversaw。
Theyhadtwomenandawomanservant，andnoonecouldcoaxawordfromthem，aboutwhythosepeopleactedastheydid。Theysaid’orse，and’ouse，andHengland。Theytalkedsofunnyyoucouldn’thaveunderstoodthemanyway。Theyneverplowedorputinacrop。Theymadeeverythingintoameadowandhadmorehorses，cattle，andsheepthanacountyfair，andeverythingyoueverknewwithfeathers，evenpeacocks。Wecouldhearthemscreamwheneveritwasgoingtorain。Fathersaidtheysoundedheathenish。Iratherlikedthem。Themanhadstacksofmoneyortheycouldn’thavelivedthewaytheydid。Hecametoourhousetwiceonbusiness：oncetoseeaboutroadlaws，andagainabouttaxrates。Fatherwasmightilypleasedatfirst，becauseMr。
Pryorseemedtohavebooks，andtoknoweverything，andfatherthoughtitwouldbefinetobeneighbours。ButtheminuteMr。
Pryorfinishedbusinesshebegantoarguethateverysinglethingfatherandmotherbelievedwaswrong。HesaidrightoutinplainEnglishthatGodwasamyth。Fathertoldhimprettyquicklythatnomancouldsaythatinhishouse；soheleftsuddenlyandhadnotbeenbacksince，andfatherdidn’twanthimevertocomeagain。
Thentheirneighboursoftensawthewomanaroundthehouseandgarden。Shelookedandactedquiteaswellasanyone，soprobablyshewasnothalfsosickasmymother，whohadnursedthreeofusthroughtyphoidfever，andthenhaditherselfwhenshewasalltiredout。Shewouldn’tletasoulknowshehadapainuntilshedroppedoverandcouldn’ttakeanotherstep，andfatherorLaddiecarriedhertobed。Butshewenteverywhere，sawallherfriends，anddidmoregoodfromherbedthananyotherwomaninourneighbourhoodcouldonherfeet。SowethoughtmightylittleofthosePryorpeople。
Everyonesaidthegirlwaspretty。Thenherclothesdrovetheotherwomencrazy。Someofourneighbourhoodcamefromfardowneast，likemymother。Ourpeoplebackalittlewerefromoverthesea，andtheyknewhowthingsshouldbe，toberight。ManyoftheotherswerefromKentuckyandVirginia，andtheywerewelldressed，proud，handsomewomen；nonebetterlookinganywhere。
Theyfollowedthefashionsandspentmuchtimeandmoneyontheirclothes。WhenitwasQuarterlyMeetingortheBishopdedicatedthechurchortheywenttotownoncourtdays，youshouldhaveseenthem——untilPryorscame。Thensomethingnewhappened，andnotawomaninourneighbourhoodlikedit。PamelaPryordidn’tfollowthefashions。Shesetthem。Ifeveryotherwomanmadelongtightsleevestotheirwrists，shelethersflowtotheelbowandfilledthemwithsilklining，ruffledwithlace。Iftheyworehighneckbands，shehadnone，andusedaflatlacecollar。Iftheycuttheirwaistsstraightaroundandgatheredtheirskirtsonsixyardsfull，sheranhersdowntoalittlepointfrontandback，thatmadeherlookslenderer，andputonlyhalfasmuchgoodsinherskirt。MaybeLaddierodeaswellasshecould；hecouldn’tmanageahorseanybetter，andasidefromhimtherewasn’tamanweknewwhowouldhavetriedtoridesomeoftheanimalsshedid。