Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ... XX. THE GREEN UMBRELLA AND THE QUEER LITTLE MAN. COME on," shouted Van at the bottom of the stairs, "Polly Pepper is going to tell the story of 'The Green Umbrella and the Queer Little Man.' Come on!" and in two minutes the bunch of the youngest Peppers, with Percy and little Dick, precipitated themselves over the stairs, and raced along at his heels until they all brought up in Jasper's den. "Now, that's fine!" exclaimed Jasper, jumping out of his chair behind the writing-table, as they all plunged in, Van having made the appointment in advance; "but where's Polly?" "Oh, she's coming!" cried Van, rushing around and tumbling over everybody else in his eagerness to draw up the seats; "she's up in Ben's room, and they're both coming in a minute or two. Here, you fellows," to Percy and Dick, "help along with these chairs, will you?" Percy, who didn't like to move quickly at anything that was like work, slowly managed to draw up one chair, into which he planted himself drawing a long sigh as he sat down. "That's nice," growled Van, quite red in the face from his exertions; "you feel smart, don't you, to leave us to do all the work as usual." Percy pretended not to hear, which so enraged Van that he ran up and planted a smart rap on Percy's back as he leaned back composedly in his chair. "Do that again, will you ?" he cried, whirling around to glare at Van; " I'll knock your head off, if you do." "Here, here!" exclaimed Jasper, looking up quickly from the corner where he was piling away his school-books till it was time to fly to work on them again. "You'll march out of this room if you carry on like that, I can tell you. Up and apologize to each other, now, both of you chaps." "He's always pitching into me," cried Percy, his face getting a...
