Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
CHAPTER v.
Topsy Goes Visiting.


marble steps belonging to Mrs. Mullar $
house. she heard her name called loudly.
and. turning around, she saw Daisy Wood
darling across the street toward her.
"Oh. I've the incest thing to tell you she
said, as soon as she came near Nettie. Il
told papa and mamma about you, and he
used to know your mamma when she was
little girl, and mamma has heard all about
the Misses Verro, and she's going to call
on them soon. She says they belong to
fine old Virginia family"
rs that nicer asked Nettie. doubtfully.
but added, quickly, "of course, it must be
or they wouldn't belong to it,
We'll, 1 guess you'd think it's nice If
you could just have heard my mamma say
1t. But are you coming over to my house
with Topsy? Mamma said I must invite
YOU
Il can't tell until 1 ask the Misses verro,
you know; but I'll come if they are will
ing"
well. if they aren't. you come without
Topsy. You know you want to see my
hem
Yes, but I can't come without Topsy.
Just think of the poor little thing being
shut up in those two rooms ever since the
last time I was here
We'll, hurry up. then: I'll wait at our
back gate, and If you don't come along
pretty soon, I'll come over and talk to you
through the little door,
When Nettie repeated Daisy's request to
Miss Verro, she said to her sister:
Il think 1t will be all right, don't you,
Julia, to let Nettie take Topsy into Daisy's
yard? 1t is very near, and l don't see how
any harm can possibly come to her."
Miss Julia agreed with her sister and so,
in a few minutes, Nettie. with Topsy in her
arms, came running up to the gate where
Daisy stood waiting for her
''Oh, goody, goody,' cried Daisy, jumping
up and down until her bright curls flew
over her face, like veil. now, We'll have
some fun
She led the way to tiny house in cor
ner of the yard. and, opening the door,
sprinkled some food on the ground calling
gently, Come, chick chick, chick"
In moment out stepped a beautiful,
white hen with a handsome fluffy top-knot,
and, after her, dozen tiny balls of yellow
down piping loudly for their supper. Nettie
was delighted, especially when Daisy took
the mother hen in her arms and smoothed
her glossy. white feathers. To hear the old
hen cluck, to the little chicks peep and
pick up the food with their funny, yellow
bills, was rare treat indeed. She had
come into the yard holding Topsy tight in
both arms, but in her delight over the
chickens she loosened her hold on the little
creature without knowing it. Suddenly
away went Miss Topsy out Of her arms
right among the little chicks. Then there
was time The chickens "yipped' with
all their baby strength, and scattered in
all directions; the old hen flew at Topsy in
perfect fury. Topsy held her ground,
though and barked her loudest, at the same
time making dashes at the raging hen The
battle did not last long, however, for Nettie,
at the risk of having her own eyes scratch
ed out, pounced upon Topsy and rescued
her. Daisy, who had screamed from the
moment Topsy landed on her feet until Net
tie picked her up, now shouted, Run up on
the porch with her, quick"
Nettie gladly obeyed, for the old hen,
with wings outspread, was making flu
rious charge on her.
ba 70 Of
looked Topsy over and found, to her great
delight that the naughty creature hadn't
even a scratch to show as a result of the
battle. The white hen also seemed none the
worse, but clucked as loudly as ever while
Daisy drove her and her flock back to their
home. Topsy continued to bark and strug-
gle to get out Of Nettie's arms, but she held
her closely. Pretty soon the hen and chick
ems were safely housed, and Daisy came
running up to the porch just as Nettie was
telling Topsy what naughty doggie she
was
No, no, don't scold her." said Daisy,
she isn't to blame; ought to have known
what would happen, because Flora Nc
Flmsey is awful careful Of those chickens;
she makes everybody stand back but me-
Of course, she likes me because 1 feed them.
But come on, up to the nursery, and let my
brothers see Topsy."
Il don't believe I ought to take her in
the house because, you know, l came out
to give her an airing"
to show you my newest wax doll: she was
bought in Paris; and she can walk and
talk"
This was too much for Nettie to resist
She had heard of dolls that walk and talk,
but she had never seen one; SO making
Daisy promise that she'd come right out
again. she followed her into the house,
Keeping, meanwhile, firm hold on Topsy
spotless kitchen into the dining room and
then through several other large and beau
tifully furnished rooms. AS she went she
called loudly:
Mamma, mamma" but no one answered,
and there was no one in any Of the rooms
so they went upstairs. On the second floor
Daisy again ran through all the rooms now
and then urging Nettie, as she hung back,
timidly, to come on" A servant was in
the last room that they visited. and here
Daisy paused for moment and asked
Where is mamma?''
'She has gone out"
And where is Jane?'
She is up in the nursery where you ought
to be. yourself, instead of racing through
the house screeching for your mamma
was the pert answer.
Daisy, with all her faults, was too well
trained to talk back to the servants;
therefore, she took no notice of this fling
until she was safely in the hall. Then she
said to Nettie:
Il didn't screech, did I?'' 9
No said Nettie, 1T wasn't what call
screeching. You couldn't screech if you
tried; you haven't that kind of a voice."
Another flight of stairs brought them to a
large room with four wide windows in 1t.
In the middle of the was a hobby
horse so tall and natural that Nettie jumped
when she saw it, for she thought it was
alive. Perched in the saddle was pretty
little boy. who was riding with all his
might and shouting:
"Glang there, glang there, I say
Near the dresser, at the farther end of the
ROOM sat neatly clad girl, who was put
ting clean white frock a pretty golden
haired child.
So said the nurse, looking up you've
come home, have you, Miss Daisy? Your
mamma told me to tell you to stay at home
this afternoon, and play with your broth
ers."
She then looked at Nettie, and, of course,
at once began to admire Topsy.
Put her down, do, Nettie,' said Daisy,
$50 they can see her better
Nettie looked all around the room. The
door and windows were safely closed.
There's nothing alive here but folks"
she said, $50 don't suppose she can do any
harm"
The little boy on the hobby horse jumped
off as he could stop his prancng
steed. and the child with the golden curls
cried out:
"Oh, Jane, let me go and the doggie."
Now, Nettie," said Daisy, come over in
L l. An