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44 
 
'^AN EASTER LILY" 
 
 AND OTHER STORIES 
 
 y. 
 
 BY 
 
 NIL DESFER^^^DUM 
 
 TORONTO 
 
 :he hunteh. rose co., limited, printers 
 
 1896 
 
 'mm * 
 
?s s+n 
 
 EZ 
 
 .«** 
 
 
 •iSw*,' 
 
 
THIS LTfTLS BOOK 
 
 U9»p9ctfniiti anlr goviinBlti 99bicaUl^ 
 
 REV. ISABELLA M.. STEWART 
 
 AND 
 
 JOHN H. STEWART. 
 
 As In the garden of our thought 
 Choice flowers are fast appearing, 
 Our gratitude flows out to those 
 Who did the first rough clearing. 
 
 NIL DESPERANDUM. 
 
r*3*f»j|S'«,-'»i,«iaiBT'HkW 
 
 i> 
 
♦ r, -vv '•WfB*^! 
 
 ^*AN EASTER LILV 
 
 1^ 
 
■Pcr^vraHM 
 
 r 
 
V 
 
 '' AN EASTER LILY ** 
 
 A STORY FOR LITTLE GIRLS. 
 
 . 1 
 
 Dear Grandma, 
 
 I was very glad to get your nice long letter, but 
 just a little bit soriy that you asked me what Mamma 
 meant by " Our Easter Lily," because it will take so 
 long to tell you that perhaps it would be better to send 
 you a card to say the letter will come some day, 
 though I don't exactly know when. But I'll see what 
 Mamma says about that when she comes upstairs. 
 When you wrote last fall for Mamma to come over 
 in the big ship and stay with you for a little while, 
 I was glad, for Mamma said I could take her place, 
 and loDk after Papa and keep things in order just as 
 she did. It seemed good fun at first and Papa said I 
 really was a splendid housekeeper, and I think so, too, 
 for the whole six months I kept house I never forgot 
 to put his slippers and papers ready, except just once, 
 and that was such a very exciting day that 1 don't 
 think even a grown-up person could have helped it, 
 though I must say it was a pity, because it was so 
 near the end. It seemed rather like doing a sum. You 
 count up all the long rows of figures, and just at the 
 last you find you have forgotten to cany one and then 
 the whole thing is spoiled. 
 
 When it came so near to Christmas, Papa and I 
 
a 
 
 "AN lASTER LILY." 
 
 were « little surprised that you wrote for Mamma to 
 itay till after New Year's, though I don't wonder that 
 you wanted her, for she is a very dear, sweet Mamma 
 and she look** so pretty when she kisses you '' good- 
 night," and says, " Go to sleep, darling," but we really 
 did not expect that you would have kept her all the 
 time till Easter. Still, we are not the least bit vexed 
 about it now we have her back again, so you need not 
 even feel sorry. I would very much like to tell you 
 how we spent every day, I mean how Jennie, the 
 cook, and Bella, who used to be my nurse when I was 
 a little girl, (I am eight and a half now) and myself 
 the housekeeper, spent the days, but I am afraid it 
 would take too much time, and, besides, sometimes one 
 day seemed very much like another. So I will do what I 
 once wanted to do with my story book, skip to the inter- 
 esting part, and I am sure you will like that very 
 much. I expect Mamma told you that our house is 
 quite a long way out of the city, and is in the middle 
 of some, I forget how many, acres of land. There are 
 no other houses anywhere near, except a cottage 
 where the gardener generally lives. It was empty 
 nearly all the winter because Bob slept in the house. 
 A little while before Mamma came back Papa got a 
 new gardener with a family, and they all came to live 
 in the cottage 
 
 First I must tell you that every Sunday Papa and I 
 drove over to the church, and as the Sunday-school 
 was right after Papa waited about and talked, I don't 
 know what about, the weather very likely ; people al- 
 ways talk about the weather, don't they ? Papa often 
 
*'AN B4STER LILY." $ 
 
 told me that I must put my Sunday lesson into prac- 
 tice in the week, and then I should be ready for the 
 next one. Really and truly, Qrandmamma, I did try, 
 but I did not seem to know how till just the last Sun- 
 day before Mamma came back, and then the lesson 
 was so plain that I think even a baby of five could 
 understand it. It was all about " Love thy neighbor 
 as thyself," and " All men are brethren." As wt '^re 
 going home, I asked Papa if those words meant j ust 
 what they said, and he said " Yes, because Qo^' Is tl.e 
 Father of all." 
 
 That was good news to me. It made me very 
 happy becauso I had so often wanted to have a aistzv 
 to play with me, so when I began to think how many 
 sisters there are of mine in the world, I felt quite sure 
 that if I asked my Father God He would certainly let 
 me have one of them to come and live with me, for it 
 says in the Bible, " Ask and ye shall receive." So I 
 asked for a dear little sister. 
 
 In the morning I got up very happy — you see there 
 really were so many things to be glad about ; first, 
 everybody is so kind, then the spring was so soft and 
 warm, and I was to have a sister to live with me, and 
 best of all, Mamma was coming home, and I was going 
 over that very day to visit my neighbors at the cot- 
 tage ; so I don't wonder at Papa saying when he kissed 
 me good-bye, " You seem a very happy little girl." 
 
 As soon as I could, I picked a large bunch of flowers 
 from the hothouse, to take to the cottage. It seemed 
 quite a long while till half-past ten o'clock, but Bella 
 said it would not be manners to go any sooner. Bella, 
 
10 
 
 "AN IISTER LILY." 
 
 I 
 
 you know, is very particular about manners, and styles, 
 and effects. She used to keep me standing quite a 
 long time when I had a new dress or coat, " to see the 
 effect," she said. 
 
 But at last T was able to go, and when I opened the 
 door I saw, what do j^ou think ? Such a surprise ! One 
 of my brothers (for of course all the boys are my bro- 
 thers) sitting on the last step. He started up when 
 he saw me and moved as though he would go away. 
 So I said, " What are you going away for, don't you like 
 me ?" For he really did not look a bit glad to see me ; 
 perhaps that was my fancy, for of course he would be 
 glad to see his sister. Then he turned round, and do 
 you know. Grandma, if I had not known for cortain 
 that boys never do cry, I should have thought he had 
 been crying. I hardly knew what to say, as he did 
 not speak. So I just gave him some of my flowers, 
 and we W3re both very quiet for a minute. Then I 
 asked him where he was going, and he said he really 
 did not know, for he had come a long, long way in the 
 cars to find a friend of his father's, and as this friend 
 had moved away he had no work to do, and no 
 money to pay his way back where he came from. I 
 asked him if he had told God all about it, to know 
 what he had better do, and he said he had not thought 
 about it and he was not quite sure that God would 
 hear him if he did ask. 
 
 I told him I was quite sure God would hear him and 
 let him know what he was to do ; because God always 
 gives us everything we need. Then he said that per- 
 haps if I asked it would be all right, but that did not 
 
 i f 
 I 
 
"AN EASTER LILT." 
 
 11 
 
 ! i: 
 
 seem nice to me, as though God heard one and not an- 
 other ; 80 we agreed we would ask together. We just 
 said, "Dear Father, God, will you please tell this boy of 
 yours where you want him to work to-day, and make 
 it plain, because he has tried quite a long while," and 
 then I asked mv brother if he would like some of the 
 money I had upstairs in my drawer, but he smiled 
 and said, " No thank you, little sister, I feel sure I shall 
 get the work, so I will just keep the flowers ; good-bye 
 and thank you," and he lifted his cap and went away. 
 
 After leaving my brother, I went over to the cot- 
 tage. The door was open and just inside I found the 
 dearest little baby girl playing with some blocks. 
 When she saw the flowers she tried so hard to reach 
 them that she upsCt the chair that was keeping her in, 
 and made such a noise that her mother came to see what 
 was the matter. She was so surprised to see me that 
 I told her I was her near*^si, nearest neighbor and had 
 come to call on her. 
 
 Then she asked me into the parlor and called her 
 little boy Robbie to lee me, and told me all about the 
 big ship in which they had just come over the sea, and 
 lots of nice things that would take too long to tell you. 
 But now the best part of all ii coming. Bobbie was 
 looking out of the window, when he suddenly cried 
 out, " Mamma, I going out to meet Lily 1 " So I 
 looked out too and saw a little girl who was coming 
 across the field. I asked if that was Robbie's si iter, 
 but Mrs. Denver said, "No, H is only a little giil we 
 brought over to get adopted, because she had no friends 
 to take care of her." I felt quite sure the moment I 
 
12 
 
 <r 
 
 AN EASTEB LILT. 
 
 u 
 
 t 
 
 saw her that she was the sister God meant me to have, 
 and I expect that's just the way God manages. He 
 let Papa have more money and a larger house than we 
 needed, bo that there would be room for any little boy 
 or girl who could not very well take care of them- 
 selves. I was so very, very glad to see my sister that 
 I ran out to meet her, and kitised her so many times 
 that she hardly knew what to do. Then I asked her 
 if she would like to come over and look at the dolls 
 and toys at my home, and Mrs. Denver said she could, 
 if she did not stay too long. So we took Robbie with 
 us, and went home. I don't think I could tell you 
 just how Lily looks, if I tried ever so hard, but she 
 makes everyone think of a white lily. I expect that 
 is why they gave her that name. We went up to the 
 nursery and turned out all the toys, and everything 
 that looked a bit like a boy's toy we gave to Robbie- 
 He is quite a nice boy, too, for he played with the dolls, 
 and took them out in their carriage. 
 
 After lunch Bella thought Robbie had better go 
 homo, but she said she would ask if Lily could stay 
 till Papa came home, because she liked Lily very much, 
 and told me she would I'ke her to stay all the time. 
 I asked Lily where she liv i before she came over with 
 Mrs. Denver. She said she used to sell flowers in the 
 daytime and sleep in a big room with lots of other 
 children at night, and one day the flowers were costing 
 quite a good deal because there were so few of them ; 
 she was standing at the corner of a street by a large 
 store. It was just beginning to grow dark, and it seem- 
 ed as though people didn't love flowers a bit — for 
 
"AN EASTER LILY. 
 
 i> 
 
 IS 
 
 I 
 
 nobody bought them — when a lady came round the 
 corner (Lily said she looked so kind that she ran up to 
 her and said, " Will you please buy some flowers ? "), 
 and the lady turned round and smiled at her as though 
 .she loved her, so that Lily says she feels happy every 
 time she thinks of it, and the lady said, " Indeed I 
 will, my dear little girl," and she gavo Lily more money 
 than she had ever had before, and asked her where 
 she lived and who her friends were; and when Lily 
 told her, she said, " This is just the very piece of work 
 I should like best, and to think I have to leave the 
 city in half-an-hour." Then she took a little book out 
 of her pocket and gzve it to Lily, saying, *' Read this, 
 dear, it will tell you all about the dear Father who 
 loves and cares for all His little ones, and He will find 
 you a proper home and kind friends, and then she 
 stooped down and kissed Lily two or three times and 
 went to a carriage that was waiting close by. When 
 Lily got back to her room that night she sat down 
 close under the light to see what the wonderful book 
 said about " our Father," and she says that when she 
 read all the promises God had made she felt sure that 
 she did not have to go about with hardly any clothes 
 and no home to live in, i^ecause you see God would 
 
 not have^such a lot of lis «j girls and boys if He could 
 
 not afford to keep them, and it would seem as though 
 God must be very poor if he could not give His child- 
 ren enough clothes to wear. And then Lily read 
 about how God clothes the other kind of lilies and 
 takes care of the sparrows, and she knew that God 
 would love her all the time. 
 
 ..jgjgg 
 
14 
 
 "AN EASTER LILY." 
 
 The very next day Mrs. Denver met Lily in the 
 street and asked her if she could come and mind the 
 baby for her, and when she found Lily had no par- 
 ticular home, she said it would be better for Lily to 
 stay ^ith. them till she found one. So Lily stayed all 
 the winter with them, and they were all very happy, 
 and when Mr. Denver thought they would do better 
 in Canada, they asked Lily if she would like to come 
 out with them and get adopted, and, of course, God 
 meant them to bring her to us because she could not 
 have come by herself, and I do think. Grandma, Lily 
 and I had the very happiest time that afternoon. I 
 got out all the pretty dresses Mamma had made for me, 
 and we found they just fitted Lily, and I gave them and 
 every other thing to her ; "because, you see, they really 
 belong to her as much as to me, for we are sisters, and 
 do you know, Grandma, I never knew before how 
 beautiful it is to have something to give and someone 
 to give it to. But Lily would not have them all ; she 
 said she wanted me to have half because I was her 
 sister and she loved me, so we divided up. Just as we 
 had everything nicely settled Bella came back, and 
 though I am very sorry to have to say so, I really am 
 just a little bit disappointed in Bella, for when she 
 saw all the clothes on the floor she said, " Pansy, you 
 cannot give away your clothes like this, you should 
 have asked me first ! " Now, you remember I told you 
 that Mamma left me to keep house and do as she 
 would do, and though I had many times seen Mamma 
 take out her dresses and give them away, she never 
 once asked Bella if she might. Just at that moment 
 
 T 
 
 , : 
 
 ,;*.j|»,-*^w.'«;»»^*v": 
 
AN EASTER LILT. 
 
 >» 
 
 15 
 
 pe 
 
 e 
 
 we heard a step in the hall, and the door opened and 
 Papa came in : " Pansy, I've a letter from Mamma and 
 she really will " — and Papa stopped. He was so glad 
 to see Lily, I think, that he forgot what he had to 
 say. Lily looked so pretty, too ; she had on a white 
 silk dress that Mamma gave mo just before she went 
 away, with pink ribbon on it, and she has such pretty 
 golden curls, that it's no wonder Papa was a little 
 surprised. " Why, where did this little girl come f rom ?" 
 he asked, after looking at us both for a moment. So 
 I told Papa that I had asked God to give me a sister, 
 and that when I went to see my neighbors I had found 
 her. I asked Papa if he didn't think God was very 
 kind to answer so quickly. Papa didn't answer for a 
 minute, he went and looked out of the window ; I don't 
 see now what he was looking at so long, for there is noth- 
 ing very pretty that side of the house. Then Papa came 
 and sat down on the floor beside us and asked Bella 
 and Lily quite a lot of questions, and when they were 
 all answered, he asked Lily if she would like to come 
 and live with us and be my sister, and, of course, Lily 
 said " Yes," because, you see, we were sisters anyhow, 
 and bisters always like to be together. So Papa gave 
 us each a kiss and aaid he would go over to the cottage 
 and see if Lily could stay all nighf I remembered he 
 had not told us about Mamma's letter. The letter was 
 to say that she would be home in good time for 
 Easter Sunday, but as the ship was to come to New 
 York, Papa said he would have to leave an Thursday 
 night and then he and Mamma would both be back 
 by Saturday morning. Papa went over to the cottage 
 
*(i(!lS.lt 
 
 "AN EASTIR LILT." 
 
 and stayed quite a long time, and Lily and I got 
 dressed for dinner. Bella set an extra place at the 
 table, and I'm sure Papa was very glad that night to 
 have two little girls instead of one. I don't think I'll 
 try to tell you of all the good times Lily and I had the 
 next few days. I really did not think that two little 
 girls could have so much to say to each other, but I 
 expect it was because Papa gave us $5.00 each to buy 
 Easter presents and we had to drive into town to buy 
 them. We gave Robbie a whole soldier's suit and the 
 baby a doll that she could not possibly break, though 
 she has a way of dragging it across the floor by its 
 hair that I should not care for. 
 
 Before I'apa went away Bella asked him if she could 
 buy the silk and have a dress like mine for Lily ; she 
 thought it would have such a pretty effect for us to 
 be dressed alike for Easter. 
 
 I don't really think Papa cares very much about 
 effects and styles, but he told Bella she might get what- 
 ever she needed. So Bella went to town early the next 
 morning, and worked ever so hard to get it done. I 
 know she was glad when the telegram came to say 
 that Papa and Mamma could not get here till Saturday 
 night. 
 
 Bella had the dinner all set so prettily, with Easter 
 lilies all about the room, and the first spring violets 
 she could get, with some sweet peas and yellow roses; 
 she took these from the hothouse. We expected Papa 
 and Mamma about eight, but at half-past six Bella 
 began to dress us. It seemed to take a very long 
 time that night, and Bella tied and untied our sashes 
 
 1 I 
 
T 
 
 99|l; 
 
 <r 
 
 AN EASIER LILT. 
 
 it 
 
 17 
 
 ever so many times before she could get them right 
 Then she gave us each a beautiful Easter lily, and 
 said, when we heard the door open, we were to go 
 very slowly and quietly to meet Papa and Mamma; and 
 on no account to run, because if we did we should spoil 
 the whole effect. We both promised to do our very 
 best. I really don't think Bella knew how \%Ty,vei^, 
 very much I wanted to see Mamma again. But she had 
 taken so much trouble with our dresses that I suppose 
 she did want Mamma to see them looking nice. At last 
 we heard the carriage coming up the drive, and I could 
 hardly keep still, but Lily said we had better stay 
 where we were as we had promised, so when we heard 
 the front door open we went just as slowly as we could, 
 and I really believe I should have been all right if 
 Lily had not dropped my hand and her lily, and run 
 across the room crying out, " It's my own dear lady, 
 the very one," and then Mamma put out her arm and 
 drew Lily to her, so I could not wait any longer, but 
 ran, too, and Mamma put out her other arm for me, and 
 kissed us both. 
 
 Do you know, Grandma, I don't believe there ever 
 was such a lot of talking done as there was that night. 
 Mamma and Lily and I were all so glad to see each 
 other, and Mamma said that having Lily to care for was 
 just the work she most wanted to do. Nobody wanted 
 to go to bed. The next morning was Easter Sunday. 
 It was such a beautiful day ; directly after breakfast 
 we gave each other the presents. Mamma could not 
 give us all she had for us, because her trunks were 
 •till at the depot, but she was very pleased with the 
 
 
18 
 
 " A.N EASTER LILY. ' 
 
 ^ 
 
 box of perfume that Lily gave her, and the handker- 
 chiefs from me. 
 
 Then we drove to church — all four of us, and I 
 think that was the very happiest Easter I ever knew. 
 When we got into church there was another very 
 great surprip*?. In our pew was a boy, the very 
 brother I told you about, and Mamma shook hands with 
 him, and then the service began, so we could not talk 
 any more. Everybody was very happy in church that 
 day, and when the organ was played you could almost 
 hear it say " Glad, glad, glad," and I thought how kind 
 God was to give us everything and make us so happy. 
 
 After church there were five of us to get into the 
 carriage, for our brother cam \ too, and Papa told us 
 that he was the very friend whom Nelson wanted to 
 find, and you see God did answer his prayer. After 
 that Nelson worked in Papa's office, and lived with us. 
 So it is no wonder Papa and Mamma and I are so happy 
 when we have a brother and sister we didn't expect. 
 
 And now, dear Grandma, I do believe this is the very 
 longest letter you have ever had, and perhaps it will 
 make you careful what kind of questions you ask after 
 this. To you this may seem as though it was written 
 right off, but it is not, and I am afraid it will be very 
 nearly Christmas before you get it, for I have only 
 written one page each day. 
 
 Now, I think I will say good-bye. Nelson and Lily 
 are both close by, and tbey have read every word, and 
 send you kisses and love, and please take the same 
 from 
 
 Your loving 
 
 Pansy. 
 
 .1 
 
V 
 i 
 
 AN ALLEGORY. 
 
 A STORY FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 Down came the rain in a straight, steady, decided 
 way, as though it would say " Yes, here I am, and 
 here 1 mean to stay." At least, so it seemed to the 
 three children who stood looking out of the sitting- 
 room window, with anything but satisfaction on their 
 faces. This day had been set apart for a visit to the 
 woods. Everything was ready, lunch baskets packed, 
 Jack had his fishing pole, Gordon his new sail boat, 
 Isabel her doll, so daintily dressed, too, in a fresh 
 white dress, and new ribbons in her straw hat. To be 
 sure, William (the man who worked around for Aunt 
 Mary, at whose house they were visiting) had told 
 them when they first got up that he was sure there 
 would be rain somewhere before long. But they had 
 paid no attention to this, because they thought he was 
 not a good judge, as Jack and Gordon had been in and 
 out ever since breakfast, and come back with glowing 
 reports of certain bits of blue under the grey clouds, 
 and the comforting assurance that it " wouldn't rain 
 a drop this day." But in spite of ail the rain had 
 come, and with it ended the hope of the pic-nic. 
 
 For a few minutes they were all silent, then Jack, 
 who generally saw the comical side of things, began 
 to sing : 
 
 (19) 
 
-$f 
 
 I'lKJiii 
 
 T 
 
 ■■WSiaafiKsm.; 
 
 20 IN ALLEaORY. 
 
 ** We are playing together, 
 
 We are happy and glad, 
 Wo don't care for the weather, 
 
 And we never grow sad." 
 
 " Don't we care for it, though," said Aunt Mary, who 
 had just come into the room, " but perhaps, children, it 
 may clear up by dinner time." 
 
 " Why, Auntie, you are n-i-c-e !" cried Gordon, 
 who had lately begun to read and write, and often 
 spelled part of his sentences, most likely to help those 
 less well informed. 
 
 Jack glanced out of the window once more, and 
 turned round with a beaming face. "Auntie," he 
 cried, " there is Uncle Dave coming up the path." 
 
 That Uncle Dave was a favorite was evident by the 
 sudden rush to the door, as each tried to be the first 
 to welcome the tall figure in the wet coat who stood 
 in the hall by this time. 
 
 "Oh, Uncle Dave, you've come just at the right 
 time," said Jack, as he took the umbrella. 
 
 " I thought I should find you in," replied Uncle 
 Dave, " and as I have a few hours to spare, I took this 
 chance to see you before you go home." 
 
 A few moments later Uncle was seated in a big 
 arm chair, with Isabel and her doll on his knee, and 
 Jack and Gordon on either side of his chair. 
 
 " Of course you have a story ready ?" said Jack. 
 " It*s nearly four months since we saw you, so you 
 have had plenty of time to make one ' up.' " 
 
 "I've been far too busy to write stories," replied 
 Uncle Dave, " but I believe I do know a short one 
 that will just do for this morning." 
 
 \ 
 
•^ 
 
 AN ALLEGOBY. 
 
 21 
 
 i 
 
 " Once upon a time," began Uncle Dave, in good old- 
 fashioned style, "there lived a little German boy 
 called Hans. His home was in a very beautiful part 
 of the country, and the house was surrounded by 
 green lawns and flower-beds. There were hammocks 
 and swings, summer-houses and fountains, and every- 
 thing else that one could wish for. Inside the house 
 Hans had one room that was filled with beautiful pre- 
 sents that his father and mother were always sending 
 him, for his parents were often away from home many 
 months at a time, and as they did not stay long in one 
 place, they could not take their little boy with them. 
 Hans had a tutor who taught him and read to him, 
 and sometimes took him for long diives, for Hans was 
 not allowed to go out of the castle grounds by him- 
 self. But Hans was not happy — he wanted some- 
 thing, but he was not sure what it was. Sometimes 
 he thought of something he fancied would give him 
 pleasure, and wrote to his parents for it, but soon after 
 it came he would grow tired and put it away with his 
 unused gifts. One day as he was waiting at the open 
 gate for the carriage to come, he saw under a tree, a 
 little way off, a stranger fast asleep, with a big straw 
 hat over his eyes. 
 
 "It was so seldom Hans saw anyone outside his own 
 household that he took a few steps toward the tree to 
 see better what the stranger was like, and then start- 
 ed back again, for the straw hat moved, and its owner 
 Bat up and looked at him. 
 
 "The stranger had a very beautiful face ; and as his 
 dark eyes, full of gentleness and love, were fixed in- 
 
22 
 
 AN ALLEGORY. 
 
 quiringly on hira, Hans forgot his shyness, and went 
 straight to him. 
 
 " ' You live in a very beautiful place, little boy,' he 
 gently said, * and yet you look as though you wanted 
 something.' 
 
 " ' That's quite true, sir/ replied Hans ; * but I can- 
 not find out what it is that I do want, for I have a 
 whole roomful of beautiful presents, and they don't 
 make me happy.' 
 
 " The stranger thought for a few moments, then he 
 said : * I think I know what would make you happy ; 
 but it is a very valuable gift, and I should want a 
 great deal for it.' 
 
 ** * What do you want, sir ? ' said Hans eagerly, 
 
 " * I want all the things that are in your storeroom,' 
 replied the stranger. 
 
 " Hans' face fell ; he thought that was a great deal 
 to ask, and his treasures grew more precious now that 
 there was the chance of losing them. * What is the 
 gift ? ' he asked at length. ' I should like to see if 
 it is worth all these things.' 
 
 " * The stranger shook his head. * You will have to 
 take my word for it," he said ; * for there is nowhere 
 to put it till that room is empty.' 
 
 " * There are plenty of other rooms in the house,' 
 said Hans ; ' and I should love to see it.' 
 
 " * I cannot let you see it now,' replied the stranger ; 
 * but you can think it over, and if you decide to ex- 
 change with me you can bring your presents, one by 
 one, and put them in the hollow of this tree, and the 
 day after the last one is put in you shall have this 
 ffreat trea8ui:ft^.4^iiin vnn trn«t mA fn lr«An mv wAr/1 ? ' 
 
 :.^- 
 
AN ALLEGORY. 
 
 "•Indeed 1 can, air,' said Hans readily; 'but Herr 
 Fritz is calling me. I — I think 1 will do it ; ' and then 
 he huiTied to his tutor. ^ 
 
 " All through that drive nans was very quiet. He 
 felt quite sure that it was something very wonderful 
 that the stranger had, or he would never ask so much 
 for it 
 
 " When his lessons were over the next day Hans 
 went into his storeroom, and looked at all the pretty 
 things. He wondere C his parents would like him to 
 part with them ; but he remembered that in the very 
 last letter his father had said, ' Anything that makes 
 you happy will please me ' ; so he knew it would be 
 all right. At last Hans decided he would take a few 
 of the things he could best spare, and, while he wait- 
 ed for the carriage that day, he ran over to the . tree 
 and dropped them into the hollow of the tree. Each 
 day after that, for over two weeks, Hans did the same 
 thing ; and by the end of that time his room was nearly 
 bare. 
 
 " As he parted with his property Hans grew strangely 
 happy, and his longing for the gift increased. Many 
 things he had once valued highly seemed foolish and 
 trifling compared with this wonderful unknown gift 
 that was soon to be his. 
 
 " On the day when he put the last of his treasures 
 into the tree Hans' eagerness grew so great that he 
 asked his tutor if he might stay at home instead of 
 going for a drive, and as Herr Fritz had letters to 
 write he was quite willing. So Hans sat up by the 
 big gate to watch for the stranger. 
 
it 
 
 24 
 
 AN ALLEGORY. 
 
 % 
 
 
 " It seemed a long time, but at last he saw the tall 
 figure of the stranger in the distance, and before very 
 long he was close to the gate ; but little Hans' heart 
 sank within him — both hands were empty, and he 
 felt Bure no pocket could hold such a prize as he ex- 
 pected. 
 
 " The stranger knew what he was thinking. * Let 
 me in,' he said kindly, ' to show you your present.' So 
 Hans' fear vanished, and he opened the gate. 
 
 *' ' Is it in your pocket ? ' he ^sked, as the stranger 
 came down the steps. 
 
 " ' No,' answered his strange friend, smiling ; * it is 
 ia these very grounds.' 
 
 " * Indeed, sir, you are mistaken,' said Hans, ' I know 
 every step from end to oiid,and there is nothi'^'^ at all 
 like what I hoped you would bring me.' 
 
 " * Well, come and see,' was the answer. 
 
 "And afterwards Hans remembered with surprise 
 how well the stranger knew his way. When they 
 reached the last step they were on a large sweep of 
 green lawn, and at the other end was a group of shade 
 trees and shrubs. Here the stranger paused for a mo- 
 ment ; then he drew aside the drooping branches. 
 
 " * Look ! ' he said to Hans. 
 
 " HaUiS peered through, and saw — what ? Lying 
 curled up on the grass, with no pillow save his own 
 bare arm, lay a little child fast asleep. His sunny 
 hair lay in soft curls over his head, his face was fresh 
 and sweet, and as Hans watched him his eyes filled 
 with tears of gruititude and joy. 
 
 " ' Are you really going to leave him with me/ he 
 asked the stranger, ' to love and play with ? ' 
 
AN ALLEGORY. 
 
 25 
 
 I 
 
 he tall 
 e very 
 heart 
 Lnd he 
 he ex- 
 
 'Let 
 t.' So 
 
 , 
 
 anger 
 
 'it is 
 
 know 
 at all 
 
 rprise 
 they 
 eep of 
 shade 
 a mo- 
 
 own 
 [inny 
 fresh 
 filled 
 
 .; he 
 
 " The stranger smiled, but did not answer, for at 
 that moment the little boy sat up, rubbed his eyeB and 
 looked about, "^e did not seem in the least surprised, 
 but came over to Hans and put his soft little hand on 
 the boy's sleeve. 
 
 " * I like you, big boy,' he said in a winning, childish ' 
 voice. I think I will stay and play with you always, 
 and you will be good to me, won't you ? * 
 
 " * Good to you ! ' said Hans, in an awed voice ; * I 
 will guard you with my life.' 
 
 " * Are you satisfied with your bargain ? ' asked the 
 stranger. 
 
 " * Oh, sir,' said Hans, ' he is worth a hundred times 
 more than everything else I ever had.' 
 
 " * That is true,' replied the stranger, ' for I found 
 among your so-called treasures several very disagree- 
 able little people. Discontent, impatience, idleness, 
 and a little fellow called grumble, who is never satis- 
 fied.' 
 
 " * I am so sorry, sir,' said Hans, ' but though I knew 
 they were there, I never cared for them, and I would 
 have sent them away if I had known how.' 
 
 " * Well, this little boy will show you how,' answered 
 the stranger kindly, ' they never come near him, for 
 his name is " Love-Joy." ' 
 
 " * You are very good to let me have him,' said Hans, 
 gratefully, * I don't know how to thank you.' 
 
 " ' Don't try,' said the stranger, ' be good and happy,* 
 and when Hans looked round again he and " Love- 
 Joy " were alone. 
 
 " When Hans went into his store-room that night 
 
26 
 
 JLN ALLEGORY. 
 
 he found it swept and cleaned, for, as the stranger had 
 said, there was no room for * Love-Joy ' and the other 
 things too." 
 
 " So that is the end ?" said Jack, when Uncle Dave 
 left off speaking. "Why didn't it say how they played 
 together, and what Hans' father said when he came 
 home r 
 
 " They left that to your imagination, like those old 
 stories with blanks for the readers to fill in — " 
 
 " I wish we could find that little boy," said Isabel. 
 " We'll look in the woods." 
 
 ' You forget," replied Gordon, " the little boy said 
 he would stay with Hans a-1-w-a-y-s." 
 
 *' I don't think he is very far from any of you," said 
 Uncle Dave, " and I am sure the weather has been 
 taking a lesson too. It does not rain a drop. Gordie, 
 I wish you would bring my coat, I must be off. You 
 will all have a splendid time this afternoon," 
 
 " Yes, Uncle, but I do wish you could c-o-m-e with 
 u-s," said Gordon. 
 
 " I wish so too," said Uncle Dave, laughing, " but I 
 have t-o w-o-r-k very hard the rest of the d-a-y. 
 
 The End. 
 
A Story told by a Kite* 
 
 I am only an old, tattered, worn-out, paper kite, 
 and yet, as I sit here, day after day, in this dark cor- 
 ner of the lumber room, I often wonder if there are 
 many people who know as much of the world as I do. 
 No, Friend Catapult. You may have sent stones great 
 distances — even into far lands — but you did not go with 
 them. What I know I saw for myself. I remember 
 quite well the day I was made. A big boy came over to 
 visit his little friend, and when he saw what a nice 
 breeze there was he said, " Suppose I make you a kite, 
 Phil, and we'll see how high it will go." 
 
 So he got paper and paste-pot, and cane for the 
 frame, and I soon began to grow very handsome. 
 When I was quite ready, they took me out to a large 
 field at the back of the house, and the big boy gave 
 the ball of string into Phil's hand and told him to 
 *' hold tight." Up ! up ! I went, till I could just see 
 them, like specks in the distance. I went quite easily 
 till the last of the string was unwound, and then I 
 felt sure they were trying to draw me back. But I 
 had not seen enough of the blue sky or the trees yet. 
 So my friend Breeze helped me, and I gave a terrible 
 tug and got free. On I went, over housetop, above 
 the trees for a long, long way, till Breeze told me that 
 as he had a little work to do on the lake he would 
 leave me for a time and .call for me on his way 
 
 (27) 
 
wwn^ 
 
 ''.' ?j ? M !' 
 
 28 
 
 A STORY TOLD BY A KITE. 
 
 back. I was quite satisfied, for I had aeen a long 
 way down a pretty farmhouse, and as I love 
 children, I wanted to see if there were any there. 
 So Breeze let me softly down. I have a great re- 
 spect for Breeze ; he is so gentle. He has a cousin 
 called Wind, who does everything so roughly that you 
 never know where you are going till you get there. 
 
 The farmhouse looked even prettier when I reached 
 it. There were roses and carnations, sweet-smelling 
 thyme, and other flowers outside, and in the kitchen 
 and dairy the sun was kissing the pots and pans so 
 fondly that they shone like silver and gold. 
 
 There was an old lady standing at the kitchen table 
 making pies, and just as I came over the housetops, 
 a little boy, with a face none too clean and very dusty 
 clothes, rapped on the kitchen door. The old lady 
 looked up. " What do you want ? " she asked. 
 
 '* Some work to do," replied the little boy. " I don't 
 care what it is if only I can earn my living." 
 
 " You don't look big enough to do very much," 
 said the old lady. '* You will have to see the master 
 about that, but if you like to go to the pump outside 
 and wash your face and hands I will give you some- 
 thing to eat. I daresay you are hungry ; boys nearly 
 always are." 
 
 The boy said " Thank you," in a very pleased tone, 
 and in a few minutes came back, looking much 
 better. 
 
 The old lady had put a large jug of milk and some 
 bread and butter and cakes on the table ; and to see 
 that boy eat you would have supposed that he had 
 not had breakfast for about three days. 
 
 I 
 
 ■'■*■; H'^JH,''' 
 
 m:-m^mm^mtt,.,. 
 
A STORY TOLD BY A KITF. 
 
 29 
 
 Presently the old lady said, " I can hear the master 
 now, I will tell him you would like to see him." 
 
 She went away and came back in a few minutes to 
 tell the boy to go with her. I had to ask Breeze 
 (who had just come back) to help me round to 
 the other side of the house to find out where 
 they went, but at last I saw them all three in 
 a room with a number of books in it, a library I be- 
 lieve they call it. There was a very kind looking 
 gentleman sitting in a big chair at the table. He told 
 the little boy to sit down. The old lady went out and 
 closed the door." 
 
 " No, Catapult, I cannot begin to tell you all they 
 said ; it would take far too long. I make it a rule 
 not to talk after nine o'clock at night. All respectable 
 people should be in bed by that time, so I shall have 
 to 'cut it up ' as the editors say, which, really means 
 put it in very few words. This little boy had come 
 from a city a long way off, because he had heard that 
 the country was a very beautiful place, and he could 
 not see why he and so many other children should 
 have to live in such a crowded place when there was 
 so much room in the country. He also told the gen- 
 tleman that he thought the flowers and fields and 
 trees were meant for everyone to share and love. He 
 said he wanted to work and earn money so that he 
 could build a large house for the little children to live 
 in till they were old enough to work for themselves- 
 The gentleman seemed very pleased. He told the boy 
 (whose name was Donald) that he would give him 
 work, and help him as much as he could. But he told 
 
mmmmm 
 
 30 
 
 A STORY TOLD BY A KITE. 
 
 m 
 
 PH 
 
 mmt:' 
 
 him, too, that he could not build the house till he had 
 gone up a tall ladder, and he could not reach the top 
 of the ladder all at once, but must take one step each 
 day. He did tell Donald the name of each step, but 
 I have forgotten. You know, a kite hears so many 
 things that he cannot be expected to remember them 
 all, but I believe the first step was called Obedience. 
 
 " Well, the gentleman took Donald to town the next 
 day and bought him some nice, tidy clothes, and every 
 day after that he took him in the library for one 
 hour and taught him many things ; then Donald 
 worked very hard the rest of the time. He did not 
 half work, as I have seen some little boys do, but he 
 did everything as though he loved it. And after a 
 while he bought bricks for his house with the money 
 he earned, and I believe he always thought of that 
 more than any other thing. 
 
 " Yes, Friend Catapult, the house was built. My 
 dear friend Breeze and I went over to see it It was 
 a large, beautiful house, with gardens and trees. 
 Many little children lived there, and I noticed they 
 were very happj^, for each child had a garden which 
 he tended and weeded very carefully, and every time 
 a child pulled up an ugly weed and made room for a 
 beautif"^ ^^i^-^r the others seemed as glad as if it had 
 beeji ir.,;^^ ^%'U. No, my friend, not any more 
 to-ii. , :> "r rf^^-j the clock striking nine. Indeed, 
 you arj v^ i\>i.^, i/hat is not all, nor one hundredth part 
 of all I know. Another day I will tell you something 
 else. Good-night ! " But the Catapult lay awake quite 
 a long time, thinking over what he had heard. 
 
 ^j*m'«;?r'^" •■^**i'-'-'^"-''^--' 
 
1 he had 
 the top 
 tep each 
 tep, but 
 
 many 
 er them 
 sdience. 
 he next 
 d every 
 for one 
 Donald 
 did not 
 but he 
 after a 
 money 
 of that 
 
 t. My 
 It was 
 
 trees, 
 i they 
 
 which 
 y time 
 
 1 for a 
 it had 
 
 more 
 adeed, 
 h part 
 sthing 
 > quite