e, for her frugal
mother had told her many a time that she must take the best care of her
clothing.

"I was so scared that I forgot to look out," she said to herself, after
taking an inventory of the damages; "but I guess mother will excuse me
for losing the ribbon, though I know she won't for coming so far into
the woods without permission."

She now set out resolutely for the bridge, determined to lose no more
time in reaching home. As is the rule, the brief space she had passed in
sleep seemed three times as long as was actually the case, and she
thought it must be near morning.

She had gone but a short distance when she stopped with another shock of
affright.

"My gracious! what can that be?"

A point of light appeared between her and the bridge, flickering about
like an _ignis-fatuus_ or jack-o'-lantern. Nellie felt like taking to
the tree again, but she bravely stood her ground until she could satisfy
her curiosity as to its nature.

Watching it closely she observed shadowy figures flitting around the
light in a curious and grotesque way. She was in greater doubt than
ever, when she heard voices.

"I think I saw her tracks, but I couldn't be sure; Nellie knows too much
to walk or fall into the deep water."

"I hope so, but my heart misgives me sorely. God be merciful, for if she
is lost I can never recover!"

The first speaker was Nick Ribsam, and the second was the father, the
mother immediately adding:

"Why the poor child came here is more than I can understand, but He
doeth all things well."

_"Oh, mother! Oh, father! Oh, Nick! It is I, Nellie! I am so glad to see
you!"_

And the little wanderer flew like the wind along the bank of the creek.
The mother was the first to recognize the voice, and rushing forward she
caught her child in her arms, murmuring in her own language:

"Mein Kind! Mein Kind! Gott sei Dank!" (My child! My child! God be
thanked!)

"Mein lieber Nellie! Komm an mein Herz! Kannst du es sein?" (My dear
Nellie! Come to my heart! Can it be you?) exclaimed the overjoyed
father.

"O meine abtruennige Schwester! Wie du uns erschreckt hast! Wie es mich
freut dich zu finden!" (Oh, my truant sister! What a scare you have
given us! How glad I am to find you!) shouted Nick.

And the child that was lost and was found was hugged first by mother,
then by father, and then by Nick, and then all strove to get hold of her
at the same time, till the brother ceased, through fear that she