Year: 1875

ed and clad in hOmespun. yet happy as
king, for health sat on his sunburned
cheeks, a magic book lay open before
him, and sixteen years of innocence gave
him a passport to the freshest pleasures
life can offer.


'Nat Nat come here and see p
cried a shrill voice from among the al
ders by the river side


But Nat only shook his head as if a
winged namesake had buzzed about his
ears, and still read on. Presently
twelve years child came scrambling up
the bank, dragging long rod behind
her with discontented air.


81 wish you'd come and help me- The
fish won't bite and my line is in a
grievous snarl. Don't read any more
I'm tired of playing all alone"


II forgot you, Ruthy. and it was i'll
done of me. Sit here and rest while l
undo the tangle." And Nat looked up
good naturedly at the small figure be-
fore him, with its quaint pinafore,
checked linen gown and buckled shoes
for this little maid lived nearly hund-
red years ago and this lad had seen
Washington face to face.


''Now tell me story while l wait.
Not out of that stupid play book you
are always reading. but about something
that really happened, with naughty
children and nice folks in it, and have
it end good" said Ruth, beginning a
dandelion chain; for it is safe to be-
lieve that our honored grandmothers en-
jOyed that pretty pastime in their child
hood


Nat lay in the grass dreamily regard
ing the small parsonage who ruled him
like queen and whom he served with
the devotion of loyal heart. Now the
royal command was for story, and sti-
fling sigh, this rustic gentleman closed
the book, whose magic had changed the
spring morning to Midsummer Nights
Dream, for an hour and set himself to
crafty the little damsel's whim.


"You liked the last tale about the
children who were lost. Shall l tell
you one about child who was found :?
1t really happened and you never heard
it before" he asked.


"Yes; but first put your head in my
lap, for there are ants in the grass and
l like to see your eyes shine when you
spin stories. Tell away"


"Once upon time there was a great
snow storm" began Nat, Obediently pill
lowing his head on the blue pinafOre.


'Where abouts? ?" demanded Ruth.


Don't spoil the story by interrupt
ing. 1t was in this town and l can
show you the very house I'm going to
tell about"


81 like to know things straight along
and not be bounced into a snow-storm
all in minute. I'll be good. Go on. !"


well, it showed so hard that people
stayed indoors till the storm had beat
and blown itself away. Right in the
worst of it, as farmer and his wife sal
by the fire that night they heard a cry
at the door. You see they were sitting
very still, the man smoking his pipe
and the woman knitting, both thinking
sorrowfully of their only son who had
just died"


Don't have it doleful, Nat" briskly
suggested Ruth, working busily while
the narrator's hands lay idle and his
eyes looked as if they actually saw the
little scene his fancy cOnjured up.


'.NO, 1 won't; only it really was like
that" apOlogized Nat, seeing that senti
ment was not likely to suit his matter
of-fact auditor. "When the cry came {
second time both of these people ran tt
the door. No one was to be seen, but
on the wide step they saw a little mound
not there an hour before. Brushing of
the snow, they found basket, ant
when they opened it, there lay littl'
baby, who put out its arms with pitt
ful cry that went to their hearts. Tht
woman hugged it close, fed it, and hush
ed it to sleep as if it had been her own
5 Her husband let her do as she liked
D while he tried to find out where it CAM
: from but no trace appeared and sher
; was no name or mark on the poor thing
clothes"


did they keep it ?" asked Ruth
: tickling Mats nose with curly dande
I lion stem, to goad him on, as he lay 81
lent for a moment


s ''Yes, they kept it; for their heart


were sore and empty, and the fOrlOr
D baby seemed to fill them up comforta
: bly,. The townsfolk gossiped awhile


but soon forgot it; and it grew up as
t 1t had been born in the farmers house
i I've often wondered if it wasn't the sou


of the little son who died, come back i


another shape to comfort those goo
u people"


/ "Now don't 60 wandering of, Ma


but tell me if he was a pretty, nic'
q smart child" said Ruth, with an eye


the hero's capabilities.


4 Not a bit pretty. I" laughed Nat, ..fe