terrible, so full
of bewilderment and fear it was. "Jim," whispered Content, "I can't
have big sister Solly not be here. I can't send her away. What would she
think?"

Jim stared. "Think? Why, she isn't alive to think, anyhow!"

"I can't make her--dead," sobbed Content. "She came when I wanted her,
and now when I don't so much, when I've got Uncle Edward and Aunt Sally
and you, and don't feel so dreadful lonesome, I can't be so bad as to
make her dead."

Jim whistled. Then his face brightened up. He looked at Content with a
shrewd and cheerful grin. "See here, kid, you say your sister Solly is
big, grown up, don't you?" he inquired.

Content nodded pitifully.

"Then why, if she is grown up and pretty, don't she have a beau?"

Content stopped sobbing and gave him a quick glance.

"Then--why doesn't she get married, and go out West to live?"

Jim chuckled. Instead of a sob, a faint echo of his chuckle came from
Content.

Jim laughed merrily. "I say, Content," he cried, "let's have it she's
married now, and gone?"

"Well," said Content.

Jim put his arm around her very nicely and protectingly. "It's all
right, then," said he, "as all right as it can be for a girl. Say,
Content, ain't it a shame you aren't a boy?"

"I can't help it," said Content, meekly.

"You see," said Jim, thoughtfully, "I don't, as a rule, care much about
girls, but if you could coast down-hill and skate, and do a few things
like that, you would be almost as good as a boy."

Content surveyed him, and her pessimistic little face assumed upward
curves. "I will," said she. "I will do anything, Jim. I will fight if
you want me to, just like a boy."

"I don't believe you could lick any of us fellers unless you get a good
deal harder in the muscles," said Jim, eying her thoughtfully; "but
we'll play ball, and maybe by and by you can begin with Arnold Carruth."

"Could lick him now," said Content.

But Jim's face sobered before her readiness. "Oh no, you mustn't go to
fighting right away," said he. "It wouldn't do. You really are a girl,
you know, and father is rector."

"Then I won't," said Content; "but I COULD knock down that little boy
with curls; I know I could."

"Well, you needn't. I'll like you just as well. You see, Content"--Jim's
voice faltered, for he was a boy, and on the verge of sentiment before
which he was shamed--"you see, Content, now your big sister Solly is
married and gone out West, why, you can have me for your