CARYL’S PLUM.

“Will you stop /” cried Caryl in perfect despair.
“ Aunt Sylvia’s head will snap with your noise! If
you don’t stop crying, Viny, you sha’n’t go when the
rest of us are ready to move, so there, now.”

Threats had the power to do what nothing else
could. Viny wiped off all the tears on the backs of
_ her grimy little paws, gave two or three concluding
sniffs, sat up straight, and was immediately all right
for further developments,

“Now then”—Caryl pointed off her sentences
briskly on the tips of her rosy fingers—‘“ you must
try to help—well, an awful great deal, Viny, yourself,
or else it can’t be a moving for any single one of us.”

Viny’s eyes widened fearfully, but she didn’t stir.

“ Tf you will take care— mind ! splendid care of aunt
Sylvia every morning, ” said Caryl slowly and with
extreme empressement —“watch and get her every-
thing she wants, not wait for her to ask for anything,
then I can go off down street and make lots and lots
of money, Viny. Think of that; lots and lots! Then
we can move, and aunt Sylvia will maybe get well.”

Caryl’s gray eyes were only a thought less big
than those of her small black audience, who presently
caught the infectious enthusiasm and emitted several
lusty crows. 2

“ Jiminy —oh, I didn’t say it —I didn’t—I didn’t!
O Jiminy, I didn’t —I didn’t—O Jiminy, l’—

“Stop saying it, then,” exclaimed her young mis-
tress decidedly, and enforcing her words by a vigor-
ous shake.

“Oh, I didn’t—I will—O Jiminy ! yes, I will!”
cried the little black delinquent, the full tide of orig-
inal sin taking an unfair advantage of her excitement
to engulf her. “Oh—er—oh— er-r—

Caryl came to her rescue by giving her a new idea.

“See how splendid you can be, Viny dear,” she
said kindly.
so that part of the new home will be of your getting;
for I never could have the chance to earn anything if
you didn’t take my place and be aunt Sylvia’s nurse.”

“J know how,” said Viny, perfectly overcome
with the “ greatness thrust upon ” her; “it’s to slip
crickets under her feet to put her toes onter. I'll
slip ’em all day. An’ it’s to wipe her specs, an’ to
say yes, no, an’ to ”—

“To be good,” finished Caryl solemnly; “ that
comprehends the whole business. ”

“To be good,” repeated the small nurse yet more
solemnly, “an’ to compren’ the whole bus’ness; I
will.”

“You can be such a good little helper, -

205

“You are a ridiculous child,” cried Caryl impa-
tiently; “I don’t really suppose you are fit to be
trusted, but then, it’s the only thing to try.”

Viny having been duly elected to office, consid-
ered her honors settled, so she was little disturbed
by any opinions that might be held concerning her.
Therefore she squatted and wriggled in great delight,

 

CARYL GOES TO WIN HER FORTUNE,

grinning at every word that fell from her young
mistress’ lips.

“You see, Viny, ” Caryl was saying, beginning on
her confidence, “ I’ve got an order to teach the little
Grant girls how to paint, and if I can run down there
two hours every morning, I’m to have twenty-five
dollars, and Madam Grant is going to give it to me
in advance; that is, after the first quarter. Think,
Viny, ¢wenty/ive dollars! That's what we want to
move with, into Heart’s Delight!”

This was the up-stairs southwest corner of a little
cottage that for a year or more had. been the desidera-