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 prank, he immediately gueed the kind intention of the pirit, and could not refrain from burting out into a loud laugh—a liberty which Stephen would have everely reented in his more manful mood. But now he uffered her uneaonable levity to pas unchatied, and only enquired anxiouly after the goat and kids. This tickled his wife’s diaphragm till more, for he perceived the careful houe-keeper had been prying into every corner. ‘What dot thou trouble thyelf about my cattle for?’ aid he; ‘thou hat not yet made the leat enquiry after the poor children. The creatures are yonder in the pature, and in no danger of running away. As for Number-Nip’s prank, do not take that o much to heart, who knows how oon he or another may make us rich amends?’ ‘Aye, thou mayet wait long enough for that,’ aid the diheartened huband. ‘Little looked for often comes at lat,’ retorted the merry-hearted wife. ‘Do not depair, ‘Stephen,