Bluff Crag | Page 2

depends upon
a good beginning. Therefore I think I had better go to sleep again, and
perhaps I shall dream one."
"Oh, please, papa, don't; I am sure the one mamma suggested is
first-rate," said Robert impatiently.
"Very well, then, once upon a time I dreamed a dream--"
"It's Joseph and his broders papa is going to tell us about," cried little
Dick. "Oh, I like that."

Every one laughed, while Robert explained that this was papa's dream,
not Joseph's; which set the little fellow's mind wandering away still
more into the favourite narrative, and it was only after a whispered
threat from Robert that he would be taken up to the nursery if he did
not sit quiet and listen, that he consented to leave Joseph and his
brethren alone for the present.
"It's no use," said Mr. Lincoln, laughing, "somehow the dream has fled.
I'll tell you what we shall do,--we shall ask mamma to tell one of her
stories about when she was a little girl."
"I should like to have heard the dream, papa," said Lily, "but if it has
fled away it won't be brought back. I know I never can get mine to do it
till perhaps just when I am not thinking about it, then there, it is quite
distinctly."
"Well, that will be the way mine may do," said Mr. Lincoln. "Come,
mamma, we are waiting for yours. A good story-teller should begin
without delay, and we all know what a capital one you are."
"Very well, then," said Mrs. Lincoln. "You must know that when I was
a little girl I had been ill, and your grandmamma sent me to live with
her brother, my Uncle John, who was the rector of the neighbouring
parish. Uncle John had no children, and his wife had died just a few
weeks before I went to pay him this visit. He had been very fond of my
aunt, and he was still very sad about her death; so that it would have
been rather a dull life but for Dolly, the housekeeper. Every morning
after breakfast Dolly had to go for potatoes to a small field at a little
distance from the rectory, and she usually took me with her if the day
was fine. I ran about so much chasing butterflies and birds, that when
the basket was filled I was quite tired out, and very glad to be placed
upon the wheel-barrow and be taken home in this manner by the
good-natured Dolly.
"And had you no little girl to play with, mamma?" asked Robert.
[Illustration: COMING FROM THE POTATO-FIELD.]

"Not for some time," replied Mrs. Lincoln. "Every one knew how sad
my uncle was, and did not intrude upon him; but I never wearied so
long as I had Dolly beside me. She could not read herself, but she was
very fond of hearing me read to her, and though I could not do it very
well then, I managed to make out the stories. Then your grandmamma
had taught me a number of hymns, and I used to repeat them, and
sometimes to sing them, which pleased Dolly very much. I think it was
overhearing me singing one of the hymns that made Uncle John take
notice of me at last. He used to shut himself in his study, and I scarcely
ever saw him from one week's end to the other; but one day as he was
going up-stairs I had been singing, and he came into the parlour, and,
taking me on his knee, asked me to sing the hymn over again. I was a
little nervous at first, but grandmamma had always told me to do the
best I could when asked to repeat or sing a hymn, and I did so now. I
suppose the words of the hymn pleased him, for from that time he
always had me to dine with him; and he had such a kind manner, that I
soon recovered from my shyness, and used to sit on his knee and prattle
away to him as if he had been your grandpapa, and I had known him all
my life. It made Dolly so pleased, too, for she said her master was
beginning to look quite like his old self; and she only hoped your
grandmamma would allow me to stay ever so long with him.
"One day Uncle John returned earlier than usual, and calling Dolly,
said, 'Get Miss Lilian ready to go out. Mrs. Berkley wishes me to spend
the afternoon there, and I think it will do the child good. I fear she has
had but a dull time of it lately.'
"'Oh, please don't say that, uncle!' I exclaimed. 'I would rather stay at
home with Dolly;' for the thought