" said Prudy, "but I guess _I shall_ want somethin' by
and by."

"There, there, darling," said grandma, "don't cry."

"No, I won't," said Prudy, trying to stop. "I was a-talkin' to myself,
and I said, 'I won't cry no more,' and then I cried. I don't like to
stay in this country, grandma, 'thout I can have somethin' to eat!"

"Of all things," said grandma, "I don't believe there's a little girl
any where that has so many nice things as you do. See the jelly, and
oranges, and lemons, and----"

"Well, if I wasn't sick, grandma, and you should ask me to eat some
_smashed potatoes_, and some _pie_, I'd eat 'em," said Prudy, smiling
through her tears.

"Bless your little heart," cried grandma, kissing Prudy's pale cheek.
"Can't you think of something besides eating? What pretty thing shall
I bring you to look at?"

"O, now I know what it is I want," replied Prudy, lifting her head
from the pillow, "I want to eat up the _old lady_!"

Prudy was thinking of a little image aunt Madge had formed out of
candy.

"O, that's made to be looked at," said grandma. "Let's see--where do
you suppose your little Zip is nowadays? I guess he misses Prudy."

"I don' know--I _ate_ a little dog once," said Prudy, wiping her eyes.
"He was made out of a doughnut. Once when I lived to Portland--to my
mother's Portland--I used to eat things."

Poor grandma herself could hardly keep from crying to see Prudy so
hungry.

"Here is some nice arrow-root," said she. "You may have it all if you
like. You are a darling little girl not to tease for things you ought
not to have."

"I believe," she went on, looking at patient little Prudy, as she
drained the bowl, "I should like to give such a good child a pretty
present."

"O, dear me suz!" screamed Prudy, "I'm glad I didn't go to heaven
yet.--Will it be a little wee doll that can live in a thimble?--made
out of sugar?"

"Well," said grandma, "I don't know, You may be thinking all day what
you would like best. Not to _eat_, dear, but to _keep_, remember. Now
I must go down stairs--but here come Grace and Susy, so you won't be
lonesome."

It was pleasant to see how softly the little girls entered the room,
and how the glad smiles came and went on Prudy's face when they tried
to amuse her.

They were dressed in a very funny rig. Susy looked a great deal wiser
than an owl, out of a pair of spectacles without any eyes, and a
flaring cap. Grace had stuck some false hair on her head, and a bonn