them in earnest conversation. We were
not long in discovering that the youngest was in evident distress, and
her companions were listening to her words with deep interest.

"'I wouldn't stand it, if I were you, Polly,' said the eldest girl, who
was standing in front of the group.

"'But what can I do, Martha?' replied the girl, rocking herself to and
fro, and weeping afresh.

"'Do? I would run away,' replied the other. 'I would go into service, or
beg my bread from door to door, rather than bear what you have to bear.'

"'But don't you think you had better speak to teacher, Polly?' said the
other girl softly, looking from under her sun-bonnet with great
dreamy-looking blue eyes; 'I wouldn't do anything rash before speaking
to teacher. You remember what she said to us last Sunday, that all our
trials were sent from our Father in heaven.'

[Illustration: POOR POLLY.]

"'Yes, Rachel, I heard her say that,' replied Polly; 'and I try to think
about it; but oh! my step-mother would make anybody angry; and then my
temper rises, and I speak out, and then I am beaten. I wouldn't mind
that, however, if she would only beat me; but when I see her raise her
hand to strike little Willie, who never was angry in his life, but was
always gentle and good--always, always.'

"'Is there anything I can do for you, little girl?' said Vea, stepping
forward, forgetting for the time her own trouble while witnessing the
distress of another. 'Why does your companion want you to run away?'

"'It's to escape from her step-mother, miss,' replied the girl called
Martha. 'She uses her shameful, she do, and all for what? Because
Polly's father made so much of her afore he was lost.'

"'And was your father lost at sea, Polly? Oh, how dreadful!' said Vea,
seating herself on the stones beside her. 'And have you no mother of
your own?'

"'No, miss; mother died when Willie was a year old,' said Polly.

"'And do you remember her quite well?' asked Vea.

"'Oh yes, quite well, miss. It was a terrible night that, just before
she died. Father was away to the town for some tackle, and I was left
all alone with her and Willie. She hadn't been very well for some weeks,
but nobody thought she was going to die. Even the very doctor had said
that morning so cheerily to father she would weather through. She had
been lying sleeping with Willie in her arms, but a sudden squall shook
the door, and made it and the window-frame rattle, and that startled
her, a