e than anybody else had
known.

"We all have our trials," sighed that sorrowful woman; "if it isn't
children, it's aches and pains. Now, for my part, I've been troubled
for ten years with--"

Here followed a list of diseases. Ruth shut her lips together, resolved
to say nothing more about her own trials.

"They don't either of them like me," thought Dotty. "I'm going off in
the barn, and perhaps they'll think I'm dead. Katie," said she, sternly,
"I'm going off somewhere, and you mustn't try to find me."

Then there was some one else who felt quite alone in the world, and that
was little Katie. Her cousin had pushed her one side as if she was of no
value. Katie was a very little child, but she was old enough to feel
aggrieved. She went into the parlor, and threw herself face downwards on
the sofa, thinking.

"Somebody leave me alone. O, dear! Some naughty folks don't think I'm
any gooder than a baby."

Then the poor little thing ran out to "breve the fleshy air." No, she
wasn't quite alone in the world after all, for there was Charlie Gray at
the gate.

"Is um _you_?" she cried gleefully.

Charlie said it was.

"You didn't came to see big folks--did you? You camed to see Katie. I
love you deely."

Then she tried to kiss him; but Charlie drew away.

"O, is your face sore?" asked the little girl.

By this time they had got as far as the seat in the trees, and Charlie
had found his tongue.

"I didn't come thee _you_," said he. "I came thee your grandpa'th pig."

"O," said Katie, perfectly satisfied.

Off they started for the pig-pen.

[Illustration: WASHING THE PIG.--Page 137.]

"I'm glad Dotty Dimble goed away," said Katie, swinging Charlie's hand;
"her's stinchy and foolidge."

"Good girlth don't thay tho," said sweet little Charlie rather shocked.

"Well, I do; stinchy and foolidge!" repeated Katie, as severely as if
she had known what the words meant.

The pig was not expecting any visitors, and when he found that Charlie
and Katie had brought him nothing to eat, he did not seem very glad to
see them.

"How you do, piggy?" said Katie, swinging a stick through the opening by
the trough.

Piggy ran away, looking very unamiable; and then he came back again,
rolling his little eyes, and grunting sulkily.

"He don't look pleathant," said Charlie.

"No," replied Katie, archly; "I guess um don't want to be kissed."

Piggy winked his pink eyes, as if to say, "Ah, but I do."

"Does you?" said