TW1928 600
he Littles Have a Wedding by
JOHN PETERSON Pictures by
ROBERTA CARTER CLARK
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TW1928 600
he Littles Have a Wedding by
JOHN PETERSON Pictures by
ROBERTA CARTER CLARK
V^x^-z^ 'L)(^td-Jce^
The Littles Have a Wedding by
JOHN PETERSON Pictures by
ROBERTA CARTER CLARK
SCHOLASTIC BOOK SERVICES NEW YORK
.
TORONTO
•
LONDON
•
AUCKLAND
•
SYDNEY
book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not be resold, lent, or otherwise circulated any binding or cover other than that in which it is published unless prior written permisand without a similar condition, including this sion has been obtained from the publisher condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. This
in
—
Text copyright
©
Magazines,
©
1971 by Scholastic Magaby Scholastic Book Services, a division of Scholastic
1971 by John Peterson. Illustrations copyright
zines, Inc. All rights reserved. Published
—
Inc.
April
1st printing
Printed in the U.S.A.
1971
To
my mother
ToM!
LUCY!" Mr.
Little called
down
to his children through the hole in the roof.
"Yes, Dad,"
Tom Little called back from
inside the attic of the house.
"Uncle Pete and strap,"
Mr. Little
you push and
"Lucy and
"Ready
.
.
said.
we'll pull I
.
I
are
set
.
have hold of the
"When on the
all set. .
.
I
say go,'
strap."
Dad," said Tom.
GO!" Mr.
Little said.
Mr.
and Uncle Pete pulled hard
Little
on the
A
strap.
pair of black binoculars
came through the hole Little,
aged
ten,
and
in the roof.
his
younger
Tom sister,
Lucy, scrambled through the hole after the binoculars.
Mr. Little
slid
a shingle back into place
to cover the hole in the roof.
"Now," he
said, "let's get these binoculars
chimney Mr.
up
to the
for a look around."
Little
and Uncle Pete got hold of
the heavy end of the binoculars.
Lucy took the
light end. It
for the four of
them
Tom
and
was hard work
to drag the binoculars
up to the top of the roof. The Littles were tiny people. They weren't just small. They were tiny, about as long as a pencil. Mr. Little was the tallest Little and he was only six inches tall. His daughter, Lucy, was less than four inches tall. Her little sister. Baby Betsy, who was about six months old, was no bigger than a thimble.
The
Littles
looked like ordinary people
except for one thing: they had weren't useful
of their
They
But they did look
tails.
pretty, the Littles thought.
good care
tails.
tails.
And
they took
Lucy sometimes
wore a ribbon on hers.
The
Little family
made
their
home
in
They took up very
the walls of George Bigg's house. lived in ten small
rooms that
They always kept out of sight Biggs were around. The Biggs
httle space.
when
the
never found out the Littles lived in the
same house with them. "Now, Tom," Mr. Little Pete and roof.
I will
said,
"Uncle
hold the binoculars
off
the
You climb up the chimney and hang
the strap over the television antenna."
Tom the
scrambled up the chimney with
strap.
Soon
the
binoculars
were
swinging free under the antenna. They could be turned easily in any direction. "I
hope these binoculars
aren't
heavy for the TV antenna," said Mr.
too
Little.
'
J -f
"We
wouldn't want to lose Mr. Bigg's
binoculars.
Tom
and Lucy looked
"Hey, Dad!
"
Tom
focus this thing. "It
makes
me
said,
It's all
into
one
lens.
"We've got
to
blurry."
dizzy,"
Lucy
said.
"First, let's turn the binoculars to face
east," said
that "I
Mr.
Little.
way when he still
"Cousin Dinky went
left
say he's not
Pete, "and nothing has
three weeks ago." lost,"
said
happened
Uncle to him.
He's out there somewhere in the Big Valley having an adventure. Dinky can take care of himself, just as
I
could
when
I
was adventuring." Mr. Little looked through the binoculars
and
at the houses
trees that
were
farthest
away. "We're lucky George Bigg's house is
the highest one around," he said.
"We
get a good view from here." Mr. Little
turned the ring that focused the binoculars. "It's clear
can see so
now," said Tom. "Gee!
far."
"You may be
right about
okay. Uncle Pete.
Mr.
Little.
away
so
binoculars
"But
long."
I
it's
Dinky being
hope you
Mr. Little turned the
slowly.
to see
it
are," said
not like him to stay
"If
his
gUder
crashed in a tree or on a rooftop,
be able
We
has
we might
through these binoculars."
"Oh, Daddy!" Lucy
said. "I
wish you
wouldn't talk about Cousin Dinky that
way."
"I'm sorry, Lucy," said Mr. Little, *l3ut
we must face facts." The
four tiny people looked through
the binoculars
that afternoon.
all
They
looked in every direction for a sign of the missing ghder
pilot.
was almost suppertime. Lucy left to help her mother get their supper from the It
Biggs' leftover food. Uncle Pete
and Mr.
Little sat down to rest against the chimney.
Tom was
left
alone looking through the
binoculars. Suddenly he yelled, "Hey! I
see something!"
The two men ran "Look next house,"
to the binoculars.
to that tall tree near that red
Tom
said.
something
"There's
shiny flying through the
air.
The sun
just
hit it."
"By that's
"It this
10
golly!" said
Uncle Pete.
"I believe
Dinky's glider." is!
It is!"
Mr. Little
said.
"He's flying
way. Thank heavens!"
r
"Doesn't he have someone with the glider?" said
"He
does,"
whoever he "It's
is,
a lady,"
him
in
Tom.
Uncle Pete
said.
he sure has long
Tom
"And
hair."
said.
"A lady?" said Uncle Pete. He looked long and carefully through the binoculars. "It is a woman, by jinks! Now why in the world would Dinky be out on an adventure with a woman?" Just then the sound of fire engines came from somewhere in the Big Valley. Mr. Little looked up from the binoculars. He saw black smoke rising from a house a few blocks away. "This is terrible!" he said. "That's the house where the Fines live." "Look at all that smoke, said Uncle Pete. "That's a bad fire." Tom was still looking through the binoculars. "Cousin Dinky sees the fire "
too,
"
he
said.
"Now
he's flying
toward
it."
Mr. Little turned the binoculars toward
11
^0»>^:/
the
fire.
It
was hard
to
see
anything
through the smoke. But when the wind
blew some of
saw some
it
away
12
moment, he
tiny people standing
roof. "It's the Fines! if
for a
the whole family
is
"
he
on the
said. "It looks as
trapped on the roof."
'
Flames were coming out of the upstairs windows. "Where's Dinky now?" said Uncle Pete. "I can't see him."
"There he
is,"
Mr.
Little said, looking
through the binoculars. "He's going for a landing. He's going to try to save them."
The
Littles
watched Cousin Dinky's
disappear into
glider
the
thick
black
smoke.
They waited. Finally
Tom
said,
"Can you
see him,
Dad? I can't." "No — too much smoke," said Mr. Little. "He's probably landed on the roof by now."
"By golly," Uncle Pete said. "That Dinky sure is the brave one." "Is
it
possible for
him
four Fines in one trip? "I
doubt
if
there's
"
to take out all
Mr.
Little said.
time for two
"Here he comes!"
Tom
trips.
shouted.
13
came sailing out of the smoke. The Littles saw that the Fines were aboard. One of them was hanging onto
The
glider
the wing.
"Hurrah!" yelled Uncle Pete. "They're safe!"
"Oh
gosh!" said
Tom. "The
glider
is
on
fire."
Smoke and
flames trailed out behind
nosed toward the ground.
the glider.
It
The
watched
Littles
in silence as
Cousin
Dinky's glider disappeared behind the trees near the
14
burning house.
C
^.
Very early the next morning the Little family
gathered
Uncle Pete
sat
crawled into his
enough "It's
for
in
their
on the lap.
Dinky
living
sofa.
room.
Baby Betsy
"We've waited long
to get here,"
he
said.
time to go looking for him."
"As soon as
we saw the crash we
should
have gone to help," said Tom. "We're not sure there was a crash.
We
didn't see one," Mr. Little said. "Besides
15
"
would have been too dark for us to look for anyone — and too dangerous. I thought it would be best to wait and see if Dinky it
got back on his own."
Mr. that
Little
looked at the pocket watch
hung over the
fireplace. "I think
should stick to our plan.
If
we
Cousin Dinky
doesn't get here in the next half hour,
we
should start after him."
"He must have said.
He
shook
his
crashed," Uncle Pete
head
as
though
it
were
hard to believe.
"How could Cousin Dinky crash?" Lucy said. "I don't believe
pilot."
it.
He's such a good
She looked around the room
gloomy
faces.
Granny
"How
at the
could he crash?"
Little sat in her rocking chair.
She was knitting a sweater for Baby Betsy. "I don't think
she
said.
we
should give up hope,"
"Dinky has been on many
dangerous adventures."
"We saw the glider with its Tom said. 16
tail
on
fire,
)
Granny
"
nodded her head. "Dinky
Little
might have landed safely anyway/' she said.
"I
wonder who the young woman was,
said Mrs. Little. She sat next to Uncle Pete
on the sofa and looked up
at the watch.
"What young woman?" Uncle Pete said. "She's probably a girl friend of Dinky's,"
Granny
Little said.
"Oh, that young woman!" said Uncle Pete.
He
up and limped back and of the fireplace. (He had
stood
forth in front
been wounded '35
and had
"That's
in the
He
Dinky doesn't have a
doesn't have time
busy adventuring!" Uncle Pete
"Why,
just
sat
being the mailman for
tiny people in the Big Valley takes of his time,"
of
to use a cane.
silly talk!
girl friend.
Mouse Invasion
he went
of the time he's
oflF
and finding people
on.
"Then
exploring in
— too down.
all
the
up most
— the
new
rest
places
danger and saving
them."
17
Granny
Little
Little!" she said.
time for
girl
laughed.
"Oh,
Peter
"Most young men find
And Dinky
friends.
so
is
romantic!" She sighed. "Just to hear him sing
and play
any
girl like
his guitar
would make most
him."
The rest of the Littles tried to keep from laughing. Everyone except Granny Little knew that Cousin Dinky couldn't even carry a tune very well. But Granny Little was hard of hearing. She liked Cousin Dinky and enjoyed hearing him sing. Her family didn't have the heart to
tell
her he
had a terrible singing voice. Granny Little smiled to herself as she thought of Cousin Dinky singing and playing his guitar. She nodded her head. "He'll find a nice girl
get married,
than
we
"
and
they'll
want
she said. "Probably sooner
think."
"Ho! Ho!" Uncle Pete
said.
"It
never happen. Dinky 's a real bachelor,
18
to
will if I
ever saw one.
when
I
And
see one
"Dinky married,"
ought to know one
— being
doesn't
Tom
I
one myself." about
care
said.
"He
told
getting
me
so."
"He does so care about getting married," Lucy said. "He said he wished / was old enough. He'd marry me!"
Everybody laughed.
"HALLO!" The
came from
voice
out-
side the apartment in the wall passageway.
"Anybody home?" Cousin Dinky!"
"It's
Tom
ran to the door and opened
"Thank heavens!" Mrs. "Good!" said Granny
yelled.
He
it.
Little said.
Little.
Lucy ran to the door. "I knew it!" Cousin Dinky and a young woman stood in the
doorway. Their faces were streaked
with soot and their clothes were torn.
Lucy threw
He
lifted
hugged
herself at Cousin Dinky.
her high in the air and then
her.
19
knew you were all right," Lucy said. "Dinky! Thank goodness you^re alive/* "I
said Mr. Little.
Cousin Dinky looked surprised. "Why,
Tm
of course
alive,
Uncle Will," he
He was the young woman's hand. He led
"Why
shouldn't I be?"
the room. "I'd like Kett.
all
You remember
at the far
"Who
end of the
is
to
holding
her into
meet Delia
They hve
valley."
Granny
Little.
She
to hear better.
the Ketts'
Little said.
you
the Ketts.
she?" said
cupped her ear "It's
of
said.
"Only
little
girl,
Delia," Mr.
she's not a little girl
any
more."
The
Littles
Delia Kett.
20
introduced themselves to
"
"Dinky has told
me
all
about you," she
said.
"We're so happy to see you weren't hurt," said Mr. Little.
how
Then he explained
they had watched the rescue of the
Fines through Mr. Bigg's binoculars.
"The Fines are okay," said Cousin Dinky. fire
"We went back
to the house.
wasn't as bad as
apartment
is
in perfect
The
looked. Their
it
shape except for
the smoke smell."
"The
glider
said Delia.
"No
burned up on the ground,"
She shrugged her shoulders.
water.
"Lucky
I've
got another glider half
made," Cousin Dinky Cousin
Dinky
said.
went
into
the
hall
passageway and came back with guitar.
"And now
for the great news,"
his
he
21
me
said.
"Lucky
bum
in the ghder."
for
this
guitar didn't
"Oh, you saved that guitar, did you?"
Uncle Pete "I
need
said.
this guitar to tell
you the great
news," Cousin Dinky said. "I have written a
new song about my
latest
adventure at
the Ketts, and I would like to sing
it
for
you."
"Ah
.
.
.
couldn't
you
just tell us?" said
Uncle Pete. "This
is
an important adventure, Uncle
Pete," Cousin
Dinky
write a song about
adventure! "Sit
It's
down
said. "Let's
said. "I just
it.
had
to
Such a wonderful
the only
way
to tell you."
everyone," Granny Little
have a
little
quiet
— I want to
hear every word."
The
Littles sat in chairs
around the
room. Delia Kett sat on the
Cousin Dinky
who
near
took a footstool.
picked up his guitar and sang:
22
floor
He
Yes, yes, yes. You'll never guess I
found a maiden in
Stuck on a I
lowered
thistle
distress.
bush where she might
die.
my flaps — flew down from the sky.
Yes, yes, yes, You'll never guess I
saved a maiden in
I
flew her
home
distress.
Mom
to her
and Dad.
They'd missed her so and were very glad. Yes, yes, yes, You'll never guess I
loved that maiden in
I
stayed two weeks near Delia's side
And
finally
distress.
asked her to be
my
bride.
Yes, yes, yes. You'll never guess I'll
I
marry that maiden
in distress.
asked her always to share
To
fly
with
me and
be
my
my
life
—
wife.
Yes, yes, yes
Now, did you guess? The maiden answered,
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
23
"Oh my!" Mrs. to
Little said.
have a wedding.
"We're going
How nice."
Mr. Little jumped up and shook Cousin Dinky's hand. "Good luck to both of you,"
he
said.
"I
knew
when you walked
it
door," said
Granny
"Bless you,
my
in the
Little to Delia Kett.
dear."
"But what about your adventures?" said "If
you go
you'll
have to
Uncle Pete to Cousin Dinky. through with
this
wedding,
up having adventures." "Not me, Cousin Dinky
give
"
said.
"I'll
always have adventures." "You'll
Pete.
He
have
to settle
down," said Uncle
looked at Delia. "Won't he?"
"Not me," said Cousin Dinky. "Adventuring
is
in
my
blood.
I'll
be
off
on an
adventure right after the wedding." Delia laughed.
"We had
our
first fight
over Dinky's adventures, she said. "I told "
24
him
I
wouldn't marry him
down. But
settle
yesterday, that's
changed."
"I'm going to write a that,"
Cousin Dinky
"We were
he didn't
what happened
after
all
if
new song about
said.
flying
along and arguing
about whether Dinky should have adventures
wedding,"
the
after
"Then we saw the
me
said.
Dinky thought the
fire.
Fines might be caught in the "Delia told
Delia
fire."
to fly over to the fire
and
find out," Cousin
her
it
Dinky
said. "I told
would be dangerous and
that I
wouldn't take her to a dangerous place I didn't
have
"I said to
if
to."
him
that
if
he didn't get over
there and rescue the Fines, I'd be
mad
at him," said Delia.
"And
that's
how we had
our
first
adventure together," said Cousin Dinky. "I
loved
it!"
Delia said. "Why,
we
flew
25
right into that fire
and smoke, and rescued
the Fine family.
never enjoyed anything
so
I
much in my Hfe." "Delia wants us to go on an adventure
for our
The
honeymoon," Cousin Dinky
said.
Littles laughed.
"I tried to tell her I can't order
adventure," said Cousin Dinky. just
an
"They
happen!"
"We'll have one for our honeymoon," said Delia. "I
26
know
it."
.!S;sfc.^^:>
One month later Tom and Lucy were in Mrs. Bigg's jewelry box.
trying to find an old gold there.
Tom
watch she kept
said they could use
them make a wedding Dinky to give Delia. "Ouch!"
They were
Tom
said.
it
to help
ring for Cousin
"Hey! Some of
this
jewelry has sharp pins." "I can't see
very well inside this box,
Tom,"
said Lucy. "Can't
a
more?"
little
we open
the lid
27
"rm some
trying to," said
help.
The Hd
this earring in
box
to
keep
it
is
Tom. "Give me
heavy. Let's stick
between the
lid
and the
open."
The Biggs were out
of the house that
day. Mrs. Bigg and her son, Henry,
had
gone to the amusement park for the afternoon.
"Ouch!" Lucy yelled. "You dropped the lid
on
my
tail."
"You did that, Lucy," said Tom. "You re not holding up your end of the
lid."
Tom gave the lid a big shove. He poked the earring into place. "There
— now, let's
find the watch."
Lucy patted her
"My
tail
and made a
she said.
tail still hurts,"
"Let's find that watch," said
have
face.
Tom. "We
to get out of here before Mrs.
Bigg
and Henry get back from the amusement park."
"Why
can't
we
just take the
watch and
leave?" said Lucy.
take leftovers,
Tom
"We only you know that." He dug
"That's stealing,"
said.
into the pile of jewelry at the
the box. "Here
he
it is,"
bottom of
said. "Here's the
old watch."
"Look broken
at
it,"
Lucy
"The
— there aren't any hands.
watch a
dial
Isn't
is
the
^leftover'?"
"No," said Tom.
"It's
a 'keepsake.'
I
Henry she likes to the watch now and then. It's solid
heard Mrs. Bigg look at
said.
tell
29
"
gold! It used to belong to Mrs. Bigg's
we
grandfather a long time ago. But take
what we came
inside the watch,"
Mrs. Bigg repaired.
Tom
is
after
because
Tom went
is
it
"And
on.
never going to get that watch
It's
too heavy to carry, she says."
climbed out onto Mrs. Bigg's
dresser
and found a small
used
as a lever to get the
it
can
nail
He
file.
back
oflF
the
watch.
"Oh!"
said
Lucy.
beautiful red jewels,
"They're rubies," are twenty-one of
"Look
at
those
Tom!"
Tom them
said,
"and there
in the
watch
—
see?"
"Won't Cousin Dinky be surprised," said Lucy, "when we show him a ring with
one of these rubies on
it?
"Well, I'm the ring bearer,"
"and
it's
my
Tom
job to find a ring. I
said,
want
Cousin Dinky to give Delia a real special ring. She's keen!"
30
Lucy
"She'll love it!"
Tom
said.
took a hat pin and dug at one of
He was
the jewels in the watch. to get
it
screwed
out of in
wedged
just
Tom move
its
place. "They're not
Tom
place,"
trying
"They're
said.
in."
grunted as he pushed. "I can't
it.
Wow! Get on
the end of the
hat pin and help me, Lucy, will you?" In a few minutes the ruby
was out of the watch. Lucy picked up the jewel and turned
it
in
"Why
her fingers.
jewels in watches
are there
anyway?" she
said.
"They're harder than anything," said.
"They never wear
"Good!" Lucy
said.
Tom
out."
"Our ring
will last
forever."
Tom
pushed the
lid of
open so they could climb he
said.
"Let's take
it
the jewelry box out.
"Come
on,"
home and show
everybody."
31
Tom and
LUCY
ran into the
Littles'
The door slammed. "Oh!" said Granny Little. She was sewing in her rocking chair. "You made
living room.
me
stick
my
finger."
Mrs. Little and Uncle Pete were sitting
on the sofa with Baby Betsy. The baby
was pulling on Uncle "Isn't
she
Pete's moustache.
smart?" Uncle Pete said.
"Most children her age couldn't do
that,
could they?"
Tom 32
held the ruby up for
all to see.
"All
we need
glue
it
"It's
to,"
to
he
do now
is
said.
beautiful,
Tom," Mrs.
do hope you did the
"I
taking
Little said.
right thing
—
it."
"Mrs. Bigg won't miss
Tom.
find a ring to
it,
Mother," said
"Really."
"Won't
it
look wonderful on Delia's
Lucy
finger?"
said.
She began to dance
around the room. "We're going to have a wedding! We're going to have a wedding!"
Granny
"Come
Mrs.
Little.
and hold
Delia's
called to
over, will you,
wedding her
Little
up to you. You're about want to hem it."
dress
size. I
Mrs. Little held the white dress to her
"What a wonderful idea," she make a wedding dress from this
shoulders. said, "to
beautiful old ruffle." "That's
why L saved
it
when
Mrs. Bigg
threw her party dress out," Granny said. "I
Little
knew there'd be a wedding around
here someday."
'
A^i*f
"where did you and Dad get married.
Tom
Mother?"
said.
"In a church
Mrs.
Little. "It
before cat.
we
We
down
the block,
was quite a
"
said
That was
trip.
could ride places on Hildy, the
walked
all
the way.
We
were
The big people were having two weddings that month in the church. We had our pick." "It was a beautiful wedding," Granny Little said. "And you and Will looked lucky though.
every bit as nice as the big bride and
groom."
Uncle Pete pulled at
would be
easier
his
moustache.
on everybody
got married in church.
if
"It
Delia
Why does she want
a house wedding?" "I've
heard that house weddings are
beautiful," said Mrs. Little.
"But,
it's
hard as all-get-out to find a
house where the big people are going to
have a wedding," Uncle Pete to
34
said. "It
be a house where tiny people
has
live too."
'
"Cousin Dinky will find a place," said Lucy. "He can do anything." "Don't be too sure," said Uncle Pete. "He's been looking for almost a
with no luck. He's dog-boned
month
tired."
"Oh, Dinky loves flying aroimd in that
new
glider of his,"
Granny
Little said.
"Don't worry about him.
Tom said, "Why don't tiny people have own
their
ministers
and
justices of the
peace to make marriages? Wouldn't
it
save a lot of trouble?" "It is a lot of
work, Tom," said Mrs.
"But most tiny people enjoy that
Little.
kind of wedding. Usually they have to
make
a trip someplace in the Big Valley
to get married. Friends are invited
and
they get to meet people they wouldn't see otherwise. Friendships are last
made
that
a lifetime."
"That's
Zelda Short,"
"Oh,
I
met my oldest Granny Little said.
how
I
friend,
am so looking forward to a house 35
"
wedding," said Mrs.
"I
Little.
hope
it's
by so we can all go." "Where is Delia anyway?" Tom said. "On the roof with your father," said Mrs. Little. "Cousin Dinky said he would try to fly by today and tell us if he has
close
found a place for the wedding."
"Come
on, Lucy!"
Tom
said.
"Lets go
up and watch." "Tom, what about our ruby ring?" Lucy said.
"Shouldn't
we be
looking for the
ring part?"
"Oh,
Tom
we have
said.
"I
plenty of time for that,"
want
don't
to
landing. I love to see Cousin his
gUder on the
up
there, children,"
Mrs. Little said. "Especially
36
Dinky land
roof.
"Please be careful
wind."
miss the
if
there's a
Tom and
LUCY
got into the tin-can
was made from an old soup can and some elevator that
went up
pieces of string.
Tom
to the roof. It
pulled on the string
and slowly the elevator went up. The children found their father and Delia on the roof.
They were standing near the
chimney.
"Any
sign of Cousin Dinky?" asked
Tom.
He
pointed
to the setting sun. "It's going to
be dark
Mr. Little shook his head. soon," he said.
37
"
"
"Dinky wouldn't Delia.
A
fly in
the dark," said
She looked worried.
few minutes
Tom
later
"There's Cousin Dinky!
shouted:
He's over the
trees.
Everybody turned
to
look.
Cousin
Dinky's glider was riding the wind and
coming toward them. trees at the
It
was clearing the
edge of the yard.
Just then a car drove into the driveway
was Mrs. Bigg and Henry back from the amusement park. "Oh, oh!" Delia said. "What if they see Dinky land on the roof ? Cousin Dinky's glider was coming straight toward the house. The Biggs'
below.
It
was below and ahead of him. The car stopped and Henry Bigg jumped out. His arms were full of toys and prizes. car
Cousin Dinky's glider was almost over Henry's head.
38
Suddenly two toy balloons seemed to leap out of the car behind Henry. They shot
were
up
in the air. It looked as if they going to hit the glider.
"Cousin balloons,"
"Watch
Dinky
Tom
doesn't
see
those
said.
Dinky!" Delia wanted to close her eyes but she didn't. out,
Lucy grabbed her At the
last
him.
He grabbed
tiny
glider off
s
hand.
moment Cousin Dinky saw
the balloons coming
banked
father
up
at the controls.
zoomed to
one
right in front of
straight
side.
The
The
up
and
turn
was
too fast.
"Oh The
no!" said Delia.
hung in the air with its nose pointed up. Then it twisted and turned upside down. The glider went glider
into a tailspin. It fell into the branches
of a tall lilac
bush near the house.
Henry Bigg walked on across the yard. The two gas-filled balloons bounced on the ends of long strings tied to Henry's wrists.
He
ran into the house, pulling
the balloons after him.
Cousin Dinky climbed out of the glider
and onto a branch
of the lilac bush.
A
broken wing of the glider fluttered to the ground.
40
The
Littles
rushed to the edge of the
and looked down. Cousin Dinky was waving his arms in the air. "Good news!" he yelled. "I found a place. It's O.K. We're going to have
roof
a wedding!" )S%imtt;:Jj
^^:::A\
—i
Wti.iijlUarJ
-^
)
^lE^-ii?rf J--
There was a small hole
in the
back of
the clock. Mr. Button climbed through.
"Follow me!" he whispered.
There was room
to
move around
inside
the clock without getting caught in the
machinery. In the front of the clock-house
were doors and windows. The
Littles
could see out into the Longs' living room
where big people were moving around and
80
talking.
There were wooden
dolls standing in
the doors and windows of the clock-house.
They faced into the Longs' living room. The dolls looked like statues to the tiny people.
"Now here's my plan," Mr. Button said. "As you can see, we are very close to where the wedding If
you look
out,
is
going to take place.
you can see the
minister.
He's the gentleman in the black
The
looked and nodded.
Littles
"When
suit."
wedding march
the
is
played,
the big bride and her father are going to
walk
into the living
the minister this clock,"
is
room and up
to
where
standing right in front of
Mr. Button
said.
"How thrilling!" Delia "We will be able to
said.
see
and hear
everything that takes place," said Mr.
Then he chuckled. "Now here is my greatest idea." The tiny man took hold of a wooden statue that was standing at a window of the clock-house. He gave Button.
81
a pull and
it
on the
came
from
loose
its
holder
floor.
"What Pete
it
are
you up
Button?" Uncle
to,
said.
"Now, Dinky,"
"when away from the window, said Mr. Button,
I
take this statue
I
want you to take its place." "Hold on there!" said Uncle Pete.
"Do you mean," Mr. you want Dinky
window where
Little said, "that
to stand right in that
all
those big people can
see him?"
"They may look won't
see
at the clock,
but they
Mr.
Button.
Dinky,"
said
"People see what they expect to
no big person expects to see a
human being
"I've stood in these
few times myself, said.
And
six-inch
standing in a clock."
"Are you sure?" Uncle Pete
Button
see.
said.
windows quite a
just to test it,"
Mr.
"Even when a big person
looks at the clock to see
what time
it is,
he doesn't really pay attention to these
82
"
statues. It's really quite
on, Dinky,
my
"I'm ready,
amazing.
boy! Try
Come
it!
said Cousin Dinky.
"
He
stood next to the window.
Mr. Button got a good hold on the statue. "All right,"
he
said.
"Get
set
— go!"
Mr. Button quickly moved the wooden
away from
statue
Dinky stepped
the window. Cousin
into
its
out at the living room.
people were
He
looked
About
fifteen
place.
The
sitting there.
minister
stood in front of them with his back to
Cousin Dinky. The people kept looking at the
door and talking
in
low
voices.
Mr. Button took another statue away. Delia
stepped into the place next to
Cousin Dinky. Now, she too was watching
what was going on
in the
Longs' living
room. "It's
Button place."
getting close to the time," Mr. said.
He
"Let's
get
everyone into
pointed to a spot near Cousin
Dinky. "The best
man
should stand here."
83
Uncle Pete moved
the
place.
— you re
giving
into
"That's me," he said.
"And now, Mr.
Little
the bride away," said Mr. Button. "You
should stand here."
Mr. Little did as he was
"And the matron
told.
of honor goes about
here," Mr. Button said.
Mrs.
Little
moved
quickly into the
place pointed out to her.
"Now — the
ring bearer should stand
next to the best man," said Mr. Button,
"and the flower
girl
goes next to the
matron of honor."
"The children said.
He
aren't here,"
Mr. Little
looked aroimd.
Uncle Pete ran to the back of the clock.
He
looked out. "I don't think they ever
got here," he said.
"Oh
dear," said Mrs. Little.
"Tom
has
the ring." "I'd better get them,"
and he hurried out
84
Uncle Pete
of the clock.
said,
In the meantime Cousin Dinky and
Delia were
window. They
The
standing in the clock
still
tried to
keep from moving.
minister turned around and looked
right at the clock.
Then he looked
Suddenly he turned and
wrist watch.
leaned on the mantelpiece. a few inches
He was
only
away from Delia and Cousin
Dinky. They stood very
The
at his
still.
minister began to
examine the
things on the mantelpiece as he waited for the
wedding
photograph.
made
He
to begin.
He
looked at a
picked up a small bird
of glass.
Then, he looked the clock over carefully.
Cousin Dinky and Delia stood
as boards.
The
stiff
up and
minister reached
slowly ran his fingers over the top of the clock-house.
The people in
in the
room kept on
low voices and looking
The minister reached the two tiny people.
talking
at the door.
right in front of
They
stopped
85
breathing!
wooden
The man touched one
statues.
of the
Cousin Dinky saw the
minister looking at him.
going to be next.
He knew he was
/
h
While the wedding party was crowding into the clock-house, in Mrs. Long's
The two
Tom
and Lucy were
room looking
for a ring.
tiny children crawled over a
jumble of things on the woman's dresser.
Lucy tripped backwards over a
hair
curler.
"Let's get going!"
we have The
said.
"Get up
—
to hurry."
children looked around the dresser
top. "It has to said.
Tom
be here somewhere,"
"There! There
it
is.
"
It
Tom
was Mrs.
Long's box for broken jewelry. The box
was jammed with broken
jewelry, beads,
and buttons.
87
Tom dug around in the box for a few minutes. He pulled out a tiny roimd link for a chain. "This will
he
fit
Delia's finger,"
said. "It's
a
too thick,
little
Lucy
isn't it?"
said. "It's
the best we're going to find," said
Tom. "There's nothing better.
We
anyplace
box that
is
have time to look
don't
else."
said
Lucy.
Haste
does
"Golly!"
hurrying.
in this
"We're
make
always
waste,
I
guess."
"Oh
stop
it,
be that way,
Lucy!"
Come
Tom
said.
"Don't
on! Let's find
some
glue and stick the ruby on."
They found some glue in Mr. Long's desk. "It's some of that good white stuff that Mrs. Bigg uses,"
Tom
said. "It really
sticks."
Lucy stood on the tube squeezed a drop
out.
Tom
out of his pocket and glued
88
of glue
and
took the ruby it
to the ring.
--/v.\^--\
The
children blew on the glue to
dry
faster.
"It looks pretty
thought
it
was going
just like
it
it
good," Lucy said. "I
"It is beautiful!"
one
make
for
to look beautiful."
Tom
said. "I'll
make
you when you get
married." Just then they heard music.
"What's that?" said Tom.
Lucy said. Then she shouted. the wedding march. We've got
"Listen!"
"That's
to get back."
"Hold
it,
She started to run. Lucy!" said Tom.
"I
just
remembered.
We don't even know where
everybody
standing."
is
"Tom!" Lucy
said.
"We'll
miss
the
wedding"
89
'When
the
wedding march began, the
minister turned
away from
the clock on
the mantelpiece.
Cousin Dinky looked over at Delia.
She looked at him and smiled.
The wedding march played big groom, best
man
Sam Tower,
on.
The
stood with his
in front of the minister.
The
people in the living room turned to watch the bride
come walking
room with her
father.
into the living
They walked
slowly, in time to the music.
came before the
90
minister.
At
last
they
T-n
.
"Dearly together.
we
beloved, ."
"Where
gathered
are
the minister said.
are those children
and Uncle
Pete?" Mr. Little whispered. "We'll just have to get along without
them," Mr. Button
Tom
"But
Mr.
ring!"
was
supposed to have the
Little said.
this
''Into
is
said.
holy estate" the minister
saying, "these
two persons present
now come to he joined" "Tom had a ruby, I know Little said.
put
it
that," Mrs.
"Did he ever find a ring
to
on?"
never thought about asking him,"
"I
Mr. Little
he says
said.
he'll
"He
usually does
what
do."
him now speak or else hereafter forever hold his peace" said the minister. "Oh dear, whatever are we going to do if there's no ring?" said Mrs. Little. ".
.
.
let
"Wilt thou have this
wedded
92
woman
to thy
wife?" the minister went on.
"/ wilir said
Sam Tower
in the living
room. "7 wilir ssiid
"I'd better
Cousin Dinky in the clock.
go see
if
I
can find those
children," Mr. Button said.
"Somebody had
better
do something,"
said Mr. Little.
"Wilt
thou
have
this
man
wedded husband?'' the minister "/ wilir Vera Long said. "1 wilir
The
thy
to said.
whispered Delia.
came to the part in the ceremony where he asked: "Who giveth this woman to he married to this man?" Mr. Long placed Vera Long's hand in the minister's hand. The minister had Sam Tower take Vera's hand. At the same time, Mr. Little took Delia's hand and placed it in Cousin minister
Dinky's hand. Cousin Dinky and Delia
smiled at each other. "/,
Dinky, take thee, Delia, to
wedded
wife,"
Cousin
Dinky
my said,
93
echoing what was being said in the living
room.
Then she
it
said,
was Delia s "take
thee.
turn. "Z, Delia,''
Dinky,
to
my
wedded husband." Just then,
Tom and Lucy came running
into the clock. Mr. Button
them.
Tom
Little took
Dinky,
who
was behind
held out the ruby ring. Mr. it
and handed
slipped
it
it
to Cousin
onto Delia's finger.
''With this ring, I do thee wed," said
Cousin Dinky. Delia was almost laughing. Her pink
cheeks got even pinker. Tick-took went the clock. Suddenly bells struck the half
The tiny people held their ears. The minister finished the ceremony.
hour.
"Those lohom let
God
hath joined together
no man put asunder."
Sam Tower
kissed Vera Tower.
Cousin Dinky Little kissed Delia
Uncle Pete came back here's everyone!"
94
he
said.
at last.
Little.
"Oh,
"You missed the wedding," said Granny Little.
"Oh, did!"
Uncle Pete
golly,"
Then he walked over
was the first
my
last to get here.
said.
"I
to Delia. "I
May
I
be the
to kiss the bride?"
And he
was.
.^
»,-
>
'
A^'
vT
95
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