She loved kind ’Manda dearly, and since Mamie was not there it was not quite so bad, but she scarcely ever spent a night away from home without her mother in her little life. Cricket was such a “mother child.”
She sat up, but she found that her head still felt a little faint and dizzy when she moved. Two little tears crept up into her eyes. How could she go to bed without mamma!
“I want my mother!” real sobs now.
“There, there, my pretty! don’t cry!” soothed ’Manda, much distressed, as she gathered her nursling into her motherly arms.
“Mommer ain’t here, but ’Mandy will take such good care of you, an’ it’s jest fur to-night. To-morrow mornin’, ’Gustus John, he’s got to be off real early, an’ you’ll hev to be up with the birds, I guess, an’ you’ll hev a bee-you-tiful ride in town. An’ then,” ’Mandy went on, forgetting that Cricket was not a baby, as she settled her head more comfortably on her broad bosom, “after tea, to-night, if your’s feelin’ reel smart, there ain’t nuthin’ to hender our takin’ a little walk down to the village to see Hilda Mason. She’s goin’ to miss you a sight this summer.”
Cricket began to feel that the situation had its advantages, after all. ’Manda’s lap was very comfortable, her shoulder very soft and plump, and her arms very loving, so that Cricket could not stay forlorn long, especially when there was the thought of seeing Hilda Mason so soon. So she obeyed ’Manda’s advice to “chirk up,” and soon felt like going out on the little front porch to sit, while ’Manda finished getting supper.
Then ’Gustus John and the two “hired men” came in, and with Sarah, the rosy-cheeked “hired girl,” they all sat down to the cosey, homely meal.
’Manda would not let Cricket sit with the others, but she had put her in state at a little square table near by, all by herself. The little table was spread with ’Manda’s best china, to do honour to her little guest, and special dainties in the way of preserves and cake were set for her. Cricket enjoyed her supper, with the “warmed-over” potatoes, great slices of fresh bread and butter, dried beef, cottage cheese and pickles, cold meat, two kinds of preserves, berries and three kinds of cake. Such a mixture, you will say; but Cricket was hungry enough now to taste a little of everything, and she enjoyed it all.
CRICKET AND ’MANDA.