Terry; Or, She ought to have been a Boy

by Rosa M. Gilbert

Hearing this, Nurse Nancy first of all knelt down in the hall and thanked God. Next she went back to Madam and told her that she thought the children had been punished enough, and should be allowed to come to her as usual at tea-time. She was not a minute too soon with the news, for Granny had already begun to get a little suspicious and uneasy.

In a very short time afterwards Terry and Turly came racing up the avenue and into the house and up the stairs in search of Nurse Nancy, who brought them into the nursery and cried over them, and was far too happy at seeing them again to think of scolding them.

The children cried too, and told her their adventures.

"Oh, Nursey, dear," said Terry, "this is really the last time we'll ever do anything wild! We should have been drowned, only God took care of us. We will never do wild things again, I assure you."

"Not till the next time," said Nurse Nancy grimly; but this was the nearest approach she made to scolding.

In the midst of this little scene Granny's bell rang violently, and Nurse Nancy hastened away to see what was the cause of the unusual sound.

"Nancy!" cried Madam, "let me see the children immediately. I have wonderful news for them. Their father and mother will be here with us to-night!"

Very soon Terry and Turly were dancing round Granny in delight, all trouble forgotten, and nothing thought of but the joy that was in store for them. All the house was in a bustle of preparation. Fires were lighted in rooms that had been deserted, and the maids went about making everything look cheery and pretty. Cook came up to Granny's room to take orders for the evening dinner, and Terry and Turly were to be permitted to dine with the grown people.

In due time the father and mother arrived, both quite young people, and looking more like the grown-up brother and sister of Terry and Turly than their parents. That was a delightful evening when all were gathered round the fire in Granny's room, and the children, one on Father's knee and the other in Mother's arms, listened to stories of many a "happening thing", in which they seemed to share without getting into disgrace.