Little Homespun

aps, than the leap Courage took that night on the drawbridge, but something that called not only for a world of a different sort of courage, but f

earted. She felt she had no right to her name now, and never should have again. Miss Julia had been teacher, mother, friend to her, one or the other almost since her babyhood, and to care for Miss Julia in return, now that she herself was grown

right-eyed because God had made them so, but with faces almost as sad as her own. “Yes, we are left,” they continu

d gravely as in answe

“Everything that I leaned on is go

heart, day after day, in all the sad hours of waking, and sometimes even in sleeping, unt

r and she had asked: “Is courage something that people have, Papa? Have I got it?” and he had told

hour, to live up to her father’s hope

ether unconscious of that as well. But one thing they did know, and that was they should never see Miss Julia again in this world, and they thought they also knew that a beautiful plan she had made for them could

a back what would we care for anything else? Besides, when you think what has happened, it seems s

unger brother Teddy, “it was 016Miss Julia’s plan for us, and

re, like you girls, still I did really love her,” (emphasising the word by a shake of his head, and firm pursing of his lips). “All the same, I think it’s natural we should feel awfully disappointed.” Gertrude who was seven, and the youngest of the four, nodded in approval of the stan

l that they should take their disappointment somewhat to heart, but the tears that had sprung

ts, and when all were able to declare themselves perfectly comfortable the conclave would commence. The little Bennetts were great talkers. They simply loved to discuss things, and this shows, when you stop to consider it, that they must be, on the whole, an amiable little family, for some little people that we hear of are quite too impatient and self-assertive to be willing to discuss things at all. But whatever may have been the faults of the little Bennetts they did have respect for each other’s opinions, and were generally ready to

ou run down to the yar

rally Teddy, for he had the wildest imagination, and could upon any and every occasion invent most thrilling romances, which were quite as much of a surprise to himself as to his hearers. And so the children had come to love their perch in the corner of the city yard, with the uncertain shade of an old alanthus flickering over t

ll not take hearts near and dear into one’s confidence. The day never dawns when truly brave hearts cry out for pity, but sympathy is a sweet

on the mantel shelf, and then, leaning her head against the back of the chair, closed her eyes; but instead of falling asleep she fell to thinking, and then her face grew very sad and tears made their way from beneath her closed eyelids. So, you see, the mother-heart was heavy as well as the-child-hearts in the Bennett family, and for the same reason. It was not because they were 020not l

turned to greet the newcomer. Courage had mounted the four flights of stairs very bravely, but the sight of the tears in Mr

Bennett, with a world of regret in her voice; “it is so much harder for yo

rage faltered; “th

nking it will be easier for us all when this day’s over. I got rid of the trunk l

t sell it,

e the children will have a chance y

this very summer, and just as Miss Julia planned, too. Th

ould be too much care for those y

too, but the plan has grown to be just as dear to me as it was to Miss Julia, and now, if y

on every word, “and you are just Miss Julia’s own child!” and Courage though

ren?” she asked, eage

but she opened the window and 022Courage knew that m

ting one hand on Mrs. Bennett’s arm

mething to tell you. Come up quickly.” Courage ha

as in her heart, and as she watched the children tumble helter-skelter from the horses in the yard