THE END OF THE PARTY. 91

 

Annie gets leave to go and take a walk. Coaxing.

go. So Annie ran back to Livingston and gave him her
hand, and they both then walked along together down
the central walk of the garden.

“YT amsorry that you could not have that cow,” said
Livingston. “ Why did not you coax Ellen to let you
keep it ?”

“Oh, it would not do any good to coax her,” replied
Annie, “she never will be coaxed.”

“Sometimes [ can coax Rodolphus a little,” she con-
tinued. “ And I can coax my mother.”

“And your father!” said Livingston, inquiringly,—
as if he wished to ask how it was in respect to him.

Annie looked up somewhat surprised, and said in a low
and. solemn tone,

“ My father is dead. Did not you know that my father
was dead P”

« No,” replied Livingston, “and I am very sorry to
hear it.”

“ Yes,” said Annie, “he is dead. He was frozen.”

“ Frozen!” repeated Livingston.

“Yes,” said Annie. “ He was frozen in the snow;
but I was not frozen, because I was covered up warm
with buffalos.”

“Then you have not any father to take care of you,”
said Livingston.

“No,” replied Annie. “Ellen takes care of me,—and
sometimes,” she added, after a moments pause, “my
mother takes care of me too.”

«“ And where do you live? ” asked Livingston.

“We live down beyond the mill,” said Annie. “ You
turn in bya tree. If you will come and see me some day,
I will show you my garden.”