Bessie Bradford's Prize

-gone days when he was lame and helpless, he had spent many hours, and in which she could easily be conveyed

; but Maggie and Bessie found her in a state of happiness and excitement unusual with the calm, reserved Lena, and w

was soon

nds had ever seen her show before, "what do you think has happened? Suc

Lena's young life; but she had been through so many new experiences

she would have seen what led to the present unexpected occurrence. Mrs. Neville had just read to the two gentlemen a letter from her brot

t any time while she

ss

er to obtain one for herself; and she said that Lena had become very much interested in an English girl, the daughter of the rector of a poor struggling church in the suburbs of the city, a girl with a very remarkable artistic talent; and that she and those little Bradfords, on whose education and training Horace and Marion seem to base all their ideas respecting children-if, indeed, they have any ideas except those of the most unlimited indulge

object. Poor, dear little Lena!" said Russell, who was the only member of his

a little severely. "As I say, I wish my children to do rig

ps, altogether respectful, "and that was the wonderful improvement Lena made in letter-writing; in the matter and manner, the style and

al. It was a letter thanking him for giving her the liberty of asking for anything she wished for-her choice had been that she might be allowed to remain at her uncle's house during the stay of the family in the country-a letter sweet, tender, and confiding, and giving him glimp

had changed, Mrs. Neville was called from

through Lena's wonderful heroism, a frightful casualty averted; and now she herself doing far better than we had dared to hope. If the child is set upon giving an artist's education to this young countrywoman of our own, and your Uncle Horace thinks well

oung man, and, having lately come of age and into possession of quite a fortune in his own right, he was ready to seize upon any opportunity of benefiting others out of his own means.

e from her father representing one thousand dollars, the other from Russell for five hundred. They were enclosed in a letter from Mr. Neville to his little daughter, saying that they were to be appropriated to any charitable purpose which sh

to her uncle, when she had shown her prize to him

cide what should be done with the money until she knows if Maggie or Bessie or any one of those interested in Gladys Seabrooke wins the prize. She knows that Mr. Ashton's gift will go to

ing very fond of children herself, deeply resented the keep-your-distance system and const

, were enchanted in their turn, and as Lena displayed to them the two magic slips of paper which held for them such wonder

in the prize was absolute, especially now that Gracie Howard seemed to have withdrawn from the contest, and that Lena had b

little church into a fairly presentable condition; that is, in case you decide, Lena, to use your funds for that purpose," he added, with the private resolve that the needy church should not be the loser even if the checks were applied to Gladys Seabrooke's benefit. She was the first object with all three children, that was plainly to be seen; but if it should fall out that the means of im

HAT WILL BUILD A

" said the happy Lena. "Oh! and I forgot; I had a letter from Percy, too. I did not read it, I wa

would not try to decipher Percy's irregular, illegible handwriting at that time, but woul

heaven of her happiness before she laid her head upon her pillow that night. But

ng on Friday, Lena," said Bessie, shortly before

I," sai

Lena, "but I suppose it will be

verheard the little colloquy, and

ll enough to go to your house, Maggie. My morning room s

e face flushed with gratitude and pleasure; and so the matter was arranged, Maggie u

ume her accustomed place among the "Cheeryble Sisters," and had consented to do so. How would that do now? Would Lena feel like having Gracie come here? Gracie who had treated her so badly,

she asked. "Do you think you

ena, this afternoon we met Gracie Howard, and I begged her to come to t

ught to Lena's face deepened to crimson, which mount

tation, she said, "Will yo

aggie, doubtfully

hat she will not

sure I should not if I were in her place; I should be too asham

for a moment; then she said, e

, after such a thing happened to me. Do you know," sinking her voice to a whisper, and speaking with an unreserve which she never showed towards any one save these little friends, and seldom to them, "do you know that when they thought I was going to die-oh, I know that every one

and kissed her cheek; and Maggie followed her examp

e could help it, Le

hy, reserved Lena, but also at the feeling she expressed and her readiness to go more than half

of the unpleasant relation which for some time had existed between herself and Gracie Howard, and which had culminated in the attack of jealousy and ill-temper which the latter had shown towards her on the very afternoon of the day in which Lena had been so badly, almost fatally, injured in the fire. And Lena herself

t wonder was it that they were touched, and filled with admiration for this little friend who, a s

is opening towards a reconciliation; for her peace-loving soul could not abide dissension in any shape, and this

nd,-this showed that she did not know Lena well, for having once made up her mind that a thing was right, Lena was not more apt to change than she would have been herself,-she of

e embarrassment and difficulty in wording her note; for, owing to the state of affa

pleasant had passed between herself and Gracie, and she finally produce

R GR

, and she says she will make it a little celebration for us because it is so long

scho

H. NEV

hild and would never express, even in a conventional way, that which she did not feel. She even shocked Maggie and Bessie now and then, truthful and sincere as they were, by her extreme and uncompromising plain-speaking; and perhaps it was as well that she was a child of so few words, or she

o reach Gracie early in the morning, and that, as Bessie said, she might have

tairs to seek the food which it was still considered necessary for the little invalid to take before going to rest, when Lena bethought he

f Percy's letter. But the first words on which her eyes lighted sent a pang to her heart, a

fulfilment of her own prophecies, "dear, dear, you're hall hupset, Miss Lena. I told the mistress and I told the doctor you wasn't in no state to go downstairs yet, or worse still, to be 'avin' company,

consequent suffering, that she was in no state to bear even the slightest shock or excitement. Had Hannah not noticed her agitation she would proba

was in the next room, to open the drawer of the table by which she sat, and shut the letter within. No o

xcitement of the day, and that they would have to be more guarded with their little convalescent. She soothed and petted her, mingling therewith a little

an end to the project of having the children's club here to-morrow. We have gone too fast, and now prove tha