Jewel's Story Book

d around the still pond where Anna Belle's china dolls went swimming, and fresh moss banks had been constructed for their

he songs of birds in the treetops too high to be disturbed by the presence of dwellers on the ground. It was an ideal spot wherein to

u shall choose what one we will

winking as Anna Belle's, as

en I'll have next, and you next. Anna Belle chooses The Quest Flower;

ore comfortably against a tree trunk. "The little girl in this story

UEST

school or her plays, and even took an interest in her doll, Ella. Mrs. Wright used to laugh and tell her brother that he was a wonderful old bachelor, and could give lessons to many a husband and father; upon which uncle Dick responded that he had always been fond of assuming a virtue if

to her one day, "and we have been wondering what to do with you. Un

was vacation and she wanted an outing. "Uncle Dick

h, is a kind soul, and she knew me when I was as l

uncle were to leave, Mrs. Wrigh

e aunt Hazel that her namesake is coming

s. No c

nforgiving so many years. Let me see-it is eight; for Hazel is ten years old, and I know she was two when

n't let her admit it. If it amuses her, it doesn't hurt me for her to pass me on the street without

his sister. "If you only had a loving enough feelin

She did the storming." He shrugged his shoulders.

unt; but she doesn't know where aunt Hazel lives, and I wish you would warn Hannah not to tell the child a

out a mighty nice little girl, and it's been a wonder to me ever since I came

to have this trouble between you and aunt Hazel at an end. I

t Hazel lived in Kamschatka. She

st two letters I wrote her, I s

ng her now, the daughter of some friends. Hannah persists in keeping an eye on aunt Hazel's affairs, a

her make a garden bed of her own. Hazel went with her uncle to buy plants for this, and she had great fun taking geraniums and pansies out of their pots and planting them in the

e as she uprooted it, "and grass is all right mo

ch joy to look at that she carried Ella there every day when it didn't rai

tice the little stranger at last; for the child stood outside the fence with her doll,

she said one day to the pale little girl in the wheeled c

urned Flossie listlessly. "I never saw her

her work and watching Hazel's movements sharply through her spectacles. "There, she's g

garden path. She didn't care if Miss Fletcher did send the strange child away. What difference could it make to a gir

r drawn back in a tight knot; and Miss Fletcher, on her part, saw such winning eagernes

he said. "You oughtn't ever to hang by t

ink of that. I wanted so much to see if that lily-bud had ope

ed Miss Fletcher

sh," replied Hazel, holding Ella tight

Fletcher went ov

l," went on the little girl. "It m

ooked at the strange child cur

ect flower," r

d you eve

d, but I re

Fletcher was really interested no

've been to the Public Garden in Boston, and I ne

Miss Fletcher's heart, but s

ely than ever. "I don't remember you. I th

here isn't any yard, and I think your garden is perfectly beautiful. I come

d been set in such a tight line. "It ain't very often children like flowers unless they can pick

is, and one pink flower that was poking its pretty little face between the pickets. "

oking at Hazel approvingly. "Well, now, for anybody fo

nice folks," she

ild, "and that would have been error. If it

d again her thin lips parted in a smile

azel. "He let me buy geraniums and pansies

f it back here. Wouldn't you

ow of pleasure in seeing the happiness she was conferring by the invitation. Most of her fr

e, and, entering, joined the mistress of the house, who stood bes

grow at lightning speed. Miss Fletcher was more pleased than she had been for many a day, and as for Hazel, when her hostess went down on her knees beside a verbena bed and began taking st

aid admiringly, "if I can't have som

"I wish poor Flossie took as much

s like a kitten,

cted girl who is making me a visit. You can see h

a pale face. Her eyes expressed her wond

for some wise purpos

hat!" returned the child, sh

for us to question what His love is. It's very different from our poor mortal ideas. There's something the matter with poor Floss

erplexity. "Dear me," she replied, "if you think God made

n they can afford, trying and trying. They've mad

face. The lady was regarding her curiously. She saw that thoughts were hurryin

anted to say somethin

impolite," returne

iteness that has been given to me in my time, you wouldn't hesitate ab

ice it is that flowers will grow for ev

riend, in fresh surprise. "Have

ckly; "but when you have such thoughts about God, it's a

lt a warmth come

ad. You're a big enough girl to know that it's a Christian's business to be resigned to th

az

so is mine; and it

child. "We're both named Hazel a

. Now, why shouldn't flowers gro

Fletcher," the child's voice grew more earnest, "He wouldn't do it any more than I'd kne

r spectacles and gazed dow

e would?" added Hazel

ose she

say her prayers

rse she

he must be!" exclai

you sa

y to anybody that I bel

aimed, "I should think you'd expect a thunderbolt.

istian Scie

atives have heard about that, and they've been teasing her moth

s blasp

t isn't respectful to

she added softly, "I should

seemed to tower above he

f you'll just try, you'll find out what a mistake you and

lent half-minute, the little girl's he

a dull time of it, poor child. I've asked the children to come in, and they've a

oesn't she like to come out

if it's clear to-morrow I'll wheel her out under the elm-tree,

k's is right o

his la

e didn't notice the sudden stiffeni

ame?" asked the lady

igh

start. Color flew into her thin cheeks, and the eyes that stared at Hazel's straw tam-o'-shant

next question. "Have you ever spoken

d every night he asks, 'Well, how's Miss Fletch

ver say anything

ed up wonderingly. "He do

another," returned

decently in this particular insta

e," she went on, after a minu

orite aunt," ret

does sh

ft Boston. She told me how much she loved aunt Hazel; but that error had crept in, and they couldn't see each other

. "Here's something for you to smell of as you walk home," she said, and Hazel saw her new friend's hand tr

r's arm as she kissed her. "I think you've been so k

er. "It seems to want to see the world. Let it go along with you

little girl trip along the walk. The child looked back and smiled as she stopped to pick th

use with a flush rem

azel," said the little inval

letcher, and there was a new life

s that

so we had a lot to say. She gave me a lecture on religion, too;" an excited little laugh escaped bet

t you said her

st fix up your doll. I'll wash and iron her pink dress this very afternoon;

el were at their supper, Mr. Badger

Miss Fletcher, and she took me into her garden, and we

l's chair, and her eyes spoke volumes as

he was visiting, and she gave her a bunch

ow, uncle Dick," Hazel lifted her eyes to him earnestly, "you know how it says everywhere in the Bible that anybody that's afflicted goes to God and

ondering eyes. "That isn't Christ

cher's than to think that," declared Hazel, as she

said Mr. Badger. "What are you goi

d, not unless

y n

at anybody that doesn't ask you to; but I've got to know every minute

hing," said Mr. Badger, re

ful and good and strong. Whatever God thinks about has got to last." The child lifted her shoul

to last forever, I'm su

e afternoon Hazel, dressed in a clean gingham frock, to

r her guest. Miss Fletcher was sitting near her, sewing, and waiting with conceal

fixed eagerly on the white figure in the wheeled chair. The blue eyes that looked so tired reg

rance and the whiteness of her thin hands that clasped the doll in the gay pi

ss Fletcher noticed that she had no eyes for her, and saw the wonder

said, and Flossie smiled a little under the

rought your dol

do," returned Hazel. "

rnice is a beautiful

children were silent a minute, looking

. "Isn't it lovely to live w

Hazel has n

azel, too," said

real aunt, but I call he

ooking at Hazel, to whom her heart warmed more and mor

ll you aunt Hazel?" aske

usin to my garden, you mi

st flower to-da

n the garden lily.

d wouldn't you like to come too?" turnin

It rolls very easily. Give Flossie your doll,

they moved slowly toward the spot where the white cha

g to be the most beautiful of all. When it is perfectly open the plant will be ready to tak

s going to g

ill send you o

t of?" inquired Miss Fle

ook her head. "Every one

quest?" ask

ll her,

it's a search fo

y about the quest flower so

ecause I love it, and so mother put it in my trunk with my Christian Science books. I can

ntist," said Flossie. "I never saw one before

zel wistfully, "and we could read the lesson ever

hat it's about,

ick people well and

sie. "Sometimes I don't like to live, and I wish I

girls were looking at one another absorbedly, Hazel standing clo

ght to be cured. There's that one more chance, anyway. I've got