"and she came
and told you."

Anne picked up the bundle and sped away. Down past the spring and up the
sandy path toward Amanda's home she ran, hoping to meet Amanda coming to
welcome her. Amanda was on the door-step with her knitting. At the sight
of Anne she started up as if to run indoors, but Anne's call made her
hesitate, and in a moment Anne was beside her, saying: "Amanda! Amanda!
Isn't it fine that I am home again! And see, I've brought you these
presents from Boston. See, Amanda!" and she held up the silk sash, and
spread out the pretty dimity.

But instead of exclaiming with delight, as Anne had expected, poor
Amanda dropped her work, covered her face with her hands and began to
cry.

"Stop crying, Amanda Cary! You'll get spots on your lovely sash," said
Anne, and Amanda's tears ceased in sudden terror lest she spoil that
wonderful length of shining blue silk.

"Taste of that barley sugar, Amanda," continued Anne, opening a
heart-shaped box, and helping herself to a piece. Amanda obeyed almost
unconsciously, and when Mrs. Cary came to the door a little later she
found the two girls sitting close together, talking and laughing.

That night after Anne was fast asleep in the little loft chamber, John
Nelson told his good friends that he wished all the little settlement to
share in his good fortune.

"My little maid and I have found a home and friends here," he said, "and
I should like well to do some friendly thing for the people before I
return to Boston."

"'Twould be a pleasant thing for us all to have a day together, and a
good dinner," suggested Mistress Stoddard, "with figs, dates, and some
of those fine crackers and jellies, and of course, a good fish chowder;
'twould be a treat indeed," and so it was decided that the neighborhood
should be bidden to come as the guests of John Nelson and Anne for a
day's pleasuring.

"We'll spread a sail in the yard to make a shelter from the sun,"
suggested Captain Enos.

"I'll make the chowder myself," declared John Nelson. "Mistress Stoddard
shall not be burdened with work, and I'll see that the Starkweather
boys earn a shilling by helping me," and it was settled that the
following Thursday should be the day.

Anne thought it the finest plan in the world, and she and Amanda brought
branches of pine, and fragrant fir balsam to cover the ground under the
big sail. Mrs. Stoddard insisted on spreading her two new fine
table-cloths over the rough table, and on