LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS,

From drawings by Sol EYTINGE.

“How doth the little busy bee”
Christie
Aunt Betsey’s Interlarded Speech
Mrs. Stuart. 
Hepsey
Christie as Queen of the Amazons
Mr. Philip Fletcher
Mrs. Saltonstall and Family
“No, I thank you”
Helen Carrol
Mrs. King and Miss Cotton
The Rescue
“C.  Wilkins, Clear Starcher”
Lisha Wilkins
Mrs. Wilkins’ “Six Lively Infants”
Mr. Power
Mrs. Sterling
David and Christie in the Greenhouse
Mr. Power and Christie in the Strawberry Bed
A Friendly Chat
Kitty. 
“One Happy Moment”
David
“Then they were married”
“Don’t mourn, dear heart, but work”
“She’s a good little gal; looks consid’able like you”
“Each ready to do her part to hasten the coming of the happy end”

WORK: 

A story of experience.

CHAPTER I.

Christie.

CHRISTIE.

“Aunt Betsey, there’s going to be a new Declaration of Independence.”

“Bless and save us, what do you mean, child?” And the startled old lady precipitated a pie into the oven with destructive haste.

“I mean that, being of age, I’m going to take care of myself, and not be a burden any longer.  Uncle wishes me out of the way; thinks I ought to go, and, sooner or later, will tell me so.  I don’t intend to wait for that, but, like the people in fairy tales, travel away into the world and seek my fortune.  I know I can find it.”

Christie emphasized her speech by energetic demonstrations in the bread-trough, kneading the dough as if it was her destiny, and she was shaping it to suit herself; while Aunt Betsey stood listening, with uplifted pie-fork, and as much astonishment as her placid face was capable of expressing.  As the girl paused, with a decided thump, the old lady exclaimed: 

“What crazy idee you got into your head now?”

“A very sane and sensible one that’s got to be worked out, so please listen to it, ma’am.  I’ve had it a good while, I’ve thought it over thoroughly, and I’m sure it’s the right thing for me to do.  I’m old enough to take care of myself; and if I’d been a boy, I should have been told to do it long ago.  I hate to be dependent; and now there’s no need of it, I can’t bear it any longer.  If you were poor, I wouldn’t leave you; for I never forget how kind you have been to me.  But Uncle doesn’t love or understand me; I am a burden to him, and I must go where I can take care of myself.  I can’t be happy till I do, for there’s nothing here for me.  I’m sick of this dull town, where the one idea is eat, drink, and get rich; I don’t find any friends to help me as I want to be helped, or any work that I can do well; so let me go, Aunty, and find my place, wherever it is.”