|Little Fannie said she did wish her aunt wouldn't have a headache when
mamma was busy, for then there was nobody to play with her. Perhaps the
headache was better. She would go and see. So she tiptoed softly up the
stairs, and rapped at aunty's door with the back of her hand; but it was
just like rapping with a little pink cushion. No answer; and then she
rapped with her finger-nails.
Aunty raised herself on one elbow and listened. She thought it might be
a mouse nibbling at her Albert biscuits in the closet. Then she heard
the noise again, and it seemed like two mice.
[Illustration: 8031]
"O," said she, laughing, "I do believe it's Fannie. Come in."
"How you do?" said the little girl, walking up to her and looking very
sorry. "How do you do? I have n't seen you since day 'fore yes' d'y
to-mor' mornin'."
Then she searched in her pocket a long time, and at last found a red
sugar-plum.
She gave it to aunty to cure the headache.
"Don't you think," said she, tucking it into her aunt's hand, "that
will make you mos' pretty well, and you can comed down nex' week las'
year?"
Aunty said she hoped so, and laid the sugar-plum on the table. But,
strange to say, she never saw it again. Perhaps a mouse may have got it.
What do you think?
--ELIZABETH A. DAVIS.
[Illustration: 5032]