Nature's Serial Story

ur plants to-night, Maggie? Ought we not to take some precautions

e plants. Mother is the queen of the flowers in this house," continued Mrs. Leonard, turning to Amy, "and I think she will be inclined to appoint you first l

e like babies. I never made much of a fuss over my babies, but I love

th and spirit, and the ethereal beauty o

had enough pruning," retorte

you, if you will teach

ffo

rtment?" asked Burt,

ith an arch little look whic

tmas carol before we separate. It will be a pleas

e piano. "Amy," she ask

if you will choose

he air that Mrs. Leonard sang, and as the sympathetic tones of the young girl s

cried Mrs. Clifford, "for we have alwa

, "felt as you do, and he had me sin

ow voice, "suppose you take the sopra

another selection was made, in which Burt's t

ard, enthusiastically. "I am one of the great army

that you are of that ethereal mold of which poets and singers

hristmas hymn that your father and I loved when

ou when I did so"; and she sang sweet, undying words to

xty years ago. I can see him now as he looked then. God bless his child, and now my child!" he added, as he drew Amy caressingly toward him. "A brief evening ha

ltar, black Abram and two maids entering at his summons, and taking seats with an air of deferen

he late dawn of the following day by exclamations of delight from Mrs. Leonard's room. She soon remembered that it was Christmas morning. The children

white, soon pushed open the door, holding her own and Amy's

aid Amy, "and we will empt

nce more, Johnnie's companion in feeling and delight; and the morning of her life was still so new that the impulses of that enchanted age before the light of experience has defined the world into its matter-of-fact proportions came back unforced and u

y!" cried the voice

she were not yet a woman, she had drawn so near that mystery of life that its embarrassing self-consciousness was beginning to a

ould not banish. The air-tight stove glowed with heat and comfort, and she afterward learned that Mrs. Leonard had replenished the fire so noiselessly as not to awaken her. The hearty Christmas greetings of the family as she came into the breakfast-room wer

have seen him when he awoke," said his mother, "and saw the poor little thing propped up at the foot of his crib. His eyes grew wider and rounder, and at

Amy in very good part, but with the tact of a well-bred girl who would

girl. Johnnie's faith and fairy lore may make the transformation possible to her again, but I fear the rest of us will never catch another glimpse of the child we expected";

ore;" and she stole a shy glance at Webb, who must have heard some of her exclamations. The expression of h