42 LUCY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

and a small boy in it, stopped opposite to the
house. The boy appeared to be very young —
younger than Lucy. His face was round, and
his cheeks were red and full, He looked very
sober and anxious, for he was afraid that he could
not get out of the wagon, very well. ‘The man
took hold of his arm, and helped him climb down.
Eben looked towards the ground with an anxious
expression of countenance, as if he thought it
was a great way down.

As soon, however, as his little feet touched the °
road, his countenance changed very suddenly,
and he began to leap and scamper off towards
the house, with great glee.

Well, Eben,” said Ellen, ‘ and how do they
do at uncle’s ?”

“Pretty well,” said Eben. ‘I’m going there
again some day, and am going to stay there a
whole while.”

Lucy smiled, and Robert laughed aloud, at
such an unauthorized combination of terms as
Eben’s whole while. Eben, however, after look
ing at them in wonder a moment, said, —

“You needn’t laugh; I certainly am.”

Just then the General came out, and the whole
party proceeded to the barn. ‘The General
looked carefully all around, to see if every thing