Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/151

 "But we never heard about them before," remonstrated little Thekla.

"Why, so you didn't!" cried September, recollecting herself. "Well, you shall now; for that's the very story I'm going to tell you.

"There are a good many of the Browns; and they live at a very nice place on the sea-coast, called 'Timber Cove.' Plenty of rocks and sand and surf there; and these jolly little Browns—prime pets of mine—are as fond of the ocean as a nest full of young sea-mews. They were always on the beach; playing plays, and 'making-believe' about going to sea,—especially about going to an Island, which was one of their favorite plans.

"I've seen Islands enough in my time, and don't think much of them," went on September. "But there was a book in the nursery, which the Brown children were for ever poring over, and which was all about an Island. I don't recollect its name; in fact, I don't know how to read myself, having always lived outdoors, and hated