sits in her school holidays; for she was my
god-daughter, and always very dear to me. She was very fond of hearing
stories, and I told her all the old tales I could think of,--among them
this one of Aunt Ca-iry's, which the old lady had told me herself when I
was perhaps ten years old. It had made a deep impression on me, so that
I was able to repeat it almost in her own words, in the country talk she
always used. She was not an educated woman, my dear, but one of sterling
good sense and strong character. Well, the story impressed your mother
so much that she was very anxious for me to write it down; but as I have
no gift whatever in that way, she finally wrote it herself, taking it
from my lips, as you may say,--only changing my name from Wealthy to
Dolly,--but making it appear as if the old woman herself were speaking.
Very apt at that sort of thing Mildred always was. And now, if you like,
my dears, I will read you the story."

If they liked! Was there ever a girl who did not love a story? Gray eyes
and blue sparkled with anticipation, and there was no further danger of
interruption as Miss Wealthy, in her soft, clear voice, began to read
the story of--

CA-IRY AND THE QUEEN.

What's this you've found? Well, now! well, now!
where did you get that, little gal? Been
rummagin' in Aunt Ca-iry's bureau, hev you?
Naughty little gal! Bring it to me, honey. Why,
that little bag,--I wouldn't part with it for
gold! That was give me by a queen,--think o'
that, Dolly,--by a real live queen, 'cordin' to
her own idees,--the Queen o' Sheba.

Tell you about her? Why, yes, I will. Bring
your little cheer here by the fire,--so; and
get your knittin'. When little gals come to
spend the day with Aunt Ca-iry they allus
brings their knittin',--don't they?--'cause
they know they won't get any story unless they
do. I can't have no idle hands round this
kitchen, 'cause Satan might git in, ye know,
and find some mischief for them to do. There!
now we're right comf'table, and I'll begin.

You see, Dolly, I've lived alone most o' my
life, as you may say. Mother died when I was
fifteen, and Father, he couldn't stay on
without her, so he went the next year; and my
brother was settled a good way off: so ever
since I've lived here in the old brown