Ben Pepper
Margaret Sidney
Paperback
(RareBooksClub.com, Sept. 13, 2013)
Excerpt: ...seen no money," said Mrs. Hansell, putting up her hand uncertainly to her poor bewildered head. Thereupon the minister decided to take matters into his own hands. So getting off from his chair, "Children," he said, "not one of these bundles can be opened until we find something that has been dropped out of this letter. A little strip of paper." "I guess Susan's et it," said Elvira, cheerfully. "Oh, no, that cannot be." "Yes, 'tis," she defied him, "she's been eatin' paper just awful." "Well, look for it as hard as you can. I'll help you." The minister dropped to all fours, and together they all looked over the papers and bundles strewn in confusion around the big box. No strip of paper was to be seen. "This is very dreadful," said the Rev. Mr. St. John, at last, getting up to his feet, and snapping off the wisps of straw from his clothes, which he was glad to reflect were not his best ones. "Now can't we open the bundles?" screamed Matilda. "Yes, can't we? can't we?" begged the others, except Matthew, who was wholly concerned in himself and his new attire. "Everythin's out of the old box," said Mark, giving it a kick. "Yes, everythin'," said Elvira, taking a flying leap past it, and peering in once more, "'cept an old scrap o' paper." She dived into its depths and brought up a long, thin strip, which she waved disdainfully before casting it off. At sight of which, the minister sprang and twisted it out of her hands. "Oh, the check! Well, I am thankful that's found!" But this fell on careless ears after all. For was not the opening of the wonderful bundles at last to be allowed! And for the next half hour nothing was heard but the tearing of paper, the bursting of string, and the howls of delight from the young brood and the half-frightened, tearful ejaculations from the little mother. No one stopped in the process of unfolding the treasures, except to dig the teeth into a cracker or a bun, too hungry to wait. "Tea, Mammy!" Mark bundled a package...