First she fitted me and my little sister Eva out with her best umbrella, and told us to make the best speed we could, and send the umbrella back.
As for the boys, they ran out, rejoicing in the rain, and well pleased at the prospect of getting wet through. The other little girls were kept waiting till the sky should clear, or some one should come for them.
My sister and I started off, side by side, under our umbrella. It was a large cotton one, with a long, heavy handle,—just about suited to the capacity of a giant. But, by taking hold very high up, I managed to carry it without any trouble, and it kept us both dry. We really enjoyed our walk; and, the harder the rain came down, the better we liked it.
No sooner had we got home than the clouds broke, and patches of blue sky began to appear. Then Eva spied a rainbow. So mother told us to put on dry shoes and stockings, and take back the umbrella.
How glad Aunt Rachel was to see and welcome us! "I am so glad you did not get wet," said she; "but, as for those wild boys, they would rush out into the rain, and I could not keep them from it."
Ida Fay.
A MONKEY STORY.
This is one of the true stories that I tell my little boys over and over again, as we sit before the fire, and make ready for their journey to "Sleepy-Land."
"When your grandfather was a lad about twelve years old, an uncle of his made a voyage to South America, and brought home as a present to his nephew a fine large monkey. Of course Master Richard was very much pleased; and the frolicsome pet would have had a warm welcome from the whole household, had not the uncle seen fit to report some of Jocko's pranks on shipboard.