Chit-chat, or Short Tales in Short Words

by Maria Elizabeth Budden

THE WINTER EVENING.

The night was dark and stormy, the wind howled among the trees, and the rain beat on the casements. Phœbe and Mabel were alone; their parents had been called to a sick friend at the next town, and they did not expect to return till morning. At first, the poor girls felt sad and lonely, and looked upon each other with mournful eyes; both sighed, and both were silent. At length, after a long pause, Phœbe roused herself, and said to her sister, "Really, Mabel, you and I are a couple of silly girls. Here we are in a warm room, with a blazing fire, and a cheerful light, and yet we are mournful. What for, I wonder? Because we are idle: come sister, come to the table and the candle and let us employ ourselves." As Phœbe spoke these words, she drew her sister to the table; and Mabel was glad to follow her, and to find something to do. It was not long before both were busy: Phœbe was netting a purse, and Mabel had a drawing to finish, and both chatted away all the time, so blithely! They talked of what they had seen and heard, of what they had done, and what they would do; of what they had read of in books, and of what they had met with in their walks. "This chat makes us recal many thoughts," said Mabel. "Indeed it does," said Phœbe; "and papa says there is no better way of fixing knowledge in the mind, than by talking about it to a dear friend such as you are to me, Mabel."—"And mamma tells me," added Mabel, "that it is no bad plan, when one is alone, as when one is in bed for instance, to think over any knowledge one has gained during the day."—"That I know is true," said Phœbe; "for, last night, I thought over the names of the English kings, from the Conquest to the present time; and it was quite a pleasant puzzle for my mind, to arrange them in their proper places."—"And now," said Mabel, "just now that we talked of the meaning of some hard words, as Island, land with water all around it, and other such terms, how our chat fixed the sense in our minds!"

As thus they prattled, the clock struck nine, and the girls owned that the time had passed very quickly, and that they had been merry though the storm raged and the rain fell; so they went to bed, in peace with themselves, and in good humour with all around them.

PART V.

FAITHFUL FIDO.

Frank and his little dog Fido were the admiration of all the hamlet. Wherever Frank was seen, Fido was sure to be found by his side; and wherever Fido appeared, Frank was sure to follow.

They took long walks together, over moor and mountain, through woods and lanes; and each was considered the guardian of the other.

Now Frank was a very little fellow; delicate and tender, but brave, and fond of rambling. When he was absent from home, his parents, however, never feared for his safety, if Fido was known to be with him. One fine day, the two friends had wandered farther than usual—they had chosen the fine sands on the sea-shore, and went on, and on, and on; Frank picking up shells and weeds, or flinging pebbles into the foamy waves.