Aunt Madge's Story

y lonesome hours, and sometimes cried after I went to bed. Samantha m

lk to Willowbrook, and what were the chances of her getting lost if she should try it? I thought I spoke in such a guarded way that Seth would not have the l

avel, and no knowing but she'd starve to death on the road. Why, yo

d I, with a dismal sigh; "they don't hav

I took my little cheese in a basket on my arm, and some doughnuts and turn-overs? But no, it would be stealing to take th

ing about children, and was as busy as she could be with her dairy and her "fall work." I ought not to have been so unhappy. Some children at that age, with

ome degree; still I might have got over it much younger if I had only tried a little harder. A child of s

troubled her. She talked with Madam Allen, who was alwa

k. Do you suppose she would like to hav

knew I would be h

f Fel might go to Bloomingdale a few weeks. She hoped the mountain air wo

e; and when Seth harnessed the horse and went to the station to meet her, I supposed he was only "going to see his mother;" for that was what

him helping a little girl out of the wagon. The red and white plaid looked exactly like Fel's dress; and as the little gi

hour or two. I danced and screamed, and laughed and cried, and wondered how Fel

e," sobbed I; "I never was so glad in

ready, and she sat at the table, and ate honey on her bread and butter, as if she really

hardly have told what my name

farm, which was a very nice place, only I had never thought of it before, and sho

ack currants, Fel

ye

't; I just

el; for after our long separation she coul

r Fel came, "may we tell scare stories

t know what I meant

said I, eagerly. "And we like to, for we wa

and said "children wer

er all over. It's

aid cousin Lydia, "if you'll stop t

"You tell first," said Ruphelle; "you c

e Big Giant," said I

Big G

ree heads, and he roared so

" said Fel; "my hair

ig Giant had three heads? He had sixteen. And every one of 'em had three mouths,

me a bit," sai

rass? He ate fire; he ate live

t 'twould have burnt

it didn't burn him up; it came out at his great big nose. And when the Big Giant walked along the st

live at W

your house and my house

gan to tremble and

d she, laughing. "It

d to the horrible things that Big Giant

hair stan

But there's a creepy feeling g

ly excited. "Got yo

hut up

know but that Big Giant's got into this room?

uldn't,

e wash-bowl and pitcher, and l

," said Fe

assent n

in in great surprise, and it was some time before she could succeed in calming us. I remember how heartily she laughed, and how m

en ARE perfec

bliged to get into our bed and sleep in the middle. Cousin Lydia said we made too much hard work

aid to sleep alone," said she; "it is because you allow yo

I, quivering i

. Never think of dreadful things. Say your little prayer, asking God to take care of you,

rjie; but I like to hear her

bout angels after she went to bed, and drea

heaven. Strange I could have associated with her so much, and

she did not try to conceal it, and said more than once that "that child was too good for this world." I thought everybody liked her better than me, f

ate everybody in the house. We children looked on with great interest to see the lanc

reat alarm, and began to cry. "Well, well," said the doctor, turning to me, "here's a little la

rage. I guessed they wouldn't laugh about my Big Giant now! I rolled back my sleeve with an air of triumph, and looked down on Fel, w

after dinner. Why, she hadn't any more courage than a chicken. I was ashamed of her.

alked out to talk with cousin Joseph, and w

vaccine matter on the table, having no thought, I suppo

for I watched him. Push up your sleeve, Fel, and I'll waxerate you,

u touch that sharp t

ery. "He didn't say folks musn't touch it, did he, Miss Fel? It's just like a needle; and who's afraid of a needle but yo

the scars-yes, twenty scratches I made above my elbow, never

y now

t as well satisfied. After the doctor was gone, and she was in cousin Lydia's lap, quite

d, "what will you do next? It was very, very wr

"I guess she'll be a sick e

afternoon Miss Julia allowed Fel, who had been such a coward, to dress up in her bracelets,

very eyes. I thought it was hard, after scratching myself so unmercifully, not to have either glory or kisses, or even a bosom-pin to wear half an hour. My arm smarted, and I felt cro

o! 'Fore I'd wear other folks's things! I don't wear a single

such was the sweetness of nature in that dear l

play with me," said I; "and if you do, y

he watch into her bosom; and we