I have a pudding to make for dinner." "Grandma, O, grandma," cried Dotty, seizing her skirts, "I have something to say, now truly; something real sober.

I--I--" "Well, my dear," said Mrs.Parlin, encouragingly.
"I--I--O, grandma, which do you think can knit the best, Prudy or I ?" "My dear Dotty," said the kind grandmother, stroking the child's hair, "don't be afraid to tell the whole story.

I know you have a trouble at your heart.

Do you think you were a naughty girl last night ?" [Illustration: DOTTY AND "THE CHARLIE BOY."-- Page 113.] Dotty's head drooped.

She tried to say, "Yes, ma'am;" but, like Dinah, "the words got caught in her teef comin' out." "We didn't go where you thought we did, grandma," faltered she at last.
"Mr.Crossman has two orchards, and we went to just the one you wouldn't have s'posed." "Yes, dear; so I have learned to-day." "I deceived you a-purpose, grandma; for if I hadn't deceived you, you wouldn't have let me go." There was a sorrowful expression on Mrs.Parlin's face as she listened to these words, though they told her nothing new.
"Has you got a pain, gamma ?" said little Katie, tenderly.
"I did another wickedness, grandma," said Dotty, in a low voice; "I went barefoot, and you never said I might." "Poor little one, you were sorely punished for that," said grandma, kindly.
"And another, too, I did; I threw my basket away; but that wasn't much wicked; Jennie made me think perhaps 'twas a non." "A what ?" "A _non_, that catches lightning, you know; so I threw it away to save my life." Grandma smiled.
"And now," continued Dotty, twirling her fingers, "can you--can you--forgive me, grandma ?" "Indeed I can and will, child, if you are truly sorry." "There now, grandma," said Dotty, looking distressed, "you think I don't feel sorry because I don't cry.