The Stokesley Secret

hings that be good, and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same," spelt out Dav

Fosb

, my

Fosb

er "W

a pig one of the 't

d Miss Fosbrook, a little vexed at a sort of sn

pig is in his C

done; and when Miss Fosbrook went on saying that the wish to help the poor woman was assuredly a good thought, which the little boy might well ask to be aided in fulfilling, David had grown ashamed, and would not listen. But the mention of the pig had set off Master

to hinder,"

hing), and Hal should be the first to stop it, and jump on its back, and ride out of the fair holding it by the ears; and then they should pop it into the sty unknown to Hannah Higgins, and all lie in wait to hear what would happen; and

them, Henry? If you prevent everyone from learning the C

ve fines on Sund

iness is not such a trifle that we

dded Elizabeth: "that we are punished and talked

n't have any this

ou're sure of them for every

s," said Hal; "and I hope she'll have

nd rushed out of the room; while M

't think how you can

t were quite a new light t

mean it: Sam and Hal never we

said Miss Fosbrook, "unless it is saying t

y, "only we always go on so, and nobody

ne can't be always p

is time to get ready for church. Only I thought manliness was

nd Susan was the

k she'd have b

r for having a spirit; but one can't be finikin and meal

ell Mr. Samuel that truth of character does not con

he were to give his sons an education fit for their station, he must make his household live plainly in every way; but without thinking them right feelings, she had some pity for little Bessie's weariness and discontent in never seeing anything pretty. The three girls came in dressed for church, in the plainest brown hats, black capes, and drab alpaca f

ose name was a very dangerous subject in the schoolroom. Also, he let Bessie take hold of Miss Fosb

then along a green lane; and the boys had been trained enough in Sunday habits to ma

the lady. Her hat was black chip, edged and tied with rose-coloured ribbon, and adorned with a real bird, with glass eyes, black plumage, except the red crest and wings. She wore a neatly-fitting little fringed black polka, beneath which spread out in fan-like folds her flounced pink muslin, coming a little below her knees, and showing her worked drawers, which soon gave place to

ttle figur

s. Greville, turning round, showed a very pleasant face as she bowed to Miss Fosbrook, and shaking hands w

anion, and murmuring something about "Fr?ulein Munsterthal;" and Miss Fosbrook found herself walking beside a lady with the least of all bonnets, a profusion of fair hair, and a good-humoured, one-coloured face, no doubt Miss Ida's German governess. She said something about the f

lizabeth's admiration of Ida seemed to be speechless, for they were walki

of the boys, who had fallen behind; perhaps her ears were quickened by its personality, for though Sam was sayi

why, she sent him away from tea l

disagreeable sounding laugh, in w

Fr?ulein se

ever t

nows b

. You'll be sitting up pricking holes in a

his toes turned out like a dancing-m

l angrily: "I'm not a fel

then, why don't you show it? I'd soon send her to

und, looked the speaker full in the face, and said, "I am ver

ad not spoken, looked up into her face with a merry air, as i

rather impudently; but they were now near the church

oing into church; she felt a good deal ruffled herself, and feared that Bes

tentively; but Bessie fidgeted into her mamma's place, and would stand upon a hassock. Miss Fosbrook was much afraid it was to keep in sight of the beautiful bird. Hal yawned; and Johnnie not only fidgeted unbearably himself, but made his sister Annie do the same, till Miss Fosb

one on some steps before her, chattering eagerly among themselves, when Sam

ing? It depends on you wh

ke any rows if I ca

able to help it! I don't kno

e. "Well, you've got a good spirit of you

don'

d, "I did promise Pa

esterday evening. The behaviour of th

don't mind it so much now I se

d to write to your father that I c

inder all the good to Mamma! I'll tell you what," he added, afte

did not mean to

he was doubtful whether the Greville influence might not render Henry unmanageable; bu

you mean not bawling at tea? for I mean to insist

ikin, and mincing,

sh you would leave off-and that is teazing. I don't know whether that is country manners, but I don't like

said Sam. "It is f

much to have my brother here quizzing me; but you know very well there a

is so ri

d; it only gives her cross feelings. And she really has more right on her side than

see her so affect

entle and quiet than you are; you don't thin

not like

and stop the poor little boy when he

funny," r

another time whether yo

particular," he

hought the only way to do r

off in such a mood; but, unmannerly as he was, she saw so much good

ge and Sarah, of three years and eighteen months old. Her great perfection was as a motherly e

rsuing the flies with his finger, not killing them, but tormenting them and David very seriously, by making them think he would-no

t go again that day, after his behaviour in the morning; and perhaps he would not have minded this punishment much if David had not been going, which made him

as plain enough that he had heard what t

ters broke out, "O Johnnie!" but the naughty boy, fancying, perhaps, that want of time wo

laug

r," entreated Susan,

not hear, a

"if you do not come back d

s old, and she believed that she could carry him; but he heard

whose thumps were no joke. She held fast, but she felt frightened, and

John was a prisoner. Miss Fosbrook called out to the rest to go on to church, and she

y had made her child naughty, and said something about their Mamma letting him go to

te; but Sam exclaimed, "Stuff! he was as naughty as could be all

she touched his arm, and drew him off with her, he exclaiming, "Foolish old Fr

exation; she almost ran to save herself from being late, and scarcely

id; "there's a shorter cut, only I

but she knew she might give up all hopes of Sam if he detected her fears. Then came the gap, where a tree had been cut down

close to her, saying confidentially, "I s

If you are likely to do it

will be rather a bother; only now we have

g it will be a delightful rewa

r all, that Bessie has nothing to do with it, or she would want to dre

of that. People may

t be anything

ut it is the road to reading-and even if it were not so, Sam, it is not right to shame people in

new light; but he did take it in, and smacking his hands together with a no

time be more familiar to Sam. "Not grudgingly, n

to make her like ourselves, when she is really so differen

she to be cured

r minds upon what silliness is