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 soon Mehitable, bustling about, was ready for departure.

"Farewell, Mother!" She stooped to drop a light kiss upon the fair, faded cheek her mother serenely held up. "Tell Cherry where I went. What a long nap she be taking!"

Then, scuffling out through the deep snow, Mehitable directed Amos to saddle Dulcie.

"But, indeed, I like not for Dulcie to go out wi' her lame knee!" protested Amos with the privilege of an old servant.

"Oh, Amos!" The girl looked at him laughingly. "How ye do baby the horse!" And later, deciding Amos was overly careful, Mehitable put her to a trot. But soon poor Dulcie showed serious strain, for she began to limp at once.

"La!" Mehitable spoke aloud vexedly. Tis just my fortune! Well, I will leave ye at Uncle Dan's, Dulcie, and return on foot!"

A little later, she entered her aunt's sad kitchen like a bit of animated sunshine.

"How now, my dear!" It was her Aunt Ruth who spoke shiveringly from her place beside the fire. Beside her, as she knit, was a cradle with a sleeping child in it. She kept the cradle in constant motion with her foot upon one of the rockers.

"Indeed, we be very well at our house, Auntie!" answered Mehitable brightly, slipping out of her cardinal and warming her hands as she looked down