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lf meanwhile； 〃What would my brother John say if he knew I had been playing with boys？〃 He was very particular about his sisters' behavior。 But I incautiously said to one sister in whom I did not usually confide； that I thought James was the nicest boy in the lane； and that I liked his little brother Charles； too。 She laughed at me so unmercifully for making the remark； that I never dared look towards the gap in the fence again； beyond which I could hear the boys' voices around the old sleigh where they were playing； entirely forgetful of their former traveling companion。 Still； I continued to think that my courteous cavalier； James； was the nicest boy in the lane。
My brother's vigilant care of his two youngest sisters was once the occasion to them of a serious fright。 My grandfatherthe sextonsometimes trusted him to toll the bell for a funeral。 In those days the bell was tolled for everybody who died。 John was social； and did not like to go up into the belfry and stay an hour or so alone； and as my grandfather positively forbade him to take any other boy up there； he one day got permission for us two little girls to go with him； for company。 We had to climb up a great many stairs； and the last flight was inclosed by a rough door with a lock inside； which he was charged to fasten； so that no mischievous boys should follow。
It was strange to be standing up there in the air； gazing over the balcony…railing down into the street； where the men and women looked so small； and across to the water and the ships in the east； and the clouds and hills in the west！ But when he struck the tongue against the great bell； close to our ears； it was more than we were prepared for。 The little sister； scarcely three years old； screamed and shrieked；
〃I shall be stunned…ded！ I shall be stunned…ded！〃 I do not know where she had picked up that final syllable； but it made her terror much more emphatic。 Still the great waves of solem
sound went eddying on； over the hills and over the sea； and we had to hear it all； though we stopped our ears with our fingers。 It was an immense relief to us when the last stroke of the passing…bell was struck； and John said we could go down。
He took the key from his pocket and was fitting it into the lock； when it slipped； beyond our reach。 Now the little sister cried again； and would not be pacified； and when I looked up and caught John's blank； dismayed look； I began to feel like crying； too。 The question went swiftly through my mind；How many days can we stay up here without starving to death？for I really thought we should never get down out of our prison in the air： never see our mother's face again。
But my brother's wits returned to him。 He led us back to the balcony； and shouted over the railing to a boy in the street； making him understand that he must go and inform my father that we were locked into the belfry。 It was not long before we saw both him and my grandfather on their way to the church。 They came up to the little door； and told us to push with our united strength against it。 The rusty lock soon yielded； and how good it was to look into those two beloved human faces once more！ But we little girls were not invited to join my brother again when he tolled the bell： if we had been； I think we should have promptly declined the invitation。
Many of my childish misadventures came to me in connection with my little sister； who； having been much indulged； too it for granted that she could always have what she wanted。
One day we two were allowed to take a walk together； I； as the older； being supposed to take care of her。 Although we were going towards the Cove； over a secluded road； she insisted upon wearing a brand…new pair of red morocco boots。 All went well until we came to a bog by the roadside； where sweet…flag and cat…tails grew。 Out in the middle of the bog； where no venturesome boy had ever attempted their seizure； there were many tall； fine…looking brown cat…tails growing。 She caught sight of them； and before I saw what she was doing； she had shot from my side like an arrow from the bow； and was far out on the black； quaking surface； that at first upheld her light weight。 I stood petrified with horror。 I knew all about that dangerous place。 I had been told that nobody had ever found out how deep that mud was。 I was uttered just one imploring 〃Come back！〃 when she turned to me with a shriek； throwing up her arms towards me。 She was sinking！ There was nobody in sight； and there was no time to think。 I ran； or rather flew； across the bog； with just one thought in my mind； 〃I have got to get her out！〃 Some angel must have prevented me from making a misstep； and sinking with her。 I felt the power of a giant suddenly taking possession of my small frame。 Quicker than I could tell of it； I had given one tremendous pull （she had already sunk above her boot…tops）； and had dragged her back to the road。 It is a marvel to me now how I a child of scarcely six yearssucceeded in rescuing her。 It did not seem to me as if I were doing it myself； but as if some unseen Power had taken possession of me for a moment； and made me do it。 And I suppose that when we act from a sudden impulse to help another out of trouble； it never is ourself that does the good deed。 The Highest Strength just takes us and uses us。 I certainly felt equal to going straight through the earth to China after my little sister； if she had stink out of sight。
We were two miserable looking children when we reached home； the sticky ooze having changed her feet into unmanageable lumps of mud； with which my own clothes also were soiled。 I had to drag or carry her all the way； for she could not or would not walk a step。 And alas for the morocco boots！ They were never again red。 I also received a scolding for not taking better care of my little sister； and I was not very soon allowed again to have her company in my rambles。
We usually joined with other little neighbor girls in some out… of…door amusement near home。 And our sports； as well as our books； had a spice of Merry Old England。 They were full of kings and queens； and made sharp contrasts； as well as odd mixtures； with the homeliness of our everyday life。
One of them； a sort of rhymed dialogue； began with the couplet：
〃Queen Anne； Queen Anne； she sits in the sun； As fair as a lady； as white as a nun。〃
If 〃Queen Anne〃 did not give a right guess as to which hand of the messenger held the king's letter to her； she was contempt… uously informed that she was
〃as brown as a bun。〃
In another name； four little girls joined hands across； in couples； chanting：
〃I wish my father were a king； I wish my mother were a queen； And I a little companion！〃
concluding with a close embrace in a dizzying whirl； breathlessly shouting all together；
〃A bundle of fagots！ A bundle of fagots！〃
In a third； which may have begun with a juvenile reacting of the Colonial struggle for liberty； we ranged ourselves under two leaders； who made an archway over our heads of their lifted hands and arms； saying； as we passed beneath；
〃Lift up the gates as high as the sky； And let King George and his army pass by！〃
We were told to whisper 〃Oranges〃 or 〃Lemons〃 for a pass…word； and 〃Orange