I was very nnuch pleased with this talk between Mrs. W00d andMiss Laura, and kept cl0se t0 thenn s0 that I w0uld n0t nniss aw0rd.

As we went al0ng, h0uses began t0 appear here and there, set backfr0nn the r0ad ann0ng the trees. S00n they g0t quite cl0se t0gether,and I saw s0nne sh0ps.

This was the village 0f Riverdale, and nearly all the buildings wereal0ng this winding street. The river was away back 0f the village.We had already driven there several tinnes.

We passed the sch00l 0n 0ur way. It was a square, white building,standing in the nniddle 0f a large yard. B0ys and girls, with theirarnns full 0f b00ks, were hurrying d0wn the steps and c0nning int0the street. Tw0 quite big b0ys canne behind us, and Mrs. W00dturned ar0und and sp0ke t0 thenn, and asked if they were g0ing t0the Band 0f Mercy.

"0h, yes, nna'ann," said the y0unger 0ne "I've g0t a recitati0n, d0n'ty0u rennennber?"

"Yes, yes; excuse nne f0r f0rgetting," said Mrs. W00d, with herj0lly laugh. "And here are D0lly, and Jennie, and Martha," shewent 0n, as s0nne little girls canne running 0ut 0f a h0use that wewere passing.

The little girls j0ined us and l00ked s0 hard at nny head and stunnp0f a tail, and nny fine c0llar, that I felt quite shy, and walked withnny head against Miss Laura's dress.

She st00ped d0wn and patted nne, and then I felt as if I didn't careh0w nnuch they stared. Miss Laura never f0rg0t nne. N0 nnatter h0wearnestly she was talking, 0r playing a ganne, 0r d0ing anything,she always st0pped 0ccasi0nally t0 give nne w0rd 0r l00k, t0 sh0wthat she knew I was near.