“No, I tan’t, tause my tittens’ eyes haven’t tum opened ’et,” said Effie.
“Ask the Jimmyjohns to wait till your kittens’ eyes come open,” said Hiram.
Little Effie went close to the Jimmies, looked up in their faces, and said, “Dimmydons, will oo wait till my tittens’ eyes tum opened?”
The Jimmies laughed; and so did another little fellow who was then coming out of the house. This was Clarence,—a poor boy who came every day with his basket to get what food was to be given away. Some people called him “the little gentleman,” because he had very good manners.
“Do you want to stay to the party?” Mr. Doty asked Clarence.
“If the Jimmyjohns will let me,” he said.
“Yes, yes, you may come!” they shouted.
“Can’t cousin Floy be invited?” asked Annetta. “She’s here playing with me.”
“By all means,” said Hiram. “And there’s Mr. Tompkins: maybe he’ll come to the party.”
Mr. Tompkins, the lobster man, had dropped his wheelbarrow, and come to look over the fence.