20 THE CHERRY-STONES.
¢

offered a possibility of success. Towards
the further end of the wall, and at a short
distance from the corner, there was a
buttress rising about five feet from the
ground, the top of which had been slightly
worn away, so as to afford a resting-
place of about half an inch in breadth.
It was a favourite amusement with the
younger boys to pitch their marbles sc
as to make them rest. on this slight
ledge; but it was so very narrow, that
they but seldom succeeded in their at-
tempts.

“Tf,” said Mertoun, as standing upon
tip-toe he tried, with a large stone, to
knock away more of the brickwork from
the top of the buttress, to the inexpres-
sible delight: of his little brother, Walter,
who had passed a great part of the after-
noon in Vain endeavours to make a fa-