s, hiding behind the settle," said Willie, laughing. "She
ain't afraid of me, is she?"

"Well, I didn't know as she was shy," said True; "you silly little
girl," added he, "come out here and see Willie. This is Willie
Sullivan."

"I don't want to see him," said Gerty.

"Don't want to see Willie!" said True; "why, you don't know what you're
sayin'. Willie's the best boy that ever was; I 'spect you and he'll be
great friends by-and-by."

"He won't like me," said Gerty; "I know he won't."

"Why shan't I like you?" said Willie, approaching the corner where Gerty
had hid herself. Her face was covered with her hands. "I guess I shall
like you first-rate when I see you."

He stooped down, and, taking her hands from her face and holding them in
his own, he fixed his eyes full upon her, and pleasantly said, "How are
you, cousin Gerty--how do you do?"

"I an't your cousin!" said Gerty.

"Yes, you are," said Willie; "Uncle True's your uncle, and mine too!--so
we're cousins--don't you see?--and I want to get acquainted."

Gerty could not resist Willie's good-natured words and manner. She
suffered him to draw her out of the corner towards the lighter end of
the room. As she came near the lamp, she tried to free her hands in
order to cover her face up again; but Willie would not let her, and,
attracting her attention to the unopened package, he succeeded in
diverting her thoughts from herself, and in a few minutes she was quite
at her ease.

"There, Uncle True says it's for you," said Willie; "and I can't think
what 'tis, can you?"

Gerty felt, and looked wonderingly in True's face.

"Undo it, Willie," said True.

Willie produced a knife, cut the string, took off the paper, and
disclosed one of those white plaster images, so familiar to every one,
representing the little Samuel in an attitude of devotion.

"Oh, how pretty!" exclaimed Gerty, full of delight.

"Why didn't I think?" said Willie; "I might have known what 'twas by
feeling."

"Why! did you ever see it before?" said Gerty.

"Not this same one; but I've seen lots just like it."

"Have you?" said Gerty. "I never did. I think it's the beautifullest
thing that ever was. Uncle True, did you say it was for me? Where did
you get it?"

"It was by an accident I got it. A few minutes before I met you, Willie,
I was stoppin' at the corner to light my lamp, when I saw one of those
_furrin_ boys with a sight o' these things, and some black ones too, all
set up