and cheese, hot biscuit and fresh milk, and golden
butter, all she wanted; surely, Sally never had any supper better
than this.

The shadows were falling, and the August crickets were beginning
their evening concert, when Clematis had eaten the last bit of pie
on her plate.

"The Sand Man is coming, I do believe," said Mr. Alder, as he
reached over to pinch her cheek.

"Well, I don't wonder, the trip was a long one for a little girl.
You shall go right to bed, Clematis."

Mrs. Alder took a lamp as she spoke, and led the little visitor to
the stairs.

"Good night, sleep tight, don't let the skeeters bite."

Mr. Alder called after her as she went up.

Clematis laughed. Her eyes were drooping, and her feet were heavy,
as she climbed the stairs.

"There now, we'll have you tucked in before a cat can say Jack
Sprat," said Mrs. Alder, as she unbuttoned her boots.

"Haven't I got to fold my clothes?" asked Clematis, as Mrs. Alder
began picking them up.

"Never mind about them tonight. Here's a wet cloth. We'll just have
a quick wash, and into bed you go."

The bed was soft; the pillows were softer; and the song of the
evening breeze in the maple, without her open window, was softer
still.

"I am in the country," sighed Clematis. "I can hear the trees, and I
can smell the flowers now. Tomorrow I will--"

I wish I could tell you what she was going to do. I can't, for just
then, she fell fast asleep.

CHAPTER XV

CLEMATIS TRIES TO HELP

The birds in the maple tree woke Clematis early the next morning.

For a minute she did not know where she was. Then she hopped out of
bed and ran to the window.

The sun was up. The birds were singing all about. The smell of
clover and sweet grass came to her open window.

There, across the valley, lay the mountains she saw in the evening.

Now they were not blue. She could see the rocks and the bushes, in
the morning light. But they were just as lovely as before.

"Oh," she thought, "some day I'll go and climb up those mountains."

Then she washed carefully at the stand by the window, for she
remembered what Miss Rose had said.

When she was dressed, she started down stairs. Then she thought
again.

"I must help all I can. I guess I'll make the bed."

So she drew the clothes neatly over the bed, and smoothed the
pillow. Then she went down.

"Good morning, Clematis," said Mrs. Alder. "I see you get up before
breakfast. Did you have a good sleep?"

"Y