Arrived at the farm-house, the kindness of the family, and the novelty of everything she saw, so charmed the child that for a while she was quite content.  Little tasks were, by her own request, assigned to her, easy and pleasant, but seeming to the child of great consequence.  But, in spite of all, homesickness attacked her; she grew weary of everything, and begged to be taken to her mamma.  The kind farmer and his wife tried to turn her thoughts from the subject, telling her she could not go just then; but day by day Nelly became more dissatisfied, the longing for home grew stronger, until, on the evening when this begins, she actually ran away.  And now let us see what became of her.

Once on the road, Nelly ran very fast, until, almost breathless, she found herself compelled to rest awhile in a little grove by the roadside.  Scarcely had she seated herself upon the grass when the steady trot, trot of a horse was heard.  She had barely time to hide behind a large tree when one of the farm-hands passed on his way from the mill.  It seemed to Nelly that the slight rustle of the leaves under her feet must betray her, and the loud beatings of her heart be heard.  But the boy passed on, and soon his low whistle, as well as the measured beat of the horse’s hoofs, grew fainter.

However, all danger was not over, for just as she was about to venture forth, the panting of some animal startled her.  For a moment her terror was extreme.  This changed to chagrin and vexation as Rover, the farmer’s dog, ran to her hiding-place and fawned upon her.  Having followed the farm-boy to the distant mill, the poor dog, growing weary with his long run, had fallen far behind.  Now Rover and the little girl had been great friends, and had enjoyed many a romp together, but just then his presence made her very cross; so, seizing a large stick, she beat the poor fellow until he ran yelping away.

Left alone once more, Nelly set off in the direction of town.  Having often, in her rides with grandmamma, passed along the same road, she thought she knew the way; but night was approaching.  It appeared to the child that darkness must bring added danger.  Besides, she would soon be missed at the farm, pursued, overtaken, and carried back.  This dread gave her fresh courage, and again the young traveller walked rapidly on.  Before she had gone far, a light wagon overtook her.  In its driver she gladly recognized an old man who sometimes supplied her grandmamma with vegetables.  He drew up in great astonishment as Nelly called to him, but at her request allowed her to climb to the seat beside him.  As they approached the town, the heart of the runaway began to sink; a sense of her disobedience, and the knowledge that it would add to the grief of her dear mother, and, perhaps, greatly displease grandmamma, oppressed her sorely.  She decided that she could not face them just then.  Begging the old man to put her down at the nearest corner, the unhappy little girl approached