tales of a big
wolf that comes prowling about at night?" continued Mrs. Stoddard.

"Oh, no, Mistress Stoddard. And indeed I do not think Jimmie Starkweather
would frighten me. You know his father has seen the wolf. 'Twas near
Blackwater Pond."

"Then, child, I fear you are ill. Your face is flushed and you left your
porridge untasted. Would you like it better if I put a spoonful of
molasses over it?"

Anne nodded soberly. Molasses was not to be refused, even if she must live
without her brave father; and so she ate her porridge, and Mrs. Stoddard
patted her on the shoulder, and told her that the beach-plums would soon
be ripening and then she should have a pie, sweet and crusty. And if the
captain did well at the fishing, and the British ships kept their
distance, she should have some barley sugar, a great treat in those days.

"We'll be getting you some sort of foot-gear before long, too," promised
Mrs. Stoddard. "I have enough wool yarn in the house to knit you a good
pair of warm stockings. 'Tis an ugly gray; I wish I could plan some sort
of dye for it to make it a prettier color."

"But I like gray," said Anne. "Last winter my feet were cold, and ached
with the chilblains. My father knew not how to get stockings for me, and
cut down his own, but they were hard to wear."

"I should say so!" said Mrs. Stoddard; "a man is a poor manager when it
comes to fending for children's clothes. 'Tis well I am provided with some
warm garments. When the frost comes you shall learn to knit, Anne; and if
we be in good fortune you shall do a sampler," and Anne, comforted and
somewhat consoled by all these pleasant plans for her future happiness,
went to sleep that night with the wooden doll closely clasped in her arms,
wishing her father might know how good Mistress Stoddard was to her.

CHAPTER IV

ANNE AND THE WOLF

"A pie of beach-plums, sweet and crusty," Anne repeated to herself the
next day as she carried Martha out to the playhouse, and rearranged her
bits of crockery, and looked off across the harbor.

"I do wish they would ripen speedily," she said aloud. "Indeed those I
tasted of yesterday had a pleasant flavor, and I am sure Mistress Stoddard
would be well pleased if I could bring home enough for a pie. I will take
the small brown basket and follow the upper path, for the plum bushes grow
thickly there," and Martha was carefully settled in her accustomed place,
and Anne ran to the house for the brown bas