seen any
bread-fruit-trees nor a single pirate; but they used to have them
here--I mean pirates. Anyhow, we have custard apples, and they sound
tropical, don't they? And we have sapadilloes that look like potatoes,
and taste like--well, I think they taste horrid, but most people seem
to like them.

"It is real hot here, and I am wearing my last summer's best straw hat
and my thinnest linen dresses--you know, those I had last vacation. The
thermometer got up to 85 degrees yesterday.

"Do write, and tell me all about yourself and the girls. Has Susie Rand
got well enough to go to school yet? and who's head in the algebra
class? Mark wants to know how's the skating, and if the boys have built
a snow fort yet? Most all the people here are black, and everybody
talks Spanish: it is SO funny to hear them.

"Now I must say good-bye, because Mark is calling me to go to the fruit
auction. I will tell you about it some other time.

"With love to everybody, I am your own lovingest friend,

"RUTH ELMER.

"P.S.--Don't forget that you are coming down here to see me next
winter."

Before Ruth finished this letter Mark began calling to her to hurry up,
for the bell had stopped ringing, and the auction would be all over
before they got there. She hurriedly directed it, and put it in her
pocket to mail on the way to the auction, just as her brother called
out that he "did think girls were the very slowest."

They had got nearly to the end of the wharf at which the schooner lay,
when Ruth asked Mark if he had any money.

"No," said he, "not a cent. I forgot all about it. Just wait here a
minute while I run back and get some from mother."

"Well," said Ruth, "if boys ain't the very carelessest!" But Mark was
out of hearing before she finished.

While she waited for him, Ruth looked in at the open door of a very
little house, where several colored women were making beautiful flowers
out of tiny shells and glistening fish-scales. She became so much
interested in their work that she was almost sorry when Mark came
running back, quite out of breath, and gasped, "I've got it! Now let's
hurry up!"

Turning to the left from the head of the wharf, they walked quickly
through the narrow streets until they came to a square, on one corner
of which quite a crowd of people were collected. They were all
listening attentively to a little man with a big voice, who stood on a
box in front of them and who was saying as fast as he could,