InterestedRelatives，Friends，andNeighbours。
　　Laddie，ATrueBlueStorybyGeneStrattonPorterToLEANDERELLIOTSTRATTON
　　“TheWaytoBeHappyIstoBeGood“
　　CHAPTERI
　　LittleSister“Andcouldanotherchild-worldbemyshare，I’dbeaLittleSisterthere。“
　　HaveIgotaLittleSisteranywhereinthishouse？“inquiredLaddieatthedoor，inhismostcoaxingvoice。
　　“Yessir，“Ianswered，droppingthetrousersIwasmakingforHezekiah，mypetbluejay，andrunningasfastasIcould。TherewasnotellingwhatminuteMaymighttakeitintoherheadthatshewasalittlesisterandreachhimfirst。Maybehewantedmetodosomethingforhim，andIlovedtowaitonLaddie。
　　“Askmotherifyoumaygowithmeawhile。“
　　“Motherdoesn’tcarewhereIam，ifIcomewhenthesupperbellrings。“
　　“Allright！“saidLaddie。
　　Heledthewayaroundthehouse，satonthefrontstepandtookmebetweenhisknees。
　　“Oh，isitgoingtobeasecret？“Icried。
　　SecretswithLaddiewerethegreatestjoyinlife。Hewassobigandsohandsome。Hewassomuchnicerthananyoneelseinourfamily，oramongourfriends，thattosharehissecrets，runhiserrands，andlovehimblindlywasthegreatesthappiness。
　　SometimesIdisobeyedfatherandmother；ImindedLaddielikehisrighthand。
　　“Thebiggestsecretyet，“hesaidgravely。
　　“Tellquick！“Ibegged，holdingmyeartohislips。
　　“Notsofast！“saidLaddie。“Notsofast！Ihavedoubtsaboutthis。Idon’tknowthatIshouldsendyou。Possiblyyoucan’tfindtheway。Youmaybeafraid。Aboveall，thereisnevertobeawhisper。Nottoanyone！Doyouunderstand？“
　　“What’sthematter？“Iasked。
　　“Somethingserious，“saidLaddie。“Yousee，Iexpectedtohaveanhourortwoformyselfthisafternoon，soImadeanengagementtospendthetimewithaFairyPrincessinourBigWoods。FatherandIbrokethereapertakingitfromtheshedjustnowandyouknowhowheisaboutFairies。“
　　IdidknowhowhewasaboutFairies。Hehadn’taparticleofpatiencewiththem。APrincesswouldbetheQueen’sdaughter。
　　Myfather’speoplewereEnglish，andIhadheardenoughtalktounderstandthat。Iwasalmostwildwithexcitement。
　　“Tellmethesecret，hurry！“Icried。
　　“It’sjustthis，“hesaid。“IttookmealongtimetocoaxthePrincessintoourBigWoods。Ihadtofixathroneforhertositon；spreadaMagicCarpetforherfeet，andbuildawalltoscreenher。Now，whatisshegoingtothinkifI’mnottheretowelcomeherwhenshecomes？Shepromisedtoshowmehowtomakesunshineondarkdays。“
　　“TellfatherandhecanhaveLeonhelphim。“
　　“ButitisasecretwiththePrincess，andit’sHERSasmuchasmine。IfItell，shemaynotlikeit，andthenshewon’tmakemeherPrinceandsendmeonhererrands。“
　　“Thenyoudon’tdaretellabreath，“Isaid。
　　“Willyougoinmyplace，andcarryheralettertoexplainwhyI’mnotcoming，LittleSister？“
　　“Ofcourse！“Isaidstoutly，andthenmyheartturnedrightover；
　　forIneverhadbeeninourBigWoodsalone，andneithermothernorfatherwantedmetogo。PassingGypsiessometimeslaiddownthefenceandwenttheretocamp。Fatherthoughtallthewolvesandwildcatsweregone，hehadn’tseenanyinyears，buteveryonceinawhilesomeonesaidtheyhad，andhewasnotquitesureyet。Andthatwasn’tthebeginningofit。PaddyRyanhadcomebackfromthewarwronginhishead。Heworehisoldarmyovercoatsummerandwinter，sleptontheground，andatewhateverhecouldfind。OnceLaddieandLeon，huntingsquirrelstomakebrothformotherononeofherbaddays，sawhiminourBigWoodsandhewaseatingSNAKES。IfIfoundPatRyaneatingasnake，itwouldfrightenmesoIwouldstandstillandlethimeatme，ifhewantedto，andperhapshewasn’ttoocrazytoseehowplumpI
　　was。Iseemedtoseeswarthy，darkfaces，big，sleekcatsdroppingfromlimbs，andPaddyRyan’smattedgrayhair，theflyingragsoftheoldbluecoat，andasnakeinhishands。
　　Laddiewasslippingtheletterintomyapronpocket。Mykneesthreatenedtoletmedown。
　　“MustIlifttheleavesandhuntforher，orwillshecometome？“Iwavered。
　　“That’sthebiggestsecretofall，“saidLaddie。“SincethePrincessenteredthem，ourwoodsareEnchanted，andthereisnotellingwhatwonderfulthingsmayhappenanyminute。Oneofthemisthis：wheneverthePrincesscomesthere，shegrowsinsizeuntilsheisasbigas，sayourSally，andshefillsalltheplacewithglory，untilyouaresoblindedyouscarcelycanseeherface。“
　　“Whatisshelike，Laddie？“Iquestioned，sofilledwithaweandinterest，thatfearwasforgotten。
　　“SheistallerthanSally，“saidLaddie。“Herfaceisoval，andhercheeksarebright。Hereyesarebigmoonlitpoolsofdarkness，andsilkencurlsfalloverhershoulders。Onehairisstrongenoughforalifelinethatwilldrawadrowningmanashore，orstrangleanunhappyone。Butyouwillnotseeher。
　　I’mpurposelysendingyouearly，soyoucandowhatyouaretoldandcomebacktomebeforesheevenreachesthewoods。“
　　“WhatamItodo，Laddie？“
　　“Youmustputonehandinyourapronpocketandtaketheletterinit，andaslongasyouholdittight，nothingintheworldcanhurtyou。GooutourlanetotheBigWoods，climbthegateandwalkstraightbackthewagonroadtothewater。Whenyoureachthat，youmustturntoyourrightandgotowardHoods’untilyoucometothepawpawthicket。Goaroundthat，lookahead，andyou’llseethebiggestbeechtreeyoueversaw。Youknowabeech，don’tyou？“
　　“OfcourseIdo，“Isaidindignantly。“Fathertaughtmebeechwiththeothertrees。“
　　“Wellthen，“saidLaddie，“straightbeforeyouwillbeapurplebeech，andunderitisthethroneofthePrincess，theMagicCarpet，andthewallsImade。Amongthebeechrootsthereisastonehiddenwithmoss。Rollthestonebackandtherewillbeapieceofbark。Liftthat，laytheletterintheboxyou’llfind，andscampertomelikeflying。I’llbeatthebarnwithfather。“
　　“Isthatall？“
　　“Notquite，“saidLaddie。“It’spossiblethattheFairyQueenmayhavesetthePrincessspinningsilkforthecaterpillarstoweavetheirlittlehouseswiththiswinter；andifshehas，shemayhaveleftalettertheretotellme。Ifthereisone，putitinyourpocket，holditcloseeverystepoftheway，andyou’llbesafecominghomeasyouweregoing。Butyoumustn’tletasoulseeit；youmustslipitintomypocketwhenI’mnotlooking。Ifyouletanyonesee，thentheMagicwillbespoiled，andtheFairywon’tcomeagain。“
　　“Nooneshallsee，“Ipromised。
　　“Iknewyoucouldbetrusted，“saidLaddie，kissingandhuggingmehard。“Nowgo！Ifanythinggetsafteryouthatsuchabiggirlasyoureallywouldn’tbeashamedtobeafraidof，climbonafenceandcall。I’llbelistening，andI’llcomeflying。NowImusthurry。Fatherwillthinkit’sgoingtotakemetheremainderofthedaytofindtheboltshewants。“
　　Wewentdownthefrontwalkbetweentherowsofhollyhocksandtasselledlady-slippers，outthegate，andfollowedtheroad。
　　Laddieheldoneofmyhandstight，andintheotherIgrippedtheletterinmypocket。SolongasLaddiecouldseeme，andthelanelaybetweenopenfields，Iwasn’tafraid。IwasthinkingsodeeplyaboutourwoodsbeingEnchanted，andatinyFairygrowingbigasourSally，becauseshewasinthem，thatIsteppedoutbravely。
　　EveryfewdaysIfollowedthelaneasfarbackastheBigGate。
　　Thisstoodwherefourfieldscornered，andopenedintotheroadleadingtothewoods。Beyondit，IhadwalkedonSundayafternoonswithfatherwhilehetaughtmealltheflowers，vines，andbushesheknew，onlyhedidn’tknowsomeoftheprettiestones；Ihadtohavebooksforthem，andIwasstudyingtolearnenoughthatIcouldfindout。OrIhadriddenonthewagonwithLaddieandLeonwhentheywenttobringwoodforthecookstove，outoven，andbigfireplace。Buttowalk！Togoallalone！NotthatIdidn’twalkbymyselfovereveryotherfootoftheacresandacresofbeautifullandmyfatherowned；butplowedfields，grassymeadows，woodpasture，andtheorchardweredifferent。I
　　playedinthemwithoutathoughtoffear。
　　Theonlythingstobecarefulaboutwerealittle，shiny，slendersnake，withaheadasbrightasmother’scopperkettle，andabigthickonewithpatternsonitsbacklikethoseinLaddie’sgeometrybooks，andawholerattleboxonitstail；nottoeatanyberryorfruitIdidn’tknowwithoutfirstaskingfather；andalwaystobesuretomeasurehowdeepthewaterwasbeforeI
　　wadedinalone。
　　ButourBigWoods！Leonsaidthewildcatswouldgetmethere。I
　　satinourcatalpaandwatchedtheGypsiesdrivepasteverysummer。Motherhatedthemashardasevershecouldhateanyone，becauseoncetheyhadstolensomefineshirts，withlinenbosoms，thatshehadmadebyhandforfather，andwasbleachingonthegrass。IfGypsiesshouldbeinourwestwoodsto-dayandstealme，shewouldhatethemworsethanever；becausemymotherlovedmenow，evenifshedidn’twantmewhenIwasborn。
　　Butyoucouldexcuseherforthat。Shehadalreadybathed，spanked，sewedfor，andrearedelevenbabiessobigandstrongnotoneofthemevereventhreatenedtodie。Whenyouthoughtofthat，youcouldseeshewouldn’tbelikelytoimploretheAlmightytosendheranother，justtomakeherfamilyevennumbers。Ineverfeltmuchhurtather，butsomeoftheothersI
　　neverhaveforgivenandmaybeIneverwill。Aslongastherehadbeenelevenbabies，theyshouldhavebeensoaccustomedtochildrenthattheyneedn’tallofthemhaveobjectedtome，allexceptLaddie，ofcourse。ThatwasthereasonIlovedhimsoandtriedtodoeverysinglethinghewantedmeto，justthewayhelikeditdone。ThatwaswhyIwasfacingtheonlyspotonourlandwhereIwasintheslightestafraid；becauseheaskedmeto。
　　Ifhehadtoldmetodanceajigontheridgepoleofourbarn，I
　　wouldhavetriedit。
　　SoIclaspedthenote，setmyteeth，andclimbedoverthegate。
　　Iwalkedfastandkeptmyeyesstraightbeforeme。IfIlookedoneitherside，sureaslifeIwouldseesomethingIneverhadbefore，andbedowndiggingupastrangeflower，chasingabutterfly，orwatchingabird。Besides，ifIdidn’tlookinthefencecornersthatIpassed，maybeIwouldn’tseeanythingtoscareme。Iwasgoingalongfinely，andfeelingbettereveryminuteasIwentdownthebankofanoldcreekthathadgonedry，andstarteduptheothersidetowardthesugarcampnotfarfromtheBigWoods。ThebedwasfullofweedsandasIpassedthrough，away！wentSomethingamongthem。
　　Besidethecampshedtherewascordedwood，andthefirstthingI
　　knew，Iwasontopofit。Thenext，myhandwasonthenoteinmypocket。MyheartjumpeduntilIcouldseemyapronmove，andmythroatwentallstiffanddry。Igrippedthenoteandwaited。
　　FatherbelievedGodwouldtakecareofhim。Iwasonlyalittlegirlandneededhelpmuchmorethanaman；maybeGodwouldtakecareofme。TherewasnothingwrongincarryingalettertotheFairyPrincess。IthoughtperhapsitwouldhelpifIshouldkneelonthetopofthewoodpileandaskGodtonotletanythinggetme。
　　ThemoreIthoughtaboutit，thelessIfeltlikedoingit，though，becausereallyyouhavenobusinesstoaskGodtotakecareofyou，unlessyouKNOWyouaredoingright。Thiswasright，butinmyheartIalsoknewthatifLaddiehadaskedme，I
　　wouldbeshiveringontopofthatcordwoodonahotAugustday，whenitwaswrong。Onthewhole，IthoughtitwouldbemorehonesttoleaveGodoutofit，andtaketheriskmyself。ThatmademethinkoftheCrusaders，andthelittlegoldtrinketinfather’schesttill。TherewerefourshellsonitandeachonestoodforatriponfootorhorsebacktotheHolyCitywhenyouhadtofightalmosteverystepoftheway。Thoseshellsmeantthatmyfather’speoplehadgonefourtimes，sohesaid；that，althoughitwasawayfarback，stilleachofushadatinyshareofthebloodoftheCrusadersinourveins，andthatitwouldmakeusbraveandstrong，andwheneverwewereafraid，ifwewouldthinkofthem，wenevercoulddoacowardlythingorletanyoneelsedoonebeforeus。HesaidanyonewithCrusaderbloodhadtobebraveasRichardtheLion-hearted。Thinkingaboutthathelpedeversomuch，soIgrippedthenoteandturnedtotakeonelastlookatthehousebeforeImadeadashforthegatethatledintotheBigWoods。
　　BeyondourlandlaythefarmofJacobHood，andMrs。HoodalwaysteasedmebecauseLaddiehadgoneracingafterherwhenIwasborn。ShewasinthemiddleofMonday’swashing，andthebluingsettledintherinsewaterandstainedherwhiteclothesinstreaksittookmonthstobleachout。IalwayslikedSarahHoodforcominganddressingme，though，becauseourSally，whowasbigenoughtohavedoneit，wasupstairscryingandwouldn’tcomedown。IlikedLaddietoo，becausehewastheonlyoneofourfamilywhowenttomymotherandkissedher，saidhewasglad，andofferedtohelpher。Maybethereasonhewentwasbecausehehadanawfulscare，butanywayheWENT，andthatwasenoughforme。
　　Youseeitwasthisway：noonewantedme；astherehadbeenelevenofus，everyonefeltthatwasenough。Maywassixyearsoldandinschool，andmymotherthoughtthereneverwouldbeanymorebabies。Shehadgivenawaythecradleanddividedthebabyclothesamongmybigmarriedsistersandbrothers，andwashavingafinetimeandenjoyingherselfthemostsheeverhadinherlife。Thelandwaspaidforlongago；thehouseshehadplanned，buildedasshewantedit；shehadabigteamofmatchedgraysandacarriagewithsidelampsandpatentleathertrimmings；andsometimestherewasmoneyinthebank。Idonotknowthattherewasverymuch，butanyatallwasamarvel，consideringhowmanyofusthereweretofeed，clothe，andsendtocollege。Motherwasforty-sixandfatherwasfifty；sotheyfeltyoungenoughyettohaveafinetimeandenjoylife，andjustwhenthingsweregoingbest，IannouncedthatIwashalfwayovermyjourneytoearth。