rlin put a key, and
wound up and tightened the plaster every morning. This operation did not
hurt Prudy at all.

"Now," said Susy, after she had combed Prudy's hair carefully, and put a
net over it, until her mother should be ready to curl it, "now we will
have a game of checkers."

Prudy played in high glee, for Susy allowed her to jump all her men, and
march triumphantly into the king-row, at the head of a victorious army.

"There, now, Rosy," said Susy, gently, "are you willing to let me go out
riding? I can't play any more if I ride, for I must dress Dotty's doll,
and feed my canary."

"O, well," said Prudy, considering the matter, "I'm sick; I tell you how
it is, I'm sick, you know; but--well, you may go, Susy, if you'll make
up a story as long as a mile."

Susy really felt grateful to Prudy, but it was her own gentle manner
which had charmed the sick child into giving her consent.

Then Susy proceeded to dress Dotty's doll in a very simple fashion, with
two holes for short sleeves, and a skirt with a raw edge; but she looked
kind and pleasant while she was at work, and Dotty was just as well
pleased as if it had been an elegant costume she was preparing. And it
was really good enough for a poor deformed rag-baby, with a head shaped
like a stove-pipe.

Susy was delighted to find how well a little patience served her in
amusing "the children." Next, she went to give Dandy his morning bath.
Mrs. Parlin still thought it a dangerous practice, but had not seen Mrs.
Mason, to question her about it, and Susy was too obstinate in her
opinion to listen to her mother.

"I must do it," said Susy; "it has been ever so long since Dandy was
bathed, and I shouldn't take any comfort riding, mamma, if I didn't
leave him clean."

Susy plunged the trembling canary into his little bathing-bowl, in some
haste. He struggled as usual, and begged, with his weak, piping voice,
to be spared such an infliction. But Susy was resolute.

"It'll do you good, Ducky Daddles; we mustn't have any lazy, dirty
birdies in this house."

Ducky Daddies rolled up his little eyes, and gasped for breath.

"O, look, mother!" cried Susy, laughing; "how funny Dandy acts! Do you
suppose it's to make me laugh? O, is he fainting away?"

"Fainting away! My dear child, he is dying!"

This was the sad truth. Mrs. Parlin fanned him, hoping to call back the
lingering breath. But it was too late. One or two more throbs, and his
frightened little heart