She let it trail, while
she held up a hand to cover one of her eyes. Above her were trees
and an owl, and a star shining under the topmost branch; and on the
opposite page this verse:
"I have a little sister,
They call her Peep-peep,
She wades through the waters,
Deep, deep, deep;
She climbs up the mountains,
High, high, high;
This poor little creature
She has but one eye."
For years Taffy believed that this was his little sister, one-eyed,
and always wandering; and that his mother went out in the dusk to
persuade her to return; but she never would.
When he woke next morning his mother was in the room; and while he
washed and dressed she folded his bed-clothes and carried them down
to a waggon which stood by the door, with horses already harnessed.
It drove away soon after. He found breakfast laid on the
window-seat. A neighbour had lent the crockery, and Taffy was
greatly taken with the pattern on the cups and saucers. He wanted to
run round again and repeat his good-byes to the house, but there was
no time. By-and-by the door opened, and two men, neighbours of
theirs, entered with an invalid's litter; and, Humility directing,
brought down old Mrs. Venning. She wore the corner of a Paisley
shawl over her white cap, and carried a nosegay of flowers in place
of her lace-pillow; but otherwise looked much as usual.
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