They were reassured and stopped howling. "How is your doll, Molly!" "Her poor nose is broke." "I thought so." Well, I will bring you a prettier and a larger doll, that can open and shut its mouth and cry." "Oh-h!" exclaimed Molly, making great eyes in her surprise and delight. "Now, what else shall I bring you, besides the new doll?" "Another one." "What, two dolls?" "Yes." "Well, what else?" "Another one, too." "Three dolls! goodness! but tell me what you would like beside the three dolls?" "Some more dolls," persisted Molly, with her finger in her mouth. "Whew! What would you like, Johnny?" inquired Ishmael, smiling on the little boy. "I'd like a hatchet all of my own. I want one the worst kind of a way," said Johnny solemnly. "Shall I bring him a little box of dwarf carpenter tools, Uncle Reuben?" inquired Ishmael doubtfully. "Just as you please, Ishmael. He can't do much damage with them inside, because Hannah is always here to watch him; and he may hack and saw as much as he likes outside," said Reuben. These points being settled, and the children not only soothed, but delighted, Ishmael put them off his knees and arose to depart. He kissed the children, shook hands with Reuben and embraced Hannah, whose maternal tenderness caused her to restrain her emotions and forbear her croakings, lest she should frighten the children again. When he got outside he found Sam standing by the horse, having just given him water, and being in the act of removing the empty bucket. Ishmael shook hands with him also, got into the saddle, and, amid the fervent blessings of Reuben and Hannah, recommenced his journey. CHAPTER XXIV. THE JOURNEY. Love, hope, and joy, fair pleasure's smiling train; Hate, fear, and grief, the family of pain; These mixed with art and to due bounds confined, Make and maintain the balance of the mind; The lights and shades whose well-accorded strife Give all the strength and color to our life --_Pope_. Ishmael's ride up to the city was, upon the whole, as much enjoyed as the ride down had been. It is true that, in the first instance, he had been going to see Bee; and now he was coming away from her; but he had passed one whole day and two pleasant evenings in her society, and he could live a long time on the memory of that visit. He soon struck into his old direct path, and calling at the same places where he had changed horses on his journey down, he re- changed them on his way up. At Horsehead, where he stopped to take tea, he recovered his favourite brown horse Jack, which was in excellent condition and carried him swiftly the rest of the way to Washington. It was ten o'clock when he drew rein at the door of his office, dismounted, and rang. The professor opened the door. "Well, Morris, all right here?" was Ishmael's cheerful greeting.