"And do you carry it all up from the river?" said Lucy.
"Yes, miss, every drop," replied Nelly, with a weary little sigh.
"Nelly, would you like to learn to read?" asked Lucy, plunging at once into her errand.
"I don't know, miss," was the rather doubtful reply.
"Why, wouldn't you like to be able to read that nice hymn Miss Preston gave you, for yourself?"
"Yes, miss, I'd like to be able, but I don't know if I'd like the learning."
Lucy laughed, as did Stella also, and Nelly herself.
"Well, as you can't be able to do it without learning, don't you think you'd better try?" asked Lucy.
"I don't think mother would let me; and I must hurry now, or she'll be angry at me keeping her waiting, with the baby to mind."
But just then a large dog, rushing down the hill, upset poor Nelly's pail.