than paid for his trouble. Some boys would have rudely shaken her off,
ashamed to be caressed by a little girl, but Billy's heart was full of
kindly sympathy, and he returned her caresses as a brother would have
done.

As he released her, he was startled at hearing some one call out,
"Bravo! That, I conclude, is a country hug. I hope she won't try it on
me!"

Turning about he saw before him a white-faced boy, nearly of his own
age, whose dress and appearance indicated that he belonged to a higher
grade, as far as wealth was concerned. It was Henry Lincoln, notorious
both for pride and insolence. Billy, who had worked for Mr. Lincoln,
had been insulted by Henry many a time, and now he longed to avenge
it, but native politeness taught him that in the presence of Mary
'twould not be proper, so without a word to Henry he whispered to the
little girl, "That fellow lives near here, and if he ever gives you
trouble, just let me know."

"Kissed her then, didn't you?" sneeringly asked Henry, retreating at
the same time, for there was something in Billy's eye, which he
feared.

"Come into the house," said Mary, "where he can't see us," and leading
the way she conducted him up to her own room, where there was no fear
of being interrupted.

Alice was first carefully fixed in her cradle, and then kneeling down
at Billy's side, and laying her arms across his lap, Mary told him of
every thing which had happened, and finished by asking, "how long she