` Has n't it been a funny day ? ' asked Harry . ` Do n't think I quite like it , everything is so turned round , ' said Kitty . ` Guess they did n't like it very well . Hear 'em talking in there ; ' and Harry held up his finger , for a steady murmur of conversation had followed the laughter in papa and mamma 's room . ' I wonder if our joke will do any good ? ' said Kitty thoughtfully . ` Wait and see , ' answered Aunt Betsey , popping her night-capped head out of her room with a nod and a smile that sent them to bed full of hope for the future . DANDELION . Down by the sea lived Ben the fisherman , with his wife , and little son , who was called Dandelion , because he wore yellow pinafores , and had curly , yellow hair , that covered his head with a golden fuzz . A very happy family , for Ben was kind and industrious , Hetty , his wife , a cheerful , busy creature , and Dandelion the jolliest three-year-old baby who ever made sand-pies and paddled on the beach . But one day a great trouble came to them . Ben and his fellow-fishermen sailed blithely away as usual , and Hetty watched the fleet of white-winged boats out of the bay , thinking how pretty they looked with the sunshine on them ; while Dandelion stood clapping his chubby hands , and saying , as he always did , ` Daddy tummin ' soon . ' But Daddy did not come soon that time ; for a great storm arose , and when some of the boats came scudding home at nightfall , Ben 's was not among them . All night the gale raged , and in the morning , Ben 's boat lay empty and broken on the shore . His mates shook their heads when they saw the wreck , and drew their rough hands over their eyes ; for Ben was a good seaman , and they knew he never would desert his boat alive . They looked for him far and wide , but could hear nothing of him , and felt sure that he had perished in the storm . They tried to comfort poor Hetty , but she would not be comforted . Her heart seemed broken ; and if it had not been for her baby , her neighbours feared that she would have gone to join Ben in his grave under the sea . Dandelion did n't understand why every one was so sad , and why his father stayed away so long ; but he never lost his cheerfulness , never gave up hoping , or stopped saying , with a contented smile , ` Daddy tummin ' soon . '
The sunshiny little face was XXXXX 's only comfort .
Betsey Dandelion Harry Hetty Kitty day morning storm three-year-old tummin