"O, if it hadn't been for my nose," thought the brave little boy, wading across the floor; "if it hadn't been for my nose! Wonder if the fire has struck through to the cellar?"
It had not; but there seemed to be a smoky smell down there; and our hero went down boldly, and dashed water upon the ceiling, never minding that it ran back and wet him all over.
Quite satisfied at last that all was right, he went to the front door, and let in tearful little Flaxie.
"What'd you put me out for? Say, what'd you put me out for?"
"So I could put out the fire, you little, good-for-nothing baby," replied Preston, kissing her tenderly. "What if you'd burnt up, and I'd burnt up, too, Flaxie? I guess 'twould have been the last time mother'd have left us to keep house!"
And, when Dodo got home next morning, she found them fast asleep with the sun full in their eyes. "To think I should have missed the train last night for the first time in all my life," sobbed the faithful creature, on hearing the story. "If any harm had come to you children, I never could have forgiven myself."
MRS. PRIM'S STRAWBERRIES.