The Stokesley Secret

really have got a letter from

or when you answer him," said Sam

and her whole face scarlet, and

y dear?" asked

and Susan throw the letter down,

th him, both standing still and not speaking a wor

Susan; but she sobbed too much to make a word distinct, and Bessie held

had occasioned such terrible illness, that unless by the mercy of God she became much better in the course of a day or two, she could not live. If she should be worse, he would either write or telegraph, and Susan and Sam

oor children, and h

oving

erri

n even the children did, from how full and

t given up all hope; but Susan was crying more at the thought of her Mamma's present illness and pain than with

, in cases like this, there is often grea

st time, "I know it will be. Little girls in

nd really it seemed as if the habit of contradicting Bessie had

is elder sister, and John and Annie both did the same; but David did not speak one word, as if he

lock, Hal," sai

to Mr. Carey to

hall," ret

usan. "Suppose a te

n send for me," sa

crossly; "I know Mr. Carey wi

"I don't want to kick up a row,

shall take Susie to London instead

osbrook decidedly. "If he should tell you not to stay, I can't help it; but you

to go, with a grave steady look that was quite manly in its sadness, only stopping to say, "Now, Jackie, you be go

help shaking hands with the brave boy,

essons?" asked Annie disco

ut there is one thing that we can do for your dear Mamma; you know what I mean. Suppose you

uestion in a low whisper, "Miss Fosbrook, wi

ll I can certainly tell you is, that He hears the prayers of good childr

at Miss Fosbrook said enough to wish to be good; so she

hardly thoughts enough to last her so long; nor was she deep or serious enough to have done herself much good by keeping the Bible open before her. In fact she did lose her verse in merely

keep her out of mischief. It would have been cruel to have required her to sit down to them just then, and her governess was glad to be able to excuse her on account of the packing-up. Al

at did her most good, however, was sitting quite quiet with the little ones while they were asleep, and all alone; it seemed to rest and compose her, and she always loved to be in charge of them. Poor child! she might so

ing such things without being judged. Sometimes they see that a child is really unable to learn, when the others perceive no difference; and it

e believed that their Mamma was going to get better very fast. Bessie especially was so resolved that thus it should be, that she shut herself

ay, as it was the Feast of St. Barnabas, and after morning serv

igns," said Henry to David, the only person whom he could find to li

give it to the

l grow into a pig yourself i

on the subject of the hoard, ran up to Sam, who was learning his lessons by way of something

now that I

-or we sha'n't

n't c

re if we don'

off wi

her father, and finding such a letter harder and sadder work than that to

, in the very same words, "may I have

, don't be

he same words, and put his hand do

id Miss Fosbrook; "don

ay have her sixpence o

you care for the nasty pig more than for poor

s Fosbrook saw that it was sheer unhappiness that made her speak sharply, and

m that his brother and sister could not think of such things when they wer

r Susan, with another great sob, threw down her pen, and coming up to stroke him down with her inky fingers, cried out, "O Davie, Davie, I didn't mean it; I don't know why I

at last Miss Fosbrook took the longest of her scrawls, and writing three lines at the bottom to say how it was with them all, directed it to Captain Merrifi

ss like children, than ever before; but they did not speak much, only, when they sat down on a garden bench, as Miss Fosbrook held Susan's hand, she presently found some rough hard young fin

l be a man, Sam; take care of Susa

said Sam; "but I

watch to see what he may seem to want to have done

unhappy, Miss Fosb

ather was knocked down by a

bout it?"

g ray of hope at last. It seemed to freshen both up, and give them hopes, for each drew a long sigh

r why she was sorry, when, from Susan's half-uttered words, she found that the

in whatever way God may see to be best; it may be in getting well; it may be the o

the Prayer-book about it?" said

n the Visitation of the Sick. I dare

and brought their Prayer-books to

le of the night; but Miss Fosbrook thought this unlikely, and looked for the morrow's post. There was no letter. It was very disappointi

what was not in sight; and even Susan was cheerful, and able to think about oth

r, there would be ample time to reach the station before the next train. Miss Fosbrook was glad to prove this, for not only did she wish to have them in church, but she thought the weary watching for the telegram was the worst thing po

said Sam; "th

ut on a special train

re would

then you may ride upon the engine, for there won't be any carriages, you know

," said Sam. "You had mu

like a girl to go to

ses, like the Grevilles, say," returned Sam, taking up h

of us should stay in case the telegraph comes in, and there are any orders to give. I can catch the po

m and Susan w

nd we shall be all right; and Admiral Penrose will be so delighted at my courage in riding on the engine and putting out the explosion, or something, that he will give me my appointme

Purday, "don't throw t

red-hot sh

eak my cucumber frames, young ge

away wherever they went. Now they would break the cucumber frames; now they would meddle with the gooseberries, or trample on the beds; and at la

; but Hal and Johnnie were fairly turned out, as their idle hands were co

vage, we'll go and look out at the gate, an

er expecting it to be a man in a red coat on horseback, blowing a horn-a sight that certainly w

here, John scrambling after him not quite so easily, his legs being less long, and his dress less convenient. Both knew that their Papa strongly objected to their climbing on this iron gate, the

reach his toes down to rest them on the bar below, but he held on by the spikes, and it was so new and glorious a position, that it made up for a good deal to be five feet abov

" cried a voice from the road; and looki

red; "it's very

extreme terror; but the more he clung to the spikes, and cried for mercy, the quicker Martin swung it, shouting with laughter at his fright. Henry meanwhile scrambled and

en't got

s; and the governor's out for the day. C

to go far from

ard, Osmond? That your mother wa

t was worse,

anging about here won't d

; b

erness!-I say, how many seams sh

seams: I do

them coming o

John from his elevation.

science, made him and the Grevilles run helter-skelter the opposite way, leaving poor little John stuck on the top of the gate, quit

, could he have spared a hand to rub his eyes with; he had a great mind to have roared for help, especially when he heard feet upon the road; but these turned out to belong to five little village boys, still smaller than himself, who, when they saw the young gentleman on his perch, all stood still in a row, with their mouths wide open, staring at him. Johnnie scorne

, as well as putting them out of their usual habits; and thus it often happens that there are tremendous explosions of naughtiness just when some one is ill