pealing to Ben.

"Oh, yes, I'll take care of you," said Ben manfully.

"I think you had better go to Boston on the Fall River line," said Mr.
Manning. "That will give you nearly all night on the boat, and you
can have a comfortable night's rest. Indeed, I think you may as
well remain on board till the half-past-six train starts. That will get
you into Boston about nine o'clock, in time for a late breakfast.
What time can you go to Milltown?"

"There is a train at half-past ten."

"That will answer very well. Now, if you will come down-town
with me, I will engage passage for you."

Ben accompanied Mr. Manning to the office of the steamers, and
passage tickets were obtained and paid for.

At four o'clock, Ben and his young charge were seated in the showy
cabin of the immense Sound steamer which plies between New
York and Fall River.

As the two were chatting, an old lady, evidently from the country,
looked attentively at them. She was old and wrinkled, and, from
time to time, took a pinch of snuff from a large snuff-box which she
took from the pocket of her dress.

"What is your name, little gal?" she inquired at last.

"Emma," answered the child,

"Come and kiss me," said the old lady.

Emma surveyed the old lady critically, and answered bluntly, "I
don't want to."

"Come and kiss me, and I'll give you the first cent I find on the
currant bushes," said the old lady coaxingly.

"I don't want to," answered Emma again.

"Why don't you want to?" asked the old lady, with a wintery smile.

"'Cause you're old and ugly, and put snuff up your nose."
answered Emma, who had not yet learned that the truth is not
to be spoken at all times.

The old lady gasped with wrath and amazement.

"Well, I never did!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, you did," said Emma, understanding her to say that she
never took snuff. "I saw you do it a minute ago."

"You are a bad, wicked little gal!" said the old lady, in high
displeasure. "You're spoiled child."

"No, I ain't," said Emma, angry in turn. "Don't you let her call me
names," she added, speaking to Ben.

Ben found it difficult not to laugh at the old lady's discomfiture;
but he felt called upon to apologize for his young charge.

"I hope you'll excuse her, ma'am," he said. "She's only a little
girl."

"How old is she?" asked the old lady abruptly.

"Five years old."

"Then she'd orter know better than to sass her elders," said the
old lady snappishly. "She's