It was a very little to do, but it did comfort Archie, for the poor fellow felt as if fate was very hard upon him just then, and in this faithful bosom he could pour his brief but pathetic plaint.
"Phebe's gone, and now if Charlie's taken, I don't see how I can bear it!" "Phebe will come back, dear, and let us hope poor Charlie isn't going to be taken yet.

Such things always seem worst at first, I've heard people say, so cheer up and hope for the best," answered Rose, seeking for some comfortable words to say and finding very few.
They took effect, however, for Archie did cheer up like a man.

Wiping away the tears which he so seldom shed that they did not know where to go, he got up, gave himself a little shake, and said with a long breath, as if he had been underwater: "Now I'm all right, thank you.

I couldn't help it the shock of being waked suddenly to find the dear old fellow in such a pitiful state upset me.

I ought to go are these ready ?" "In a minute.