Year: 1867

pick over the currants, when heard faith
er call


Hepzebah = SO wiped my hands
and came into the kitchen, where he sat
by the hearth, thinking maybe it was the
new COW, or, when l saw his face, fearing
my pretty white hens had scratched the
garden again. do not mind his words
now; when one has a blow they cannot
always tell just how twas given, but
knew he was to bring home wife, and.
though he did not say it, that could be
spared now. Elizabeth had written that
she would be glad to have me go to her
the children were sore plaques to her and
she had no welcome for their coming.
was so stunned like, that could say moth
ing, even 10 Janet, who called me TO set
the milk, but leaving the house, and climb
ing the wall, went down through the
wpod lot, seeing everything, and yet hav-
ing no mind for anything, as if there were
two, in me, one who needed the fresh
cut wood and said, I'll be long time
green and saw where the speckled hen
had hid away her nest, and the other who
just said over and over, My father wes-
ries Of me, and I've no home


| followed the old road away through
the woods, and then sat down ON a stone
to think. Stay with father / could not.
for Avis Green was hard, cold woman,
and there would be no room in her heart
or home for me. AS for Elizabe H.


There was sound of falling some dead
tree, l thought, and then cry, faint cry,
as if the life were almost gone. 1t was
bat step up the foot path from the wood
road and saw IA man upon the ground
and some one-I knew him though he had
been years away standing over him. 1t
was not but something in me called -


This way, father and here, Jem ;
though never man named Jim had we
about the farm. Bat at my footsteps he
fed into the woods, and l was left with
the half-dead man. 1t was only stunned
he was and my voice awoke him.


Where am ? 4" said he, gazing strange
ly at me.


Where you'd best not be- said !; so l
helped him rise, and though he seem I'd
both faint and dizzy, got him safely home
and set in fathers chair. Maybe father
was glad of some one else to speak to, al
least lie asked him many questions, as he
mixed him something warming and bound
up his head. And we found he was mer-
chant from tavern near by, who had
struck the wood path TO reach the north
town before night.


owe my life, as well as this, to you,
he said, showing leathern wallet. Will
you put it safely by till morning?'


took candle and the key which faith
er gave me, and going from the room
opened the door of the little cupboard un-
dernea;h the stairs. 1t was close against
the chimney and stone pulled out, left a
hole in, which was fathers money, and the
little sum I'd saved from selling Brindle's
milk. When had put it back, sharper
eyes than mine could not have told the
stone. Then / shu: the door, which locked
itself. and went back into the kitchen with
a chill in all my bones, for as / came out
from the cupboard l felt that some one
sprang asile from peering in the narrow
STRIPS of glass beside the door.


lis my foolish fancy said ! to myself,
but not word TO father or the stranger,
Mr.. Doane. When the house was quiet,
and they had gone to bed, crept from
door to window to be sure that all was
fast, and then could not sleep, but tossed
upon my pillow, thinking of many things
that seemed sore troubles though God
knew best, and it was not for me TO grieve
Then / slept the sleep that does not rest
one and wakened all at once to feel that
some one crept about the house My bare
feet made no sound as l went across the
floor and down the three first stairs, to
where they turned; then leaning over,
could see the cupboard door below me
open, and knew that some one moved The
stones. leaned far over till reached the
door and pulled it to with all my strength.
Yes, all my strength, for when heard il
snap. and some one sprang against it with
a cry, sank down upon the floor and
could not move.


They all came running in, half dressed,
father, the stranger and the men who
slept near by. And when I'd told my
story they helped me up to bed, with all
the time that hoarse voice calling. and
those dreadful blows upon the door. When
l came down in the morning the house
was still; they had all gone to town. !
tried to work, but oh, it seemed as if the
string were broke between my head and
IL n