looking for Linda,” said Mrs. Grey. “Yes; I hear them calling‘Linda Linda!’”
So James hurried the horses on, and as soon as they came in sight of themaids Mrs. Grey held Linda up so that she might be seen.
You may imagine how surprised they were to see the child seated in astranger’s carriage, and driving comfortably home.
But they were glad enough to see the little girl back again, you may besure, for they had been in a terrible fright about her. Mrs. Grey saidshe was going to call upon Mrs. Forest very soon, but that she would notstop now; so bidding Linda good-bye, and telling her she must come oversoon, and play with the children, she drove away.
Uncle Dick came that night to tea, and you may be sure Alice wasdelighted to see him. She had enough to talk about, for it seemed to herthat a great deal had happened since she saw him last.
At eight o’clock Alice bade the family good night, and went up to bed.
It seemed to her that she had been in bed for not more than half an hourwhen, upon opening her eyes, she saw that the sun was beginning to comeinto her room. “Oh, dear; I suppose I ought to get up,” she said.
So Alice sat up in bed, and took her pillow in her hands. As she did soshe heard something rattle, and, upon looking closely to see what itcould be, she espied a letter directed to “Miss Alice Grey.”
“What in the world can that be,” said Alice, looking at it attentively.“I will open it, and see what is inside.”
So she broke the seal and took out a letter which was folded carefullywithin. This she opened and imagine her astonishment, when out rolled aten-dollar bill.
All sleepiness left her eyes as she began to read her letter.
* * * * *
“DEAR ALICE: I shall not see you again probably, for some time, as westart off again to-morrow morning; but although neither Mr. Cushman norI can be at the fair on Saturday, we wish to make a contribution to thisgood cause. Will you please accept ten dollars for us, and buy whateveryou think is best for your protégée? So good-bye, my dear little girl.With our best wishes for your success, I remain your affectionate
DICK.”
* * * * *
Alice could not sleep any more that morning. Instead of dreading to getup she now only longed for the time when she could dress herself, andrun over to tell Susy the delightful news.
So she lay in bed waiting for the clock to strike six. “I will get upthen, certainly,” she said; “but I wish it would be seven. I hate to beup so long before breakfast.”
Just then two little birds lighted on a tree just outside of her window,and began their morning song. They seemed to have a great deal to say toeach other, and Alice thought they were probably settling upon a goodplace for a nest. Alice was right. They were deciding this mostimportant question.
Poor little birds, they have a hard time of it! Between bad boys andcats they have to battle for their lives. We can excuse cats, for theyknow no better, and they eat two or three mouthfuls of bird asinnocently as we would pick and eat two or three strawberries.
Well, these little birds were in a safe enough place, for the boys whocame to visit Alice were little gentlemen; and as Alice lay therelistening to them her thoughts began to wander. She thought she was abird and that Susy was another, and that they were both standing on thechimney of Mrs. Thompson’s house. She was showing Uncle Dick’s money toSusy, holding it in her beak, when suddenly, a big black cat camecreeping stealthily up the chimney and made a spring toward herten-dollar bill. She woke with a scream, and found that morning hadfairly come.
She sprang out of her bed, and was soon dressed. When she went down tothe parlor, she found her mamma writing a letter.
“Oh, mamma,” she exclaimed, “did you see what Uncle Dick left for me?”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Grey; “was he not kind? He put it under your pillowhimself.”
“He is just the best uncle that ever lived,” said Alice, “and I am goingto write and tell him so; but, oh, dear me, I forgot, I don’t know wherehe is.”
The summer passed away at last. Alice and Susy kept up their fair untilMrs. Thompson grew perfectly well. In fact she said she had
never been so well in her life as she was when she began to walk aboutagain.
The question arose how they should get back, should they take the carsor the boat.
The children were decidedly in favor of the boat, and at last it wasdecided that they should go in that way.
So one afternoon the trunks were all put on board of a big wagon, andoff the Grey family went.
The children had great fun on the boat, and thought it much better thanthe cars.
The next day they reached New York, and soon the winter came with allits duties. It brought its pleasures, too, but it was a long time beforethe children ceased to talk about the pleasant summer days which hadpassed.
DOWN BY THE SEA.
_ILLUSTRATED._
NEW YORK: DODD, MEAD & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS.
Copyright, 1880, by DODD, MEAD & COMPANY.
PRESS OF RICHARD HANDY.