The Mandie Collection Read Online Free PDF Page A

here.”
    â€œI hope it doesn’t come out and get in our room.” Celia backed toward the door.
    â€œLet’s close the door real tight and go find Uncle Cal,” Mandie suggested, closing the door behind them. “He can put a trap in there.”
    â€œOr maybe Aunt Phoebe has found Snowball, and he could catch it,” Celia added.
    The girls hurried downstairs to the kitchen where Aunt Phoebe was preparing supper. Uncle Cal was stoking the huge iron cookstove. At Uncle Cal’s feet, Snowball was busy licking up a saucerful of milk.
    â€œSnowball! You found him!” Mandie exclaimed.
    At the sound of his mistress’ voice the white kitten stopped long enough to look up at her and then continued eating.
    â€œHe come straight to de kitchen when y’all skeerd him out of de parlor,” Aunt Phoebe told them. “He know a good place when he find one.”
    â€œWell, we know a better place for him, Aunt Phoebe,” Mandie said. “Celia saw a mouse in our bathroom upstairs.”
    â€œIt’s the same one Snowball had in the parlor,” Celia added.
    Uncle Cal and Aunt Phoebe looked at each other and shook their heads.
    â€œI sho’ hopes it be de same one,” Uncle Cal said. “Don’t want dis house to git full of mice.”
    â€œWe ain’t never seed any mouses till dat one showed up in yo’ room,” Aunt Phoebe added.
    â€œI’ll set a trap in de bathroom,” Uncle Cal told the girls as he headed for the pantry.
    â€œHe’s under the bathtub,” Celia explained.
    â€œJes’ you girls be mighty careful how you walks ’round in dat bathroom now whilst de trap be dere,” the old man said, coming out of the pantry with a mousetrap in his hand.
    The girls watched as Aunt Phoebe sliced a tiny chip off a block of cheese sitting in a round wooden box on the sideboard nearby. Uncle Cal took it and set the trap, catching the spring with the latch on the piece of cheese.
    â€œWe’s gotta put a stop to dese mouses runnin’ round dis house,” Aunt Phoebe fussed, “even if we has to put a stop to dat April gal comin’ to dis school. Ain’t never had dis trouble befo’.”
    Mandie carried Snowball as she and Celia followed Uncle Cal back upstairs to the bathroom. The two girls watched Uncle Cal set the trap under the tub.
    â€œBe sho’ dat cat don’t git in heah,” Uncle Cal cautioned. “He might git caught in dat trap.”
    â€œWe’ll see that he stays in our room, Uncle Cal,” Mandie assured him.
    The girls took Snowball back to their room and hurriedly went back to their sewing. But as they worked, they discussed plans for making sure that April didn’t let Snowball out again.
    When it was time for supper, the girls hid near the stairway and waited for April to leave her room, then followed her downstairs. And after supper was over, they rushed up the stairs ahead of her.
    Snowball was still in their room, now curled up in the middle of the bed sound asleep.
    â€œWell, I guess we outdid her this time,” Mandie said triumphantly.
    â€œBut we’ve got all day tomorrow and tomorrow night to worry about before we go home the next morning.” Celia sighed.
    â€œI think we can manage,” Mandie said. “Let’s get these handkerchiefs done.”

CHAPTER THREE
    VISIT TO MR. CHADWICK’S SCHOOL
    The next day, by staying alert and watching April Snow’s every move without her knowledge, Mandie and Celia were able to keep Snowball in their room and April out of it.
    Time dragged by with classes most of the day while the girls all wished the time away until they could go to the boys’ school for dinner. The teachers had trouble holding their students’ attention and reminded the girls of the examinations that were coming up after the Christmas holidays.
    At last, with classes over for the day, the girls were free. Mandie and Celia