124 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



affection combined, is vainly trying to read a book upside 

 down, and with her thoughts decidedly elsewhere. The 

 family troubles are dull and hard, but they touch her upon 

 a tender spot. Prosaic as they are to the others, to her 

 they are keen enough, and in a far different way. Every 

 joy of her young life hangs upon the miserable question 

 before the household. Not in reality ; yet she thinks so, 

 and that to her is quite as bad. 



Kate, her sister, a wholesome, luncheon-loving girl, with 

 abounding animal spirits, and possessed of ready wit, a 

 sharp appetite for fun, and good nature enough for two men 

 and a boy, is seated in boyish fashion upon the floor. 

 With earnest eyes she gazes at the carpet in silence. 



Her brother, a boy of the hearty, wide-awake order, is 

 seated on a low stool beside her, and for a wonder is quiet. 

 He is very sober. Upon him the family sorrows weigh 

 heavily. The world is a dull place and life is very sad. 

 It is his ambition to wear " a coat with tails, like the other 

 fellows," and the parental funds don't admit of it. 



Attention ! Kate speaks : " Well, I think the worst 

 thing that ever happened to this family was the unhappy 

 circumstance connected with my birth. >; 



u Hush, Kate ! " said her mother. 



" No, mother, let me free my mind. I shall feel better. 

 I say it's a pity I wasn't a boy. Then " and she 

 sighed fervently l i then I could go to work and earn 

 something, and help father out of this scrape." 



