CHAPTER XI.

LITTLE FLOSSY'S TRICK.

THE clock was striking eleven when they drove up to Uncle Glenn's house. What was their surprise, when papa had taken out mamma and her babies, to see Flossy come crawling from under the seat, and ask in her dog-voice to be taken out too!

"Why, Flossy, Flossy, how came you in there?" inquired mamma.

Bessie ran into the house and told her aunt:—

"Flossy has come; and nobody gave her leave."

"Flossy! Flossy who?" asked aunty.

Bessie hesitated a minute, and then said:—

"Flossy Corwin, you know."

"Well, she's very welcome."

Flossy seemed to think she had done something smart. She jumped up and down, and barked, licking Bessie's hand, and following close at her heels. All day long she wouldn't allow both of the children out of her sight at once.

Bessie went to walk with the twins, while Jamie took his nap in his cousin's crib. The boys wanted to show Tot a little bit of a pony that was eating in a field.

Flossy watched them putting on their hats, and began to bark in an excited manner. But when they went out of the door, and she saw Mrs. Corwin and Jamie were to be left behind, she ran from one to the other as if she couldn't decide whether to go or stay. At last she jumped on the sofa close by Jamie, who was then in his mamma's lap. She looked into the lady's face as if she wanted to say:—

"I'm safe here. I know my master wont return to Corwin's Nest without you and baby."

All the while Jamie slept, she lay at the foot of the crib just as she used to lie close to Bessie. If there was any stirring in the room, her black eyes were wide open to make sure the carriage didn't go off without her and her charge.

After a very pleasant visit with their friends, they started for home about an hour before sunset, having almost forgotten the disagreeable events of the previous day.

Nurse was watching for them from the nursery window, and ran to the door to take Jamie. As soon as she had him in her arms, she exclaimed:—

"I'm afraid that naughty Lewis took Flossy off with him. We've searched everywhere for her."

"She's here," cried Bessie, eagerly. "She hid under the seat and went with us. We've had a beautiful time."

Flossy now came out from her hiding-place, and began to bark joyfully.

"O you naughty dog," said nurse, laughing. "You've made me waste ever so much time."

"You seem to be in high spirits, nurse," said her mistress when she had reached the nursery. "Is it because you've made everything so nice here?"

"We're all in good spirits, ma'am, even to John and Alick. It seems, ma'am, as if we never rightly thought upon our mercies before. Supposing we lived with Mrs. McIntire, and had that rollicking Lewis instead of our sweet little Bessie! Why, ma'am, the thought of it is enough to craze us, and cook says the same."

"Haven't you a word of praise for your master?" asked the lady, smiling.

"He doesn't need any praise, ma'am, such a Christian gentleman as he is, with the most generous heart that ever was."

"Well, nurse, it's well for all of us to think of our mercies. Surely I have reason to say, my heavenly Father has led me in a pleasant path. We certainly have a sweet home in Corwin's Nest."

At this moment Nancy came in smiling, and set a vase of flowers on the mantel.

"Every thing is in order, ma'am," she said, "just as it was before the company came. If it wasn't for John's bruised hands and the broken angel, you wouldn't guess who'd been here knocking the house upside down."

"Did you go to town, nurse?" asked her mistress.

"Yes, ma'am, though the searching for Flossy made me late. I carried the little angel, and the man said it would be ready for you in two days' time. He said you'd never know where 'twas broken."

"Will you come down to the dining-room, ma'am, and see the carpet? That patent soap took the grease all out."

"Yes, Nancy; and I want to speak to cook."

"Welcome home, missis," exclaimed cook, wiping her hand on her apron, and extending it cordially. "I expect nurse have told you, we've got our eyes open to a few things. I sha'n't feel right till I confess that I had angry thoughts in my heart last night. I'm thankful now that I held my tongue when I wanted to talk to that boy's mother. She'll have trouble enough without my adding to it."

"Yes, cook," said her mistress, kindly, "no one can disobey God's commands without punishment. He says to parents, Spare the rod, and spoil the child. Spare not a child for his crying. It is necessary to teach a child obedience in his youth; or he will not only be miserable himself, but those connected with him will suffer."

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