Page 2 (1/2)

Chapter 1--Two Girls

Rose sat all alone in the big best parlor, with her little handkerchieflaid ready to catch the first tear, for she was thinking of hertroubles, and a shoas expected She had retired to this rooood place in which to be miserable; for it was dark and still, full ofancient furniture, so all around with portraitsof soles, severe-nosed ladies in top-heavy caps,and staring children in little bob-tailed coats or short-waisted frocksIt was an excellent place for woe; and the fitful spring rain thatpattered on the -pane seemed to sob, "Cry away: I'm with you"

Rose really did have some cause to be sad; for she had no mother, andhad lately lost her father also, which left her no horeat-aunts She had been with theh thedear old ladies had tried their best to make her happy, they had notsucceeded very well, for she was unlike any child they had ever seen,and they felt very much as if they had the care of a low-spiritedbutterfly

They had given her the freedom of the house, and for a day or twoshe had a all over it, for it was a capital old rooes Windows broke out in unexpected places, littlebalconies overhung the garden upper hall full of curiosities from all parts of the world; for theCaenerations

Aunt Plenty had even allowed Rose to rureat china closeta spicy retreat, rich in all the "goodies" that children love; but Roseseemed to care little for these toothsoave up in despair

Gentle Aunt Peace had tried all sorts of pretty needle-work, and planneda doll's wardrobe that would have won the heart of even an older childBut Rose took little interest in pink satin hats and tiny hose, thoughshe sewed dutifully till her aunt caught her wiping tears aith thetrain of a wedding-dress, and that discovery put an end to the sewingsociety

Then both old ladies put their heads together and picked out the hbourhood to come and play with their niece ButAriadne Blish was the worst failure of all, for Rose could not bear thesight of her, and said she was so like a wax doll she longed to giveher a pinch and see if she would squeak So prim little Ariadne was senthome, and the exhausted aunties left Rose to her own devices for a dayor two

Bad weather and a cold kept her in-doors, and she spent most of her timein the library where her father's books were stored Here she read agreat deal, cried a little, and dreainative children find such co else, but it was not good for her, andshe grew pale, heavy-eyed and listless, though Aunt Plenty gave her ironenough to -stove, and Aunt Peace petted her like a poodle

Seeing this, the poor aunties racked their brains for a new ah not very hopeful of itssuccess They said nothing to Rose about their plan for this Saturdayafternoon, but let her alone till the ti that the odd child would find pleasure for herself in amost unexpected quarter

Before she had tile tear a sound broke thestillness,her prick up her ears It was only the soft twitterof a bird, but it seeifted bird, for while shelistened the soft twitter changed to a lively whistle, then a trill, acoo, a chirp, and ended in a hing Rose laughed also, and, forgetting her woes,juerly,

"It is a -bird Where is it?"

Running down the long hall, she peeped out at both doors, but sawnothing feathered except a draggle-tailed chicken under a burdock leafShe listened again, and the sound seemed to be in the house Away shewent, , itled her to the china-closet door

"In there? How funny!" she said But when she entered, not a birdappeared except the everlastingly kissing ss on the Canton chinathat lined the shelves All of a sudden Rose's face brightened, and,softly opening the slide, she peered into the kitchen But the irl in a blue apron scrubbing thehearth Rose stared about her for a minute, and then asked abruptly,

"Did you hear that -bird?"

"I should call it a phebe-bird," answered the girl, looking up with atwinkle in her black eyes

"Where did it go?"

"It is here still"

"Where?"

"In my throat Do you want to hear it?"

"Oh, yes! I'll coh the slide to the wideshelf on the other side, being too hurried and puzzled to go round bythe door

The girl wiped her hands, crossed her feet on the little island ofcarpet where she was stranded in a sea of soap-suds, and then, sureenough, out of her slender throat came the sitter, therobin's whistle, the blue-jay's call, the thrush's song, the wood-dove'scoo, andas before with the the ht June day

Rose was so astonished that she nearly fell off her perch, and when thelittle concert was over clapped her hands delightedly

"Oh, it was lovely! Who taught you?"

"The birds," answered the girl, with a sain

"It is very wonderful! I can sing, but nothing half so fine as thatWhat is your name, please?"

"Phebe Moore"

"I've heard of phebe-birds; but I don't believe the real ones could dothat," laughed Rose, adding, as she watched with interest the scatteringof dabs of soft soap over the bricks, "May I stay and see you work? Itis very lonely in the parlor"

"Yes, indeed, if you want to," answered Phebe, wringing out her cloth ina capable sort of way that impressed Rose very much

"Itout the soap I'd loveto do it, only aunt wouldn't like it, I suppose," said Rose, quite takenwith the new employment

"You'd soon get tired, so you'd better keep tidy and look on"

"I suppose you help your ood deal?"

"I haven't got any folks"

"Why, where do you live, then?"

"I' to live here, I hope Debby wants some one to help round, andI've come to try for a week"