One bright summer afternoon when there was no
school, Alice wandered out alone into the woods, plucking
here and there a wild flower, which she placed in the
matted curls of her hair. At last, coming to a little opening
in the trees, where a rude seat had been constructed,
she sat down, and commenced singing, in clear, musical
tones, the old familiar song, “Bonnie Doon.”

She was just finishing the first stanza, when she was
startled by the sound of another voice, chiming in with
hers. Springing up, she looked round for the intruder.

“Just cast those big eyes straight ahead, and you 'll
see me!” called out some one in a loud, merry tone.

Immediately Alice saw directly before her a roguish
looking, handsome boy, apparently twelve or thirteen
years of age. There was something in his air and dress
which told that he was above the common order of mountaineers.
Alice suddenly recollected having heard that a

[figure description] Page 246.[end figure description]

widow lady, with one son, had recently moved into a
pretty white cottage which stood about half a mile from
her father's, and she readily concluded that the lad before
her was Frank Seymour, whose beauty she had
heard one of her school companions extol so highly.
Her first impulse was to run, but the boy prevented her,
by saying, “I 'm Frank Seymour. I 've just moved my
mother up among these mountains. Now, who and
what are you? You are a queer looking specimen, any
way!”

Rude as this speech was, it pleased Alice, and she answered,
“I am Alice Carey, and I don't care if I am
queer looking.”

“Alice Carey, are you? That's a pretty name,” said
Frank, cracking his fingers. “Alice Carey,—oh, I know,
you are that old witch's daughter that lives in the red
house. I've heard of you. They say you are as wild as
a wild-cat,—and yet I like you.”

Alice stood for an instant as if spell-bound. Her mother
had been called an old witch, and herself a wild-cat, in
such a comical way, too, that for a time anger and mirth
strove for the mastery. The former conquered, and ere
Frank was aware of her intention, he received a blow in
his face which sent him reeling against an old tree. When
he recovered a standing posture, he observed Alice far
away in the distance, speeding it over logs and stumps,
briers and bushes, and he instantly started in pursuit. The
chase was long, for Alice ran swiftly, but gradually her
pursuer gained upon her. At length she came to a tall tree,
whose limbs grew near the ground. With a cat-like
spring she caught the lower branch, and by the time
Frank reached the tree, she was far up, near its top, cozily
sitting on one of its boughs. In her hand she held a
large worms' nest, which she had broken from the tree.

[figure description] Page 247.[end figure description]

“Hallo, there, Master Frank!” said she. “Just as
sure as you climb this tree I'll shake these worms in your
face!”

If there was any living thing Frank feared, it was a
worm, so he was obliged to give up his projected ascent.

“What a little spit-fire she is! I'll fetch her down,
though,” said he. At the same time gathering up a handful
of stones, he called out, “Miss Alice Carey, if you
don't come down, instanter, I'll stone you down.”

“Hit me if you can,” was the defiant answer.

Whizz went a stone through the air, but it missed its
mark, and fell harmlessly to the ground. We must tell
the truth, however, and say that Frank was very careful
not to hit the white, unearthly face, which gleamed amid
the dense foliage of the tree.

“Come, Alice,” said he, coaxingly, “what's the use of
being perched up there like a raccoon or hyena. Come
down, and let us make up friends, for really I do like
you.”

“You called my mother an old witch,” said Alice.

“I know I did,” answered Frank, “but I'm sorry for
it. I heard she told fortunes, and I couldn't think of any
better name. But pray come down, and I won't call her
so again.”

Alice was finally persuaded, and rapidly descending the
tree, she soon stood on the green turf beside Frank, who
now eyed her from head to foot.

“I say, Alice,” continued he, “just throw away that
odious worms' nest, and act like somebody.”

“I shall do no such thing, Master Frank,” said Alice.
“I know now that you are afraid of worms, and if you
come one inch nearer me, I'll throw some on you!”

So Frank kept at a respectful distance, but he exerted
himself to conquer Alice's evident dislike of him,

[figure description] Page 248.[end figure description]

and in five minutes' time he succeeded, for it was not in
her nature to withstand the handsome face, laughing eye,
and more than all, the droll humor of Frank.

The worms' nest was gradually forgotten, and when
Frank, pulling a book from his pocket, said, “See here,
look at my new history,” it was dropped, while Alice
drew so near to Frank that, ere the book was looked
through, his hand was resting on her shoulder, and one
of her snarled black curls lay amid his rich brown hair.

Before they parted that afternoon, they were sworn
friends, and Frank had won from Alice an invitation to
visit her mother the next day. “You may as well invite
me,” said he, “for I shall come, any way.”

That night Alice related her adventure to her mother,
and spoke of Frank in terms so extravagant, that the next
day, when he made his appearance, he met with a hearty
welcome from Aunt Polly, who was perfectly delighted
with the bright, handsome boy. After tea, he said,
“Come, Mrs. Carey, you must tell my fortune, and mind,
now, tell me a good one.”

“Frank, Frank!” said Alice, quickly.

“Well, what's wanted of Frank, Frank?” asked the
young gentleman.

“I thought you despised the whole affair. I shan't
like you if you don't,” answered Alice.

“And so I do,” said Frank; “but pity sakes, can't a
man have a little fun?”

“You're a funny man,” thought Alice, but she said nothing,
and her mother proceeded to read Frank's fortune
from the bottom of the cup. A handsome wife, who was
rich and a lady, too, was promised him. Frank waited
to hear no more; springing up, he struck the big blue
cup from the hand of the astonished Aunt Polly, who exclaimed,
“What ails the boy!”

p598-254

[figure description] Page 249.[end figure description]

“What ails me?” repeated Frank; “nobody wants a
rich lady for a wife. Why didn't you promise me Alice?
I like her best of anybody, and she's handsome, too, if
she'd only comb out that squirrel's nest of hers. I say,
Alice,” continued he, “why don't you take better care
of your hair? Come to my mother's, and she'll teach
you how to curl it beautifully. Will you let her come to-morrow,
Mrs. Carey?” said he, turning to Aunt Polly.
“If you will, I will come for her, and will bring you two
teacups to pay for the one I broke. I'm sorry I did that,
but I couldn't help it.”

Aunt Polly gave her consent to the visit, and the next
day Frank joyfully introduced Alice to his mother. From
that time she was a frequent visitor at the house of Mrs.
Seymour, who was an accomplished woman, and took
great pleasure in improving the manners and education
of little Alice. Frank studied at home with his mother,
and he begged so hard that his new friend might share
his advantages, that Mrs. Seymour finally proposed to
Aunt Polly to take Alice from school and let her study
with Frank. To this plan Aunt Polly assented, and
during the next six months Alice's improvement was as
rapid as her happiness was unbounded.