Year: 1868

frock that hung in corner on over hi head, and, after going into the buttcry fo a milking-paii, turned up the great wood en button over the door and went out A he went out, great striped cat bounded in. looking like tanned panther, and cas about him quite as though he owned the establishment, till seeing there was really nothing to eat in all the long clean kitchen he rolled himself up into fur hassock mp on tlte wide stone hearth and went to sleep Then there was a rustic and futter and stepping in the next room, and presently ont came the farmers wife with her back comb in her mouth, twisting up her long amber-colored hair in a comfortable coil as she came. And when she came, life seem, ed to come and the day began.

 { Immediately great Iron tea kettle hung l itself from hook on the crane over the fireplace and began to boil and steam and l sputter; blazing wood-fire cracked and sparkled up the black chimney; kettle oi potatoes, also hanging from the crane, and some sausages in long-legged iron spider over bed of coals in one corner of the fireplace, fell to bandylng jokes and call ing each other names; while table sud denly stood in the dining room end of the kitchen, laid ready for breakfast. Yet one could hardly say what Mrs. Lapham had to do about it, though, to be sure, there she was, stepping out and in briskly, hum ming little, and now and then opening and shutting door,

 By-and-by in came Mr. Lapham, and up jumped the cat and began to fly about as though he had lost his wits and was trying to find them.

 The farmer dropped the pails of milk upon the ready swlng-table.

 IsWell, well, Polly, something has hap pened now that beats the Dutch, said he. First thing I saw when I went into the barn-yard, just as always do, not think ing of anything, I saw a strange COW. An odd-looking creature, red, all spotted in With white, and as poor as setting hen 1 don't know any thing whose COW she is, more than the dead, and I s'posed knew every COW i'll town, and eenamost every one Tn the country, as you might say. Well, we'll, thinks I, who be you?' And then she looked so kind of lean and hun gry l pitched down Q handful of hay to her and went on milking. When, To, and behold, before was through with my last COW, what does see but girl about, say, ten years old, coming through the gate; and as ragged and forlorn-looking as you over see. And what does she do but go right up to the strange COW, and lays her head down on the cows neck without say ing syllable She isn't girl ever saw before, and I don't know but she is dumb, or deaf, or something, for when spoke up friendly and told her Good-morning, she never spoke an identical word, only looked at me with her great eyes as black as the chimney-back, and her cheeks as red as fre-coals. Why, why, whose girl be you?' says l. But neer a word says she. We'll, well, won't you come in the house with me, and get a mouthful of breakfa fast?' says l. But still ne'er word says she. What do you make of it, Polly?

 While Farmer Lapham had been telling the story in his whole hearted, fdgety way, the milk had been strained, the froth pour ed into a generous wooden tren cher for Jack the cat, and the pails washed and turned upon the hearth to dry, while all the time the farmers wife had seemed to be only listening; and now she replied in a cheerful, capable tone: I will go out and see the girl myself Are you sure, Pe- ter, she isn't one of those Towsey's from the mountains that come with berries some times?'

 Yes, yes, main sure. She is stranger ter, following her through the door upon

 

 path, bordered with the stiff knot-grass that presses so closely upon the track of men, as though it had liking and looking for human companionship in its knobby heart.

 But on Mrs. Lapham's way out of the kitchen the sausages turned over in a spi- der, and the tea-kettle that was sputtering and boiling over, hoped on to the end of the iron crane little out of the heat.

 Here she IS! here she is! all hugged up to the COW just as l left her! What can we do with her?' queried the nervous farmer, pushing up the palm-leaf hat, and rub blng his bald head briskly with his middle finger.

 We will see, returned his wife tranquil ly Good-morning, little girl! Won t you come in and get some breakfast with she broke out quickly, Bless me, Pether, the child is sick; don't you see it?'

 And sure enough, her cheeks were burn- ing and her eyes shining with fever. She had evidently gone through with great fa- tigue and excitement, and her strength was so spent she could neither speak nor move by the time these good Samaritans had once taken her in and got her fairly on clean, soft bed

 No, no; we can't turn her out in this state, poor child, whoever she is. But ism t 1t going to be kind of tough for you. P~i, ly, to take care of her just now. w''sn the fall work is coming on, and yea are expecting your sisters folks9 besides, do we know it isn't any .alng catching?' said Farmer Iaphs-a, his generous hospitality not quite ] ~T allowing up his anxiety 'Oh, don't you think of that! And nev- CT mind nae, Peter! I always calculate the Lord will give us strength for what He sends upon us; and certainly this care was none of our getting up. So don't you worry grain. but just bring down the cot ped into the west room, so l can have her close by."

 For weeks and weeks the sick girl seem- ed to have little perception of, or hold on He, lylng quite motionless and exhausted. much of the time with her eyes closed, an taxing halt unconsciously what was brought her. In the mean time nobody appeared to claim either the child or the COW. and nobody in all that region round about had ever heard of either before.

 sSo they are on our hands. and we have got to do the best we can for them till the girl gets we'll enough to give some account of herself, you see, Peter,' said Mrs. Lap. ham, with the merry jingle in her voice that sounded like sleigh-bells, and made whatever she talked about always seem like something which was going to be es pecially charming and desirable.

 But that day never ,came. Little by lit &Io Efo or1 ctrop ofh ho olx tr tho xpor,,