e
Motherkin the truth, and that she was sorry and would try to do better.

[Illustration: "IT WAS ONE OF THE MOTHERKIN'S PIGS."]

A rustling in the bushes startled her, but she hoped it might be Grim.
It was not, however; but it was one of the Motherkin's pigs; and,
knowing that Monsieur Piggie had to go home some time or other, she
thought the safest course would be to follow him.

Alas! Mr. Pig was no gallant; he had not even common courtesy. He did
not so much as grunt agreeably, but squealed in the most piggish
manner; for he, too, was hungry, and he led poor Laura right through a
swamp, covering her with mud.

As they emerged from the swamp, Laura thought she saw the cottage far
away under the hill before them; and as Piggie ran squealing on, she
kept up the pursuit. Into the woods again and out through the bushes,
till a nice hedge showed they were near home; and now Mr. Piggie ran off
to his sty, and Laura, creeping through the hedge and up the garden-walk
with downcast face, went up to the open door, longing to throw herself
into the Motherkin's arms and ask her pardon for all her bad behavior.

No one was to be seen. Not a sound came from the cottage. The door stood
open, and on the table was a loaf of brown bread and a pitcher of milk.

Laura knew not what to do. She was ravenously hungry, but she was in too
dirty a condition to touch food. She looked in and out and around, but
no one was there. She mounted the ladder in hopes yet of finding the
Motherkin. Her room was as she had left it, with the exception of a
note pinned on the muslin curtain of the window. It read thus:

"LITTLE LADY LAURA,--Necessary and urgent business compels me to
leave home for a day or two. My good, kind, faithful Grim has
fallen and lamed himself, and I must attend to various matters
which he always has done for me. You are quite safe here--no one
can molest you; but you will be obliged to prepare your own food,
feed the chickens and pigs, milk the cow, and keep the cottage
tidy. Do this bravely, little Laura, and you will be rewarded.
Remember that a lady is none the less a lady for being able to
take care of herself and others, and also remember that the
faithful creatures who are dependent upon you will suffer if you
neglect them. Animals they are, but God made them and requires us
to be kind to them."

This was all the note said, except that "THE MOTHERKIN" was