“Lily, can you let Peter take you back to rest
’til supper time, so I can see what Junior wants
to show me?”
“Yes I can,” said Peaches. “Yes
I can, ’cause I’m a game kid; but I don’t
wish to!”
“Now you look here, Miss Chicken, that hasn’t
got anything to do with it,” explained Mickey.
“Every single time you can’t have your
way, ’cause it ain’t good for you.
If all these nice folks are so kind to you, you must
think part of the time about what they want, and just
now Junior wants me, so you march right along
nice and careful with Peter, and pretty soon I’ll
come.”
Peaches pouted a second, then her face cleared by
degrees, until it lifted to Peter with a smile.
“Peter, will you please to carry me while Mickey
does what Junior wants?” she asked with melting
sweetness.
“Sure!” said Peter. “I’m
the one to take you anyway, big and strong as an ox;
but that’s a pretty way to ask, and acting like
a nice lady!”
Peaches radiated pride while Peter returned her to
the couch, brought her a glass of milk and a cracker,
pulled the shade, and going out softly closed the
door. In five minutes she was asleep.
An hour before supper time Mickey appeared and without
a word began watching Mrs. Harding. Suddenly
her work lightened. When she was ready for water,
the bucket was filled, saving her a trip to the pump.
When she lifted the dishpan and started toward the
back door, Mickey met her with the potato basket.
When she glanced questioningly at the stove, he put
in more wood. He went to the dining-room and
set the table exactly as it had been for dinner.
He made the trip to the cellar with her and brought
up bread and milk, while she carried butter and preserves.
As she told Peter that night, no strange woman ever
had helped her as quickly and understandingly.
With dishwashing he was on hand, for he knew that
Peaches’ fate hung on how much additional work
was made for Mrs. Harding. That surprised woman
found herself seated in a cool place on the back porch
preparing things for breakfast, while Mickey washed
the dishes, and Mary carried them. Peaches was
moved to the couch in the dining-room where she could
look on.
Then wrapped in Bobbie’s blanket and held closely
in Mickey’s arms, the child lay quivering with
delight while the big car made the trip to the club
house, and stopped under the trees to show Peaches
where Mr. Bruce played, and then slowly ran along
the country road, with all its occupants talking at
once in their effort to point out everything to her.
No one realized how tired she was, until in calling
her attention to a colt beside its mother, she made
no response, then it was discovered that she was asleep,
so they took her home and put her to bed.
The Fingers in the Pie
When Mickey went the following morning to bring water
for the inevitable washing, Mrs. Harding said to him:
“Is it possible that child is awake this early?”
