26 AGNES.

honey ; Uncle ’Rius jes’ felt like a little swing er de pick gwine
- mek him sleep mighty well.’

“Oh, Uncle ’Rius,” said Agnes, “let me stay! Iam nota
bit sleepy, and I do want to so much.”

The old man put down his pick, and going to the house,
_he brought out an old fur robe, which he wrapped carefully
around the little girl, bidding her tell him the instant she felt
chilly.

“T couldn’t feel chilly, Uncle ’Rius, I am so wrapped up,”
laughed Agnes. “Do you know, Uncle ’Rius, I thought to-
day of a new place. Did you ever try over by the old well?
There is a big flat stone there all grown over. I was going
to try there, but it was too late. Could it be under that
stone ?”

“Dey ain’t no sayin’ whar. it is,’ the old man replied.
“T don’t reckon it’s hyar. I been a-diggin’ hyar dis half-
hour.”

“Then let us try the well,” returned Agnes. And, with her
fur robe trailing after her like a queen’s ermine, she led the
way to the old disused well, and pointed out the spot where
she had found the stone.

Clearing away the dry weeds and the earth that had
accumulated, Uncle ’Rius began to pry up the stone.

“Mighty heavy,” he said, breathing hard, after several
fruitless efforts to dislodge it.

“Let me help,” said Agnes.