rocking-chair, and entertained Aunt Milly for some time with the
children's evil doings and their mother's leniency.




CHAPTER V.

DIDDIE'S BOOK.


One morning Diddie came into the nursery with a big blank-book and a
lead-pencil in her hand.

"What's that, Diddie?" asked Dumps, leaving her paper dolls on the floor
where she had been playing with Chris, and coming to her sister's side.

"Now don't you bother me, Dumps," said Diddie; "I'm goin' to write a
book."

"Are you?" said Dumps, her eyes opening wide in astonishment. "Who's
goin' ter tell yer what ter say?"

"I'm goin' ter make it up out o' my head," said Diddie; "all about
little girls and boys and ladies."

"I wouldn't have no boys in it," said Dumps; "they're always so hateful:
there's Cousin Frank broke up my tea-set, an' Johnnie Miller tied er
string so tight roun' Cherubim's neck till hit nyearly choked 'im. Ef I
was writin' er book, I wouldn't have no boys in it."