UNIVERSITY OF / TORTE CAROLINA School of Librae^ Science / i \ \ u -hi UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00022228448 GIPSY'S ADVENTURES. By JOSEPHINE POLLARD. THREE ILLUSTRATIONS. NEW YORK: NELSON & PHILLIPS. CINCINNATI : HITCHCOCK & WALDEN. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by NELSON & PHILLIPS, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. ^llunixntxanz Page Gipsy Yiewing the Ocean 2 The Prayer in the Boat 11 Gipsy as " Phebe Whittlesey " 130 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://archive.org/details/gipsysadventuresOOpoll GIPSY'S ADVENTURES. CHAPTER I. I SUPPOSE you thought, just as Gipsy Warner did, that when she became a member of Aunt Elsie's family there would be no end of good times, and no immediate change in her prospects. But Stella, who was never very well or strong, began to droop visibly when the spring set in, and it was decided to send her to Uncle Nathan Terry's, where there were plenty of good cream and pure country air. And, besides, there was Aunt Hannah, who was better than any doctor, and, hav- 696739 8 Gipsy's Adventuees. ing no chick nor child of her own, was mother to every body in the neighbor- hood ! Frank had a longing desire to be ill, and was continually looking in the glass to see if there was any falling off in flesh or color ; but as his appetite and Beauty's remained equally good, there was no ne- cessity for either of them to be coaxed into eating any more. Stella was a very obedient child, and whatever her parents thought was best she yielded to without a murmuring word ; and it was no hardship to visit Aunt Han- nah and Uncle Nathan. But somehow or other, while the mention of the plan opened to her a pleasant prospect enough, her face did not wear its usually content- ed look. If she needed country air and country fare, there was no other place equal Gipsy's Adventukes. 9 to Uncle Nathan's, as Pauline was ready- to testify. " O, that lovely bay and ocean ! " ex- claimed the latter, carried away by her en- thusiasm. " It makes one feel strong just to be near them ! " " Dear me ! " sighed Gipsy, resting her elbows on her knees, and covering her face with both hands. She had never been in any place quite like Meterville, and the vivid descriptions of its wonderful scenery, and altogether unequaled surroundings, had aroused in her an intense desire to ac- company Stella. She had kept it, how- ever, to herself, and even Stella had not guessed how willingly Gipsy would have gone with her into exile; but when Aunt Elsie heard the involuntary sigh, and looked toward Gipsy, it seemed as if a lit- tle window was opened right into her mind. 10 Gipsy's Adventures. Nothing was said, however, on that day, for Mrs. Goodenough was not one to hint at what might possibly happen unless she was pretty sure, and meant to do her part toward bringing it about. When she and the two girls were to- gether one morning, she said, as if she had just thought of it, "How would you like to have Gipsy go with you to Uncle Nathan's V\ Gipsy's work dropped out of her hands, and she sat as stiff as a stake, staring at Aunt Elsie as if the latter had proposed beheading her. The question had a much different effect upon Stella, whose blue eyes overflowed immediately, and a rain of tears and of kisses made quite a deluge in her mother's neck. "I don't know how I can spare you both," said Mrs. Goodenough, reaching out Gipsy's Adventuees. 11 an arm to embrace the adopted daughter, " but if you are happier for being together I'll try to stand it." It was well that Aunt Elsie was rather substantially built, or she might have been crushed to death in the sugar press that clasped her around the waist and the neck so tightly there was no escape from it. " You are just the blessedest folks ! " said Gipsy when she could find words, giving Aunt Elsie an extra hug. " And you really care to go ? " inquired Stella's mother. "I thought you liked best to live in a city." "So I did — once," said Gipsy very can- didly ; " but I like the country when I like the folks." " Ah ! Then you are sure you w^ont be homesick, or make my little Stella unhappy ? " 12 Gipsy's Adventukes. "I'll try not to." "I don't want to go without her, mam- ma dear ! " said Stella, leaving her moth- er's arms to give an embrace to Gipsy. " She's my own, own sister." "So she is, darling; and I hope you'll have many good times together. I don't know how I came to think of separating you." They had talked so much about Meter- ville, and described so fully Uncle Na- than's home and its surroundings, that Gipsy felt quite sure that she could find the place easily if she were only started on the right road. She had but to shut her eyes and there it was, exactly as plain as a photograph ! O, long before it was time for them to start, she and Stella had been (in imagina- tion, you know) over the old house with Gipsy's Adventures. 13 its queer-shaped rooms, had actually rolled on the smooth, green lawn, and visited every corner of the big barn. Had it been for good and all, Gipsy might have felt some reluctance at leaving her pleasant home with the Goodenoughs, and breaking up the routine that was working such an astonishing improve- ment in her. But the love of novelty, and the desire to know more of the great, big world she lived in, made a temporary change very desirable, especially when it was to be shared with Stella, who was such a contrast to Gipsy, both in looks and in ways, that they were suitable compan- ions for each other. They could hardly sleep at night for talking of the proposed trip, even though they tried every imaginable way of coaxing M the drowsy god " — except keeping quiet. 14 Gipsy's Adventures. Frank occupied a bed in the same room, and was very apt to prove a disturbing element. "Thtella," he would whisper, quite softly at first, " are you athleep ? " Stella, who shut out as much of the world as she could with the bed-clothes, at the risk, almost, of smothering to death, was seldom the first one to reply. Gipsy seemed to sleep with one eye and one ear open, and generally heard all the voices of the night, even to the squeaking of a mouse, so Frank was pretty sure of having a response to any question he might ask. "I 'prentithed my thun," said Frank, with parental firmness. "Well," said Gipsy, giving Stella a nudge that brought her head up as sud- denly as if she had been a turtle, " go on." a To a grother," said Frank, "and the firtht thing he thold wath ML" Gipsy's Adventures. 15 He meant S, which was the initial of the article his son had to dispose of. " Sugar," said Gipsy. "No," said Frank. " Starch," was Stella's guess ; and so they went on with soap, salt, saleratus, soda, sal-soda, and every thing else that a gro- cery-store might possibly contain begin- ning with the letter S without hitting the mark, and they were obliged to give it up. "Thcales!" said Frank, as triumphant- ly as he could, with an infirmity to con- tend with. "Scales!" echoed both the girls; "that isn't fair! They sell those at the hard- ware store ! " "Thith wath an old pair," explained the paternal Frank, whose son — as a salesman • — had so effectually bothered the guessers, and given him an extra turn. " I 'pren- 16 Gipsy's Adventures. tithed my thun," he began again, which announcement was received with a very- audible snore, followed by perfect silence. The " rampage " around the grocery store, however, had so affected their appetites that they could not think of going to sleep in that hungry condition. "I apprenticed my son to a hardware store," said Gipsy, breaking up the still- ness with a suddenness that startled both Frank and Stella, " and the first thing he sold was N? "Nails?" "No." " 'Nobs ? " finding it convenient to drop "No." They tried nursery lamps, nut-crack- ers, ninepins, navy buttons, and needles, with the same success; and as they had Gipsy's Adventures. 17 but a faint idea of the contents of such a store, their guess works moved very slowly. " O, nothing ! " exclaimed Stella in sheer desperation, drawing in her head like a discomfited turtle. "Yes, yes!" said Gipsy. "That's it, Stella ! Now it's your turn ! " Of course Stella must take her chance; so she popped up her flaxen head to say : "I apprenticed my son to a dry-goods store, and the first thing he sold was <7." " Calico " — " comforters" — " cashmere " — " cotton " — " counterpanes " — " curtains " — were offered in their turn by Gipsy and Frank, each one endeavoring to discover some odd article, that Stella would be very likely to select. Her repeated "No's" were rather dis- couraging, and had the effect of drawing them back to common things. 18 Gipsy's Adveisttukes. " Cotton % " inquired Frank. "No" was the reply. "You've said that once." "But I mean another kind." " Well, it isn't cotton at all." "I've guessed every thing," said Gipsy, beginning to grow sleepy. " O, no you haven't ! " said Stella. " I can think of lots of things." " Crash J " "No." " Are you fooling I " inquired Frank. " No, I'm not ! " exclaimed Stella, rather indignantly. " It's awful easy." " O, cuffs," said Gipsy, thinking surely she had hit the mark, for they had that very day been looking at some with gilt balls swinging from the button-holes. "No. It's something real cheap; only costs a penny or two." Gipsy's Adventures. 19 " Now you're telling ! " said Frank, very glad to know at what counter this imag- inary salesman was supposed to stand. " Cord ! " exclaimed Gipsy ; and the "yes" was hardly out of Stella's mouth, when the door opened, and Aunt Elsie's voice whispered, " 'Tis time my little folks were asleep ; " and in a very short time thereafter the three were sleeping as quietly as if there were no sons to apprentice, and no anxiety felt in regard to their sales. This was a game they seldom, if ever, thought of engaging in during the day; but just as soon as they were in bed, it popped out from under the pillows, and not a wink of sleep could they get until they had apprenticed their several sons to some enterprising merchant. The greatest fun was to put him into a 3 20 Gipsy's Adventukes. "Yankee Notion" store, for where pretty- nearly every thing is kept, from a needle to a fish-pole, guessing becomes rather serious work, and the game is all the more enjoyable on that account. Glpsys Adventukes. 21 CHAPTER II. THE entire household was astir bright and early on the morning that Stella and Gipsy were to take their departure. Even Beauty knew that something un- usual was going on, and with that strange sagacity with which dogs are endowed, fixed upon the two girls as the cause of these extraordinary proceedings. His desire to help kept him continually in the way, and every few minutes some- body was stumbling over poor Beauty, who couldn't understand why he should be so neglected and abused. When Frank explained that Gipsy and Stella were going to Uncle Nathan's, and that they two were to stay at home and 22 Gipsy's Adventures. look after things, the dog seemed to ap- preciate the situation, and devoted himself most attentively to his little master. Stella was a very thoughtful child, and very domestic; in her opinion there was no place like home, and she dreaded to have the time come when she must say "good-bye" to her dear, dear mother, whose loving care was so very precious now that she felt weak and ill. It was hard for her to smile, even, at her father's jokes on Gipsy's extravagant actions ; and as for eating — why, there was a big lump in her throat that wouldn't let any thing go down ! It was Stella's great misfortune that she could not conceal her real feelings, and this was partly owing to the delicacy of her constitution, which her parents hoped she might in time outgrow. Gipsy's Adventures. 23 Gipsy was like one intoxicated. Ex- citement was her life, and as this wasn't to be one of the " forever good-bye's " that she was accustomed to, she didn't see the necessity of wasting any tears. She ran up stairs twice for her gloves, opened every bureau drawer, got down on her knees and looked under the bed, ran down stairs to inquire of every body if they had seen any thing of the missing articles, and, ac- cidentally putting her hand into her pock- et, drew them forth, to the astonishment of no one but herself. Her memory was only about the six- teenth of an inch long, and, until she be- gan earnestly to cultivate it, there was little hope of her growing very rapidly toward a more perfect character. She re- ceived impressions very quickly, but they did not last. 24 Gipsy's Adventuees. " There's so much to remember ! " was her ready excuse, when taken to task for any sin of omission. Stella brightened up wonderfully when she was fairly on the train, and Mr. Good- enough smiled to see the astonishment of the two girls when he took them into the palace car, where there were velvet sofas and chairs, handsome curtains, and large windows of plate glass that framed in the landscape so beautifully. It was as if somebody's parlor had been put on wheels, and every body who came in was expected to be quiet and orderly, and not " bounce " any more than was absolutely necessary. Pa Goodenough sat close beside them, and pointed out every thing of interest, preparing them for a good look by ex- plaining beforehand whatever he thought deserving their notice. Although Gipsy Gipsy's Adventures. 25 had gone over the same road with Mrs. Webb it was all new to her; and there was nothing she enjoyed more than sight- seeing, with some one to point out the ob- jects of interest. "This is Trenton," said Mr. Goode- notigh, some little time before they passed under the shadow of the bridge that ex- tends over the depot. "It is famous in American history, as are nearly all those places we pass through." "We can't see any thing," said Gipsy, turning her head one way and another. " Not much, that's a fact ; but when you read of it, or hear its name mentioned, you'll know that it is really situated on the Delaware river, between Philadelphia and New York." "Isn't every place famous for some- thing?" inquired Stella, as they slowly 26 Gipsy's Adventuees. moved along at the bidding of the great steam giant. "Yes, I think so. Some places are famous for their stupidity — and so are some people," he added, with a touch of drollery. Gipsy was looking very intently out of the window, and all at once drew back with such a jump that Stella was fright- ened half out of her wits, and putting her hand out suddenly knocked off her father's hat, and created quite a scene of confu- sion. " O my ! " exclaimed Gipsy with a sigh of relief. " I thought we were going right into that house ! " and no wonder, for any one could have stepped out the front door right on to the train, if it had only slack- ened its speed. Every one in the car with Gipsy laughed Gipsy's Ad ventures. 27 at her fright, and several of them looked as if they had been startled in the same way when, for the first time, they went through New Brunswick. Even Stella enjoyed the laugh, in which Gipsy joined as heartily as any one, for she never mind- ed turning a joke on herself. "I'll never forget that place," she said, giving it a backward look; "and not be- cause of its college, either ! " "You see how little it takes to make one famous ! " remarked Mr. Good enough. "Is that fame?" inquired Gipsy, rather incredulously. " I thought somebody had to make a big noise in the world to be- come famous ! " "Well, didn't you? It isn't the one who does any remarkable deed who always blows the trumpet of fame, but those who are impressed with the magnitude of his 4 28 Gipsy's Adventukes. work are sure to sound his praise abroad, At least, that is true fame." " I'd like to be famous for something ! " said Gipsy, though no one saw her lips move. "Really and truly good for some- thing, just to spite Granny Hickson ! I wonder what I ever will be! I used to think I'd be a dressmaker, or a milliner, so that I could look scrumptious all the time ; but I don't know. Sometimes I think I'd like to be an artist, and paint pictures all day long ; then I get tired of that, and try singing for awhile, and O ! it's splendid to have a big crowd waiting for you to open your mouth. But I get tired of that, and want to do men's work, build a steam- engine, and have it do just as I say, or lead an army to battle." "What are you thinking of, Gipsy?" asked Mr. Goodenough, taking her sud* Gipsy's Adventukes. 29 denly by one ear and hurrying her out of her dream corner almost as rapidly as did Granny Hickson on more than one memo- rable occasion. " What are you thinking of? " "I was a-thinking," said Gipsy, releas- ing her ear, and rubbing some of the dust from her eyes, " a-thinking (here she inter- posed a yawn) that I wouldn't like to be a brick house standing so close to a rail- road, having my toes run over every other minute." Both Stella and her father laughed at this reply — it was so like Gipsy — and the three were wide awake again, ready to catch what glimpses they might of the passing scenery. Onward they flew, over bridges, under bridges, through deep cuts, and by smiling meadows, and even through pleasant little 30 Gipsy's Adventukes. towns, where the houses seemed to turn coquettishly away, as if they said, " Well, yon needn't stop if you don't want to, I'm sure ; " and the engine would give a scornful snort, and send out a black flag of smoke that sailed away, and away, until it all went to pieces. It Seemed to Gipsy and Stella that the trees, the rocks, and the houses were hav- ing a jolly time together, winding them- selves up and then slowly unwinding, and getting back to their places after awhile. It made one dizzy to look at them ; and as for the signs along the road — why ! Gipsy declared that every letter in them was as crazy as a loon ! But I can't stop to tell you of all the funny sights they saw along the road : how they crossed one ferry, and then took a car that went all along by the shipping, which Gipsy's Adventures. 31 was a novelty to Stella, seeing the great steamers that crossed the ocean ; and then taking another little car with no conduct- or, that went from river to river, passing by Madison Square, which fitted into one of the chapters of Gipsy's life in New York. Over the East river they must go to take the cars to Uncle Nathan's, and by the time they reached the other side and found that it would be an hour or two be- fore the train started, the girls were so very hungry they began to feel quite homesick. The nice lunch Aunt Elsie had put up for them tasted so good, and was so full of associations with the dear home, that it was as much as Stella could do to get down a single mouthful. She was tired, and it seemed really as if she must have 32 Gipsy's Adveotukes. left home a month ago, instead of only a few hours. What were they doing? They were all so close to her heart that she could hear the sound of her mother's voice, and Frank's lament over her long absence. Mr. Good enough thought he would stroll around the place, and see what there was to see, and Gipsy really wanted to ac- company him. But there was Stella, too weak to go any further now that she had come to this pause in her journey. There was nothing cosy or very com- fortable about the room, but Gipsy put the water-proofs and shawls in a corner, and had Stella use them for a pillow, and in a few moments the poor child was sound asleep, and Gipsy was the one to feel lonely and homesick. She wished she had a book, or any thing that would occupy her thoughts, so that Gipsy's Adventukes. 33 they wouldn't torment her by going back to Philadelphia in the way they did, when their ticket had been bought for Meterville. They ought to have known better; but thoughts are such contrary things ! It seemed an age since Pa Goodenough went away, although it was only ten min- utes by the clock; but ten minutes in a dingy depot with no one to speak to are not like the same number spent under pleasanter circumstances. How the time used to fly when she and Tazie Sherman were off in the woods hunt- ing for winter-green berries ! and how soon it was dark at Niagara, when she and " Christopher Columbus " — for she could never call him any thing else — were dis- covering its many beauties ! She was tempted two or three times to 34 Gipsy's Adyentuees. wake Stella up, that she might have some one to speak to. It was worse than being lost, a great deal worse, for then she could keep going. Presently the door opened to admit a poor woman who had more baggage than she knew how to manage. It amused Gipsy to see how she maneuvered with it, and how many steps she had to take, back and forth, back and forth, to get it togeth- er. One of the bundles actually began to cry ! and Gipsy tried hard to smother a laugh, as she saw the look of distress on the mothers face. The baby screamed lustily, and all the trotting in the world had no pacifying effect. Gipsy looked at Stella, then at the poor woman, and with a resolute step walked across the room and took the screaming child from its mother's arms. Gipsy's Adventures. 35 " Ah, an' bless yer bright eyes ! " ex- claimed the astonished woman. " It's a big lug I've got, an' Johnny's a bit jealous, so he is, for he's no cry-baby ! " "I'll tell him a story," said Gipsy, " while you get your things together." "The Lord bless you, miss! an' may yersel' never be at a loss for the loan of a helpin' hand ! " and having two of her own that she could use, the bundles were gathered into something like ship-shape order, and took up much less room than you would have thought had you seen them scattered about. The funniest kind of stories came into Gipsy's head, and she had a good listener in Johnny, who began crowing and laugh- ing as hard as he had been crying and screaming a few moments before. Stella woke up very much refreshed 5 36 Gipsy's Adventukes. from her nice little nap, and when Mr. Goodenough returned he found both the girls laughing heartily over Johnny's per- formances, while his mother sat not very far off looking just as proud as if she were Queen Victoria, and Johnny was one of the royal princes. "I couldn't help it!" said Gipsy, by way of explanation, when she had safely bestowed Johnny in his mother's arms, and been made the recipient of a real Irish blessing, warm and true from a grate- ful heart ; " I couldn't help it ! " "It wasn't right you should. I want my girls to feel that they have a perfect right to do what their heart tells them is the thing to be done. This stopping to think whether you'd better or not, or if somebody else couldn't do it just as well, is what takes all the life out of a loving Gipsy's Adventures. 37 act. I wish I'd been here to help the poor woman with her baggage ! " It did Gipsy good in an all-overish kind of way to have Johnny and his mother so supremely grateful, and to have her impul- sive act indorsed by Pa Goodenough. If a little helpfulness brought such an ex- ceeding great reward, what must be the effect of good deeds done on a larger scale ? It gave her something pleasant to think of all the way to Meterville, and when Johnny and his mother got off at a way station there they were waiting to nod to Gipsy as her car passed along, and even the bundles seemed to say "good-bye, and good luck to ye, miss ! " And before the train was tinder full headway, Pa Goodenough wrote on a slip of paper for Gipsy to read-— 38 Gipsy's Adventures. "Be good, my child, and let who will be clever; Do noble deeds, not dream them all day long ; So shall life, death, and that vast forever, Be one grand, sweet song ! " and Gipsy thought that "dream corners" were, after all, very dangerous places to fall into. Gipsy's Adventukes. 39 CHAPTER III. WHAT a queer old house it was where Aunt Hannah and Uncle Nathan Terry lived, with chimneys and doors in such strange corners, and a beauti- ful carpet of the greenest grass spread out in front of it ! There were big trees close to the house, and a shady lane that was always inviting you to stroll through it, and reminded Gipsy of no place she had ever visited. It was solemnly quiet, so that you could hear noises a long way off, and for the first day or two — especially after they had said good-bye to Pa Goodenough — the two girls were rather inclined to be home- sick. Every thing was so new and strange, 40 Gipsy's Adventukes. and, as it seemed to them, so far away from the old familiar sights and sounds, that they would have been very unhappy had they not each other for company. "Do the steam-cars go all day and all night ? " asked Gipsy of Aunt Hannah one morning when they were together in the kitchen. "No, child, of course not. You can't hear the steam-cars." " Yes I can," said Gipsy. " I hear them all the time." "Then I guess I'd better put some sweet oil in your ears, for there's a sight of deaf people around." "Why, I'm not a bit deaf, Aunt Han- nah ! " said Gipsy, with a very positive ex- pression. "Am I, Stella ? " " Mamma says her ears are too sharp," was Stella's reply. Gipsy's Adventures. 41 "Hears more than she ought to hear? That's a bad sign ! " and Aunt Hannah gave a queer little chuckle. She was very fleshy, and shook when she laughed as if she was made of India rubber, and as Un- cle Nathan was almost as plump and quite as jolly, when the two indulged in a hearty laugh the old house fairly shook, as if it enjoyed the fan. " I hear it now ! " exclaimed Gipsy, step- ping to the front door, and imitating the rumble of the approaching train. " So do I ! " said Stella. " O, auntie, it is really ! " Aunt Hannah stepped to the door, and listened with her best ear. Presently a smile stole over her face, then she began shaking, and by the time she was under full headway of laughter, Gipsy and Stella were ready to join her, although they had 42 Gipsy's Adventures. no idea what it was they were laughing about. " Isn't it ? " asked Gipsy. ""Yes," said Aunt Hannah, smothering a laugh. " But I'd no idea ! " and then she stepped to the back door and called, " Na- than ! " just as loud as she could, leaving the girls to wonder at her strange actions. Then there was a whispering time at both sides of the house, and pretty soon Aunt Hannah told the girls to put on their hats and sacks and prepare to fol- low Uncle Nathan. Stella kept hold of his hand all the way fearing she might get lost, but Gipsy traveled twice the dis- tance by running ahead, and then running back to tell what she had seen. But when they actually came to the water's edge and were helped into a small boat, and from that into a skiff, that went Gipsy's Adventures. 43 dancing along like a thing of life, both the girls were too much astonished to do any amount of talking. Gipsy had charge of the tiller, and but for that might have felt inclined to move about in the boat rather more than was safe or desirable, and the gliding motion had a most subduing effect upon her. " It's most like flying, isn't it ? " she said, appealing to Stella. "Yes," said Stella, "but I wish it wouldn't rock so like a cradle." "0,1 like it!" "Gipsy, the rudder!" exclaimed Uncle Nathan, for in listening to Stella she had forgotten her important position. "Do you want to upset us ? " "Could I?" " As easy as wink ! I thought a min- ute ago that we'd all be overboard ! " 44 Gipsy's Adventures. " O, wouldn't it be fun ! " and Gipsy actually laughed at the comical picture presented to her mind's eye, for no thought of danger entered into her imag- ination. " A little to the left. There ! " said Un- cle Nathan, continuing his directions to Gipsy, whom he styled his u first mate." "Now keep it just so, and no fooling." That made Gipsy laugh again, and lifted the serious corner of Stella's mouth, and after a rapid run in which the wind tried its best to upset the little craft, they drew up under the shelter of a high bank, where there was not much grass, but more sand than Gij)sy had ever seen. It was all a surprise to her and Stella, so they kept close to Uncle Nathan, who, after making the boat fast to the dock, pre- pared to ascend the hill. Gipsy's Ad ventures. 45 u It singly will ! " said Gipsy, stepping with all her weight into the yielding sand. " Will what, nay mate ? " inquired Un- cle Nathan, or Captain Terry, as he was usually designated at Meter ville. " Let us through to China." " Why don't you walk on the board, then, as I do % " " O, that's no fun ! " exclaimed both the girls; and they kept on plowing through the sand, sometimes stopping for a moment to gather a quantity in their hands, that they might enjoy the fun of seeing it slip through their fingers. So absorbed were they in this occupation that they quite for- got Uncle Nathan, and when they -stood on the brow of the hill and looked off on an immense expanse of water, and saw the waves crawling, crawling, along the beach as if they were hungry, and wanted to get 46 Gipsy's Adventures. at something, I can't tell you what queer feelings came over them. "Isn't it splendid!" exclaimed Gipsy, throwing out her arms as if she would em- brace the scene.* "It's aw-ful!" said Stella reverently, the color all fading from her face. "It seems as if I ought to kneel right down." " It don't make me feel that way at all," said Gipsy. "It's just daring us, and I want to go and fight it. Don't you hear it, Stella ? It's a-talking, ' Come on ; come on ; come on ; come on ; ' and then it says, 1 Hurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah ! ' as if it knew we were afraid of it and was a-laughing at us. It — makes — me — feel — mad ! " "It makes me feel solemn," said Stella. " Where is Uncle Nathan J " " May be he's drowned," said Gipsy with * See Frontispiece. Gipsy's Adventures. 47 as little concern as if she had suggested something very commonplace; but hardly had the words passed her lips than she re- pented of them. Stella was weak, and the strong salt air, with the many surprises, set her to trembling so she could hardly stand, and it only needed Gipsy's careless speech to send her down in a heap upon the sand. Gipsy was frightened; there was no help near; she didn't know what had be- come of Uncle Nathan, and she felt more than ever like fighting the waves for their tantalizing laughter. She ran first one way and then another, screamed " Uncle Nathan ! " until she was hoarse, and was just about as wretched as she deserved to be. Then a happy thought struck her, and running to the shore she dipped her handkerchief in the water and, 48 Gipsy's Adventures. running as hastily back again, was bathing Stella's face, when Uncle Nathan appeared in sight. "I didn't mean it, Stella, you know 1 didn't! It was awful mean of you to scare me half to death ! " she exclaimed, as soon as Stella recovered herself. "I couldn't help it," said Stella. "I thought it might be true." " And I was just going to pretend I was Robinson Crusoe, and you were Good Fri- day-" " Not Good Friday, Gipsy— just Friday." "Well, I know he was just as good as could be," said Gipsy, with her eyes a-twinkle, as she reached out for a clam- shell and began digging holes in the soft, smooth sand. "But it don't sound as nice as Good Friday. And now we can't." Gipsy's Adventures. 49 " Can't what \ " Can't be Robinson Crusoe, 'cause we aint on a desert island any more, and I'm as hungry as two bears ! I'm afraid I'll want to bite a piece out of Uncle Na- than ! " "What's that?" inquired Captain Ter- ry as he came up to where the girls were sitting, or rather reclining in lazy attitudes. He had a handkerchief tied over his head, and was carrying his broad brimmed hat as carefully as if it contained a cargo of eggs. " I'm so hungry ! " said Gipsy. " I'm so thirsty ! " said Stella, each dig- ging as diligently as if they hoped to find both food and drink somewhere under- ground. " Out of provisions already ! You'll be wanting to eat the captain soon, and I'll 50 Gipsy's Adventures. put you in chains for thinking of mutiny ! Here, empty my hat so I wont get blacker than an Injun, and we'll begin to start on the homeward tack." The hat was filled with blackberries, the sweetest and best the girls had ever tasted, for they came so in the nick of time satisfying the cravings of hunger and thirst. "Where did you get them?" asked Gipsy. "I thought nothing grew around here but clam-shells and sand." "There's plenty of them; but these took root on the bay shore, and I won- dered you didn't come after me when I called you." " Called us ! " exclaimed both the girls. " Yes, indeed ; but the sea was in your ears, and the sand was in your eyes — "