UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 115 



and the eldest, who was a girl of only six years 

 old, but very sensible and steady for her age, 

 made her little sister and her infant brother 

 creep together close to her, and she drew their 

 bare feet under her clothes. She had collected 

 a few withered leaves and branches to cover 

 them, and in this manner they passed the long 

 winter's night. Next morning she tried to 

 support her poor weeping companions by giving 

 them corn to chew, and sometimes she made 

 them run about with her to keep themselves 

 warm. 



" In this melancholy state you may imagine 

 what was her joy, when, in the course of the day, 

 she discovered a vessel no a boat approaching 

 'the island. It happily contained some good- 

 natured Indians, who took compassion on the 

 children, shared their food with them, and safely 

 conveyed them to New Madrid in their own 

 boat." 



The mistake that poor Caroline made in 

 saying vessel for boat, and then correcting her- 

 self with a little confusion, betrayed her ; so that 

 the moment she ended her story, every one ex- 

 claimed " Boat," " Boat." 



. In the morning we had a shower of 

 hail, and since seven o'clock it has been snowing 

 constantly the whole day. I am delighted with 

 its pure, beautiful, feathery appearance ; besides, 



