CHAPTER VI.
THE QUARREL SETTLED.
T was scarcely a week after the nutting party, when one morning Sallie was missing from school. This was so unusual that the teacher inquired of the scholars whether any of them knew why she was not in her place.
But no one had seen her that day; and as her brother Edward was also absent, nothing could be ascertained till night.
When the teacher called, she found the family of Mrs. Munson greatly afflicted. Three of the children were in bed with fever, and the widow was scarcely able to drag herself about.
"I've had trouble on trouble," she said, sighing. "Month after month, for five long years, I've stood at the door where I could see the ocean, and watched for the ship that never came. I've laid one child beneath the sod, and now it's likely three more will follow. Still I can say,—'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.'"
At school, both Edward and Sallie were greatly missed, the first question in the morning being: "Have you heard from Mrs. Munson's? Is Sallie better?"