Page:Samantha on Children's Rights.djvu/257

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all covered with white feathers and streamers and things, and her dress wuz white, too, and she wuz layin' back in the hammock on some gay-colored cushions as easy as you please, and one of them Danglers had a big fan and wuz fannin' her. But even as I looked that colt broke away from the landlord, and, bein' skairt most to death, jest bounded into that peaceful group and scattered it like chaff before a whirlwind. She upset the feller with the banjo, steppin' right into the fiddle as she jumped clean over the hammock, one heel kickin' off and goin' through that great white hat, and stepped into the stomach of the dangler who held the fan and broke off the feller's song right in the most effective place, for he wuz jest singin' in a deep beartone:

"Come where my love lies dreaming."

And, as if in answer, the colt come, one foot come square down into them dreams, if she wuz dreamin', and tore off more than five yards of lace and ribbons, whilst the other one took off the big hat, as I said, amidst her loud screams. My first thought wuz she would have a coniption fit, and even in that minute, so practical is my mind, I wondered what I should do without catnip or burnt feathers. But even as I thought this she turned towards me and see who I wuz and what had caused the fracas, for Josiah and the landlord wuz follerin' on in hot pursuit, whilst the old mair stood in the background whinnerin' to her colt, either in encouragement or remonstrance, I couldn't tell which.

Miss Greene Smythe looked cross enough to eat a file at that first look, but immegiately the young men sprung up, one gathered up her laces and ribbons and placed 'em in her hands, another her fan and book, and, though I