"Land alive!" said the old lady, sitting down in the chair which he brought her; "you got pounded, did you?" looking at Phronsie, as she took the little foot in her ample hand.
"Yes'm," said Polly, quickly; "twasn't any one's fault; what'll we do for it, grandma?""Wormwood," said the old lady, adjusting her spectacles in extreme deliberation, and then examining the little black and blue spot, which was spreading rapidly, "is the very best thing; and I've got some to home--you run right over," she said, turning round on David, quickly, "an' get it; it's a-hang-in' by the chimbley.""Let me; let me!" cried Joel, springing out of the old chair, so suddenly that grandma's spectacles nearly dropped off in fright;"oh! I want to do it for Phronsie!"
"Yes, let Joel, please," put in Polly; "he'll find it, grandma." So Joel departed with great speed; and presently returned, with a bunch of dry herbs, which dangled comfortingly by his side, as he came in.
"Now I'll fix it," said Mrs. Bascom, getting up and taking off her shawl; "there's a few raisins for you, Polly; I don't want 'em, and they'll make your cake go better," and she placed a little parcel on the table as she spoke. "Yes, I'll put it to steep; an' after it's put on real strong, and tied up in an old cloth, Phronsie won't know as she's got any toes!" and grandma broke up a generous supply of the herb, and put it into an old tin cup, which she covered up with a saucer, and placed on the stove.
"Oh!" said Polly; "I can't thank you! for the raisins and all--you're so good!""They're awful hard," said Joel, investigating into the bundle with Davie, which, however, luckily the old lady didn't hear.
"There, don't try," she said cheerily; "an' I found cousin Mirandy's weddin' cake receet, for--""Did you?" cried Polly; "oh! I'm so glad!" feeling as if that were comfort enough for a good deal.
"Yes, 'twas in my Bible," said Mrs. Bascom; "I remember now; Iput it there to be ready to give John's folks when they come in;they wanted it; so you'll go all straight now; and I must get home, for I left some meat a-boilin'." So grandma put on her shawl, and waddled off, leaving a great deal of comfort behind her.
"Now, says I," said Polly to Phronsie, when the little foot was snugly tied up in the wet wormwood, "you've got to have one of mamsie's old slippers.""Oh, ho," laughed Phronsie; "won't that be funny, Polly!""I should think it would," laughed Polly, back again, pulling on the big cloth slipper, which Joel produced from the bedroom, the two boys joining uproariously, as the old black thing flapped dismally up and down, and showed strong symptoms of flying off. "We shall have to tie it on.""It looks like a pudding bag," said Joel, as Polly tied it securely through the middle with a bit of twine; "an old black pudding bag!" he finished.
"Old black pudding bag!" echoed Phronsie, with a merry little crow; and then all of a sudden she grew very sober, and looked intently at the foot thrust out straight before her, as she still sat in the chair.
"What is it, Phronsie?" asked Polly, who was bustling around, making preparations for the cake-making.
"Can I ever wear my new shoes again?" asked the child, gravely, looking dismally at the black bundle before her.
"Oh, yes; my goodness, yes!" cried Polly; "as quick again as ever;you'll be around again as smart as a cricket in a week --see if you aren't!""Will it go on?" asked Phronsie, still looking incredulously at the bundle, "and button up?""Yes, indeed!" cried Polly, again; "button into every one of the little holes, Phronsie Pepper; just as elegant as ever!""Oh!" said Phronsie; and then she gave a sigh of relief, and thought no more of it, because Polly had said that all would be right.
