I am glad to say that Bertie waited patiently for his sister to feed
Whitefoot, though he was in a great hurry to see what Jim and Tom were
doing at the cellar.

Presently she grew tired, and taking her brother's hand, went with him
across the smooth grass to the site of the new house.

Bertie always bowed to the men and spoke very kindly to them; now he
said,--

"I've brought my sister Winifred to see you work to-day."

Tom stopped his oxen a moment to gaze at the delicate little creature,
and then said, laughing,--

"I suppose she's too small to ride on the drag. I'm going after a load
of stone; and I could take you both as well as not."

Bertie was sorely tempted. He liked very much to go with Tom, who since
the time the child asked for the corn, had been quite guarded in his
words; but mamma had told him to be very careful of his sister; and if
any accident should happen to her, he would feel so sorry. He glanced
wistfully from Tom to Winnie, but then said, suddenly,--

"Thank you, sir, I'd like it, ever so much, but I'm afraid for Winnie.
She's so little, and mamma trusted her with me."

"That's right," said a cheerful voice close behind them.

Mr. Curtis had come down from the hill, and was near enough to see all
that had passed. When Bertie's face flushed with a desire to go, he felt
inclined to step forward and remonstrate; but when he saw that his son
yielded to the suggestions of conscience, his heart swelled with love
and gratitude to the good Spirit who was leading Bertie into the path of
peace.

"Oh, papa! Winnie had dood ride," exclaimed the little girl, running to
take his hand.

"And what do you think about the new house, pet?" asked papa, taking her
in his arms.

"Winnie don't want to do down there," she said, pointing her tiny finger
to the deep cellar.

At this moment there was a great noise, which made the child cling
closely to her father's neck. Jim had backed his oxen to the very edge
of the bank, and pitched a load of stones down to the bottom of the
cellar.

As Bertie looked over, he saw that all the gravel had been carried out;
and now some men whom he had not seen before, were busy laying up the
stones which Tom and Jim brought, in a nice, smooth wall.

"Have the diggers gone away, papa?" he asked.

"They have done their work here; and now they are digging a trench for
an avenue."

"What is a trench, papa?"

"If you will come this afternoon I will show you. You may ride