IHE NORTIICROFT LILIES.

which her trustful heart could not mistake-in a dim
consciousness which reached her soul, of possible
beauty, and rest and peace in some far-off place away
from all the toil and struggle for daily bread, and the
weariness and pain which all went to make up her
cross. Mingled too with these thoughts were plans
for her mother's and the boys' comfort, and a glad,
unselfish thankfulness that her dear Miss Gertrude
had such a pretty place to live in.
 So pleasant was her task, and so bright and
 satisfied her musings, that hunger and back-ache were
 for the time forgotten, and another basket could have
 been easily filled with the bunches on her tray.
 "Now, if Joe would but come!" thought his
 sister, as she went on tying up lilies. But Joe did
 not come; he was trying to forget his hunger in
 playing marbles, and did not see any good in going
 home.
 Mrs. Joyce called at the first large house she came
 to, and sold two bunches there; threepence was not
 much, and people were glad to give that for the
 beautiful fresh flowers. She walked on some distance,
 but her heart grew light as the pile of coppers rose
 among the moss in the basket. When she came home
 at half-past three she had sold every lily, and had in
 her hand three shillings, as well as the loaf and candles,
 and tea and sugar, she had brought from the shop at
 the corner of the court.
 Tim walked towards the City. He sold one or
two bunches before he came to the river, and so he
went over Blackfriars Bridge. He had only a few lilies
left when he came to the City, for many people-men
with lines of care on their faces, happy careless children,
and women with grav- thoughtful looks, had been
beguiled by the sweet wild flowers he carried in his