The First Little Pet Book with Ten Short Stories in Words of Three and Four Letters

by Aunt Fanny

  "Just then the kind doc-tor came in; for it was now Will's turn. Hedid look at his side; he felt his brow and his cold hand; then he gaveme a look, a sad, sad look--it said: 'It is no use to try, I can notsave him.'

  "And now my Will's face grew pale and pale; his head sank down; hisblue eyes were dim. He put his hand out to me, for now he did not seeme; I took it, and laid it on my neck. He drew my face, all wet withbig tears, down to his, and I could just hear him say: 'I love you, Ohow I love you! But God calls me; I will wait for you at His feet.Good-by.' Then he gave me his last kiss, and then--he was dead."

  The poor old man hid his face in his hand. His sobs were so sad tohear, that Bell and Lou felt as bad as the poor man, and did cry andsob with him, and wish the war had ne-ver come, to give all this woeand pain to a good man.

  At last the old man got up to go. Then Bell said to Lou in a low tone:"Let us give this poor man the gold coin we have had so long. It willbuy him a new coat."

  "O yes, yes!" said Lou. So she ran in and got it, and then they bothsaid: "Here, good old man, take this; it will not make you less sadfor the loss of your dear boy, but it will buy you food or a coat; webeg you to take it."

  With a look of love at those dear ones who were so kind, the old mantook the gold. "May God bless you!" said he. "You are His own lambs.I will pray for you; and when you die and I die, may we all meet myown dear Will, who is now with Him, safe from the pain and sin of thislife."

  Then he bade them good-by, and went with slow and sad steps down theroad.

  ANN, THE GOOD GIRL;

  OR,

  IS IT BEST TO MIND OR NOT TO MIND?

  "O dear! dear!" said Ann, in a fret, "how it does rain! It is justpour, pour all the time. When _will_ it stop? Why must it rain when Iwant to go out? The sky is like a big gray pan up-side down, and solow it will fall on top of the hill, if it does not mind. What is theuse of rain? O my! I do wish the sun was out."

  "Come here, my dear," said her mam-ma, in a soft, kind tone, "will youhelp me with this blue yarn? I want to wind it, and then knit it intomitts for the good men who have gone to the war."

  "O dear! yes, mam-ma, I am glad to do that; to be sure I will."

  You see Ann was not a bad girl; but she had no work to do, and she didnot want to play just then with Miss Kate June, her new doll. Ann hadbeen born in June, and just as sure as each new June came, she got anew doll for a gift from her mam-ma.

  Miss Kate June made six dolls that she had; so you can tell by thathow old she was.

  And now she held the blue yarn, and mam-ma soon made a big ball of it.She had just got to the end, when down fell the ball out of her hand.A gray kit was on the rug; and when the ball fell, she was sure it wasfor her to play with; so she flew to get it, and Ann flew to get ittoo; and both had such fun, and a real good romp!

  Dear me! how the ball did roll! and how the kit did jump! and how Anndid run to get it! and what a nice time they both had! Ann's blueeyes were full of glee, and let me tell you, she did not look out onceat the rain.

  At last she got the ball away from the kit, and gave it to her mam-ma,with a kiss.

  Then mam-ma said: "Do you care for the rain now?"

  "Not a bit."

  "Will you do some more work for me?"

  "O yes! mam-ma, I like to work for you;" and a soft look of love cameinto her blue eyes.

  "Well, my dear, I like to have you. And now, for fear the kit willwant to jump up in my lap to get at my ball, just tie this bit of tapeto this cork, and hang it on that nail in the wall. Now, give it atoss to and fro, and you will see kit jump at once to bite it, and tapit with her paw."

  Ann did as she was bid. She gave the cork a toss in the air, when upflew the kit like a shot. She hit it with both paws; she did jump upwith all four of her legs high in the air; and you may be sure thatshe had no end of fun and play.

  Just then, old Aunt Peg, the cook, came in. She was a good old soul,tho' her face was so dark, and her hair was made of wool. She was sofond of Ann, she did just what the wee girl told her to do. If Ann wentto Aunt Peg, and put her soft hands on the neck of the old cook, andlaid her head on her dark hand, and said, "O dear Aunt Peg! do make me apie to-day, and I will love you _so_ much," then, let me tell you, AuntPeg set to work at once, and a fine pie was made in less than an hour.

  Well, this day, Aunt Peg said: "What am I to cook, ma'am?"

  "Oh!" said mam-ma, "we will have some ham and eggs, and peas, andrice, and----"

  "_Pie!_" said Ann. "O yes! you must make me a big pie, Aunt Peg, oryou will get your head shot off."

  "O good-y! I hope not, Miss Ann," said Aunt Peg. "If you cut my headoff, I shall hop up and down like the poor hen who flew in our yardfrom next door with her head off; and then all the pies you will getwill be the dirt pies you make your-self; and they are not as good toeat as mine, are they?"

  "Oh! I was in fun, dear Aunt Peg," said Ann. "You must not have yourdear old head cut off;" and she ran up to the cook, and took her hand,and gave it two soft, kind pats.

  Then the good old soul went off to make the pie, and fry the ham andeggs, and boil the peas and rice.

  Ann sat down to make a red silk bag for her mam-ma, to keep her ballof blue yarn in. It was not more than half done, when all at once therain did stop, and a sun-beam came like a dart in the room, and lit onthe end of Ann's nose. "Why! look at the sun!" said she with a cry ofjoy, and ran to the door.

  The sky was blue; the sun's rays made each drop of rain look like agem; and when a bird flew past Ann with a wild song of joy, Ann sangtoo, she was so glad. The bees went to work with a will, to make upfor the time they had lost by the rain; and they flew home to the hivewith bags full of food, you may be sure.

  Then Ann came in to get her hat, and flew out once more, as gay as alark, when her mam-ma said: "Come back, come back, my dear; it is toowet; you must wait till the sun has been out some time. If you getyour feet wet, you will take cold."

  O dear me! Ann did not like this a bit; but, as I have told you, shewas a _good girl_ and did as she was bid. She did not say, "Whatfor?" or "_Why_ must I do so?" No; she came in at once, and sat downto work at her bag.

  And now you will see how good it is to mind.

  Ann had not sat long, when all at once a loud cry came to her ears.She held up her head and said: "Hush! hush! what was that?" Then sheran to look out, as if she had six pair of eyes, when a howl and abark, and a loud roar, made her jump, and then a boy ran past like thewind. His hair was on end; his face was pale with fear. As he ran hesaid: "O save me! O help! help! Save me from the MAD DOG!"

  The dog was at the poor boy's heels, and four or five men, each with abig club, did run and try to get at the mad dog to kill him.

  And now the boy ran for his life. He was in such fear, he did not seea log of wood that was in his path; so he fell down on it, and then, Osad to tell! the mad dog, with a howl of rage, made a dash at his legand bit it.

  The men got at the dog, and hit him on the head till he died. But itwas too late! it was too late! the poor boy had been bit, and he mustdie too.

  Then mam-ma took her dear girl in her arms, and gave her a kiss, andsaid: "Oh! how glad I am you did not go out to play! God has kept mydear pet from harm, and He has made you a good girl. If you had runout when I told you not to go, and the mad dog had bit you too--Odear! I can not bear to think of it."

  "But _must_ the poor boy die?" said Ann, as a big tear came out ofher blue eye; "Oh! must he die, mam-ma?"

  "I fear he will. They will try to save his life. They will cut a bighole in his leg where the dog bit him, and put him to sad pain. But thebite of a mad dog is so hard to cure, I fear it will be of no use."

  "O mam-ma! will you let me take him some of Aunt Peg's nice cake? Itmay do him good. Do let me!"

  Her mam-ma said yes, tho' she knew it was of no use; for the poor boywas too much hurt to eat. She did not tell Ann so, for she did notwish to make her more sad.

  So some cake was made, and Ann went with a good lad
who knew the way.

  "Oh! how sad it was!"--P. 153.]

  Oh! how sad it was! The poor boy lay in bed. His face was pale, andhis eyes were shut. He did not say one word, but just lay on his bed,as if he were dead.

  Ann gave the cake to his mam-ma, who did cry and sob, and look so sad,that Ann had to cry too.

  She went home and told her mam-ma all this bad news; and all the restof the day she felt sad, and her kind face was pale.

  When it was time to go to bed, Ann did pray to God for the poor boy.She did beg the good God to save his life, and she did beg Him to makeher a good girl, and to love her and love her dear mam-ma, and takecare of them both. She did pray that God would make her good and kindto poor old Aunt Peg, and to all she knew, and to let her be His lamb,to live with Him when she died.

  Then her mam-ma gave her a kiss, and saw that she lay warm in hernice, soft bed, and went out of the room. She left Ann in the dark.But let me tell you she did not care for that; no, not a bit! Ann hadno fear, for she knew that God took care of her; she knew that God didlove a good girl.

  JOE, WHO DID NOT MIND.

  "O my! what a cold day!" said Tom; "I am sure the pond is all ice.What fun it will to run my sled on it! Come, Joe, get your sled, and Iwill race home and get mine, and we will have a real good time."

  "O no! I can not," said Joe; "pa-pa told me not to go on the pondto-day; he said the ice was too thin."

  "Stuff! the ice is two feet deep, _I_ know. Come, it will not hurtyou, and then you need not _tell_. Don't be such a gump. Go, get yoursled, I tell you. Come; one! two! three! Why don't you run?"

  "W-e-ll," said Joe in a slow way, "if the ice is as deep as you say, Iwill just try it; that can do no harm, I am sure."

  "Yes, and you need not say a word when you come back," said Tom.

  Do you not see what a bad boy this was? If a boy or girl tells you_not_ to mind your pa-pa or mam-ma, I beg you to run away from them asif they were a bear or a wild cat, come to bite your head off; for,let me tell you, a bad boy or a bad girl will do you more harm than awild bear or cat; they will make you bad too; and you will be sure tocome to harm, just as Joe did.

  For he got his sled and Tom got his, and they ran off to the pond.

  It was full of boys, and for an hour or two, our two boys had finefun. They all slid down the pond in a long line; and if one fell downand hit his nose, he did not mind it a bit, but got up and went on,with a grin on his face. Then they got each sled in a line, and witha cry of one! two!! three!!! ran a race; and were just as full of funand glee as an egg is full of meat.

  At last a fat boy, who did not like to run so fast, said: "See here,boys, I have got a big kite home; I will go and get it, and then youwill see fun! for the wind and my kite will give me a ride on my sled."

  "O dear, yes! won't that be nice!" said all the boys, as the fat oneran off with a hop, skip, and jump.

  As he did not have far to go, he soon came back with his big kite; andthen he sat down on his sled and let his kite out, and, whoo!! how heflew down the pond! He had to hold the cord as hard as he could. Hisface was full of joy at such a fine ride; and the rest of the boys ranand slid, first on one foot, and then on two; but they did not go halfso fast as the fat boy on his sled.

  He was a good, kind boy, and let them all have a ride with the kite inturn. When Joe's turn came, he was in such joy, that he did not care asnap for what his pa-pa had said to him. "Oh!" he did cry, "what fun! Iwant to stay here all day. I tell you what! I mean to make a big kite,and come here some time, and ride on my sled all day long."

  He held the fat boy's kite then, and his sled went down the pond likethe wind.

  Snap! snap!! what was that? snap! snap!! snap!!!

  The boys made a rush to the spot; a wild cry rose in the air of "Saveme! O save me!" and down went poor Joe thro' a hole in the ice. Thecord that held the kite flew out of his hand; a great lump of icesank for a time; and then all that was seen of Joe was his cap, andhis sled that came, up-side down, to the top of the pond.

  All the boys grew pale with fear. They did not know what to do.

  As they did look with wild, sad eyes at the dark hole in the ice,Joe's head came up, and his hand took hold of the edge of the ice.With a grasp and a cry of "Save me!" he drew him-self up till his facewas out of the wa-ter; but that was all. Oh! how he did wish he haddone as his pa-pa had bid him! With a wild look up at the cold bluesky, he did try to pray. He knew that God saw him. He knew how bad hehad been. He held fast by the edge of the ice, with his face up, andhis head back, to keep his face from the cold edge that cut him; andhis cry was: "Save me! O save me!"

  The boys came as near to him as it was safe to go--all but Tom. He ranoff. He did not try to help the one he had told to be so bad. Oh! doyou not see that a boy like this will do you more harm than good? If youknow such a boy or girl, do not play with them; give them up this day.

  Well, here was poor Joe, and God did hear his cry for help; for justthen it was His will that two men came by with a sled full of wood. Theboys did call them: "Come here, oh! do come here! or Joe will die!"

  It was time; for the poor boy had sunk down, down to his eyes. He wasso cold, he had to let go of the ice.

  The good men ran to the pond, and then ran back and took a long rope,that they had used to tie the load of wood. Then, with care, one ofthem went on the ice near the hole. Snap! snap! it did go; but it didnot sink. The man threw out the rope, and told Joe to take hold of theend. He was so cold he could not hold it; but he put the end un-derhis arm, and in this way the man drew him out so far that he tookhold of his hand, and got him safe on the hard ice.

  "In this way the man drew him out."--P. 173.]

  Then poor Joe gave one gasp, shut his eyes, and sank down as if he wasdead.

  No time was to be lost. "Take the wood off the sled," said one of themen. The boys flew to do it. The wood fell this side and that; and thenpoor Joe was laid on the sled, with his head on the good man's lap. Hetook off his coat, and laid it on the poor boy; and then the sled wentoff so fast, that they were at Joe's house in time to save him.

  But, oh! what a sad time it was! How long it took! They put him in awarm bed, and they did rub and roll him for an hour; but still his eyeswere shut, and his face was so pale, they all said he was dead. But hismam-ma did cry: "O do not stop! try once more! My dear boy must not die!Oh! do not give him up!" So they went on; his pa-pa with the big tearsin his eyes; and the kind men they did rub and roll him, and his mam-masat by, with a pale, sad face, to help, and she did not give up hope;she did pray to God all the time to save her boy's life.

  Hark! what was that? A low moan came from Joe's lips, then a sigh,then a gasp; then he said in a low tone: "How did I come here in bed?Oh! what pain I am in!--oh! how I ache!"

  All at once the pond and his fall thro' the ice came back to his mind,and then the pain of his mind was, oh! so hard to bear! and he said:"O my dear pa-pa! my dear mam-ma! do not be kind to me! I am a bad,bad boy. I did not do as you bid me; I went on the pond, and I fellin. Oh! you can not love me! I have been so bad! I wish you had let medie! Oh! how can you be kind to such a bad boy?"

  "My dear son," said his pa-pa, "God does not wish you to die. He willgive you back your life, so that you may try to be good all the restof your days."

  "But are you glad to get me back? Will you and mam-ma love me? If youcan not love me, I want to die."

  His mam-ma took him in her arms, and gave him a kiss, and told him shedid love him, and that he must not wish to die, but try to be good. Hemust pray to God to help him, and he must not go with bad boys; and shedid look so kind, that Joe put his arms on her neck, and felt glad.

  He was ill a long time, for he took a sad cold. But he did what he wasbid. He did not fret a bit, but had a kiss and a kind word for all whotook care of him.

  When he got well, he did not go near that bad boy, Tom, who had madehim to sin, and then when he was in such a sad way, and like to die,ran off. For you know when Joe sank down thro' the h
ole in the ice,Tom did not help him, but, like a bad, mean boy, ran away. All badboys and girls act so; they will get you to sin, and then when youare in pain, and want to get rid of your sin, they will not help you.Not they! So keep far away from all such, if you wish to lead a goodlife. Do not go with bad boys or girls, who will tell you not to mindyour pa-pa and mam-ma, who are sure to know what is best for you.

  Joe got well, and he grew up a good boy and good man. He is a man now,and when he is told to do what is bad, he says to him-self: "This islike Tom; this will get me into a hole, like the hole in the ice; Iwill not do it."

  Do _you_ do as you are bid? Oh! I hope so. If you do not--mind what Inow tell you--take this book back to your mam-ma, and tell her, I donot wish a bad boy or girl to have it; and beg her to keep it till youare good; and when you are so, ask for the book, and then do come andgive me a kiss, and it will make me sing for joy.

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