n took cold hopping
about on the wet stairs, Jip barked himself sick, I sprained my ankle,
and Jack not only smashed a looking-glass with his bullets, but spoilt
his pistol by the heavy charge put in it. After the damages were
repaired and the flurry was well over, Jack confessed that he had marked
the door for fun, and shut Biddy out as a punishment for 'gallivanting,'
of which he did n't approve. Such a rogue as that boy was!'"

"But did n't the robbers ever come?" cried Tom, enjoying the joke, but
feeling defrauded of the fight.

"Never, my dear; but we had our 'scare,' and tested our courage, and
that was a great satisfaction, of course," answered grandma, placidly.

"Well, I think you were the bravest of the lot. I 'd like to have seen
you flourishing round there with your hatchet," added Tom, admiringly,
and the old lady looked as much pleased with the compliment as if she
had been a girl.

"I choose this," said Polly, holding up a long white kid glove, shrunken
and yellow with time, but looking as if it had a history.

"Ah, that now has a story worth telling!" cried grandma; adding,
proudly, "Treat that old glove respectfully, my children, for
Lafayette's honored hand has touched it."

"Oh, grandma, did you wear it? Did you see him? Do tell us all about it,
and that will be the best of the whole," cried Polly, who loved history,
and knew a good deal about the gallant Frenchman and his brave life.

Grandma loved to tell this story, and always assumed her most imposing
air to do honor to her theme. Drawing herself up, therefore, she folded
her hands, and after two or three little "hems," began with an absent
look, as if her eyes beheld a far-away time, which brightened as she
gazed.

"The first visit of Lafayette was before my time, of course, but I heard
so much about it from my grandfather that I really felt as if I 'd seen
it all. Our Aunt Hancock lived in the Governor's house, on Beacon Hill,
at that time." Here the old lady bridled up still more, for she was very
proud of "our aunt." "Ah, my dears, those were the good old times!" she
continued, with a sigh. "Such dinners and tea parties, such damask
table cloths and fine plate, such solid, handsome furniture and elegant
carriages; aunt's was lined with red silk velvet, and when the coach
was taken away from her at the Governor's death, she just ripped out
the lining, and we girls had spencers made of it. Dear heart, how well
I remember playing in aunt