Amy Ella Blanchard

A Dear Little Girl At School Amy Ella Blanchard

A wholesome child's story, one of the sort that commends itself to children's sympathies and will be conned again and again. No mother need hesitate ever putting this or any other of Miss Blanchard's stories into her little daughter's hands. Edna and Cousin Ben Barker were on the back porch. It was a favorite place, for it was always shady there in summer and out of the wind on cold days. If big Cousin Ben did not always like to be where Edna was, on the other hand Edna invariably sought out Cousin Ben if he were to be found about the premises. On this special afternoon he was doing something to his wheel, getting it in order for a long ride which he had planned for the next day. Edna stood watching him, ready to hand a tool or run for a piece of rag to be used in cleaning, or to fill the oil can from the bottle on the shelf upstairs. "Where are you going to-day, Cousin Ben?" Edna always asked this for Cousin Ben's replies were generally so funny. "I'm going to the woods," he said, "to see Johnny-jump-up." "Why will he jump up?" asked Edna in pleased expectancy of something amusing. "Because the dog-wood bark, you know." "I know dog-wood blossoms," returned Edna a little doubtfully. "Of course, and I dare say you know the dog-wood bark, too, don't you?" "Ye-es, I suppose so." Cousin Ben went on burnishing the metal he was at work upon. "You see," he continued after a moment, "the catkins will all be out and when I meet one I shall say, 'Pussy, will oh, will you tell me the way to the elder Berries.'"