The Little Elf's Laughter

Pearl's laugh hene she was caught, though full of merriment and music, made her mother more doubtful than before. She seemed rather an airy sprite, which, after playing its fantastic sport for a little while upon the cottage floor, would flit away with a mocking smile. Hester sometimes burst into passionate tears. Then, perhaps, for there was no foreseeing how it might a ther pearl, would frown and clench her little fist and harden her small features into a stern, unsympathizing look of discontent. Or but this more rarely happened, she would be convulsed with a rage of grief and sob about her love for her mother in