Aunt Madge's Story

ing is a tr

, and cousin Lydia was filling a husk-bed in the barn. Ther

naughty, bad girl," thought I. "O, why don't they love me

reely; but lately cousin Joseph had observed that the curb, or framework round the mouth of the well, was out of order; the boards were old,

: "Why, I drawed water day before yes'day, and he didn't s

ed to obey. I forgot

our dollies' clo'es. I'll go get a

d not lift

"and I'll go get

draw water. She enjoyed swinging the pole just as much as I did, and we soon forg

aw 'em once; they say it's stars, but I should

spoke, and Fel was leaning agains

cried I; "cousi

nce, the rotten boards gave way, and Fel

nd more too-came to my aid. I can't account for it, but I f

pole, Fel! take

m the watery depths. All I know is, she did put out both her little hands, and clutch that sho

er a while, and as long as I could, of course she would not drown. It was a wise thought, and showed great presence of mind in a child

ll the might of my little arms, cryi

ick! com

ed to me a long while, nobody heard. Seth was making a great noise with his flail, and if my shout reached his ears he only

on; my little stren

nd. "Well, you're a good one! Don't be scared, little dear." Th

she was, she still had sense

lady! Both arms round

nd Seth, with Fel in his arms, was rocking her back and forth li

imed cousin Lydia; "the chil

ing to me; "she's got the right stuff in her. I never saw a

p to cry. Cousin Lydia put her arms round me, a

ooked on, half proud and half ashamed. Seth kept saying there were five feet of water in the well, and if I hadn't held Fel up, she must have drowned before anybody could get to her. I knew I had been very bra

me home, Miss Julia took

rt child; there's no doubt a

she had a soft way with her; but Miss Julia! Why, it puffed me out, and puffed me out,

"Marjery is smart enough, but she ought to b

the bubble that time

. It was not on Fel's neck; it had gone into the well where the stars were. Seth got it out, but

l affair, I was willing people should love Fel better than me. I had been fairly frightened out of my crossness to her. O, what if I had drowned her? Every time I wan

," every time, th

shamed to have that doctor come, for they had told me what was the matter. It has a

d have turned upon me at this time, and said,

ted my cheeks with her little, soft hands, and sometimes read to me, from a Sabbath school book, about a good girl, named Mary Lothrop,-she coul

" said I. "It killed her to

lia said she was too good for this world? O, what if God should want her up in heaven? I had thought of this before; but if I had really believed it, I should all along have treated her very different

lle Allen and Miss Margaret Parlin, care of Joseph Tenney, Esq. Here it lies in my writing-desk, almost as yellow as gold, and quite as precious. How many times do you suppose we

and my mother another; 'Ria a few lines

t our house and barn. I went to Gus Allen's party

ave said more after resting a while; but Miss Rubie saved him the trouble, and ended the letter

! A wedding! We danced right and le

e what the man's name is, you little Flutter

surprise. It was a new idea to both of us, that a man who had had one wife

ears, and years

to go to England this fall, and wants to take Zed; and I am very gl

s mother?" said I.

all we cared about was the wedding. And I did hope I

he letter. (The words

think you can buy me some wax beeds? We want to see you very much. But I want the wax beeds, too. Fel s

j and Ru