Of course he was off upstairs by the time she got in ; but I 'm afraid he had a shaking , for I saw him glowering fiercely as he came out later with a basket , going some ` confounded errand . ' Occasionally his father brings him out and whips him for some extra bad offence , during which performance he howls dismally ; but when he is left sitting despondently and miraculously on an old chair without any seat , he soon cheers up , boos at a strange cat , whistles to his dog , -- who is just like him , -- or falls back on that standing cure for all the ills that boys are heir to , and whittles vigorously . I know I ought to frown upon this reprehensible young person , and morally close my eyes to his pranks ; but I really ca n't do it , and am afraid I find this little black sheep the most interesting of the flock . The girls have tea-parties , make calls , and play mother , of course ; and the sisters of the good boy have capital times up in a big nursery , with such large dollies that I can hardly tell which are the babies and which the mammas . One little girl plays about at home with a dirty face , tumbled hair , and an old pinafore on . She wo n't be made tidy , and I see her kick and cry when they try to make her neat . Now and then there is a great dressing and curling ; and then I see her prancing away in her light boots , smart hat , and pretty dress , looking as fresh as a daisy . But I do n't admire her ; for I 've been behind the scenes , you see , and I know that she likes to be fine rather than neat . So is the girl who torments her kitty , slaps her sister , and runs away when her mother tells her not to go out of the yard . But the house-wifely little girl who tends the baby , washes the cups , and goes to school early with a sunshiny face and kiss all round , she , now , is a neighbour worth having , and I 'd put a good mark against her name if I knew it . I do n't know as it would be proper for me to mention the grown-up people over the way . They go on very much as the children do ; for there is the lazy , dandified man , who gets up late , and drinks ; the cross man , who swears at the shed-door when it wo n't shut ; the fatherly man , who sits among his children every evening , and the cheery old man up in the attic , who has a flower in his window , and looks out at the world with very much the same serene smile as my orange-coloured baby . The women , too , keep house , make calls , and play mother ; and some do n't do it well either . The forlorn baby 's mamma never seems to cuddle and comfort him ; and some day , when the little fist lies cold and quiet , I 'm afraid she 'll wish she had . Then the naughty boy 's mother . I 'm very sure , if she put her arms round him sometimes , and smoothed that rough head of his , and spoke to him as only mothers can speak , that it would tame him far better than the scoldings and thrashings : for I know there is a true boy 's heart , warm and tender , somewhere under the jacket that gets dusted so often . As for the fine lady who lets her children do as they can , while she trims her bonnet , or makes panniers , I would n't be introduced to her on any account . But as some might think it was unjustifiable curiosity on my part to see these things , and an actionable offence to speak of them , I wo n't mention them . I sometimes wonder if the kind spirits who feel an interest in mortals ever take a look at us on the shady side which we do n't show the world , seeing the trouble , vanities , and sins which we think no one knows . If they love , pity , or condemn us ?
What records they XXXXX , and what rewards they prepare for those who are so busy with their work and play that they forget who may be watching their back windows with clearer eyes and truer charity than any inquisitive old lady with a pen in her hand ?
close frown keep lets looking made sitting trims tumbled wonder