We are the Smiths, and there are four of us, and next door to us live
the Browns, and there are three of them, so we are seven, and we are
great friends. We liked being seven better than being eight, because
it's like the poem; and I think that was why we never would let Jim
Batson join our party. He and his dog Pincher were always wanting to
make friends with us; but we told him there were enough of us without
him, and then he would go away, but only to come back another day and
try again.
When the spring weather came this year we made a delightful plan with
the Browns that on Saturday we would go into the park, which was a mile
off, and have games under the trees. When Saturday came it was a lovely
day; so soon after breakfast we started out, all seven of us, with our
dinners in our pockets. Willie Brown had the drum, and I had the
trumpet, and a fine noise we made, almost frightening our little Sissy,
who had to come because Mother was busy, and Bessie was minding Sissy,
and we couldn't have any fun without Bessie. Charlie put on an old
ragged coat, because Mother says he destroys everything; but Arthur and
Patty Brown looked very nice, and we made Patty the queen, and we were
her band playing to her.
Then all at once Jim Batson came out from among the trees with his dog
(who was held by a string because of the game), and when we saw them we
all shouted at Jim to go away. Bessie _did_ ask me if it didn't seem
unkind; but we wouldn't listen to her and sent him away, telling him not
to sneak about near us. So he went off without a word.
We weren't very happy after that, for Arthur turned cross, and wouldn't
speak to any one; but the worst of all was when Willie dropped one of
the drumsticks into the river as we were crossing the plank. The river
is very deep in parts, and none of us could swim, so we could only
follow the stick as it floated along, and hope that it might catch in
some weeds in a shallow part. But as we ran by the river we came on Jim
and Pincher. Jim was sitting by the bank with his face hidden in his
hands, and Pincher was just kissing him as hard as he could. Jim jumped
up and began to move away when he saw us, but stopped to ask what was
the matter when he saw Willie's face. As soon as he knew what it was, he
took the string off Pincher's neck, and throwing a stone at the stick
called, "Hie, Pincher! fetch it out!"
We _did_ feel uncomfortable as we saw Pincher bring the drumstick to
shore quite safely, but Bessie helped us out splendidly. She held out
her hand to Jim, and said, "Thank you so much; we're all very sorry for
being so unkind. Please don't make us _more_ sorry by going away now."
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