CHAPTER X.
RUTHIE TURNER.
"The darkest day, Wait till to-morrow, will have passed away." The next morning, Susy woke with a faint recollection that something unpleasant had occurred, though she could not at first remember what it was.
"But I didn't do anything wrong," was her second thought.

"Now, after I say my prayers, the next thing I'll feed--O, Dandy is dead!" "See here, Susy," said Percy, coming into the dining-room, just after breakfast; "did you ever see this cage before ?" "Now, Percy! When you know I want it out of my sight!" Then, in the next breath, "Why, Percy Eastman, if here isn't your beautiful mocking-bird in the cage!" "Yes, Susy; and if you'll keep him, and be good to him, you'll do me a great favor." It was a long while before Susy could be persuaded that this rare bird was to be her "ownest own." It was a wonderfully gifted little creature.
Susy could but own that he was just as good as a canary, only a great deal better.

"The greater included the less." He had as sweet a voice, and a vast deal more compass.

His powers of mimicry were very amusing to poor little Prudy, who was never tired of hearing him mew like a kitten, quack like a duck, or whistle like a schoolboy.
Susy was still more delighted than Prudy.

It was so comforting, too, to know that she was doing Percy "a great favor," by accepting his beautiful present.