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dashed awaj a, ~l along the hard
smooth) „• direction of Fort
Brooke 18 distantly visible at
the heat •
j )r L then turned to his negroes,
y - jus time had come to report pro
in obedience to his orders. The only
a at his command, besides the one to
do expected from Fort Brooke, was a
canoe lying at the landing, badly damaged
by a recent accident. This he determin
ed to refit in all haste, and to dispatmi in
pursuit of his children. Stimulating and
systematizing the labors of his people,
who were as willing as they were unskill
ed,. he had the pleasure in less than two
i ins of pronouncing the boat seaworthy.
Then calling his body servant, William, a
black quadroon, reared in the family, also
his black-skinned carpenter, Sam, who
though many years older than,the other,
was far less intelligent, he gave them his
instructions:
“William,” said he, “I put you in
charge of this boat; and, Sam, do you
also listen well to what I say. Make for
the island at the month of the bay, which
you can see from here, marked by a clump
of tall palmettoes. Beyond that clump
you will find the house of Riley, the In
dian, whom you know. Go first to him.
Tell him what has happened, and say to
him from me that if he will find and bring
back my children, he may ask for any
thing in my power to give. If he needs
either of you to help him, do you, Sam,
go; and do you, William, return, to go, if
necessary, with me. Should Riley not be
at home, you may leave word with his
wife, while you yourselves push on as far
as you judge best to learn what has be
•come of the children. Another thing : if
you heir anything about them from Riley
or his wife, make a big smoke upon the
beach. I will watch for it. And if you
learn anything good, make two smokes -
one on each side of the palmetto grove.
And now, my good fellows, good-bye, and
God bless you!”
He extended to each of them a hand,
which they most reverently took, falling
at the same time upon their knees and
saying,
“Maussa, es deLord help us we’ll bring
chill mi back.”
"8 flowed on both sides, and for a
mow or two no one could say a word.
But Hi. ■ rdon, with a strong effort,
command voice and said—
“ Boys, I hit no doubt that you and
Riley will, of yc i wn hearts, do all for
me that you can. I>, • remember now
as you go off, that I maiu i vou the same
promise I make to Riley. Briny back my
BURKE’S WEEKLY.
children, and you may ask me for what
ever you will.”
With these words, Sam looked up into
his master’s face, and with great earnest
ness, replied:
« Maussa, we don’t want nutten, but to
bring dem chillun back. W e got ebery
ting else a’ready.”
l)r. Gordon kindly shook them off and
saw them to the boat, in which they were
soon skimming over the water, where, in
a very short time, they became reduced
to a speck in the distance. He then re
turned to his now desolate home, ponder
ing upon the change which one short
hour had wrought, and whispering to
himself,
“It is as true of our happiness as it is
of our persons, that ‘ln the midst of life
we are in death.’ ”
Little Cricket.
A cricket lived under a crack in our hearth,
As snug as a cricket could be,
With all the little cricks safe in his nest,
What a merry old cricket was he.
“ Chirp—chirrup,
Chirrup —chirp.”
Oh, the cricket was full of his glee.
When the sun in the morning shines bright on the
floor,
The cricket keeps close in his house,
And when noontime comes and the weather feels
warm,
The cricket is still as a mouse.
“ Chirp—chirrup,
Chirrup —chirp.”
Oh, the cricket is still as a mouse.
But when lamps are all lighted and stories told,
And the games for the day are o’er,
And we sit by the fire and listen awhile,
Then blithely he chirps from the floor.
“ Come —papa,
Papa —come.”
Till we hear his dear step at the door.
0 dear little cricket, to sing such glad songs.
Our hearth shall protect you alway,
And if Bridget should chase you, with brush or
with broom,
We quickly will bid her to stay.
“ Chirp—chirrup,
Chirrup—chirp.”
IN e never will drive you away.
Percy’s Year of Rhymes.
Bet no boy be too proud to work.
Lot no boy be ashamed of a hard fist or
a sun-burnt countenance. Let him be
ashamed only of ignorance and sloth.
Let no boy be ashamed of poverty. Let
him only be ashamed of dishonesty and
idleness.
A young man in Paris, who want
ed to drown his dog, took him in a boat
and threw him overboard. While push
ing the animal from the boat with his
oar, he fell overboard, and would have
o HMvnod Baddog held him up till
assist mice dime, ty . ■.***
THE LITTLE WOMAN IN GREEN.
A FAIRY TALE.
BY MRS. THEODOSIA. FORD,
fl@r"T WAS a bright, very
bright afternoon, in tho
tfflnik curly summer, when tho
sun gladdens without burn
ing; long shadows were
thrown upon tho grass, while every
leaf and twig quivered, as if in
nflSI delight, at the fresh breeze which
iW swept through the tree-tops, or at
the golden light in which they were
bathed.
Tho village school had just been dis
missed. and the children were scattering,
some in groups of two or three together,
some singly, in different directions, on
their way home.
Two little girls seemed quite in a hurry,
and yet, after walking a little way to
gether, they stopped, hesitated, and
seemed to consult. Their names were
Mary and Ellie.
Two paths were before them —both led
to their homes—and the subject of dis
cussion seemed to be which they should
choose. One, the main street, which led
straight through the village, some dis
tance beyond which was their father’s
farm; the other, and longer way, was a
narrow lane, which carried them around
the village and across the open common,
and then by a gradual ascent to the top
of quite a high hill, which yet was culti
vated to tho very top.
It was quite a roundabout way, but
very beautiful, and one which Ellie dearly
loved, because of its beauty. She fancied
that from its summit she could look
abroad upon the whole wide world. Cer
tainly she felt nearer heaven. The lane,
then, was Elbe’s choice. The highway