s.

"O, O! 'Scuse me, Silas! I was only 'lustratin'."

"'Lustrate next time on that post behind you. If Stanshy Macomber had such
rigor in her arm as that, I pity those down-townies!"

Was not Aunt Stanshy indignant when she heard how Simes Badger had taken
her off at the store! "I'll try my broom on him next time," she told
Juggie's granny.

Aunt Stanshy was very popular with the club, who passed a vote of thanks
to their honorary member. The down-townies, though, christened her "the
dragon of the lane," and did not venture near her. Knowing that this fear
existed, Sid Waters and other members of the club, especially the
runaways, now ventured several times as far as Water Street, shouting
defiance to imaginary enemies behind corners and trees. Sid was
exceedingly daring with his tongue. It was noticed that he never again
_rode_ on such occasions. He evidently wished to have his legs handy, as
he could rely on these better than the go-cart.

CHAPTER III.

FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOL SCHOLARS, AN OFFER.

Charlie and Aunt Stanshy worshiped at St. John's. Dear old St. John's! It
was a brick edifice, homely in its style, but glorious in its
associations. It had two tiers of arched windows, the upper row letting
light into a long, lofty gallery, that generally had for its occupants
perhaps a dozen very shy auditors. If a "coaster" were in port over
Sunday, then the heavy, shuffling tread of several men of the sea might be
heard on the gallery stairs. This might happen when the service was a
third through, and by the time it was two thirds through the shuffling
tread might be heard on the stairs again, and this time echoing toward the
door. The gallery was plain and old-fashioned in its finish, but it was
supported by twisted wooden pillars considered to be marvels of
architectural ingenuity in their day. The pews were old-fashioned in their
form and decoration; but then they were surrounded by so many dear
associations of the past, that when Aunt Stanshy entered one of those box
pews she seemed to have stepped aboard a ship and it drifted her at once
far, far away among old friends. On a rainy day, especially, did Aunt
Stanshy enjoy the old church. True, not many would come out, and their
heads above the backs of the pews looked like scattered turtle heads
lifted above the surface of a pond in the woods. Aunt Stanshy was sure to
be there, and, while she heard the rain beating upon the windows, there
was the minister's