The Old Stone House

andering zephyr; and, armed with a book, he betook himself to this airy retreat for the purpose of study. At least that was his announcement at the breakfast-tab

o inclination to discuss anything at present but their sweetness. But I will venture to assert that at six o'cl

Skede about my white dres

morning," exc

she would have made my dresses heavy, in spite of all my orders and descriptions. Even yesterday, for instance, she would have been unable to conceive anything mo

poetry goes," said Hugh, laughing;

h for two," said Bessie, look

am, as you know, Bessie. You, also, have your like

you certainly have the best disposition in th

were not long in discovering their place of retreat, and invited themselves to join the party with their usual assurance,-Tur

o do to-day, Tom?" sa

ggy back w

"the B. B.'s are coming, and we've though

when the thermometer stands in the eighti

of course. What else, do you suppose? But you needn't have anything to do

ll, Tom Morris. I always like to see the B. B.'s, and I t

can build a real room, big enough for all of us, if we squeeze tight. We're going to have a floor, and roof, and sides, and a hole in the bottom to climb in,-a so

her warm up ther

rm, I reckon, but you never caught our soldiers whining about it. The B. B.'s will stand up to their work

d Gem, after a pause, wisely makin

pronounced in an awful voice, Pete knew that a stick was forthcoming. He accordingly paused in his digging, his little black nose covered with yellow earth, and his eyes fixed mournfully on the half-finished hole. "Let us go and dig up some of his bones and show

em, with an air of superiori

id Tom. "I'd rather be a boy th

ho followed behind as if fascinated, watched the disinterment of each relic with mortified interest, and, when the last was brought into view

interrupting Tom in a search for artichok

towards completion. A ladder brought from the barn, took the workmen half-way up the trunk; but the old tree was lofty, and a long space intervened between the end of the ladder and the lowest branches, which must of necessity be ascended in that squirming manner peculiar to boys, wherein they delight to bark their shins, tear their trousers, and blister their hands in the pursuit of glory. Gem, of course, could not hope to emulate the B. B.'s in this mode of progression towards the fortification,

quirmed up the tree and took their places inside; nothing was to be seen but their feet, huddled together on the branches. It took ten minutes for all the band to assemble on high, but in

e first; "we're going to sling 'em up in a basket. I

is too big, Grip will be sure to fall o

sion as to which dog should go. Turk was too big, no basket would hold him; and Grip, Tom said, had "no common sense," and would not appreciate the situation. Pete Trone was evidently the man for the place, and he jumped gayly into the

out strong. It will take a good while to get him up there. I say, boys

ned in the chorus with

o the back d

when the song was finish

ith. We're hoisting Pete Trone

ad better come in and rest; you must be very

n the branches. So there was nothing to be done but let him down again, which was accordingly effected with great care, Pete sitting composedly in the basket without moving a muscle, and jumping out when he reached the ground

om," said Hugh, looking at his re

een building a house i

full description o

less contiguity of shade!' That was the motive which

try," said Tom, with scorn; "they've got o

oon," said Gem, "to talk over wha

e upon us," said Hugh; "whatever you do, my

e plans," began Gem, b

a word, it will

thday of Independence with visions of boys disfigured for life with gunpowder

said Tom; "but we don't want anybody to know an

ir,-but I shall yet be able to nip him in t

n for you, too, if you don't know anything about it beforehand." After some delay the two conspirators wrenched the required promis

carrying some books under her arm. "I have thought of something," she said, taking a seat under the tree; "we will have the battle of Bunker Hill and the life of General Israel Putnam." The word "battle" stimulated the B. B.'s, who were lying about on the grass, worn out with their efforts to arrange a programme. "Bunker Hill forever!" said one, tossing up

the battle was fough

e not there, I guess. And as to history,

d Gem went on triumphantly. "Jim Morse can be General Putnam, because his uncle

d the enthusiastic B.

hot a great wolf there. They had a rope around his legs, and when he pulled it they jerked it up, and out he came holding the wolf by

n and again. Each B. B. felt himself called upon to be a general, and they had all selected the names of revolutionary heroes, when some one suggested that an army composed entirely of generals would be difficult to manage. Then, there was the question of time, also. Should they confine themselves to Bunker Hill, or give an abstract of the whole

r of the forces must of course be left dead and wounded upon the field, and it would

nd in the vegetable garden, while a masked battery did terrible execution in the asparagus bed, and whole ranks of the enemy were to be mowed down in the cornfield conveniently out of sight. As Tom said, "Something must be left to the imagination." The third scene was to bring in the hanging of the spy, Nathan Palmer, in order that Putnam might read his famous lette

n great demand, and the pages of Shakespeare were turned over for inspiration. Each boy was to compile his own speeches, and many hurried consultations were held over back fences, and in haylofts; one boy, who represented General Stark, selected Hamlet's 'to b

and sisters were to compose the audience for whom benches had already been placed on the terrace under the trees. The day was warm, but enthusiasm was warmer, and altho

well-regulated oxen should have done; so at the last moment it was decided to give up the idea of a moving scene, and simply attempt a tableau; General Putnam at his plough in the field, reading

h Putnam was to be let down by a rope, and Turk, as the wolf, had been imprisoned there since early morning, with Grip to keep him company. At last all was ready, and the orchestra opened the entertainment with "Hail Columbia" on the violin, by Tom, accompanied by the jews-harp, tambourine and triangle, and a flute which could only play two notes, but made up in power what it lacked in variety. Tom had tried hard to learn "Hail Columbia" for this occasion. He thought he knew it, and th

f General Israel Putnam of glorious memory," as the written programme designated it. First appeared one of the B. B.'s attired

ro of Bun

now my soul

acred and h

utnam, didst

generatio

iotic spirit

is like a

bless and

ull uniform with a sword by his side, and a majestic feather in his hat. The general made

el Putnam

t shot the wo

ears did dr

rd, but rash

rds the shanty and brandished his sword. "Ha!" he said, snortin

times, and had allowed himself to be hauled up and down with his usual good-nature. As it was expected, therefore, that Putnam would vanquish the wolf in no time, no dialogue had been provided for the friends and neighbors waiting outside, and as time passed and no signal to "draw up," came, they grew somewhat embarrassed. Tom, urged by necessity, spoke impromptu: "He fighteth the wolf!" he cried; "he fighteth fiercely!" Then, in an undertone to his next neighbor, "say something, Will; anything will do." But Will could think of nothing but "He fighteth the wolf!" also; so he said it to Dick and kicked him on the shin as a signal to proceed. "Doth he?" said Dick after a l

in to the underground shanty; "you've almost s

eral Putnam, indignantly, "but Turk won't let me

he's been shut up her

y old dog. "Well, I sup

ry,-they're at

with enthusiasm. "He bringeth out the wolf, the great, the dreadful wolf!" At this instant the General hove into view, his feathered hat knocked over his eyes, the rope girding his chest with alarming tightness, and wee little Grip suspended by the na

ough, but before Putnam could take his position, one of them, a frisky animal, put down her head and shook her horns so threateningly that Gem abandoned her corner of the sheet and fled in terror, leaving the mortified patriots to the full blaze of public ridicule. Tom was furious, but he reserved his rage for another time. "Bring those cows together by main force and hold 'em still, boys," he said in a concentrated tone as he picked up the corner of the sheet. "Take hold of the plough, Jim. Now, Dick, say your piece." The Classic Muse advanci

ed till they cried; and not the least part of the amusement was the retreat of the "peaceful oxe

ed down from the Bunker Hill Monument, and the Stars and Stripes raised in its place; every now and then, also, the shrieks and groans of the wounded, were heard from the corn-patch, which added, of course, the pathetic element to the scene. At last, when all t

ur Union! At L

f oppression its

er Hill rolled ba

stellation, it bl

never! The U

hand that our co

, giving a local and military color

while the tent was constructed out of some poles and colored blankets,-a real camp-fire along side being relied upon to give a life-like resemblance to "Valley Forge." The sheet remove

blankets and confusion. Rescued from the wreck by the orderly, the general stammered out his next sentence: "Behold what I have written to Tryon! Take the letter and read it to th

H 8th

TRYON

, a lieutenant

ken in my camp

he was condemn

be hanged

TN

ght. He i

m the orchestra hidden behind the currant-bushes, while the army marched away in the opposite direction,-the two effects havi

took his position near by, while the American army in masks, with dark-lanterns and muffled drums, filed in softly, and formed a circle around the tree. "Friends!" said one of the band stepping forward, "I am Ethan

istance, and the final tableau, in which the body took a part, was still to be enacted; the bearers made another effort, the perspiration rolled down their faces, but all in vain. There was nothing to be done but signal to the Classic Muse to come forward and help. He hastily tucked up his robes and took hold. With his aid the spy was hurried after the retreating army, reaching it just in time to spring to his feet under the flag-staff where floated the Star-Spangled Banner

provided in great abundance, the soldiers stacked arms, and seemed to enjoy themselves as easily as private citizens. The numerous young sisters of the B. B.'s gradually forgot thei

self into a chair when the last guests had taken thei

ay you would soon be t

h sm

int sobs coming from Gem's room, as though the child had her head buried in the pillows. Throwing on a wrapper, she hurried thither, and foun

ave come!" said Gem. "There is nothing the mat

ill? Are you

and, and-a litt

dear child, wh

bling violently, and, sitting down on the edge of the bed, she drew the little form into her motherly arms, and soothed her as she would have soothed a baby

ll-known corner. When she had crept into her bed, however, she felt more safe, and nestled down with a deep sigh of relief. After some conversation on variou

e; all kinds of things.

well there are no su

Aunt Faith?" asked

ed that you have any such id

talking about them, so

e in them,

e a great many things that are false. You know there are no fairies

very little children

equence that we should think of ourselves, and whether we are prepared to enter into the presence of our Creator. Our summons will come and we know not how soon it may be. When I think of our family circle, six of us under the roof to-night, I know that it is possible, I may even say probable that among so many a parting will come before very long. And, my little Gem, if it should be you, the youngest, I pray that you may be ready. I do not want you to thi

th," said Gem, "but half the time I

as hard as you can? Will you try to speak gently to Tom, to forgive him when he teases you, to give up your own

ispered Gem, "I will

th, kissing her little niece affectionatel

s, of Bessie and her lack of serious thoughts on any subject. Again the sore feeling of trouble came to her, the doubt as to her own fitness for the charge of educating and training the five little children left in her care. "I fear I am not s

her Saviour, and besought Him to strengthen her and give her wisdom for her appointed task. Again and again she asked for faith, earnest faith, which should never falter, although the future might look dark to her mortal eyes, and again and again she gave all her darlings in

el a benediction falling around her, and a sweet contentment came into her heart. When she la