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r's possessionsthe locks on the trunks still unbroken。 The Dane himself would have been sent to the Island on I know not how many charges； but that the Danish minister asked for him that he might be hanged in Denmark； and he was sent and hanged accordingly。
Lopp was sent to Sing…Sing for ten years； and has not yet been pardoned。
Bigg and Cordon were sent to Blackwell's Island for three years each。 And so the land had peace for that time。
That winter； as there came on one and another idle alarm that Frida's brother might be heard from； my heart sank with the lowest terror lest she should go away。 And in the spring I told her that if she went away I was sure I should die。 And the dear girl looked down； and looked up； and said she thoughtshe thought she should； too。 And we told my mother that we had determined that Frida should never go away while we stayed there。 And she approved。
So I wrote a note to the minister of the church which had protected us so long； and one night we slid the board carefully； and all three walked round； fearless of the Dane； and Frida and I were married。
It was more than three years after； when I received by one post three letters； which gave us great ground for consultation。 The first was from my old friend and patron； the Spaniard。 He wrote to me from Chicago； where he； in his turn； had fallen in with a crew of savages； who had stripped him of all he had； under the pretext of a land…enterprise they engaged him in； and had left him without a real； as he said。 He wanted to know if I could not find him some clerkship； or even some place as janitor； in New York。
The second letter was from old Mr。 Henry in Philadelphia； who had always employed me after my old master's death。 He said that the fence around the lot in Ninety…ninth Avenue might need some repairs； and he wished I would look at it。 He was growing old； he said； and he did not care to come to New York。 But the Fordyce heirs would spend ten years in Europe。
The third letter was from Tom Grinnell。
I wrote to Mr。 Henry that I thought he had better let me knock up a little office； where a keeper might sleep； if necessary； that there was some stuff with which I could put up such an office； and that I had an old friend； a Spaniard； who was an honest fellow； and if he might have his bed in the office； would take gratefully whatever his services to the estate proved worth。 He wrote me by the next day's mail that I might engage the Spaniard and finish the office。 So I wrote to the Spaniard and got a letter from him； accepting the post provided for him。 Then I wrote to Tom Grinnell。
The last day we spent at our dear old home； I occupied myself in finishing the office as Friend Henry bade me。 I made a 〃practicable door；〃 which opened from the passage on Church Alley。 Then I loaded my hand…cart with my own chest and took it myself； in my working clothes； to the Vanderbilt Station； where I took a brass check for it。
I could not wait for the Spaniard； but I left a letter for him； giving him a description of the way I managed the goats； and directions to milk and fatten them； and to make both butter and cheese。
At half…past ten a 〃crystal；〃 as those cabs were then called； came to the corner of Fernando Street and Church Alley； and so we drove to the station。 I left the key of the office； directed to the Spaniard； in the hands of the baggage…master。
When I took leave of my castle； as I called it； I carried with me for relics the great straw hat I had made； my umbrella； and one of my parrots； also I forgot not to take the money I formerly mentioned； which had lain by me so long useless that it was grown rusty and tarnished； and could scarcely pass for money till it had been a little rubbed and handled。 With these relics and with my wife's and mother's baggage and my own chest； we arrived at our new home。
BREAD ON THE WATERS A WASHINGTON CHRISTMAS
＇No。 This story also is 〃Invented Example。〃 But it is founded on facts。 It is a pleasure to me； writing fifty…four years after the commission intrusted to me by the late Mrs。 Fales； to say that that is a real name； and that her benevolence at a distance is precisely represented here。
Perhaps the large history of the world would be differently written but for that kindness of hers。
I was a very young clergyman； and the remittance she made to me was the first trust of the same kind which had ever been confided to me。＇
CHAPTER I
MAKE READY
〃Only think； Matty； papa passed right by me when I was sitting with my back to the fire and stitching away on his book…mark without my once seeing him！ But he was so busy talking to mamma that he never saw what I was doing； and I huddled it under a newspaper before he came back again。 Well； I have got papa's present done； but I cannot keep out of mamma's way。 Matty； dear； if I will sit in the sun and keep a shawl on； may I not sit in your room and work？ It is not one bit cold there。 Really； Matty； it is a great deal warmer than it was yesterday。〃
〃Dear child；〃 said Matty； to whom everybody came so readily for advice and help； 〃I can do better for you than that。 You shall come into the study； papa will be away all the morning； and I will have the fire kept up there；and mamma shall never come near you。〃
All this； and a thousand times more of plotting and counterplotting； was going on among four children and their elders in a comfortable； free…and…easy seeming household in Washington； as the boys and girls； young men and young women were in the last agonies of making ready for Christmas。 Matty is fully entitled to be called a young woman； when we see her。 She has just passed her twenty…first birthday。 But she looks as fresh and pretty as when she was seventeen； and certainly she is a great deal pleasanter though she be wiser。 She is the oldest of the troop。 Tom； the next； is expected from Annapolis this afternoon； and Beverly from Charlotte。 Then come four boys and girls whose ages and places the reader must guess at as we go on。
The youngest of the family were still young enough to write the names of the presents which they would be glad to receive； or to denote them by rude hieroglyphs； on large sheets of paper。 They were wont to pin up these sheets on certain doors； which； by long usage in this free…and…easy family； had come to be regarded as the bulletin…boards of the establishment。 Well…nigh every range of created things had some representation on these bulletins；from an ambling pony round to a 〃boot… buttenner；〃 thus spelled out by poor Laura； who was constantly in disgrace； because she always appeared latest at the door when the children started for church； to ride； or for school。 The youngsters still held to the theory of announcing thus their wants in advance。 Horace doubted whether he were not too old。 But there was so much danger that nobody would know how much he needed a jig…saw； that he finally compromised with his dignity； wrote on a virgin sheet of paper； 〃gig…saw；〃 signed his name； 〃Horace Molyneux； Dec。 21；〃 and left his other presents to conjecture。
And of course at the very end； as Santa Claus and his revels were close upon them； while the work done had been wonder