desperation. "She couldn't have torn up the floor, could she?"

Molly's eyes danced.

"What if we had to take up every board! My! 'twould tear the old house
all to pieces, wouldn't it? But, Sara, there isn't another place
anywhere; we've been everywhere that even a mouse could get, I'm sure!"

"Then it _must_ be among these things, and we have overlooked it.
Here, Morton, you take that pile; you this, Molly; and I'll attack these
rags; though it doesn't seem possible that she could have put it in a
rag-bag."

For a moment there was silence, as each delved and peered, the baby more
industrious than all the rest, snatching at everything, to clap to his
mouth, only to toss it aside for something else when he found it was not
eatable.

"Well, Sara, say what you will, I'm sure 'tisn't in my heap," said
Morton. "What shall I do with all these bits and papers, anyhow?"

"Let's see, it is nearly tea-time. Put them right into the fireplace,
and light them to boil the kettle."

"All right; and O Sara! do let's have some crisp fried potatoes with our
herring: this work has made me as hungry as a black bear!"

"Yes, yes, do, Sara!" cried Molly, hopping up and down. "And some
molasses on our bread too; the butter's all gone."