friend he had known for many a long
day, brought the tears to his eyes again.

"I'll have to take the poor little man with me, an' it'll come mighty
rough on him!" he said with a sob. "I reckon he thinks this kind of
fun, when he can chase butterflies an' birds to his heart's content,
is goin' to last, an' he'll be dreadfully disappointed after we leave;
but I couldn't get along without him!"

Gladys interrupted his mournful train of thought, and perhaps it was
well, for the boy was rapidly working himself into a most melancholy
frame of mind.

She and Snip came tearing into the barn as if there was no other aim
in this life than enjoyment, and so startled the sorrowing Seth that
he arose to his feet in something very nearly resembling alarm.

"If you jump like that I shall begin to think you are as nervous as
Aunt Hannah," she cried with a merry laugh. "She insists that between
Snip and me there will no longer be any peace for her, unless we sober
down very suddenly; but do you know, Seth, that I've lived here with
no other companion than the dear old woman so long, it seems as if
some good fairy had sent this little fluff of white to make me happy.
I had rather have him for a friend than all the children in the
neighborhood, which isn't saying very much, in view of the fact that
the two Dean boys and Malvinia Stubbs are the only people of
nearabout my age in this section of the country."

"I believe Snip thinks as much of you as you do of him," Seth replied
gloomily. "I never knew him to make friends with any one before; but
perhaps that was because he saw only the fellers who liked to tease
him. If I wasn't mighty mean, he'd stay here all the time."

"Of course he'll stay," Gladys cried as she tossed the tiny dog in the
air while he gave vent to an imitation growl. "Aunt Hannah and I have
arranged it without so much as asking your permission. You two are to
live here; Snip's work is to enjoy himself with me, while you're to
make a garden, the like of which won't be seen this side of New York.
What do you think of settling down to being a farmer?"

"I'd like it mighty well, but it can't be done." And Seth gazed out
through the open door, not daring to meet Miss Gladys' startled gaze.

"Wait till you've talked with Aunt Hannah," she exclaimed after the
first burst of surprise had passed. "We've fixed everything, an'
you'll find that there isn't a word for you to say."

"I have talked with her," Seth replied