HALCYON DAYS.

She was washing behind the house, and Matty was
playing in the garden, when all at once mother missed
her. At first she thought she had gone to some of
the neighbours, and after a while she went to fetch
her, and could not find her anywhere."
 wBut how could the little thing get over the
stile ? asked Miss Forster.
 "There's a hole in the hedge farther down, ma'am;
but I must run home to mother--she will be so grate-
ful to you, ma'am."
 "But tell us her name before you go," said
Miss Forster, "we shall like to see the little one
again."
 Oh thank you, ma'am; mother's name is Price,
and father's head ploughman to the Squire."
 Oh, I know where she lives," cried Minnie, and
I know you too! you are Dick Price, and you help
the gardener."
 "C Yes, miss, but I'll run home now to mother with
Matty, if you please."
 The happy boy ran off, after making a kind of bow
and scrape with his foot, and Miss Forster and the
children, glad to have been the means of giving
pleasure, turned homewards. The first part of the
return was as cheerful as the walk from home had
been, but when some of the excitement about Matty
had gone off, and the sun had set, and with the gloom
weariness began also to be felt, Minnie as well as
Louisa showed a good deal of temper. They com-
plained incessantly, and screamed at the sight of
every poor frog which chanced to hop too near the
path.
 Nasty things! cried Louisa, "I wonder what
they were made for ?"
 They are of use I suppose," said Minnie, "for