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Read Ebook: Bessie at the Sea-Side by Mathews Joanna H Joanna Hooe
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Ebook has 1614 lines and 72054 words, and 33 pages
"And I like to see the water, papa, and to hear the nice noise it makes."
"Yes, it's so pleasant here," said Maggie. "Let's stay here always, papa, and never go home."
"What! and sleep in the trundle-bed all your lives?" said papa.
"Well," said papa, "I think we will try it for a night or two longer."
And then they all went in to breakfast.
OLD FRIENDS AND NEW.
After breakfast they went out again. Mr. Bradford and his little girls were standing in the porch waiting for mamma who was going with them, when Mr. Jones came up from the shore. He had been fishing, and looked rather rough and dirty, but he had a pleasant, good-natured face.
"Mornin' sir," he said to Mr. Bradford; "folks pretty spry?"
"Pretty well, thank you," said Mr. Bradford; "you have been out early this morning."
"Yes, I'm generally stirrin' round pretty early; been out since afore day-light. S'pose these are your little girls. How are you, Miss Bradford?" he said, holding out his hand.
But shy Maggie hung her head and drew a little away behind her father.
"Why, Maggie," said Mr. Bradford, "you are not polite; shake hands with Mr. Jones, my daughter."
"Not if she hain't a mind to," said Mr. Jones. "I see she's a bashful puss, but she'll feel better acquainted one of these days."
"Yes, she will;" said Bessie, "and then she won't be shy with you; but I'm not shy now, and I'll shake hands with you."
Mr. Jones took the tiny little hand she offered him with a smile.
"No, I see you ain't shy, and I don't want you to be; you, nor your sister neither. Goin' down to the shore, eh?"
"Yes, when mamma comes," said Bessie.
"Well, you see that big barn out there; when you come back you both come out there. You'll find me inside, and I'll show you something will soon cure all shyness; that is, if you like it as much as most young folks do."
"What is it?" asked Bessie.
"It's a scup."
"Will it bite?" said Bessie.
"Bite! Don't you know what a scup is?"
"She knows it by the name of a swing," said Mr. Bradford.
"Oh, yes! I know a swing; and I like it too. We'll come, Mr. Jones."
"Is it quite safe for them?" asked Mr. Bradford.
"Quite safe, sir. I put it up last Summer for some little people who were staying here; and Sam, he's my eldest son, he made a seat with back and arms, and a rung along the front to keep them in,--a fall on the barn floor wouldn't feel good, that's a fact; but it's as safe as strong ropes and good work can make it. I'll take care they don't get into no mischief with it; but come along with the little ones and see for yourself." And then with a nod to Maggie, who was peeping at him out of the corners of her eyes, Mr. Jones took up his basket of fish and walked away to the kitchen.
"Bessie," said Maggie, as they went down to the beach, "do you like that man?"
"Yes, I do," said Bessie; "don't you?"
"No, not much. But, Bessie, did you hear what he called me?"
"No," said Bessie, "I did not hear him call you anything."
"He called me Miss Bradford," said Maggie, holding up her head and looking very grand.
"Well," said Bessie, "I suppose he was mad because you wouldn't shake hands with him."
They found a good many people upon the beach now, and among them were some ladies and gentlemen whom Mr. and Mrs. Bradford knew, and while they stopped to speak to them, Maggie and Bessie wandered off a little way, picking up shells and sea-weed and putting them into a basket which their mother had given them.
Presently a boy and girl came up to them. They were the children of one of the ladies who was talking to Mrs. Bradford, and their mother had sent them to make acquaintance with Maggie and Bessie.
"What's your name," said the boy, coming right up to Maggie. Maggie looked at him without speaking, and, putting both hands behind her, began slowly backing away from him.
"I say," said the boy, "what's your name? My mother sent us to make friends with you; but we can't do it, if you won't tell us what your name is."
"Her name is Miss Bradford," said Bessie, who wanted to please her sister, and who herself thought it rather fine for Maggie to be called Miss Bradford.
"Oh! and you're another Miss Bradford, I suppose," said the boy, laughing.
"Why! so I am," said Bessie; "I didn't think about that before. Maggie we're two Miss Bradfords."
"Well, two Miss Bradfords, I hope we find you pretty well this morning. My name is Mr. Stone, and my sister's is Miss Stone."
"'Tain't," said the little girl, crossly, "it's nothing but Mary."
"Sure enough," said her brother; "she's just Miss Mary, quite contrary; whatever you say, she'll say just the other thing; that's her way."
"Now, Walter, you stop," said Mary in a whining, fretful voice.
"Now, Mamie, you stop," mimicked her brother.
"I think we wont be acquainted with you," said Bessie. "I am afraid you are not very good children."
"What makes you think so," asked Walter.
"'Cause you quarrel," said Bessie; "good children don't quarrel, and Jesus won't love you if you do."
"What a funny little tot you are," said Walter. "I won't quarrel with you, but Mamie is so cross I can't help quarrelling with her. I like girls, and I want to play with you, and your sister, too, if she'll speak. I have a splendid wagon up at the hotel and I'll bring it and give you a first-rate ride if you like. Come, let us make friends, and tell me your first name, Miss Bradford, No. 2."
"It's Bessie, and my sister's is Maggie."
"And don't you and Maggie ever quarrel?"
"Why, no," said Maggie, coming out of her shy fit when she heard this, "Bessie is my own little sister."
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