was glad of it. The trees are all black where
the green was scorched off. You wouldn't think it was summer. It
doesn't look like winter. Father says it looks like a graveyard.

"Dotty lost her tea-set. Susy thought she should faint away, but she
didn't--we couldn't find the camphor bottle. A man saved six eggs
and the pepper box.

"It was real too bad _grandma's_ room was burnt up! When I went into
grandma's room I used to feel just like singing. Mother says that
isn't so bad as wickedness. She says it is 'home where the heart
is.'

"Dotty hasn't had any temper for five days. Finis."

Just about this time a letter came from Willowbrook, saying Mrs.
Clifford was quite ill, and asking Mrs. Parlin to go to her. Aunt Louisa
said it was fortunate that the children could stay at their aunt
Eastman's. She did not know that Mrs. Parlin left them there very
reluctantly, having her own private fears that her youngest daughter
might fall into mischief.

Dotty kissed her mother good by, and promised to be perfect; but Mrs.
Parlin knew too well how the child's resolutions were apt to wither away
for want of root.

CHAPTER IV.

PLAYING HINDOO.

"Johnny, Johnny, come to the window, quick!" said Dotty; "see this
bird!"

"I've seen birds before," replied her little cousin, coolly, and walking
as slowly as possible.

"But this one peeps as if he was hurt; see how he pecks to get in."

"Don't you take him in!" exclaimed Angeline, the kitchen girl; "it's a
bad sign to have birds come fluttering round a window."

"What do you mean by a _sign_?" asked Dotty, who had never heard of any
silly superstitions in her life.

"Let him alone," cried Johnny, "or you'll die before the week's out,
sure's you live!"

Dotty laughed. "A bird can't make me die," said she, seizing the
trembling little oriole, and holding him close to her bosom. "O, you
birdie darling! Did your mamma go 'way off, and couldn't find a worm?
Dotty'll be your mamma, so she will."

She put him in a basket stuffed with rags, and hung over him tenderly
for half an hour.

"You're bringing down trouble, I'm afraid, child," said Angeline,
gravely, as she walked back and forth, doing her work.

Mrs. Parlin, away off at Willowbrook, was at that moment bathing Mrs.
Clifford's forehead. I think she might have dropped the sponge in dismay
if she had known what pernicious nonsense was finding its way into
Dotty's ears.