ed, she ran down to the tree
post-office, put a note into the tin box, and returned. This, Carrie
Hess got as soon as recess came, and the scheme worked out
successfully, as the event proved.

Barry, Hattie's brother, was standing by the shrubbery gate, when a
little barefoot boy sidled up, and attracted his attention by his
curious behavior--he finally spoke:

"I say, them Hitalyans stuffed yer mother's clothes inter a tree down
here; I found it this mornin'."

"What do you mean?" asked Barry, not fully understanding the boy.

"That ere tree, don't yer see?" and the boy pointed to the girls'
post-office, that stood out dimly down the road.

"Is it there now?" asked Barry.

"I do'no, I seed it there this mornin'."

[Illustration: A LITTLE BAREFOOT BOY SIDLED UP AND ATTRACTED HIS
ATTENTION.]

"Wait till I go and tell my mother," said Barry, and he ran into the
house.

In a moment Mrs. Randolph and Mrs. Gimson were at the gate, but the
boy had disappeared. "Go down, Barry, and see if what he says is
true," said his mother. He ran off, and returning after a little time,
brought the overskirt, rolled up in a soiled bundle, as the rain had
soaked it and the decayed wood had stained it.

"Yes, I think it must have been those tramps," said Mrs. Randolph.
"They hid it there, expecting to come for the rest of it the next day.
They'll be disappointed. I'll be gone."

The boy was Carrie Hess's brother, and the ruse had worked; entirely
turning off all suspicion from Lucindy.

Mrs. Gimson lost her summer boarders and Lucindy returned to school.
This unprincipled girl, however, learned the hard lesson, in her after
life, that ingratitude to benefactors, and unfaithfulness to trust,
meet a sure retribution, even if they appear to succeed.

[Illustration: A MIDNIGHT ATTACK.]

[Illustration: {AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN--BIRDS; A WOMAN AND CHILD;
TREES.}]

[Illustration: {A CHERUB AND BIRDS.}]

AS NIGHT CAME DARKLY DOWN.

The night came darkly down;
The birdies' mother said,
"Peep! peep!
You ought to be asleep!
'Tis time my little ones were safe in bed!"
So, sheltered by her wings in downy nest,
The weary little birdlings took their rest.

The night came darkly down;
The baby's mother said,
"Bye-low!
You musn't frolic so!
You should have been asleep an hour ago!"
And, nestling closer to its mother's breast,
The merry pra