whoop. Startled by the unexpected apparition, the horses gave a
sudden start, and nearly succeeded in overturning the wagon.

"Massy on us!" exclaimed an old lady on the back seat, suddenly
flinging her arms round young Morton's neck, in the height of her
consternation.

"All right, marm," said Ajax reassuringly, after a brief but
successful conflict with the horses. "We sha'n't go over this
time. I should like to give that little black imp a good
shaking."

"Oh, I've lost my ban'box, with my best bunnit," hastily
exclaimed the old lady. "Le' me get out and find it. It was a
present from my darter, Cynthy Ann, and I wouldn't lose it for a
kingdom."

In truth, when prompted by her apprehension to cling to the young
man in front for protection, Mrs. Payson had inadvertently
dropped the bandbox out of the window, where it met with an
unhappy disaster. The horse, quite unconscious of the damage he
was doing, had backed the wagon in such a manner that one of the
wheels passed directly over it.

When Ajax picked up the mutilated casket, which, with the jewel
it contained, had suffered such irreparable injury, and restored
it to its owner, great was the lamentation. Rachel weeping for
her children could hardly have exhibited more poignant sorrow.

"Oh, it's sp'ilt!" groaned the old lady. "I can never wear it