“Now you’re gettin’ all tired out,” said Mrs. Beebe, in a worried way. “Don’t let him work any more, Pa.”
“Oh, no, I’m not tired,” said Davie, raising his flushed face. “I want to put all the things back. Do let me, Mr. Beebe,” he begged. He longed to say that it was old Mr. King’s letter to Mamsie that was bothering him. But that belonged to Mamsie.
How could they ever let Polly go from the little brown house to visit in the city! Mamsie had written “No” twice before to Mr. King; but yesterday after reading this particular letter, Mother Pepper had looked very sober. “She must think about it,” she had told the children. Think about it! Davie didn’t imagine that it needed a second thought. They couldn’t let Polly go! even if Jasper was sick, and the doctor said there must be some little friend invited to cheer things up. Oh, no, they couldn’t!
When the shoes and rubbers and slippers were all neatly put back in their respective boxes, and on the shelf once more, old Mrs. Beebe, who had gone off into the kitchen, came back with a blue plate on which were two doughnuts. “Now while Pa is a-mendin’ your shoe, you can set an’ eat ’em,” she said.
Davie, well pleased, curled up on the bench and munched the sugary things slowly to make them last. He wanted to ask if he couldn’t take one home for Phronsie, but then that was as good as begging one—for old Mrs. Beebe would trot out to her big stone pot, and get him another. So he watched his shoe having the finishing touches put to its repairs, while he ate.
“Now says I,” the little shoemaker held up the completed work, as David swallowed the last crumb of the doughnuts, “that job is done as good as th’ next one, if I do say it. Now, Davie, that will last you a long spell.”
“I am so glad.” Davie hopped off from the bench, and sitting down on the floor, he pulled on the shoe with great satisfaction.
“That string ain’t very strong,” said Mr. Beebe, “I guess I better get you another.” He went across the shop and pulled out a drawer.
Davie stopped trying to tie the shoestring. “Mamsie didn’t say that I was to get a new string,” he said.
“Oh, you ain’t goin’ to buy this,” said old Mr. Beebe, coming back. “I’m goin’ to give it to you. Give me the shoe, Davie, and we’ll see about that string.”