er sewing, she saw the boy
come from the wood-house, and after a quick glance in every direction,
dart like a squirrel up one of the great hemlock-trees, where he sat
completely screened by the branches, only now and then when a stronger
gust of wind swayed the top, and gave her a glimpse of him bending
intently over something upon his knees. Mrs. Hunter watched him for some
time, and then went quietly under the tree and called, "Conny!"

There was a moment of hesitation, and she fancied she saw him put
something into the crotch of the tree before he came sliding down at her
feet, looking decidedly confused.

"What were you doing up there, Conny?" she asked, pleasantly.

"No harm at all, ma'am," said Conny, with his eyes on his bare brown
feet.

"I suppose not, but I should like to know what it was that you hid up in
the tree."

"It's no harm, ma'am," repeated Conny, very red and very earnest.

"Then you can certainly show it to me: I wish to see it," said Mrs.
Hunter, decidedly.

Conny disappeared in the tree, and in an instant came down, more slowly
than before, carrying something carefully in his hand. He gave it to
Mrs. Hunter, and stood before her looking as red and guilty as if he had
been found in possession of the doctor's gold watch. It was a miniature
sideboard of fragrant red cedar, nearly complete, with drawers, shelves,
and exquisite carvings--a lovely little model of the handsome sideboard
which was the pride of Mrs. Hunter's heart.

"What a beautiful thing!" said Mrs. Hunter, with such delight in her
tone that Conny ventured to look up.

"I was keeping it a secret, ma'am, for little Miss Betty's birthday, to
give it her unbeknown."

"It is the very prettiest toy I ever saw," said Mrs. Hunter. "I am sorry
I spoiled your secret, Conny, but you don't mind my knowing, do you?"

Conny brightened wonderfully.

"I doubted you might think it was presuming in me, ma'am, to be making
little Miss Betty a present. Indeed," he added, with a droll little
twinkle of his eyes, "it's trouble enough I've had keeping it. Biddy
caught me making a little drawing of the fine chest, and would have it
out of me what I was hiding; and once, when I was just using my two eyes
at the window, she asked me was I planning to steal the silver. And what
with little Miss Betty herself, and Timothy rummaging my bits of things,
I was just driven to the tree, ma'am."

"And I pursued you there," laughed Mrs. Hunter, to which C