wn," said Bessie Sanford, as she and I crossed the corner of the square, bound

s' perambulators in front of them, and followed by mammy, who came limping after, also wearing a most lug

are, in consequence, debarred from their walk, and they have but just come out. Poor l

" answered Bessie, who had a love for childr

g up to us as soon as their eyes fell upon us, "Mammy's bunion hurts so, she can't

s prone to weep upon slight provocation; and even Daisy, who

erambulators to the care of mammy, who hobbled towards home with them. This bunion was mammy's choice grievance, and she doubtless suffered much from it; but it was an article of the f

, who were now hanging, the one on Bessie's arm, the other

only take us to Jim's peanut-stand! Mother sai

it's very respectable, Amy

t-stand, even though it belo

it's-you know Johnny, the flo

tronized by our family and many of our neighbors. His box of a place, cosey, warm, and fragrant, was a favorite resort of our children; and much of their pocket-money went to the purchase

't know what to do; and one day when sister Milly sent him to Johnny's, he told him about it, and about Tony and Matty; and that lovely old Johnny,-Daisy and I ask God to bless him every night when we've done our own people,-he told Jim he could have a little corner

ohnny's store, too, wif the stand there; so Johnny's wife, who lives just a little bit of a way off, lets Tony have the roaster up in her room, and roast the peanuts, and then he runs very quic

gn in German about peanuts inside, and put the meaning in English beneath, and he says he thinks he is doing a better business than if Matty sat outside. Norman and Douglas buy lots, but

t passed from my mind, and I had made no inquiries about it lately; but, as visions of numerous peanut-shells in the most

d his tiny store; and presently we came to it. The little glass enclosure was one mass of vivid green, and brilliant, glowing color; fo

ntrance, hung the sign described by Allie;

n" legend

s ish incite, ne

in u

translatio

uts is inside, n

in an

the admiring children. Allie, however, had her own misgivings as

im says that is the way Johnny talks; but the Engl

e attention than it would do if it were quite correct, All

the sign as I opened the door, and still inclined to criticise;

I said, shamelessly indifferent to the orthographical merits of th

nd her stand, on which were displayed a tempting pile of freshly roasted peanuts, and various bright, new measures. Outside, on the street, could be seen Tony, grinding away at his revolving roaster; for the day

SAT THE LITTLE DEFO

g to attract one toward her. She looked peevish and fretful, too, so far as there was any expression in the dull, heavy face. Was it to be wondered at? There had been but little of brightness in her young life; and as I looked from her to my little sisters, our pett

round on one leg and a crutch. The celerity of his movements was something surprising; his voice was me

in; and, if these proved to be Matty's patrons, he would watch the progress of the sale with great interest. Then he would turn to his roaster, and work it violently for a few m

rman scholar, and delighted the heart of the old man with the familiar language of the fatherland, which flowed glibly from her tongue. The consequence was, that that po

we had left the florist's, and exchanged a word or two with joll

re only too glad to accompany us. A visit t

nuts," said Daisy, who, as well as Allie, had maintained a

y peanuts because of Jim, and not at all because of Matty. She's the most unchristiane

olls, and to be kind to her; and I endeavored to soothe them, and excuse her, by telling them how m

Daisy not only maintained that solemn silence, but she looked grieved and hurt. Our little ones were not accustomed to be snubbed, a

is the matter with your cheek? It is all red and

e didn't want to tell tales; but, sister Amy and cousin Bessie, I think you are not very

had prevented us from seeing the state of her cheek befor

her doll within it, when the cripple suddenly turned upon her, and drew the nails of the disengaged hand viciously down poor little Daisy's soft cheek, while, with the other, she threw the doll from her. Fortunately, the doll was not hurt; but the insult to her cherished darling had grieved Daisy more deeply than did the injury to herself. She had heroically refrained from crying out, or making any complaint, lest Johnny should be moved to espouse her cause, and aven

ut when happiness and peace were once more restored, and she was seated upon Miss Craven's lap, with Allie beside her, and

"have you seen the 'Mo

Father would not allow that p

my father,"

added. "He would not have it if there

t," apologetically, "when one is in a boarding-house

indeed, if you were held responsible for the morals, o

some of the other people in the house take it. O Serena, Serena," reproachfully, "I thought

candalous sheet! Why, this morning I should have said that nothing would induce me to touch it; but when Mrs. Dutton came up with the paper in her hand, and said, 'Is not this meant for your friends?' what could I do?

to me; and the blood rushed to my heart, as

N-SQUARE

nder which the reporters of such gossip often pretend to disguise publicity, and in a measure avoid responsibility; but, to the initiated, there could be no doubt that the paragraph referred to my unlucky cookery. Fu

Bessie, who looked over my shoulder, bur

t you: you see no names are given. But I shall never forgive myself, for I told Mrs. Dutton about the 'food for the gods'. She was interested, you know, when you were here with me lear

isions arose before me of disgrace to the family, if those dreadful newspaper people did, as they threatened, "give further particulars," and perhaps go

cal common sense, came to the fro

ng with cousin Serena, forsooth; and the rest of us experimenting with our first efforts. O Amy, Amy, I would not have believed it of you. And the gods themselves turned against you. Their mills di

a loss to know upon whom to bestow her sympathy, cousin Serena or me; for I had not yet put my miserable imaginings into words, and my startled looks alone appealed to her; while Miss Craven was in a half-franti

What will papa say? What will uncle Rutherf

an of them settle this matter, to the anguish of that editor, if I know them, and without one word of trouble or publicity to you,

ands; and go I would and did, cousin Serena accompanying me, with Bessie and the children. We paused by the way, to knock at

e girls, big and little, who ran in and out on their visits to Miss Craven, assured us that she had not done so; and, in a

at once to a friend and brother lawyer, to request him to take steps to prevent any further annoyance or developments in the matter. It so happened, said this gentleman, that he had a hold upon the editor of the "Mor

k of the servants, who had, of course, been acquainted with all the particulars of the unfortunate incident. Exaggeration, and a wilful desire to falsi