A GARDEN

i the trees and on the hedgerows about them. But, as they turned the road at the top of the hill which led down to the home of the rvoses, their laughter became silent, and their lips cecasced to move. They gathered together i a bunch, not m affright, but more in childish syme- pathy at the sight before them. A woman sat on a grassy mound. Her face was pale, her cheeks pinched, her eves looked as though they had shed many tears; but yet how pretty she was ! She was dressed all in black—there was crape on her cloak and bonnet. She held romething muffled up m her L arms. The children Tooke:d, and guessed it was a baby. The woman smiled, and scemed to mvite them to come nearer. Then one of the children gave the woman some flowers, and a flush of happincess came into her poor wan tace, “Would vou like to see my Itttle boy? " she asked. And all the children ga- thered round whilst the e mother drew aside the scarf from round her baby’s o neck, so that A they might sce @ ! it the better, It, too, had tiny black bhows on its little hat. “Oh, how crandfather would love to

sce him!” T cricd one of the children.

“ May we take him to grandfather? It's his birthday to- day. Tt would make him so happy.” “And who s egrandfather 7' she asked. “You don’t live here, do your " ques- tioned one of the voungsters. “ No,” the woman answered. * Tam quite a stranger here. But why do vou ask 72" “ Because vou don’t know erandfather,” came the logical reply.

AT posr GLeN?

()F" NOSTS. 29

CAVC tell me who he 12"

Then one of the children took the woman by the hand, and led her to the corner from whence the hill started towards the spot where the grew. The cottage was pointed out to her.

“hat's Rose Glen," the child said.

“Yes, I ocan smell the roses here. Oh, how sweet ! the woman murmured, look- mg at the cottage.

TOSCs

Al

“That's where he lives,” the little one went

O, “Yes," said - a child older = than the s £ others, Y Mr. 28 - Holloway—-" 7v2 The woman S ogave a o wild

W8 . scream, which L4 almost made the cmildren run from her in dismay. Shehad nearly fallen to the oround. DBut she was her- scelf 1n A moment., “Oh! my children, my children,” she cried pitrfully, “don't turn from me— don’tbefright- cned—don't be afraid of me! I love VOU every one.

piid "

i Y/ /Y,

", o/

- Come nearer

to me. Oh! 7 COMIC nearer to me. That's

right. 1T love you every onc. I know—TI know it is his birthday to- day. And would he—would he love to see my little one, would it make him happy 7 Do you think he would kiss it

just as he does you, and give it a smile

hc tinwest of

the same as he gives vou? take 1t m his arms lLike the you ? "

She had wonthe sympathy of the children