He got no farther ; for a little voice cried out of the dark , in a tone of surprise : `` Why , dats me ! '' The people all turned to look ; and the big man put his bell in his pocket , took her up very kindly , and said he 'd carry her home . `` Is it far away ? '' asked Poppy , with a little sob . `` Yes , my dear ; but I am going to give you some supper fust , along of my little girl . I live close by ; and , when we 've had a bite , we 'll go find your ma . '' Poppy was so tired and hungry , she was glad to find herself taken care of , and let the man do as he liked . He took her to a funny little house , and his wife gave her bread and molasses on a new tin plate with letters all round the edge . Poppy thought it very fine , and enjoyed her supper , though the man 's little girl stared at her all the time with eyes as blue as her mug . While she ate , the man sent word to her father that she was found ; and , when both papa and mamma came hurrying in all out of breath with joy , there sat Miss Poppy talking merrily , with her face well daubed with molasses , her gown torn , her hands very dirty , and her shoes -- ah , the pretty new shoes ! -- all spoiled with mud and dust , scratched , and half worn out , the buttons dull , and the color quite gone . No one cared for it that night ; for little runaway was kissed and petted , and taken home to her own cosey bed as tenderly as if she had done nothing naughty , and never frightened her parents out of their wits in her life . But the next day , -- dear me ! what a sad time it was , to be sure ! When Poppy woke up , there hung the spoilt shoes over the mantle-piece ; and , as soon as she was dressed , papa came in with a long cord , one end of which he tied round Poppy 's waist , and the other to the arm of the sofa . `` I 'm very sorry to have to tie you up , like a little dog ; but I must , or you will forget , and run away again , and make mamma ill . '' Then he went away without his morning kiss , and Poppy was so very unhappy she could hardly eat her breakfast . She felt better by and by , and tried to play ; but the cord kept pulling her back . She could n't get to the window ; and , when she heard mamma passing the door , she tried to run and meet her , but had to stop halfway , for the cord jerked her over . Cousin Fanny came up , but Poppy was so ashamed to be tied that she crept under the sofa and hid .
All day she was a prisoner , and was a very miserable little girl ; but at XXXXX she was untied , and , when mamma took her in her lap for the first time that day , Poppy held her fast , and sobbed very penitently -- `` O mamma !
Fanny Poppy back bell cosey dats fust mantle-piece morning night