"Oh, dear! This will never do!" said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Freddie, you must
not rush about the house so fast."

"But, mamma, firemens is always fast. They have to be fast, and I was
going to a fire," the fat little fellow said.

"I know, dear, but you should look where you are going. And, Flossie,
dear, you must watch out before you rush into a room, you know."

"Yes, mamma, but, you see, I was pretending my doll was sick, and I
was running to the doctor's with her."

"Oh, dear!" cried Mamma Bobbsey. "You were both in too much of a
hurry, I think. Never mind. Let's see if the doll is hurt, much."

It seemed that she was, for though she would walk across the room when
wound up, she would not cry out "Mamma!" But Mrs. Bobbsey was used to
mending broken toys, and after poking about in the wheels and springs
with a hairpin she soon had the doll so it would talk again. Then
Flossie was happy, and her tears were forgotten.

Freddie said he was sorry he had been in such a hurry, so all was
forgiven, and he went on playing fireman. He was in the midst of
putting out a make-believe blaze in the village church when the
doorbell rang, and the postman's whistle was heard.

"Will you get the mail, dear?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey of Freddie. "Dinah
is busy, I'm sure. Let me see how mamma's little fat fireman can get
the letters. But don't run!" she exclaimed, "or you might fall