CHAPTER XIII
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
CHAPTER XIII.
Wuen the children were going home grandma said she wanted them all to come again, when her fruit would be ripe.
So one pleasant day in September they all met there, Susy and Robbie, Frank and Charlie, and both their mammas.
In the afternoon as they were playing under the trees Robbie picked up some plums.
"Nice pums!" said he.
"Robbie mustn't eat them," said Susy.
Robbie would mind even Susy.
He had a little pocket in his apron, and so instead of eating the plums he filled his pocket. When they began to play again the plums were crushed and the juice ran all over his apron.
When they went in his mamma asked Susy how it had happened.
Susy did not know.
She thought he had been eating the plums.
"He has been eating plums," said she.
"I tolded him not to eat them, and he did."
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
"No! no! Robbie no no eat pums," said Robbie.
Susy looked at him very sorrowfully.
" Robbie has told a naughty story," said she.
«" And I am afraid he'll have to be tookened to that bad old place."
This was a little dark closet under the stairs, where Susy had once seen a lady shut up her son for telling an untruth.
After that she always thought it had been built on purpose for boys who told falsehoods and otherwise misbehaved.
"Did you see Robbie eat the plums?" asked her mamma.
"No, mamma.
He was going to eat them, and I told him not to. And then we were playing and I didn't see him any more."
"Robbie no no eat pums," said Robbie.
"He put them in his pocket; I saw him," said Charlie.
"And when we rolled on the grass I guess he squeezed them up."
"Oh! yes," said Mrs. Love, "I dare say that was it.
I did not believe dear little Robbie would tell a naughty story."
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
"Tm glad he didn't !" said Susy.
' Robbie wouldn't tell a naughty story, would he?"
Robbie hadn't the least idea what a naughty story was; but when Susy kissed him and said that, he smiled and said: "No, no, Robbie not naughty 'tory."
This made them all laugh, and Susy asked her mamma if Robbie might have a plum, because he was such a good boy.
Her mamma said he might have one if grandma chose to have it picked off the tree for him.
Those on the ground were not sweet like those on the tree.
Grandma said he should have a little basketful, and she went out and shook the tree, and the children filled a basket which used to hold strawberries.
Then, without waiting to be told, Robbie offered some of the plums to everybody, and when his mamma, just to see what he would say, took the very last one, leaving none for him, there was not a cloud on his little, smiling face, and he went and sat down on the door: step without saying a word.
"Oh, Susy! Robbie hasn't any plum for him-
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
self," said Mrs. Love.
"The little darling has given everyone away.
Do give him one of yours."
"T only had three," said Susy.
"And one is eaten up. And the other I have bitten. And I was going to keep the other, it is such a big one."
"JT think you are very selfish," said Mr.
Ought.
Susy made no answer.
She ate the second plum and began to play with the third by rolling it on the stone step.
When it rolled down she ran after it, and Mr. Ought ran after her.
"Susy," said he, "Susy!
I should think you might give it to Robbie."
"Go away!" said Susy.
"I want to play."
Mr. Ought did not stir.
Miss Joy, however, ran and hid.
Susy felt pretty uncomfortable.
"Tm sure mamma will give him one," said she.
Mr. Ought looked grieved.
"T wish I had one," said Mrs. Love. "I would give it to the dear, little generous fellow in a minute."
LITTLE SUSY'S SIX TEACHERS.
"Would you?" said Susy.
"I've a good mind to give him mine.
It isa big one though, and mamma meant he should have a little one."
While she was waiting she saw her mamma take Robbie up and kiss him, and heard her say :
"Here, Robbie, darling, is your plum.
Mamma would not eat it for the world.
And here is another one that grandma sent you beside."
Then Robbie smiled, and looked pleased, and Susy wished she had given him hers, and then she would have had that sweet smile, and Miss
Joy wouldn't have run away, and Mr. Ought wouldn't have teased her so, but would have called her "Good Susy !"
She came and sat down by Robbie, looking very disconsolate.
Her mamma guessed her thoughts.
"Never mind, dear," said she, " Robbie has as many now as are good for him.
And [ know you love him, and often give him things.
And next time you won't be selfish, I know."