road, she saw directly opposite the house Billy Bender, and with him,
Alice's cradle. In a moment Mary's arms were thrown about his neck as
tightly as if she thought he had the power and was come to take her
away.

"Oh, Billy, Billy," she said, "I was afraid you would not come, and it
made me so unhappy. Can't you take me home with you?"

Billy had expected as much, and had tried hard to make his mother say
that if Mary and Alice were very homesick he might bring them home.
But this was Mrs. Bender's sick day, and Billy's entreaties only
increased the dangerous symptoms of _palsy_ from which she was now
suffering, the scarlet fever having been given up until another time.

"If the _s'lect_ men pay me well for it," said she, "I will take them
what little time I have to live, but not without."

Billy knew the town could support them much cheaper where they were,
so he gave up his project, and bought Mary a pound of seed cakes and
Alice a stick of candy. Then, the moment the rain had ceased he got
himself in readiness to start, for he knew how long the day would seem
to Mary, and how much Alice would miss her cradle. Three times before
he got outside the gate his mother called him back--once to find her
snuff-box;--once to see if there was not more color in her face than
there ought to be, and lastly to inquire if her mouth hadn't commenced
turning a little towards the right ear! After finding her box,
assuring her that her color was natural and her mouth all straight, he
at last got started. The road was long and the hills were steep, but
patiently Billy toiled on, thinking how surprised and pleased Mary
would be; and when he saw how joyfully she received him, he felt more