After Long Years and Other Stories

f their coach was suddenly broken. Considerably frightened, mother and children quickly alighted. The approaching darkness, coupled with

e lives a wheelwright, and I am sure he can repair it in a very short time." The boy then looked about him, and seeing a long pole,

rter route?" inq

I will lead you along a shorter path across t

hat we may take this pole? It seems to me as though

him, and he will be glad to have this pole so handy." So saying, he hurried to get the pole and helped the coachman

which led between tall elms and blooming s

elves upon the trunk of a fallen tree and listened to the music till it ceased. A gentle wind sighed softly through the l

rd many nightingales sing in the city, but here in the country, in this wooded region and deep stillness, and at thi

ood near her oldest son, Alfred, "thos

to sing. When the song ceased the Duchess arose to continue her way. Alfred, however,

ightingale that is at liberty, to sing and nest and fly as it pleases in ou

more closely about the trees near his villa, the boy said: "I feel sure that I can get a nightingale and its nest for you. I know

in a shabby suit, with his hair protruding from his torn hat.

nce. I don't earn much, but it helps my father a little. I often feel that it would be a great help to him if I could earn more. I certainly should like nothing better than to be a wheelwright. It must be grand to be able to take the wood that lies here in the forest, and make a beautiful

the wheelwright really wants to take you, I will give you ten pounds as soon as the nightingale sings in our garden; and I know that the missing ten pounds w

d again, and the rest of the

ersation concerning the stable-boy, all of whose statements the man corrobor

id the charges, giving the stable-boy a few coins,

ach the villa, Alfred joined his mother and sister, and with t