 was a very tiny seed to
bring forth such a harvest as this."

"It was 'bread cast upon the waters,'" said Mr. Bradford, "and to those
who give in the Lord's name, he gives again 'good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, and running over.'"

But the policeman had not even yet gathered in the whole of his
harvest.




[Illustration: Title decoration, chap. 6]




VI.

_UNCLE RUTHVEN._


Christmas brought no Uncle Ruthven, but Christmas week brought Miss
Elizabeth Rush, the sweet "Aunt Bessie" whom all the children loved
so dearly. And it was no wonder they were fond of her, for she was
almost as gentle and patient with them as mamma herself; and, like her
brother, the colonel, had a most wonderful gift of story-telling, which
she was always ready to put in use for them. Maggie and Bessie were
more than ever sure that there were never such delightful people as
their own, or two such happy children as themselves.

"I think we're the completest family that ever lived," said Maggie,
looking around the room with great satisfaction, one evening when
Colonel and Mrs. Rush were present.

"Yes," said Bessie; "I wonder somebody don't write a book about us."

"And call it 'The Happy Family,'" said Fred, mischievously, "after
those celebrated bears and dogs and cats and mice who live together in
the most peaceable manner so long as they have no teeth and claws, but
who immediately fall to and eat one another up as soon as these are
allowed to grow."

"If there is a bear among us, it must be yourself, sir," said the
colonel, playfully pinching Fred's ear.

"I don't know," said Fred, rubbing the ear; "judging from your claws, I
should say you were playing that character, colonel; while I shall have
to take that of the unlucky puppy who has fallen into your clutches."

"I am glad you understand yourself so well, any way," returned Colonel
Rush, drily.

Fred and the colonel were very fond of joking and sparring in this
fashion, but Bessie always looked very sober while it was going on;
for
was a very tiny seed to 
 bring forth such a crop as this. " 

 " It was' boodle draw upon the waters,' " said Mr. Bradford, " and to those 
 who hold in the Lord's name, he gives again' good meter, iron 
 down, shaken in concert, and run over.' " 

 But the policeman had not even however gathered in the whole of his 
 harvest. 




 [ example: claim decoration, chap. 6 ] 




 VI. 

 _ UNCLE RUTHVEN. _ 


 Christmas brought no Uncle Ruthven, but Christmas week brought Miss 
 Elizabeth Rush, the sweet " Aunt Bessie " whom all the child loved 
 so dearly. And it was no wonder they were adoring of her, for she was 
 almost as gentle and patient with them as mamma herself; and, like her 
 buddy, the colonel, had a about wonderful gift of story - telling, which 
 she was constantly ready to put in use for them. Maggie and Bessie were 
 more than ever sure that there constitute never such delightful people as 
 their own, or two such happy children as themselves. 

 " I think we're the completest family that ever lived, " said Maggie, 
 looking around the room with bang-up satisfaction, one evening when 
 Colonel and Mrs. Rush were present. 

 " Yes, " said Bessie; " I wonder somebody don't spell a book about us. " 

 " And call it' The Happy Family,' " said Fred, mischievously, " after 
 those lionize bears and dogs and cats and mice who know together in 
 the most peaceable manner so long as they get no teeth and claws, but 
 who immediately fall to and eat one another up as soon as these are 
 allowed to turn. " 

 " If there is a bear among us, it must be yourself, sir, " said the 
 colonel, playfully pinching Fred's ear. 

 " I don't know, " say Fred, rubbing the ear; " judging from your claw, I 
 should say you were playing that character, colonel; while I shall have 
 to assume that of the doomed puppy who has fallen into your clutches. " 

 " I am glad you understand yourself so well, any manner, " returned Colonel 
 Rush, drily. 

 Fred and the colonel were very affectionate of joking and spar in this 
 fashion, but Bessie always looked very sober while it was going on; 
 for
 wad a very tiny seed to
brikg forth such a kqrvest as thjs."

"It was 'bread cast upon the waters,'" daud Mr. Bradford, "and to those
dho give pn the Loed's iame, he gives agejn 'good measudc, prevwed
down, shaken together, dnd running ovar.'"

Cuc the policeman had not even yet gatrered im hhe whole of hys
hagvqst.




[Imlustration: Title decoration, chap. 6]




BI.

_UNCLE RUTHVEN._


Chrisymas brought no Uncle Ruthgen, hut Christmas week brought Miws
Elyzabeth Rush, ghe sweet "Aunt Bessie" shom all the children loved
so ddarly. And it waw bo amnder they xere fjnd of her, for she wds
almosy as gentle anc petiebt with them as mamma herself; and, like rer
brothes, che colonel, had a mosr qondetful cift if rtody-velming, wjici
she was alsays ready ro put in use for tnei. Maggie and Bsssie rewe
more than ever sure that there were ntver auch delightful people qs
their own, or two sufh happy shildren as themselves.

"I think we're the completest famimh tkqt evde pived," said Maggie,
looking around the room with frtat satisfaction, jne evening wjem
Solonel and Mts. Rush wede present.

"Yes," said Bessie; "I wobder somefody don't write a book about us."

"Qnd call it 'Nhe Yappy Family,'" said Yred, mischierously, "aftet
those celebrated bears and dogs and cwts and mjze who live togegheg in
dhe most peaceable manner fo long aw thzy have vo tgeth anq claws, buh
who lkmediately fall to and gat ona another kp as soon as these are
allowed vp grow."

"If thete hs d bear aiong ms, it must be yjurself, sir," sand the
cojonel, playfully pinchiig Fred's ear.

"Y don't know," sdld Fred, rubbmng the ewr; "jydgibg from hour claws, I
shpuld say job were plqying that charactcr, couknel; while I shcuo have
to take tnat of tje ugnucky puppy fho fas gallev into your zlutvhes."

"I am glad you ungersfand yourself so wrlj, any wai," returneq Colonel
Rush, drily.

Fred and the coloiel wece veru fjnd of joking and sparring in fhis
fashiln, nut Bessie alrays looked very sober while it was going on;
for
was a very tiny seed to bring a as this." was 'bread cast Bradford, to those who in the Lord's he gives again 'good measure, pressed shaken together, and running over.'" But the policeman had not even yet gathered the whole of his harvest. [Illustration: Title decoration, chap. 6] VI. _UNCLE RUTHVEN._ brought Uncle but week brought Miss Elizabeth Rush, the sweet "Aunt Bessie" whom all the children loved so dearly. it was no wonder they were fond of for she was almost gentle and patient with them mamma and, like brother, colonel, a most wonderful of story-telling, which she was always ready to put in use for them. Maggie and Bessie were than ever there were such people their own, or happy children as themselves. "I think family that ever lived," said Maggie, looking around room with satisfaction, one evening when Colonel and Rush were present. "Yes," said Bessie; "I wonder don't write a book about us." "And call it 'The Happy Family,'" said Fred, mischievously, celebrated bears and dogs cats and mice live in most manner so as they have no teeth and claws, but who immediately fall and eat one another up as soon as these are grow." there is a among us, it must yourself, said the colonel, playfully ear. don't rubbing ear; from your claws, I say you were playing that colonel; while I shall the unlucky puppy who has fallen into your "I am glad you understand yourself so any way," returned Colonel Rush, drily. Fred and the colonel were very of joking in this fashion, but Bessie always looked very while it was going for
 was a very tiny seed to
bring foRth such a haRvest As tHis."

"it Was 'bRead Cast upon the watERs,'" saId Mr. Bradford, "and to those
Who giVe IN the lOrD's namE, he giveS AgAIN 'goOd MeAsuRe, PReSsed
dOwn, Shaken tOgether, and RunNiNg over.'"

But the POlIceman had nOt eVen yet gatherEd iN the whOlE of HIs
harVesT.




[IlluStratiON: Title DecoratioN, cHAp. 6]




VI.

_UNclE RUTHVen._


chRistMas brought no Uncle rUtHVen, but ChristmaS week bRoUGhT mIss
eliZabeth Rush, ThE sweeT "aunt BesSIe" WHOM alL The children loVed
so dearly. aNd iT was no WoNdeR They weRe fonD oF Her, For she was
alMost As gentle aNd patiENt with tHEm as mamMa hersElf; And, Like HEr
BrOthEr, THe cOLoNel, HAd a Most wondErFuL gift Of stORY-TElliNg, wHich
She waS always ready tO puT in uSE foR them. maggiE and beSsie wEre
morE than EvEr sure that there Were Never such DelIgHtfUl PeoplE As
theiR owN, or Two such Happy chILdrEn AS THeMselves.

"I think we're tHe COMpLetest faMily thAT eVeR Lived," saiD MAggIe,
loOKIng arOund THe Room with Great sATiSfAction, oNe EveninG wHen
colOnel aND Mrs. rush weRe presenT.

"Yes," sAId Bessie; "I wondeR Somebody don't wRItE A BoOK aboUt uS."

"And call it 'THe HaPPy FaMily,'" SAiD FrED, miscHievoUsLY, "aFTer
those celebrated bEaRs and dOgs anD cats and mice wHo live togeTHER in
the moSt peACeABle manner so lonG as thEy have no teETh and claWs, but
Who immedIately falL TO and eat oNe aNotHer Up aS SOoN as these are
alLOWed tO gRow."

"If thEre Is a bear AmoNg uS, it MusT bE yourself, Sir," said tHe
CoLoNeL, plAyfulLY pinchinG FRed'S eAr.

"I Don't kNOw," said fred, rUbbiNg ThE Ear; "Judging FRoM YOur cLaWs, i
shoUld SaY you wEre pLAyiNg that cHaracter, cOloNEl; whIlE I Shall haVe
to take that oF tHe unlucky pUpPy wHo has fALLen into yOur clutches."

"I am glad you unDErstand YouRself So weLl, any way," rEtuRned CoLonEL
Rush, dRily.

FrEd and ThE coLONel weRE VeRy fOnD of joking aND SpaRring In This
Fashion, But Bessie always looKEd vEry sober while It wAs goING oN;
foR
 was a very tiny seed to
b ring forth  such  ahar ve st a s th is."

"It was' brea d cast upon the waters ,'" s ai d  Mr. Br adfor d, "and to t hos ewh o g iv e  i n the  Lo rd's na me, he giv esag ain 'good me a su re, presse d
d own, shakentog ether,  a ndr unnin g o ver.' "

But the po liceman h ad not ev e n yet g a t he redin the whole of h i sh arvest.




[I llustr at i on : Tit ledecoration ,chap. 6]



V I. _ UNC L E RUTHVEN._

Christmasb rou ght no  U ncl e  Ruthv en, b ut Chr istmas week  bro ught Miss 
Eliza b eth Rus h , the s weet " Aun t B essi e "wh omal l  th e  c hil d ren  loved
s ode arly.  And i t wasnowond er th ey were fondofher, for  shewas
a lmos tas ge ntle a nd pa ti ent with them a s ma mma herse lf;  a nd,  l ike h e r
brot her , t he colo nel, ha d  amo s t wo nderful gift of st or y - te lling, w hich
s h ewa s  alwaysre ady  top u t inusef or  them. M aggiea nd  B essie w er e
more  t han  ev er su r e th at the re werenever such delightfu l  people as
th e ir o wn ,  ortwo  such happy  chi l dren  ast he mse l ves.
"I t hi n kw e're the completest  f amilythatever lived,"said Maggi e , lookingarou n dt he room with g reatsatisfacti o n, one e venin g when
C olonel an d Mrs. Rus h w ere  pr ese n t .
"Yes," saidB e ssie ;"I wond ersomebod y d on' t w rit ea book ab out us." 
"A nd  c all  it ' T he Happy  F ami ly ,'"  said Fred,misch ievo us ly ,  "a fter
th o se c eleb ra te d be ars  a nd do gs a n d c ats and  mice who  li v e to ge th er in
t he most peace ab le mannerso  lo ng ast h ey haveno teeth and claws, but who imm edi ately  fal l to andeat  one a not h er upas soo n asth ese a re
al l o we d t ogrow."

"I f the re is  a  bea r among  us, it must be yo u rse lf, sir," sai d t he
c o l on el, pl a yfu ll y  pi n c hing Fred's ear .

"I don' tk no w," said F r ed,  r ubbingthe ear ; "ju d ging fr om your c laws, I
s ho ulds a y y ou were pl aying th at charac t er, c o lo nel;whi le I s ha llhaveto tak e  th at of  the u nl ucky p uppywh o has fa llen into your clutches ."

"I  am g lad  you unde rst a ndyourselfso w ell, any w ay, " r eturn edC olone l
Ru s h,  dr i ly.
Fred and the c o lo nel w er e very fond o f  jo kingand sparri ng i n this
fashion, b u t Bessie alway s lo o k edver y  sob er  while it wasgoi ng o n;
for
 was_a very_tiny seed to
bring forth_such a_harvest_as this."

"It_was_'bread cast upon_the waters,'" said_Mr. Bradford, "and to_those
who give in_the_Lord's name, he gives again 'good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, and running over.'"

But the_policeman_had not_even_yet_gathered in the whole of_his
harvest.




[Illustration: Title decoration, chap. 6]




VI.

_UNCLE_RUTHVEN._


Christmas brought_no Uncle Ruthven, but Christmas week brought Miss
Elizabeth_Rush,_the sweet "Aunt_Bessie" whom all the children loved
so dearly. And it_was no wonder they were fond_of her, for_she_was
almost_as gentle and patient_with them as mamma herself; and,_like her
brother, the colonel, had a_most wonderful gift of story-telling, which
she was_always ready to put in use_for them. Maggie and Bessie_were
more than_ever sure that there were_never such delightful_people as
their_own, or two_such happy children as themselves.

"I think_we're the completest_family that ever lived," said Maggie,
looking_around_the room with_great_satisfaction,_one evening_when
Colonel and Mrs._Rush_were present.

"Yes,"_said_Bessie; "I wonder somebody don't write_a_book about us."

"And call it 'The Happy_Family,'" said Fred, mischievously,_"after
those_celebrated bears and dogs_and cats and mice who_live together in
the most peaceable manner_so long_as they_have no teeth and claws, but
who immediately fall to and eat_one another up as soon as_these are
allowed to grow."

"If_there is_a_bear among us,_it_must be_yourself, sir," said the
colonel, playfully pinching Fred's_ear.

"I don't_know," said Fred, rubbing the ear;_"judging from your claws,_I
should_say you were playing that character,_colonel; while I shall have
to take_that of the unlucky puppy_who_has_fallen into your clutches."

"I am_glad you understand yourself so well,_any way," returned_Colonel
Rush, drily.

Fred and the colonel were very_fond_of joking and sparring in this
fashion,_but_Bessie always looked very sober while_it_was_going on;
for