ld make a satisfactory playmate if she were going to change into a
quiet, well-behaved girl like the minister's little daughter.

In a few minutes the girls were beside the box that held the captive
rabbits, who looked up at them with startled eyes. Paul had brought a
basket of fresh grass, and some bits of tender bark and roots on which
the little creatures were nibbling.

"I do wish they were not exactly alike," said Anna.

But Luretta declared that she thought it was much better that way.
"Because I should want you to have the prettiest one, and you would want
me to have the prettiest one, and how could we ever choose?" she
explained; and Anna acknowledged that perhaps it was better that the
rabbits should be alike in every way. After much discussion of names
they decided that the rabbits must be called as nearly alike as
possible; and so the new pets were named "Trit" and "Trot."

Every little child in the neighborhood enjoyed a visit at Luretta's
home. In the first place because of Mrs. Foster's pleasant smile and
kind welcome, and also because of the wonderful treasures it contained.
There was a great round ostrich egg, which Mr. Foster's brother had
brought from far-off Africa. This egg was carefully kept in a wooden box
on the high mantel shelf; but Mrs. Foster was never too busy to take it
down and let the little visitor gaze at it with admiring eyes. Then
there was a model of a water-mill, with its tiny wheels, as complete as
if it could begin work at once. This stood on a table in the corner of
the sitting-room, where anyone might stand and admire it, and hear
Luretta or Paul tell that their father had made every bit of it himself.
Besides these treasures Mrs. Foster, with a pair of scissors and a bit
of paper, could make the most beautiful paper dolls that any little girl
could wish to possess; and whenever Luretta's friends came for a visit
they usually took home a paper doll, or perhaps a bird cut from paper,
or a horse. So Anna was ready to leave even the beautiful rabbits and go
indoors. But this morning Mrs. Foster did not seem her usual cheerful
self.

"This is sad news about our liberty tree; but the men have set out in
boats to search for it, and 'twill be a good omen indeed if they find
and bring it back," she said.

"My father says 'twill be a great day for the settlement when 'tis put
up," said Anna, looking longingly toward the box on the high mantel, and
hoping she might have a look at the