astonishment.

"After that, when the Strawberry-Girl came with berries for sale, the
rich man always sent for her, and her wit and intelligence were so
pleasing to him that he finally asked her to be his wife. But she
remembered the bargain she had made with the little old man who had
met her in the wood, and she told the rich man that she would have to
take time to consider his proposal.

"She was very much worried. She fretted until she began to lose some
of her beauty, and when Granny Grim-Eye saw this she began to ask
questions, and it was not long before she found out all about the
bargain the Strawberry-Girl had made with the little Old Man of the
Wood.

"'Oho!' she cried. 'He is up to his old tricks, is he? Well, we shall
see!'

"So she went to her chest and got the silver chain with which the
Strawberry-Girl had been fastened to the blackberry-bush, and wrapped
and twined it in the shape of a star. This star she fixed on the
Strawberry-Girl's forehead by means of a velvet band, and told her to
wear it constantly.

"It happened that on the very day the year expired the Strawberry-Girl
was walking through the wood. The little old man jumped from his
hollow tree and ran forward to claim his bride. But when he saw the
star shining on her forehead he gave a loud cry, threw his hands
before his eyes, and turned and fled through the wood faster than any
deer could have done. Nobody ever saw him again, and the
Strawberry-Girl married the rich man and lived happily for many long
years."

"I think that is a nice story," said Sweetest Susan.

"I'm glad you do," remarked Mr. Thimblefinger. "My mother knew all the
facts in the case, and I've heard her tell it many a time. I may have
left out some of the happenings, but these and many others you can
supply for yourself."

XIV.

THE WITCH OF THE WELL.

While Mr. Thimblefinger was telling the story of the Strawberry-Girl,
Chickamy Crany Crow and Tickle-My-Toes had drawn near to listen.
Chickamy Crany Crow stood near Mrs. Meadows, and seemed to be very
much interested. When Mr. Thimblefinger had concluded, she would have
gone away, but Mrs. Meadows detained her.

"No," said Mrs. Meadows, as Chickamy Crany Crow tried to pull her hand
away; "you must stay right here and tell the children the story of the
Witch of the Well."

"They know it already," said Chickamy Crany Crow, trying to hide
behind Mrs. Meadows's chair.

"No, we don't," exclaimed Buster J