urned and
walked home in the twilight,--or as Mrs. McQuilken called it, "the
dimmets," and poor Jimmy drew a cloud of gloom about him like a cloak.

They looked on the ground at every step of the way.

"There's a piece of chaparral over there. Did you go through that?"
asked Mrs. Dunlee.

"No, I never, I'm sure I never. I walked in the road right straight
along. Oh, mamma, if I've lost that watch 'twill break my heart. But
I'll pay papa for it, you see if I don't! I'll save every penny I get
and put it together and pay papa!"

Mrs. Dunlee did not reply for a moment; she took time to reflect. Jimmy
was a dear boy, but very heedless. He had done wrong in the first place
to take the watch from Lucy without his father's permission. He must be
taught to respect other people's property and other people's rights. He
must learn to think, and learn to be careful. Here was a chance for a
lesson.

"Jamie," said she at last, "I am glad you wish to atone for the wrong
you have done; it shows a proper spirit. I agree with you that if the
watch isn't found you ought to give papa what you can toward paying for
it. That is no more than fair."

"I want to, mamma, I just want to!" burst forth Jimmy. "I wish I was
little like Eddo, before 'twas wrong for me to be naughty."

His mother took him in her arms and kissed him, for he was so tired and
miserable that he could not keep the tears back another moment.

Friday night passed and most of Saturday; and though diligent search
was made, the watch was not found.

"Poor papa!" said Kyzie. "He doesn't say much; but how sober he looks!
Grandma Dunlee gave him that watch, Jimmy, when he was a young man; and
he did love it so!"

"I know it. Oh, dear, how can he stand it?" responded jimmy, who had
been deeply touched from the first by his father's forbearance. "Mr,
Pollard punished Nate dreadfully, you know; but here's Papa Dunlee, why,
he hasn't even scolded!"

Papa Dunlee was a wise man. He saw that his little son was suffering
enough already; he was learning a hard lesson, and perhaps would learn
it all the better for being left alone with his own conscience.

On Sunday afternoon the boy was very disconsolate, and Mr. Dunlee patted
him on the head, saying:--

"Maybe we'll find the watch yet, my son. And anyway, I know Jimmum
didn't mean to lose it."

Then he sat down to read, and Jimmy gazed at him reverently. The
sunshine about his head seemed almost like a halo, and the boy