Other editions of book Ben Pepper

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...

"Oh, yes, the children can go as long as Ben and Polly are with them," said Mother Fisher, with pride. "I'll trust them anywhere," her face said as plainly as if she had put it all into words. "I wish I could go with them." Mrs. Whitney took her gaze from the busy fingers sorting the pile of small stockings Jane had brought up from the laundry, and went abruptly over to the window with a troubled face.

Ben Pepper I THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EXPEDITION "Oh, yes, the children can go as long as Ben and Polly are with them," said Mother Fisher, with pride. "I'll trust them anywhere," her face said as plainly as if she had put it all into words. "I wish I could go with them." Mrs. Whitney took her gaze from the busy fingers sorting the pile of small stockings Jane had brought up from the laundry, and went abruptly over to the window with a troubled face. "But you can't," said Mrs. Fisher, cheerfully, nowise dismayed at the number of holes staring up at her, "so don't let us think any more of it. And Ben's big enough to take them anywhere, I'm sure. And Polly can look after their manners," she thought, but didn't finish aloud. "You see father didn't know about this picture exhibit till Mr. Cabot's note came a half hour ago, begging him not to miss it. And if I told him of the children's plans, he'd give the whole thing up and stay at home rather than have them disappointed. He mustn't do that." "Indeed he mustn't!" echoed Mrs. Fisher, in her most decided fashion, and putting the last stocking into place on top of the big pile on the table. "Hush! Here comes Polly!" "Oh, Mamsie!" Polly rushed up to the work-table. "Just think what splendid fun!" She threw her arms around Mrs. Fisher's neck and gave her a big hug. "Isn't Aunty Whitney too lovely for anything to take us out to buy our Christmas presents? Dear me! What richness!"

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"Oh, yes, the children can go as long as Ben andPolly are with them," said Mother Fisher, with pride."I'll trust them anywhere," her face said as plainly as ifshe had put it all into words. "I wish I could go with them." Mrs. Whitney took hergaze from the busy fingers sorting the pile of smallstockings Jane had brought up from the laundry, andwent abruptly over to the window with a troubled face. "But you can't," said Mrs. Fisher, cheerfully, nowisedismayed at the number of holes staring up at her, "sodon't let us think any more of it. And Ben's big enoughto take them anywhere, I'm sure. And Polly can lookafter their manners," she thought, but didn't finishaloud. "You see father didn't know about this picture exhibittill Mr. Cabot's note came a half hour ago, begginghim not to miss it. And if I told him of the children's