the next morning, Philip Vane-the new little boy next door! And Susan jumped out

moke was pouring out of the kitchen chimney, but

chicken-yard, with her bowl of chicken-feed under her arm. She waited until the fowls, with t

breakfast until I've told you. There is a little boy coming to live next door, and hi

train her impatience at this delay of her meal. She uttered an extra loud squawk a

said she reprovingly. "You are greedy, and you are rude, and y

indows, sounds of hammering floated out upon the sweet spring air, rugs were vigorously shaken on the little back porch. The butcher's cart rumbled noisily past on the main road

sounds, Susan felt disappointed, for not a s

ng into the house at dinner-time so low in her mind that she dragged patie

san. 'A little boy about the age of your Susan,' said she. Now run to the door for me and see whether Grandfather is coming. I wan

made in the stone wall for Grandmother and Miss Tallman to step through easily. But when they reached

own age, but it was not until Grandfather turned to go that she felt bold enough to s

o Susan the wisest man in the world. "This is my little granddaughter Susan, Mrs. Vane. S

little boy, and he will be so glad of a next-door neighbor. He has had no one to play with in the city, and he has been very ill, too, but I know he will

y running and shouting as much as he liked, but Phi

xpect him any minute. His father is going t

but as she left the house and started toward the garden wall, the sight of Snu

lled, and, putting her arms around her shaggy pla

cruel splinter from his foot, and washed and bound up the wound. Susan, remembering Snuff's sweet tooth, begged a b

the voice. "I'v

and faced the thinnest li

thought she, borrowing an

ouldn't help smiling back even if you happened to be feeling very cross. And, as Susan di

age with respectful interest. "I'm going to have a

, dropped his head heavily to the ground with a deep sigh and a mournful t

tricks, and Snuff, delighted with his success

der his arm the gayly painted little house upon which Susan's

to marshal the strange little toy animals in line, two by tw

know it?" And without waiting for Susan's

d the animal

river t

nt and the

river t

up, so I have to put the tiger with th

k up the c

d the animal

river t

ant and t

river t

Phil, looking up into Su

n energy that set h

the window," said she. "

ng to welcome Philip, and bade

unced Phil, silent until he had disposed of h

nother one," said Grandmother, hiding

was sick so long I nearly all melted away. My father calls me Spindle Shanks. But I'm go

t, Susan escorted her new friend down Featherbed Lane in t

the window-sill, all but pressed their noses against the pan

ok hands in true manly fashion. "So you are my nex

ance, who, standing speechless, allowed his gaze to travel from the high

a little, I'm thinking," remarked Grandfather

last and taking a nibble of his cooky as

to; she said so. My father calls me Spindle Shan

uldn't have thought of calling you that. But I might hav

ughter at this funny name, and when they

she will let him take a little drive with Parson Drew and you and me over to Green Valley. Be sure to tell her it's to work up an ap

his directions after Susan. For at the first mention of a drive she had ca

uggled him into a warm sweater, and sent word to Grandfather that she was very glad

earched downstairs, while Susan ran about frantically upstairs, so afraid they would be late that she could only half look. But at last s

on the seat between Grandfather and the minister, and Phil standing between the gre

Grandfather were special friends. They liked to talk together, though they rarely agreed, and sometimes became so

grass to rest and recover. So this afternoon Mr. Drew held the reins and chirru

very interesting landmark or familiar spot she called, "Look, Phil, look!" until from its frequen

, Phil," called Susan. "We ca

erry trees. By and by we w

ere by yourself. Once I only climbed up on the fence to look at her, and sh

bowling swiftly along the road, he cast a defiant look at the surly bossy securely fastened by a

at the poultry farm, with its ducks and geese, its hens and chic

they rumbled to stop before the imposing stone Court-House, with its parking-space for

and down as Grandfather desc

d of his hand, "I want to take Philly to

ke. "It will be a good place for you to wait. Here's ten cents apie

ff. Lost on the way to Madame Bonnet's! when every one in the

he crossing Susan

nicest place you ever knew. Here i