Fledglings
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FIRST STORIES FOR VERY LITTLE FOLK
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Boys And Girls Bookshelf
BY LUCY FITCH PERKINS
I saw a stork on a chimney high,
And called to him as I passed by,
"O stork! what'll you bring,
Tucked away carefully under your wing?
A baby sister and a brother,
One for me, and one for mother."
"TIME TO GET UP!"
BY ELLEN FOSTER
Little Elinor Gray lived in a
ig city, but her grandmother lived in a
big house in the country. Elinor and her Nurse Norah were going to visit
her, and had to take a long ride in the railway-train, and another ride
in a carriage that Grandmother sent to meet them, so it was almost dark
when they drove up to the door.
Elinor's grandmother had two beautiful dogs--"Bruno," a big collie, and
"Bounder," a little fox-terrier. And when they saw the little girl jump
out of the carriage, they barked and barked because they were so glad to
see her. And they said to themselves (I think they said to
themselves): "We will let her have a good sleep to-night, for she must
be very tired and it is nearly dark. But to-morrow, bright and early, we
will ask her to come for a romp with us in the garden, and show her how
much nicer it is to live in the country than in the city, where little
girls have to walk so quietly along the streets, and dogs have to be led
along the sidewalk, and cannot frolic on the soft green grass."
Elinor was very sleepy after her long ride in the train, and so, after
she had had her supper, her grandmother told her she might go to bed
early and get a good sleep, and that Nurse Norah would call her at seven
o'clock in the morning.
But what do you think happened? Why, Bruno and Bounder somehow got into
the house before seven o'clock that morning, and came leaping up the
stairs, and went straight to Elinor's door. Elinor was a very sound
sleeper, and did not hear them at first, and did not wake up. But soon
Bounder began to scratch at the door with his little, sharp claws and to
make queer little whine-y sounds; and Bruno's bushy tail went "Rap! rap!
rap!" on the door, too. Then Elinor woke up, and listened a moment, and
then she said: "Oh, I know what it is! It's those darling dogs!" And
she jumped out of bed and opened the door, and there, sure enough, was
Bounder, dashing right into the room, barking, "Good morning! good
morning!" and big Bruno, looking at Elinor as if saying, "Good morning!
didn't you hear us? It's time to get up!"
Elinor said: "Oh, you beauties! Yes, I know! And I'll get dressed right
away!"
But what do you think happened then! Why, Bruno and Bounder didn't
give her time even to call Nurse Norah and get dressed. You see, Bruno
and Bounder did not often have so nice a little visitor, and they were
ready to begin play that very minute. Bounder was jumping up and down
and all over the room, and at last he spied Elinor's slippers on the
floor and caught up one of them between his sharp little teeth and ran
round and round the room with it. But Bruno chased Bounder all round the
room trying to make him drop the slipper, while Elinor stood still and
laughed and laughed and laughed!
But just then Nurse Norah came rushing in from the next room, asking
what was the matter and in a minute, the naughty Bounder was made to
give up Elinor's slipper, and Bruno chased him all the way out of the
house.
And just as soon as Elinor had had her breakfast, she ran out and had a
fine romp with Bruno and Bounder in Grandmother's garden.