Page:Samantha on Children's Rights.djvu/329

 And then I hearn, as one who did not hear, Hamen say, "It is a boat, Mary."

"Well, what are the little bright lights all round it? Are they little playhouses for children? They look so small and bright, and there is such a pretty path to 'em over the water."

And then I hearn Hamen go on, a little I heard there with my ears onbeknown to me and a little I hearn afterwards from the lips of a too late remorse, but 'tennyrate Hamen told her they wuz little playhouses where good little boys and girls went to play, and asked if she didn't want to go and play in one of 'em.

And she told him in her believin', trustin' way that she guessed she would go out and live in one of them with Jack.

And Hamen said it would be a good idee, they could take some dishes and things and keep house there, and told her to talk to Jack about it. And she pattered off to find Jack, and Hamen told his brother about it, and they both tittered and laughed. But that I did hear afterwards, I am truthful and will not lie even in moments of excitement and tragedy, I did not hear the titters.

Well, it wuzn't long after that that Jack come into my room, and I, bein' so wropped round with my reverie, didn't notice anything in particular, but remember thinkin' in a dreamy way that he looked dretful buttoned up as if he wuz ready to start off somewhere, and his pockets seemed kinder bulgin' out, but if I thought anything, I thought it wuz some of his and little Mary's play, they played keepin' house and doctorin' and visitin' and everything. Well, he come to me and asked me if folks ever lived in the stars?