The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-09-26

when shs beard something ahout going
over 10 TIE north woods, and takin9aheir
dinssr, sbe sbought IL would be AZ roel-
lsns way to keep the ehildrenyoat Of mis-
chief.
Yes, you can 20, II grandna'i \ put up
your lunch; put % your shoes, Jenny,
ssd away she weul to the sIuk with two
jars Of bot fruit
Gfsndms was AlNHys liberal with gin-
gerbread, and lbc basket was alled.whiie
Jenny pat on her shoes aud packed ber
yoabg family and their entire wardrobe
In bAndboK, aud Joe kept bis eye on
Marcia, who still sat by The bars leading
10 the rye field
Lets go through the woodshed and
down The lane, be whispered, and so they
did, not stopping TO take breath nniil
they were beyond the big moving lot.
Joe bad the pail aud the hatehet, bat the
buffalo robe bad been left behind, aud
the fish pole conad be cut 10 the woods.
Marcia, with her eyes fixed upon the
kitchen door, waited patiently for bali an
hour, aud then went Into the honse.
Dear me, hAycn't those chii iren gone
YETI said Mrs. Peters, stumbling over her
with pan OF buttermilk; so straight out
OF the Kitchen, Marcia; Joe and Jenny
are going TO the woods.
Marcia went out, what was more she
did not come back. she had not come
back at sundown, when Mrs. Peters bur
ried home IRON the sewing society, be.
cause thunder storm was coming up.
She did not come with Joe aud Jenny,
who came racing across the field with the
first big drops, scared out Of the woods
by the awful thunder that seemed TO be
muttering over all their naughty deeds.
Why, where's Marcia? said the mother.
She didn't 90 with us, said Jenny,
guilty.
She's been gone since morning, said
grandma, putting her apron over her
bead and looking up aud down the road.
The storm increased every instant.
The wind was tempest; the lightning
seemed to set the very air on fire; the
thunder almost rocked the house, and
the rain poured in great white sheets
down the windows.
Grandma wiped her eyes with her old
hands all in tremble, Mrs. Peters
groaned aloud, and searched the house
and the sheds, growing every moment
more desperate, and Joe aud Jenny
crouched terrified in the corner, expect
ing every moment TO be struck AS pun
ishment for their wickeduess in running
away from Marcia. Worst of all, Mr..
Peters had gone TO get the horses shod,
and nothing could be done until be came
home.
Jenny crepl up to grandma and hid her
face in her lap. Nobody was ever so
naughty that grandma diddn't pity them
aud the very touch of her kind old hand
on Jenny's head was comfort. By and
by came the sound OF wheels, and Mr..
Peters came in with queer anxious look
on his face. In his hand he held q bundle
OF wet rags. II was Amaranth.
See here, mother, isn't this Marcia's
doll? Why, where is Marcia?
oh, John, Shes lost; we can't find her;
where did you dnd the doll9 said poor
Mrs. Peters.
Mr.. Peters turned very pale.
On the bridge by Finlay's mill, he
said slowly; it was hanging on the rail-
ing.
Joe and Jenny broke into passion of
crying aud sobbing, but Mrs. Peters
went into her room and shut the door.
Grandma, with her arms around both of
the children, saw Mr.. Peters jump on old
Fan and galop away through the storm.
Old Mr.. Finlay was busy In his mill.
The rain was filling the creek aud turn
ing his wheel, aud there was long row
OF bags waiting each one for it's turn, SO
be Imped about singing aud whistling.
On pile oi bags sat Marcia, with great
harvest apple in her lap, watching the
hungry mill stones, and wondering what
became Of all the pretty yellow eoru that
went pouring in at The hopper. Mr..
Finlay did not speak to her, but he threw
her friendly nod now and then, aud II
was plain 10 see that be aud Marcia un.
derslood each other perfectly. This WAS
what Mr. Peters saw when he rushed
into the mill, leaving poor old Fan all Of
a foam by the door. Mr.. Finlsy nodded
faster than ever and said:
Come for your little gal; reckoned
you'd be after her fore long; she's a
nice one, she is, men my old woman
would be mighty glad on her; and then
be went on grinding as II it was nothing
at all remarkable for four-year-old baby
to be two miles from home all alone.
Where were you going, baby! asked
Mr. Peters, bugging her as he had never
uuKRtu ueI UtIOFe.
Runuin' way, said Marcia, smuggling
very close TO her fathers arms. Take
Marcia home.
What welcome the little runaway
had! Mrs Peters, grandms, Joe and
Jenny squeezed sndpelted her, and found
out for the fret time how much they
loved her. Marcia took 1t all in silent
asionishment, bat when Mrs. Peters felt
the slender arms tighten about ber neck,
the thin lips quiver against her cheek,
she felt very sure that she had mistaken
her odd little girl, and that her heart was
hungry for love after all.
III never run awsy from her again,
said Jenny, she shall be in jnst as much