in the well, and
no fear of spoiling.

After her morning's work had been cleverly done, Sally knew she could be
free for a few hours. The men had gone far afield to work, taking their
dinners with them, and it would be well past noon before Mistress Cory
Ann would return.

Sally, from very youthful gladness of heart and joy of living, had a
mind to make herself fine before going with her book to the greatly
enjoyed seat in the large oak-tree.

So she went to the keeping-room, and, standing before the mirror hanging
on the wall, she pinned midst her mat of ruddy-gold curls clumps of
white strawberry blossoms, starry dogwood blooms, and a white rose or
two.

Some time before this, Mistress Brace had seen in a peddler's pack a
decent piece of white lawn, and as it was the cheapest thing he had that
would make a comely gown for Sunday wear, she bought it for Sally.

The maiden sung now in the choir of a Sunday, and, because of the
parson's keen eye, she must be seemingly dressed. But the gown was
soiled and must soon be done up. So in a spirit of sport Sally put it
on, and at breast and waist she pinned great posies of buttercups,
daffy-down-dillies, and sprays of fresh green leaves. Then she started
for the pine woods and the oak-tree.

The sweetness, sunshine, and melody all about so charmed her for a time
that the book for once lay idly in her lap.

"Life is beautiful," she murmured.

"Yes, life is beautiful!" echoed her Fairy; "it is but right that the
young should enjoy it."

"I feel so glad to-day," said Maid Sally, "I would I might always feel
this way."

"You are learning," said the Fairy, "and life is getting fuller for you
every day."

"Yes, life is getting fuller every day," said Maid Sally.

At last she took up her book. The sun was growing very hot, but there
was a cool breeze, and the maiden in the tree was reading steadily when
again there came the sound of flying hoofs. They came all too swiftly. A
very demon of a horse was tearing along the road, his mane flying, his
tail out straight, and his body almost to the ground. The rider could
not be made out in the mad rush and whirl of the frightened animal.

It was all over in a moment. Hotspur dashed into the woods, banged in
his blindness against a pine-tree, and on the instant his rider, seeing
a chance to dismount, leaped from his back. But before he could reach
the ground, being so near the tree, up bounded the horse just in time to
hurl h