Isawitcominganddodgedagain，beforeIrememberedtheCrusaders。
　　“Allright！“Isaid。“Ifthat’sthewayyouaregoingtoact，Smarty，I’lllayalltheblameonyou；Iwon’thelpyouabit，andIdon’tcareifyouarewhippeduntilthebloodruns。“
　　ThenIwentoutofthebarnandslammedthedoor。ForaminuteI
　　feltbetter；butitwasashorttime。ISAIDthattobemean，butIdidcare。Icareddreadfully；Iwaspartlytoblame，andI
　　knewit。Comingaroundthebarn，ImetLaddie，andhesawinaflashIwasintrouble，sohestoppedandasked：“Whatnow，Chicken？“
　　“Comeintothebarnwherenoonewillhearus，“Isaid。
　　Sowewentaroundtheoutside，enteredatthedoorontheembankment，andhesatinthewheelbarrowonthethreshingfloorwhileItoldhim。IthoughtIfeltbadlyenough，butafterIsawLaddie，itgrewworse，forIrememberedwewereshortofmoneythatfall，thatthegoosewasafine，expensiveone，andhowproudmotherwasofher，andhowshe’dbegrieved，andthatwastroubleforsure。
　　“Runalongandplay！“saidLaddie，“anddon’ttellanyoneelseifyoucanhelpit。I’llhidethegoose，andseeifIcangetanotherintimetotaketheplaceofthisone，somotherwon’tbeworried。“
　　Iwalkedtothehouseslowly，butIwasafraidtoenter。Whenyouareallchokedup，peoplearesuretoseeit，andaskfoolquestions。SoIwentaroundtothegateandstoodtherelookingupanddowntheroad，andoverthemeadowtowardtheBigWoods；
　　andallatonce，inoneofthosehigh，regularbuglecalls，liketheymostlyscreaminspring，oneofPryors’ganderssplittheechoesforamile；maybefarther。
　　IwasacrosstheroadandslinkingdowninsidethemeadowfencebeforeIknewit。Therewasnothoughtorplan。IstartedforPryors’andwentstraightahead，onlyIkeptoutoflinewithourkitchenwindows。Itrampedthroughtheslush，ice，andcrossedfieldswhereIwasafraidofhorses；butwhenIgottothetopofthePryorbackyardfence，Istuckthere，forthebulldogswereloose，andcameravingatme。Iwasgoingtobeeatenalive，forIdidn’tknowthewordLaddiedid；andthosedogsclimbedafencelikeaperson；IsawthemthetimeLeonbroughtbackEvenSo。I
　　wasthinkingwhatapityitwas，aftereveryonehadgrownaccustomedtome，andhadbegunlovingme，thatIshouldbewastedfordogfeed，whenMr。Pryorcametothedoor，andcalledthem；theydidn’tmind，sohecametothefence，andcrossestyoueverheard，everybitasbadasthedogs，hecried：“Whosebratareyou，andwhatareyoudoinghere？“
　　Imeanttotellhim；butyoumusthaveaminuteafterathinglikethat。
　　“Godofmylife！“hefairlyfrothed。“Whatdidanybodysendadumbchildherefor？“
　　“Dumbchild！“Ididn’tcareifMr。PryordidwearaCrownofGlory。Itwasn’tgoingtodohimoneparticleofgood，unlesshewasfoundinthewayoftheLord。“Dumbchild！“Iwasnomoredumbthanhewas，untilhisbulldogsscaredmesomyheartgotalltangledupwithmystomach，mylungs，andmyliver。Thatmadememad，andtherewasnothingthatwouldhelpmetoloosenupandtalkfast，likelosingmytemper。Iwonderedwhatkindofafatherhehad。Ifhe’dbeenstoodagainstthewallandmadetorecite，“Speakgently，“asoftenasallofus，perhapshe’dhaverememberedtheversethatsays：
　　“Speakgentlytothelittlechild；
　　Itslovebesuretogain；
　　Teachitinaccentssoftandmild；
　　Itmaynotlongremain。“
　　Ishouldthinknot，ifithadanychanceatalltogetaway！I
　　wassoangrybythattimeImeanttotellhimwhatIthought。
　　Politeornotpolite，I’dtakeaswitchingifIhadto，butI
　　wasn’tgoingtostandthat。
　　“Youhaven’tgotanyGodinyourlife，“Iremindedhim，“andnoonesentmehere。IcametoseethePrincess，becauseI’minawfultroubleandIhopedmaybeshecouldfixupawaytohelpme。“
　　“YeGods！“hecried。HewouldsticktocallingonGod，whetherhebelievedinHimornot。“Ifitisn’tNimrod！Ididn’trecognizeyouinallthatbundling。“
　　Probablyhedidn’tknowit，butNimrodwasfromtheBibletoo！
　　Bybundling，hemeantmyhoodandcoat。Hehelpedmefromthefence，sentthebulldogsrolling——sureenoughhedidkickthem，andtheydidn’tlikeiteither——tookmyhandandledmestraightintothehouse，andthePrincesswasthere，andawomanwhowashermothernodoubt，andhesaid：“Pamela，hereisourlittleneighbour，andshesaysshe’sintrouble，andshethinksyoumaybeofsomeassistancetoher。Ofcourseyouwillbegladifyoucan。“
　　“Surely！“saidthePrincess，andsheintroducedmetohermother，soIbowedthebestIknew，andtookoffmywetmitten，dirtywithclimbingfences，toshakehandswithher。ShewassograciousandlovelyIforgotwhatIwentafter。ThePrincessbroughtaclothandwipedthewetfrommyshoesandstockings，andaskedmeifIwouldn’tlikeacupofhotteatokeepmefromtakingachill。
　　“I’vebeenmuchwetterthanthis，“Itoldher，“andIneverhavetakenachill，andanywaymythroat’stoofulloftroubletodrink。“
　　“Why，youpoorchild！“saidthePrincess。“Tellmequickly！Isyourmotherillagain？“
　　“Notnow，butshe’sgoingtobeassoonasshefindsout，“I
　　said，andthenItoldthem。
　　TheyalllistenedwithoutasounduntilIgotwhereLeonhelpedthegooseeat，andfromthatonMr。Pryorlaugheduntilyoucouldeasilyseethathehadverylittlefeelingforsufferinghumanity。Itwasfunnyenoughwhenwefedher，butnowthatshewasburstedwideopentherewasnothingamusingaboutit；andtoroarwhenavisitorplainlytoldyoushewasinawfultrouble，didn’tseemverygoodmannerstome。ThePrincessandhermotherneverevensmiled；andbeforeIhadtoldnearlyallofit，ThomaswascalledtohitchthePrincess’drivingcart，andshetookmetotheirbarnyardtochoosethegoosethatlookedmostlikemother’s，andallofthemseemedlikehers，sowetookthefirstoneThomascouldcatch，putitintoabaginthebackofthecart，andthenwegotinandstartedforourbarn。Aswereachedtheroad，Isaidtoher：“You’dbettergopastDovers’，forifwecomedownourLittleHilltheywillseeussure；it’sbakingday。“
　　“Allright！“saidthePrincess，sowewentthelongwayroundthesection，butgoodnessme！whenshedrovenowaywasfar。
　　Whenwewereoppositeourbarnshestopped，hitchedherhorsetothefence，andweclimbedover，andslippingbehindthebarn，carriedthegoosearoundtothepenandputitinwithours。Shesaidshewantedthebrokenone，becauseherfatherwouldenjoyseeingit。Ididn’tseehowhecould！Wewerereadytoslipout，whenourgeesebegantorunatthenewone，hissandscream，andmakesucharacketthatLaddieandLeonbothcaughtus。Theylookedatthegoose，atme，thePrincess，andeachother，andneithersaidaword。Shelookedbackalittlebit，andthenshelaughedashardasshecould。Leongrewred，andhegrinnedashamed-like，soshelaughedworsethanever。Laddiespoketome：“YouwenttoMr。Pryor’sandaskedforthatgoose？“
　　“Shedidnot！“saidthePrincessbeforeIcouldanswer。“Sheneveraskedforanything。Shewasmakingafriendlymorningcallandinthecourseofhervisitshetoldaboutthepatheticendofthegoosethatwasexpectedtolaythegoldenegg——ImeanstufftheBishop’spillow——andaswehavealargeflockofbluegeese，fathergaveherone，andhehadthebesttimehe’shadinyearsdoingit。Iwouldn’thavehadhimmissthefunhegotfromitforanymoney。Helaughedlikehomeagain。NowImustslipawaybeforeanyoneseesme，andspoilsoursecret。Leon，lad，youcangotothehouseandtellyourlittlemotherthatthefeedingstoppedeverypainhergoosehad，andhereafteritlookstoyouasifshe’dbeallright。“
　　“MissPryor，“saidLeon，“didyoucareaboutwhatIsaidatyouinchurchthatday？“
　　“`Thouartallfair，mylove。Thereisnospotinthee。’Well，itwasalittlepointed，butsinceyouaskaplainquestion，I
　　havesurvivedit。“
　　“I’mawfullysorry，“saidLeon。“OfcourseIneverwould，ifI’dknownyoucouldbethisnice。“
　　ThePrincesslookedatLaddieandalmostgasped，andthenbothofthemlaughed。Leonsawthathehadtoldherhewassorryhesaidshewas“fair，andnospotinher。“
　　“OhIdon’tmeanthat！“hesaid。“WhatIdomeanisthatIthankyouawfulmuchforthegoose，andhelpingmeoutlikesuchabrickofagoodfellow，andwhatIwishis，thatIwasasoldasLaddie，andhe’dhumphimselfifhegottobeyourbeau。“
　　ThePrincessalmostran。LaddieandIfollowedtotheroad，whereheunhitchedthehorseandhelpedherin。Thenhestoodstrokingitsneck，asheheldthebridle。
　　“Idon’tknowwhattosay！“saidLaddie。
　　“Insuchcase，Iwouldcounselsilence，“advisedthePrincess。
　　“IhopeyouunderstandhowIthankyou。“
　　“Ifailtoseewhatfor。FathergavethegoosetoLittleSister。
　　HerthanksandLeon’saremorethanenoughforhim。Wehadgreatsport。“
　　“Iinsistonaddingmine。Deepandfervent！“
　　“Youtakeeverythingsoserious。Can’tyouseethefunofthis？“
　　“No，“saidLaddie。“Butifyoucan，Iamglad，andI’mthankfulforanythingthatgivesmeaglimpseofyou。“
　　“Bye，LittleSister，“saidthePrincess，andwhensheloosenedthelinesthemudflewarodhigh。
　　CHAPTERXI
　　KeepingChristmasOurWay“Iremember，IrememberHowmychildhoodfleetedby，——
　　ThemirthofitsDecember，AndthewarmthofitsJuly。“
　　WhenduskclosedinitwouldbeChristmaseve。AlldayIhadthreepoints——achairbesidethekitchentable，alookoutmeltedthroughthefrostonthefrontwindow，andthebigsitting-roomfireplace。
　　AlltheperfumesofArabyfloatedfromourkitchenthatday。
　　Therewasthatdelicioussmellofbakingflourfrombigsnowyloavesofbread，lightbiscuit，goldencoffeecake，andcinnamonrollsdrippingawaxymixtureofsugar，butter，andspice，muchbetterthanthefinestbutterscotcheverbroughtfromthecity。
　　Therewasthetemptingodourofboilinghamandbakingpies。TheairwasfilledwiththesmellofmoreherbsandspicesthanI
　　knewthenamesof，thatwentintomincemeat，fruitcake，plumpudding，andpies。Therewasateasingfragranceinthespicedvinegarheatingforpickles，areminderofwinesapandrambointheboilingcider，whilethenewlyopenedbottlesofgrapejuicefilledthehousewiththetangofConcordandmuscadine。ItseemedtomeInevergotnicelyfixedwhereIcouldtakeaslydipinthecakedoughorsnipeafatraisinfromthemincemeatbutCandacewouldsay：“Don’tyousupposethebacklogishalfwaydownthelane？“
　　ThenIhurriedtothefrontwindow，whereIcouldseethroughmymeltedoutlookonthefrostedpane，acrossthewesteightytothewoods，wherefatherandLaddieweregettingouttheChristmasbacklog。Itwastoobitterlycoldtokeepmetherewhiletheyworked，butLaddiesaidthatifIwouldwatch，andcometomeetthem，hewouldtakemeup，andImightridehomeamongtheChristmasgreensonthelog。
　　SoIflattenedmynoseagainstthepaneanddancedandfidgeteduntilthoseodoursteasedmebacktothekitchen；andnomoredidIgetnicelylocatedbesideajarofpuddingsaucethanCandacewouldobjecttotheplaceIhadhungherstocking。Itwasmytask，mydelightfulall-daytask，tohangthestockings。Fatherhadmademeapegforeachone，andIhadtenfeetofmantelfrontalongwhichtoarrangethem。Butitwasnosmalljobtodothistoeveryone’ssatisfaction。Nomatterwhathappenedtoanyoneelse，Candacehadtobepleased：fordidnotshesomanagethatmostfowlsservedonmother’stablewentgizzardlesstothecarving？Sheknewandacknowledgedthegreatimportanceoftryingcookies，pies，andcakewhiletheywerehot。Shewasforeveroverworkedandtired，yetshealwaysfoundtimetomakegingerbreadwomenwithcurrantbuttonsontheirfrocks，andpudgydoughnutmenwithcloveeyesandcigarsofcinnamon。Ifmyownstockinglayonthehearth，Candace’shadtogoinaplacethatsatisfiedher——thatwasonesurething。Besides，IhadtomakeuptoherforwhatLeondid，becauseshewascryingintothecornerofherapronaboutthat。
　　Heslippedinandstoleherstocking，hungitoverthebroomstick，andmarchedaroundthebreakfasttablesingingtothetuneof——
　　“Ha，ha，ha，whowouldn’tgo——
　　Uponthehousetopclick，click，click？
　　Downthroughthechimney，WithgoodSaintNick——“
　　wordshemadeuphimself。Hewalkedjustfastenoughthatshecouldn’tcatchhim，andsangashewent：
　　“Ha，ha，ha，goodSaintNick，Comeandlookatthisstocking，quick！
　　Ifyouundertakeitslengthtofill，You’llhavetobustaten-dollarbill。
　　Whodoesitbelongto？CandaceSwartz。
　　Bringextracandy，——sevenquarts——“
　　Shegotsoangryshejustroared，sofathermadeLeonstopit，butIcouldn’thelplaughingmyself。Thenwehadtopetherallday，soshe’dcheerup，andnotsalttheChristmasdinnerwithhertears。IneversawsuchamonkeyasLeon！Itrottedouttocomforther，andsnippedbites，untilIworeatriangleonthecarpetbetweenthekitchenandthemantel，themantelandthewindow，andthewindowandthekitchen，whileeveryhourthingsgrewmoreexciting。
　　ThereneverhadbeensuchaflurryatourhousesinceIcouldremember；forto-morrowwouldbeChristmasandbringhomeallthechildren，andahousefullofguests。Mybigbrother，Jerry，whowasalawyerinthecity，wascomingwithhisfamily，andsowereFrank，Elizabeth，andLucywiththeirs，andofcourseSallyandPeter——Iwonderedifshewouldstillbefixinghistie——andShelleycameyesterday，blushinglikearose，andshelaughedifyoupointedyourfingerather。
　　SomethinghadhappenedtoherinChicago。Iwasn’tsosureasI
　　hadbeenaboutacitybeingsuchadreadfulplaceofnoise，badair，andwickedpeople。NothinghadhurtShelley。Shehadgrownsomuchthatyoucouldseeshewaslarger。Herhairandface——
　　allofShelleyjustshone。Hereyesdanced，shetalkedandlaughedallthetime，andshehuggedeveryonewhopassedher。
　　Sheneverlovedussobefore。Leonsaidshemusthavebeenhomesickandcomingbackhadgivenheraspell。Ididhopeitwouldbeabadone，andlastforever。IwouldhavelikedforallourfamilytohavehadaspellifitwouldhavemadethemactandlooklikeShelley。ThePrincesswasnotaspecklovelier，andshedidn’tactanynicer。