The Skipper was of a dark, somber brown shade. And it always seemed tothe gaily colored Betsy that he tried to make up for his dull appearanceby being extremely lively in his movements. He was forever skippingsuddenly from one place to another--a trick which had caused people tocall him by so odd a name.
Much as she liked this queer cousin, Betsy often found his uncertainhabit somewhat annoying. It was not very pleasant, when talking to him,to discover that he had unexpectedly left her when she supposed he wasright beside her, or behind her. If she had anything important to tellhim she frequently had to hurry after him. And the worst of it was, onceshe had overtaken him she never knew when he would dart away again.
As the summer lengthened it seemed to Betsy Butterfly that the Skippergrew more flighty than ever. Once she had been able to say a few wordsto him before he went swooping off. But now--now she could not even tellhim that it was a nice day without following her cousin at least half anhour in order to finish her remark.
"You're becoming terribly fidgety," Betsy told him at last. "If youdon't look out you'll have nervous prostration--or I shall, if you don'tstop jumping about like a jack-in-the-box. I advise you," she said, "tosee a doctor before you get any worse."
Of course, it must not be supposed that Betsy Butterfly could say allthat to her cousin without going to a good deal of trouble. As a matterof fact, she had to follow him about the fields for two whole days andtravel several miles before she succeeded in finishing what she wantedto say to him.
"Why, I feel fine!" the Skipper cried. "I don't need a doctor. I----"
He started to skip away from the wild morning-glory blossom on which hehad perched himself. But Betsy caught him just in time--and held him.
"Now, you listen to me!" she commanded. "You're in a dangerouscondition. Some day someone will come to you with an important message.And if you go sailing off the way you do, how's he ever going to tellthe whole message until it's too late, perhaps?"
"If it was good news it wouldn't hurt it to keep it a while," theSkipper asserted cheerfully. And he gave a quick spring, with the hopeof escaping from Betsy's grasp. But she held him firmly by thecoat-tails.
"Suppose I wanted to warn you not to go near the flower garden, becauseJohnnie Green was waiting there for you with his net, to capture you andput you in his collection? You might be sorry, afterwards, if you didn'tsit still and listen to me."
"That's so!" said the Skipper. "I hadn't thought of that. I'd see adoctor at once; but I don't know any."
"Go to Aunt Polly Woodchuck, under the hill," Betsy Butterfly advisedhim. "She's the best doctor for miles around."
So they went, together, to call on Aunt Polly. The old lady looked atthe Skipper and shook her head. "I can't help him," she said.
Betsy asked anxiously, "Is his trouble catching?"
"No, indeed!" said Aunt Polly. "He can't stay in one place long enoughto give it to anybody."
Well, after that Betsy saw very little of her cousin the Skipper. Butshe did not mind that, especially since she soon made the acquaintanceof a very agreeable young gentleman, who dressed in the height offashion. He wore a swallowtail coat every day. And the neighbors allsaid that his manners were delightful.
_He_ never went skipping off while Betsy Butterfly was talking to him.
THE END
* * * * *
The HONEY BUNCH BOOKS
_by_ HELEN LOUISE THORNDYKE
_For Little Girls From 4 to 8 Years Old_
"Honey Bunch" is a dainty, thoughtful little girl who keeps youwondering just what she is going to do next. Little girls everywherewill want to discover what interesting experiences she is havingwherever she goes.
_Delightfully Illustrated_
HONEY BUNCH: JUST A LITTLE GIRL HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE CITY HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS ON THE FARM HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST VISIT TO THE SEASHORE HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST LITTLE GARDEN HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST DAYS IN CAMP HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST AUTO TOUR HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP ON THE OCEAN HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP WEST HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST SUMMER ON AN ISLAND HONEY BUNCH: HER FIRST TRIP IN AN AIRPLANE
GROSSET & DUNLAP -:- _Publishers_ -:- NEW YORK
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