The Story of Jessie

ot let her husband do a single thing indoors to

aid, Thomas went out and set to work in the garden, for, of course, that must be made trim, too, for the little five-year-old grandchild. He forked over th

led in to Patience, "I would

front door, too, it'd be the better for it.

the new-comer to be a ve

as, "and I'll do it without saying anything to

l or two, a thought came to him which sent h

e don't know when she's coming, Lizzie didn't

oh dear! how careless of Lizzie not to tell us! The poor child might come at any time, and nobody be there to meet her, and we can't write a

s which would sufficiently express her feelings. She was tir

uldn't stop to think much about it, or she'd never do it at all. She's put London on the top of her letter, and the London train comes in at four-fifteen, and I'm thinking I'd better go and meet it, any way, and then, if the ch

t be holding her own little grandchild in her arms. "What a head-piece you have got, father!" she cried admiringly. "Well, I mustn't stay here

r-Lizzie's room?" There was a note

w it would hurt Thomas even more to hear it. Lizzie's little bedroom had never been looked into by him since Lizzie had run away and left them, and Patience herself had only g

ure out of their usual positions, and into some they had never occupied before. "Now it won't remind him so much," she said softly to

their work, so that by three o'clock the spotless stairs were scrubbed, and the neat kitch

not know what about, but soon after she had g

r?" she called bac

on in a pot, I-I thought," he concluded shyly, "I-thoug

d heartily, "Why, of course she would, father. She'd be sure to love it, a real plant of her own! Will you put it up there, on the window-ledge? I've got

and go into the room again," she thought to herself

called up, "and I'll go and tidy myself now, and make a s

wise, father, then you'll be able to take it easy on the way, and to explain to Station-Master a

that, to try and prevent themsel

e the train come in; it'll satisfy our minds. We shouldn't feel hap

e him his heart was beating fast with expectation, and his step grew quic

or arriving more than half-an-hour before any train was due. For a moment he decided to turn away and walk in some other direction until some of the time had passed, but the seats on the platform looked very restful, and the platform

inutes before the train came in," he decided, and, with a sigh of relief, made his way into the station. He was tired after his

her busy nor exciting, for when at last he did appear, he was stretching and yawning as

long story that he was impatient to pour out to somebody. The story was so long and so interesting that the whistle of th

ain?" he asked eagerly

. Are you g

d and his hands shook as a carriage door op

touch of impatience in his voice. He did not approve of this reser

beyond the two men who had sprung out at once, no one else was appearing. "I was going to tell 'ee about it, only the train corned in. I'm-I'm

by the new arrivals, stood ready to listen to Thomas's story.

questions he did not want, or was unable, to answer. "She overlooked it, I reckon; and there ha

Simmons, "if the child is very young, she may be afraid to move, o

to turn and look at them, the engine-driver hanging lazily over the side of his box watched them idly. Thomas, who was filled now with fear th

e was any little gir

mons asked the guard

nswered the man casually. "Got in

N

o one knew what might have happened to her. She might have fallen out, or been stolen, or she

me here! Is this of

uddled up fast asleep in one corner. Thomas looked at her, and his eyes grew misty. "Ye-es, that's of her," he answered. He hesitated, not because he do

said the station-master, in a tone lowered so that it might not waken the lit

wing tired of waiting, let off a shrill whistle from his engine and with the sound the little sleeper stirred, opened her eyes, and sat up suddenly. The

e brought you all the way home, and here we

ed from one to the oth

said at last, with pi

don't cry. 'Tis time to get out, too, the train is going on, and you'll be carried away, if you don't mind wha

er, who had been all this time standing by awkwardly, wondering what he could do or say. But at that look he f

care of you till mother comes. Granny is home waiting for 'ee with a bootiful tea, and there's flowers, and a kitten, and

he asked eagerly, her eyes

surprised if there's

nd see, shall we? It h

out by this time, if

e to-m

nd quivered. Thomas hastily gathered up Jessie in his arms

't got

thes, I mean, frocks and h

ing a very shabby broken pair, "and there's a parcel t

l, and hurried out of the

se," said the

ticket?" Thomas i

se; it is in my purse, and my purse is in my pocke

r pocket, drew out an old shabby purse. The clasp was broken, and it was tied round with a piece of string, but her little fingers quickly undid this, and

side, do you see?" and she showed it to the man, pushing her finger through the hole that he might see it better. "It was mother's purse, but she lost a sixpence

ittle girl," he said quite seriously; "there'

erest. "What a clever little maid 'tis," he thought, "and what

granny'll think you ain't come, and she will be won

you to hold my hand. Mother always does; she's

, laughing, but he was only too glad to clasp the little hand thrust into his, and

'tisn't so very much furt

she answered, but in

oo tired t

ttle. "Is my face clean?" she asked anxiously. "I must have a clean face when I see gr

warmly, but recollecting himself, he added quickly, "Of course I like

dn't mind so much,"

ing. "Yes, I used to dip the corner of my handkerchief in the brook sometimes and wash her little face for her, so as she mig

ease," cried Je

lette, her face and hands were washed, and her hair put ba

ive and twenty years ago, and Thomas be bringing in Lizzie herself!" she gasped. Her face flushed, tears suddenly brimmed over and down her cheeks. She longed to run down the g

see her; she saw the little child face turned excitedly from side to s

d her cry in a perfectly friendly voice. "Y

ie was. I wish I knew how to-" But her wish s

granny inside waiting for us." Then he put her

I'd begun to wonder what had become of 'ee, father," she said. "I s'pose the train was late. Wel

he turned and slipped her hand into her grandfather's again as soon as the kiss was given, for she felt a

t and brushed out her hair, and brought her down to tea and lifted her into her seat at the table, much of her shyness had worn off, and the

m, nor her granny could bear to interrupt her, especially after she had slidden down from her high seat at the table, and clamber

et, the dark curly head fell back on granp'

ry her right up to bed

to you she'll waken,

's old room she expected him to stop and hand the sleeping child over to her, but, apparently without remembering what room it was, he walked straigh

eyes. "She's broke his will," she said gladly, "for her sake he's forgotte