Dick's retriever

Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
By the time that Mrs. Wilkins put in her appearance, the table-cloth was laid.
E. M. STOOKE
Author of Tim and Jim, A Reformatory Boy, &c. &c.
THOMAS NELSON AND SONS, LIMITED,
LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK. 1921
CONTENTS.
DICK'S RETRIEVER.
THE ARRIVAL.
IT was a wild, dark night. The rain was coming down in torrents, the wind blowing a perfect hurricane. Creak! Creak! How the branches of the elm trees groaned as they swayed to and fro outside the tiny cottage where Widow Wilkins and her eldest child—a delicate looking boy of twelve—crouched over a dying fire!
Hark, mother, to the wind! Isn't it terrible? little Dick exclaimed in awe-stricken tones.
Yes, said the widow, it's a dreadful night. I shudder to think of the poor sailors out at sea. Depend on it, there'll be lots of wrecks before morning, unless the wind goes down, and that pretty soon.