THE GARDENER IN DISTRESS.

and ask me so many questions, that I shall
be obliged to borrow a tongue for the night
to answer you. Well, I did see him, but I
went to his home first. It appears that
they have a good deal of sickness in the
family. His mother, a pleasant old woman,
who lives with them, has been confined to
her bed for several months, and that has
taken up his wife’s time, and she used to
help in the business. This, and poor
Smith’s accident together, has thrown them
back so with their rent, that they are afraid
they shall be obliged to leave and give up
the nursery ground.”

“But if they go away from that house,
what will they do? have they any other
home to go to?” asked Mary, the little girl
on her uncle’s knee.

“No, my love; and if they don’t pay the
rent, their beds, and chairs, and tables, and
clothes, and all the things in the house, will
be sold to find money to pay it.”

“Qh, how sad!” returned the child:

“and if William has not any flowers to sell,
R * 245