Alminy was a good soul, with red cheeks and bright eyes, kind-hearted as she could be, and it was out of the question for her to hide her thoughts or feelings like a fine lady.

Her bright eyes were moist and her red cheeks paler than their wont, as she said, with her lips quivering, "Oh, Mr.Langdon, them boys 'll be the death of ye, if ye don't take caar!" "Why, what's the matter, my dear ?" said Mr.Bernard .-- Don't think there was anything very odd in that "my dear," at the second interview with a village belle;--some of these woman-tamers call a girl "My dear," after five minutes' acquaintance, and it sounds all right as they say it.

But you had better not try it at a venture.
It sounded all right to Alminy, as Mr.Bernard said it.--"I 'll tell ye what's the mahtterr," she said, in a frightened voice.

"Ahbner 's go'n' to car' his dog, 'n' he'll set him on ye'z sure 'z y' 'r' alive.

'T's the same cretur that haaf eat up Eben Squires's little Jo, a year come nex' Faast day." Now this last statement was undoubtedly overcolored; as little Jo Squires was running about the village,--with an ugly scar on his arm, it is true, where the beast had caught him with his teeth, on the occasion of the child's taking liberties with him, as he had been accustomed to do with a good-tempered Newfoundland dog, who seemed to like being pulled and hauled round by children.