' J. COLE. 25

get away, and take the dogs their supper,
and see if you can’t get a bit of color in
your cheeks before you come back.”

So off Joe went, and soon the frantic bark-
ing in the stable-yard showed he had begun
feeding his four-footed pets.

Time went on; it was a very quiet house-
hold just then —my husband away in America,
and my friends most of them enjoying their
summer abroad, or at some seaside place —
all scattered here and there until autumn was
over, and then we were to move to town,
and spend the winter season at our house
there. I hoped my dear sister and her girls
would then join us, and, best of all, my dear
husband be home to make our circle complete.

Day by day Joe progressed in favor with
everybody; his size was always a trouble, but
his extreme good nature made everybody will-
ing to help him over his difficulties. He in-
vented all sorts of curious tools for reaching
up to high places; and the marvels he would
perform with a long stick and a sort of claw
at the end of it were quite astonishing.

I noticed whenever I spoke of going to