STORY XXI

LULU AND AUNT LETTIE


Lulu Wibblewobble was walking in the deep, dark woods, and, what is more,
she was all alone. Yes, and she wasn't afraid. You see, Jimmie had gone
off with the boys in the lots back of the duck pond to play ball, and
Alice had gone shopping with her mamma. Lulu could have gone, too, only
felt she would rather go walking in the woods, so she went.

At first it was very pleasant with the birds singing in the trees, and the
wind blowing through the leaves, and making music, and Lulu liked it very
much. She found some fine eel grass in a little brook, and she was eating
the green stems, and thinking how nice it was, when all at once she heard
a funny noise. It was just like when a great, big door swings on rusty
hinges.

Lulu stopped eating eel grass at once, and she called right out loud:

"My goodness! What's that?"

Then it was all still, and quiet; as quiet, you know, as when a little
mouse walks along, and doesn't want any one to hear him, going after the
crackers and cheese, and maybe the jam tarts, too; who knows? Well, it was
just as still and quiet as it could be, when all of a sudden the noise
came again.

"Oh, dear!" cried Lulu. "I believe I'm going to be frightened. I wish
Jimmie was here!"