this on the fire, Aunt Martha?" she asked, "that Uncle Enos may
see to write?"

"Tis a pine knot," said Mrs. Stoddard. "We shall need many such for light
and heat before the long winter goes. But put it on, child. 'Tis a good
plan to write thy father."

The pine knot blazed up brightly, and Captain Enos drew the table near the
open fire, and, with Anne perched on a high stool beside him, and Mrs.
Stoddard busy with her knitting, while the white kitten purred happily
from its comfortable place under her chair, the letter was begun. Word for
word, just as Anne told him, Captain Enos wrote down about the stockings
and shoes, the school and the kitten, the pink beads and William Trull,
and at last Anne said: "That is all, only that I want to see him and that
I love him well," and Captain Enos finished the letter, and Anne went
up-stairs to bed.

"I have a plan to take a cargo of fish to Boston, Martha," said Captain
Enos, as soon as Anne had gone. "The 'Somerset' will sail on the first
fair wind. I can fill the sloop with good cod by the time she is out of
gunshot; and I'll venture to say they will bring a good price in Boston
Town."

"But how can you make safe landing there, Enos?" asked his wife
anxiously.

"I'll manage," replied the captain smilingly, "and it may be I can get
some news of Anne's father."

"'Twould be a brave cruise," said Mrs. Stoddard. "I should like well to go
with thee, Enos."

Captain Enos laughed heartily. "And so would Anne, I dare say," he
replied. "Maybe when spring comes and the British have been sent home I'll
take you and Anne to Boston on a pleasure trip. If I get a good price for
my fish, I'll bring you home a warm shawl, Martha."

"Mind not about me, Enos, but get some good wool cloth, if you see the
chance, to make Anne a dress. She likes bright colors, and the Freemans
will tell you where to purchase, and you may see some plaid or figured
stuff that has good wearing in it. Three yards of good width will be a
plenty."

"There's but little trading in Boston these days," replied Captain Enos;
"there's a blight on the land, until we can make England give us fairer
treatment. I do believe 'twill come to open war in Boston."

As they talked, Captain Enos was busy shaping the wooden doll which Anne
was to give Amanda.

"I must finish this before I begin to plan for Boston," he said. "What did
we do for pleasure, Martha, before Anne came to live with us? Why, we had
not even a whit