a0 THIS STRANTD A AGAZTNT

crimson, he would merrily drive them out @ Rose Glen,” and old Tollowayv would of his floral domains, and watch them wave invariably be at the oate. Dut this thenr hands as t.hv_\' the p:uh\\::l_\' at morning the children scemed more ex- the top of the hill which lTed to the village. cited than usual 5 something had evi- As he retraced his sters to the porch he dently happened, or was about to hap- would sometimes stand beside a tree of pen, which made their little hearts beat roscs—oreat crimson blossoms—morce beau- faster than evers They had started carlier tiful than all the others. Their colour than was their wont, for somehow they had was richer than the sweetest of the blos- oot to know that it was * Grandfather's soms on the ncighbourmyge bushes, thenr birthday, and cach wanted to be there hirst. perfume more fragrant. Tt grew apart - Ongon they went, laughing, shouting; and from them, too, on the lawn. He would clappme thene hands in delieht, What look at the name on the wooden tablet and was there to =top the happy 1'i[|)plc of their read the simple word, * Martion.” That was hittle tongues 7 Tt would seem —nothine. the name he had given to his favourite tree | K — Marion " and murmuring the word he would enter the house very quutl\

One evening the children had all conc a —he had bid them @ good-bye ” as usual, o St s Ie turnul to enter the house. A whole week had passed since he had examined = . his favourite rose-tree. Crossing the grassy T lawn he came to “the Marion.,” One of \I: ‘fii‘\l\ eyl the grcat blossoms was drooping, but just - B from the same orceen stalk a fresh bud Wi ST shooting forth. The old man took PR

out his knife and cut ofl the faded flower. Helooked at the bud thought- fully. TIle scemed to read a story among=t the roses—a story that went (o his h(_d][. He looked again at the dead blossom in his hand. Then his cye wandered towards the bud. o’ s : Ile burst into tears, and quickly Y i i i L g turncd away. ey iy

“My daughter, my darling Marion! 1 was crucel to send you away, very cruel. A father's love lm vou made me think 1t an()SSlb]L for cven a hushband to love vou as | did. Shall T ever see you acain, or shall T see you dead—dead as this once bheautiful - blossom, which can never again help to sweeten my days and brichten an old man's life 2 Oh, come back to life agaimn, and bring vour hittle one cith vou. Come —come—

come 1Te entered the house . 1Y R . . o weepimg, ) ; S TUACWOAMAN AT 0N A GRARSY . )

3 O . e’ L e [t was the morming ol T e\ the next dav, and the chil- ‘ Theyv were children —Tittle dren were on their way to A Childlren—and woere as hree s

school, They always passed i the birds which were singing