Well do I remember dear old aunt Rachel, as we called her, my first schoolmistress. She wore spectacles, and I have heard it said that she sometimes took snuff; but, if she did, she was careful not to do it in the presence of her pupils.

She was the aunt of nobody in particular; but, had she been aunt to all of us, she could not have taken more pains to keep us from harm, and to lead us in the way of right.

One day, just as school was dismissed in the afternoon, a severe rain-storm began. "Oh! how shall I get you all home," said the dear old lady, opening the door, and looking up at the clouds.

First she fitted me and my little sister Eva out with her best umbrella, and told us to make the best speed we could, and send the umbrella back.

As for the boys, they ran out, rejoicing in the rain, and well pleased at the prospect of getting wet through. The other little girls were kept waiting till the sky should clear, or some one should come for them.

My sister and I started off, side by side, under our umbrella. It was a large cotton one, with a long, heavy handle,—just about suited to the capacity of a giant. But, by taking hold very high up, I managed to carry it without any trouble, and it kept us both dry. We really enjoyed our walk; and, the harder the rain came down, the better we liked it.

No sooner had we got home than the clouds broke, and patches of blue sky began to appear. Then Eva spied a rainbow. So mother told us to put on dry shoes and stockings, and take back the umbrella.

How glad Aunt Rachel was to see and welcome us! "I am so glad you did not get wet," said she; "but, as for those wild boys, they would rush out into the rain, and I could not keep them from it."