After Long Years and Other Stories

uld take him two hours. On his way he stopped to buy a few delicacies for his father with the coins t

reen eggs there. But as he now peered into it he found, to his great astonishment, that the young birds had broken through their shells. With all haste he set out for the vill

e them in the cage, he carried it to the garden of the Duchess. He arrived there toward even

orner of the garden there stood an odd little thatch-covered arbor, nestling between high rocks in the shadow of the tall trees. A brook which fell in foaming whiteness flowed pa

The boy had chosen this tree and had prepared a place for the nest on a forked branch. He went there late one evening,

shrubbery, to see whether the birds would feed their young, who were loudl

villa to carry to Alfred the welcome news that in a few days

oney will be yours. Stay a few days

was unclouded, and the breezes were light and refreshing. The garden, with all its natural beauty, afforded

wilight hour here in quiet. My soul is satisfied; for what can compare with this blessed evening

th its ecstatic song. The Duchess was surprised,

garden. The oldest residents cannot reme

fficulty recently, helped me gratify your wish. You remember, dear mother, that you said at that time: 'I would give twenty pounds to have a nightingale in my garden.' That

hich you have shown for your mother. It moves me still more, however, when I think that my children possess a heart big enough to part with money intended for t

ays about him: 'A greater deed of charity you could not perform than to help Michael Warden carry out his desire to learn a trade. He is a clever, ingenious boy, and would learn quickl

the money sh

ment almost carried him off his feet, and he thanked Alfred profusely for the extra money. He hurried home to his father and laid his

in the forest helped me," and

ed him to the master wheelwright, paid the stipulated sum and entered him as an appren

ir kindness to him. They praised him heartily for the strides he had made. The Duchess then gave him another gift of money for his journey, and said: "Success

d scarcely speak. When he recovered his self-control, he thanked them all, a