A Little Girl in Old Boston

nd wide. She sat up straight, half-startled, and she seemed in a well of fluffy feathers. There were two white curtained windows and a straight splin

brought to Cousin Leverett's, she remembered now; and, oh, how sl

d a fresh, wholesome voice, wi

s so high. It's like Miss Arabella's with the curtains around it. And at home I had a little p

ver stirred. My niece Elizabeth was here in the summer from Salem, and after two nights I tu

t I jump out

is a s

st as soft as Persian pile. Her nightdress fell about her in a

d for Elizabeth. We call her that because my other sister Electa has a daughter she calls Bessy. They are both named after mother. And so am

is simply. "It was papa's choice.

s very

me, too. But Doris

woolen gown was not any too long, but, oh

that does nicely. And you must be choice of that beautiful brocade. What a pity that you will outgrow it!

r in dark blue flowers on a white ground, picked out with gilt edges. The bowl had scallops around the edge, and the ewer was tall and slim. There were a soap dish and a small pitcher, and they looked beautiful on the thick white cloth,

were very nice in summer, but of small account in winter,

old times they forget the ha

reakfast. Mrs. Leverett was baking bread and making pies and a large cake fu

lt at one side, a capacious working table, a dresser, some wooden chairs, and a

ot a place of tidiness and beauty. It had a hard dirt floor, and Barby sat out of doors in the sunshine to d

e trees and vines, and Mrs. Leverett had quite a garden spot, where she raised all manner of sweet herbs and some vegetables

on, and soon after twelve o'clock

"I hardly saw you yesterday. You were buried in that big hat, and it was get

like papa. There is a picture of h

or black. Do they snap wh

ed and cast

verett. "She is not going to get angr

l, there is no end of Adams connection even if some of them have different names. Captain Grier dropped into the warehouse with a tin box of papers, and your things are to be sent th

her stay here? Mother and I have

ink it a g

Doris that her face was s

her breath. "I should like to stay. And

thinking. There's lots for little girls to learn, though I

e out of a cookbook,"

cookbook I know about-

end mother all

't want to,"

e was proud of her abili

egan good-naturedly, "this will never do! You are not eati

of breakfast," explained

are not h

I don't want to go away,

bout it," nodd

rettiest child he had ever seen, bu

ending Warren's coat. Betty darned a small pile of stockings, and then she took out some needlework. She had begun her next summer's wh

eeded. She used to go to Father Langhorne and recite, and Mrs. Leverett wondered whether she and the father both were Roman Catholics. What did she study? Oh, French and a little Latin, and she was reading histo

it and fry some chicken, and Uncle Winthrop came at the same moment that a man on a dray brought an old-fa

r and a somewhat weather-beaten face. Mr. Winthrop Adams was two good inches taller and stood up very straight in spite of his being a bookworm. His complexion was fair and rather pale, his fe

aps, when we bade him good-by, but I have often thought of him. We corresponded

o say, but in the next breath Betty had said it all, even to declari

is. You have a poetical name.

ld volume of Percy's "Reliques." Did he mean like some of the sweet little things in that? Miss Arabel

o the high-backed chair beside the fireplace, and, putting his arm about her, drew her near to his side. Uncle Leverett would have taken

which had a fascination for her. "Was Miss Arabella-we

e had lost her mind and forgotten everybody. And Miss A

u go to

r very little children. I used to go twice a week

ate you. Do you think you

nd it gave her a still more winsome expressio

u read with

st' and some French.

er over critically. Prodigies were not to his taste, and a girl prodigy wou

like it-'Pa

kness. "I liked the verses in Percy's 'Reliques' better.

how about

s Arabella said the right things we

the easy things that we all

yone-though I don't see why.

intuition told her he like

ou do in s

to do. And I studied Latin, though Miss

the F

ange that afterward you have to learn so much about them, and how to make right sentences, and why they are right. It seems as if there were a great many

sm had been softened and refined away. The people who had banished Quakers had for a long while tolerated Roman Catholics. He had known Father Matignon, and enjoyed the scholarly and well-trained John Cheverus, who had lately been c

a pause, in which he generously made up his mind

issed mamma. Papa had to go away somewhere and couldn't take me. Yes

about her, and have known very little ab

rry to leave Sister Thérèse and Sister Clare. There were some little girls, too. And then we went to Lincolnshire. Miss Arabella was very nice, and Barby was so queer and funny-at first I could hardly understand her. And

hy between them. And just then Uncle Leverett and Warren came

t of you, Win, is good for

o do better. The years fly around so, I have always felt sorry

ility. Charles and you might as well

smile, which was really more

er now," said

he decided she liked him very much. She liked almost everybody: the captain had been so friendly, and Mrs. Jewett

not understand. She knew there had been war in France and various other European countries. Little girls

ver from France and placed in Miss Arabella's care. His name was on it-"Charles Winthrop Adams." Oh,

a small key out of a curious long leathern purse, and Uncle Win unlocked the box and spread out the papers. There was the marriage certificate of Jacqueline M

t for them, and thanked him cordially for al

aten, but jolly and good-humored. "And now, sissy, I'm glad you're safe with your folks, and I hope you'll grow up into a nice clever wom

a moment. Betty leaned over

Aunt Priscilla ought to be here to

ook hands all round a

e another trustee, and papers must be taken out for guardianship. They would

f fine linen thread, and along the instep it had

work. 'Lecty had six pairs when she was married. That's my second sister, Mr

, thick and warm, for her husband's winter wear. She did not have to

e was on 'pins and needles,'-they didn't call it nervous then,

ot, seems to me. Why, I she

feed this afternoon. By spring we won't have

e me? You don't have any Indian co

to the Indian

for ourselves. We don't, because father sold the two-acre lot, and

, but she couldn't underst

ren held ou

ound her, Warren," said Bett

r a low chair, and poked the kitchen fire, putting on a pine log to make a nice blaze. He brought out from the shed a t

ss. Maybe you've never

t, and then took up an ear w

e you," he sa

ll these little points," pinchi

he outside to keep it warm. When the winter is

s winter

es. Winters al

ar across the blade. A shower of corn

the way you

s head back

lisher! We s

tato and an apple with a knife bla

rds to the language. A core has seed

cheek against it. "Oh, how soft and fuzzy it

e to plant a grain like this. The little clear point we call a h

ed to run over it all at once and die down. Then the small end flamed out a

fire with. And pine cones. Ame

smell. It's queer though," wrinkling her forehe

ians. Uncle Win has his head full of these things and is writing a book.

t Sir Walter and

ople are growing tame now; there ar

n is fighting

are lots of places for you to see. Bunker Hill and Lexington and Concord and the headquarters of Washington and Lafayette.

, and it was called Ikanhoe, which means Boston. There is the old church and the abbey that St. Botolph foun

whistle, looking up at the little girl

Win is going," she announced.

h the box of papers in

a big boy like Warren. Yes, we must be a little more friendly, for life is short at the best. And

rned to be content, and she had a certain adaptiveness that kept her from being unhappy

ms. Mr. Leverett turned the great key

ow. It groans enough to raise