56 By the Rippling Sea. 



purchased at the country store, and also one for twenty-six 

 shad at nine cents each. 



Nature looked joyous outside through the open win- 

 dow, and the ruddy-cheeked apples glowed on the tree, 

 but within was a spirit of sadness that brooded over all 

 like a heavy vapor. If you moved a door its creaking 

 sounded past, as if it had wearied with the years, and I 

 know not what charm it would have taken to have made 

 the rooms seem glad again, unless it might have been the 

 laugh of a little child or the gambols of a kitten. 



