object of such stragglers, and there was quite a large sum of gold lying in a bureau drawer, which I felt very unwilling to part with.  My husband was from home, so seizing the money, I quietly dropped it all in the jar of milk.  I had just finished this exploit when the soldiers entered; and after eating in a manner that made the children fear they would next be precipitated down their capacious throats, they began to look about for plunder.  I tried to be as composed as possible, and this, I think, kept them a little in awe; for they were perfectly civil in words, and did no damage, except to turn things topsy turvy.  They found nothing to suit them, till spying a very good coat of Mr. Henshaw’s, one of them coolly encased himself in it and they all walked off together.”  I watched them from the window, and perceiving that they had left the gate open, I called out after them:  “Be kind enough to shut the gate, will you?  I am afraid the pigs will get in.”  They stopped a moment, smiled, and then did as I requested.  “Ah, Amy,” said my aunt in conclusion, “the necessity of the times was a school that taught women far more of the realities of life than they learn now-a-days.”

Aunt Henshaw fell into a long revery; and a pair of eyes, which had been glimmering near the door for some time, suddenly disappeared, and I heard the retreating footsteps of Holly as she took her way to the kitchen.  The little colored girl always kept her eyes and ears open, and never lost an opportunity to gain knowledge of any description.  A great deal which she had stealthily learned was communicated to me during my stay; and I am sorry to say that I was more hurt than benefitted by the companionship.  Aunt Henshaw, though kind, did not appear to me in the light of a playmate, and Cousin Statia seldom opened her lips—­being too industrious to waste time in talking; so that, for want of more suitable company, I descended to the kitchen.

The next morning, having obtained Aunt Henshaw’s permission, I went out to feed the chickens; and having drawn them near the wood-pile, I confined my favors almost exclusively to a sober-looking hen and five little chickens.  When the pan was empty, I conceived that I had well earned the right, and putting my hand down softly, I took up a cunning little thing and hugged it in delight.  But a terrible flapping of wings sounded close to my ears—­I could scarcely distinguish any thing—­and dropping the chicken, I fell across the chopping-log.  The old hen rushed furiously at me, and kept beating me with her wings; while I, afraid that my eyes would be pecked out, could do nothing but scream.  Some one, at length, picked me up; and when I ventured to look around, I beheld Sylvia, who stood beside me, laughing immoderately.  Holly soon joined the company, and even Cousin Statia seemed amused; while Aunt Henshaw carefully examined my eyes to see that they had sustained no injury.

“I ought to have told you not to touch the chickens,” said the old lady; “for the hen would even sacrifice her life to protect them.”