I thanked the big-hearted fellow, and said that I would consult my mother about it. “You set down an' write her a letter,” said he, “an' I'll see that she gets it.” “But the Colonel--” I began. “He ain't forbid _you_ to write, has he?” Sam went on. “You write her a good, long, high-toned letter, such as a lady ought to get. You know how to do it. Don't speak o' the rocks. I've told 'em that you was a gentleman, an' very partic'lar fine in every way, shape, an' manner, an' I guess she b'lieves it. She can marry the best chap in the land if she wants to.” I took his hard hand in mine. “Sam, you're a friend worth having,” I said. “You done me a favor once,” he went on, “an' I ain't forgot it, an' never will, an' I'm goin' to help you in any way that I can. Do you remember when I was married? She just took hold o' my bit an' give me a slap on the side, an' walked me up to the neck-yoke where I belonged, an', old boy, I'd go through fire an' water for her.” “I shall not write to Jo at present,” I said. “It wouldn't be fair to the Colonel. We must win him over.” We climbed the hanging stair, and I conducted Sam to the spare room. “Thank God,” Sam exclaimed, “I ain't got to hear about battles or the last rose o' summer, an' prob'ly I won't have to jump out an' rassle in the dead o' the night!” I took the little package Sam had given me to my room, and when it was undone there lay the horruck, wrapped in a sheet of paper which contained these words: _I have read the delightful message of the horruck. I send it back, and it will do for a letter._ I sat for hours trying to solve the riddle, and fell asleep in my chair by-and-by. When I awoke the horruck was gone. It had dropped from my hand, no doubt, but, although I looked high and low, I was not able to find it. Had Lizzie McCormick returned in my sleep and taken it away? The thing had left me as mysteriously as it came. I went to bed and lay awake, hearing the roar of the falling water, and the thought came to me that my own life was like a river now, creeping over the flats. Maybe it would gather power and go on with a rush by-and-by. STAGE IV.--IN WHICH CRICKET COMES TO A TURN IN THE ROAD [Illustration: 9187] Y sister was now in the Heartsdale Academy, and my mother and I had a wholesome pride in her. It was partly for her sake, I must confess to you, that I had been in a when my desire would have sent me to school. One of us had to work, and there were many reasons for my sacrifice, and no credit due me. In a dozen houses I knew one might have seen better deeds: mothers working nights, sons and daughters hired for long hours and hard labor, and with no clothes fit for a holiday, so that some one of the children could go to college or the normal school. My sister had many friends--boys and girls of her own age--who came to visit her. She was a comely girl, and sprightly and light of heart as a bird in the springtime.