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[Illustration: Cover]




LITTLE MISS PEGGY:

ONLY A NURSERY STORY


          "Would I could paint the serious brow,
             The eyes that look the world in face,
           Half-questioning, doubting, wondering how
             This happens thus, or that finds place."
                                    _My Opposite Neighbour._

[Illustration: "'What is the matter, little girls?' said the lady." P.
181]





LITTLE MISS PEGGY:

ONLY A NURSERY SToRY

BY

MRS. MoLESWoRTH

WITH PICTURES

BY

WALTER CRANE


          LoNDoN:
          MACMILLAN & Co.
          AND NEW YORK
          1887


          To the Memory of

          E. L.

          THE DEAR YOUNG FRIEND

          WHO SUGGESTED ITS NAME TO THIS LITTLE STORY,

          AND FROM WHOSE LATE HOME,

          SO INTIMATELY ASSOCIATED WITH HER,

          THIS DEDICATION IS MADE.

          BINDON, _August_ 1887.




CONTENTS


          CHAPTER I                                  PAGE
          A BREAKFAST PARTY                            1

          CHAPTER II
          THE WHITE SPOT ON THE HILL                  18

          CHAPTER III
          "THE CHILDREN AT THE BACK"                  33

          CHAPTER IV
          "REAL" FANCIES                              48

          CHAPTER V
          THE LITTLE RED SHOES                        65

          CHAPTER VI
          FELLOW-FEELINGS AND SLIPPERS                81

          CHAPTER VII
          A BUN TO THE GOOD                           98

          CHAPTER VIII
          UNDER THE BIG UMBRELLA                     114

          CHAPTER IX
          THE OPPOSITE HOUSE                         131

          CHAPTER X
          "SOAP-BUBBLING"                            145

          CHAPTER XI
          UP FERNLEY ROAD                            162

          CHAPTER XII
          THE SHOES-LADY AGAIN                       178




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


  "WHAT IS THE MATTER, LITTLE GIRLS?" SAID THE LADY.   _Frontispiece_


                                                            PAGE

  HE HAD TO DRUM WITH A SPOON, FIRST IN ONE FAT HAND AND
      THEN IN THE OTHER                                        2

  THEY WERE SETTLED ON THE HEARTH-RUG--BABY ON PEGGY'S LAP    17

  "SEE HAL," SHE SAID, "OVER THERE, FAR, FAR AWAY, NEELY IN
      THE SKY, DOES YOU SEE THAT BLUEY HILL?"                 27

  SHE WAS RATHER A TERRIBLE-LOOKING OLD WOMAN; SHE ALWAYS
      WORE A SHORT BED-GOWN... AND SHE WAS GENERALLY TO
      BE SEEN WITH A PIPE IN HER MOUTH                        35

  "TELL ME WHAT THE LITTLE WHITE HOUSE IS REELY LIKE"         52

  PEGGY STOOD STILL, HER EYES FIXED ON THE BABY SHOES         68

  "HERE'S THE OTHER SHOE, I'VE JUST FOUNDED IT"               92

  SUDDENLY A WINDOW ABOVE OPENED, AND MOTHER WHELAN'S
      BEFRILLED FACE WAS THRUST OUT                          109

  AN UMBRELLA ROLLING ITSELF ABOUT ON THE PAVEMENT           127

  "TO BE SURE," SHE SAID, IN HER MOST GRACIOUS TONE.
      "'TIS THE BEAUTIFUL PIPES I HAVE"                      138

  THE BOYS, BOY-LIKE, THOUGHT LITTLE BUT OF WHO COULD
      BLOW THE BIGGEST BUBBLES                               149

  HUSHED LIGHT SMILEY TO SLEEP, HER ARM CLASPED ROUND
      PEGGY                                                  177




CHAPTER I

A BREAKFAST PARTY

          "Henry was every morning fed
           With a full mess of milk and bread."
                                          MARY LAMB