the
page, and move her lips, and make believe that she, too, was studying
her lessons and she would keep still as a little mouse, until, after a
few minutes of nodding, her eyes would close, then her head would drop
on Davy's knee, and she would be off--sound asleep, until it was time
for him to go.

It happened, one afternoon, as Davy, with Maggie, was going to the
boat, which was his favorite place of study, a farmer drove along and
asked him if he could not go and help with some work.

They were very near home yet, and when Davy said, "Maggie, will you
run right home?" she answered, "'Es;" so the brother saw her start off
towards the house, which was in sight, then jumped in beside the
farmer, and they drove off.

It was several hours before the boy returned. He went directly home,
and as soon as he entered, called, "Maggie!"

"Maggie aint here," said Mrs. Baker, who was busy cleaning up the
floor, "she hasn't been here since you took her out with you."

If ever there was a frightened boy, it was Davy, then. He knew how
careless his little sister was, and how she loved to go down and
splash in the water, and play around the deep pools. He could look,
from the door, all along the beach and out on the sea, and there was
no sign of his little girl. Mrs. Baker was frightened, too, when he
told her all. They ran to the few houses about, and while some of the
children had seen Maggie, it was hours before; since then she had
disappeared entirely.

It was a terrible blow to the poor boy, and he blamed himself as he
thought that perhaps his dear little sister was dead under the great
waves, or her body was being washed away far beyond his reach. He ran
up and down, everywhere calling her name as loudly as he could, but
no answer came.

Almost blind, with the tears in his eyes, he stood still for a moment
to think, when he caught sight of a little paper book. He knew it at
once; he had made it for Maggie so that she would not soil or tear his
own. In a moment he was running as fast as his feet would carry him to
the boat on the sand, a considerable distance off; quickly he reached
it, and climbed up the side. No Maggie yet.

The great sail lay in a heap before him; he walked around it, and
there, all curled up, fast asleep, was his runaway girl.

How his heart did jump for joy as he picked her up, and kissed and
petted her.

But Maggie cried, and said he hurt her.

Then he found that in climbing into the boat t