me!" she commanded. "You're in a dangerous
condition. Some day someone will come to you with an important message.
And if you go sailing off the way you do, how's he ever going to tell
the whole message until it's too late, perhaps?"

"If it was good news it wouldn't hurt it to keep it a while," the
Skipper asserted cheerfully. And he gave a quick spring, with the hope
of escaping from Betsy's grasp. But she held him firmly by the
coat-tails.

"Suppose I wanted to warn you not to go near the flower garden, because
Johnnie Green was waiting there for you with his net, to capture you and
put you in his collection? You might be sorry, afterwards, if you didn't
sit still and listen to me."

"That's so!" said the Skipper. "I hadn't thought of that. I'd see a
doctor at once; but I don't know any."

"Go to Aunt Polly Woodchuck, under the hill," Betsy Butterfly advised
him. "She's the best doctor for miles around."

So they went, together, to call on Aunt Polly. The old lady looked at
the Skipper and shook her head. "I can't help him," she said.

Betsy asked anxiously, "Is his trouble catching?"

"No, indeed!" said Aunt Polly. "He can't stay in one place long enough
to give it to anybody."

Well, after that Betsy saw very little of her cousin the Skipper. But
she did not mind that, especially since she soon made the acquaintance
of a very agreeable young gentleman, who dressed in the height of
fashion. He wore a swallowtail coat every day. And the neighbors all
said that his manners were delightful.

_He_ never went skipping off while Betsy Butterfly was talking to him.

THE END

* * * * *

[Illustration]

The HONEY BUNCH BOOKS

_by_ HELEN LOUISE THORNDYKE

_For Little Girls From 4 to 8 Years Old_

"Honey Bunch" is a dainty, thoughtful little girl who keeps you
wondering just what she is going to do next. Little girls everywhere
will want to discover what interesting experiences she is having
wherever she goes.

_Delightfully Illustrated_

HONEY BUNCH: JUST A LITTLE GIRL
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS ON THE FARM
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE SEASHORE
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST LITTLE GARDEN
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS IN CAMP
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST AUTO TOUR
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP ON THE OCEAN
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP WEST
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST SUMMER ON AN ISLAND
HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP