Isawitcominganddodgedagain，beforeIrememberedtheCrusaders。
“Allright！“Isaid。“Ifthat’sthewayyouaregoingtoact，Smarty，I’lllayalltheblameonyou；Iwon’thelpyouabit，andIdon’tcareifyouarewhippeduntilthebloodruns。“
ThenIwentoutofthebarnandslammedthedoor。ForaminuteI
feltbetter；butitwasashorttime。ISAIDthattobemean，butIdidcare。Icareddreadfully；Iwaspartlytoblame，andI
knewit。Comingaroundthebarn，ImetLaddie，andhesawinaflashIwasintrouble，sohestoppedandasked：“Whatnow，Chicken？“
“Comeintothebarnwherenoonewillhearus，“Isaid。
Sowewentaroundtheoutside，enteredatthedoorontheembankment，andhesatinthewheelbarrowonthethreshingfloorwhileItoldhim。IthoughtIfeltbadlyenough，butafterIsawLaddie，itgrewworse，forIrememberedwewereshortofmoneythatfall，thatthegoosewasafine，expensiveone，andhowproudmotherwasofher，andhowshe’dbegrieved，andthatwastroubleforsure。
“Runalongandplay！“saidLaddie，“anddon’ttellanyoneelseifyoucanhelpit。I’llhidethegoose，andseeifIcangetanotherintimetotaketheplaceofthisone，somotherwon’tbeworried。“
Iwalkedtothehouseslowly，butIwasafraidtoenter。Whenyouareallchokedup，peoplearesuretoseeit，andaskfoolquestions。SoIwentaroundtothegateandstoodtherelookingupanddowntheroad，andoverthemeadowtowardtheBigWoods；
andallatonce，inoneofthosehigh，regularbuglecalls，liketheymostlyscreaminspring，oneofPryors’ganderssplittheechoesforamile；maybefarther。
IwasacrosstheroadandslinkingdowninsidethemeadowfencebeforeIknewit。Therewasnothoughtorplan。IstartedforPryors’andwentstraightahead，onlyIkeptoutoflinewithourkitchenwindows。Itrampedthroughtheslush，ice，andcrossedfieldswhereIwasafraidofhorses；butwhenIgottothetopofthePryorbackyardfence，Istuckthere，forthebulldogswereloose，andcameravingatme。Iwasgoingtobeeatenalive，forIdidn’tknowthewordLaddiedid；andthosedogsclimbedafencelikeaperson；IsawthemthetimeLeonbroughtbackEvenSo。I
wasthinkingwhatapityitwas，aftereveryonehadgrownaccustomedtome，andhadbegunlovingme，thatIshouldbewastedfordogfeed，whenMr。Pryorcametothedoor，andcalledthem；theydidn’tmind，sohecametothefence，andcrossestyoueverheard，everybitasbadasthedogs，hecried：“Whosebratareyou，andwhatareyoudoinghere？“
Imeanttotellhim；butyoumusthaveaminuteafterathinglikethat。
“Godofmylife！“hefairlyfrothed。“Whatdidanybodysendadumbchildherefor？“
“Dumbchild！“Ididn’tcareifMr。PryordidwearaCrownofGlory。Itwasn’tgoingtodohimoneparticleofgood，unlesshewasfoundinthewayoftheLord。“Dumbchild！“Iwasnomoredumbthanhewas，untilhisbulldogsscaredmesomyheartgotalltangledupwithmystomach，mylungs，andmyliver。Thatmadememad，andtherewasnothingthatwouldhelpmetoloosenupandtalkfast，likelosingmytemper。Iwonderedwhatkindofafatherhehad。Ifhe’dbeenstoodagainstthewallandmadetorecite，“Speakgently，“asoftenasallofus，perhapshe’dhaverememberedtheversethatsays：
“Speakgentlytothelittlechild；
Itslovebesuretogain；
Teachitinaccentssoftandmild；
Itmaynotlongremain。“
Ishouldthinknot，ifithadanychanceatalltogetaway！I
wassoangrybythattimeImeanttotellhimwhatIthought。
Politeornotpolite，I’dtakeaswitchingifIhadto，butI
wasn’tgoingtostandthat。
“Youhaven’tgotanyGodinyourlife，“Iremindedhim，“andnoonesentmehere。IcametoseethePrincess，becauseI’minawfultroubleandIhopedmaybeshecouldfixupawaytohelpme。“
“YeGods！“hecried。HewouldsticktocallingonGod，whetherhebelievedinHimornot。“Ifitisn’tNimrod！Ididn’trecognizeyouinallthatbundling。“
Probablyhedidn’tknowit，butNimrodwasfromtheBibletoo！
Bybundling，hemeantmyhoodandcoat。Hehelpedmefromthefence，sentthebulldogsrolling——sureenoughhedidkickthem，andtheydidn’tlikeiteither——tookmyhandandledmestraightintothehouse，andthePrincesswasthere，andawomanwhowashermothernodoubt，andhesaid：“Pamela，hereisourlittleneighbour，andshesaysshe’sintrouble，andshethinksyoumaybeofsomeassistancetoher。Ofcourseyouwillbegladifyoucan。“
“Surely！“saidthePrincess，andsheintroducedmetohermother，soIbowedthebestIknew，andtookoffmywetmitten，dirtywithclimbingfences，toshakehandswithher。ShewassograciousandlovelyIforgotwhatIwentafter。ThePrincessbroughtaclothandwipedthewetfrommyshoesandstockings，andaskedmeifIwouldn’tlikeacupofhotteatokeepmefromtakingachill。
“I’vebeenmuchwetterthanthis，“Itoldher，“andIneverhavetakenachill，andanywaymythroat’stoofulloftroubletodrink。“
“Why，youpoorchild！“saidthePrincess。“Tellmequickly！Isyourmotherillagain？“
“Notnow，butshe’sgoingtobeassoonasshefindsout，“I
said，andthenItoldthem。
TheyalllistenedwithoutasounduntilIgotwhereLeonhelpedthegooseeat，andfromthatonMr。Pryorlaugheduntilyoucouldeasilyseethathehadverylittlefeelingforsufferinghumanity。Itwasfunnyenoughwhenwefedher，butnowthatshewasburstedwideopentherewasnothingamusingaboutit；andtoroarwhenavisitorplainlytoldyoushewasinawfultrouble，didn’tseemverygoodmannerstome。ThePrincessandhermotherneverevensmiled；andbeforeIhadtoldnearlyallofit，ThomaswascalledtohitchthePrincess’drivingcart，andshetookmetotheirbarnyardtochoosethegoosethatlookedmostlikemother’s，andallofthemseemedlikehers，sowetookthefirstoneThomascouldcatch，putitintoabaginthebackofthecart，andthenwegotinandstartedforourbarn。Aswereachedtheroad，Isaidtoher：“You’dbettergopastDovers’，forifwecomedownourLittleHilltheywillseeussure；it’sbakingday。“
“Allright！“saidthePrincess，sowewentthelongwayroundthesection，butgoodnessme！whenshedrovenowaywasfar。
Whenwewereoppositeourbarnshestopped，hitchedherhorsetothefence，andweclimbedover，andslippingbehindthebarn，carriedthegoosearoundtothepenandputitinwithours。Shesaidshewantedthebrokenone，becauseherfatherwouldenjoyseeingit。Ididn’tseehowhecould！Wewerereadytoslipout，whenourgeesebegantorunatthenewone，hissandscream，andmakesucharacketthatLaddieandLeonbothcaughtus。Theylookedatthegoose，atme，thePrincess，andeachother，andneithersaidaword。Shelookedbackalittlebit，andthenshelaughedashardasshecould。Leongrewred，andhegrinnedashamed-like，soshelaughedworsethanever。Laddiespoketome：“YouwenttoMr。Pryor’sandaskedforthatgoose？“
“Shedidnot！“saidthePrincessbeforeIcouldanswer。“Sheneveraskedforanything。Shewasmakingafriendlymorningcallandinthecourseofhervisitshetoldaboutthepatheticendofthegoosethatwasexpectedtolaythegoldenegg——ImeanstufftheBishop’spillow——andaswehavealargeflockofbluegeese，fathergaveherone，andhehadthebesttimehe’shadinyearsdoingit。Iwouldn’thavehadhimmissthefunhegotfromitforanymoney。Helaughedlikehomeagain。NowImustslipawaybeforeanyoneseesme，andspoilsoursecret。Leon，lad，youcangotothehouseandtellyourlittlemotherthatthefeedingstoppedeverypainhergoosehad，andhereafteritlookstoyouasifshe’dbeallright。“
“MissPryor，“saidLeon，“didyoucareaboutwhatIsaidatyouinchurchthatday？“
“`Thouartallfair，mylove。Thereisnospotinthee。’Well，itwasalittlepointed，butsinceyouaskaplainquestion，I
havesurvivedit。“
“I’mawfullysorry，“saidLeon。“OfcourseIneverwould，ifI’dknownyoucouldbethisnice。“
ThePrincesslookedatLaddieandalmostgasped，andthenbothofthemlaughed。Leonsawthathehadtoldherhewassorryhesaidshewas“fair，andnospotinher。“
“OhIdon’tmeanthat！“hesaid。“WhatIdomeanisthatIthankyouawfulmuchforthegoose，andhelpingmeoutlikesuchabrickofagoodfellow，andwhatIwishis，thatIwasasoldasLaddie，andhe’dhumphimselfifhegottobeyourbeau。“
ThePrincessalmostran。LaddieandIfollowedtotheroad，whereheunhitchedthehorseandhelpedherin。Thenhestoodstrokingitsneck，asheheldthebridle。
“Idon’tknowwhattosay！“saidLaddie。
“Insuchcase，Iwouldcounselsilence，“advisedthePrincess。
“IhopeyouunderstandhowIthankyou。“
“Ifailtoseewhatfor。FathergavethegoosetoLittleSister。
HerthanksandLeon’saremorethanenoughforhim。Wehadgreatsport。“
“Iinsistonaddingmine。Deepandfervent！“
“Youtakeeverythingsoserious。Can’tyouseethefunofthis？“
“No，“saidLaddie。“Butifyoucan，Iamglad，andI’mthankfulforanythingthatgivesmeaglimpseofyou。“
“Bye，LittleSister，“saidthePrincess，andwhensheloosenedthelinesthemudflewarodhigh。
CHAPTERXI
KeepingChristmasOurWay“Iremember，IrememberHowmychildhoodfleetedby，——
ThemirthofitsDecember，AndthewarmthofitsJuly。“
WhenduskclosedinitwouldbeChristmaseve。AlldayIhadthreepoints——achairbesidethekitchentable，alookoutmeltedthroughthefrostonthefrontwindow，andthebigsitting-roomfireplace。
AlltheperfumesofArabyfloatedfromourkitchenthatday。
Therewasthatdelicioussmellofbakingflourfrombigsnowyloavesofbread，lightbiscuit，goldencoffeecake，andcinnamonrollsdrippingawaxymixtureofsugar，butter，andspice，muchbetterthanthefinestbutterscotcheverbroughtfromthecity。
Therewasthetemptingodourofboilinghamandbakingpies。TheairwasfilledwiththesmellofmoreherbsandspicesthanI
knewthenamesof，thatwentintomincemeat，fruitcake，plumpudding，andpies。Therewasateasingfragranceinthespicedvinegarheatingforpickles，areminderofwinesapandrambointheboilingcider，whilethenewlyopenedbottlesofgrapejuicefilledthehousewiththetangofConcordandmuscadine。ItseemedtomeInevergotnicelyfixedwhereIcouldtakeaslydipinthecakedoughorsnipeafatraisinfromthemincemeatbutCandacewouldsay：“Don’tyousupposethebacklogishalfwaydownthelane？“
ThenIhurriedtothefrontwindow，whereIcouldseethroughmymeltedoutlookonthefrostedpane，acrossthewesteightytothewoods，wherefatherandLaddieweregettingouttheChristmasbacklog。Itwastoobitterlycoldtokeepmetherewhiletheyworked，butLaddiesaidthatifIwouldwatch，andcometomeetthem，hewouldtakemeup，andImightridehomeamongtheChristmasgreensonthelog。
SoIflattenedmynoseagainstthepaneanddancedandfidgeteduntilthoseodoursteasedmebacktothekitchen；andnomoredidIgetnicelylocatedbesideajarofpuddingsaucethanCandacewouldobjecttotheplaceIhadhungherstocking。Itwasmytask，mydelightfulall-daytask，tohangthestockings。Fatherhadmademeapegforeachone，andIhadtenfeetofmantelfrontalongwhichtoarrangethem。Butitwasnosmalljobtodothistoeveryone’ssatisfaction。Nomatterwhathappenedtoanyoneelse，Candacehadtobepleased：fordidnotshesomanagethatmostfowlsservedonmother’stablewentgizzardlesstothecarving？Sheknewandacknowledgedthegreatimportanceoftryingcookies，pies，andcakewhiletheywerehot。Shewasforeveroverworkedandtired，yetshealwaysfoundtimetomakegingerbreadwomenwithcurrantbuttonsontheirfrocks，andpudgydoughnutmenwithcloveeyesandcigarsofcinnamon。Ifmyownstockinglayonthehearth，Candace’shadtogoinaplacethatsatisfiedher——thatwasonesurething。Besides，IhadtomakeuptoherforwhatLeondid，becauseshewascryingintothecornerofherapronaboutthat。
Heslippedinandstoleherstocking，hungitoverthebroomstick，andmarchedaroundthebreakfasttablesingingtothetuneof——
“Ha，ha，ha，whowouldn’tgo——
Uponthehousetopclick，click，click？
Downthroughthechimney，WithgoodSaintNick——“
wordshemadeuphimself。Hewalkedjustfastenoughthatshecouldn’tcatchhim，andsangashewent：
“Ha，ha，ha，goodSaintNick，Comeandlookatthisstocking，quick！
Ifyouundertakeitslengthtofill，You’llhavetobustaten-dollarbill。
Whodoesitbelongto？CandaceSwartz。
Bringextracandy，——sevenquarts——“
Shegotsoangryshejustroared，sofathermadeLeonstopit，butIcouldn’thelplaughingmyself。Thenwehadtopetherallday，soshe’dcheerup，andnotsalttheChristmasdinnerwithhertears。IneversawsuchamonkeyasLeon！Itrottedouttocomforther，andsnippedbites，untilIworeatriangleonthecarpetbetweenthekitchenandthemantel，themantelandthewindow，andthewindowandthekitchen，whileeveryhourthingsgrewmoreexciting。
ThereneverhadbeensuchaflurryatourhousesinceIcouldremember；forto-morrowwouldbeChristmasandbringhomeallthechildren，andahousefullofguests。Mybigbrother，Jerry，whowasalawyerinthecity，wascomingwithhisfamily，andsowereFrank，Elizabeth，andLucywiththeirs，andofcourseSallyandPeter——Iwonderedifshewouldstillbefixinghistie——andShelleycameyesterday，blushinglikearose，andshelaughedifyoupointedyourfingerather。
SomethinghadhappenedtoherinChicago。Iwasn’tsosureasI
hadbeenaboutacitybeingsuchadreadfulplaceofnoise，badair，andwickedpeople。NothinghadhurtShelley。Shehadgrownsomuchthatyoucouldseeshewaslarger。Herhairandface——
allofShelleyjustshone。Hereyesdanced，shetalkedandlaughedallthetime，andshehuggedeveryonewhopassedher。
Sheneverlovedussobefore。Leonsaidshemusthavebeenhomesickandcomingbackhadgivenheraspell。Ididhopeitwouldbeabadone，andlastforever。IwouldhavelikedforallourfamilytohavehadaspellifitwouldhavemadethemactandlooklikeShelley。ThePrincesswasnotaspecklovelier，andshedidn’tactanynicer。