ndergarten course; and my friend is
keeping house and amusing herself, and keeping me from dying of
home-sickness."

Mrs. Morrison thought Miss Sherwin, with her rather melancholy dark
eyes, looked much more like a subject for home-sickness than her merry
companion. In the course of the conversation she discovered that their
home was in a Southern town, and that Miss Moore, who was the oldest
daughter in a large family, was studying kindergarten in order to
support herself. What Miss Sherwin was doing was not so clear. She had
no home ties and was free to go where she pleased, and it was evident
that her friend looked up to her with deep admiration.

While Mrs. Morrison and Miss Moore were talking, Frances and Miss
Sherwin were making friends over their favorite story-books, and before
the call was over they all had the pleasant feeling of being old
acquaintances; and the acquaintance was not allowed to languish.

The very next evening Frances and Emma in great glee knocked at the door
of what Miss Moore called their sky parlor, with an invitation to a
candy pulling. It was just the night for a little fun, being Friday and
stormy, and the young ladies promptly accepted.

Delicious odors were finding their way into the sitting room when the
guests entered, Miss Sherwin looking pretty and pensive in her big
apron, Miss Moore as flyaway and merry as usual.

Mrs. Morrison met them at the door and led the way to the kitchen, where
the children were watching the kettle that gave forth the pleasant
fragrance. "Frances wanted something to do, and as Friday evening is a
sort of holiday, I thought perhaps our neighbors would join us in
pulling candy," she said.

They made molasses candy first, and while this was being pulled Mrs.
Morrison made some chocolate caramels; and even Miss Sherwin was unable
to resist the laughing and nonsense that went on, and was presently
taking part in it as merrily as anybody.

They were sitting around the fire in a sociable group enjoying the
fruits of their labor, when the Spectacle Man knocked at the door. He
had to come to see Mrs. Morrison on business, but when Frances invited
him in to have some candy he did not decline.

"This looks very pleasant," he said, surveying the company, a piece of
chocolate in his hand.

"Sit down, Mr. Clark; I want to ask you something," said Mrs. Morrison.
"It is about the song Frances is always singing,--

"'The bridge is broke--'"

"What is the r