human
Oh, Polly! cried Joel, who was prancing as of old over the kitchen floor,
gpt
I said a good many silly things in those days,
human
Some silly ones, and a good many wise ones, observed Mother Pepper, over in her little old rocker in the west window, where she used to sit sewing up coats and sacks for the village storekeeper.
gpt
You kept us together many a time, Polly, when nothing else could.
human
Oh! no, I didn't, Mamsie, protested Polly, guilty of contradicting,
gpt
Baked and brewed, and fussed and stewed,
human
Polly was just lovely in those days, said Davie, coming across the room to lay a cool cheek against her rosy one.
gpt
I liked the rainy days best when we all could stay in the house, and hear her sing and tell stories while she was working.
human
She was cross sometimes, cried Joel, determined not to let reminiscences become too comfortable;
gpt
You poor Joey, I suppose I was dreadful!
human
You didn't catch one half as bad scoldings as belonged to you, put in Ben, thrusting another stick in the stove.
gpt
You were a bad lot, Joe, in those days.
human
And not over good in these, cried old Mr. King, ensconced in the snuggest corner in the seat of honor, the high-backed rocker that comforted Phronsie after her little toe was hurt.
gpt
There, now, my boy, how's that?
human
Do you remember when the old stove used to plague you, Polly? cried Joel, suddenly changing the conversation.
gpt
And how Ben's putty was everlastingly tumbling out? Hoh--hoh!
human
And you two boys were always stuffing up the holes for me, when Ben was away,
gpt
I didn't so much, said Joel honestly,
human
Dave was always giving boot-tops and such things.
gpt
Boot-tops! repeated Mr. King in astonishment.
human
Bless me, I didn't know that they had anything in common with stoves.
gpt
Oh! that was before we knew you, said Joel, ready in advance of any one else with the explanation;
human
Oh!
gpt
He is as good as gold, assented Mrs. Pepper heartily.
human
You've done something, I'm sure, Polly. The medical books you bought out of your pocket money, and sent him, pleased him more than anything you could give him.
gpt
But I want to do something now, said Polly.
human
Oh! just think how good he was to us.
gpt
May we never forget it!
human
But he's very unwise, said Mr. King a trifle testily,
gpt
Oh! Dr. Fisher wouldn't leave Badgertown, cried all the Peppers in a bunch.
human
And what would the poor people here do without him?
gpt
Well, well, never mind, he won't come to town, and that's enough, said the old gentleman quickly.
human
Aside from that, he's a sensible chap, and one quite to my liking.
gpt
Oh, Polly! cried Phronsie suddenly, and lifting her head, she fastened her brown eyes on the face above her,
human
The flowers were pretty, but the cake was heavy, don't you remember?
gpt
I thought it was just beautiful, cried Mrs. Pepper hastily.
human
No one could have baked it better in the old stove you had. I'm sure we ate it all up, every crumb.
gpt
We kept it in the old cupboard, cried Joel, rushing over to the corner to swing the door open.
human
And we never once peeked, Mamsie, so afraid you'd suspect.
gpt
You kept staring at the cupboard door all the evening, Joe, you know you did, cried Ben;
human
You were always sending me off to bed in those days,
gpt
I wish we could do so now,
human
And those two, Joel went on, pointing to Polly and Ben,
gpt
I liked the secrets best not to know them till Polly and Ben got ready to tell us, said David slowly;
human
I want to go and see dear good Mr. Beebe, she said presently,
gpt
To be sure, cried Mrs. Pepper,
human
Beebe-Beebe, and who is he, pray?
gpt
Oh! he keeps the shoe shop over in the Center, explained three or four voices,
human
And he gave me pink and white candy-sticks, said Phronsie,
gpt
And Mrs. Beebe gave us doughnuts all around, communicated Joel;
human
I don't know but that I liked those best. There was more to them.
gpt
So you always bought your new shoes of the Beebes?
human
We didn't ever have new shoes that I can remember, said Joel quickly,
gpt
Oh!
human
You see, said Phronsie, shaking her head gravely, while she laid one hand on his knee,
gpt
Yes, yes, child, said old Mr. King;
human
No, no, you're not going to talk yet, seeing Percy and Van beginning violent efforts to join in the conversation.
gpt
Let the Peppers have a chance to talk over old times first. See how good Jasper is to wait.
human
I would much prefer to hear the Peppers talk forever, said Jasper, smiling down on the two Whitneys,
gpt
Oh! there is so much, said Polly despairingly, clasping her hands,
human
and she rushed over to her,
gpt
Yes, do say yes, echoed Jasper, also rushing to the side of the little rocking-chair.
human
You will, won't you, Mrs. Pepper?
gpt
Hoh! hoh! cried the two Whitneys derisively,
human
I thought you could 'hear the Peppers talk forever.' That's great, Jasper.
gpt
Well, when it comes to hearing a proposal for a baking frolic, my principles are thrown to the wind, said Jasper recklessly.
human
Why, boys, that's the first thing I remember about the little brown house. Do say yes, Mrs. Pepper!
gpt
Well, I declare! exclaimed Grandma Bascom, opening the door and looking in,
human
I never!
gpt
Come in, cried Mr. King sociably. His night over at the parsonage had been a most fortunate experiment.
human
I haven't slept so finely in ten years, he confided to Mrs. Whitney as they met at breakfast at the minister's table. So now, his face wreathed with smiles, he repeated his invitation.
gpt
Come in, do, Mrs. Bascom; we're glad to see you.
human
I never!