This was about the last of Prudy's going to school. In the first place she was very tired of it, in the second place it was vacation, and in the third place the whole family were going to Willowbrook on a visit.
It was very pleasant at grandpa Parlin's at any time. Such a stout swing in the big oil-nut tree! Such a beautiful garden, with a summer-house in it! Such a nice cosy seat in the trees! So many "cubby holes" all about to hide in!
But this summer I speak of was pleasanter than ever; for the Western cousins, Grace and Horace Clifford, had come from Indiana to visit their friends in Maine. The Parlin children had not seen them for two years; but Grace and Susy became fast friends in a very short time, while little Prudy was thrown one side for Horace to take care of when he could stop.
"O dear suz," said she, one morning, "I'm so glad there happened to be a world, and God made me!"
"What, you here, Prudy?" said grandma Parlin. "What made you get up so early?"
"O, the flies waked me, I s'pose. I was dreaming about my pignig. I thought I had it on top o' the trees."
"Ah, it's the day for Grace's party, sure enough," said her grandmother, sighing a little, and stirring faster at her drop-cake.
"You mean my party," said Prudy, dancing around the table. "The party b'longs to me. You didn't know that, did you?"
"You'd better go and talk to your aunt Madge," said grandma, "I'm busy."
"O," said Prudy, "I guess you ain't glad I got up. I tried to keep asleep, grandma, but the flies waked me."