came off on Tuesday, and I didn't fasten it on."

"So you see we must go back of Aunt Izzie for the beginning of this
unlucky day of yours, Childie. Did you ever hear the old saying about,
'For the want of a nail the shoe was lost'?"

"No, never--tell it to me!" cried Katy, who loved stories as well as
when she was three years old.

So Dr. Carr repeated--

"For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for want of a horse-shoe nail."

"Oh, Papa!" exclaimed Katy, giving him a great hug as she got off his
knee, "I see what you mean! Who would have thought such a little
speck of a thing as not sewing on my string could make a difference?
But I don't believe I shall get in any more scrapes, for I sha'n't
ever forget--

"'For the want of a nail the shoe was lost.'"




CHAPTER IV