Real Folks

heir wood in and to dry their clothes upon, was open; and out at this window had come two little girls, with quiet steps and hushed voices, and carried their books and crickets

ricks," Luclarion had told the

why, when they've got old, and ought to? It's like the sea-shore here, I guess, o

the white and black and gray bits o

ls-like the

upon the fir branches and a

es and pine forests?" asked Lau

w; but I do,

s and pictures and one tree, and a

t to the sea-shore, in that book; and picked up pebbles; and the sea came up to her feet, just as the air comes up here, and you can't get any farther,"-said Frank, walking t

ptuously. "With all those other wood-s

Frank, turning back. "Besides, I don't pretend it is; I only think it seem

nd all the people look up at them. I like high places. I like Cecilia, in the 'Bracelets,' sitting at the top, behind, when her name

a great dea

but she don'

arisees! You're always wishing

id Laura, securely. After which, of cours

ind a little. Frank and Laura were behind the fir. They saw her through the b

hate that forefinger of hers; it's always hushing or beckonin

" answered Frank. "All the must there i

-if father

ather is going to get well. What do you suppose

Mrs. Lake didn't have time to sew

soon? I heard her tell Luclarion that there must be a change befo

nutes. Frank sat looking through the

Mrs. Lake had kept the house, and mended their clothes, and held up her forefinger at them. Even when Mr. Shiere was well, he had been a reserved man, much absorbed in business since his wife's death, he had be

hen?" asked Laura, after awhile. "W

said Frank; "we

is that,-besid

h, looking down at her white ones with double crimped ruffles,-"and Mrs

o tea,-that pleasant Saturday, you know,-and made lace pelerines for our dolls while we were gone! It's horrid, when other girls have mothe

ith us; they always do,

children; she could not see exactly what was to come of that, though, practically. Laura knew that people always

strong; two great, clear, hazel eyes looked straight out, like arrow shots; it was a clear, undeviating glance; it never wandered, or searched, or wavered, any more than a sunbeam; it struck full upon whatever was there; it struck through many things that were transparent to their quality. She had square, white, strong teeth, tha

as Luc

and Mrs. Oferr ha

in her big trunk, and a hundred and one suggestions for their ordering and behavior at her tongue's end, once a year. Mrs. Oldways lived up in the country, and was "aunt" to half the neighborhood at home, and turned into an aunt in

n pantry window, before

all the neighbors in the circumstances of th

they were down at Homesworth now, there'd be the lilac garden and the old chestnuts, and the seat under the wall. Poor little sou

the blinds, and

s, into her lap first, and broke a slice for her; how Mrs. Oldways went up-stairs to Mrs. Lake, and then down into the kitchen to do something that was needed; and Mrs. Oferr, after she had visited her brother, lay down in the spare chamber for a nap, tired wit

its of bread from dinner, and opened a bit of the sash, and shoved out crumbs under the blinds for the pigeons that flew down upon the sidewalk; how they wondered what kind of a day it was in other houses, where there were not circumstances

e; in the look of the sick man, raised high against the pillows, and turning his eyes wistfully toward them, with no slightest mov

he way of talking to them about religion in his life. He had only insisted on their truth and obedience; that was the beginning of all religion. Now it was given him in the hou

keep His comman

m, talking in a low voice with Mrs. Oferr, who stood by an

ng care of t

he had been taken care of. It

re calculating,-about black

He never was counted. He was Mrs. Shiere's uncle,-Aunt Oldways' uncle-in-law, therefore, and grand-uncle to these children. But Titus Oldways never took up any family responsibilities; he had been

ut him. Except as now and then, at intervals of years, there broke out here or there, at some distant point in some family crisis, a sudden recollection from which would spring a half suggestion, "Why, there's Uncle Titus! If he was only,"-or, "if he would only,"-and

Oldways consulted about their own measures and materials; and never reckoned t

one," said Mrs.

ere to be

t country-living, of city sights and pleasures; of kittens and birds' nests, and the great

worth," whispered F

the streets and shops, and the

" quoted Luclarion, over the p

says Laura, surprise

cass is," answ

see to for yourselves. I can't pac

Lucla

her said to yo

Frank answered, softly,-"I

glibly, that she "was afraid there wouldn't be

all a heavenly-minded woman

yle. "She visits a great deal, and she goes out in the carriage. You have

of her magnificent temptations. She was only

y hard to remember," repeate

s your

ow of her look straight upon her,