The lamented author of “Little Women” in her last days read with great delight the manuscript of this little story; and its publication is owing greatly to the interest which she had in it.
Mrs. Polly.
SPARROW, THE TRAMP.
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CHAPTER I.
“Let that sugar-bowl alone, Posy,” said Tom, as Posy extracted a lump while they were waiting for Papa and Mamma to come down to breakfast.
“I’m not taking it for myself,” answered Posy, as plainly as the large lump in her mouth permitted her to speak; “I’m only just getting a lump for Dicky.”
“That’s a story,” said Tom.
“I was only just tasting it to see if it was a real sweet lump,” said Posy very distinctly now, for the lump had disappeared. “I didn’t mean to eat it, but it went all to pieces in my mouth.”