CHAPTER X
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
CHAPTER X.
Tnouan Susy was now able to be dressed every day, she was still feeble, and her mamma spent most of the time in amusing her.
Sometimes she held her in her arms and sang all sorts of funny things out of Mother Goose to make her laugh.
Sometimes she told her stories about what she used to do when she was a little girl.
And sometimes they would get to talking and laughing about Miss Joy, Mrs. Love, and Susy's other teachers.
One day Susy was more restless than usual.
She did not like to lie in bed, or to sit up.
She was tired of being rocked and of being drawn about the room in her little carriage.
"Mamma," said she, "don't you remember how Uncle Henny used to carry Robbie right in his hands 2"
"With Robbie's head leaning against his
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
breast?
Yes, I remember.
Do you think it would rest you if I should carry you so?"
"Yes, mamma, if you feel better enough."
Then her mamma made a chair of her two hands, and Susy sat on the chair with her head leaning back.
It felt very comfortable.
"ve carried you and Robbie a good many miles in this way," said her mamma.
" Both at once?"
"Oh! no; one at a time, when you were babies.
And it was in the night, when other folks were asleep."
"Tell me more, dear mamma"
"Did I ever tell you about the catnip tea that I scalded my hands with?
Oh! then I must tell you now.
Robbie was not well.
Mr.
Pain was hurting him."
"Oh? did Robbie have a Mr. Pain? said Susy.
"Yes, he had him indeed.
Well, Robbie was to have some catnip tea, and I put it on the fire to warm.
And while it was warming I kept rocking Robbie and singing to him, and all at once he fell asleep.
Just then the catnip tea
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began to boil.
I looked at Robbie to see if it would do to lay him down, and found he was only half-asleep.
While I waited the tea kept boiling, and I began to be afraid it would boil over and put out my fire.
Then I looked at Robbie, and he began to open his eyes.
I was sure he would wake up and ery, if I tried to lay him down, and I was afraid to take the catnip tea off the fire, because it was so hot and I had only one hand to do it with.
You know Robbie lay on the other arm.
But at last, just as it was going to boil over, I took hold of the cup and was lifting it gently off the fire, when
Robbie woke up and gave my hand a little jerk, so that the hot tea flew all over it."
"How did it feel ?"
"Not very nice.
Mr. Pain made my fingers smart."
"Oh! did you have a Mr. Pain, mamma ?"
"Yes, I had one.
And I've a Mr. Pain now.
He's pushing a pin right into my side just under your head.
If you could move your head a little bit, I could get it out."
Susy moved her head, and the pin was pulled
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out.
By this time she felt quite rested.
She had forgotten all her discomfort.
It doesn't take much to amuse little folks.
"Jf you had a Mr. Pain, I suppose you had a Mr. Ought," said Susy.
"Do you like hin, mamma ?"
"T don't think I liked him very well at first.
But that was because I did not know him."
" T suppose you always minded him."
"No, I remember very well that I often dis. obeyed him.
And then he used to follow me about, and would not give me any peace."
"Mamma!" cried Susy, sitting up quite straight, "don't you wish you was a little girl, like me?
And then we could play together with my blocks.
You could hand me the blocks, and I could build a house with them !"
"Oh! if you feel able to build a house, I can hand you the blocks.
If I were a little girl, perhaps we should quarrel.
Perhaps I should want you to hand me the blocks and let me build the house."
Susy smiled.
She felt a great deal better.
The walking and the talking had rested her.
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And now it was time for her dinner, and nurse came in to bring it.
Robbie came too, and while Susy was eating her chicken broth he watched her, and looked as if he wanted some too.
" Give him a little, do," said Mrs. Love.
"It isn't good for him," said Susy.
"I'm afraid it would hurt him."
"Oh! let him have one taste, do."
"Tt would burn his mouth."
"You might blow it, then."
"T don't believe he wants any."
All this time Susy kept eating as fast as she could, and wishing Robbie would go away, and not stand there, looking so good and lovely.
But it wouldn't do!
"There! he shall have some, little dear !" she said at last.
And she held out her spoon, and Robbie opened his rosy mouth just like a young bird, while she fed him, and she felt as happy as if she were the great mother-bird and not just little Susy Miller!