pper he made a wooden sword and gun, and dashed them
with red streaks.

CHAPTER VI.

SUSY AND PRUDY.

The Clifford children were very anxious to see Susy and Prudy, and it
seemed a long while to wait; but the Portland schools had a vacation at
last, and then it was time to expect the little cousins.

The whole family were impatient to see them and their excellent mother.
Grandma lost her spectacles very often that afternoon, and every time
she went to the window to look out, the ball of her knitting-work
followed her, as Grace said, "like a little kitten."

There was great joy when the stage really drove up to the door. The
cousins were rather shy of each other at first, and Prudy hid her face,
all glowing with smiles and blushes, in her plump little hands. But the
stiffness wore away, and they were all as well acquainted as ever they
had been, in about ten minutes.

"Ain't that a bumpin' stage, though?" cried Horace; "just like a
baby-jumper."

"We came in it, you know, Susy," said Grace; "didn't it shake like a
corn-popper?"

"I want to go and see the piggy and ducks," said Prudy.

"Well," whispered Susy, "wait till after supper."

The Cliffords were delighted with their little cousins. When they had
last seen Prudy, which was the summer before, they had loved her dearly.
Now she was past five, and "a good deal cunninger than ever;" or so
Horace thought. He liked her pretty face, her gentle ways, and said very
often, if he had such a little sister he'd "go a lyin'."

To be sure Susy was just his age, and could run almost as fast as he
could; still Horace did not fancy her half as much as Prudy, who could
not run much without falling down, and who was always sure to cry if she
got hurt.

Grace and Susy were glad that Horace liked Prudy so well, for when they
were cutting out dolls' dresses, or playing with company, it was
pleasant to have him take her out of the way.

Prudy's mouth was not much larger than a button-hole, but she opened it
as wide as she could when she saw Horace whittle out such wonderful
toys.

He tried to be as much as possible like a man; so he worked with his
jacket off, whistling all the while; and when he pounded, he drew in his
breath with a whizzing noise, such as he had heard carpenters make.

All this was very droll to little Prudy, who had no brothers, and
supposed her "captain cousin" must be a very remarkable boy, especially
as he told her that, if he hadn't lef