“I’m goin’, too,” cried the child, scrambling down off the gate.
Now Mamie Hecker, the farmer’s little daughter, always wanted to “go too,” whenever she saw the children pass. She was a whining, dirty, disagreeable little thing, and always made herself very unpleasant. She stuck to the children like a burr, and oftentimes they would go far out of their way, if they saw her in the distance, to avoid her tagging after them. So when she now got off the gate and came up, chewing her sunbonnet string, as usual, the two little girls exchanged vexed glances.
“You can’t come, too,” said Cricket, decidedly.
“Yes, I can, too, you’re goin’ to the store to get some candy an’ I want some, too,” cried Mamie, dancing around them.
“No, we’re not, either. We’re going for a long walk, and you can’t come one step,” said Eunice, looking very determined, as they walked on.
“I will come, too! I will!” cried Mamie, catching hold of her dress, and trotting along.
“Don’t you dare touch my dress with your dirty little fingers,” cried Eunice, pulling her fresh gingham frock indignantly out of Mamie’s hands.
Mamie Hecker was one of those disagreeable children that give everyone a desire to box their ears, no matter what they do. Truth to tell, she generally deserved it, for her mother spoiled her. She was almost the only person that upset Cricket’s sweet temper, and Cricket now looked as if she could bite her.
“Oh, Cricket!” exclaimed Eunice, stopping short. “Have you papa’s note?”
“No, I thought you had,” said Cricket, in dismay.