Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net AT THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE BY RUTH ALBERTA BROWN Author of "Tabitha at Ivy Hall," "Tabitha's Glory," "Tabitha's Vacation," etc., etc. THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AKRON, OHIO NEW YORK _MADE IN U.S.A._ COPYRIGHT, MCMXIII By THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY [Illustration: "I should say it sounded like a plain robber story," said Faith bitterly, while Gail sat white-faced and silent with despair.] CONTENTS I. A MORNING CALLER II. THE MINISTER'S RECEPTION III. SHOES AND STRAWBERRIES IV. LITTLE FLOWER GIRLS V. SACKCLOTH AND ASHES VI. THANKSGIVING DAY AT THE BROWN HOUSE VII. PEACE SURPRISES THE LADIES' AID VIII. A MYSTERIOUS SANTA CLAUS IX. FAITH'S AWAKENING X. COMPANY FOR SUPPER XI. GARDENS AND GOPHERS XII. THE RASPBERRY PATCH XIII. PEACE GETS EVEN XIV. PEACE, THE GOOD SAMARITAN XV. PEACE COLLECTS DAMAGES XVI. THE STATE FAIR CAKE XVII. THE CIRCUS AND THE MISSIONARY XVIII. THE HAND-ORGAN MAN XIX. HEARTBREAK XX. AT THE BROKER'S OFFICE XXI. SURPRISES AT THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE CHAPTER I A MORNING CALLER It was a glorious morning in early June; the dew still hung heavy on each grass blade and leaf, making rainbow tapestries that defy description, as the waking sunbeams stole into the heart of each round drop and nestled there; the fresh, cool air was sweet with the breath of a thousand flowers; a beautiful bird chorus filled the earth with riotous melody as the happy-hearted songsters flitted from tree to tree saying, "Good morning," to their neighbors. Through a mass of rosy clouds in the east, the sun struggled up over the hilltop and smiled down on the sleeping village of Parker as if trying to coax the dreamers to arise and behold the beauties of the dawning day. In the barn-yards of the little farms scattered around about the town roosters were crowing, hens were clucking, cattle lowing, and horses stamping and neighing, eager for their breakfast.