Children -- Death -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Farm life -- Juvenile fiction; Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
"I thought it couldn't be the same. Well he's a deuced
handsome pair of sons, tell him. I'm very sorry I can't stop,
-- I am obliged to go on now, and I must put my daughter and
Miss Cadwallader in your charge, and trust you to get them
safe home. I will be along and come to see you in a few days."
"The trunks is all out, sir," said the driver. "We oughtn't to
stop no longer. It's a bad piece atween here and Bearfoot."
"I leave it all to you, then," said Mr. Haye. "Elizabeth, this
young gentleman will see you and your baggage safe home. You
won't want me. I'll see you next week."
He shook hands and was off, stage-coach and all. And Mr.
Cowslip and Winthrop were left mounting guard over the baggage
and the ladies. Elizabeth gave a comprehensive glance at the
"young gentleman" designated by her father, and then turned it
upon the black leather and boards which waited to be disposed
of.
"You won't want the hull o' this for ballast, I guess,
Winthrop, _this_ arternoon," remarked Mr. Cowslip. "You'll have
to leave some of it 'long o' me."
"Can't it all go?" said Elizabeth.
"It would be too much for the boat," said Winthrop.
"If 'twouldn't for you," -- Mr. Cowslip remarked in a kind of
aside.
"Isn't there another boat?"
"There is another boat," said Mr. Cowslip -- "there's mine --
but she's up stream somewheres; comin' along, I guess, but she
won't be here time enough for your purposes."
It was necessary to make a selection. The selection was made,
and two stout trunks were successively borne down to the shore
by the hands of Winthrop and Mr. Cowslip and stowed in the
boat's bow. The two girls had walked down and stood looking
on.
"But I haven't got any books!" said Elizabeth suddenly when
she was invited to get in herself. "Won't the book-box go?"
"Is it that 'ere big board box?" inquired Mr. Cowslip. "Won't
do! It's as heavy as all the nation."
"It will not do to put anything more in the boat," said
Winthrop.
"I can't go without books," said Elizabeth.
"You'll have 'em in the mornin'," suggested the miller.
"O leave it, Lizzie, and come along!" said her companion. "See
how late it's getting."
"I can't go without some books," said Elizabeth; "I shouldn't
know what to do with myself. You are sure you can't take the
box?"
"Certainly," said Winthrop smiling. "She would draw too much
water, with this tide."
"Yes, you'd be on the bottom and no mistake, when you got in
the bay," said Mr. Cowslip.
Elizabeth looked from one to the other.
"Then just get something and open the box if you please," she
said, indicating her command to Winthrop; "and I will take out
a few, till I get the rest."
"O Lizzie!" urged her companion, -- "let the books wait!"
But she and her expostulation got no sort of attention. Miss
Lizzie walked up the hill again to await the unpacking of the
box. Miss Cadwallader straightened herself against a post,
while Mr. Cowslip and Winthrop went to the store for a hammer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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