growled an awful voice , and Demi cried , `` that 's the Kitty-mouse ! she must have every one , quick , or she will scratch us . '' In went the precious blue belle , flounces , rosy hat , and all , and nothing but a few black flakes remained of that bright band . `` Stand the houses and trees round , and let them catch themselves ; it will be like a real fire then , '' said Demi , who liked variety even in his `` sackerryfices . '' Charmed by this suggestion , the children arranged the doomed village , laid a line of coals along the main street , and then sat down to watch the conflagration . It was somewhat slow to kindle owing to the paint , but at last one ambitious little cottage blazed up , fired a tree of the palm species , which fell on to the roof of a large family mansion , and in a few minutes the whole town was burning merrily . The wooden population stood and stared at the destruction like blockheads , as they were , till they also caught and blazed away without a cry . It took some time to reduce the town to ashes , and the lookers-on enjoyed the spectacle immensely , cheering as each house fell , dancing like wild Indians when the steeple flamed aloft , and actually casting one wretched little churn-shaped lady , who had escaped to the suburbs , into the very heart of the fire . The superb success of this last offering excited Teddy to such a degree , that he first threw his lamb into the conflagration , and before it had time even to roast , he planted poor Annabella on the funeral pyre . Of course she did not like it , and expressed her anguish and resentment in a way that terrified her infant destroyer . Being covered with kid , she did not blaze , but did what was worse , she squirmed . First one leg curled up , then the other , in a very awful and lifelike manner ; next she flung her arms over her head as if in great agony ; her head itself turned on her shoulders , her glass eyes fell out , and with one final writhe of her whole body , she sank down a blackened mass on the ruins of the town . This unexpected demonstration startled every one and frightened Teddy half out of his little wits . He looked , then screamed and fled toward the house , roaring `` Marmar '' at the top of his voice . Mrs. Bhaer heard the outcry and ran to the rescue , but Teddy could only cling to her and pour out in his broken way something about `` poor Bella hurted , '' `` a dreat fire , '' and `` all the dollies dorn . '' Fearing some dire mishap , his mother caught him up and hurried to the scene of action , where she found the blind worshippers of Kitty-mouse mourning over the charred remains of the lost darling . `` What have you been at ? Tell me all about it , '' said Mrs. Jo , composing herself to listen patiently , for the culprits looked so penitent , she forgave them beforehand . With some reluctance Demi explained their play , and Aunt Jo laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks , the children were so solemn , and the play was so absurd . `` I thought you were too sensible to play such a silly game as this .
If I had any XXXXX I 'd have a good one who liked you to play in safe pleasant ways , and not destroy and frighten .
Annabella Jo Kitty-mouse Marmar Teddy blockheads fire first flounces lookers-on