get rich quickly. And poor Miss Coleman thought her lover was drowned
and was very, very unhappy.

Nobody suffers alone. When old Diamond was sold, young Diamond's father
was thrown out of work. Then he had no way to earn money to keep Diamond
and his mother and the new little baby brother who had come to them. How
Diamond did wish he was big enough to do something! But of course, he
could think of nothing he could do. Besides he had to get well and
strong first, anyway. His father sent word that he and his mother were
to stay down at Sandwich until he found something to do and a place
where he could make a home for them. It was a very fortunate thing that
Diamond's aunt was glad to keep them with her as long as ever they were
willing to stay.

One day when Diamond was getting strong enough to go out, his mother got
his aunt's husband, who had a little pony cart, to carry them down to
the sea-shore. A whiff of sea air, she said, would do them both good.
They sat down on the edge of the rough grass which bordered the sand.
Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave
of which flashed out its delight in the face of the great sun. On each
hand, the shore rounded outward, forming a little bay. Dry sand was
about their feet, and under them thin wiry grass.

After a time, his mother stretched out her hand for the basket which she
had brought with her and she and Diamond had their dinner. Diamond _did_
enjoy it, the drive and the fresh air had made him so hungry! But he was
sorry that his mother looked so sad and depressed. He knew she was
thinking about his father and how they now had no home. But there was
nothing for him to do. So he lay down on the sand again, feeling sleepy,
and gazed sleepily out over the sand. "What is that, mother!" he said.

"Only a bit of paper," she answered looking where he pointed.

"It flutters more than a bit of paper would, I think," said Diamond.

"I'll go and see if you like," said his mother.

She rose and went and found that it was a little book partly buried in
the sand. Several of its leaves were clear of the sand and these the
wind kept blowing about in a very fluttering manner. She took it up and
brought it to Diamond.

"What is it, mother?" he asked.

"Rhymes, I think," said she.

"I am so sleepy," he said. "Do read some of them to me."

"Well, I will," she said and began one. "But this is such nonsense," she
said again. "I will try to find a be