"What was that for, Uncle Edward?"
"He was trying to please God."
"But uncle, I don't believe God liked it."
"The man was, no doubt, insane, dear. But his perseverance in doing what he thought right was something grand. Now suppose, children, we ascend and see what is going on atop of the earth."
"I'm glad we didn't always have to stay in that black hole," said Dotty, catching her breath as they were drawn up.
Then the thought occurred to her that the One who had made the sunlight and the soft green earth was kinder than she had ever supposed.
"Well," said cousin Horace, "now we've done the mine; and this evening, Dotty, you and I will go and sniggle for eels."
Dotty dared not tell any one that she had expected to find gold, and had been disappointed.
Her first act, after reaching Aunt 'Ria's was to look in the little box for her precious pearl. It was gone! No doubt Flyaway had taken it. Dotty mourned over her own carelessness in leaving her treasure where the roguish little one could reach it. Instead of finding gold, she had lost something she supposed was more precious than gold. But she bore up as bravely as possible, and said to Mrs. Clifford,—
"You needn't punish the baby, Aunt 'Ria; she didn't know she was stealing."