taking to that branch," rejoined his companion. "When
you played the ghost in the reg'lar drama in the fairs, you
believed in everything--except ghosts. But now you're a
universal mistruster. I never see a man so changed."

"Never mind," said Mr. Codlin, with the air of a dis-
contented philosopher. "I know better now, and p'raps
I'm sorry for it."

Turning over the figures in the box like one who knew
and despised them, Mr. Codlin drew one forth and held it
up for the inspection of his friend:

"Look here; here's all this Judy's clothes falling to
pieces again. You haven't got a needle and thread I
suppose?"

The little man shook his head, and scratched it ruefully
as he contemplated this severe indisposition of a principal
performer. Seeing that they were at a loss, the child said
timidly:

"I have a needle, sir, in my basket, and thread too.
Will you let me try to mend it for you? I think I can do
it neater than you could."

Even Mr. Codlin had nothing to urge against a proposal
so seasonable. Nelly, kneeling down beside the box, was
soon busily engaged in her task, and accomplishing it to a
miracle.

While she was thus engaged, the merry little man looked
at her with an interest which did not appear to be dimin-
ished when he glanced at her helpless companion. When
she had finished her work he thanked her, and inquired
whither they were travelling.

"N--no further to-night, I think," said the child, looking
towards her grandfather.

"If you're wanting a place to stop at," the man re-
marked, "I should advise you to take up at the same house
with us. That's it--the long, low, white house there. It's
very cheap."

The old man, notwithstanding his fatigue, would have
remained in the churchyard all night if his new acquaintance
had stayed there too. As he yielded to this suggestion a
ready and rapturous assent, they all rose and walked away
together; he keeping close to the box of puppets in which
he was quite absorbed, the merry little man carrying it
slung over his arm by a strap attached to it for the purpose,
Nelly having hold of her grandfather's hand, and Mr. Codlin
sauntering slowly behind, casting up at the church tower

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