THE children had been up in their mamma’s room, after breakfast, that Sunday morning, learning their text; and when they had it perfectly, and were coming downstairs again for a run in the garden, whilst nurse was busy, Nannie and Frank fell to disputing. And what do you think about? Why, who should carry the great rubber ball downstairs.
Nannie wanted it because she had thought of it first, and Frank wanted it because he was the oldest. ‘You’re a mean, selfish boy,” said Nannie.
“You’re a pig,” said Frank.
“I’ll just tell papa what a horrid boy your are,” said Nannie.
“And I’ll tell mamma I wish she’d sell you to somebody. I don’t want such a sister,” answered Frank.
“I don’t love you one single bit,” said Nannie.
“And who wants you to?” inquired Frank.
So these naughty children went on from bad to worse, saying all sorts of unkind and unpleasant things to one another—so very unkind that they were ashamed enough whenever they remembered them afterward.
All this time Baby Ben was coming downstairs behind them. Slowly, one foot at a time, holding fast to the banisters with both fat, small hands, the little man made his way; and wider and wider opened his big blue eyes, more and more surprised he looked, as he heard the angry words.
The children stopped to finish their quarrel at the foot of the stairs. Frank was trying very hard to get the ball away from Nannie, and she had got as far as pulling his hair, the naughty girl, when the baby stopped on the lowest stair and preached his sermon to them.
“Ickle chillen,” said he, “love one anodder.”
That was every word he said. It was the text the children had been learning in their mother’s room such a short time before. Nannie dropped her hands, her face flushed, and she turned half away from Baby Ben, and nobody said anything for a moment.
“Here, Frank,” said Nannie at last, holding out the ball, “you may have it. I’m going to be good.”
“So am I,” said Frank. “You shall have the first toss, Nannie. I’m—I’m very sorry I was so cross.”
So the two went off to the garden hand in hand, ashamed enough of having been so naughty, while the baby curled himself up in papa’s big chair in the study, and there nurse found him, after a long hunt, fast asleep, with his thumb in his mouth.