A Little Girl in Old Boston

rawing her brows in a delicate sort of frown, and sipping her tea with a spoon t

ake of worshiping God in their own way rather than that of the Pope. W

"And I doubt if her father's people had much experimental relig

think it would take a good deal of zeal

s pretty sure to be a Papist. It seems rather queer that se

nterposed Mrs. Leverett, glancing deprecatingly at Betty, pleading with the mo

'shland good for, anyway

d Betty the irrepressible. "Father thinks by the

ut had a downward tendency, as if it was formed of inharm

painted, and the cornishes,"-Aunt Priscilla always would pronounce it that way,-"but I mean to wait until the assessor has been round

kins. She broke off her brea

?" she began suddenly. "Don't you suppose it is French

iscilla, it's pure Greek. D

regular nigger names,"

the same. Ask

if the Lord couldn't have made things straight in the beginning without his help. I dare say he will find out what language they talked before the dispersion of Babel. People are growing so wise nowadays, turning the Bible inside out!" and she gave her characteristic sniff. "I'll have another cup of tea, Elizabeth. Now that we're through with the war, and settled so

though it came harder on the older people. We hav

who was at Bunker H

he government by a more dignified appellation than President. Her mother had been a Church of England member, but rather austere Mr. Adams believed that wives were to submit themselves to their husbands in matters of belief as well as aught else. Then Priscilla Adams, at the age of nineteen, had

frivolous, and the ringing of bells suggestive of popery. There had been no children, and a bad fall had lamed her husband so that volunteering for a sold

She devoted a good deal of thought as to who should inherit her property when she was done with it. For those she held in the highest e

always very cozy in Sudbury Street, and Foster Leverett was in the ship chandlery trade. Aunt Priscilla did love a good cup of tea. Whether the quality was finer, or there was some peculiar art

ess of coming winter in the early morning and after sundown. There was a cheerful wood fire on the hearth, and

led about with Scriptural scenes, with two tiers of shelves above, whereon were ranged the family heirlooms-so high, indeed, that a stool had to be used to stand o

buffet, while a door opposite led into the wide kitchen. Across the back

set out and the three ladies were having their tea, quite a common custom when

dle bed. But one son and two daughters were married; one son was in his father's warehouse, and was now about twenty; the next baby boy had died; and Betty, the youngest, was sixteen, pre

," Aunt Priscilla began presently. "If there'

ays more or less delay with pilots and ti

alone! The weather has been fine, but

end of Uncle Win's, you

elderly man, too! It does sound so disrespectful! Young folks of

dred years before an ancestor had crossed from old Boston, in the ship Arabella, and settled here, taking his share of pilgrim hardships. Doris' father, when a boy, had been sent back to England to be adopted as the heir of a long line. But the old relative married and had two sons of his own, though he did well by the boy, who went to France and married a pretty French girl. After seven years of unbroken happine

Winthrop Adams executor, and died before the news of the death of his distant relative had reached him. The Lincolnshire ladies were too old to have the care and rearing of a child, s

ns that, what with the big bow and the wide rim, almost hid her face; but she saw two soft lovely eyes and cherry-red lips that she kissed at o

ted Colonies and the whole of America! Let me se

burned from her long trip; the eyes were very dark, but of the deepest, softest blue, that suggested t

gan to think they would have to stay out all night. The captain will bring up a lot of p

it was more nervousness than cold, and the glances of th

ed. "No, I am not cold"-and the wistful

once. How are you, Aunt Priscilla? This is our little French-English girl, but I hope she wil

and pressed it to her cheek. T

verett, as she was piling up the cups and sauce

uite ill at first, but the captain was very nice, and Mrs. Jewett had two little girls, so after a while we played together.

d began to rearrange the table. Warren went out to the kitchen and, as by the farthest window there was a sort of high bench with a tin basin, a pai

was rather shocked that the child was not dressed in mourning, and now she discovered, th

seem as if she should still be in the depths of woe. And she had earrings and a b

on," she said sharply. "If I lived in Eng

was one of the gowns she had-not the ball dress, for that was white satin with roses sprinkled over it. She's very old now, and she gave that to her cousin for a wedding dress. An

sed Aunt Priscilla. Then Warren returned and dropped on a t

ike any other green log, how I shoul

t!" exclaimed Doris in affr

queer to be

She made a pretty movement with he

u very

, n

e out fi

Miss Henrietta is-is-not right in her mind, if you can understand. And she is very old. S

a gave a disa

y," said Mr. L

e hand, and she made a little courte

Priscilla. "And whatever will Winthrop Adams do wi

had an appetizing fragrance, Doris was not hungry. Everything was so new and strange, and she could not get t

ankee girl," declared Warre

d to go out to a meeting. There were some clouds drifting over the

aid he; "unless you have a mind to stay all

uld have enjoyed a longer stay and was curious about the newcomer, but when Betty brough

ey seemed so long, but it was startling to have a child sitting by the fireside, here in his father's house, who had lived in both France and England. She had an odd little accent, too, but it gave her an added daintiness. She remembered her

so strange to have anyone go away forever that I think you can't take it in somehow. And Miss Arabella was always so good. She said if she had been

ed up inq

but it seems somehow more respectful to call him uncle.

uard

f ground. Cousin Charles owned so much land, and he never was married, so it had to go round to the cousins. He

med always being hand

y slipped into the vacant chair she put her arm

d have to go and live wi

a little girl! Miss Recompense Gardiner keeps the house, and she's

cle Win teaches some classes, and is a great Greek and Latin scholar, and translates from the poet

etty's neck. "I like your father, and your mother has such a sweet voice, and you-and h

never wanted to go there. Now I quite like it. I spend whole days with her. But I shouldn't spend a night in praying that Providence would send her to live with

lad," in a joyou

ut there are nice enough schools in Boston. And I am glad you want to stay. I've wished a great many times that I had a little sister. I have two, married. One live

n't mind if I

iends. And being in love means living with someone and wanting them all the time, and a

asonably glad. She laid her head down on Betty's knee and looked at the dancing flames, the purples and misty grays, the scarlet

art with them, but with the first cold whiff Mr. Leverett began to beg for them. Then she fixed her fire, turn

all tired out! And, man-like, your father never thought of her nightgown or anything to put on in

ily. It is a lovely thing-and to think

e her in your

u suppose Uncle Win will consent

ady you and give you some sense of responsibility. The youngest child always gets spoiled

r in Aunt Priscill

hat a long journey to take-and to come among

er upstairs,"

protested

ered herself to be made ready for slumber. Then she slipped down on her knees, and said "Our Fath

her, and kissed Betty. But she had hardly touched the p