atching the clock upon the mantelpiece. He hoped it would strike soon and tell him what time i

o. The big dapple gray rocking-horse stood in his corner, his fore feet impatiently lifted and an eager gleam i

hen was a favorite toy with Phil. He never tired of making strange little messes of pounded crackers and water, that

o and return in one afternoon. Little black Pompey in a red-and-white striped minstrel suit, high hat on head, looked anxiously from the cab of the engine, for, as enginee

bbit with only one ear, stood stiffly on parade. The

nd best of all, there stood the low nursery table covered with a spotless white cloth, a sight which promised such a pleasant end

mightily to this very moment, and his mother's promise that he should have a party as soon as he was well

his "smoking-jacket," and he had even had the daring to slip a match or two into the deep side pocket, in which he fervently hoped no one might pry. If Phil's mother had even suspected such a thing, he and the matches would have parted company speedily, he well knew. He meant to

as another reason why he was happy t

days that the little girl had spent in Featherbed Lane. He had enjoyed, he thought, the long stay Gentilla had made wi

and care for them. And so, one bright October day, the good minister took the little gypsy girl to her new home where she

, in which he had treated her to many a ride, if his mother hadn't explained that it would not go into Gentilla's tiny trunk which her kind friend

e once again, a Susan who was always glad to see him, who never whispered secrets and wouldn't tell, w

il. "I wish the clock would strike, or Sus

Roman soldier in helmet and shield, who stood alert, both day and night, atop the clock, ready to strike the hours as they came

san," said P

ss trees rocking in a late October gale, and the gray windswept sky. Big raindrops hurried nowhere in particul

w, quite careless of the fact that Susan couldn't pos

e gap, and across Phil's lawn. Here was a puddle, and the blue waterproof hopped nimbly over it. Just one pee

r, since the cold halls were forbidden him. He heard Susan and

r sent it. And your mother gave me some, just no

ll of buttons, large and small, dull and bright, white and col

She told me how to do it, too. You string the buttons, as many as you like, and one of them is your 'touch button.

Phil, who wanted to share all things with his fr

n generously, "if you

d rummaged in

anging them on the floor before h

useful black button or two that might have come from his father's coat, a flat silver disk as big as a

f delight as she rapi

days. "And here is one with beautiful pink flowers painted on it. Here is a white fur one off my baby

on. "I'll put her on my string first of all, so that she can take care of the rest o

sked Phil, after working busily

through the keyhole or even hiding behind the one-eared rabbit. "This one. It's my favorite, too." A

led away from Susan just in time to keep the secret

asked, setting her burden down upon the t

them over, and to the delight of the child

bout like wild Indians. "You touched t

more careful after this. You won't catch me again. Now, Phil, there are your refreshments,

ghing, took the tray

green-and-white china tea-set. The dinner plates were quite large enough to hold the sponge cakes, and if t

four plates i

"I want the rocking-horse, he looks so thirsty, and your gra

ping his nose against the edge of the table each time. Indeed, with his open jaws and bright

use he has only one ear,"

y across the room. A small brown object, far more frightened than Susan, sped like a streak

hil, for Susan was jumping up and

d Susan, shuddering and shakin

n't cry, Susan. I saw him go in t

loset door, struck one of his precious matches, threw it

said he. "I

usan, opening one eye. "Are y

m," returned

ow

," answered Phil

awed. "But won't it

ean I don't think it will. Maybe we had

t that the match had alighted. Jack had bushy white hair, and an equally bushy beard, an

still. Oh, if Mrs. V

e called. "Run

e tale, Grandfather considered remarkable, she picked u

creaming d

rned up! Mamma, Mamma, come quick! The mo

red with lemonade, Jack-in-the-box burned to a crisp, and Susan, with shining eye

out and that the only article damaged was the unfortunate Jack-in-the-box, "whic

caused him to hide himself securely behind the big sofa in the pa

his mother, listened with drooping head to the

ches," said Mrs. Vane soberly. "If it hadn't been for Susan, our house might have been

ought, but he said nothing. Indeed, th

t on his mother. "And, now, after hiding so long in that chilly roo

burst forth, and Su

ving shoulders, "he will never touch the matches a

lubbered Ph

own at the small s

have her refreshments," she remarked,-"

the edge of Phil's bed, and both were drinking

wn?" asked Mrs. Vane, as, a little later, she helped Susan into her waterproof. She wanted t

going to do something nice for you to-morrow," he add