Two Little Travellers / A Story for Girls

ll this a bo

sailor

cy it? Well

e salt wi

d down, l

of a wave

go wit

I see th

our boat

on fair

Ke

to return to the tw

argee was wrapped in slumber, and the boy buried in a penny dreadful. Darby and Joan did not desire to disturb either of them. They were anxious above all things to get on board the boat unnoticed; so, after a hurried consultation carried on in whispers, they agreed that their best plan would be to walk on to the next stopping-place-a tiny clump of cottages and a shop or two, called by courtesy a village-and mak

ling along behind the bushes, neither would have thought of challenging their presence or casting upon them more than a passing glance. They would have simply accepted them for what they appeared to the casual observer-two cottage children who were either altogether motherless or sadly neglected-and then forgotten all about them. For, to be quite cand

rs which had been purchased according to Perry's idea of fitness as being entirely unbecoming or unsuitable, laying aside for distribution among her poor a goodly quan

utiful rig-out awaiting them in the land for which they were bound, he considered that it would be sheer and sinful extravagance to carry away with the

them the

, showing a broad band of untanned wrist between the button-less cuffs and the chubby, sunburnt hand. A pair of sadly-scuffed shoes, which originally had been nut-brown calf, were held upon his feet by one solitary button and a piece of string; while his headgear consisted of a sailor-

o meet no more. On her shining golden curls she had set a cast-off garden-hat belonging to Aunt Catharine, of brown straw, in what was known as the mushroom shape. Surmounting Joan's tiny figure it looked exactly like a small umbrella, which hid her blue eyes, and shaded her pink-and-white complexion so completely that several times Darby stooped down, peeped under the floppy brim, crying merrily, much to his sis

well, not nurse certainly, although their father might, if he had glanced at them a second time; for love's eye

nd slower, pausing now and again to snatch a mouthful of grass from the bank beside his feet, until at length he stopped

se had come to a standstill, they agreed that they also might rest awhile, and joyfully threw themselves down upon

h a tired sort of sigh. "Isn't it

ction of the sun, as he had seen Mr. Grey and Green the gardener do. "And if it isn'

or puddin'. It won't be real di

ourney never do-but we can make believe that we have.

d Joan, jumping up and beginning in true h

not over clean. These Joan spread on the grass to serve as a tablecloth. Then Darby proceeded to distribute th

ot quite, but almost-as much more for tea," he added, peering into the depths

ed it is not easy to speak distinctly. However, the biscuit went over with an effort, and Joan's mouth was free for further speech. "It's a puffic'ly 'li

eat rice or mutton, but nice, nippy, mustardy meat, like what father used to give us from his dinne

ely. "I heard her tellin' cook to be sure an' give the chil'ens plenty of pow'idge

cted Darby, laughing gleef

us that's busted when we've eated great plates of it-nashty, messy stuff!" and Joan turned up he

sighed

u?" anxiously asked Darby.

rink of milk. I don't want to be gweedy; but oh, I does want a drink so badly!

y. "There's lots of water in the canal, of course. I could car

ittle girl, grasping eagerly at her brother'

ted Darby. "But you mustn't take much, mind; just

an held Darby's hand fast while he leaned down and with his hat ladled her up a small measure of the doubtful-look

and faster. It was almost dry. A few more turns would complete the process, and he twirled it quicker still, when

trailing like a tail behind; on, on, farther and farther, until at length, behind a clump of osiers that hung over the ban

hools where the boys wear nothing on their head but their hairs that father will send me by-and-by, so I'd best be getting used to going without. And in the Happy Land hymn, although it tells abou

ine's mushroom hat. "Take my hat, Darby; it'll hold lots and lots of water. That ho'wid old

o drink bad water? There's funny little beasts living in it called microscopes. They get into the blood and carry on dreadful. They give people fever, and typus, and palsy, and cholera-morti

ew everything-almost! Her admiration was short-lived, however. Soon she returned t

do, or my tea. Bo-o

'll make believe that we've had our tea-although it's only done being dinner-time-and that nurse has just handed us our second cup, and, by mistake for her own, put four lumps of sugar in it. My, isn't it sweet!" And Darby smacked his lips, but Joan did not lift her h

n's immediate craving, or fancy rather, for she was not near

nt a drink-I

rsistent way, and he looked about him in despair. Then he star

the Smiling Jane's moving. They're a good way in f

er brother's side, and soon they arrived quite close to the rude wharf, where the boat would stop long enough to deli

coal, sacks of potatoes, down to small packages-were sent and received by this route, and the arrival of bargee and his boat made quite a break in the uneventful lives of the inhabitants of that remote, far-scattered district. They chatted, l

etired to give place to a younger, more active man, who was a stranger on the route, consequently did not know the little folks from Firgrove. Darby drew Joan behind him, and making straight be