Little Homespun

me—if everything had moved perfectly smoothly for three whole months together, in a house where there were four irrepressible

would chastise the first one of them that dared to cross the threshold of the kitchen; but then, to be quite fair, I have more than a glimmering notion that Courage and Mary Duff had their naughty moods too, as well as the children. You can’t feel perfectly right, you know,

d, their childish hearts full of a sweet peace that they hardly understood, and which was not strange at all, for it was simply the peace that “passeth all understanding.” 079But not all the days by any manner of means were spent in or about Little Homespun. Joe’s Fourth of July dinner had been a great success, and there had followed several all-day excursions carefully planned in all their details by Uncle Harry, and every one of them voted a great success. The fall that had broken Uncle Harry’s arm had proved a veritable “windfall” for the children, if a windfall means something very pleasant that comes in your way quite by accident, like apples strewn by the wind unexpectedly at your feet. It had not been altogether an unpleasant experience for Uncle Harry either, notwithstanding, th

as not another island within sight of it, Brevet always gratefully cherished the belief that it had been placed there just for him. It was about seventy feet long, and almost as wide, and it boasted a steep little ledge of rock on the side near the shore and two very respectable little pine trees. But it was what the hand of man had achieved upon this little island that made it the wonderful

Grandma Ellis’s contribution to the scheme had been a cedar row-boat and a pair of spoon oars, by which to have communication with the island, but for everything el

STANHOP

ET-C

hile on the rocky ledge above, a toy brass cannon commanded the harbour, making the island quite invulnerable from any assault that might be attempted from the side near the shore. 082Was it strange then that to the Bennetts, and especially to the boys Teddy and Allan, this unique little spot, with its perfect equipment, offered more possibili

ne to be thanked for most of its wildly exciting features. Single-handed, but supposed to represent a whole regiment, he had tried in a score of ways to effect a landing on the island; but by dint of unceasing vigi083lance the children had succeeded in keeping him at bay, until at last, despairing and exhausted, he had beaten a retreat to the main land. Indeed, so hard and unremitting had been the labours of the children, that about the middle of the afternoon Courage, who had been having an all-day chat with Grandma Ellis and was afra

ver?” Teddy called from the island. “We are all agreed

athered itself about her big rocking-chair on the gallery. Joe was also permitted to form one of the party; but there was another listener, who would not have been tolerated for a moment if his whereabouts had been known. He was stretched full len

et had not quite liked to ask. The remainder of the story was new to all save Grandma Ellis, and Courage, now that she had really started, tried to be faithful to every detail that could possibly have any interest, from the day of her christening to the night when the draw was open and she took her wild leap in the darkness

ght have known your

this she said very slowly and firmly, as though she thought Courage might be inclined to differ with her, but Courage on

about her neck. They had all seen it many a time before, but it seemed to take on a new beauty in the light of all they had been hearing. It was when the picture had been pa

d, as 086though part of his persona

branches of the trees, as though the most unlikely spot imaginable was precisely the spot in which to expect to find his little Captain. “See

” over toward Fort Meyer. A large, funnel-shaped cloud of a dark brown color loomed high on the horizon and Harry’s heart sank within him. He had seen and known during a summer’s surveying in the West, the wreck and

g to have 087quite a storm. Send the children through all the rooms a

p her voice steady, “no one knows where Brevet is.

say, Grandma,” gently pushing her toward the door, “and, children, whisk these chairs into the house, and

sank into the nearest chair, and, burying her face in her hands, broke into an agony of sobs and tears. To have little Brevet missing at such an anxious moment was more than her over-strained nerves could bear. Courage saw instant

afety had lost his head completely, had been wasting pr

child be?” he said, coming up to Harry

ed over on the

fast as they could to the shore, and there, sure enough! was Brevet, hard at work, getting his little camp into shape for the coming storm he had evidently been the first to discover. At that precise moment he was busy ha

ming short and fast, “we must just call to him to come rig

to veriest anguish; and Harry looking, saw the precious boat in mid-river, the oars

the stables! Joe knew how long that must take. No, there was just one thing to be done, and stripping off boots and jacket, in the next second he was breast deep in the water, and in the next striking

ittle Ala

een born v

is strength in four or five more good strokes, and reached the camp, but he had no breath left with which to speak when he reached it. It was dreadful to waste the precious moments, but his breath was still too laboured from the strenuou

lifting his two little clenched

d Joe thanked God that he was able to instantly dispel the l

aptain?” his two arms locked

swim back again. Des get on my ole back, dis a-way, Honey, only

the rest of us on the deck of an ocean steamer. Besides, it was such fun to be carried ashore in that f

ink I could swim all ri

ke, no, Brevet!” and then Brevet tightened his hold as though realising there might be some danger. How great the danger

man that he was, of not being able himself to attempt the rescue! With bated breath he watched Joe’s start for the mainland, and then saw instantly how even the first return strokes taxed his strength to the full. At the point for which he was making the

aty. “See where I am, Joe, I can help you from here.” But a sudde

n reaching him—it was for her to gain some point as near him as possible, and be ready to lend a hand as well. Throwing aside a cloak she had caught up for protection, she strode into the water, and by aid of the same

dly consciousness enough left to obey, but he made one stroke more, and then his arms 093grasped something, he hardly knew w

e had at last fully realised the struggle of the cr

here on this limb. Quick, quick, Brevet, don’t lose a moment—there—now lie flat down and keep perfectly

am helpless.” Harry spoke through teeth clenched with the effort of supportin

came more closely together, she safely swung to the other limb, but in making her way out into the water again, she f

he moment? All this while Joe, with closed eyes, still realised that the one thing for him to do was to hold on. Notwithstanding the deeper water Courage succeeded i

d. “Now see this branch, Joe; reach for it an

apparent that he was too weak and dazed to fully take in the situation, a

breath, “speak to Joe. He is no

e. Joe’s eyes opened again. 095"Reach for that branch, Jo

eded him, he must make one last effort; and, letting go his relaxed hold of Harry, he reached for the branch; struggled to

d to sustain his weight, but he was powerless to alter his position. Courage, by the aid of the limb, made her way to the shore. Then calling back to Harry, “I will bring help at once,” she dropped on to her hands and knees, for it was impossible to stand against the wind and rain, and began creeping up the embankment. But fortunately for them all, help was 096at hand. Teddy Bennett, fairly blown along by the wind, appeared on the ledg