illie lisped, "and I'll put the crown on."

So Anne sat down on the pine-covered sand-heap, and Willie put a wreath of
fragrant arbutus on her head.

Captain Enos, hurrying up from the shore, thought it the prettiest sight
he had ever seen. The tall pole, covered with green vines and bright
blossoms, the children forming in a circle round Anne, and the pleasant
May skies over all, seemed to the sailor to make a picture worth
remembering.

Then came the dance round the May-pole and the song. By this time, the
other men had come up from the shore; Elder Haven was there, and every one
in the little settlement had gathered at the spring. It was a circle of
happy faces, and when the time came for them all to start for their homes,
each one said that Province Town had never seen so pretty a sight.

"'Tis something we shall like to think about," said Elder Haven to Jimmie
Starkweather, as the two walked toward the Elder's house.

Anne was sure that it was the happiest day in her life. "I wish my father
could have seen me, Aunt Martha," she said, as they walked toward home.
"'Twould please him well to know the children like me. 'Tis only a year
since they did scorn me at the spring."

"You must forget about that, Anne," said Aunt Martha. "They chose you for
Queen because you have been a pleasant child. You see, it matters not what
they said before they knew you."

"Aunt Martha!" exclaimed Anne, suddenly looking up toward the harbor,
"see! There are two big ships coming down the bay."

"We are not to be in peace long," said Mrs. Stoddard. "They are coming
straight to anchorage."

Every one soon knew that the "Somerset" was back again, and now the
English sailors took no trouble to be civil. They laid hands on provisions
of all sorts, but nevertheless they brought good news.

William Trull found a chance to tell Captain Enos that the Americans had
won the battle at Lexington. "We'll be in harbor here but a day or two,"
he added; "we must be back to watch the Americans at Charlestown." And,
sure enough, the next morning the big ships had sailed away again, taking
with them many things that the little settlement could ill spare.

As the summer days lengthened, Anne longed more and more for some news of
her father. The battle of Bunker Hill had brought another triumph to the
Americans, but the English vessels still cruised about the coast, making
the fishermen careful about going far from shore.

"Uncle Enos, could we n