THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Rare Book Room 
 GIFT OF 
 
 John W Beckman 
 


THE 
 
 WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 'THE BLUE FLAG," "THE AUNT FRIENDLY 
 BOOKS," ETC. 
 
 " She hath done what she could. 
 
 " '****' ^C-V^L^ 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 18C2, by the 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court 
 of the Southern District of the State of New York. 
 
THERE are few peculiarities which more 
 distinctly mark the difference between a 
 heathen and a Christian nation, than the 
 treatment of the unfortunate of our race. 
 If one kindly effort should be prompted, 
 or one heart stirred to greater gratitude, 
 the writer's object in the conception and 
 description of the character of Nannette 
 will not be lost. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 An odd Nurse 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 Keconciliation - - 14 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 An Offer 25 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Bessie 33 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 A Young Traveller 40 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 The Asylum - 45 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Bessie's Petition - - 49 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 The Visit 65 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Seeing Wonders - 73 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 Reunion - - - 78 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 A Time of Need 87 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 A Welcome Guest - 92 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Ben at Home - 97 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 Light at Evening-time 105 
 
THE 
 
 WOODMAN'S NAOETTE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 AN ODD NUESE. 
 
 ON the edge of one of our western 
 forests stood a small log-house. It was 
 a summer afternoon, and the low win 
 dows were wide open, so that a curious 
 traveller could readily have had a peep 
 at what was going on within. Travel 
 lers, however, were rarely seen along 
 that road ; and the rough woodmen who 
 went by on their loaded wagons, only 
 stopped to get a cup of pure water from 
 the cool spring near the cottage. 
 
 So it happened that the only human 
 
8 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 being within the house had a nice long 
 nap that June day. Snug in its cradle 
 lay a plump, rosy baby, with its hand 
 doubled up in its sleep, and its flaxen 
 hair lying light about its head, like a 
 halo. 
 
 Just as sweet and fresh and beautiful 
 looked that little darling, as if it had 
 been in a swinging basket wadded with 
 down and lined with silk; and yet its 
 cradle was but a wooden trough set upon 
 rockers, a piece of its father's own handi 
 work. 
 
 To and fro moved the rough cradle, 
 while the paw of a great dog was on the 
 rocker, gently and carefully keeping up 
 the motion. A queer-looking nurse truly 
 was that large, spotted dog, with his 
 earnest brown eyes and his wise counte 
 nance. He seemed to think himself fully 
 competent for the business, and certainly 
 he was a trustworthy creature. Not 
 
AN ODD NURSE. 9 
 
 once had he left his position since his 
 mistress had shut the door behind her, 
 though a tumbler of sweet milk stood on 
 a table near him, and a big pussy-cat 
 was sunning herself in the window. 
 
 Even the dog Bounce could not make 
 baby's nap last all the afternoon, though 
 he rocked away as faithfully as if he 
 were to have a bite of fresh meat for 
 every moment she slept. 
 
 Little Nannette was restless at first; 
 then she suddenly opened her great blue 
 eyes, and looked straight at Bounce, as 
 much as to say, " You needn't rock any 
 more, for I am quite done with business 
 of that kind." There was a dreamy, 
 queer look to her eyes, after all, and she 
 had to rub them well before she was half 
 as wide awake as she pretended to be. 
 
 Bounce put his head into the cradle, 
 and presumed to give that little rosy 
 cheek that was fit for a princess to kiss, 
 
10 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 a salute with his own red tongue. Baby 
 Nannette did not take it at all amiss, but 
 laid hold of his ear in return ; and so 
 they were on friendly terms at once. 
 But this could not last always, and Nan 
 nette at length began to pucker up her 
 little face and make ready to cry. 
 
 Bounce did not wait any longer, but 
 going to the window the cat had left 
 vacant, he put his forepaws on the sill, 
 and set up such a shrill bark as would 
 be heard for many a rod. A strong, 
 loud sound it was; yet little Nannette 
 did not seem to notice it; she did not 
 even turn her head that way, but kept 
 snivelling up her little nose, and making 
 it look like a wrinkled cherry, which by 
 no means added to her beauty. At the 
 window, barking away, Bounce kept his 
 place until he saw a woman come out of 
 the forest with a bundle of sticks on her 
 head. Slight and girlish was the worn- 
 
AN ODD NURSE. 11 
 
 an's figure, and young and cheerful was 
 her face, and yet no one could doubt that 
 she was the mother of the waking baby, 
 there was such a sweet, earnest, loving 
 look in her countenance as she moved 
 very rapidly towards the cottage. Bounce 
 gave a quick low bark of satisfaction as 
 she entered his nursery; but Nannette 
 kept up her low whimper until her moth 
 er was fairly bending over her ; then the 
 little nose was smoothed out all at once, 
 and her eyes laughed out their joy from 
 behind their cloud of recent tears. 
 
 What a time the mother and baby had 
 together ; what a merry-making all in 
 their own way! while Bounce capered 
 about them, apparently quite glad to be 
 relieved from his responsible position. 
 Nannette returned smile for smile, and a 
 winning, tender look for every soft ca 
 ress. Perhaps her mother was not skill 
 ed in baby-talk, or Nannette was very 
 
12 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 ungrateful ; or perhaps she did not quite 
 believe she was the " precious, darling, 
 deary pet" that her mother described in 
 such glowing colors. At any rate, Nan- 
 nette seemed to take all the smiles and 
 kisses, while the pretty words did not 
 make her so much as wink one of her 
 round blue eyes. 
 
 When the tumbler of milk and a full 
 half slice of bread had made Nannette 
 very comfortable, she was ready to see 
 Bounce sit with a crumb on his nose, not 
 once offering to stir until he heard the 
 word of command, and then he threw 
 the precious morsel into the air, and 
 caught it in his mouth, while baby Nan- 
 nette clapped her hands with delight. 
 
 The mother placed Nannette on the 
 floor, and then stepping out the door, 
 she waited a minute, and came in very 
 softly, her face towards the child's back. 
 " Here's mamma!" she exclaimed j but 
 
AN ODD NURSE. 13 
 
 Nannette did not turn her head until 
 Bounce made a great leap towards his 
 mistress. 
 
 This was perhaps the hundredth time 
 that the mother had tried the same ex 
 periment with as little success. 
 
 "Poor dear," she said, as she took 
 Nannette the more tenderly in her arms, 
 "poor dear, she will never hear any 
 cross words, and her mother will love 
 her all the better." Yes, Nannette was 
 perfectly deaf. The mother knew it; 
 she had suspected it these three months ; 
 and yet she was ever making a new 
 trial, to be but the more surely con 
 vinced of the sad fact. 
 
 There was nothing wrong about the 
 baby's sweet mouth ; all was right in that 
 wee red-lined throat. Dear, pleasant 
 words she might soon have spoken ; but 
 with those closed ears she must ever be 
 silent. She must be deaf and dumb ! 
 
14 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 RECONCILIATION. 
 
 Two years had passed away very hap 
 pily for Nannette. She could run about 
 now, and pluck the dandelions by the 
 door-stone, or sift the dry sand of the 
 pathway through her plump fingers. She 
 had Bounce for her play-fellow, and her 
 mother for her admirer, and so she got 
 on very well, though she was deaf and 
 dumb. 
 
 Ben Kuhn and his wife Kitty thought 
 their Nannette the prettiest child in the 
 county; and if she could not speak, she 
 had a thousand sweet ways of her own. 
 She could so imitate the motions of the 
 great rooster that flapped his wings and 
 crowed on the fence, that you expected 
 
RECONCILIATION. 15 
 
 every minute to hear an exact counter 
 part of his note come from her open 
 mouth. As for Bounce and the cat, she 
 had a way of caricaturing all their move 
 ments and manners, which prompted Ben 
 to many a hearty laugh, and served him 
 for entertainment when he came home 
 from his day's work. 
 
 As the years passed by, one trouble 
 lay heavy on Kitty's mind. She had a 
 Friend who was dearer to her than life 
 itself ; must this Friend be ever a stran 
 ger to Nannette ? Kitty knew not how 
 to tell her darling about the great God 
 who made her. She could not touch her 
 young heart with the story of the Sav 
 iour's love. 
 
 Much, very much Kitty had thought 
 on this subject. Often she had stolen to 
 the bedside of her sleeping child, and 
 had commended her to the care of the 
 Saviour, who loves the little ones, sure 
 
16 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 that this afflicted lamb would be his 
 especial care. 
 
 "I will make her obedient and gentle, 
 and in this she will keep God's law. I 
 will teach her to fold her little hands 
 while I pray for her. I will try to set 
 her the example of what a Christian 
 ought to be, and perhaps by and by God 
 will show me some better way of letting 
 her know about Him." 
 
 Slowly Kitty had come to these con 
 clusions ; and although it was not exactly 
 in these words that she expressed them 
 to herself, this was their substance. Who 
 could doubt that, under such training, 
 the little mute would become attractive 
 in other eyes than those of her fond 
 mother. 
 
 Nannette proved a handy little lassie, 
 and it was wonderful how soon she be 
 came a help in the humble duties of the 
 cottage; and Ben and Kitty often had 
 
RECONCILIATION. 17 
 
 occasion to say that their unfortunate 
 child gave them far less sorrow than they 
 might have had to bear from a saucy 
 talker or a deceitful eavesdropper. 
 
 Ten years had come and gone, with 
 their cold and snow, their sunshine and 
 flowers, since Nannette was a babe in 
 the cradle, and still Bounce was her 
 chosen friend and play-fellow. They 
 had been having a nice gambol together 
 one fine summer day, and all in a heat 
 Nannette had seated herself beneath a 
 great tree. Bounce established himself 
 beside her, and she threw her arm round 
 his neck, and pressed his rough cheek to 
 hers as tenderly as if he had been a hu 
 man friend. A friend indeed he had 
 been to her these many years, and from 
 many a danger he had saved her. Ben 
 and Kitty were never uneasy about the 
 child if Bounce was with her ; for no one 
 could harm the helpless little one while 
 
18 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 the dog's fierce bark and strong teeth 
 were at her service. 
 
 Now he began to utter a low growl as 
 the sound of horses' hoofs was heard in 
 the distance ; and when the mounted 
 rider came in sight of his young mistress, 
 Bounce was standing at her side, his feet 
 on her dress, and his whole air proclaim 
 ing that he was her protector. 
 
 "How many miles is it to the next 
 town, my little girl?" said the stranger, 
 as he paused in front of Nannette. 
 
 Nannette of course made no reply, and 
 the stranger repeated his question some 
 what more authoritatively than at first. 
 Bounce gave a low growl, and Nannette 
 placed her fingers in her ears, shaking her 
 head at the same time by way of letting 
 the new-comer know that she was deaf. 
 
 The gentleman was no adept in the 
 language of signs, and he quite misun 
 derstood her meaning. 
 
RECONCILIATION. 19 
 
 " You stop your ears, and wont hear 
 my question, eh, you saucy little thing," 
 he said. "Then I must get down and 
 see if there is any body older and more 
 civil in the house to tell me what I want 
 to know.' 7 
 
 Bounce did not like the expression of 
 the stranger's face as he looked at his 
 little mistress, and seeing him dismount 
 ing with a heavy riding- whip in his hand, 
 he sprang towards him with a threaten 
 ing bark. 
 
 The gentleman was irritated, and with 
 a sudden movement he struck at Bounce 
 with the heavy whip and hit him on one 
 of his forelegs. There was a long mis 
 erable howl from Bounce as he retreated 
 slightly and took his place directly in 
 front of his mistress, as if willing to die 
 in her defence, but not anxious to risk 
 another such blow unnecessarily. 
 
 Nannette gave a cry, a strange, unnat- 
 
20 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 ural cry of distress, and her tears fell 
 fast as she strove to take the poor wound 
 ed paw in her hand. Bounce would not 
 allow this, though he was quivering all 
 over with pain; he plainly thought the 
 battle not yet done. 
 
 Nannette's peculiar cry had brought 
 her mother in a moment to her side, for 
 the child was but under the tree that 
 overshadowed the wayside spring near 
 the cottage. 
 
 "Nannette, dear," exclaimed Kitty, 
 as she ran to her darling, hardly noticing 
 the presence of the stranger. Nannette 
 showed her mother the suffering paw of 
 her spirited friend, and then her features 
 expressed horror and dislike as she 
 pointed towards the author of the mis 
 fortune. 
 
 Kitty turned to look at the stranger, 
 and saw a rather stout, middle-aged 
 gentleman, whose round face was either 
 
RECONCILIATION. 21 
 
 very much heated or flushed with recent 
 anger. 
 
 "I struck pretty hard, I believe," he 
 said, apologetically; " but the child put 
 her fingers in her ears to keep from hear 
 ing my question, and the dog sprang at 
 me as if he were going to eat me 
 up." 
 
 " She 's quite deaf, my Nannette. She 
 can't speak or hear/ 7 said Kitty, simply. 
 " That was what she wanted to tell you. 
 The dog is as kind as a lamb, only when 
 he thinks some one is going to hurt her, 
 and then he 7 s just like a lion, and almost 
 as strong." 
 
 "A good, brave fellow," said the 
 stranger, much softened. " He's worth 
 his weight in gold. I 'm sorry I hit him 
 so hard ; but his fangs looked ugly, as he 
 let me have the benefit of a full sight of 
 them. I am tired out with riding over 
 these rough roads. Is not there a public- 
 
22 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 house somewhere near, where I could get 
 dinner and rest a while? 77 
 
 "There's no tavern near us, I'm 
 thankful to say. It's the taverns that 
 ruin the men," said Kitty quickly; "but 
 if you '11 come in a bit, I can give you 
 bread and butter, and either sweet milk 
 or cold water, which ever suits you 
 best." 
 
 Nannette wondered much when she 
 saw her mother taking the stranger within 
 the cottage, while her own soul was boil 
 ing over with dislike to him. 
 
 A tidy place was that small cottage, 
 and the stranger stopped to wipe his feet 
 on the braided mat at the door before he 
 stepped on the clean, scoured floor. He 
 could not tell whether his appetite was 
 unusual, but it seemed to him he had 
 never tasted such bread and milk in the 
 world, and long he lingered over them, 
 while Kitty was willingly led on to talk 
 
RECONCILIATION. 23 
 
 of Nannette and Bounce. "Now for a 
 taste of that cold water/ 7 he said at 
 length, as he drew back from the white 
 table. 
 
 Kitty stepped to the door with a small 
 bucket in her hand, and made a sign to 
 Nannette to fill it at the spring. 
 
 Nannette came unwillingly ; she did 
 not wish to do any thing for the stranger, 
 not she. Bounce seemed much of her 
 opinion, for he growled as he limped 
 along beside his mistress. 
 
 Here was an opportunity for teaching 
 the child forgiveness, and Kitty was de 
 termined to make use of it. She drew 
 Nannette into the cottage, and taking 
 her up to the stranger, signified to her 
 by rude signs that her mother felt kindly 
 to him, and she must do so too. 
 
 Nannette hung her head for a moment, 
 but Kitty's face looked loving, yet de 
 cided. There was an evident struggle 
 
24 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 in the child's mind, and then she sud 
 denly put up her mouth to be kissed by 
 the stranger. Tenderly he kissed her, 
 tenderly as if she had been his own child. 
 The poor mute's forgiveness touched his 
 heart, and he warmed with love towards 
 her. 
 
 Mr. Haviland's hasty temper often 
 made him appear worse than he really 
 was. He was heartily sorry for his mo 
 ment of passion, and when he shortly 
 afterwards left Kitty Kuhn's cottage, it 
 was with the kindliest feelings towards 
 its inmates. 
 
AN OFFER. 25 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 AN OFFER. 
 
 MR. HAVILAKD'S journey might, in our 
 time, have been taken between breakfast 
 and dinner; but there were no swift- 
 moving cars then to bear him on his 
 way. He and his good horse were two 
 long, weary days on that rough road, be 
 fore they came to their place of destina 
 tion. It was not with much pleasure 
 that the stout gentleman looked forward 
 to the return trip, which he was called 
 on to take when a week was over. Yet 
 there was one bright spot on that home 
 ward path: he should stop at Kuhn's 
 cottage, and have another peep at his 
 little deaf and dumb friend, who had 
 been much in his mind since they 
 parted. 
 
26 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 When Mr. Haviland for the second 
 time fastened his horse under the oak by 
 the spring, Nannette was not at her 
 favorite seat among its roots. 
 
 Bounce, however, was soon aware of 
 his approach, and gave a warning bark, 
 which saved the stranger the trouble of 
 knocking at the door. 
 
 There was a quick sound of a chair 
 moving on the bare floor, and in another 
 moment Kitty herself stood on the thresh 
 old to bid the visitor welcome. 
 
 He had not come to tax her hospital 
 ity this time, though the white bread on 
 the table looked very tempting, and Ben, 
 who was at his dinner, seconded Kitty's 
 invitation to the gentleman to share their 
 humble meal. 
 
 Nannette took the tumbler of milk 
 beside her own plate, and carried it to 
 the stranger, while her open, pleasant 
 countenance was turned first towards 
 
AN OFFER. 2? 
 
 him and then towards her mother for 
 approval. 
 
 Kitty nodded pleasantly, and Nan- 
 nette was satisfied, though Mr. Haviland 
 with a wave of his hand refused the 
 proffered refreshment. 
 
 Nannette quietly sat down to enjoy it 
 herself, while Mr. Haviland said, "I did 
 not come to take my dinner here to-day. 
 I took care to have my luncheon with 
 me this time. I come on business now. 
 This, I suppose, is the man of the house," 
 and he looked at Ben. 
 
 "Yes; Ben Kuhn, my husband," was 
 Kitty's prompt reply. 
 
 Kitty dropped a courtesy of respect 
 to Mr. Haviland as she spoke ; but the 
 glance with which she favored Ben at 
 the same time was far more complimen 
 tary. There was such a mingling of 
 pride and affection in it as proved that 
 he was a husband she would not be 
 
28 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 ashamed to own even to the king him 
 self. 
 
 "Well then, Ben/' continued Mr. Hav- 
 iland, "I suppose my business must be 
 transacted with you. I want to buy 
 your dog. I am willing to pay hand 
 somely for him; and to cut the matter 
 short, I offer you fifty dollars for him. 
 I am not giving you the money ; the dog 
 is fully worth the price, and would be 
 especially so to me." 
 
 Kitty's face had assumed a look of 
 alarm while the stranger was speaking; 
 but as he named the price he offered, an 
 anxious doubt seemed to be troubling 
 her mind. 
 
 Fifty dollars ! Such a sum as that in 
 clear money had never been seen in Ben 
 Kuhn's cottage. Ben knew that, and it 
 only took a second for a train of imagi 
 nary comforts to sweep through his mind 
 as the sure followers of such a golden 
 
AN OFFER. 29 
 
 treasure. Yery little effect had this vis 
 ion upon honest Ben Kuhn, and his an 
 swer was prompt and decided. 
 
 "The dog is not mine, sir. My old 
 master's son left him with me when he 
 went over the water, and I promised to 
 take care of him until he came Iback. no 
 matter how long that should be. Bounce 
 was only a pup then, for it was eleven 
 years ago ; and I can't say truly whether 
 Master John is living or not. I do n't 
 know either whether he could find me if 
 he should come back, for we moved out 
 here when our Nannette was a mere 
 baby. Anyhow, it shall never be said, 
 Ben Kuhn took money for what was not 
 his own." 
 
 While her husband was speaking, Kit 
 ty's face had been marked by changing 
 expressions. Her first impression at 
 this unthought-of mode of settling the 
 question was succeeded by such a sense 
 
30 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 of the honesty of her good husband, as 
 made her stand upright and look at him 
 with proud satisfaction. 
 
 11 You are an honest man," said Mr. 
 Haviland, "and I like you for it; and 
 yet I had set my heart on the dog. I 
 have a little girl at home about the age, 
 I should think, of your child. I could 
 have paid almost any sum to have had 
 such a protector as your Bounce seems 
 to be for a child he fancies.' 7 
 
 " Is she deaf and dumb too?" asked 
 Kitty sympathetically 
 
 It was a simple question, but it made 
 the father's heart thrill as he quickly 
 responded, u No; thank God, my little 
 Bess has no such misfortunes. You 
 should hear her singing wherever she 
 goes, the life of the house." 
 
 ' ' I think she hardly needs Bounce as 
 much as our poor Nannette does," said 
 Kitty quickly. 
 
AN OFFER. 31 
 
 " You are right, you are right," said 
 Mr. Haviland, half ashamed of himself 
 for the offer he had made ; and yet it had 
 not been wholly a selfish proposition. 
 He had wanted to do something for the 
 little mute, and it had struck his mind 
 that by purchasing the dog he could 
 throw money into her parents' hands, 
 which they would well know how to 
 spend. 
 
 Nannette had been an eager observer 
 of the conversation, but had no idea of 
 its subject ; yet when Mr. Haviland rode 
 away, and Kitty threw her arm around 
 Bounce's rough neck and gave him a 
 tender caress, Nannette heartily joined 
 her. 
 
 In this way they could understand 
 each other. They both loved Bounce, 
 and would not have parted with him 
 without a bitter struggle. 
 
 As for Ben Kuhn, he went whistling 
 
32 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 off to the woods, with his axe on his 
 shoulder. He had but done his duty, 
 and perhaps the fifty dollars or the 
 stranger might not cross his mind for 
 many a day. 
 
BESSIE. 33 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BESSIE. 
 
 BESSIE HAVILAND was surely neither 
 deaf nor dumb. Her quick ear was the 
 first to catch the sound of her father's 
 returning footsteps, and her voice was 
 the one to bid him welcome. 
 
 Never had the sound, "Dear father," 
 seemed as precious to Mr. Haviland as 
 at this moment. Kitty's simple question 
 was still ringing in his ears. What a 
 cause for gratitude had ever escaped his 
 notice! His only child was marred by 
 no blemish ; that was indeed a mercy. 
 
 Again and again he looked at her 
 beaming, expressive face, as she sat at 
 the supper-table that evening, and his 
 heart seemed doubly full of love to his 
 darling. At length he said, " I meant to 
 have brought you a beautiful present, 
 
34 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 Bessie : a Dalmatian coach -dog, the 
 most sagacious animal I ever saw in my 
 life." 
 
 "What color was he? Oh, I should 
 have so liked to have him," said Bessie, 
 eagerly. 
 
 "He was white, with black spots and 
 a few brown dashes. I will tell you all 
 about him," said Mr. Haviland. Then 
 followed a full account of his visits to the 
 cottage of the Kuhns. 
 
 Bessie's interest in the dog was soon 
 lost in her absorbing desire to hear more 
 and more about Nannette. Her father 
 had to describe the poor mute again and 
 again, and to show her every gesture. 
 
 "Poor girl," exclaimed Bessie ; "I am 
 glad you could not get the dog for me. 
 And so her mother asked if I was deaf 
 and dumb." 
 
 Bessie's face grew thoughtful as she 
 spoke. There was no true Christian 
 
BESSIE. 35 
 
 friend at hand just then to prompt the 
 child's softened heart to gratitude to her 
 merciful heavenly Father. Alas, Bes 
 sie's parents were keeping the choicest 
 treasure from their only darling. They 
 had surrounded her with every comfort, 
 and made her life happy by their fond 
 affection ; but they had never taught her 
 to love the best, the almighty Friend. 
 Her prayers she repeated morning and 
 evening, and Sunday after Sunday she 
 was regularly at church ; but no one 
 spoke to her of the Saviour as ever at 
 her side, ready to help her feeblest effort 
 to do right, and gently lead her in the 
 path to heaven. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Haviland had enjoyed 
 long years of prosperity ; the world was 
 to them a pleasant place, and they thought 
 but little of the eternity towards which 
 they were certainly hurrying. 
 
 Happily Bessie was naturally warm- 
 
36 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 hearted and sunny-tempered, and had 
 not yet been rendered wholly selfish by 
 the indulgence to which she had been 
 accustomed. She was full of love to her 
 parents, but she knew nothing of sacri 
 ficing her pleasure for others, or of mak 
 ing efforts to increase the happiness of 
 those around her, and living to please 
 the Saviour. 
 
 A new idea had now been started in 
 her mind, a new impression had been 
 made upon her. The contrast between 
 the poor mute in the way-side cottage 
 and herself, surrounded by every com 
 fort and blessed with so many privileges, 
 was forcibly thrust upon her young heart. 
 
 Again she repeated, "I am glad I did 
 not have the dog. Poor Nannette." 
 
 That evening Bessie was very busy. 
 She had ransacked her library until she 
 had found the book she sought. Then 
 she laid it open on the table before her, 
 
BESSIE. 31 
 
 and diligently she tried to place her 
 hands in the positions represented in the 
 engravings in the book. 
 
 " What is my Bessie doing? 7 ' said her 
 father, looking up suddenly from his 
 newspaper. 
 
 "I am trying to learn the deaf and 
 dumb alphabet. See here, father, it 
 shows in my book how they teach the 
 deaf and dumb to talk." 
 
 "I think your little tongue talks fast 
 enough," said the father, looking over 
 her book with a smile. 
 
 "Yes," said Bessie soberly; "but I 
 mean to learn how to talk with my fin 
 gers, and then if I ever see Nannette, or 
 any deaf and dumb people, I'll teach 
 them. It must be dreadful not to be 
 able to talk." 
 
 " I am afraid you would make a very 
 poor teacher; you are not quite steady 
 enough for that. Would you like to see 
 
38 THE WOODMAN'S NANNLTTE. 
 
 the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in our own 
 city? I am sure it would interest you. 7 ' 
 
 The father thought but of giving his 
 child pleasure ; and his end seemed ac 
 complished, for Bessie's face was per 
 fectly beaming at the proposal. 
 
 The visit to the Deaf and Dumb Asy 
 lum took place the next day, and a very 
 interesting visit it was. 
 
 Bessie was unusually thoughtful all the 
 way home, and when at last she sat by 
 her father's side in their own parlor, she 
 said, " Father, will you do something for 
 me ? Will you have Nannette go to the 
 Asylum, to learn to read and write? Will 
 you, father? Say, please; will you?" 
 
 " How shall we get the little girl, clear 
 off in the woods, and bring her here, my 
 child?" he replied. 
 
 " Oh, you can go in the carriage, and 
 bring her away yourself," said Bessie 
 eagerly. 
 
BESSIE. 39 
 
 "The roads are so bad that the poor 
 carriage would be all racked to pieces 
 before I was half way there," said Mr. 
 Haviland, still smiling. 
 
 "0 father, you are just teasing me. 
 You know you could get a strong wagon, 
 and go in it, if you pleased," said Bessie, 
 a little pettishly. 
 
 " What do you say to Bessie's plan, 
 wife?" said Mr. Haviland, turning tow 
 ards his lady. 
 
 Mrs. Haviland was one of those easy, 
 good-natured people for whom it is al 
 ways more natural to say "Yes," than 
 "No;" and now she looked up pleas 
 antly, and only answered, 
 
 " Do as you please, Mr. Haviland." 
 
 "I confess I take an uncommon inter 
 est in the child," continued the husband. 
 "I rather like Bessie's plan." 
 
 "0 father," exclaimed Bessie, clap 
 ping her hands, " you will ; you will !" 
 
40 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 A YOUNG TRAVELLER. 
 
 A FEW weeks after the occurrences 
 related in our last chapter, Mr. Havi- 
 land was once more on the road to Ben 
 Kuhn's cottage. No letter had preced 
 ed him, to tell of his coming. Mr. Hav- 
 iland doubted whether the humble peo 
 ple ever thought enough of receiving 
 letters, to go to the post-office twenty 
 miles distant for them ; nor was he sure 
 they could read such a document if it 
 should fall into their hands. So it 
 chanced that he was an unlooked-for 
 guest when he appeared at Ben Kuhn's 
 door. 
 
 The visitor was fortunate enough to 
 find all the family at home. Frankly and 
 promptly he stated his errand, clearly 
 
A YOUNG TRAVELLER. 41 
 
 explaining the advantages that would 
 result to Nannette from the course he 
 proposed. 
 
 The honest couple listened in wonder 
 ing silence. Ben was the first to reply. 
 
 " She ought to go, sir. I see it plain 
 ly. Kitty, we must part with the child. 77 
 
 Kitty 7 s face was suddenly muffled in 
 her apron, and her tears fell fast. Nan- 
 nette sprang to her side, and throwing 
 her arms round her neck, strove by kind 
 caresses to comfort her. 
 
 "You are but a child yourself, Kitty, 
 or you would n 7 t take on so/ 7 said Ben 
 bluntly. " There 7 s many a mother has 
 to see her lassie put out to service youn 
 ger than our Nannette. We ought n 7 t to 
 stand in the child 7 s way. 77 
 
 Kitty's arm was tight about Nan 
 nette. How could she spare her ? Im 
 possible ! Then came a whisper at the 
 mothers heart : " If Nannette could learn 
 
42 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 to talk and read, what should keep her 
 from the knowledge of God, of whom 
 she could have as yet but a dim idea? 
 "Was not this an answer to the prayers 
 that had been daily offered, that Christ, 
 the friend of the unfortunate, would 
 teach this poor afflicted child to know 
 and love him ?" 
 
 Kitty's resolution was taken at once. 
 "You are right, Ben," she said; "we 
 ought not to keep our child from a way 
 of learning to read the word of God, 
 and of praying to him straight out of 
 her heart. She must go." 
 
 Kitty at once busied herself in collect 
 ing together Nannette's scanty wardrobe, 
 and in making her tidy for the journey. 
 
 When the child was equipped in her 
 calico dress and sun-bonnet, she made 
 signs for her mother to get ready too. 
 Kitty shook her head, and could not 
 keep the tears from her eyes. Ben kiss- 
 
A YOUNG TRAVELLER. 43 
 
 ed his little daughter, and motioned to 
 her to take the empty seat in the wagon 
 beside Mr. Haviland. 
 
 But for Nannette's years of trained 
 obedience, there would have been now 
 an open rebellion. She hesitated, and 
 stood still. Ben took her gently by the 
 arm, and Kitty tenderly assisted her on 
 the other side. They both looked full 
 of love to her, she could read that in 
 their countenances ; but as plainly could 
 she understand their command to her to 
 leave them. 
 
 The docile spirit triumphed, and Nan- 
 nette allowed herself to be placed beside 
 Mr. Haviland. Her face was very sor 
 rowful, and a strange moan of distress 
 escaped her. 
 
 There was an angry bark from the 
 small wood-room of the cottage, and a 
 fierce scratching at the tightly fastened 
 door. Nannette's head dropped upon 
 
44 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 her hands, and the wheels rolled rapidly 
 away. A long, long howl went up from 
 the imprisoned Bounce. It was well for 
 Nannette that she could not hear her 
 playfellow's sad farewell. 
 
 " It's all right, Kitty," said Ben, as he 
 went off to the woods. 
 
 Ah, Ben could not fully know what 
 Kitty must suffer in so parting with her 
 child. 
 
 Happy was it for the mother that she 
 knew where to go in her trouble. There 
 was an Eye that could watch Nannette 
 by the wayside and in her new home. 
 There was a Hand that could protect 
 her from every danger. Very earnestly 
 Kitty prayed to this almighty Protector, 
 and by degrees peace stole over her 
 soul. 
 
THE ASYLUM. 45 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE ASYLUM. 
 
 NANNETTE was but a child, and the 
 griefs of youth are easily soothed. The 
 motion of the wagon was pleasant to her, 
 the day was bright, and the woods were 
 full of living creatures to be startled by 
 the approach of the travellers. Before 
 long, Mr. Haviland found his companion 
 jogging him to look at the squirrels hop 
 ping among the branches, or the wood 
 peckers shaking their busy heads on the 
 tall bare trunks. 
 
 Mr. Haviland had provided himself 
 with a powerful argument in his favor, 
 in the shape of a certain three-cornered 
 paper bag, containing nuts and candies ; 
 and then too there was the luncheon-bas- 
 
46 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 ket under the seat, a great pacifier in its 
 way. 
 
 So it happened that before the spires 
 of the distant city were to be seen, glow 
 ing with the brightness of the setting sun, 
 Nannette had learned to look upon her 
 companion as a friend. 
 
 In front of a large frame-building Mr. 
 Haviland stopped, and taking Nannette 
 by the hand, he ascended the broad steps. 
 Full of wonder and admiration she look 
 ed about her as they were ushered into 
 a parlor and welcomed by a gentleman 
 of a calm and kindly countenance. After 
 a short conversation with the stranger, 
 Mr. Haviland took his hat and put out 
 his hand to say good-by to Nannette. 
 
 Her own bonnet had been laid aside, 
 and at once she understood that Mr. Hav 
 iland was to leave her. With a sudden 
 scream she clung to him. It was by 
 force alone that Nannette was borne 
 
THE ASYLUM. 41 
 
 away, and Mr. Haviland was left at lib 
 erty to seek his own home. 
 
 Finding resistance useless, Nannette 
 allowed herself to be led up a long flight 
 of stairs, and still another, until she 
 reached a large room, where a number 
 of young girls were busy making a hasty 
 toilet before going to supper. On each 
 side of the room were rows of small 
 white-covered beds, each having its own 
 wash-stand and dressing apparatus be 
 side it. 
 
 Nannette watched her new compan 
 ions closely. Not a lip was stirring, 
 though by their animated gestures it was 
 plain they were communicating with each 
 other. 
 
 She was perfectly quiet for a few min 
 utes, and then a cry of joy burst from 
 her ; and breaking away from her guide, 
 she threw her arms around the nearest 
 of the young girls, and vainly strove to 
 
48 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTB. 
 
 express her pleasure at the truth she had 
 guessed. 
 
 These busy, happy-looking girls were 
 deaf and dumb, like herself. This was 
 a thought full of comfort to poor Nan- 
 nette. 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 49 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 
 BESSIE'S PETITION. 
 
 WE pass over Nannette's first few days 
 at her new home. It was a joy to the 
 child to associate with young people of 
 her own age, and there was a strange 
 pleasure to her in the knowledge that 
 her companions were mutes like herself. 
 Their expressive gestures she easily un 
 derstood, and already she was coming 
 on rapidly in the language of natural 
 signs, but as yet of other signs she knew 
 nothing. To letters, spelling, and books 
 she had not yet been introduced. 
 
 Night and morning ISTannett^ knelt as 
 she had been taught, and reverently fold 
 ed her hands. This was for her but an 
 act of obedience to her earthly parent ; 
 her great Father in heaven was still to 
 
50 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 her a stranger. Yet who can doubt that 
 he looked lovingly down on the dutiful 
 child, and gave her the blessing she was 
 unconsciously asking ? 
 
 Nannette had borne up bravely for 
 three days and nights, though often a 
 yearning to see her distant mother was 
 thrilling at her heart. The fourth day 
 had come, and for some unknown reason 
 Nannette 's courage seemed suddenly to 
 give way. The faces around her all 
 looked strange to her ; the rows of white 
 beds were desolate in her eyes, and she 
 longed for the red calico stars of the 
 counterpane at home ; she wanted to see 
 the inside of her mother's cottage, and 
 to feel that mother's arms about her. 
 
 Breakfast was over, and Nannette had 
 crept up to the dormitory or sleeping 
 room alone. The tears she had stemmed 
 back while in company now burst forth, 
 and she sobbed aloud. There was no 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 51 
 
 one near to comfort her ; she was almost 
 in despair. Suddenly she remembered 
 what she had seen her mother do when 
 in trouble, and how she had observed 
 her face calmed by such a resource. It 
 was but imitation, a forlorn hope, when 
 Nannette fell on her knees and hid her 
 weeping face in her own little bed. 
 
 So she sobbed her grief away, and was 
 already drying her tears, when a friend 
 ly hand was laid on her shoulder. 
 
 One of the teachers of the institution 
 had sought for the young stranger, and 
 had traced her to her retreat, and now 
 she signified to her that she must put on 
 her bonnet and make ready for a walk. 
 The bonnet that was prepared for her 
 was simple, a neat straw " shaker ;" but 
 to Nannette it was extremely pretty, and 
 with childish pleasure she put it on, quite 
 forgetful of her swollen face and tear- 
 marked eyes. 
 
52 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 Two by two walked out the pupils of 
 the asylum, and Nannette in the midst 
 of the throng, curiously interested in all 
 she saw. 
 
 But in the midst of her enjoyment, 
 passengers, carriages, and even shop- 
 windows were suddenly forgotten by 
 our little friend. An object on the op 
 posite side of the street had attracted 
 her attention. She struggled to get free 
 from the hand of the teacher who was 
 at her side. Her efforts and the commo 
 tion thus excited answered her pur 
 pose. 
 
 The large spotted dog which was stray 
 ing along, carefully looking at every per 
 son he met, made a few sudden bounds, 
 which brought him to Nannette. 
 
 What a meeting that was! The joy 
 of poor Bounce hardly knew how to 
 express itself. The creature seemed ab 
 solutely wild with delight, while Nan- 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 53 
 
 nette's gestures and caresses were almost 
 as strange and violent. 
 
 The rest of the party might go on in 
 pairs, but it was plain that Bounce had 
 determined that three should walk to 
 gether in the place where Nannette was, 
 and the third party should be himself. 
 
 Nannette's heart was brimful of joy, 
 and very lightly she moved along the 
 paved street, skipping as cheerily as if 
 she was in the woods near her father's 
 cottage. 
 
 The walk was over all too soon, and 
 to Nannette's horror her dear companion 
 was forbidden to enter the house which 
 was now her home. In vain she pleaded 
 in expressive signs with the teacher who 
 had the charge of her. The idea of 
 admitting a dog into the institution seem 
 ed to be considered monstrous and un 
 heard of. 
 
 Bounce had not come so far to be 
 
54 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 easily discomfited. Through a crack in 
 his prison-house his watchful eye had 
 seen his mistress borne away by Mr. 
 Haviland ; and no sooner was he releas 
 ed at evening than he set off to follow 
 her, guided by his unerring scent. Mr. 
 Haviland's horse he found no difficulty 
 in tracing along the road, even in the 
 darkness of night ; but as morning dawn 
 ed, he lost all signs of his footsteps among 
 the trodden ways of the city. Three 
 days Bounce had wandered about seek 
 ing his treasure ; now, when he was wan 
 and weary, he had found her, and he 
 would not forsake her. He would guard 
 the house that held her, though he might 
 not lie at her side and look kindly up 
 into her face. 
 
 Nannette had a sorrowful morning 
 indeed, and the lady who attempted to 
 teach her some of the finger signs had a 
 most inattentive pupil. 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 55 
 
 From the school-room Nannette went 
 to the dinner-table, not to eat, but to 
 store in her apron the meat that was put 
 on her plate. She little doubted that 
 she should find Bounce waiting outside 
 the barred gate. She knew he would 
 not leave her. 
 
 Yes, there was faithful Bounce lying 
 on the sidewalk, and looking wistfully 
 down the path along which his mistress 
 had disappeared. At the sight of her, 
 his satisfaction broke forth in a joyous 
 bark. The poor fellow was hungry, that 
 was plain enough. How he did relish 
 the morsels with which Nannette fed 
 him through the bars ! How she longed 
 to open the gate and let him in, just for 
 one moment. 
 
 Nannette had been trained to obedi 
 ence, and she would not now disobey, 
 though the temptation was strong. No, 
 she would stroke poor Bounce as best 
 
56 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 she could, and pat him so lovingly ; he 
 should feel that she at least would be 
 glad to give him a welcome into her new 
 home. 
 
 There were two parties watching this 
 little scene, though Nannette thought she 
 was quite unobserved. 
 
 The Principal of the institution was 
 looking at Nannette from the window of 
 his study, and his heart yearned towards 
 the poor young stranger who was so 
 willingly giving her own dinner to her 
 humble friend. 
 
 On the steps of the asylum too stood 
 a gentleman and his daughter; and as 
 they waited for the bell to be answered, 
 they had a sight of what was going on at 
 the gate. 
 
 " It is Bounce, the very dog I wanted 
 for you, Bessie/ 7 exclaimed Mr. Havi- 
 land ; " and that is Nannette herself who 
 is feeding him." 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 57 
 
 " Is she really deaf and dumb?" said 
 Bessie, as the tears rushed to her eyes. 
 Nannette did look very sweetly, as with 
 her sun-bonnet thrown back she leaned 
 forward to pat her favorite, and to smile 
 on him what she would have wished to 
 say. Could it be that she was deaf and 
 dumb ? 
 
 A servant opened the door, and Mr. 
 Haviland made haste to say, "I think 
 that is the little girl we wish to see," 
 pointing at the same time to Nan- 
 nette. 
 
 "Poor child!" exclaimed the Irish 
 girl compassionately, " she's about wild 
 afther the dog. I make no doubt he 's 
 been afther following her from distant 
 parts. The cratur is worn down; but 
 you couldn't get him away from that 
 gate if you was to offer him a leg of 
 mutton ; nor she wont let him in neither 
 on the sly. I never saw the beat of her. 
 
58 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 She ought to have him, the poor little 
 lone thing." 
 
 " Indeed she ought," said Bessie quick 
 ly. Mr. Haviland was shown into the 
 parlor, and the Principal soon came to 
 give him a greeting. Nannette was sent 
 for, and most unwillingly she turned 
 from Bounce ; yet she obeyed the sum 
 mons. 
 
 It seemed to Nannette like meeting 
 an old friend to see Mr. Haviland among 
 those strange faces. He knew her moth 
 er ; he had been at her home. Perhaps 
 he could help her about Bounce. With 
 a sudden impulse Nannette began to 
 caper about, to imitate the dog in her 
 best style; and then followed such a 
 pleading look and such a winning ear 
 nestness, as she took Mr. Haviland's 
 hand, that she could not be misunder 
 stood. 
 
 Mr. Haviland smiled affectionately 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 59 
 
 upon the child, and nodded his head, 
 meaning that he would do all he could 
 for her ; and then he drew her attention 
 to his daughter. 
 
 Bessie's eager eyes were full of inter 
 est ; she did not look like the spoiled 
 child of luxury, as she gave both her 
 hands to poor Nannette. 
 
 "Here is a doll I brought for you; 
 you may have it for your own/ 7 said Bes 
 sie, talking in her rapid way, and then 
 blushing as she remembered that Nan 
 nette could not hear. 
 
 Nannette's "ears were closed, but her 
 eyes were open, and she understood the 
 look and gesture, and smiled and courte- 
 sied her thanks, as her mother had taught 
 her. 
 
 Ah, Kitty Kuhn had laid well the 
 foundation of Christian education when 
 she had trained Nannette to such loving, 
 faithful obedience. 
 
60 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 "Please, sir, mayn't Nannette have 
 her dog here with her?" said Bessie, 
 suddenly turning to the Principal. 
 
 "The poor creature has no doubt fol 
 lowed her all the way from her home, 
 though they locked him up when we 
 started. He's a noble dog," said Mr. 
 Haviland. 
 
 "We never let our pupils bring pets 
 with them," said the Principal doubtfully. 
 
 " ISTannette is so little, to be away from 
 home. Look, she is only as tall as I am, 
 and all alone here, and deaf and dumb 
 too," pleaded Bessie, who was afraid of 
 no one when she had a purpose to gain. 
 
 Nannette gazed at her eagerly. Could 
 it be that the little stranger was urging 
 the petition she had most at heart ? 
 
 Mr. Haviland in a few words told all 
 he knew of the dog ; and declared it his 
 opinion, that in the institution Bounce 
 would prove a valuable guard, not to 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 61 
 
 speak of the innocent pleasure that would 
 be afforded to the child. The Principal 
 listened to the pleadings of his own 
 heart, when thus seconded from without. 
 
 "Miss Haviland," he said, "I think 
 Nannette deserves this reward for her 
 obedience. I watched her, and when 
 she need but have touched the latch of 
 the gate for a moment to have had her 
 pet by her side, she resisted the tempta 
 tion. She is a good, faithful child, and 
 shames many a more favored little one." 
 
 Bessie's conscience smote her quickly ; 
 she feared under such circumstances she 
 should have behaved less worthily than 
 the mute. Such thoughts were not wel 
 come, and she turned quickly from them 
 to the more agreeable subject. 
 
 "She may have him ! You give your 
 consent, sir !" she exclaimed. 
 
 " I do most heartily," said the Princi 
 pal. 
 
62 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 "May I tell her? Do let me," said 
 Bessie eagerly. 
 
 "If you can!" was the Principal's 
 smiling answer. 
 
 Bessie took Nannette by the hand, 
 while Mr. Haviland and the Principal 
 followed. Bessie was out the street door 
 in a moment, and soon she stood on the 
 sidewalk with Nannette and the faithful 
 Bounce. Bessie put Nannette's hand in 
 the dog's collar, then opening wide the 
 gate, she entered, and beckoned to Nan- 
 nette to follow. 
 
 Nannette gave a quick look of inquiry 
 towards the gentleman whom she already 
 understood to be a sort of a king on 
 those premises. The Principal bowed 
 his consent, and Nannette, overjoyed, 
 led Bounce within the enclosure, and 
 then released her hand from his collar. 
 
 Bounce seemed to feel the importance 
 of the occasion, for he forthwith proceed- 
 
BESSIE'S PETITION. 63 
 
 ed to show off his tricks, as if to prove 
 how valuable an addition he was to be 
 to the family. He picked up Mr. Havi- 
 land's pocket handkerchief for him, and 
 brought it to him at once. He stood on 
 his hind legs and pretended to be asleep, 
 until at last he nodded and fell over. 
 He tossed up a stick in the air, and 
 caught it in his mouth six times in suc 
 cession, while Nannette looked on with 
 an innocent glee that was truly conta 
 gious. 
 
 That was a happy little scene, and it 
 had many sympathizing spectators from 
 the windows above. 
 
 When the first burst of joy was over, 
 Nannette tried to express her grateful 
 thanks for the privilege granted her, and 
 to Bessie particularly her heart seemed 
 overflowing with love. 
 
 Bessie had been accustomed to kind 
 and flattering attentions all her life ; but 
 
64 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 there was something particularly gratify 
 ing to her in Nannette's affectionate looks 
 and gestures. A strong bond was form 
 ing between them, a new pleasure was 
 being opened for Mr. Haviland's petted 
 child. For the first time Bessie was tast 
 ing the happiness of ministering to the 
 unfortunate. 
 
 When we take the first right step, 
 however tremblingly and in the dark, 
 we know not what bright pathway may 
 open before us. Who can tell the bless 
 ing that may follow one effort for the 
 sorrowful children of earth, who are the 
 Saviour's peculiar care ? 
 
 It was with real regret that Nannette 
 parted with her new friend ; but Bounce 
 was still at her side, and a gambol with 
 her dear old companion that afternoon 
 made her almost forget that she was far 
 away from her own home. 
 
THE VISIT. 65 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE VISIT. 
 
 A COMFORTABLE carriage had stopped 
 at the door of the Deaf and Dumb Asy 
 lum, and a note had been handed by the 
 coachman to the Principal of the insti 
 tution. 
 
 Soon Nannette had been neatly dress 
 ed, and was led out to the carriage. The 
 Principal signified to her that he wished 
 her to get in, and yet it was plain that 
 he was not prepared to follow her. 
 
 IsTannette looked up in his face. It 
 was kind and gentle. She knew she 
 could trust him. 
 
 With no further hesitation she entered 
 the carriage, the door was closed, and 
 she was driven away, she knew not 
 whither. 
 
66 THE "WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 Nannette was daily learning lessons 
 of love, trust, and obedience. God had 
 placed her in a school where she could 
 develop the virtues that are dearest to 
 him. 
 
 No fears distressed the little girl as 
 she was borne rapidly along the wide 
 streets ; the Principal's parting look was 
 in her memory, and her confidence was 
 unshaken. 
 
 Before a pleasant mansion the carriage 
 stopped. Bright young eyes were on the 
 look-out for the visitor, and a glad young 
 friend was ready to bid her welcome. 
 
 Nannette was overjoyed when she saw 
 Bessie's beaming countenance, and most 
 willingly she allowed herself to be led 
 into the house. It was easy for her to 
 understand that the tall lady in the glis 
 tening silk dress was Bessie's mother. 
 There were the same smooth round 
 cheeks, the same broad forehead and 
 
THE VISIT. 6t 
 
 prettily cut chin, that marked the only 
 daughter. Yet there was more warmth 
 in Bessie's face; she had something of 
 her father's hasty spirit to contend with, 
 and an energy of character that often 
 made her more than a match for her 
 calm and ease-loving mother. 
 
 Mrs. Haviland moved across the room, 
 her dress sweeping the floor, and her 
 head held high, with a dignity that would 
 have seemed like pride, but for the lan 
 guor that pervaded her whole person. 
 Yet her welcome to the poor little mute 
 was kind, though short. It was but a 
 smile and a shake of the hand, and then 
 she motioned the little girls away, while 
 she prepared to receive some visitors 
 who were at the door. 
 
 To JSTannette, Mrs. Haviland seemed a 
 vision of elegance and beauty ; the sim 
 ple child had yet to learn that the fairest 
 forms do not always hide the purest 
 
68 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 hearts, nor the most luxurious homes the 
 most grateful inmates. 
 
 Bessie led Nannette up stairs ; but 
 hardly had the guest laid aside her bon 
 net and shawl, when the young hostess 
 darted away to question the servant as 
 to the strangers whom her mother had 
 just received. 
 
 "A gentleman and lady, miss; a tall 
 gentleman Mr. Fearing, I think your 
 mamma called him," was the waiter's 
 reply. 
 
 "I must go down ; I want to see them," 
 said Bessie; and hastily arranging her 
 hair, she hurried down stairs, leaving 
 Nannette alone. Nannette looked about 
 her. She needed no entertainer ; it was 
 enough for her to observe each article of 
 furniture, to examine the fine engravings 
 on the walls, and the beautiful adorn 
 ments of the mantelpiece and toilet-table. 
 Yery gently she walked round the room, 
 
THE VISIT. 69 
 
 not once laying a meddlesome finger on 
 what she so much admired. She too well 
 remembered her mother's timely punish 
 ment of such naughty ways to indulge in 
 them now. 
 
 Nannette was in a most happy mood 
 when Bessie came slowly, very slowly 
 up stairs. 
 
 Nannette ran to meet her, to try by 
 her poor signs to show the pleasure she 
 was enjoying; but one look at Bessie's 
 face put all such thoughts out of her 
 mind. A wonderful transformation had 
 been wrought there during the few mo 
 ments of her absence. Her cheeks were 
 flushed and her eyes were full of tears, 
 while there was a look of determined 
 rebellion in every cross wrinkle that 
 marred her features. 
 
 Nannette stood still for a moment, as 
 if doubtful what to do. 
 
 "Mother would not let me stay. It is 
 
10 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 a shame, " said Bessie, giving vent to her 
 ill-humor in words, though she was well 
 aware that her companion could not hear 
 them. " I won-t be treated so ;" and her 
 small foot stamped passionately as she 
 spoke. 
 
 Nannette knew very well what it was 
 to be tormented with sudden anger, and 
 she as well remembered how her mother 
 had dealt with her on such occasions. 
 It suddenly struck her to try the same 
 experiment with Bessie. Taking her 
 quickly by the hand, she led her to the 
 bedside. Bessie obeyed out of curiosity. 
 Nannette knelt down, and motioning to 
 Bessie to hide her face, the poor mute 
 folded her hands, and looked up with 
 the air of deep supplication which she 
 had so often seen on her mother's ear 
 nest features. 
 
 Bessie was awed and touched. Like 
 lightning passed the thought through her 
 
THE VISIT. 71 
 
 mind, "I am not fit to speak to God, 
 feeling as I do." A new wish to be bet 
 ter took the place of her momentary an 
 ger ; and when Nannette motioned to her 
 to rise, she was ready to receive the lov 
 ing kiss which Nannette bestowed upon 
 her, in exact imitation of Kitty's own 
 manner. 
 
 Bessie felt drawn anew towards Nan- 
 nette, and that first visit was long re 
 membered by them both. To Nannette 
 it was a true holiday. 
 
 Bessie's anger was as short-lived as 
 it was sudden, and her companion soon 
 forgot the painful scene in the enjoy 
 ment that followed. Dolls and play 
 things, picture-books and working im 
 plements were shown in turn; and so 
 hearty was Nannette's pleasure and ad 
 miration, that it was joy enough for Bes 
 sie to watch her changing expressions 
 and amusing gestures. 
 
72 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 The carriage was an unwelcome sight 
 to both of the children when it came to 
 bear Nannette back to the Asylum ; but 
 she had a submissive spirit, and the day 
 closed for her with but little shadow over 
 its sunshine. 
 
SEEING WONDERS. 13 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SEEING WONDERS. 
 
 AGAIN and again Nannette watched 
 the carriages that stopped at the Asy 
 lum ; again and again her heart was full 
 of hope, when she was suddenly sum 
 moned to the parlor. The months went 
 by, yet Nannette saw neither Mr. Havi- 
 land nor Bessie. New thoughts were 
 passing in a bright stream through Nan- 
 nette's mind, and yet these friends were 
 not forgotten. They still had a precious 
 place in her memory, and on Bessie par 
 ticularly she loved to dwell. 
 
 Two years had passed away since 
 Nannette's pleasant visit to Bessie in her 
 home. Bessie meanwhile had been lay 
 ing up subjects for conversation on which 
 her busy tongue would love to dwell all 
 
14 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 the days of her life. The wonders of 
 the Old World had been laid open to 
 her. 
 
 With her father, Bessie had stood on 
 the banks of the river where Moses lay, 
 a hidden treasure ; the Pyramids had 
 towered like mountains before her aston 
 ished eyes ; in the Yale of Chamouni she 
 had watched with her mother a ventur 
 ous party winding up the frozen sides of 
 awful Mont Blanc; gay Paris had dis 
 played to her its brilliant charms and 
 scenes of historic interest ; England too 
 the travellers had explored, from the 
 chalk cliffs of Dover even to the banks 
 of the Tweed. 
 
 Wonderful, beautiful, majestic sights 
 had Bessie seen : the monuments that 
 men have raised, the pictures that gen 
 ius has painted ; the beautiful earth, now 
 glittering with many lakes, now tower 
 ing in snow-clad mountains. 
 
SEEING WONDERS. 75 
 
 Well worth all that weary journeying 
 were the scenes that the travellers had 
 stored in their memories ; yet Nannette, 
 in her quiet life at the Asylum, had had 
 her eyes opened to more wonderful beau 
 ties, to more enduring pictures of loveli 
 ness. Bessie had but looked on the 
 charms of earth ; Nannette had caught 
 her first glimpse of heaven. The Bible 
 was no longer to her a sealed book. She 
 too could read of the Saviour, who made 
 the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak, 
 and took the little children in his arms 
 and blessed them. The glory of that 
 heaven whose beauty no eye hath seen, 
 was laid up in store for her. Humbly 
 she had asked to have her name written 
 in the Lamb's book of life. She doubted 
 not the faithful Promiser, but believed 
 that even poor Nannette would one day 
 wear the white robes purchased by Christ's 
 blood for the true children of God. 
 
76 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 It was to Nannette as if a veil had 
 been removed from her dear mother's 
 daily life, and now she saw and knew 
 her. She understood the secret spring 
 which prompted that dear mother's every 
 act ; she knew the well of waters whence 
 she drew her love and cheerfulness. 
 
 It was a happy time at the cottage 
 when Nannette made her first visit home ; 
 but its chief joy was at the moment when 
 the mother and daughter knelt side by 
 side once more. To Nannette it seemed 
 as though the blessing of all those ill-un 
 derstood prayers of her childhood was 
 falling upon her, the blessing her mother 
 had so continually and fervently called 
 down on her unconscious head. 
 
 Now from their hearts, if not from 
 their lips, their prayer and praise rose 
 together as sweet incense to their Father 
 in heaven. 
 
 Nannette had gone forth from her 
 
SEEING WONDERS. 7T 
 
 home at her mother's command, knowing 
 naught of the future, little guessing the 
 joys that were to spring from this pain 
 ful separation. 
 
 She had but the same lesson to learn 
 anew. She had but to love and trust her 
 heavenly Father as she had loved and 
 trusted her earthly parents, and all would 
 be well. She needed but one motto : 
 " This is the will of my Saviour ; I must 
 do it." To his love and mercy she could 
 leave her future. She could follow wher 
 ever He led her, even if it were through 
 the valley of the shadow of death, sure 
 that the end would be joy and peace. 
 
78 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 REUNION. 
 
 NANNETTE had returned to the Asylum 
 for the remaining half year for which Mr. 
 Haviland in his generous care had insur 
 ed her stay. 
 
 She had a pleasant surprise one morn 
 ing, when the not yet forgotten carriage 
 appeared at the door. It was not empty 
 now ; Bessie was looking out eagerly to 
 catch the first glimpse of Nannette. 
 
 There was a strange joy in that meet 
 ing. Each had a reason for counting 
 the other among the dearest of earthly 
 friends, and the most casual observer 
 could not fail to notice the heartiness of 
 their greeting. 
 
 Side by side in the parlor of the Asy- 
 
REUNION. 19 
 
 lum they sat for a moment hand in hand 
 looking each other earnestly in the face. 
 There were changes in both, other chang 
 es than are wrought by time alone. The 
 Bessie of Nannette's faithful, loving mem 
 ory was now taller and more womanly, 
 but there was a softened gentleness in 
 her look and manner that was a great 
 beautifier. To Nannette there had come 
 an added brightness, a beaming glance 
 of joy, that was partly the result of her 
 quickened mind, and partly of that new 
 life and new hope in Christ which were 
 now the very springs of her existence. 
 
 Nannette's ever-ready slate was in her 
 hand ; she took her pencil and wrote rap- 
 idly, 
 
 "I know you. You are Miss Bessie 
 Haviland. I did not forget you. You 
 did a great deal for me. The Principal 
 told me all about it. I thank you very 
 much. I will always love you. / know 
 
80 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 about the Lord Jesus. I shall go to heaven 
 too: j 
 
 Nannette watched Bessie's face as she 
 read the written words, and the speak 
 ing countenance of the mute attested the 
 truth of the grateful affection she pro 
 fessed. But she looked in vain for the 
 bright glance of joy which she expected 
 to see when Bessie should read her clos 
 ing words. 
 
 "I shall go to heaven too,'' 1 Bessie 
 mentally repeated. Ah, Bessie was not 
 as sure of her admission into the eternal 
 home as was her silent companion. Bes 
 sie had begun, it is true, a sort of a new 
 life, a life of struggle with her faults, and 
 her efforts had not been wholly in vain ; 
 but as yet she did not understand her 
 need of a new heart, of the Holy Spirit's 
 aid, of reliance on the Saviour alone for 
 deliverance from sin. Heaven seemed 
 to her a dim, uncertain place, which it 
 
REUNION. 81 
 
 was possible she should never see. Nan- 
 nette's simple act during her single visit 
 at Mr. Haviland's had been to Bessie a 
 continual prompter and inspirer of better 
 things. Many a time, when excited and 
 unhappy, she had thrown herself upon 
 her knees, and the remembrance that she 
 was in the presence of God had calmed 
 her troubled spirit. By degrees she went 
 further, and prayers for forgiveness and 
 help to do right were tremblingly utter 
 ed ; such prayers prompted to more ef 
 forts, and such efforts to more prayer. 
 
 Thus Bessie was trying to do right, 
 but without the cheering sense of for 
 giveness, or the blessed hope of the eter 
 nal home where sin and sorrow shall be 
 known no more. Nannette's confident 
 words and her look of joy made Bessie 
 doubly sensible of the uncertainty of her 
 own future, and the little satisfaction her 
 religion had as yet been to her. 
 
82 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 " What makes you sorry?' 7 wrote Nan- 
 nette, while Bessie was for a moment lost 
 in thought. 
 
 Bessie was by nature frank, and she 
 replied at once, "I am very glad to see 
 you. I have thought very often of you 
 and the time you made me kneel down 
 by the bed when I was angry. I try not 
 to be angry now, but I am not, like you, 
 sure I shall go to heaven." 
 
 "Why not?" was Nannette's short re 
 ply, while her face was full of earnest, 
 prayerful interest. 
 
 " I don't think I am good enough. I 
 am afraid I never can be," was Bessie's 
 answer. 
 
 Nannette looked reverently upward 
 for a moment, and then quickly made in 
 her own palms the sign of pierced hands, 
 and then stretched out her arms, as if 
 pinioned to a cross. 
 
 Why was it that the simple gesture of 
 
REUNION. 83 
 
 the mute brought home to Bessie's, soul 
 the precious truth that had hitherto es 
 caped her ! 
 
 " He was good. He suffered and died 
 for us. He loves you. He loves me. We 
 will love Him. He will take us to heaven." 
 
 Yery rapidly Nannette wrote these 
 words, and handed them to her friend, 
 with a bright smile on her face, which 
 seemed to say that all difficulties were 
 cleared away, and nothing but joy and 
 peace remained. 
 
 Well might Bessie love poor Nannette. 
 Of all the gay friends who had gathered 
 about her earthly path, none had spoken 
 to her of the all-sufficient Saviour ; it was 
 the mute alone who had prompted her to 
 seek His help to rule her spirit, and point 
 ed her to the " pierced hands," which 
 had power to wipe away her penitent 
 tears and lead her to her reconciled 
 heavenly Father. 
 
84 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 Bessie could write no more of her own 
 feelings that day ; she only answered to 
 Nannette's pleading, "I will try to re 
 member what you say/' and then she 
 turned to other things. She had a pack 
 age of pretty gifts for Nannette, proofs 
 that she had thought of her where the 
 Swiss children carve their ingenious toys, 
 or other skilful European hands mould 
 their delicate vases. 
 
 Specimens of such work Nannette re 
 ceived with artless pleasure, and yet the 
 largest parcel was still unopened. It 
 was evidently a picture; and Nannette 
 waited eagerly as the cord was untied 
 and the cover removed ; then Bessie 
 turned it suddenly towards her. It need 
 ed no explanation. The room represent 
 ed was furnished with luxurious elegance. 
 In it knelt two young girls. One was 
 humbly dressed, and evidently a stran 
 ger there, as her simple straw hat lay 
 
REUNION. 85 
 
 near her on the bed. The face of the 
 other kneeling figure was hidden by the 
 hands ; but the dark eyes were evidently 
 peering forth at her companion, whose 
 uplifted countenance was marked by deep 
 devotion. It was not a likeness of Nan- 
 nette; the painter had idealized even 
 Bessie's glowing description of her friend, 
 and the mute seemed a fair-haired angel 
 pleading for an erring sister of earth. 
 
 The flattered representation made no 
 impression on earnest Nannette ; she took 
 the picture as it really was, as an evi 
 dence of Bessie's continued remembrance 
 of her, and of the priceless teaching she 
 in her ignorance had given. As such it 
 was very dear to her, and she pressed it 
 to her heart, while her eyes filled with 
 sudden tears. 
 
 " I did not know the Lord Jesus then. 
 I wanted to do for you in my mother's 
 way. Now I know Him/' wrote Nan- 
 
86 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTB. 
 
 nette. Words could not convey her 
 sense of the difference between the two 
 conditions as it flashed through her mind. 
 Happy, happy indeed seemed to her her 
 present lot. 
 
 11 1 shall try to know Him too. You 
 must help me," Bessie replied; "I wish 
 I could stay with you now, but 1 must 
 go home to-day. To-morrow I want you 
 to come to see me, and bring Bounce too. 
 I have talked about you both to Mr. Fear 
 ing, the gentleman we travelled with, and 
 he wants to see you, and I want to see 
 Bounce myself. Will you come? 77 
 
 "I will ask, 77 was Nannette 7 s reply, 
 and then she sprang away towards the 
 study of the Principal. 
 
 Nannette, on her return, needed no 
 slow pencil and slate to tell Bessie that 
 the desired permission was obtained; 
 and with the hope of meeting on the 
 morrow, the young friends parted. 
 
A TIME OF NEED. 81 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A TIME OF NEED. 
 
 THE Asylum where Nannette had been 
 so kindly taught was a large frame build 
 ing, with two wings. In the central part 
 of the edifice were the school-rooms, par 
 lors, and the home of the Principal ; while 
 in the wings were the kitchens, dining- 
 rooms, and dormitories. 
 
 The "girls 7 wing" was now to Nan- 
 nette as familiar as the cottage of her 
 childhood, and hallowed with even more 
 holy associations. It was beside that 
 little white bed she had learned to call 
 upon God, and to draw nigh to him in 
 humble trust. Very earnest were her 
 evening prayers on the night after her 
 interview with Bessie, and that dear 
 friend was placed by Nannette in the 
 
88 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 Saviour's keeping, with a sure trust that 
 the good work begun in her would be 
 continued unto the blessed end. 
 
 Calm and peaceful was JSTannette's 
 sleep, when she was rudely awakened 
 by something pulling strongly at her 
 arm. She put out her free hand to be 
 relieved by feeling Bounce's rough coat 
 and the unfailing caress of his privileged 
 tongue. Yet Bounce seemed in no mood 
 for lingering. He pulled Nannette so 
 roughly that she was fairly roused, and 
 opening her eyes she became conscious 
 that the darkness of the apartment was 
 doubled by the dense smoke with which 
 it was filled. She understood in a mo 
 ment the fearful truth. The building 
 was on fire, and the faithful dog had 
 sought her, to warn her of her danger. 
 
 Springing up, she hastened not to seek 
 the stairway, but to speed from bed to 
 bed, to rouse her sleeping room-mates, 
 
A TIME OF NEED. 89 
 
 and urge them to escape. Most unwill 
 ingly Bounce accompanied her on her 
 errand of mercy. The stairway was filled 
 with the frightened crowd, ere Nannette 
 had completed her hasty round. Several 
 sleepers yet remained to be aroused, and 
 already the flames were casting a fearful 
 light into the long apartment. 
 
 In a strength not her own Nannette 
 lingered till she had every bed deserted, 
 and then she allowed Bounce to draw 
 her towards the stairway. Dizzy and 
 confused she stumbled along in the dense 
 smoke, and at length she fell down, over 
 come and fainting, in a dark passage-way 
 by the stairs. 
 
 A crowd had already assembled with 
 out, and cheers had welcomed the appear 
 ance of the poor frightened inmates, who 
 had barely escaped a sudden terrible 
 death. At each other looked the pupils, 
 and then anxious straining glances were 
 
90 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 directed towards the burning building. 
 One among their number was still miss 
 ing ! Where was Nannette ? 
 
 Mr. Haviland, just roused from sleep, 
 had carelessly asked a hurrying passer 
 by, " Where's the fire?" 
 
 "At the Deaf and Dumb Asylum! 7 ' 
 was the reply. 
 
 A quick pang shot across Mr. Havi- 
 land's heart as he thought of the helpless 
 inmates, and of the dear mute who seem 
 ed so linked with his darling Bessie. The 
 wealthy citizen was no more to sleep that 
 night, leaving it to trained fire compa 
 nies to stay the devouring element. He 
 must be on the ground himself, and be 
 perchance an instrument in the escape of 
 some unfortunate being. 
 
 " The poor girls are all out," said a 
 fireman in answer to Mr. Haviland's 
 eager questioning, as he reached the fear 
 fully illumined spot. But the trembling 
 
A TIME OF NEED. 91 
 
 group of girls were leaning forward with 
 straining eyes, as if to pierce through 
 the dense cloud of smoke pouring through 
 the doorway. Mr. Haviland looked has 
 tily around. The face he sought was 
 not there. " Where is Nannette ?" burst 
 from his lips. 
 
 It was not long before a confused 
 struggling figure was seen emerging from 
 the door-way, and a wild shout rose 
 from the multitude as Bounce came forth, 
 drawing his prostrate mistress behind 
 him. A compassionate group gathered 
 round Nannette in a moment, and Mr. 
 Haviland was the first to take her in his 
 arms. 
 
 The cool air revived her, and she tried 
 to rise. Bounce was at her side. At 
 this sign of returning life he seemed sat 
 isfied, feebly licked her hand, and drop 
 ped to the ground. He had spent his 
 last strength for her he loved best. 
 
92 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 A WELCOME GUEST. 
 
 A STRANGER was lying in Mrs. Havi- 
 land's spare bedroom, a humble stran 
 ger, and yet for her the whole house was 
 alive with interest. Nannette had sob 
 bed till she was fairly worn out, and 
 then had fallen into a quiet sleep. 
 
 Her first waking thought was of the 
 playfellow of her childhood, good, faith 
 ful Bounce, and next of her father and 
 mother. How would those fond parents 
 have mourned if she had perished in the 
 flames. Who would have cared for them 
 in their old age, if Nannette had been 
 taken away ? Ashamed that her grati 
 tude had been forgotten in her grief, 
 Nannette hastened to lift up her heart in 
 praise to her heavenly Father, who had 
 
A WELCOME GUEST. 93 
 
 saved her in the midst of such awful 
 peril. Then most simply she thanked 
 him for having given her the noble ani 
 mal who had been to her such a faithful 
 friend, when but few could understand 
 her poor gestures, and her scanty pleas 
 ures were of the humblest sort. It 
 seemed to her a peculiar mark of the 
 loving care of her Lord, that he should 
 have sent her such a playfellow to make 
 glad her childhood, and at length to save 
 her life. 
 
 While Nannette was thus engaged, the 
 door opened softly, and Bessie glided in 
 as if afraid of waking the sleeper. It 
 was hard for Bessie to realize that Nan- 
 nette was totally deaf. 
 
 It was plain that Bessie too had* been 
 weeping, and she expected to find the 
 mute plunged in inconsolable grief. She 
 was surprised therefore when Nannette 
 looked cheerfully in her face, and put 
 
94 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 out her hand towards her, as if glad to 
 see her. 
 
 Bessie had come up stairs eager to 
 tell something to Nannette ; but now she 
 stood at her bedside, greatly missing the 
 little slate which had proved so good a 
 medium of communication the day be 
 fore. Away went Bessie for paper and 
 pencil, and then, perched on the bed by 
 Nannette's side, she made ready for the 
 talk she so much wished. 
 
 There was nothing in her way now; 
 yet Bessie paused, and hesitatingly mov 
 ed the point of her pencil. The bit of 
 news she had meant as consolation might 
 now awaken new grief. 
 
 At length she began : " Mr. Fearing 
 and papa and mamma have all been talk 
 ing about Bounce. They think he was a 
 splendid dog ; and papa and Mr. Fear 
 ing say they will give money to help 
 build a new asylum, better than the old 
 
A WELCOME GUEST. 95 
 
 one ; and Mr. Fearing says he will have 
 a beautiful marble statue, just like 
 Bounce, to stand on the front steps. I 
 know you will like that." 
 
 ISTannette's eyes did fill with tears; 
 but she answered simply, "I should like 
 that;" and then she added, "I am glad I 
 did not die in the fire, Miss Bessie. I 
 want to live, to take care of my father 
 and mother." 
 
 " Did you really think you might 
 die ?" asked Bessie, almost shuddering. 
 
 "I thought so, but it did not seem 
 hard." Nannette's pencil was quiet a 
 moment, and then she added, "I remem 
 bered how the Lord Jesus was in the 
 fire with the 'three children. 7 I think 
 he was with me, Miss Bessie." 
 
 Bessie looked earnestly at Nannette. 
 Yes, Bessie was sure that Nannette was 
 one of those who have realized the prom 
 ise, "If any man love me, he shall be 
 
96 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 loved of my Father, and we will come 
 unto him and make our abode with him." 
 She had no words in which to tell that 
 humble, artless child of God how all 
 were praising the heroism with which 
 she had perilled her own life for the 
 safety of others. Bessie did not wish to 
 praise or flatter then ; she wanted to sit 
 at the feet of her friend and be taught 
 of Jesus. She wanted to know some 
 thing of the trust and peace which were 
 as a pure fountain in the soul of the 
 mute. 
 
BEN AT HOME. 97 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 BEN AT HOME. 
 
 BEN KUHN was spending a day at 
 home, quite an unusual thing for him, 
 and an unpleasant variety he seemed to 
 think it. Ben was by no means a young 
 man, though he had a young wife. The 
 honest laborer had seen much exposure 
 and much hard work, and now he was 
 made to realize that even his sturdy 
 bones could not be always as sound as 
 they had been. He had fought against 
 the conviction as long as he could, and 
 he had fairly to own that rheumatism 
 was getting to be one of his familiar ac 
 quaintances. 
 
 Kitty had learned to know when Ben 
 was stiff as he came home at evening, 
 and to save him every unnecessary step ; 
 
98 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 and Ben was now glad to keep out of the 
 drizzling rain or the heavy night-dews. 
 
 It was a damp fall day, and every 
 gaily-coated leaf was glossy with its 
 dewy covering. Ben had passed a wake 
 ful night with the dull grinding pains 
 that traversed his whole frame, from the 
 crown of his head to the soles of his feet, 
 and he did not dare to venture out in the 
 damp air. 
 
 "I 'm getting to be an old man early," 
 he said dolorously to Kitty. "Yes, I'm 
 growing old, and not a cent laid by yet. 
 I wonder who 's to take care of me when 
 I can't hobble about any more?" 
 
 Kitty smiled a gay smile as she said, 
 " Who but I?" 
 
 " A pretty slim crutch, and likely to 
 break if too much is put on it," answered 
 Ben, with a look half admiring, half de 
 sponding. 
 
 Kitty's slight figure and pale clear 
 
BEN AT HOME. 99 
 
 complexion did not promise the most 
 rugged health, and seemed to justify 
 Ben's remark. But she quietly bore her 
 husband's depreciatory view of her capa 
 bilities, and said pleasantly, " There's 
 Nannette too; she's as tough as oak. 
 She '11 be coming home before many 
 months are over. That's something to 
 look forward to." 
 
 " She's a handy child, sure enough, 
 and will know just how to wait on her 
 old father, and to lift the loads that are 
 too much for Kitty Kuhn ; but there 's a 
 poor look-out for old age for both of us, 
 Kitty. Not a copper laid by, and no 
 body to earn for us. Poor Nannette ! 
 it a'n't her fault. She 'd dig out her eyes 
 for us, if that would do us any good." 
 
 " Ben, we have never wanted for daily 
 bread," said Kitty seriously, "and I 
 don't see as we have any thing to do 
 with what is to come. You are a hearty 
 
100 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 fellow yet. Let me see, this is the first 
 day you have been laid by these two 
 months. We are well enough off now, 
 with this bit of a roof free of rent, and 
 wood to cut whenever you choose to lay 
 your hand to it. Don't you think we 
 might be thankful to-day, instead of fret 
 ting for what is to be after a while? We 
 might trust the Lord for that, it seems to 
 
 me." 
 
 Going by sight was more in accord 
 ance with Ben's notions than the more 
 difficult effort of faith. It had been easy 
 for him to work on cheerfully while his 
 own strong arm seemed a fortune in it 
 self, sure to bring in its yearly interest ; 
 but now his heart shrank as he thought 
 of the uncertain future. He was truth 
 ful, and so answered to Kitty's last re 
 mark, " May-be you are right, Kitty ; but 
 things look black to me to-day." 
 
 11 There, there's somebody stopping at 
 
BEN AT HOME. 101 
 
 the door," said Kitty quickly, as she 
 threw aside her working apron, and 
 smoothed down her hair. 
 
 The stranger was a gentlemanly look 
 ing person, about twenty-five years of 
 age, and yet he was so sun-burned that 
 he might have passed for full ten years 
 older. 
 
 " Is this Ben Kuhn's house?" was his 
 inquiry. 
 
 "Sure enough; and here is Ben at 
 home to-day," said Kitty, ushering the 
 stranger into the room. 
 
 Ben looked up as if half ashamed to 
 be found in the house at midday, and he 
 apologized as he rose with difficulty, 
 "I'm a little under the weather, sir; a 
 touch of the rheumatism. It puts me by 
 for a day or so, now and then." 
 
 "Do you remember John Fearing?" 
 said the stranger, standing directly in 
 front of Ben's chair. 
 
102 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 "Master John," said Ben, putting out 
 his hand for a hearty grasp. "Now I 
 do feel old. Why, you are grown up, 
 and do n't look a bit as you used to, and 
 yet there is something of you left yet. 
 Kitty, this is young Master John, that 
 left Bounce with me. You 'd like to hear 
 about the dog, I suppose ; you were so 
 uncommon fond of him. He 's been the 
 best and knowingest creature that ever 
 lived; but he's getting old now. You 
 can't begin to understand what he has 
 been, almost as wise as folks. But what 
 ails you, Master John ?" 
 
 Mr. Fearing had a long story to tell 
 about poor Bounce, and there was not a 
 dry eye in the company ; yet Kitty's first 
 exclamation was, "Praise be to God, 
 Nannette is safe! The dear child! That 
 was just like her, never to think of her 
 self till everybody else was looked after. 
 I always said she 'd go through fire and 
 
BEN AT HOME. 103 
 
 water for anybody she loved. Are you 
 sure she is n't hurt ?" 
 
 " Only a little sore and bruised noth 
 ing that will last ; and so sweet and grate 
 ful, that it is a lesson to see her. I think 
 she has done us all good. She wants to 
 see you, and she is coming home as soon 
 as she can for a little visit ; and then, if 
 you and your good husband are willing, 
 they are going to keep her four years 
 more at the new Asylum, to give her a 
 thorough education. This they do as a 
 reward for her noble behavior." 
 
 "And no more than she deserves/ 7 
 said Ben bluntly. 
 
 "It will be hard to spare her so long," 
 said the mother. 
 
 " I don 't see any need of sparing her. 
 I suppose you have not promised to live 
 here all your life, have you, Ben?" said 
 Mr. Fearing. 
 
 "I never want to have a better roof 
 
104 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 over my head. We've done very well 
 here," said Ben, whose complaining mood 
 was over. "I don't quite take your 
 meaning, sir." 
 
 "If you could get work nearer the 
 city, where you could have Nannette 
 with you, and just send her to school 
 every day, may-be you would like it." 
 
 Kitty's face brightened, and she said 
 earnestly, "And then we could go to 
 church too, Ben. We ought to think of 
 that." 
 
 Ben did think a great deal before he 
 concluded to accept Mr. Fearing's pro 
 posal. It was at length decided that Ben 
 and Kitty should take a small house on 
 Mr. Fearing's farm, only a mile from the 
 city, it being particularly understood that 
 Ben should be master on his own little 
 patch of ground, and earn his living like 
 an honest, industrious man. 
 
LIGHT AT EVENING-TIME. 105 
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 LIGHT AT EVENING-TIME. 
 
 BEN KUHN had been right in some of 
 his forebodings. Old age did come upon 
 him early, and his enemy the rheumatism 
 took the strength out of his sturdy arms 
 before his head was crowned with hoary 
 hair. Kitty too was by no means ro 
 bust, though her sweet cheerful spirit 
 well-nigh made those around her forget 
 that she had any pains of her own to 
 bear. 
 
 If there was any thing of which Ben 
 Kuhn had a horror, it was being sup 
 ported by charity. It would not have 
 been more agreeable to him to live on 
 " Master John's 7 ' bounty than on that of 
 the benevolent societies in which the 
 growing western city abounded. Indeed, 
 
106 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 Ben had been heard to say that the only 
 alms that he could ever take without a 
 blush, were the church offerings of his 
 own fellow-Christians ; that, if absolutely 
 necessary, would not be so very hard, 
 but he hoped he should never come even 
 to that. 
 
 There was doubtless a great deal of 
 pride mixed with Ben's better feelings; 
 but for a man who has been trained to 
 honest industry, it must ever be hard to 
 submit to living upon the kindness even 
 of the most generous. 
 
 Who then was the stay of Ben's old 
 age? Who was it that spared Kitty's 
 delicate frame the hard labor she could 
 not perform ? Could it be the mute ? 
 
 Little Nannette is now a woman 
 grown. Hers is a continual ministry of 
 love. Her busy hands make all com 
 fortable at home in the morning, and 
 her bright parting smile lingers in her 
 
LIGHT AT EVENING-TIME. lOt 
 
 father's mind during the long day that 
 she is absent. 
 
 Bound her she gathers a class of the 
 pupils at the spacious Deaf and Dumb 
 Asylum, and teaches them in her own 
 ingenious way. She can bear with the 
 most wayward, and persevere with the 
 most stupid. If she will but be patient, 
 she is sure that her earnest longings will 
 yet be gratified. Are not these dear 
 helpless lambs of the Saviour's fold, 
 whom she may lay on his bosom ? Once 
 she was herself a poor blinded wander 
 er, knowing not the good Shepherd. 
 Now she has found him, " full of grace 
 and truth ;" and gladly would she lead 
 the little ones to him, that they may 
 know his voice, and follow him to the 
 eternal pastures. 
 
 How the children love her ! How they 
 cluster about her, and look up to her 
 with new respect, when they learn the 
 
108 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 story of the statue in the centre of the 
 lawn! They have a tear to shed for 
 Bounce, but their hearts are stirred with 
 a deeper feeling as they think of Nan 
 nette, and they resolve to be like her, 
 loving and unselfish. Ah, Nannette, 
 with her closed ears and silent lips, is 
 doing a work which should bring a blush 
 to the cheeks of our Saviour's more 
 favored children. If her talents be few, 
 she is improving them faithfully for the 
 great Lord of the vineyard. 
 
 It is not the mutes alone who have 
 learned from Nannette : Bessie Haviland 
 blesses the day when her dumb friend 
 first prompted her to seek the help of 
 her Saviour in her struggles with her 
 own wilful spirit. 
 
 It was a merciful providence for Bes 
 sie, that made Nannette, for those few 
 weeks after the fire, an inmate of Mr. 
 Haviland's household. Day by day, and 
 
LIGHT AT EVENING-TIME. 109 
 
 hour by hour, Bessie's new resolutions 
 were strengthened, and her yearning 
 soul taught where to find peace and joy 
 in believing. And now, when they kneel 
 together at the communion, Bessie's grate 
 ful heart acknowledges that but for 
 Nannette she might still be an outcast, 
 wandering far away from the Master's 
 table. 
 
 " Where is our Nannette? Isn't it 
 time for her to come home ?" says Ben 
 Kuhn, as the evening draws near. "The 
 dear child! If her life is spared, she 
 will never leave us. Strange that she 
 should be a teacher and work for her 
 poor father, and teach him too how to 
 trust in God. We shall have her, Kitty, 
 while we live ; and if we die first, we need 
 not fear to leave her here. It will not 
 be a cold world for her. While the 
 deaf and dumb are left in the country 
 there will be homes open to her, rich 
 
110 THE WOODMAN'S NANNETTE. 
 
 homes and poor homes, rich hearts and 
 poor hearts. They all love her. She 
 sows the good seed and works for the 
 heavenly Master. We can leave her 
 to him and his true children without a 
 fear. God will ever bless Nannette !"