he day. It was the balmy blossoming time. The whole atmosphere was rich with sweet scents and sound

blows of two months before. She looked towards it wistfully,-for Sara loved the sea,-then, yielding to the homesick impulse, turned from

ng the bowlders, skipping some, leaping others, trenching on the edges of little pools left in some rocky hollow by the high tide,

ture in the rocks much like a roughly shaped gothic window, and, having tumbled in, tumbled out again, with much c

isagreeable personage; but Sara, having no mind to give up her favorite spot to his satanic majesty, always named it to herself the "Mermaid's Cast

nd familiar; then, removing her sun-bonnet, fanned her flushed face, and looked dreamily

e in shore and so black far out to sea, when she was st

pause; and then an unmistakably human exclamation of impatience, while a bit of ro

le man in the attitude of the Colossus of Rhodes, his bare bald head red and perspiring, and his eyes glaring through h

a, and looked altogether quite queer and cross e

hell again, when a mischievous puff of wind suddenly caught her gingham bonnet

ttural than before, then the full moon of a face pe

Beg pardong, then-h

own to where it hung tantalizingly in sight, but far out of reach, on a jutting

l now, mees, or if I could so

the tune of "Annie Laurie." The two looking down then caught a glimpse of a strong white hand, issuing from a black coat-sleeve, which

Robare, Robare, l

orward,-a well-cropped, chestnut head,-whil

How did you make it? Haven't got

ing impatiently to Sara, for, in trying to speak q

ediently, in her

meet you, and point out the way up here." "Indeed I will!" was the quick and courteous response; and she saw the f

o the little man, who nodded kindly, raising his head to lift the hat that was not there, th

at Sara could scarcely keep from laughing outright. "Los

y. "Why, what's that?" suddenly catching sight

s to know as a specimen-case. She sprang lightly down, handed them up to the absent

y as he saw her, and, hol

this is you

eturned, flushing a lit

ry kind to g

kind, rather! Did you pilot my

ound this rough ledge it is easy till the last climb;

s uncle, she pointed out the further way, slightly bowed her head in adieu, and, waiting for no further parley, turned about

*

air. Around her was collected every description of bag, box, and bundle, also the baby, while Morton and Molly (the latter secretly deligh

premises had apparently been emptied, no money had appeared, and the t

y?" asked Sara in desperation. "She cou

s eyes

e all to pieces, wouldn't it? But, Sara, there isn't another place an

rton, you take that pile; you this, Molly; and I'll attack these rags; t

dustrious than all the rest, snatching at everything, to clap to his mouth,

you will, I'm sure 'ti

do with all these bi

Put them right into the fireplace,

crisp fried potatoes with our herring: this

ping up and down. "And some molasses o

ll have to slice t

t over the thickly strewn floor, glad of any change

making everything fl

icrous imitation of the waddle of a g

f such antics; and he proceeded to stuff the rubbish

der the squat black kettle, which

hat's baby got? It looks just like a wad of tobacco. Here, Neddie

y over the wad that Morton could not at first undo them, and the baby, wrenching his hand away, crept rapidly to Sara, half crying, half laughing, then, with a

with knife and potato suspended in air, and Morton just as he had tipped over sidewis

ched out her arms in a desperate way,

for the supposed wad of tobacco, uncurling in the h

as! it was too late! Their scorched fingers clutched only a crumbling blackened roll, which fell to pieces in their grasp, and the day's search

arge as saucers, and Sara's brown ones turned to black by desperation; then the baby, frightened at th

hat will we do?" and Sara, stooping mechanically to lift the unconscious little cause of

vings of months, doubtless, put by bit by bit, for just this occasion, a

e they could

a dab at her eyes with the potato, but remember

ink. Even if we had seen it, we would have thought it but a twi

o his mouth, and all conjectures were useless

Sara, perhaps this isn't all there was. She

uch wisdom was more than she cou

ould be enough to divide. We must lo

father's the most forehanded among them all, and rich fo

way, "Well, what's done can't be undone. O baby, baby! if you knew the mischief your bits of hands have done!" holding them up, and spatting them gently together ti

rs. "Burnt money's worse'n spilt milk, Sara; but I'll tell you what, when t

ndeed, in less than five minutes she was laughing gayly, and caricaturing the whole scene just p

miling, and the smile seemed to ease her of her burden just a trifle.

while the pile of wood back of the shed was large for that village. Then, too, summer was near, when their needs would be fewer. To be sure, the new dresses must be g

the rest had long been sleeping. Then, turning over with the resolution to trust and fear not, she clasped the naughty baby (w