Little Miss Joy

golden September day, when the atmosphere of the ro

Uncle Bobo had declared two heads were better than

still lying in that upper chamber, whence she had always smiled her good-morning on Patience Har

m those lovely gentian eyes was more soft and subdued. Little Miss Joy, who had been as blithe as a bird on the bough and so merry and gladsome, that she deserved her name of "Little Sunbeam," was no

a child well? I pay enough. I don't grudge them their money, but I expect to see a return for it

re the same expression of waiting for something or some one that never came, as it d

; and tidings had come that the Galatea had been lost off the coast of Spain, and only nine of the crew or passengers aboard had survived to tell the tale! That the Galatea was lost seemed certain, but that Jack was aboard her was not proved. The man who reported that he had seen him could not be sure of his name. He heard him called Jack, but so were hundr

for Joy as if she had been her own ch

stoon over her head, and a bunch of fishing-tackle catching a lock of her abundant

there's to be no fuss. They are going to Cromer for a few d

Joy to do

nd poor Bet Skinner is out of her wits with delight because I s

to hold out a hand to that old lady, Skinner's

ave excused myself on accoun

d she will live to repent it; though, to be sure, we can't call it marrying in haste. Tha

nner. I shall look out for a situation in a shop, as soon as Joy is well again, and does not want me. Or maybe I sh

dow now between eleven and twelve years. A good man wants to make you h

marry any man while I am waiting for my husband's return, and now, too, for my boy's?

ou'll find the salt water has washed a lot of nonsens

, but climbed up the narro

hem round her friend's neck. "I have been fidgeting so, hearing you talking to Uncle Bobo downstairs. An

I think she tries to make you out much st

horse tearing after me, just as that horse did that evening; and then it wasn't a horse at all,

's forehead deepened, and

dear; and it is said they al

lue sky above the opposite roofs and through a slight aperture between the two houses, where Joy could on clear nights see tw

row, and that you will have to stay to

Bet is coming

d, and sa

n Jack comes home, I shall tell him how kind you have been to me, and we shall be so happy;

turn away her head to hid

tle Miss Sorrowful, it seems to hurt him so. And then he always says he ought to have snatched hold of me when the horse came galloping after us, and that he ought to have been knocked down, not me. But that is quite a mistake. Uncle Bobo is wanted in the shop, and I don't think I could h

ext day, and the row was g

mmed with lace, and she wore an apology for a bonnet, with

the wedding party, which she watched l

f hers, who ran off-she was that ill-treated by her mother she couldn't bear it! Ah! they are a queer lot, those Skinners; they do say Joe Skinner is a queer customer, and that he is so hard up, that's why he's married that old lady. He will make her money spin, and there won't be much left at the end of a year. Serve her right. I've no patience with folks making themselves ridiklous at her time of life. Why, my dear!" Susan said, growing confidential, as she drew her hea

ng installed in her sister's place at the shop, B

er wants t

el so afraid of your grandmother.

as dressed in her wedding gown and bonnet, and came to Joy's bed, standing ther

es to the hard, deeply-lined

"I am glad you will spare B

better," Joy continued; "at least the doctors say so; but

little Miss Joy's features with a keen scruti

et;" and then she turned, and her footfall on the stairs was h

tle Miss Joy ventured to say. "I don't like her; bu

d I did try; but she was always so hard. She loves Uncle Joe, I think, though she is ang

sat down by Joy's side, perfectly content tha

g," she said. "And you won't mind i

r a book? Give me my crochet. I like to try to do

an't talk unless you wish me to talk;" and the poor

for my tea," Joy said. "It s

e of use, and hurried down

cup for yourself, and Mrs. Harrison has sent over a bit of wedding-cake. It's very black,

row was quiet, when Joy, who had b

ck again-Jack Harrison. I t

for Jack Harri

e beginning together, and I never saw him again. That was a dreadfully sad time; and then, not content with being very hard on Jack, Miss Pinckney and your uncle said he was a t

said; "was

did not take it, but of course as he ran away that very day it looks like it. Even Susan shakes her head, and I nev

when Bet saw Joy was asleep, she crept dow

osed, and she felt free to come

"A box so small it would go into anybody's pocket." And Bet that night l