uare-brimmed hat, coarse and clumsy, which
was to keep my face from the sun, and my flowing tresses from the briny
ocean waves.

Early in the morning I went out into the veranda, and took a survey of
the ocean--the broad infinite expanse of waters into which I was about
to plunge in search of--well, health.

In front of the veranda, on the high bank, was a pole, like the
liberty-poles we run up on almost every village green of New England. On
that pole a pale yellow flag was flying.

A chill ran over me, and I know that my arms must have been roughened
like a grater.

"The yellow-fever." I knew it was in the harbor, shut up there by the
authorities. Had it escaped through Sandy Hook, and come poisoning the
waters along shore? Now that I was ready for the first plunge, were my
best hopes to be frustrated? Had I sat up all night sewing red braid on
that tunic, and those--well, Turkish pantalettes, for nothing? Had I
conquered a great New England prejudice, to be conquered myself by
careless health officers? Why hadn't they taken an example by some of
the old stock, and divided the whole thing among them in perquisites? I
only wish they had.

Sisters, it was a keen disappointment. I was looking at that yellow
flag, with tears in my eyes, when Cousin E. E. came on to the veranda.

"Come, Phoemie," says she, bright as a May morning, "where is the new
bathing-dress? It will be splendid bathing!"

I looked at her, I looked at the ocean and at the path that led down to
the beach, along which half a dozen real nice-looking gentlemen were
picking their steps like rabbits toward a sweet-apple trap. It was
tantalizing.

"Yes," says she, as contented as a lamb, "it will be lovely bathing this
morning; I mean to try it."

"Try it," says I; "haven't you read that yellow-fever is in the harbor?"

"Well, what then?" says she. "It won't hurt us."

"Won't hurt us," says I. "Did you ever hear of poison getting into water
that could be washed out? No, if it is in the harbor, some of it will
drift down here. Look, you can see it sweltering in the waves now."

She looked out on the ocean, where a faint yellow tinge rippled and
shone with treacherous temptatiousness.

"Oh, that is only the sunshine," says she.

"But the fever," says I, "I know it is in the harbor, for the newspapers
said so. They have run up the yellow flag wherever it is to be found.
See there."

Cousin E. E. sat down and dropped both hands in her lap.

"