ble about her railway ticket, two bundles tied
up in blue handkerchiefs, and a large, green umbrella.

"I can't find it, young man; I teclare to cootness, look you, I can't
find it."

"Very sorry, ma'am," said the ticket collector, who had followed her
from the regular platform; "then you'll have to pay from Bristol."

"Put look you," cried the old lady, "I tid pay once and cot the ticket,
look you, and I put it somewhere to pe safe."

"Have you searched all your pockets?" said Richard.

"Yes, young man," said the old lady; "I've only cot one, look you--
there!" and she dragged up her dress to display a great olive green
pocket as big as a saddle-bag, out of which, after placing a bundle in
Pratt's hands and the umbrella in Richard's to hold, she turned out a
heterogeneous assortment of nutmegs, thimbles, reels of cotton, pieces
of wax-candle, ginger, a bodkin case, pincushions, housewives, and, as
the auctioneers say, other articles too numerous to mention.

"It don't seem to be there," said Richard, kindly.

"No, young man, it isn't. I hunted it all over, look you, and I must
have peen robbed."

"Well, ma'am, I'm very sorry," said the collector, "but you must pay
again."

"I teclare to cootness, young man, I can't, and I won't. I shall have
no money to come pack."

"Can't help that," said the collector, civilly enough. "I must do my
duty, ma'am."

"How much is it?" said Richard.

"From Bristol, third-class, sir, eight and tenpence."

"Look you, young man, I shall pe ruined," cried the old woman,
tearfully.

"I'll pay it," said Richard, thrusting his hand into his pocket.

"You're a tear, coot poy, pless you," cried the old lady; and to the
amusement of all on the platform, she went on tiptoe, reached up to
Richard, and gave him a sounding kiss. "Pless you for it. Coot teeds
are never thrown away."

"I hope you are a witch, Mother Hubbard," said Pratt, laughing. "Here's
your bundle. Don't forget to do him a good turn."

Richard took out the money, and the collector was about to write a
receipt, when it suddenly occurred to the young man to open the
umbrella, which he did with some difficulty, and the missing ticket fell
out.

"There," cried the old lady, joyfully, "I knew I put it somewhere to pe
safe. Thank you, young man, and pless you all the same; for, look you,
it was as coot a teed as if you had tone it."

"Don't say any more, mother," said Richard, laughing. "Good-bye."

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