The Little Leftover Witch

eLitt \. ftover [^ ^o '0 (d< y tri^Tx The Little Leftover Witch by Florence Laugliiin illustrated Sheila by...

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eLitt

\.

ftover [^

^o '0 (d<

y

tri^Tx

The

Little

Leftover

Witch by Florence Laugliiin illustrated

Sheila

by

Green wald

COLLIER BOOKS

A Division

Macmillan Publishing Co., New York Collier Macmillan Publishers of

London

Inc.

For Caroline, Maureen and Maggie

Copyright

©

Florence Laughlin 1960. All rights reserved. part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, wdthout permission in writing from the Publisher. Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 866 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022. CoUier Macmillan Canada Ltd.

No

Library of Congress catalog card number: 60-11815

Books Edition 1971 Fointh Printing, 1978

First Collier

The Little Leftover Witch is also published in a hardcover edition by Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 0-02-044300-5

Contents 1

Digitized

by

tine in

Internet Archive

2010

http://www.arcliive.org/details/littleleftoverwiOOIaug

1

It

/

The Broken Broom

was Halloween.

The wind moaned the

windows

like a

thousand ghosts

at

of the houses on Mockingbird

Lane. Black cats chased one another across rooftops.

And

ghosts and gobhns of

ran through the

all sizes

streets.

Lucinda Doon was dressed

like a ghost.

white sheet covered her clothes.

It

A

covered her

yellow-gold hair and small brown shoes.

It

hid

The

Leftover Witch

Little

everything about her, except two laughing blue eyes which peered out of

two round

holes.

She

said,

father.

She

''Boooooo^''

Mr. Doon, her

said, ''Boooooo,'' at

great black cat. She

and frightened

"Time

at

to

went

all

Itchabody, her

around the block

the neighbors.

all

go upstairs to bed now,"

Doon, when Lucinda came back house. "Halloween

So Lucinda took

hung

it

on the

is

said Mrs.

into her

own

over."

costume and

off her ghost

clothes tree. She

face and hands and put

washed her

on her warm pajamas

and crawled into bed. Then her mother kissed her tenderly and turned out the Just as Lucinda

was about

she glanced out of the

she

saw a witch!

her

broom

A

across a

light.

to close her eyes

window

—and thought

black-clad witch, riding

pumpkin-yellow moon.

The Httle girl shivered happily and snuggled down under the covers to dream of the excitement she had had

that night.

But Halloween wasn't over. Not

quite.

In the middle of the night Lucinda 2

woke up

The Broken Broom with a

start.

She heard a strange noise outside

sounded Hke somebody crying.

the

window.

Or

perhaps Hke somebody trying not to cry.

It

It

was pitch-dark now. But Lucinda got out

of bed and turned on the Hght and opened the

window. There, on the branch of the big bare mulberry

wore

And

tree, sat a

a

peaked

bedraggled

hat.

little

witch! She

She had big staring

something Hke a raindrop ran

face and

"Who "Fm

fell off

are

"Why "Fm

are

you}" cried Lucinda.

you should

you crying?"

The

fell

witch nibbed

Httle

her eyes with the back of her

the sky

plainly see,"

witch crossly.

not crying."

broom and

her

the tip of her pointed nose.

a witch, as

said the little

eyes.

down

fist.

"I

from the sky," she

broke

said.

my

"And

was wet."

"How

are

you going

to get

home?" asked

Lucinda anxiously. "If tree," I

do

I

knew

that, I

wouldn't be

snapped the strange

know one

—

thing

little

if I

3

sitting in this

creature. "But

don't get back

up

The

Leftover Witch

Little

there before the sun

rises, I'll

have to stay on

the ground for a whole year. Till next Hal-

loween."

Lucinda was almost sure she saw another tear.

But she was too kind

said,

"Maybe

I

to

mention

She

it.

can help you. Mother has a

brand-new broom.

If

you come

may test it and see if it will The big branch was very

you

inside

fly."

near the window.

Lucinda held out her arms and helped the

little

witch crawl inside the room. Itchabody the cat came out from under the bed.

He

arched

his

back and

Hke pins when he saw the

his fur

visitor.

stood up

"Meeeow!"

he said whiningly. "I pull cats' tails," said the little witch.

Itchabody backed away,

hissing.

But

Lucinda and the witch crept down the to the

them. his

broom

closet, the cat

as

stairs

scampered past

When they got to the kitchen he rubbed

back against the

visitor's

long black robe

and began to purr. Lucinda took out her mother's brand-new broom. The

Httle

witch got astride

it

and

The Broken Broom

jumped up and down. But the broom refused to fly.

Then

she said:

"Abracadabra Thirteen

cats:

Sesame, sesame Pickled Bats!"

But

the

still

from the

broom made no move

floor. "It isn't

witch ungraciously.

to

lift

magic," said the

knew

"I

it

her

little

wouldn't

work." "Let's try the dust

mop," suggested Lucinda

helpfully.

So they

tried the dust

vacuum

electric

chanted

all

mop. They

They even

sponge mop.

cleaner.

tried the

tried Mrs.

And

Doon's

the httle witch

the magic words she knew, but

she simply could not

fly.

"That's too bad," said Lucinda. She

very sorry for the

felt

httle witch, in spite of her

bad manners.

The want

little

witch was worried, too. "I don't

to stay around here a

said. "I can't

stand people!" 5

whole year," she

The "Well,

Leftover Witch

Little

Fm afraid you'll have to stay,

at least

for tonight," replied Lucinda. "It's too cold to

go outside

again.

You may

my

and in the morning

way

my

bed,

father will think of a

you back home."

to get

Lucinda and the upstairs,

sleep in

but the

little

little

witch cKmbed back

witch

flatly refused to

share Lucinda's bed. "I don't like beds," she said. "I

places,

m

Hke dark

sleep in the closet."

So, while

Lucinda crawled back into her

warm, cozy bed, the weird

little

figure in the

pointed hat slipped into the closet and closed the door.

Itchabody the cat joined her there.

2 /The Witch Takes a Bath When Lucinda opened her eyes once more the sun was shining. She

had

just

felt

very sure that she

had a curious dream and that the

witch wasn't

real at

all.

But when she opened the she was, sitting in a corner. cat

little

closet door, there

Old Itchabody the

jumped down from the witch's

lap.

"Good morning," said Lucinda pleasantly. The little witch glared at her. "What's good

The

Witch

Little Leftover

about it?" she demanded. But she got up and

came out

into the room, blinking her eyes.

"Do you have *'Of course

you know. proudly.

I

name?" asked Lucinda. It's

means

It

"The

named me

a

do.

Felina.

cat^ "

^little

who

old witch

that because

I

From

'-feline^

she said

mixes potions

have green eyes."

"So you have!" cried Lucinda.

For the the

little

They face.

first

how enormous and how green.

time she noticed

witch's eyes were,

looked very odd in her small pointed

She did look

Lucinda.

Not

like a kitten, too,

pretty, of course.

thought

But then, one

didn't expect a witch to be pretty.

"Come on," said Lucinda. down and eat breakfast. I'm

"It's

as

time to go

hungry

as the

three bears."

She put on her robe and

down

slippers

to the kitchen, the little

and went

witch following

close at her heels.

who was "what have we

"Well, well," said Mrs. Doon,

busy preparing

breakfast,

here?"

Mrs.

Doon was seldom 8

ever astonished at

The Witch Takes

a Bath

anything. But she did look a

surprised

little

to find a witch in her kitchen. "I

want you

to

Lucinda formally.

meet *

Felina,

Mother," said

'She's a witch. She's left

over from Halloween. Felina broke her magic

broom and

Daddy

can't fly

back home, and

I

want

to help her."

"Help her what?" asked Mr. Doon, coming in just then.

He

was tying

Then he looked down could

say

was,

his tie.

at Felina

"Well,

well,

and

all

he

and

well,'^

"WELL." So Lucinda explained

all

about the broken

broom and how Fehna had spent the closet.

And how

the night in

she didn't like people at

all.

"So you find the it

sec,

Daddy," she added,

"if

we

can

broken broom, maybe you could mend

and—" "Won't do any good,"

impatiently.

and blew

it

said the little

"The wind grabbed far

the

witch

broom

away. Witches can only fly on

Halloween anyway." "Well, well," said Mr. 9

Doon

again.

He

was

The

Little Leftover

Witch

we

concentrating on the problem. "Perhaps

could hire a helicopter to fly you home."

Fehna stuck out her sharp never find the

way if

"You'd

without a magic broom,"

she said. "I just have to stay

Halloween. Then,

httle chin.

down

here

till

next

Fm out atrnidnight, I can broom and

catch onto another witch's

ride

away." Mrs.

Doon was

setting the table

with bacon

and eggs and pieces of golden-brown She

filled

two big

"Breakfast

glasses

ready,

is

"Come now and

toast.

with milk. children,"

she

said.

eat."

Lucinda was very hungry. She pulled up her chair and sat down. But Felina just sniffed. "I

only eat black-bat soup and

zards," she told

"Well,

we

them

jibbers' giz-

loftily.

never have black-bat soup for

Doon

breakfast," said Mrs.

firmly.

She

sat

down and began to pour the coffee. "And I'm not about to go out into the woods to shoot

any

jibbers,"

remarked Mr. Doon,

taking his chair.

While Lucinda and her 10

parents ate every

The Witch Takes

a Bath

bite of their breakfast, the little

in a corner and glowered

we Mr. Doon in

"What asked

are

"I don't

viously

know/'

lost,

poor

witch

just sat

them.

at

going to do about her?" a

low

voice.

said Mrs. little

Doon. "She

thing.

And

I

ob-

is

must

say,

she does have a dreadful disposition.'*

"Oh,

please,

"let her stay

mean.

Mother," whispered Lucinda,

with

us. I don't

think she

is

really

think she's just afraid of things." She

I

thought

it

would be

great fun to have a real

witch to play with.

"We do have enough room," said Mrs. Doon slowly. "I suppose she could stay here

somebody So

it

claims her."

was decided.

"Fm

going to the

Doon, "but

And

till

I'll

I'll

now,"

office

said

Mr.

report the matter to the poHce.

ask around

town

to see

if

anyone

missing a httle witch. We'll see about

is

it

to-

got up and kissed his wife goodbye.

He

night."

He kissed

Lucinda goodbye.

Felina.

He

thought of kissing

But when he looked 11

in her direction

The she

made

Leftover Witch

Little

wicked face

a

at

him, so off he

went.

"First

thing we'd

Doon,

after she

comb

Felina's hair

"Witches FeHna.

do,"

better

had done the

said

Mrs.

dishes, "is to

and give her a bath."

never

"And they

comb

their

hair,"

said

never take baths. Never,

NEVER."

never,

who

"Witches Mrs. Doon.

stay in

"Run and

my

house do," said

fetch a nice clean comb,

Lucinda."

Lucinda brought a comb and brush. Mrs.

Doon

put the kitchen stool on the back porch

and perched Fehna upon grabbed off the funny

and hung

"My

it

hat,

on

a nail.

my

hat,"

me back my Mrs.

So the hair

Doon It

morning long Mrs.

cone-shaped hat

screamed Felina. "Give

you

get your hair combed,"

quietly.

witch was forced to have her

Httle

combed.

Quickly, she

hat."

"Just as soon as said

Httle

it.

was

so tangled that

it

took

all

to get the snarls out.

Doon combed on one side and Lucinda 12

The Witch Takes brushed on the other.

a Bath

They combed and they

brushed and they brushed and they combed.

And

the httle witch set

up an awful

fuss.

She screeched and she yelled. But Lucinda

and Mrs. Doon were as

and gentle

just as careful

they could be. "Save the snarls," insisted the

"Witches' snarls are

But Mrs. Doon trash.

full

witch.

dumped them in the And they combed and brushed and just

brushed some more, until the

was

little

of magic."

as

smooth and shiny

and curled up

at the

as a

little

cap of black satin

ends just like Lucinda's.

"I hate it!" declared Fehna.

wicked, she stirred Mrs.

Doon

it

And

just to

be

into a mess again.

combed

patiently

and made two silky

witch's hair

braids.

She

it

once more

tied the ends

tightly with red ribbons.

But when Mrs. Doon forgot and started to take the dreary

little

jumped from the

hat out to the trash,

stool.

"Don't throw away

"Witches wear

FeUna

my

hat," she pleaded.

their hats always."

The poor little witch looked so alarmed that Doon came back quickly. She put the

Mrs.

13

The peaked hat on the

little

onto

Felina's freshly

creature reached afraid

it,

Leftover Witch

Little

combed

hair

up and held

and

tightly

might be whisked away

it

again.

"I

my

keep

magic

in

my hat,"

she said.

"Now, then," said Mrs. Doon with a sigh, "we must wash your dress. It's all rumpled and muddy. You go with Lucinda and take a nice bath, and then you may put on some of her clean clothes." "I won't," said the

"Oh, come, take "It's lots

of fun.

boat that

sails."

"I

want

"Very your

I

little

a bath," pleaded Lucinda.

have soap that

my own

floats

and a

dress," said Felina.

well," said Mrs.

little

witch.

black dress

Doon.

"I'll

wash

and you may put it back

on."

And

that

is

what happened. Lucinda and

Felina got into a tub of

warm, sparkling water

and splashed about. Fehna wore her hat and refused to wash behind her ears and she dashed

soapsuds

all

over Itchabody,

by. She gave a

went,

'Thttt,'"

little

who was passing when he

caclding laugh

and hid under the wash 14

basin.

The Witch Takes

a Bath

But Felina did come out quite Mrs.

Doon wrapped

her

let

sit

on

And

clean.

her in a big towel and

and watch her dress go

a stool

around and around in the automatic washer.

Then

she starched

put

back on.

it

it

and ironed

it

That afternoon, Lucinda saw the

and Felina

little

witch

standing before the mirror, turning from side

Her

to side.

clothes

were

smooth and her face was

"You look very

The

little

clean, her hair

was

clean.

nice," said

Lucinda kindly.

witch whirled about. "Bats and

cats!" she said in a sassy voice.

Then

she flew

up the

stairs

and went into

the closet and closed the door. She refused to

come out

to play,

and she refused to come out

for lunch. She didn't until she heard

come downstairs

again

Mr. Doon's car drive into the

garage that evening.

15

3 / How to Trick a Witch Mr. Doon was amazed when he came

saw Felina

"Why, Mary," he ful,

sitting

said to his wife.

though she

we

steps,

and

holding the

cat.

she looks almost like a

that awful hat.

thing

on the

in

still

I

"Her

looks a

human hair

little

is

being,

beauti-

spooky

don't suppose there

is

in

any-

can do about her pointed nose and

chin."

16

How

to

Trick a Witch

"There's something

Doon. "Fm

/

can do," said Mrs.

quite sure black-bat soup and jib-

bers' gizzards aren't

very nourishing, even for

witches. She has refused to eat fixed an extra-special supper.

all

day, so

The poor

I

little

thing seems half starved."

So Mrs. Doon and Lucinda gether.

They

put on a big platter of steaming

chicken and dumplings.

was peach cobbler and

"Come, "and

eat

Uttle witch,"

Mrs.

ice cream!

Doon called then,

your supper."

But the can't

They brought in vege-

and salad and ice-cold milk. For dessert

tables

there

set the table to-

little

make me

and glaring

witch refused to come. "You

eat," she said,

at the

stamping her foot

good food.

"Nobody is going Doon with a smile.

to

make you,"

Felina crawled under the dining

The

said Mrs.

room

table.

down to eat. Mr. Doon said the blessing. Then he

family sat

First

served the chicken and dumplings and vegetables.

"Mmmmmmm!

This

is

ever tasted," said Lucinda. 17

the best chicken I

The

Little Leftover

Witch

"The dumplings and gravy said

are delicious,"

Mr. Doon.

"The

finest

said Lucinda's

baked squash mother,

I

''if

ever tasted,"

I

did bake

it

my-

self."

For a while nothing was heard but the sound of forks scooping

up the food. The

smell of

the delicious things to eat drifted over the

edge of the table and make the

little

witch's

nose twitch.

Then Mr. Doon reached platter

and brought up

into the

do beheve

a gizzard. "I

that looks like a jibber's gizzard,

dumpling

Mary," he

said.

"It certainly does."

And

all at

once a spooky

httle black hat ap-

peared above the edge of the table.

The

little

witch edged slowly toward the empty chair

and slipped into

it.

In a twinkhng Mr.

Doon dropped the savory

gizzard onto Felina's plate.

and dumpHngs beside pushed the

glass of

it.

He

heaped chicken

Mrs.

Doon

quietly

milk within reach of a small

hand.

Not

a

word more was 18

said.

But the food

How

to

Trick a Witch

disappeared like magic.

with milk.

The

glass

Halfway through

was

refilled

a big dish of ice

cream and cobbler, the spoon dropped from the hand and the

bend toward the Mr. Doon

drowsy cinda's

little

peaked hat began to

table.

and picked up the

left his chair

witch and carried her to Lu-

little

room. Mrs.

Doon and Lucinda

tiptoed

after them.

Carefully, carefully, they

and unhooked her black

removed her shoes But the

dress.

instant

they touched the peaked black hat Felina

came awake Doon's

"You

"We nice,

in a flash.

She jumped off Mrs.

lap. fell asleep,"

were going

warm

"No, no,

said

to put

Mrs.

you

Doon

gently.

into Lucinda's

bed."

"Witches never

no,'' cried Felina.

sleep in beds like that."

"You may wear some of my fuzzy pajamas," said Lucinda.

She ran to get a pair from her

bureau. Felina pushed

middle of the

them

aside.

She stood in the

floor, glaring at

Then Mr. Doon had 19

them

all.

to take over.

The

He "You

looked

Leftover Witch

Little

down

at the defiant little figure.

are going to put

on those pajamas and

get into that bed, Felina," he said sternly, "or I

will spank you."

Felina put her hands behind her.

"You

can't

spank witches," she declared. She seemed about to cry.

want

"I don't

to spank a witch," said

Mr.

Doon kindly, "but I will if I have to." He sat down on the bed. "Felina, come here. I want to tell

you something."

Slowly, she obeyed him.

"There are

know more you

live in

You may

few

things that

grown-ups

about than children do. While

we want you to happy. your way about all the little

our house

have

things, like

a

what kind of

ice

cream

you'll eat

and what toys you'll play with. But when something

"When ^that's

is

really important

Lucinda's mother or

an order,' you do

"But

why

can't

I

about

sick,

and

it," said

I

say to you,

Mr. Doon.

sleep in the closet?"

"Because the floor

might get

you must obey.

is

cold and drafty.

we would

it."

20

feel

You

very sad

Hoiv

to

Trick a Witch

"Would you?" She

him from her

stared at

sharp green eyes.

"We certainly would," said Mr. Doon. "Now get into those pajamas and crawl into bed.

And

that's

an

order.'"

"All right," agreed Felina. "But off

my

I

won't take

hat!"

Mr. Doon laughed. "That's your he

business,"

said.

Refusing any help, Felina put on the paja-

mas and got Later, covers,

into

bed with Lucinda.

when Mr. Doon came he smiled.

golden head of

On

in to

check the

one pillow lay the

his daughter.

On the other,

her

hat askew, the dark head of Felina. Beside her,

curled

up

in a black ball

Itchabody.

21

on the

coverlet,

was

4/FeIina Goes to the Store Mr. Doon worked for the

The

next day,

he put

office,

when

this

local newspaper.

he went

down

to the

ad in the paper.

FOUND One very

small witch with green eyes

and black

hair.

tact

He

Anyone

interested con-

George Doon on Mockingbird Lane.

had already reported the matter to the

police and they asked

him

22

to bring Felina in

Felina

Goes

to the Store

to the station for investigation.

Doon

with Mr.

So Felina went

in his peacock-blue sports car.

She wanted to take Itchabody along, but Mr.

Doon

got

his

"grown-up" expression ready,

so

Felina agreed to leave the cat at home.

The poHce

asked her a lot of questions

which she refused fingerprints

They took her They took a front

to answer.

and her picture.

view of her scowling

Uttle face

and a

side

view

of her profile. But every time the photog-

rapher snapped the camera she

moved

her

head.

They had a lot of

to take seventeen shots

and waste

county film before they could get a

Kkeness. "I'll

bet no one will claim this one," mut-

tered the sergeant as he typed out the bulletin. It

wasn't until after FeHna had gone that he

discovered the mysterious fingerprints on the important papers on his desk.

He

spent the

whole afternoon using ink remover. demon,"

"Little

said the sergeant.

There were no

And no

all

replies to

Mr. Boon's

ad.

rephes to the AU-Points-Bulietin that 23

The

Leftover Witch

Little

the police circulated. There were rumors in

town about

a traveling

band of gypsies having

gone through. There were

about a

stories

mysterious airplane accident in the

about a family being

But nobody came forth

nobody had

Either een, or

if

hills

and

lost in a landslide.

lost a

to

claim Felina.

witch that Hallow-

anybody had, they

didn't

want her

back again.

So Felina went on family. Lucinda

whole

thing.

living

with the

Doon

was very happy about the

She thought

it

was wonderful

have a playmate. Even a witch

to

who was some-

times cross.

Lucinda Kked to play house and she was always asking FeUna to play with her.

"You may have Betsey

for your

little girl,"

she told the Kttle witch one day. She took

Betsey

down from

the shelf. Betsey

was her

second-best doll, somewhat old and battered,

but

still

very useful.

Fehna eyed

Lucille,

whom

Lucinda was

cuddling. Lucille was as gorgeous as a princess,

with tiny high-heeled sHppers on dainty

plastic feet. Felina

swept Betsey into a corner. 24

Felina

"I don't

too

for

to the Store

Hke doUs," she declared. "They're

silly. I like

body

Goes

my

bats

and

cats. I'll

have Itcha-

baby."

So Felina began to pretend that Itchabody

was her

doll.

She asked Mrs. Doon for a scrap

of black cloth and

him. She tied

it

of his collar, so

made

under

his

a tiny witch's hat for

chin and to the back

he couldn't scratch

Naturally, Itchy wasn't very at first.

But Felina was

She asked Mrs. sardine. said

Doon

it off.

much

pleased

a clever little witch.

to loan her a leftover

She fed the cat a nibble

at a

time and

some magic words.

In a twinlding old Itchabody was sound asleep in the doll

buggy, under a blanket.

FeUna played happily with Lucinda that morning. She even took the cat along

when

they walked to the supermarket with Lucinda's mother.

know

about

it.

Of course Mrs. Doon didn't Not until they passed by the

frozen meat bin, that

is.

Itchabody must have got a whiff of something good, because he suddenly leaped out

of the doll

buggy and landed slam

dle of the

smoked herring 25

tray!

in the

mid-

The It

Little

Leftover Witch

looked delicious and

But

delicious.

was frozen

it

it

was hard

solid.

must have smclled

to get at because

it

So Itchabody kept scratch-

ing and digging and licking, trying to loosen a

fish.

And him

Felina stood by, waiting patiently for

to get through, while

Doon went

Lucinda and Mrs.

on.

Felina reached over and helped a finally the free.

two of them

little.

And

got a lovely herring

But meanwhile, something tragic had

happened.

The end some

freezer.

to

of Itchabody's

spilled liquid

tail

had got into

and had frozen

fast to

the

When he grabbed up his fish and tried

run off with

it,

he discovered that he was

a prisoner.

Now

the cat had always been treated with

He

couldn't understand

what had

happened. So

he gave a horrible

yowl and

kindness.

jumped

in the

air.

But he was held

fast.

So he screeched again.

"Mother, Mother," screamed Lucinda, running back, "Itchabody's getting frozen up."

26

"Itchy, Itchy," cried the

little

witch,

"come

to FeHna."

At again.

the sound of her voice the cat howled

And

Felina

scrambled up into the

freezer bin to his rescue.

Now all the customers in the store came running.

The manager came 27

running.

]

j

The

Little

The manager But the

Leftover Witch

tried to grab

poor Itchabody.

and scratched. Fie tried to

cat hissed

grab Felina but she hissed too.

Then Mother came running from department.

When

she

the soap

saw what was happen-

ing, her face got all red.

"Get out of

there, Felina," she cried.

Then

man who was

a big

eating a triple-

deck cherry cone began to laugh. so hard he splutter.

He

laughed

choked on a cherry and began to

His wife had to stop watching the

excitement and pound him on the back.

"Get

that cat out of

my

freezer," cried the

manager. "Get that kid out of there." "That's not a kid," said Lucinda helpfully.

"That's a real live witch. She belongs to us."

By now Fehna was key with the

sitting

cat in her lap

wasn't stuck, that

is.

tail

a frozen tur-

—the

part that

She was crooning a

witch's song, trying to

whose

on

was slowly

little

console Itchabody,

freezing.

"Turn oif the machines and

let

him

defrost,"

suggested one of the customers.

"Use your witch magic, Felina," cinda.

28

said

Lu-

Felina

Goes

to the Store

"That's a good idea," said Felina.

loud

shrill

And

in a

voice she said:

"Abracadabra Thirteen bats: Sesame, sesame

Frozen cats!"

Then

she bent

body's

tail

down and

and pulled very gently.

Suddenly the black grabbed

breathed on Itcha-

his

smoked

sprang

cat

herring,

free.

He

bounded out of

the freezer and ran to hide behind a bin of onions.

"Get that kid out of there before she stuck," shouted the manager.

would have torn

his hair,

He

gets

probably

except he didn't have

any.

Then poor Mrs. Doon

lifted Felina

out of

the meat bin. Lucinda ran to catch Itchabody

and knocked over a great

pile of

canned toma-

toes.

Mrs. Doon's face was redder than ever she finally gathered

witch, girl and

all

them

all

when

together. Cat,

—she shoooooed them out

of the market.

29

The

my

"I forgot "I'll

get

Little

it,"

Leftover Witch

doll

buggy," wailed Lucinda.

said

Mrs. Doon. She was so

angry she could hardly speak. "But don't you ever

—don't

you ever bring

store again," she said to "If

both It

you do," till

you

you

she added, "I'll—I'U spank

can't

wasn't at

that cat to the

Lucinda and Felina.

sit

all like

down." Mrs.

Doon

to

become

so

angry. But she was only human.

Itchabody

He

just

looked up

at

her and whined.

wasn't very happy, because he had

lost his

herring.

Lucinda and Felina were very

Doon went back bill

that time the

pay for the damages.

manager had calmed dov^i

and was picking up cans of tomatoes, FOR

Mrs.

into the store to settle her

for groceries and

By

quiet.

two

25^.

"Accidents will happen, Mrs. Doon," he said.

after

But that

his

manner was pretty

Mrs.

Doon only

chilly.

And

traded at that

supermarket on Wednesdays.

That was the manager's day Kiwanis Club. 30

to

go

to

5/ A Permit to Keep a Witch The

story about Itchabody and the herring

went

all

around town.

grew and

GREW.

after Felina labels

had

And

Some

left the

as stories do,

it

people swore that

grocery

store, all the

on the cans were turned upside down.

Someone popped

else

their

said

seeds

that

when

them. 31

all

the

Felina

pumpkins stared

at

The "It's

Little

Leftover Witch

bad luck to have a witch about,"

everybody

said.

Mr. Doon heard newspaper

about

all

When

office.

at the

home that one comer of

he came

evening Lucinda was sitting in the hving room.

down

it

She had a

dunce cap

tall

perched on her head. Felina

was

sitting in

another

comer with

her peaked black hat.

Mr. Doon looked down to laugh.

He

at

laughed and he laughed and he

laughed until the tears ran "I hear

them and began

down

his cheeks.

you went shopping today, Mary,"

he said to Mrs. Doon.

And

Doon Then Mr. Doon

And

Mrs.

there

hat, lying

funny."

said, "It ivasn^t

looked

was Itchabody

down on in his

the floor.

little

peaked

on the gray rug purring away. Mr.

Doon began to laugh all over Then he Idssed Lucinda on

again.

the cheek, he

chucked Fehna under the chin and he kissed his wife's pretty,

cross face.

"Life must have been very dull," he said,

"before this

The

little

witch came to

strange thing

is,

32

when

live

with us."

he said that,

A

Permit

to

Keep

Witch

a

everyone began to laugh, even Mrs. Doon.

They laughed and laughed and Even

manager

the

laughed a

little

supermarket

the

when he

himself,

what had happened

The

of

laughed.

told his wife

in the store that day.

Doon family found now and then to have

kindly

embarrassing

it

a

slightly

witch in

There was the matter of the

their midst.

hat,

to begin with.

upon wearing

Felina insisted

when

except

constantly,

it

she had her hair shampooed, of

course.

She wore

it

the

it

*'I

it

important

it

keep

my magic

in it," Felina

when

strange

And

to because they real-

how

And

at the table.

on Sunday.

to church

Doons allowed her

ized

wore

to bed. She

She even wore

was

things

to her.

always

said.

seem to happen

did

Felina was around.

There was the day, for

Brown from

instance,

when

Mrs.

next door arrived to say that

all

of her chrysanthemums had lost their heads.

"Every that!"

last

She

one of them

snapped

her 33

—beheaded,

fingers.

Kke

"And

I

The thought

I

saw

Little Leftover

that

Witch

\

house guest of yours

little

!

behind the gate," she added.

"Are you quite sure Clarence

do

didn't

it?"

asked Mr. Doon, over Mrs. Doon's shoulder.

Now

it

was well known

did not like children very much.

:

Brown

that Mrs.

And

it

was

wonder because she had one of her own named Clarence. Clarence was what is some-

i

little

times

known

as a

]

j

"problem child."

"Clarence has been

home with

a cold

all

\

day," said Mrs. Brown. "I want a complete investigation."

"You'll get

it,"

Mr. Doon

said

And he politely closed He asked Lucinda if

the door. ;

she

about the chrysanthemums.

She

said,

"What

politely.

knew

He

anything

asked Felina.

chrisanteums? "

are

i

He \

looked under the bed and behind the clothes in the closet

No later

and in the mulberry

chrysanthemums.

when

he

filled his

and took a big

tree.

i

i

wasn't untU weeks

It

pipe from his humidor

puff, that he

what might have happened

began to suspect to the

flowers

i

I

from Mrs. Brown's garden. \

"Ugh," he

said.

But

it

34

was too

late to ex-

\

\

A

Permit to Keep a Witch

Brown

plain to Mrs.

because by that time she

was planting amaryllis

Then went

was the time when Mrs. Doon

there

make an

to

bulbs.

apple pie. All of the apples

had vanished from the

refrigerator.

knew nothing about

Mr. Doon

Lucinda knew

them.

nothing about them. Felina just set her small pointed chin and

shook her head. But that very day, when Mrs.

Doon took

off the witch's hat to

little

on the bathroom Felina looked

and wide,

just

black

down

Mrs.

them, her eyes green

at

Doon

nothing

said

at

all.

began very gently to unbraid the

That evening,

set

it

after

supper,

Mrs.

a big basket into the dining

on the sideboard. Then she

come

the family to It

floor!

hair.

brought

and

fell

though she had never seen them

as

And

before.

She

shampoo the

creature's hair, seventeen apple cores

was

full

of

see

Doon room

called

all

it.

delicious

red apples,

big

oranges, bananas and tangerines.

Mrs.

Doon

belongs to

ail

said,

"All the food in this house

the people in 35

it.

Whenever you

The

want

an

Little

or

apple

Leftover Witch

an

orange,

just

help

yourself."

When ways

the fruit vanished, the basket

was

al-

That was Mrs. Doon's kind

filled again.

of magic.

When the to claim the

was time

days passed

by and nobody came

witch, Mr.

little

to do

Doon

decided

it

something legal about the

matter. So the whole family got into the blue sports car

and went down to the courthouse

to get a permit to keep a witch.

"A

eh?" said the old judge.

witch,

looked

down

"Looks more

Now good

at

like a

he didn't

ears,

the

thin

He

creature.

little

scarecrow to me."

know

witches had such

or he wouldn't have spoken so

loud.

Felina said

"Witches are sup-

defiantly,

posed to be scary.

And

I'm a

mean

witch, so

there."

"Ahem," cal

glasses

said the judge.

He

and peered down

put on at

his bifo-

his papers.

"You, George Doon, want a permit to keep a

—for

witch

how

long?" 36

"

A "About

Permit

Keep

to

a year," said

Halloween, that

to stay

next

how

till

next Halloween.

she had no other place to

"Well, of course, institution,"

want the

"till

he explained

broom and would have

on the ground

And how

Mr. Doon,

And

is."

Felina had broken her

Witch

a

said

we

judge.

the

trouble, that

is

"If

—

"Oh, but we do want her," "Please,

sir,

Mr. Judge,"

was standing beside

live.

could put her in an

said

you

don't

Mrs. Doon.

said Lucinda,

Felina.

"Let her

who

live at

our house."

"Very well the

form

then."

The

in front of him.

judge scribbled on

"Granted.

Tempo-

rary permit to keep one small witch

till

next

Halloween. That'll be one dollar."

"Thank you, your honor,"

He

said

Mr. Doon.

started to leave with his family.

"Just a minute," said the judge, pointing a finger at the school,

little

witch, "She'll have to go to

you know. Even

education."

37

a witch needs an

M

:i

ff^

6 / Felina Learns to Read "Don't want to go to school," said Felina emphatically

when Doon.

i

the family had arrived home.

"Everyone must go to school sometime," said Airs.

\

"I

went

to school. Lucinda

\

i

1

goes to school.

And

even a very small vidtch

I

must get an education." "I got

an education," insisted Felina. "In

when I go Big Magic school. The old

Small Magic school. Next year back,

rU go

to

38

|

'

j

Felina Learns to

Wizard

teaches that, and

Read

you

learn to

do big

mischief."

"Well,

down

here," said

Mr. Doon, "we

don't go to school to learn mischief. learn to read

and write and

good Amer-

to be

Tomorrow morning you

icans.

We go to

will

go to

school with Lucinda."

"Won't,"

She glared at

said the little witch.

Lucinda's father out of defiant green eyes.

Mr. Doon glared back, looking very stem,

which was hard for him

to

in the habit of smiling so

do because he was

much.

"I won't," repeated the less,"

that

little

witch, "un-

she added in a very small voice, "unless is

"It's

an order."

an order," said Mr. Doon.

smiled and knelt

down

Then he

so that he could look

into her troubled Httle face.

"Someday

you'll

be very glad you went to school, honey." "All right," agreed Fehna. But she didn't

look too happy about

arm around "I'll

help

it

and Lucinda put an

her.

you with your

lessons,"

said

Lucinda. "I'll

get

you some paper and 39

pencils

and

The

some new school have

"You'll dresses

Leftover Witch

Little

shoes,"

said

wear some

to

Mrs. Doon. Lucinda's

of

*1

for a while/' she added.

they'll just

The very

believe

you."

fit

day Felina went

next

school with Lucinda,

black hat. Mrs.

still

off

to

wearing her funny

Doon walked

along to talk to

the teacher. "Please let Felina

Doon

Mrs.

Before long

said. I

"It

wear the hat

in school,"

seems important to her.

hope she

will forget about it."

Miss Prang, the teacher, looked doubtfully at her strange

new

pupil. "Well, we'll try it,"

she said.

At

first

the children were fascinated at hav-

ing a real live witch in their told

them

all

how

Felina

was

class.

Lucinda

over from

left

Halloween and the children on the playground gathered around dred questions. did

it

really

But

Where

feel to ride

do magic all

Felina

on

a

her,

asking a hun-

did she Hve and

broom.

And

how

could she

tricks.

would say was, "Cats and

bats!" Or, "Bats and cats!"

very close to Lucinda's

And

she stayed

side.

Everything went quite well for a time.

40

Felina Learns to

Read

Felina had a seat behind Lucinda and listened

very quietly to the

She enjoyed the

lessons.

crayon drawing and made an excellent picture.

But

all

she

lanterns, bats

wanted to draw was

and

"Before long

it

jack-o'-

cats.

will be

suggested Miss Prang.

Thanksgiving time,"

"Why

don't

you make

a turkey?" Felina refused. But she did in a

com

field,

make

and Miss Prang

said

a

pumpkin

it

was the

best in the class.

Then it came time for reading. Miss Prang went down Felina's row, asking every child to read from the book.

Tommy

read well,

Lucinda read very nicely.

"Now,

how

Felina," said Miss Prang. "Let's see

well you can read."

Felina stood up, holding the

book

in front

of her. She looked at the pages with black letters

and

pictures.

She opened her mouth, but

she didn't read a word.

She stood there for a long time. Fuially Miss Prang

And

all

said,

"You may

sit

down."

of the children giggled. All except

Lucinda.

A boy in the back of the room, a boy with 41

The

Leftover Witch

Little

pumpkin-yellow

and

hair

"Some magic!" The

freckles, wliispered,

children laughed again

and Miss Prang rapped on the desk. After recess, to class,

when

the children

was not

Felina

among the "Come back

They

in her seat.

found her in the cloakroom, floor

came back

sitting

on the

overshoes.

your

to

seat,

Felina,"

said

Miss Prang quietly. "Is

—

is

that an order?" asked Felina.

Miss Prang looked surprised, but she said yes,

very quickly. So Felina went forlornly

back to her

seat.

All the children stared at

her.

When evening

the

little

her

hat

had

a

though

it

maybe

a book.

witch came home that

looked very

block of

wood

As

strange.

hidden in

it,

or

She refused to eat any supper and crept upstairs

without saying a word to anyone.

When

Mrs.

Doon went

matter, she found

Mr. Doon's

FeUna

flashlight,

to see

what was the

in the closet.

She had

and her head was bent

over the reader.

"What

are

you

doing, darling?" asked

cinda's mother.

42

Lu-

Felina Learns to

Read

"Fin learning to read," said Felina. "All the other children can read. Miss Prang says can't read

I'll

if I

have to go back with the baby-

class."

The proud Uttle chin was trembling. Mrs. Doon sat right down on the floor and gathered the Uttle witch up in her arms. "You are going to read," she said softly. "You're

going to be the best reader in that old

class.

"Come down and eat some supper now. After that, we will have a reading lesson."

how FeUna came to learn to read. Doon helped. Mr. Doon helped. Lu-

That's

Mrs.

cinda helped. Every night, after school, they

worked over the

reader. Page

by word.

may

she

was

was

Felina

by

Word

have been a witch, but

a smart one. In just a

sounding

page.

words

out

few days she and

reading

sentences.

when Lucinda and Felina came running home from school, they found a

One

day,

stranger

on the front porch. That

is,

he was a

stranger to Felina. But not to Lucinda!

Lucinda opened the gate and gave a cry of deHght.

"Grandfather! 43

Grandfather!"

she

"

The

And

shouted.

jumped

was

Leftover Witch

she rushed up the walk and

right into his arms.

Now

Doon was

Grandfather

He

man.

Little

looked

He

older.

like his

was

son George only he

and

tall,

his hair

gray, and he had laughed so that the laugh

life

Felina stood at the gate

Grandfather

Doon

New

ers

all

was

silver

all

of his

his skin.

by

herself

and

scene. "I

said,

the hohdays, Lucinda.

plane from

much

was part of

watched the wonderful

a beautiful

I

Haven.

came

to spend

flew in a great I

jet

flew over the riv-

and over the mountains and

—

All at once he looked past Lucinda's golden

head and saw Felina in her funny

"What

"Who

ho!" he

have

we

setting

said,

little

here?"

"That's Felina, Grandfather. That little

hat.

Lucinda down.

is

otu:

witch." Lucinda ran to Felina and led

her to the porch. "She's our very

and she

lives at

own

witch

our house. Oh, could you be

her grandfather, too?" asked Lucinda.

"Why Doon.

He

of course!"

And

reached

declared Grandfather

suddenly he did a surprising thing.

down and

picked Felina up in

arms. Books, wdtch hat and

44

all.

his

Read

Felina Learns to

"A

"Saints be praised!" he cried.

witch!

real live

never been introduced to one

I've

before."

And

he hugged her warmly and kissed her

sharp httle nose.

Then

he held

looking at her, laughing

till

his

head back,

his

blue eyes

sparkled.

Not

Felina started to laugh, too.

a

little

witch's caclde either, but a real laugh that

sounded more Hke the lovely Mrs.

Doon

heard

down

of a bird.

and came running to

it

the porch in her apron. Mr.

he drove

trill

Doon

heard

it as

on the

the lane and stepped

gas.

"Grandfather, Felina. '7 caii

Grandfather Doon,"

she had been bursting to share. class

I

read

cried

ready She told him the news

a

whole page.

"Today

in

And nobody

laughed."

"Well, wonder of wonders!" said Grandfather, as

He

though he had heard of a miracle.

put the

little

witch

down on

the porch. "I

can't wait for a demonstration."

So right then and them.

They

all

sat

there,

down on

Felina

showed

the steps. Mrs.

Doon, Mr. Doon and Lucinda. Grandfather 45

The sat

Little

Leftover Witch

next to Felina and helped hold the book.

Felina read a whole page about

Jane and Spot. They

all

Dick and

agreed that

it

was

wonderful. Even Itchabody came and listened politely".

46

€V)^t'LZ

7 / Grandfather Gives Felina a Gift After that Felina did very well in school.

The

other children accepted her as one of them, in spite of her strange little hat.

learning to read and to

had

She was so busy

make her

letters,

Uttle time to practice her Small

One day

she

Magic.

Suzie Parker, one of the pupils,

brought a box of tiny pink

envelopes to

school. She gave one to Lucinda and one to

Felina and one to every other child in the class.

47

The

They were

Little Leftover

Witch

invitations to a birthday party!

Felina had never been to a party, of course.

But Lucinda was very

my pink dress with ruffles, and may wear my yellow dress with ruffles,"

"ril

you

excited.

wear

she said to Felina.

They

looked very pretty, walking

the block,

all

down

dressed up. Lucinda carried a

present for Suzie in her hand. Felina carried

her present in her black witch's hat.

The played

party was great fun at all

Felina

the games. She ate candy and pop-

corn. She even laughed

Then

first.

now

and then.

Mrs. Parker brought in the birthday

cake. It had white icing, decorated with pink roses.

The

candles fflckered and danced as the

children sang:

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Suzie, Everyone She did not

Then

the

sang, except Felina,

know

." .

.

of course.

the words.

children

began to chatter ex-

citedly about birthdays.

48

— Grandfather Gives Felina a Gift

"Mine

is

May," shouted Lucinda. "I'm

in

going to have Mayflowers on

"Mine

in

is

"I'm going to have

They

all

cried

July,"

my cake." Tommy Jones.

flags."

shouted and laughed and laughed

and shouted. Except

Felina.

Then Mrs. Parker

wonderful cake

set the

and

in front of Suzie. Suzie took a deep breath

puffed out her cheeks.

Then

—something

very

hap-

mysterious

pened.

Before the

little

girl

could say poof! and

blow out the candles they went out

One by

themselves!

Tiny

curls of

smoke

one.

Phft,

all

phft,

by

phft.

rose from the wicks.

Suzie was so startled she began to cry.

Then One by Then pened.

all

the colored balloons began to pop.

one. Bang! Bang! Bang!

the most dreadful thing of

The

beautiful

which was perched on

came

tumbling

down.

new

birthday

hapdoU,

a table near Felina,

She

fell

right into a big plate of ice cream. It

all

—^plunk And

alas!

was chocolate.

There was

a great

commotion, with every49

The one squealing

Little

at

Leftover Witch

And when Lucinda

once.

looked around for the

Uttle witch, she wasn't

to be found anywhere. "It

was the

little

witch

who

it,"

a bad

"She cast

of the children.

did

said

one

spell

on

Suzie's party." "It wasn't, lina

is

it

wasn't" cried Lucinda. "Fe-

Then

not a bad witch any more."

opened the door and ran

down Mockingbird

she

could

Lane.

was hiding

Felina

as fast as she

in the closet

when Lu-

cinda reached home. She wouldn't open the

door until Grandfather

and asked her

He led

her

to,

It

the

stairs.

floor, the

was Mrs. Parker. She

"My

cause her

new

Suzie

is

just as

they

Doon

all

at Suzie's party.

children believe that your

was up to some of her Parker.

And

phone rang.

told Mrs.

about what had happened

"The

upstairs

very pohtely.

down

reached the lower

Doon came

little

tricks,"

witch

said

crying right

doll has chocolate ice

Mrs.

now

be-

cream

in

her hair."

"I'm very sorry," said Mrs. Doon. to get to the

bottom of 50

it

"I'll

right away."

try

Grandfather Gives Felina a Gift

who was

She turned to Felina

standing in

the middle of the floor. "Felina," she said gently, "did

some of your Small Magic "It

you perform

at Suzie's party?"

was an awful old party,"

said the little

witch. "I

want you

to

tell

me

Doon. "Whatever you

the truth," said Mrs.

say, Felina,

I

am

going

to beHeve you.

"Now I'll

ask

you once more. Did you play

tricks at the party?"

For an awful moment the nothing.

Then

Httle

witch said

she turned and ran upstairs.

Lucinda started to

follow

her,

but her

mother held her back. "Let Felina think about this for a while," she said quietly. "I

will

come down when

she

is

think she

ready and

tell

us

the truth."

Doon was mending socks when Felina crept slowly down the stairs a half-hour later. Grandfather Doon and Lucinda were watchMrs.

ing television.

The

little

witch stood in front of Mrs.

Doon. Her head bowed. spoiled the party." 51

"I did it," she said. "I

The

why?"

*'But

Leftover Witch

Little

Doon

asked Mrs.

gently. She

put her arm around the httle figure.

For burst

moment FeUna was silent. Then she out, "They all have birthdays! Everya

one in the world has a birthday but me." "But you must have

a birthday, dear," said

Mrs. Doon. "Can't you remember

when

it

Fehna shook her head. "Witches don't have birthdays,

"Witches

guess," she replied.

I

just

arer

Doon

Grandfather

switched off the televi-

sion set and stood up.

"This clared.

day.

my

disgraceful

a

is

"Everybody deserves

you what,

I'll tell

he de-

to have a birth-

Felina,

you may have

birthday."

"May lighted

"Oh,

Doon, most

I.^"

cried

Her

Felina.

small

then grew cloudy again.

up,

face

"But

you wouldn't have any."

then,

my "I've

goodness,"

mine any more. October

said

Grandfather

had so many birthdays

lost count. I've

I'll

I've al-

had dozens of cakes and

blown out hundreds of

it.

situation,"

candles.

I

don't need

be glad for you to enjoy

thirty-first, that's

52

when

it is."

Grandfather Gives Felina a Gift

"Why

that's the

same date

Halloween,"

as

said Lucinda. *'So

father.

and very

it is,

"And

"we'll put

With

just to

fitting, too," said

make

it

legal,"

Grand-

he added,

in writing."

it

those words, he sat

down

at the

desk

and drew a piece of paper toward him. In bold, black ink, he wrote these words:

For the sum of one hug and other valuable considerations, /, George P. Boon, Sr., do hereby

sell

and bequeath to

one birthday years, but

day

is

—happily

still

in

good

little

Miss Felina

used for sixty-one condition. Said birth-

celebrated on October 31st of each

year and

is

to be hers

from

this

day forth

and forevermore. Cake and candle-blowing privileges included.

Signed: George P. Doon, Sr.

With

a

little

bow, Grandfather Doon pre-

sented the document to Felina.

have a birthday year

we wiU

all

help

your own," he

you

celebrate

it.

"You now said.

"Next

There'll be

cake and ice cream and presents. Yes sireee!" Felina hugged father

him

tightly.

"Oh, Grand-

Doon, thank you! Thank you and

thank you." 53

The

Little

Everyone stared the very

first

Leftover Witch

at the little witch. It

was

time anyone had ever heard her

They

say thank you.

could

tell

ing face that she really meant

by her glow-

it.

"There's just one thing more, Felina," said

Doon

Mrs.

"When we do someanother person we must go

regretfully.

thing that hurts

and say we're sorry." *

Witches never say

sorry," Felina retorted

instantly.

"I'm afraid you'll have to go

down and

apologize to Mrs. Parker and Suzie for spoiling the party," said Mrs. Doon.

"Let

me

Grandfather

when one

do

it.

"If

Doon, just

Felina," put in

"something

about your age.

duty to perform,

difficult

way

about

"I'll

was

I

have a

you something,

tell

to lick

it.

You

learned

I

When you there's

just stand

up

tall

only

and

Right away, without making a fuss

Then it's over in no time. it'll make you feel better," he

it.

go along with you to

for the walk. After

now, and

I feel

a

all,

wee

Suzie's house, just

you own

my

bit responsible

54

added,

birthday

about the

Grandfather Gives Felina a Gift

owner

that

birthday

it," said

Fehna,

of

having

good

a

reputation."

do

"Fll

''if

you'U go with

me.

And the

that's

Doon

how

was.

They went down and

side,

Grandfather

stood behind a bush, while Fehna went

up and knocked She

it

by

side

street,

said,

"Fm

at

Mrs. Parker's door.

sorry," very pohtely, to Mrs.

Parker. She said, "I'm sorry," to Suzie,

who

wasn't crying any more. Suzie had discovered that the birthday doll, being

was washable. spite of

It

was

now

as

made

of plastic,

good

as

new, in

having tumbled into the chocolate ice

cream. Suzie and her mother were very nice about it

all

and accepted FeHna's apologies gra-

ciously.

"come

down

Mrs. again."

Parker even

invited

her

to

And when Fehna went back

the steps her heart felt as hght as a

baby cloud. Grandfather held her hand turned home. that they

And somebody

as

they re-

even said

later

saw both Grandfather and Felina

skipping, as they

went 55

along.

8 / Christmas

Coming!

Is

Day was cold, crisp and beautiMrs. Doon stuffed the huge turkey which Grandfather Doon bought. She made two

Thanksgiving ful.

golden pumpkin pies and a great bowl of sparkling red cranberry sauce.

Lucinda and Felina straightened the house and

set the table

everyone. faces

They

and made place cards for colored

orange

and put nam^es on them. 56

pumpkin

Christmas

Is

They even made one it

by

body

his dish

Coming!

for Itchabody and put

on the porch.

just stood

And

old Itcha-

around waiting and whining

hungrily, while the turkey simmered merrily

away

in the kitchen oven.

Felina ate

key pie.

some of everything. She

ate tur-

and sweet potatoes and cranberries and She

ate until she

was

stuffed

and not once

did she mention jibbers' gizzards or black-bat soup. It

was

a truly

wonderful Turkey Day, and

when Grandfather Doon said under his breath, "And thank for sending us this certainly

When

makes

little

life

grace, he

added

you, dear Lord,

witch to

interesting.

love.

She

Amen."

Thanksgiving was over and Itcha-

body had gobbled turkey, the

Doon

the last scrap of leftover

family began to get ready

for Christmas, the biggest day of the year.

Mr. Doon made things

in his shop in the

garage and kept the door locked. Mrs.

made

things in the sewing

Doon

room and warned

everyone not to peek. Lucinda and Felina

made

things at school.

They

colored Santas

and painted Christmas trees on cards. 57

The

Little Leftover

Soon the house was

filled

Witch

with wonderful

smells of fruitcakes baking in the oven.

Lu-

and Felina helped cut up

and

cinda

crack nuts.

They

fruit

cut out dozens and dozens

of tiny cookies shaped like trees and stars and beUs.

Grandfather took them both on told

them the

his lap

and

beautiful story of Christmas

and the Christ Child.

The whole

family went out into the woods

and gathered great boughs of evergreens.

They

gathered red berries to decorate the

house.

And

they made a holly wreath to put

on the front door. Right in the middle of the wreath was a bright red ribbon with a

row

of silver sleigh

bells. It

made

a lovely jingle-bell

friends

came

to see the family.

Oh,

it

was an exciting

time!

sound when

And

with the

happiness and the good food that she ate, Felina's sharp little face

began to

fill

out.

She

became plump and rosy and looked more and

more

like a

normal

little girl

and

less

and

less

like a witch.

But one day something happened to change everything.

58

Christmas

Is

Coming!

Lucinda had gone up the

for her

street

piano lesson. Miss Gregg, the piano teacher,

Hke Fehna to come. She declared that

didn't

the

funny

hat

little

made her

so nervous that

now and then. Doon was busy in her sewing room. Mr. Doon was down at the newspaper office. And Grandfather Doon had gone to town on

she skipped a note

Mrs.

a very secret Christmas errand.

So Felina and Itchabody were

They had climbed up

in the

all

alone.

mulberry tree to

think about Christmas.

As

they

there

sat

Clarence

dreaming,

Brown, the big boy who Hved next door, chanced to wander through the yard. Clarence was what

maker.

He

lemon

leftover

is

known

as a trouble-

had pale hair about the color of custard.

He

had

a

mean look

in his eyes.

The

neighbors

all

boy would outgrow

hoped that the Brown his

mean

streak,

but he

hadn't done so yet. It just

tree, that

him

—

He

happened,

as

he passed under Felina's

an old dry twig

just lightly

fell

down.

It

struck

—on the shoulder.

looked up into the tree and saw Felina 59

— The

Little Leftover

and Itchabody. "Oh,

"What

are

there, little witch?

me?"

that stick at

said Felina.

abody knocked she

the witch," he cried.

you doing up

Did you throw "No,"

it's

Witch

it

She really hadn't. "Itch-

down." She

started to say

was sorry but didn't, because right then

Clarence

Brown began

to say

mean

things.

"You're a wicked witch," he taunted her.

"Came out

of the sky on a broom.

You won't

get anything for Christmas!" "I will so," said Felina. "All children get

something for Christmas." "That's right," said Clarence, "but witches

never do. Didn't you

know

that?

Witches and

bad children don't get anything but whips and stones in their socks."

The he began

to sing, in a high, taunting

voice:

"A bunch of whips To make you moan;

A bunch of stones To break your bones." "That's not so," sobbed Felina.

knocked another twig down 60

And

she

—accidentally

Christmas

and

hit

it

Is

Coming!

him on the top of

his

lemon-colored

head. "It

so,"

is

he shouted.

Over and

louder.

And

over

he said

it

again,

"You're

again.

a

witch, you're a witch, you're a witch," he

added wickedly.

The

Httle

witch began to shake. Itchabody

was

in her arms,

He

began to

Then

and she held him too

snarl

the cat

made

a sudden scramble and

leaped from her arms,

He

tight.

and scratch.

down

out of the

tree.

landed right on the top of Clarence's head.

The boy

tore

down

the street, shrieking at

the top of his lungs.

Itchabody didn't hurt Clarence, scared

him

badly.

And

the

screamed after him, "Serves you

you

right, serves

Mrs.

Doon

you

Httle

but

he

witch

right, serves

right!"

heard the screaming and came

running out of the house.

"What

is

the matter,

Fehna?" she asked, looking up into the bare tree.

"Come down and

I'll

give

you

cookies

and milk." Felina wouldn't move. She just sat there, glaring dov^ni.

"Don't want any milk," she 61

The said.

Little Leftover

Witch

"Don't want any cookies.

wicked witch, and Mrs.

Doon was

Fm

just

a

won't eat people food."

I

deeply troubled. She tried

for a long time to coax Felina

down

out of

the tree. But Felina wouldn't budge, and she

wouldn't say what the trouble was.

When

Lucinda came home from her music

went out

lesson, she

come down, house.

into the yard.

"Please

Felina," she pleaded. "We'll play

You can have

Lucille today,

if

you

like."

But Felina

just glared.

She wouldn't even

answer. She sat there, looking exactly like a horrid

little

witch.

Not until Mr. Doon came home from work could they do anything with her. He just said, "Get down out of that mulberry tree,

Felina

—

^that's

an order.

If

have to

I

climb up and get you, you'll be sorry."

So Felina came down. But she wouldn't

any supper. carols

She

wouldn't

around the piano.

And

sing

eat

Christmas

she refused to

help decorate the Christmas cookies.

"She was getting to be such a sweet 62

little

Christmas

Mrs.

girl/* said

stand

Coming/

sadly. "I can't under-

it."

"Something

Doon with But what

And

Doon

Is

is

worrying her,"

Mr.

said

a frown. it

was nobody could even

guess.

Felina wouldn't say.

Every day Felina school. She

body and shaped

Her

would

sat

in the closet after

talk to

no one but Itcha-

she never took off her

little

cone-

hat.

small face got thinner and thinner and

her nose grew sharper and sharper. ate almost nothing at

And

she

all.

Even Grandfather Doon

couldn't

make her

laugh.

"I'm so worried about her," said Mrs. at last.

"I'm sure she's

sick.

I'm going to take

her to see Dr. Perriwinkle."

63

Doon

9/ A

Visit

to Dr. Perriwinkle The

next day Mrs.

Doon

called Dr. Perri-

made an appointment to Tlie two went to town on the

winkle's office and

bring Felina

in.

bus to the doctor's

office.

Dr. Perriwinkle was a fat

looked somewhat

At

first

jolly.

when

like a

little

man who

good-natured

squirrel.

he saw Fehna, he was very

But he soon got over 64

it.

A For one

Visit to Dr. Perriwinkle

thing, every time he bent over to

examine Fehna's heart

v^ith the stethoscope,

him

the point of her peaked w^itch's hat stuck in the eye.

When

She wouldn't take

jumped up and down read the

scale.

The

Weight

record:

all

off.

so that they couldn't

nurse had to write on the

—Between 49 and 100 pounds.

Dr. Perriwinkle

And

it

the nurse tried to vi^eigh her, she

"That's

said,

no good."

they had to tear up the record and

start

over again.

When

the doctor asked her to stick out her

tongue, she refused. But

back she stuck Felina didn't first

place.

just

how

it

out

want

when he turned

his

as far as she could.

to

go to

a doctor in the

She seemed to be trying to prove

uncooperative she could be.

"Undernourished," pronounced the doctor

"She

at last.

"Her Doon.

just isn't getting

appetite

is

enough to

eat."

very poor," sighed Mrs.

"I simply can't understand

so well and happy, then

all

it.

She was

of a sudden she

changed." Dr. Perriwinkle puffed out his cheeks. 65

He

The looked sternly

good

"if

to bring

and

for

eat

a

silly

Santa doesn't

Christmas.

children,

Then

crossly.

have to be a

you want Santa Claus

naughty

"Santa's

at Felina. "You'll

told," he

you anything like

Leftover Witch

what you're

little girl

warned,

Little

you know."

old

fool,"

said

Felina

she looked a bit frightened.

"And I'm not a little girl. I'm

a

bad witch," she

told him.

"Oh, dear,"

said Mrs.

Doon. She began to

put Felina's dress back on. give

"I'll

you

a tonic for her," said Dr.

Perriwinkle.

He

looked pretty exhausted by

"What

she really needs,"

wrote out the prescription,

this time.

he added "is

as

he

glub, glubble,

glubble." It

sounded very much

like

he had

said,

good spanking." But Mrs. Doon wasn't Felina

made another

Almost little

to

as

soon

as

"A

sure.

face at him.

poor Mrs. Doon got the

witch home again and sent her upstairs

change her

dress, the

Dr. Perriwinkle

calling.

66

phone rang.

It

was

A

He

Visit to Dr. Perriwinkle

spluttered so

was hard

much

as

to understand him.

he talked that

it

But Mrs. Doon

thought that he said something about losing his stepladder.

"Your what?" asked Mrs. Doon.

"My

stethoscope,'' he yelled into her ear.

"That child of yours

was

^that

little

witch

—

^it

my neck when she was When my next patient came in,

right here around

in the office. it

—

was gone." "Oh,

Fm sure

Felina wouldn't

67

—"

said Mrs.

The

Doon at

Leftover Witch

Little

weakly. But of course she wasn't sure

all,

and

soon

as

phone she went

had hung up the

as she

straight upstairs.

There, in the comer of the Felina.

closet,

was

She was listening to Itchabody's heart

—with

go blub-a, blub-a, blub-a

Dr. Perri-

winkle's stethoscope.

Dangling from under Felina's peaked black hat

was more of the good doctor's equipment.

Adhesive tape and gauze, and

"Oh,

Felina,"

"Whatever

are

Then, busy

said

we as

thermometer.

a

Doon

Mrs.

going to do about you."

she was, she had to take

Felina and the stethoscope back

the doctor's office. say,

wearily.

And

uptown

to

made

to

Felina was

"I'm sorry," which she did. But not very

prettily.

And

the doctor looked as though he didn't

want an apology. All he wanted was oscope back and a left the office,

little rest.

his steth-

Just before they

he recommended another doc-

tor for Felina.

"After

all,"

he

said,

when

the door had

closed behind his strange patient, "I'm a people doctor, not a witch doctor!"

68

10 /In a Witch's Sock Mr. Doon had to order Felina to take the tonic that Dr. Perriwinkle had prescribed.

"Tastes Hke the old Wizard's poison brew," she insisted,

making

*'He makes

it

wog

tails.

The

It's

a terrible face every time.

out of mustard seeds and pollisure to

kill

me."

tonic didn't seem to do

Fehna continued

much

to be a very miserable

good. little

witch. She took no interest in the Christmas

69

The

Little

She

preparations.

Leftover Witch

refused

with

play

to

Lucinda.

No matter how hard

people tried to be nice

to her, she tried just as hard to be wicked.

Wherever she went people would good

she had been

always

said,

all

year.

"Santa knows.

only to good Httle boys and

And whenever

One day Mr. Doon found

girls."

to

was

in a

working of his

all

mysteriously tied into knots.

if

And somebody He brings toys

the httle witch

mood, her Small Magic got

ask her

And

again.

good

Mrs.

bad

ties

Doon

discovered that the Christmas candles which she had on the mantel wouldn't stay Ut.

Worst of doll, Lucille,

Lucinda's favorite princess

all,

was

They looked under They couldn't find

missing.

the bed and in the closet. Lucille anywhere.

"Did you take

her, Felina?"

cinda crossly. "I believe It

wasn't at

with the

little

all

like

you

demanded Ludid."

Lucinda to be cross

witch, for she loved Felina.

But she loved her

doll,

too.

Felina simply wouldn't answer. She spent

most of her time in the 70

closet,

whispering

In a Witch's Sock

witch charms into Itchabody's small pointed ears.

The Doons were very patient with Felina. They knew that something must be very, very wrong. And Mr. Doon was seldom heard to say thafs an order, unless

it

was ab-

solutely necessary.

At

was the night before Christmas.

last, it

"Come, FeHna,"

said Lucinda. "Let's

hang

our socks by the cliimney."

"Not me,"

thing for Christmas.

Fm

a witch.

I

won't get any-

said Felina. "I I

know

want

just

to

I

won't, cause

go back up there."

She pointed toward the sky from which she

had

fallen

when

she broke her broom.

So Lucinda hung up her sock self.

She

father

mas

very

felt

Doon

to them,

read

sad.

by

all

her-

And when Grand-

The Night Before

Christ-

Lucinda didn't smile once.

Felina stubbornly put her hands over her ears.

But not very

tightly, for her eyes

and bigger

kept

the

story

of

Santa unfolded. She was very quiet

when

she

getting bigger

as

crept up to bed in her pajamas.

71

The In

the

Little Leftover

middle of

the

Witch

Mr. Doon

night

thought he heard a strange sound on the stairs.

He

opened

looked out.

bedroom door

his

He saw

a crack and

a thin httle figure in a

black pointed hat, creeping

down

the

stairs.

She had a sock in her hand, and she found her

way through

the dark. She

hung the sock on

Doon had

put for her by the

the nail that Mr. fireplace.

When he went later to tuck the Felina

was sound

Doon

bent to kiss

asleep. his

children

This time,

own

in,

when Mr.

sleeping daughter,

he also kissed Felina, very tenderly, on the cheek.

"Poor mixed-up

On

little

witch," he said.

Christmas morning, bright and early,

Lucinda reached over and pulled

Felina's

shiny, black pigtail.

"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" she cried.

"Wake

and see what

up, sleepyhead. Let's go

we

down

have under the tree."

Felina pretended to be sound asleep. After

Lucinda had put on sHppers and robe and 72

In a Witch's Sock

gone

downstairs,

Her green

slowly. in her

little

followed.

Felina

Very

tyts were big and anxious

face.

"Oh, look, look!" cried Lucinda.

From see

it

the middle of the

stairs,

Felina could

all.

In one

comer was

a big Christmas tree,

hundred hghts and glowing

lighted with a

with beautiful, colored ornaments.

very tiptop

On

the

was a white-clad angel with

spreading wings.

Under

the tree

—

oh,

under the tree there

were wonderful things to books and packages

still

Right in the middle of dolls.

One was

it all

a bride doll,

had been asking

for.

see.

Toys and

to be opened. sat

two lovely

which Lucinda

But the other

—the other

was the strangest dolly you ever saw. She

wore

a long black

robe and a tiny pointed

witch's hat.

She had a tiny broom under her arm. it

And

wasn't broken.

FeUna came slowly down the didn't

know

Doon and

it,

Mrs.

steps.

She

but right behind her came Mr.

Doon and Grandfather Doon. 73

-r-

74

"'!

In a Witches Sock

All in robes and slippers

—

all

waiting to see

what would happen. "Look, look, Felina," cried Lucinda. "I told

you you'd

get presents for Christmas."

And

she ran to Felina with the witch doU and put it

in her arms.

"For me?"

said FeKna.

"ReaUy for me?"

She held the doll close to her heart and turned her questioning face to Mrs. Doon,

who now

stood right beside her.

"I dressed said

in

it

for you, Felina. Just for you,"

"Now why

Mrs. Doon.

your sock,

to

see

don't

you look

what Santa brought

you?" Felina clung tightly to the witch doll and

walked hesitantly to the bulging sock near the fireplace.

She

sat

down and bumped

the con-

tents into her lap.

There was

a big

round orange, nuts and

candy, a red-and-white cane

—and a big shiny

silver dollar in the toe!

Felina looked up.

There was wonder

small face and her eyes jewels.

were

like a

in her

couple of

"But where," she asked, "where are

the whips and stones?"

75

"

The

Little

"Whips and frowned.

Leftover Witch

Mrs.

stones, darling?"

Doon

"I don't understand."

"I thought that

was what bad

and

girls

witches got from Santa," said Felina. "That's

what Clarence Brown " *A

told me.

He

said:

bunch of whips

To make you moan;

A bunch of stones

i

To break your bones.' Mrs. tle girl

Doon

knelt

down and hugged

"But you aren't a bad

little

she said. "You're our dear, dear

and

I

the

lit-

and kissed her cheek.

don't

know

girl,

Felina,"

little

witch,

what we'd ever do without

you."

when Mr. Doon was heard to say through his teeth, "I know what I'd like to do. I'd Uke to give that Clarence Brown a That's

sock

full of

"Now,

rocks to knock off his blockr

George,"

gently, "remember,

scolded

Mrs.

Doon

Christmas."

it is

"I'm sorry," said Mr. Doon. But he didn't look too sorry.

Then Grandfather

shouted,

76

"A

merry,

In a Witch's Sock

merry Christmas everybody!" laugh

began to

wonderful laugh and to pass out

his

presents

He

all

around.

There were shiny

skis,

a red sled

—and

a

record player for Mother. There was even a

new

red collar with a tiny bell on

it

for

Itchabody. It

was

a beautiful Christmas.

prises weren't over. Felina

made

the sur-

and Lucinda flew

happily upstairs again to bring presents they had

And

down

all

the

at school.

There were flowerpots for Mother, made from old coffee

were pottery ash scrapbook father

Doon

That doll,

full

cans, nicely painted.

trays for

Mr. Doon.

There

And

a

of jolly snapshots for Grand-

to take

home

night, very

to

New

mysteriously,

Lucille, materialized

Haven. Lucinda's

once more in her

cradle.

She had been hiding in the mulberry

tree

the time, and

all

body had thought

it

was strange that no-

to look for her there.

77

/The Snow Witch

11 On New children

Doon awoke

the

sleep, at exactly

one

Year's Eve, Mr.

from

a

sound

minute to midnight.

He

had promised them

that they could help ring in the

At

first

New

Year.

they could hardly hold their eyes

open. But the noise soon brought them to their senses. Bells

were

clanging.

Firecrackers

banging. Horns were blowing. All

78

were

down

the

The Snow Witch

on Mockingbird Lane people were

block

shouting

"Happy

New

Year" to each other

and singing "Auld Lang Syne." Grandfather went to the kitchen and got pans and big spoons.

tin *

'Happy

body

New

Year!" he shouted, as every-

in the family

banged merrily away on a

was exciting and

It

New

"Happy, happy

tin pan.

the noise died down, Mr.

Year."

And when

the

Doon opened

the

fun.

door, and they stood looking outside.

Snow was

falHng in great white

Falling. Falling.

The ground was

ing and white where the Ught lay "It's beautiful," said Felina, in

sounds like silence." fell

And

did.

all glisten-

upon

it.

wonder.

"It

For the snow

—

so softly

"It

^shhh, shhh, shhh.

year,

and 365 clean

to write our hves on. full of

And girls

Doon seriously. new pages for us

beautiful," said Mrs.

is

"A new be

it

flakes.

I

hope the pages wiU

happiness for this family."

she put her arms about the

two

little

and shooed them back up to bed.

In the morning Felina and Lucinda begged to

go out

in the wonderful

79

snow

to play. So

The

Leftover Witch

Little

Doon bundled them up

Mrs.

in red

snow

suits.

Lucinda wore a red hood, but Felina clung to her

warm

little

scarf

Doon

witch's hat. Mrs.

under

tied

a

so her ears wouldn't get

it,

nipped.

do wish she'd

"I

let

me throw away

awful hat," said Mrs. Doon,

husband watched the two

as

little

that

she and her

figures

clown

snow.

in the

"I don't think

it

will be long

now,"

said

George Doon thoughtfully.

And

he was right.

When

the neighborhood children

saw Lu-

cinda and Felina tumbling in the snowbanks

and throwing they

all

"Let's little

big,

soft balls at

came running

make

a

each other,

to join in the fun.

snowman,"

cried one of the

boys.

"Oh,

let's!"

So they

all

shouted Lucinda. pitched in to help. Scooping up

snow in their mittens, they shaped and patted the snow in a mound, mak-

the feathery white

ing

it

higher and higher.

80

The Snow Witch

A

body, a head, two arms

—soon

like a big white-clad person.

pieces of coal for eyes.

pointed nose.

They

it

looked

used two

Someone patted on

And someone

ran

a

home and

brought back an old broom to put under the

snowman's arm.

Then one

of the children shouted, "Oh, see

—the broom, the pointed nose. witch — or a wizard!" And

—

look

so

it

just

"Now

did.

The

looks like a

face had a sharp,

wicked

Hke a wizard's.

all

other child.

we need

"We

little

is

a hat," declared an-

need a peaked witch's hat."

Everyone looked funny

It

At

right at Felina.

black hat, perched on her

the

wooUy

scarf.

She backed away, staring

at the

children

and hanging onto her hat with two mittened hands.

"Oh, lend us your

hat,

Fehna," they cried.

"Yes, do," pleaded Lucinda.

were sparkling with fun Felina's

aren't a

little

face.

as

Her

she looked into

"Give us your

witch any more 81

—

blue eyes

hat.

You

you don't need

it."

The

They

Little

Leftover Witch

weren't making fun of her.

were laughing and gay,

They

their faces full of

friendliness.

And

all at

and held

it

once, Felina grabbed off the hat

out to the clamoring children. She

wanted to give up the funny to give

it

So the the hat

to the

tallest

hat.

She wanted

snow witch.

boy climbed on

a

box and put

on the snow witch's head.

It

added

the perfect touch.

All the children danced around and around the strange white figure, laughing and chanting.

And

Felina laughed with them.

She had never been happier

in her

life.

And when Mrs. Doon looked out of window and saw the familiar little hat on snowman, she laughed

"We've

lost

our

the

the

softly, too.

Httle witch," said

Grand-

Doon somewhat wistfully. It was true. Nobody ever thought of calling Felina a witch again. Not even Clarence Brown, who had probably learned his lesson when Itchabody landed on his head. At first Felina seemed a Httle nervous withfather

out her hat. She kept reaching up and touch82

The Snow Witch ing her head to see

if it

was

snow witch stood

days the

ing the hat.

For three wear-

in the yard,

Then one morning, when

went out

children

there.

the

there was no hat

to play,

on the snow witch. The hat had disappeared.

Someone swore

had been seen flying

it

through the sky by

itself.

"The old Wizard reached wind with

But Fehna

the

broom and swept it away." seem to mind at all. After the

his

She didn't

holidays were over and Grandfather

had flown

said,

down through

in

the

Doon

New

back to

plane

jet

Haven, Felina went back to school wearing a woolly hood,

With

just

hke the other

her pretty shining hair

rosy face, she looked so

human

much

little girls.

and her plump

like

an ordinary

no one would ever have

child,

sus-

pected she had been a witch.

One

day, in the spring,

when

the

snow had

melted from the ground, Felina found the bedraggled Uttle hat against the back fence.

had been

lost

in the snow. She brought

it

It

into

the house.

"See what

I

found," she said to Mrs. Doon.

"It looks like a witch's hat."

83

The "So

it

Leftover Witch

Little

does," said Mrs.

Doon. She looked

into Felina's big green eyes.

me

to clean

it

"Do you want

for you, Felina?" she asked.

Felina laughed. hat," she repUed.

"Why, it's an old witch's "What would I want with a

witch's hat?"

So the hat was

Doon

Mrs.

spring,

took

buy

to

finally

the

Easter outfit, too?

So the

I

princess, too.

may my I

want

little

girls

don't

When

shopping that

material for Easter

Felina said, "Please,

any more.

thrown away.

dresses,

dolly have a

want

new

a witch doll

a princess doll."

witch doll was turned into a

And

only Itchabody cried

when

the tiny pointed cap and black dress were

packed away high on the

shelf.

"Meoooooow!" he whined.

He

must have known that that was the end

of the

little

witch.

84

12 /Halloween and Happy Birthday It

seems a

thing

little sad,

—when

but perhaps

also lost her magic.

Her bad

She went to school girls.

it is

a

good

Felina lost her witch's hat, she

She learned many

like

magic, that all

things.

normal

is.

Kttle

She learned to

read well, and to write, and she started to

pick out tunes on the piano. So Mr.

Doon had

her take piano lessons, along with Lucinda. 85

The

Little Leftover

Gregg

Miss

now

come,

mind having

didn't

witch's

Felina

was quite

wasn't

she

that

"eerie"

hat.

Witch

In

talented,

fact,

and

Felina

wearing

the

thought

she

said she

had

"magic" in her fingers which was really quite a joke.

Now little

Felina didn't change into a perfect

She

angel.

still

got into mischief once in

a while. Sometimes she was cross, and sometimes she refused to eat her spinach. But usually she

was

a

Doon family They took picnics

very dear

and the

Httle girl,

loved her more and more. her everywhere they went.

On

and to the zoo, to the museums and

The happy days sped by. The weeks sped by. The months sped by.

to the movies.

A

whole year

cial

day for

remember. time

when

cinda's

passed.

It

was Halloween

And Halloween was

once more.

Felina.

First, it

the

For

a very spe-

tivo reasons,

you may

was the anniversary of the

little

witch appeared at Lu-

window.

—

And

second

Mrs.

Doon planned a surprise party for And Grandfather Doon flew out from

Felina.

New Haven

^it

was her birthday!

early that year, so he

86

would be

Halloween and Happy Birthday there for the occasion. After

all,

it

had been

and he thought that he did de-

his birthday,

serve a piece of cake.

All of the children in the neighborhood

were

invited.

They came

There

in costume.

were ghosts and goblins and clowns and pirates.

Lucinda was a pirate with a patch over one

was

eye. Felina

a

clown

in a polka-dot suit

and a white mask.

They had pumpkins and

balloons

and

played Pin the Rib on the Skeleton. Mr.

Doon

did magic tricks out of a book and

made

everyone laugh.

Then Grandfather Doon popped like a

in,

dressed

huge gray spook, carrying a basket of

birthday gifts for Felina.

Doon came from

And

just

then Mrs.

the kitchen with a big cake

with white icing and orange-colored candles.

There were eight candles

—and

one to grow

on.

"Happy

birthday, Felina," sang everyone.

'TFIappy birthday, dear FeHna." Felina's eyes

gleamed through her mask

she puffed out the candles and

She didn't

tell

a soul

made her

as

wish.

what her wish was, of

87

The

Little

Leftover Witch

would have

course, because that spell.

But on the very

last

page of

may come true. Then Grandfather Doon spook mask and demanded Felina laughed and gave

spoiled the this

up

lifted

all

it

his

his piece of cake.

him the biggest piece

of aU.

After the party,

book

—

of the children

^that is,

of the ghosts and goblins and clowns and

all

pirates

—^went

around

the

neighborhood,

playing Trick or Treat.

As

Felina and Lucinda ran

up the block,

Mr. Doon stood on the porch, with a smile

on

his face.

Suddenly, a big gust of wind blew out of

A

the sky.

mysterious black cloud crossed

over the moon. Looking up, Mr. quite sure he

the sky

Felina," a voice in the

to be saying.

my

saw an old witch riding through

on her broom.

"Come, on

"Come,

little

"No

witch

wind seemed

witch, and

broom. Come, come,

Mr. Doon shook figure.

Doon was

jump

Uttle witch."

his fist at the black-clad lives

in this

woman," he said. "Just two little The moaning voice died out of 88

house, old girls."

the sky.

Halloween and Happy Birthday

The

Doon came home

next day Mr.

from the newspaper

"We

office.

have an appointment with the judge,"

he said to the family.

"We

permit to keep Felina

—

our httle

girl,

we

"Oh,

So

that

we want

her to be

is."

Doons, including Grand-

put on their very best clothes and pol-

ished their shoes and

The same hair

went

to the courthouse.

old judge looked

bench and stared

Her

if

have to renew our

do," cried Lucinda.

of the

all

father,

down from

"Ahem," the same

his

at Felina.

was smoothly combed and she

was standing very poHtely, looking up

last

early

at him.

said the old judge, "this can't

little

who

witch

stood before

be

me

year."

"No, your honor,"

said

Mr. Doon. "That

was

a Httle lost witch, but this

We

have learned to love her very dearly and

we want

a Httle girl.

to adopt her."

"WeU, through

is

well,"

said

the

his bifocal glasses at his papers.

seems nobody has claimed her, and likely that

want

a

peering

judge,

anyone

is

going

permanent permit 89

to. I

it is

"It

not

suppose you

this time."

The

Little

we

do," said Mrs. Doon.

"Indeed

The

how

Leftover Witch

judge began to write on a form.

old are you,

girl?" he asked.

little

"I'm eight years old," said Felina. birthday

October

is

really mine, because

gave

thirty-first.

my

"And my

And it's Doon

Grandfather

to me."

it

"I certainly did," said Grandfather

He

took Felina's hand in

his

Doon.

what

it

and held

it

"Signed, sealed and dehvered, that's is."

"And

tightly.

"And what

is

your name?" asked the judge.

"My name

is

Felina," the

litely.

"But oh,

change

it?

I

little girl

please, sir," she added,

do

like cats,

but

I

don't

said po-

"may want

I

to

be named after one." "Well, what do you want to be called?"

"May I please be named Mary "Why, that's my name," said very much pleased. "Lucinda

"And

—

that's

"

— ?" Mrs. Doon,

went on FeHna.

my

name," cried that

happily.

"George," added Felina firmly. 90

little girl

Halloween and Happy Birthday

"And

my

that's

name,"

Mr. Doon

in

"That

will

be

carefully

on

said

surprise.

"Very

well," said the judge.

your new name."

He

wrote

"Mary Lucinda by the Doon

the form in front of him.

George

—

it

^permanently adopted

famUy."

He

signed the paper with a flourish and

handed charge

it

to

Mr. Doon. "There

this time,"

will

be no

he remarked.

"Thank you, your honor,"

said

George

Doon. "Thank you very much."

Then Grandfather was rounding them

all

up and pushing them toward the door. "This is

a great

calls

day for the Doons," he declared.

"It

for a real celebration. We'll go to the

restaurant

and

have

the

dinner

finest

in

town."

As

the proud

little

family left the court-

room, the old judge took one look at Felina

—

oh,

George, the wicked

no

—

at

little

been changed into a happy

He

shook

his

last

curious

Mary Lucinda witch who had child.

gray head in wonder. "It must

be magic," he muttered. "Pure magic." 91

FICTION

What would you do

if

a witch crash-landed on

your doorstep Halloween night?

When

it

happened

they invited her cried the

When

in. "I

Doon

family,

can't stand people!"

leftover witch.

they offered her a soft bed,

she said, places.

little

to the

"I

I'll

don't like beds.

sleep

in

And when they

like

dark

the closet."

called her to breakfast,

Felina just sniffed.

soup and

I

"I

only eat black-bat

jibbers' gizzards,"

she

told

them

loftily.

But they liked her and wanted to help, and though Felina's Small Magic was sometimes puzzling, Mr. and Mrs. Doon and Lucinda, their daughter, who was just Felina's size, eventually worked a kind of magic of their own. As you will see.

The Little

LeftoverWiteh by Florence Laughlin For a complete list of Collier editions for young people write to Juvenile Paperbacks,

COLLIER BOOKS 866 Third Avenue,

New

York, N.Y. 10022

ISBN D-D2-D4M3DD-S