“I’d rather share with Max, please,” said Thekla, shaking her head: “we don’t want any thing different.”
“That’s a kind little sister,” answered September. “Well, August has made you uncomfortable; but, after all, he hasn’t been so bad, for he might have given you a stroke with the great yellow sun-club he keeps on purpose to use when he is furiously angry. I can tell you that the people on whom that falls don’t forget it in a hurry.”
Just then Thekla jumped, and slapped the back of her neck sharply.
“What’s the matter?” asked September.
“It’s those horrid bugs,” explained Max. “August brought them, a whole bottle full, and emptied them all over the house. You can’t think how they bite and keep us awake.”
“Aha!” laughed September, “that was really too bad! But you shan’t be vexed any longer with them, Max. I have something in my pocket which will soon put a stop to their biting.”
So saying, she produced a small box, and held it out for the children to look at. It was marked on the lid,—
Early Frost,
or
Mrs. September’s Specific for
Mosquitoes, Gnats, and Midges.
(None Genuine without this Label.)
Inside were a quantity of fine glittering pellets like minute hail-stones.
Just then a mosquito lit on Thekla’s arm. September laid her finger on her lip, and quick as lightning dashed a pinch of the “Specific” over him. The mosquito fluttered a second, dropped, and lay dead on the ground.