18 CAROLINE.

 

Uncle Ben. Account of the safe. Phonny begins his work.

 

letters. When they are written he puts them on the safe,
and Uncle Ben carries them to the post-office.”

Uncle Ben, as Caroline called him, was an old man
who worked for Mr. Keep, and who was accustomed to
go to the post-office for him. Mr. Keep called him Ben-
jamin, and sometimes Mr. Short. His real name was
Benjamin Short. Caroline, however, and the children,
generally were accustomed to call him Uncle Ben.

“ Which is the safe?” said Phonny.

Caroline pointed toward the door, and there, by the
side of the door, was what appeared to be a sort of cup-
board, painted black, with bands and rivets of iron all
around it. There was nothing on the safe at the time
that Caroline showed it to Phonny, but she said that her
father was accustomed to put letters and parcels of all
kinds upon it, for Uncle Ben to carry away.

“Tt is all made of iron,” said Caroline.

So Phonny went to the safe and put his hand upon it.
It felt very solid and heavy, and was also very cold.

“ What is there in it?” asked Phonny.

“« Money,” said Caroline.

“My!” said Phonny. “I wish Z had a safe full of
money.”

“ Now, Eldoranda,” said Caroline, “we will go out into
the hall and find a book for you to read.”

So Caroline and Malleville went out into the hall,
while Phonny went back to his desk and mounted up on
the seat which Caroline had provided for him. Then
resting his elbows on the desk before him, and his chin
on his hands, he set himself at work contriving some in-
genious way for setting his mother’s house on fire.