Whenmotheraskedhertodinnershesaid：“Thankyoukindly。I
shouldbegladtogo，butmypeopleexpectmeathomeandtheywouldbeuneasy。Perhapsyouwouldallowmetorideoversomeweekdayandbecomeacquainted？“
Mothersaidshewouldbehappytohaveher，andShelleysaidsotoo，butSallywasnonetoocordial。Shehaddarkcurlsandpinkcheeksherself，andeveryonehadsaidshewastheprettiestgirlinthecountybeforeShelleybegantoblossomoutandshowwhatshewasgoingtobe。Sallynevermindedthat，butwhenthePrincesscameshewasalittletaller，andherhairwasatriflelonger，andheavier，andblacker，andhereyeswerealittlelargeranddarker，andwhereSallyhadpinkskinandredlips，thePrincesswasdarkasolive，andherlipsandcheekswerelikeredvelvet。Anyway，thePrincesshadsaidshewouldcomeover；
motherandShelleyhadbeendecenttoher，andSallyhadn’tbeenexactlyinsulting。ItwouldbealittlemorethanyoucouldexpectforhertobewildaboutthePrincess。Ibelieveshewaspleasedoverhavingbeeninvitedtodinner，andasshewasastrangershecouldn’tknowthatmotherhadwhatwecalledthe“invitationhabit。“
IhaveseenheraskfromfifteentotwentyinonetripdowntheaisleonSundaymorning。Shewantedthemtocometoo；themorewhocame，thebettershelikedit。IfthehitchingrackandbarnyardwerefullonSundayshejustbeamed。Ifthesermonpleasedher，sheinvitedmore。Thatmorningshewasfeelingsogoodsheaskedseventeen；andassheonlyhaddressedsixchickens——thirdtable，backsandham，formeasusual；butwhentheprospectswereasnow，IalwaysmanagedtocoaxafewgizzardsfromCandace；shedidn’tdaregivemelivers——theywerecounted。Almosteveryoneinthechurchwasthehappiestthatmorningtheyhadbeeninyears。Whenthepreachercame，hebreatheditfromtheair，anditworkedonhimsohepreachedthebestsermonheeverhad，andneverknewthatLeonmadehimdoit。
Maybeafterallit’sagoodthingtotellpeopleabouttheirmeannessandgivethemastirringuponceinawhile。
CHAPTERIII
Mr。Pryor’sDoor“GriefwillbejoyifonitsedgeFallsoftthatholiestray，JoywillbegriefifnofaintpledgeBethereofheavenlyday。“
HaveSallyandPetersaidanythingaboutgettingmarriedyet？“
askedmybigsisterLucyofmother。Lucywashomeonavisit。
Shewasbathingherbabyandmotherwassewing。
“Notaword！“
“Aretheyengaged？“
“Sallyhasn’tmentionedit。“
“Well，can’tyoufindout？“
“HowcouldI？“askedmother。
“Why，watchthemalittleandseehowtheyactwhentheyaretogether。Ifhekissesherwhenheleaves，ofcoursetheyareengaged。“
“ItwouldbebesttowaituntilSallytellsme，“laughedmother。
Iheardthisfromthebacksteps。NeithermothernorLucyknewI
wasthere。Iwentintoseeiftheywouldletmetakethebaby。
Ofcoursetheywouldn’t！Mothertookitherself。Shewasrocking，andsoftlysingingmyDutchsongthatIlovedbest；I
can’tspellit，butitsoundslikethis：
“Trus，trus，trill；
Derpowerridderfill，Fillsphringaveck，Plodschlicterpowerinderdreck。“
OnceIaskedmothertosingitinEnglish，andshecouldn’tbecauseitdidn’trhymethatwayandthewordswouldn’tfitthenotes；itwasjust，“Trot，trot，trot，aboyrodeacolt。Thecoltsprangaside；downwenttheboyinthedirt。“
“Aw，don’tsingmysongtothatlittlered，pug-nosedbald-head！“
Isaid。
Really，itwasaverynicebaby；IonlysaidthatbecauseI
wantedtoholdit，andmotherwouldn’tgiveitup。ItriedtocoaxMaytothedamsnakehunting，butshecouldn’tgo，soIhadtoamusemyself。Ihadadoll，butIneverplayedwithitexceptwhenIwasdresseduponSunday。Anyway，what’stheuseofadollwhenthere’salivebabyinthehouse？Ididn’tcaremuchformyplayhousesinceIhadseenonesomuchfinerthatLaddiehadmadeforthePrincess。OfcourseIknewmosswouldn’ttakerootinourorchardasitdidinthewoods，neitherwouldwillowcuttingsortheredflowers。Finally，Idecidedtogohunting。
Iwentintothegardenandgatheredeveryripetouch-me-notpodI
couldfind，andalltheportulaca。ThenIstrippedthetigerliliesofeachlittleblackballatthebasesoftheleaves，andtookallthefouro’clockseedtherewas。ThenIgotmybiggestalderpopgunandstarteduptheroadtowardSarahHood’s。
Iwasgoingalongsingingalittleverse；itwasn’tDutcheither；
theoldbabycouldhavethatifitwantedit。SoonasIgotfromsightofthehouseImadeapowderhornofacurledleaf，loadedmygunwithportulacapowder，rammedinatigerlilybullet，laidtheweaponacrossmyshoulder，andsteppedhighandlightlyasLaddiedoeswhenhe’sintheBigWoodshuntingforsquirrel。Itmusthavebeenmyownsinging——Iamrathergoodathearingthings，butInevernoticedasoundthattime，untilavoicelikearustysawsaid：“Goodmorning，Nimrod！“
Isprangfromthesoftdustandlandedamongthedogfennelofafencecorner，inaflyingleap。ThenIlooked。ItwasthePrincess’father，tall，andgray，andgrim，ridingabigblackhorsethatseemedasifithadbeencurriedwiththefinecombandbrushedwiththegreaserag。
“Goodmorning！“IsaidwhenIcouldspeak。
“AmIcorrectinthesurmisethatyouareonthechasewithapopgun？“heaskedpolitely。
“Yessir，“Ianswered，gettingmybreaththebestIcould。
ItcameeasierafterInoticedhedidn’tseemtobeangryaboutanything。
“Whereisyourhuntingground，andwhatgameareyouafter？“heaskedgravely。
“YoucanseethegreatAfricanjungleoverthere。Iamgoingtohuntforlionsandtigers。“
Youalwaysmustanswerpolitelyanyonewhospeakstoyou；andyougetsoundlythrashed，atleastatourhouse，ifyoudon’tbepolitestofalltoanolderpersonespeciallywithwhitehair。
Fatherisextremelyparticularaboutwhitehair。Itisa“crownofglory，“whenitisfoundinthewayoftheLord。MahlonPryorhadenoughcrownofgloryforthreemen，butmaybehiswasn’texactlyglory，becausehewasn’tinthewayoftheLord。Hewasinawayofhisown。Hemusthavehadmuchconfidenceinhimself。AtourhousewewouldrathertrustintheLord。Ionlytoldhimaboutthelionsandtigersbecauseheaskedme，andthatwasthewayIplayed。Butyoushouldhaveheardhimlaugh。Youwouldn’thavesupposedtoseehimthathecould。
“Umph！“hesaidatlast。“Iamalittlecuriousaboutyourammunition。Justhowtoyoubringdownyourprey？“
“Iuseportulacapowderandtigerlilybulletsonthetigers，andfouro’clocksonthelions，“Isaid。
Youcouldhaveheardhimamile，driedupashewas。
“Iusedtoweararedcoatandridetothehoundsfoxhunting，“
hesaid。“It’sgreatsport。Won’tyoutakemewithyoutothejungle？“
Ididn’twanthimintheleast，butifanyoneolderasksrightouttogowithyou，whatcanyoudo？Iamgoingtotellseveralthingsyouwon’tbelieve，andthisisoneofthem：Hegotoffhishorse，tiedittothefence，andclimbedoverafterme。HewentonaskingquestionsandofcourseIhadtotellhim。Mostofwhathewantedtoknow，hispeopleshouldhavetaughthimbeforehewastenyearsold，butfathersaystheydothingsdifferentlyinEngland。
“Theredoesn’tseemtobemanytreesinthejungle。“
“Well，there’sone，andit’saboutthemostimportantonourland，“Itoldhim。“Fatherwouldn’tcutitdownforafarm。Youseethatlittledarkbagnearlyasbigasyourfist，swingingoutthereonthatlimb？Well，everyspringoneofthesebirds，yellowasorangepeel，withvelvetblackwings，weavesanestlikethat，andoveronthatbigbranch，highup，onejustasbrightredastheotherisyellow，andthesameblackwings，buildsacradleforhisbabies。Fathersaysaredbirdandayellowonekeepinghouseinthesametreeisthebiggestthingthateverhappenedinourfamily。Theycomeeveryyearandthatistheirtree。Ibelievefatherwouldshootanyonewhodrovethemaway。“
“Yourfatherisagunneralso？“heasked，andIthoughthewaslaughingtohimself。
“He’senoughofagunnertobringmotherinawagonfromPennsylvaniaallthewayhere，andhekeptwolves，bears，Indians，andGypsiesfromher，andshotthingsforfood。Yessir，myfathercanshootifhewantsto，betterthananyofourfamilyexceptLaddie。“
“AnddoesLaddieshootwell？“
“Laddiedoeseverythingwell，“Iansweredproudly。“Hewon’ttrytodoanythingatall，untilhepractisessohecandoitwell。“
“ScoreoneforLaddie，“hesaidinaqueervoice。
“Areyouinahurryaboutthelionsandtigers？“
“Notatall，“heanswered。
“Well，hereIalwaysstopandletGovernorOglesbygoswimming，“
Isaid。
Mr。MahlonPryorsatonthebankofourLittleCreek，tookoffhishatandshookbackhishairasifthewindfeltgoodonhisforehead。IfishedDickOglesbyfromtheammunitioninmyapronpocket，andheldhimtowardthecrossoldman，andhewasn’tcrossatall。It’sfunnyhowyoucometogetsuchwrongideasaboutpeople。
“MybigmarriedsisterwholivesinWestchestersenthimtomelastChristmas，“Iexplained。“Ihaveanotherdoll，greatbig，withaScotchplaiddressmadefrompiecesofmine，butIonlyplaywithheronSundaywhenIdarenotdomuchelse。IlikeDickthebestbecausehefitsmyapronpocket。FatherwantedmetochangehisnameandcallhimOliverP。Morton，afterafriendofhis，butItoldhimthisdollhadtobecalledbythenamehecamewith，andifhewantedmetohaveonenamedforhisfriend，togetit，andI’dplaywithit。“
“Whatdidhedo？“
“Hedidn’twantonenamedMortonthatmuch。“
Mr。PryortookDickOglesbyinhisfingersandlookedathiscurlyblackhairandblueeyes，hischubbyoutstretchedarms，likeababywhenitwantsyoutotakeit，andhisplumplittlefeetandthewhiteshirtwithredstripesallapieceofhimashewasmade，andsaid：“Thehonourablegovernorofoursisterstateseemsalittleweighty；Iamatalosstounderstandhowheswims。“
“It’sanewway，“Isaid。“Hejuststandsstillandthewaterswimsaroundhim。It’sveryeasyforhim。“
ThenIcarriedDicktothewater，wadedinandstoodhimagainstastone。Somethingfunnyhappenedinstantly。Italwaysdid。I
founditoutonedaywhenIgotsomeapplebutteronthegovernorgivinghimabiteofmybread，andputhiminthewashbowltosoak。Hewastwoandahalfinchestall；buttheminuteyoustoodhiminwaterhewentdowntoabouthalfthatheightandspreadouttotwicehissizearound。YoushouldhaveheardMr。
Pryor。
“Ifyouwilllieonthebankandwatchyou’llhavemoretolaughatthanthat，“Ipromised。
Helaydownandneverpaidtheleastattentiontohisclothes。
PrettysoonalittlechubfishcameswimmingaroundtomakefriendswithGovernorOglesby，andthenashinerandsomemorechub。Theynibbledathishandsandtoes，andthenwentflashingaway，andfromunderthestonecamebackingabigcrayfishandseizedthegovernorbythelegandstarteddragginghim，soIhadtojumpinandstopit。Itookashotatthecrayfishwiththetigerammunitionandthenloadedforlions。
Wewentonuntilthemarshbecameathicketofcattails，bulrushes，willowbushes，andblueflags；thenIfoundapathwherethelionsleftthejungle，hidMr。Pryorandtoldhimhemustbeverystillortheywouldn’tcome。AtlastIheardone。
ItouchedMr。Pryor’ssleevetowarnhimtokeephiseyesonthetrail。Prettysoonthelioncameinsight。Reallyitwasonlyalittlegrayrabbithoppingalong，butwhenitwasoppositeus，I
pingeditintheside，itjumpedupandturnedasomersaultwithsurprise，andsquealedafunnylittlesqueal，——well，IwonderedifMr。Pryor’speopledidn’thearhim，andthinkhehadgonecrazyasPaddyRyan。Ineverdidhearanyonelaughso。I
thoughtifheenjoyeditlikethat，I’dlethimshootone。IdoMaysometimes；sowewenttoanotherplaceIknewwheretherewasatiger’sden，andIloadedwithtigerlilybullets，gavehimthegunandshowedhimwheretoaim。Afterwehadwaitedalongtimeoutcameamuskrat，andstartedfortheriver。IlookedtoseewhyMr。Pryordidn’tshoot，andtherehewasgazingatitasifasnakehadcharmedhim；hishandsshakingalittle，hischeeksalmostred，hiseyesverybright。
“Shoot！“Iwhispered。“Itwon’tstayallday！“
HeforgothowtopushtheramrodlikeIshowedhim，sohereachedoutandtriedtohititwiththegun。
“Don’tdothat！“Isaid。
“Butit’sgettingaway！It’sgettingaway！“hecried。
“Well，whatifitis？“Iasked，halfprovoked。“DoyousupposeI
reallywouldhurtapoorlittlemuskrat？Maybeithassixhungrybabiesinitshome。“
“OhTHATway，“hesaid，buthekeptlookingatit，sohemademethinkifIhadn’tbeenthere，hewouldhavethrownastoneorhititwithastick。Itisperfectlywonderfulabouthowsomemencan’tgetalongwithoutkillingthings，suchlittlebitsofhelplesscreaturestoo。Ithoughthe’dbetterbegotfromthejungle，soIinvitedhimtoseetheplaceatthefootofthehillbelowourorchardwheresomementhoughttheyhaddiscoveredgoldbeforethewar。TheyhadbeentoCaliforniain’49，andalthoughtheydidn’tcomehomewithmillions，oranythingelseexceptsickandtired，theythoughttheyhadlearnedenoughaboutgoldtoknowitwhentheysawit。
Itoldhimaboutitandhewasinterestedandanxioustoseetheplace。Iftherehadbeenashovel，Iamquitesurehewouldhavegonetodigging。Hekeptpokingaroundwithhisboottoe，andhesaidmaybetheyokelsdidn’tlookgood。
Hesaidourmeadowwasabeautifulplace，andwhenhepraisedthecreekItoldhimaboutthewildducks，andhelaughedagain。Hedidn’tseemtobethesamemanwhenwewentbacktotheroad。I
pulledsomesweetmarshgrassandgavehishorsebites，soMr。
PryoraskedifIlikedanimals。IsaidIlovedhorses，Laddie’sbestofall。HeaskedaboutitandItoldhim。
“Hasn’tyourfatherbutonethoroughbred？“
“Fatherhasn’tany，“Isaid。“FlosreallybelongstoLaddie，andwearemightygladhehasher。“
“Youshouldhaveonesoon，yourself，“hesaid。
“Well，iftherestofthemwillhurryupandmarryoff，sotheexpenseswon’tbesoheavy，maybeIcan。“
“Howmanyofyouarethere？“heasked。