o drop her work
and run out to see the funny little man. She felt as if something was
twinging her heart, but remembering her purpose, she brought her work to
her side, and said--

"I thank you, cousins, but you must excuse me until I've finished my
sewing."

"What a cross thing she is!" said Charlie, bouncing out of the room.

"Do come, just for a minute, that's all, cousin Jessie," said Emily in her
most coaxing tones.

Charlie's words wounded Jessie more than Emily's soothed her. Unwilling to
be thought cross, she dropped her work "just for a minute," and went out.
The queer little man excited her mirth greatly, and she soon forgot all
about her patchwork. When the little pipe-player moved off, Emily said--

"Let us follow him up to Carrie Sherwood's. Won't she be tickled to see
him?"

"Yes, do," said Charlie, "and I won't call you cross, Jessie, any more."

"We mustn't stay long, then," replied Jessie reluctantly, for a thought of
her sewing flashed across her brain.

"Of course, we won't," said Emily, as she took her cousin by the hand and
led her away. "We will only stay long enough to see Carrie laugh at the
queer little man."

They went to Carrie Sherwood's, and there they stayed until Walter's
return from school warned Jessie that it was nearly dinner-time. As she
re-entered the parlor she saw Uncle Morris point to her work lying as she
left it on the floor, and heard him say--

"The little wizard has been here again, I see, this morning. How fond he
is of Glen Morris Cottage."

Jessie blushed, ran to her Uncle's side, hid her face in his bosom, and
whispered--

"O Uncle, I never shall conquer that little wizard. He is too strong for
me."

"Never despair! my little puss. Try and try again. Make a new resolve, and
I'll warrant you that the wizard will find Glen Morris Cottage too hot to
hold him one of these days, and then he'll be off to the North Pole to
keep cool, and perhaps to marry Miss Perseverance!"

Jessie laughed at this conceit of her uncle's, and said--

"Uncle, I will try again, and I'll try real hard next time."

"Nobly spoken, my little lady," rejoined Mr. Morris. "Perseverance
conquers all things. It has won victories for warriors; freedom for
oppressed nations; and self-conquest for millions of men, women, and
children. Hold on to your purpose then, my Jessie, and you will yet be
crowned as the conqueror of your troublesome little enemy!"

Jessie sighed, and looked as if sh