'Why，IcertainlythoughtIheardhimasktogowithyou，'saidMrs。
　　Winship，inratheranalarmedtone。
　　'Sohedid；butItoldhimitwastoofar。'
　　'Ididn'thearthat；infact，Iwashalfasleep；Iwasnotfeelingwell。AskHopYet；hehasbeeninthekitchenalltheafternoon。'
　　HopYetreplied，withdiscouragingtranquillity，'Oh，Inoknow。I
　　nosabeDicky；healleetimelunlouncamp；Inolook；toomucheework。Ichophash——Dickycomeinkitch'——makeheapwork——nogood。I
　　tellhimgolong——hego；bime-byyoucatchum；yousee。'Whereuponhegracefullyskinnedanonion，andburstintoaChinesesong，withcompleteindifferenceastowhetherDickylivedordied。
　　'PerhapsheiswithPancho；I'llrunandsee!'criedPolly，dashingswiftlyinthedirectionofthesky-parlour。Butafterafewminutessheranback，withaseriousface。'He'snotthere；Panchohasnotseenhimsincelunch。'
　　'Well，I'vejusthappenedtothink，'saidpaleAuntTruth，'thatpapacameintothetentforsomecartridges，afteryouleft，andofcoursehetookDickwithhim。Idon'tsupposeitisanyusetoworry。Healwaysdoescomeoutright；andIhavetoldhimsomanytimesneveronanyaccounttogoawayfromthecampalonethathesurelywouldnotdoit。Papaandtheboyswillbehomesoon，now。Itisnearlysixo'clock，andItoldthemthatIwouldblowthehornatsix，asusual。Iftheyaretoofarawaytohearit，theywillknowthetimebythesun。'
　　'Well，'saidBell，anxiously，'Ihopeitisallright。Papaissostrictthathewon'tbelatehimself。Didalltheboysgowithhim，mamma?'
　　'Yes，allbutPhilip。'
　　'Oh，thenDickymustbewiththem，'saidMargery，consolingly。
　　'Geoffreyalwaystakeshimwhereverhecan。'
　　Sothegirlswentintothetenttobegintheirdinnertoilet，whichconsistedincarefullybrushingburrsanddustfromtheirprettydresses，anddonningfreshcollarsandstockings，withlowtiesofrussetleather，whichPollydeclaredbelongedonlytothestageconceptionofacampingcostume；then，withsmoothlybrushedhairandbrightflower-knotsatcollarandbelt，theylookedcharmingenoughtograceanydrawing-roomintheland。
　　Thehornwasblownagainatsixo'clock，AuntTruthstandingattheentranceofthepathwhichledupthecanyon，shadingheranxiouseyesfromthelightofthesettingsun-
　　'Heretheycome!'shecried，joyously，asthewelcomepartyappearedinsight，gunsovershoulder，fullgame-bags，andJackandGeoffwithafewrabbitsandquailhangingovertheirarms。
　　Thegirlsrushedoutofthetent。Belltookinthewholegroupwithoneswiftglance，andthenturnedtohermother，who，likemostmothers，believedtheworstatonce，andgrewpalerassheasked:
　　'Papa，whereislittleDick?'
　　'Dick!Why，mydear，hehasnotbeenoutwithus。Whatdoyoumean?'
　　'Areyousureyoudidn'ttakehim?'falteredAuntTruth。
　　'OfcourseIam。Goodheavens!Doesn'tanyoneknowwherethechildis?'lookingatthefrightenedgroup。
　　'Youknow，uncle，'saidGeoffrey，'westartedoutatthreeo'clock。
　　InoticedDickyplayingwithhisblocksinourtent，andsaidgood-
　　byetohim。Didyouseehimwhenyoucamebackforthecartridges?'
　　'CertainlyIdid；hecalledmetolookathisdogmakingbelievegotosleepinthehammock。'
　　'Wegirlswentdowntothepoolsoonafterthat，'saidBell，tearfully。'Heaskedtogowithus，andItoldhimitwastoofar，andthathe'dbetterstaywithmamma，whowouldbeallalone。Hesaid"Yes"sosweetlyIcouldn'tmistrusthim。Oh，wasitmyfault，papa?Pleasedon'tsayitwas!'andsheburstintoapassionofsobs。
　　'No，no，mychild，ofcourseitwasnot。Don'tcry；weshallfindhim。Goandlookaboutthecamp，Geoff，whileweconsiderforaminutewhattodo?'
　　'Ifthereisanyfault，itismine，forgoingtosleep，'saidpoorAuntTruth；'butIneverdreamedhewoulddaretowanderoffalone，mypoorlittledisobedientdarling!Whatshallwedo?'
　　'HaveyouspokentoPanchoandHopYet?'askedPhil。
　　'Yes；theyhaveseennothing。'
　　HopYetjustatthismomentissuedfromhiskitchenwithanimmenseplatterofmutton-stewanddumplings，whichhedepositedonthetable。Onbeingquestionedagain，heansweredasbefore，withthegreatestserenity，intimatingthatDickywouldcomehome'heapbime-
　　by'whenhegot'plentyhungly。'Heseemedtothinkalostboyortwoinafamilyratheratriflethanotherwise，andwounduphisunfeelingremarkswiththepracticalone，'Dinnerallleady；younoeatmutton，hegetcold!MisserWins'，Inofindpickle；youcatchum!'
　　'Idon'tbelievehewouldcareifwealldiedrightbeforehiseyes，'
　　mutteredPolly，angrily。'IshouldjustliketoseeaChinaman'sheartonce，andfindoutwhetheritwasmadeofresin，orcuttle-
　　fish，orwhat。'
　　'Well，'saidPhil，asDr。Winshipcamethroughthetreesfromthecard-room，'wemuststartoutthisinstant，andofcoursewecanfindhimsomehow，somewhere；hehasn'tbeengoneovertwohours，andhecouldn'twalkfar，that'scertain。Now，UncleDoc，shallweallgodifferentways，andleavethegirlsheretoseeifhedoesn'tturnup?'
　　'Oh，papa，'criedBell，donotleaveusathome!Wecanhuntaswellasanyone；weknoweveryfootofthecanyon。LetmegowithGeoff，andwe'llfollowthebrooktrail。'
　　'Verywell。Now，mamma，PanchoandIwillgodowntothemainroad，andyouwaitpatientlyhere。Makeallthenoiseyoucan，children；
　　andtheonewhofindshimmustcomebacktothecampandblowthehorn。HopYet，wegonow；ifDickycomesback，youblowthehornyourself，willyou?'
　　'Alllight，boss。Youeatumdinnernow；thengobime-by；muttonheapcold；you——'
　　'Dinner!'shoutedJack。'Confoundyourimpudence!Ifyousaydinneragain，I'llcutthequeueoffyourstupidhead。'
　　'Good!'murmuredPolly，givingasavagepunchtoherblueTamo'
　　Shantercap。
　　'Jack，Jack!'remonstratedAuntTruth。
　　'Iknow，dearauntie；butthecallousoldheathenmakesmesomadI
　　can'tcontainmyself。Come，Margery，let'sbeoff。Getyourshawl；
　　andhurrahfortheonewhocomesbacktoblowthehornfirst!I'llwageryoutentooneI'llhaveDickinauntie'slapinsidethehour!'——atwhichAuntTruth'seyesbrightened，andshebegantotakeheartagain。Butashetorepastthebrushkitchenandoutintothewoods，draggingMadgeafterhimatabreathlesspace，heshuthislipstogetherrathergrimly，saying，'I'dgivefivehundreddollarss'posin'Ihadacenttoseethatyoungstersafeagain。'
　　'Tellmeonething，Jack，'saidMargery，herteethchatteringwithnervousness；'arethereanyanimalsinthiscanyonthatwouldattackhim?'
　　'Oh，ofcourseitispossiblethataCalifornialionorawild-catmightcomedowntothebrooktodrink——theyhavebeenkilledhereabouts——butIhardlybelieveitislikely；andneitherdoI
　　believetheywouldbeapttohurthim，anyway，forhewouldneverattackthem，youknow。WhatIamafraidofisthathehastumbledovertherockssomewhereinclimbing，ortangledhimselfupinthechaparral。Hecouldn'thavemadeoffwithapistol，couldhe?Heisuptoallsuchtricks。'
　　Presentlythecanyonbegantoechowithstrangesounds，whichIhavenodoubtsenttheowls，birds，andrabbitsintofitsofterror；fortheboyshadwhistlesandpistols，whilePollyhadtakenatinpanandahammer。ShehadgonewithPhiloutbehindthethicketofmanzanitabushes，andtheybothstoodmotionless，undecidedwheretogo。
　　'Oh，Phil，Ican'thelpit；Imustcry，Iamsofrightened。Letmesitdownasecond。Yes，Iknowit'sanant-hill，andIshouldn'tcareifitwereahornets'nest——Ideservetobestung。WhatdoyouthinkIsaidtoMargerythismorning?ThatDickywasaperfectlittlemarplot，andspoiledallourfun，andIwishedhewereinthebottomoftheRedSea；andthenIcalledhimak-k-k-ill-joy!'andPollyburiedherheadinherblueTam，andcriedagood，honest，old-
　　fashionedcry。
　　'There，chirkup，poorlittlesoul，anddon'tyoufretoveracarelessspeech，thatmeantnothingatall。I'vewishedhimintheRedSeamorethanonce，butI'mblessedifIeverdoitagain。Come，let'sgooveryonder，wherewecaughttheyoungowl；Dickymayhavewantedtotrythatlittlegameagain。'
　　Sotheywenton，calling，listening，thenstrugglingonagain，moreanxiouseverymoment，butnotsothoroughlydazedasBell，whohadrockedherbaby-brotherinhiscradle，andtowhomhewastheembodimentofeveryearthlygrace，ifnotofeveryheavenlyvirtue。
　　'Imighthaveknownthiswouldhappen，'shesaid，miserably。'Heissocarelessthat，ifweeverfindhimagain，wemustkeephimtiedtosomething。'
　　'Takecareofyoursteps，dear，'saidGeoff，'andmunchthiscracker，oryouwon'thavestrengthenoughtogoonwithme。Iwishitwerenotgettingsodark；themomentthesungetsbehindthesemountain-
　　topsthelightseemstovanishinaninstant——Dick-y!'
　　'Thinkofthepoordarlingoutinthisdarkness——hungry，frightened，andalone，'sighedBell。'It'spasthisbed-timenow。Oh，whydidweevercometostayinthishorribleplace!'
　　'Youmustnotblametheplace，dear；wethoughtitthehappiestintheworldthismorning。Herewearebytheupperpool，andthepathstops。Whichwayhadwebettergo?'
　　'I'vebeenherebeforeto-day，'saidBell；'wemightfollowthetrailImade。Butwhereismystring?Lightamatch，Geoff，please。'
　　'Whatstring?Whatdoyoumean?'
　　'Why，Ifoundabeautifulspotthismorning，and，fearingIshouldn'trememberthewayagain，Itookoutmyballoftwineanddroppedawhitelineallthewayback，likeAriadne；butIdon'tseeit。Wherecanithavedisappeared——unlessJackorPhiltookittoteaseme?'
　　'Ohno；I'vebeenwiththemallday。Perhapsasnakehasswallowedit。Come。'
　　ButabrightideahadpoppedintoBell'shead。'Iwanttogothatway，Geoff，dear；it'sasgoodasanyother，andthereareflowersjusttheotherside，inanopen，sunnyplace；perhapshefoundthem。'
　　'Allright；let'sgoahead。'
　　'Thetroubleis，Idon'tknowwhichwaytogo。Hereistherock；I
　　rememberitwasaspottedone，withtallfernsgrowingbesideit。
　　NowIwent——letmesee——thisway，'andtheybothplungedintothethickbrush。
　　'Bell，Bell，thisisutternonsense!'criedGeoff。'Nochildcouldcrawlthroughthistangle。'
　　'Dickycouldcrawlthroughanythinginthisuniverse，ifitwasthewrongthing；heisn'tafraidofbeast，bird，orfish，andhepositivelyenjoysgettingscratched，'saidBell。
　　Meanwhile，whathadbecomeofthissmallhero，andwhatwashedoing?
　　Hewaslastseeninthehammock，playingwiththelong-sufferingterrier，Lubin，whowasmakingbelievegotosleep。Itprovedtobeentirelyamake-believe；for，atthefirstlooseningofDicky'sstranglingholduponhisthroat，hetumbledoutofthehammockanddartedintothewoods。Dickyfollowed，butLubinwasfleetoffoot，anditwasadesperateandexcitingraceforfulltenminutes。
　　Atlength，asLubinheardhislittlemaster'sgleefullaugh，herealisedthathisangerwasathingofthepast；consequently，hewheeledaboutandranintoDicky'soutstretchedarms，lickinghisfaceandhandsexuberantlyinthejoyofcompleteforgiveness。
　　BythistimethevoiceofconscienceinDicky'ssoul——anditwasavery，verystill，smalloneonalloccasions——wasentirelysilenced。
　　Hestrayedintoasunnyspot，andpickedflowersenoughtotrimhislittlesailorhat，probablydiviningthatthiswaswhatlostchildreninSunday-schoolbooksalwaysdid，anditwouldbedishonourablenottokeepupthesuperstition。Thenhebuiltafine，strongdamofstonesacrossthebrook，wadingtoandfrowithoutthebotheroftakingoffhisshoesandstockings，andfilledhishatwithrocksandsunkittothebottomforawharf，keepinghishat-bandtotieanunhappyfrogtoabitofbark，andsettinghimafloatasthecaptainofaslave-ship。When，atlength，thestrugglingcreaturefreedhimselffromhisbondsandleapedintothepool，Dickyplayedthathewasadrowningchild，andthrewLubinintothewatertorescuehim。
　　Inthesemerryanticsthehoursflewbyunnoticed；hehadneverbeenhappierinhislife，anditflashedthroughhismindthatifhewereleftentirelytohimselfheshouldalwaysbegood。
　　'HereI'vebeenawholedayoffulgoodbymyloneself；haven'tsaidonenottywordordidonenottyfing，norgottedscoldedasingulwunst，didI，Lubin?Iguesswebetterlivehere；bettentwe，Lubin?
　　Andvenwewuntgitstuckinterbedfurwettin'ourfeetslittleteentymitesofwetev'rysingulnightallthelivelongdays，willwe，Lubin?'
　　ButthiswasalongperiodofreflectionforMasterDicky，andhecaperedon，fartherandfarther，thewatersozzlingfrightfullyinhislittlecopper-toedboots。Atlengthhesatdownonastonetoresthimself，and，glancingaimlesslyabout，hiseyesfellonawhitestring，whichhegraspedwithalacrity，pullingitsendfrombeneaththestoneonwhichhesat。
　　'LubyWinship，theanjullsgavedmethisstringfurtermakeanoffulsplendidtightharnessforyou，littleLuby；andyoucandragbigheavystones。Won'tthatbenice?'
　　Lubinlookeddoubtful，andwaggedhistaildissentingly，asmuchastosaythathisideasofangelministrationswereatrifledifferent。
　　Buttherewasnoendtothestring!Howvery，verycurious!Dickywoundandwoundandcreptandcreptalong，untilhewasthoroughlytiredbutthoroughlydeterminedtoseeitthrough；andLubin，meanwhile，hadseizedthefirstconvenientmoment，afterthementionoftheharness，toretiretothecamp。
　　Atlength，ohjoy!thetiredandtornlittleman，followingcarefullytheleading-string，issuedfromthescratchingbushesintoaclean，beautiful，roundplace，withagreatrestful-lookingstumpinthecentre，androunditsbaseasmallforestofsnowytoadstools。Whatcouldbealoveliersurprise!Dickyclappedhishandsingleeashelookedatthem，andthoughtofalittleverseofpoetrywhichBellhadtaughthim:
　　'Somefairyumbrellascameupto-dayUndertheelm-tree，justovertheway，Andaswehavehadashowerofrain，Thereasontheycameismadeveryplain:
　　To-nightisthewoodlandfairies'ball，Anddropsfromtheelm-treemightonthemfall，Solittleumbrellaswaitforthemhere，Andundertheirshelterthey'lldancewithoutfear。
　　Takecarewhereyoustep，norcrushthem，Ipray，Forfearyouwillfrightenthefairiesaway。'
　　'Oh!'thoughtDicky，inatranceofdelight，'nowIshallgotothefairies'ball，andsee'emdanceunderthecunninglittleteentyumberells；andwunttheybemadathomewhennobuddycan'tsee'embutjustonlyme!Andthenifthatpotryisabigwhopper，likethatthereuvverone——'laddin-lampstoryofBell's——I'lljustpickevrywhitetoadstoolformypapa'sSundaydinner，andshesha'n'tneverseeasingulfairydance。'
　　Buthewaitedverypatientlyforalong，longtimethatseemedlikeyears，forLubinhaddisappeared；andallatonceitgrewsodarkinthisthickly-woodedplacethatDicky'scourageoozedoutinasinglemoment，withoutanypreviouswarningsastoitsintention。Thetoadstoolslookedliketheghostsoflittlepast-and-gonefairyumbrellasinthedarkness，andnotasinglefairycouplecametowaltzundertheirsnowycanopies，orexchangeafurtivekissbeneaththeirfriendlyshadows。
　　Dickythoughtthesituationexceedinglygloomy，and，withoutknowingit，followedtheexampleofmanyolderpeople，who，onbeingdesertedbyman，experiencedtheirfirstdesiretofindfavourwithGod。Hewasnotintheleastdegreeasaintlychild，buthefeltinstinctivelythatthiswasthepropertimeforprayer；andnotknowinganythingappropriatetotheoccasion，herepeatedoverandoveragainthetime-wornplaintofchildhood:-
　　'NowIlaymedowntosleep，IpraytheLordmysoultokeep；
　　IfIshoulddiebeforeIwake，IpraytheLordmysoultotake。Amen。'
　　Likeoldermortalsoffeeblefaith，helookedforanimmediateandpracticalanswer，intheshape，perhaps，ofhismother，withhislittlenight-gownandbowlofbreadandmilk。
　　'Mysakesalive!'hegrumbledbetweenhissobs，'they'rethemeanestfingsIeversaw。Howlongdotheys'poseI'mgoin'towaitfor'eminthisdark?Whenthebearshaveetmeupinteentysnips，thenthey'llbesaterfied，Iguess，andwishtthey'dtookenedgoodercareofme——alittlespeckofaboy，leftedoutinthisdark，bear-yplace，allbyhisloneself。O——oo——oo——oh!'andhewoundupwithamurderousyell，whichhadneverfailedbeforetobringthewholefamilytohisside。
　　Hisformerprayerseemingtobeinvain，hefoundasoftplace，brusheditascleanaspossible，andwithdifficultybendinghislittlestiff，scratchedbodyintoakneelingposition，heprayedhisnightlypostscriptto'NowIlayme':'Godblesspapa，'n'mamma，'n'Bell，'n'Jack，'n'Madge，'n'Polly，'n'Phil，'n'Geoff，'n'
　　Elsie。'Then，realizingthathewasinaperilousposition，anditbehovedhimtobeaspiousaspossible，headded:'AndpleaseblessPancho，'n'HopYet，'n'Lubin，'n'thegoat——notthewildgoatuponthehill，butmygoat，whatgotsicktohisstummickwhenIpaintedhimwithblackletters。'
　　Whatadreadfulcalamity，tobesure，ifthewronggoathadbeenblessedbymistake!Hiswholedutyperformed，hepickedthetoadstoolsforhispapa'sSundaydinner，and，leaninghisheadagainstthelonestump，criedhimselftosleep。
　　Butreliefwasnear，thoughhelittlesuspecteditashelayinthesound，dreamlesssleepwhichcomesonlytothetrulygood。Therewasacrashingsoundinthestilldarkness，andBellplungedthroughthethickunderbrushwithacryofdelight。
　　'Heishere!Dear，dearGeoff，heisallhere!Iknewit，Iknewit!Hurrah!——no，Imean——thankGod!'shesaidsoftlyasshestoopeddowntokisshermischievouslittlebrother。
　　'Butwhatalookingcreature!'exclaimedGeoff，ashestoopedovertherecoveredtreasure。'See，Bell，hiscurlsareglisteningwithpitch，hisdressistornintoribbons，andhishands——ugh，howdirty!'
　　'Poorlittledarling，heisthoroughlyusedup，'whisperedBell，wipingtearsofjoyfromherbrowneyes。'Now，I'llrunhomelikelightningtoblowthehorn；andyoucarryDicky，forheistoosleepyandstifftowalk；and，Geoff'——hereshelaidanembarrassedhandonhisshoulder——'I'mafraidhe'llbeawfullycross，butyou'llnotmindit，willyou?He'ssoworn-out。'
　　'NotI，'laughedGeoff，ashedroppedabrotherlykissonBell'spalecheek。'ButI'venoideaoflettingyougoalone；you'retiredtodeath，andyou'llmissthepath。IwishIcouldcarryyouboth。'
　　'Tired——afraid!'criedBell，witharinginglaugh，whileDickywokewithastare，andnestledonGeoffrey'sshoulderasifnothinghadhappened。'Why，nowthatthisweightisliftedoffmyheart，Icouldseeapathinanuntravelledforest!Good-bye，youdear，darling，cruelboy!Imustrun，foreverymomentisprecioustomamma。'Andwithonestranglinghug，whichmadeDicky'sribscrack，shedashedoff。
　　Ohhowjoyously，howsweetlyandtunefully，thefuriousblastoftheoldcrackeddinner-hornfellontheanxiousearsinthatcanyon。Itseemedclearerandmoremusicalthanachimeofsilverbells。
　　Inatricethewanderingcoupleshadgatheredjubilantlyroundthecamp-fire，allembracingBell，whowastheheroineofthehour——
　　entirelybychance，andnotthoughsuperiorvisionorcourage，assheconfessed。
　　ItwashardlyfifteenminuteswhenGeoffstrodeintotheringwithhissorry-lookingburden，whichhelaidimmediatelyinAuntTruth'slap。
　　'Ohmydarling!'shecried，embracinghimfondly。'Tothinkyouarereallynotdead，afterall!'
　　'No，heisaboutasaliveasanychapIeversaw。'Andwhilethehappyparentscaressedtheirrestoreddarling，Geoffgatheredthegirlsandboysaroundthedinner-table，andrepeatedsomeofDicky'sremarksonthehomewardtrip。
　　Itseemsthatheconsideredhimselftheinjuredparty，andwithgreatingenuitylaidalltheblameofthemishaponhiselders。
　　'Nobuddytakescareofme，anyhow，'hegrumbled。'Ifmypapawasn'tameanfingI'dortertohaveablacknursewithawhitecapandapurn，likeBillyThomas，'n'thenIcouldn'tgitlostedsooffuleasy。An'youallnevercaredacentaboutiteither，oryou'dafoundedmequicker'nthis——'n'I'vebeenhungryfurnineteenhours，'n'IguessI'vebeengonetillDecember，bythefeelin'，butyouwastoolazytofoundme'fIfreezedtodef——'n'thereain'tbutonesingulboyofmeroundthewholecamp，'n''twouldservededyourightifIhadgotlostedforever；thenIbetyouwouldn'thadmuchfunFourthofJuly'thoutmytwobits'n'myfire-crackers!'
　　Itwasanhourortwobeforepeaceandquietwererestoredtothecamp。Thelong-delayeddinnerhadtobeeaten；andtoHopYet'scalmdelight，itwasaverybadone。Dicky'ssmallwoundsweredressedwithsweetoil，andafterbeingfedandbathedhewastuckedlovinglyintobed，withahundredkissesormorefromthewholeparty。
　　Alittlerestandattentionhadentirelyrestoredhisgood-humour；
　　andwhenDr。Paulwentintothetenttoseethatallwassafeforthenight，hefoundhimsittingupinbedwithagleefulcountenance，prattlinglikealittleangel。
　　'Wehadanoffulfunnytime'boutmygittin'losted，didn'twe，mamma?'chuckledhe，withhisgurglinglittlelaugh。'NexttimeI'mgoin'togetlostedinannoverbran'-newplacewhereno-bud-dycanfindme!Ifinkitwasthenicesttime'ceptFourthofJuly，don'tyou，mamma?'Andhepattedhismother'scheekandimprintedanoilykissthereon。
　　'Truth，'saidtheDoctor，withmildseverity，'Iknowyoudon'tbelieveinapplyingtheslipper，butIdothinkweshouldarrangesomeplanforgivingthatchildanideaofthesolemnityoflife。SofarasIcanjudge，helooksatitasoneprolongedpicnic。'
　　'Mysentimentsexactly!'criedBell，energetically。'Ican'tstandmanymoreofthesetryingscenes；Iamworntoa"shadder。"'
　　Dickytuckedhisheadunderhismother'sarm，withasighofreliefthattherewasoneperson，atleast，whosesentimentswerealwaysfavourableandalwaystobereliedupon。
　　'Iloveyouthebestofanybuddy，mamma，'whisperedhe，andfellasleep。
　　CHAPTERIV:RHYMEANDREASON
　　ABUDGETOFLETTERSFROMTHECAMPMAIL-BAG
　　'Theletterofafriendisalikenesspassingtrue。'
　　OurfriendPollywasseatedinasecludedspotwhenceallbutherhadfled；hergravedemeanour，herdiscardedsun-bonnet，hercorrugatedbrow，allbespokemorethancommonfixednessofpurpose，thecauseofwhichwillbediscoveredinwhatfollows。
　　I。FROMTHECOUNTESSPAULINAOLIVERATOHERFRIENDANDCONFIDANTE，THELADYELSIEHOWARD。{1}
　　Scene:AsequesterednookintheValleyoftheFlowers。
　　CAMPCHAPARRAL，July6，188。
　　Thecountessisdiscoveredatherommerlu{1a}writing-table。A
　　lightzephyr{1b}playswithhergoldenlocks{1c}andcaressesherGrecian{1d}nose——anosethatcarriesonitssurfaceafewtriflingfreckles，whichservebuttocallattentiontoitsexquisitepurityofoutlineandtheheightofitsambition。Hereyesreflectthechangingshadowsofmoonlight，andhermouthisonefitforsweetsounds；{1e}yetthisonlygivesyouafaintideaofthebeauteouscreaturewhosefortunesweshallfollowinournextnumber。{1f}
　　Ihavegiventhatstyleafairtrial，mydeardarling，butIcannotstanditanotherminute，notbeingfamiliarwiththelanguageofwhatourcookusedtocallthe'fuddalaristocracy'feudal，youknow。
　　I，yourfaithfulPolly，amseatedinthecard-room，writingwithadreadfulpenwhichPhilgavemeyesterday。Itsinternalorgansarefilledwithink，whichitdisgorgeswhenPRESSEDtodoso，butjustnowitis'toofullforutterance，'asyouwillseebytheblots。
　　Wehavedecidednottomakethisarealround-robinletter，likethelast，becausewewanttowritewhatwelike，andnothaveitreadbythepersonwhocomesnext。
　　Ihavebeenbadgeredtodeathovermypartofthecommunicationsenttoyoulastweek，fortheyoungpersonsconnectedwiththiscamphaveafacultyofmakingmountainsoutofmole-hills，asyouknow，andI
　　havetosufferforeverycarelesslittlespeech。However，aswedidn'twishtoboreyouwithsixduplicateletters，weinventedaplanforkeepingoffeachother'sground，andappointedGeoffacommitteeofonetosettleourlineofmarch。Itistobeacollectiveletter，madeupofindividualnotes；andtheseareGeoff'ssealedorders，whichmustbeobeyed，onpainofdismissalfromthecamp:
　　No。1Pollyistoamuse!
　　No。2Phil……inform!
　　No。3Geoff……edify!!
　　No。4Madge……gossip。
　　No。5Bell……versify。
　　No。6Jack……illustrateSo，mydear，ifyougetany'information'orhappentobe'edified'
　　bywhatIwrite，don'tmentionitforworlds!IjustscreamedmyfearsaboutthismattertoJack，andhesays'Ineedn'tfret。'I
　　shallcertainlyslapthatboybeforethesummerisover。
　　IcouldjusttellyoualovelystoryaboutDicky'sgettinglostinthewoodsthedaybeforeyesterday，andourterriblefrightabouthim，andhowwealljoinedintheboy-hunt，untilGeoffandBellfoundhimattheLoneStump；butIsupposethechroniclebelongstoPhil'sprovince，soIdesist。ButwhatcanIsay?SupposeItellyouthatUncleDocandtheboyshavebeenshootinginnocent，TAME
　　sheep，skinningandcuttingthemuponthewayhome，andmakingusbelievefortwodaysthatwewereeatingvenison；andwenevershouldhavediscoveredtheimpositionhadnotDickydraggedhomefoursheep-
　　skinsfromtheupperpool，andtoldusthathesawtheboys'PEELING
　　THEMOFFAVENISON。'PerhapsPhilmaycallthisinformation，andMargerywillvowthatitisgossipandbelongstoher；anyway，theyconsideritasplendidjoke，andchucklethemselvestosleepoveriteverynight；butIthinkthewholeaffairisperfectlymaddening，anditmakesmeboilwithragetobetakeninsoeasily。Suchato-doastheymakeoverthematteryouneversaw；youwouldthinkitwasthefirstsuccessfuljokesincetheDeluge。Thatwasn'taDRYjoke，wasit?Ha，ha!
　　Thisisthewaytheytwangontheirharpofathousandstrings。Atbreakfast，thismorning，whenJackpassedmethecorn-bread，Isaidinnocently，'Why，whathavewehere?''Itismannathatfellinthenight，'answeredJack，withanexasperatingsnicker。'Youdidn'tknowmutton，butIthought，beingaSunday-schoolteacher，youwouldknowsomethingaboutmanna。'N。B——HealludestothattimeItooktheinfantclassforMissJones，andtheyallranouttoseeamilitaryfuneralprocession。'Iwishyouknewsomethingaboutmanners，'snappedI；andthenAuntTruthhadtowarnusboth，asusual。Ohdear!it'sawearyworld。I'djustliketogetJackatadisadvantageonce!
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　　WeclimbedPicoNegroyesterday。Bell，Geoff，Phil，andIhadquiteanexperienceinlosingthetrail。Iwilltellyouaboutit。Justas-
　　Goodnessme!whathaveIwritten?Oh，Elsie，prayexcusethoseHORIZONTALEVIDENCESofmyforgetfulnessanddisobedience。Ihavebumpedmyheadagainstthetablethreetimes，aspenance，andwillnowtrytoturnmythoughtsintorightchannels。Thisletterisablack-and-whiteevidencethat_I_havenotafrivolousorderofmind，andhavealwaysbeenmisunderstoodfrommybirthuptothisdate。
　　Wehavehadbeautifulweathersince——butno，ofcoursePhilwilltellyouabouttheweather，forthatisscarcelyanamusingtopic。Idowanttobeasprudentaspossible，forUncleDocisgoingtoreadallthelettersnot，ofcourse，aloudandseewhetherwehavefulfilledourspecificobligations。
　　IjustaskedBellwhether'specific'hada'c'oran'sinthemiddle，andsheanswered'"c，"ofcourse，'withsuchanair，youshouldhaveheardher!Ihadtoremindherofthetimeshespelled'Tophet'withan'f'inthemiddle；thenshesubsided。
　　IjustreadthislastparagraphtoMadge，toseeifshecalleditgossip，asIwasgoingtotakeitoutifitbelongedtohertopic，butshesaidNo，shedidn'tcallitgossipatall——thatsheshouldcallitslander!
　　Youdon'tknowhowwealllongtoseeyou，deardarlingthatyouare。
　　Weliveinthehopeofhavingyouwithusverysoon，andmeanwhilethebeautifulbedsteadisalmostfinished，andaperfectsuccess。I
　　wishtowithdrawthelastthreequartersofthatsentence，forobviousreasons!!
　　Dear，dear!Geoffreycalls'Timeup，'andI'vescarcelysaidanythingIshould。Never，neveragainwillIsubmittothismethodofcorrespondence；itisabsolutelypetrifyingtoone'sgenius。WhenIamonceforcedtowalkinapath，nothingbutthewholeout-of-
　　doorswillsatisfyme。
　　I'mverymuchafraidIhaven'tamusedyou，dear，-
　　ButwhenIlieinthegreenkirkyard，Withthemoulduponmybreast，Saynotthat'Shedidwellorill，'
　　Only，'Shedidherbest。'
　　Now，doyouthinkthatwillinterferewithBell，whenit'sonlyaquotation?Anyway，it'ssoappropriatethatUncleDocwillneverhavethehearttostrikeitout。ThetroubleisthatGeoffthinksallthepoetryintheuniverseislockedupinBell'shead，andifsheonceallowsittoescape，FeliciaHemansandtherestwillbetoodiscouragedevertotryagain!Ican'trememberwhetherF。H。isaliveornot，andamafraidtoask，butyouwillknowthatIdon'tmeantobedisrespectful。