Havoc and desolation reigned upon the once well-filled table.
In the evening, as they all sat together round the table, Maggie climbed on Mr.Morton's knee and petitioned for a story.
"What shall it be about ?" he asked.
"Oh, anything." "Let me think a moment," said the young man.
He bent his eyes thoughtfully upon the wood-fire that crackled in the wide-open fireplace, and soon signified that he was ready to begin.
All the children gathered around him, and even Mrs.Frost, sitting quietly at her knitting, edged her chair a little nearer, that she, too, might listen to Mr.Morton's story.

As this was of some length, we shall devote to it a separate chapter..