Just then Ponto came running up the stairs, and as soon as he saw his little master, he began to bark most furiously. He did not like to see him hung up so, and he meant to give his opinion about it.
Frankie had for a long time been fond of using his feet, and had often done so in his mother's lap, until he almost sprang out of her arms; but at first he did not know what mamma wanted him to do. But presently he began to jump; and when he found how easily he could set himself to dancing, he was so much pleased that he gave a scream of delight.
Willie ran to the other side of the room, and put his coral bells in a chair, and called out, "Come, Frankie, come to brother;" and the little dancer jumped across the room as briskly as if he had done it every day of his life.
O, what laughing there was then! What shouting! What clapping of hands! Mamma ran to kiss her baby, and call him her darling boy.
All this time the dinner was on the table; and at last, Jane said, "O, dear, the dinner will be as cold as a stone!" But papa and mamma said they had rather see Frankie learn to jump, than to eat the best dinner that ever was cooked.
CHAPTER IV.
FRANKIE'S BROTHER WILLIE.
It was a long time before Ponto became reconciled to see Frankie in his jumper. He barked loud and long, as if he was afraid his little friend would hurt himself, tied up in so strange a manner. But baby grew every day more fond of this exercise; and as soon as he saw his mother take the jacket, he would spring so that she could hardly hold him still enough to fasten the buttons tightly to the wooden frame. One day, when he and his mamma were alone in the nursery, he grew very sleepy, and at last his little head nodded down, down, quite upon his breast. Mamma laughed softly, and she waited a minute to see what he would do. Presently he awoke a little, and touched his toes to the floor to make the jumper spring, and get himself to sleep again. Then she took him in her arms, and after loosing the buttons to his jacket, laid him in his cradle for a nice nap.