ittle children
really lost in the woods would use. While writing, therefore, her mind
was in pursuit of the natural, and the simple, not of the eloquent.

TWO CHILDREN LOST IN THE WOODS.

_Emily._ Look here! see how many berries I've got. I don't believe
you've got so many.

_Charles._ Yes, I'm sure I have. My basket's most full; and if we
hurry, we shall get ever so many before we go home. So pick away as
fast as you can, Emily.

_Emily._ There mine is full. Now we'll go and find some flowers for
mother. You know somebody told us there were some red ones, close
to that rock.

_Charles._ Well, so we will. We'll leave our baskets here, and come
back and get them.

_Emily._ But if we can't find our way back, what shall we do?

_Charles._ Poh! I can find the way back. I only want a quarter to
seven years old, and I shan't lose myself, I know.

_Emily._ Well! we've got flowers enough, and now I'm tired and want
to go home.

_Charles._ I don't, but if you are tired we'll go and find our
baskets.

_Emily._ Where do you think they are? We've been looking a great
while for them. I know we are lost, for when we went after the
flowers we only turned once, and coming back, we have turned three
times.

_Charles._ Have we? Well never mind, I guess we shall find them.

_Emily._ I'm afraid we shan't. Do let's run

_Charles._ Well so do. Oh, Emily! here's a brook, and I am sure we
didn't pass any brook, going.

_Emily._ Oh, dear! we must be lost. Hark! Charles! didn't you hear
that dreadful noise just now? Wasn't it a bear?

_Charles._ Poh! I should love to see a bear here. I guess if he
should come near me, I would give him one good slap that would make
him feel pretty bad. I could kill him at the first hit.

_Emily._ I should like to see you taking hold of a bear. Why didn't
you know bears were stronger than men? But only see how dark it
grows; we shan't see Ma' to-night, I'm afraid.

_Charles._ So am I: do let's run some more.

_Emily._ O Charles, do you believe we shall ever find the way out
of this dreadful long wood?

_Charles._ Let's scream, and see if somebody wont come.

_Emily._ Well, (screaming) Ma'! Ma'!

_Charles._ (screaming also) Pa'! Pa'!

_Emily._ Oh, dear! there's the sun setting. It will