THE NORTTCROFT LILIES.

 Master Frank cut out of a cocoa-nut for me, it's on
 the mantelshelf."
 Miss Brooke duly admired it. "And you have
been lying here seven years ?" she asked.
 "C Yes, ma'am."
 It is a long time."
 It might be worse, ma'am; I can use my hands
a little, and I cheer mother up a bit when she's down."
 "I suppose you cannot work much ?"
 "'Not much, ma'am, my hands get tired so soon;
but I can do most of what there is," and, she might
have added, that was very little.
 "1 Can you do tatting?"
 "No, ma'am, what is it ?"
 I will show you;" and Miss Brooke took a little
bag out of her pocket and produced a small ivory
shuttle and a ball of cotton.
 "I know a lady who likes tatting edging; she
always buys it; and I think I could get you an order if
you knew how to do it."
 Then followed a lesson on the first principles of
tatting, and Nancy learned the stitch very quickly.
 "C Now I will leave you this shuttle and cotton, and
then you can practise; and when you can manage it
fairly I will teach you a pattern, and you can do a
little at a time."
 Nancy was very happy when Miss Brooke left
with her lilies and her work. Oh, if she could only
earn enough to help her mother a little, how thankful
she would be !"
 And the clergyman's daughter walked home lighter
hearted than she had left it. She was young-only
eighteen-but she had her anxieties. Mr. Brooke was
a widower, and the care of four young brothers fell
very much to his daughter's share. Sometimes, too,