88 



FOUR-HANDED FOLK 



I went up to look at them and speak to thein ; 

 but at the first word they turned on me as 

 fiercely as though they had been four feet tall 

 instead of four inches. They chattered and 

 scolded in a voice like a canary bird's whisper, 

 and finding that I was not frightened, and really 

 meant to come nearer, they scrambled out of 

 their warm corner, scampered across the room, 

 caught at a lace curtain, and ran like two gray 

 streaks to the top. 



Arrived at the safe elevation of the cornice, 

 they calmly sat down and proceeded to examine 

 me, turning their quaint little faces on one side 

 and then the other in a very saucy-looking man- 

 ner. But I wanted to see them nearer, and 

 I had come provided with attractions, in the 

 shape of sugarplums. I selected a bright-red 

 one and held it in my hand where their sharp 

 eyes would see it, and placed myself so that the 

 lace-curtain highway touched my shoulder. 



They noticed the bait instantly, and after 

 some chattering, and many sharp looks at me, 

 the larger of the two decided to risk it. He 

 ran down the curtain to my shoulder, turned a 

 moment toward my face with a sharp remark, as 

 if to say, " I trust myself with you, but you may 

 be sure I can take care of myself, so you need n't 

 presume ; " then ran down my arm, snatched 

 the candy, and stuffed it into his mouth. He 



