And Winnie sighed her wish over again.

“You can’t have your possessions in both worlds, Winnie.”

“No, —­ and I don’t want to.”

“You only wish that I could,” he said smiling.

“Well, Winthrop, —­ I can’t help that.”

“I am in better hands than yours, Winnie.  Look at that shadow creeping down the mountain.”

“It’s from that little white cloud up there,” said Winnie.  “O how beautiful! —­”

“You see how something that is bright enough in itself may cast a shadow,” he said.

“Was that what you thought of when you told me to look at it?”

“No, —­ not at that minute.”

“But then we can see the cloud and we know that it is bright.”

“And in the other case we don’t see the cloud and we know that it is bright.  ’We know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose!’”

“But Governor, what are you talking of?”

“That little cloud which is rolling away from Wut-a-qut-o.”

“But what cloud is over you, or rolling away from you?”

“I thought the whole land was in shadow to you, Winnie, because I cannot buy it.”

“Why no it isn’t,” said Winnie.  “It never looked so bright to me.  It never seemed near so beautiful when it was ours.”

“The other land never seemed so bright and never will seem so beautiful, as when it is ours.  ’Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off.’”

Winnie smiled a most rested, pleased, gratified smile at him; and turned to another subject.

“I wonder what’s become of your old little boat, Governor —­ the Merry-go-round?”

“I suppose it is lying in the barn-loft yet,” he replied rather gravely.

“I wonder if it is all gone to pieces.”

“I should think not.  Why?”

“I was looking at the river and thinking how pleasant it would be to go out on it, if we could.”

“If we can get home, Winnie, I’ll see how the matter stands.”

“I don’t want to go home,” said Winnie.

“But I want to have you.  And Karen will want the huckleberries.”

“Well —­ I’ll go,” said Winnie.  “But we’ll come again, Governor —­ won’t we?”

“As often as you please.  Now shall I carry you?”

“O no!”

But Winthrop presently judged of that also for himself, and taking his little sister on one arm, made his way steadily and swiftly down to the level ground.

“You’re a good climber,” was Winnie’s remark when he set her on her feet again.  “And I don’t know but I was once.  I’ve almost forgotten.  But it’s as good to have you carry me, and to see you do it.”

The Merry-go-round was found in good condition, only with her seams a little, or not a little, opened.  That trouble however was got over by the help of a little caulking and submersion and time; and she floated again as lightly as ever.  Some days still passed, owing to weather or other causes, before the first evening came when they went out to try her.