MILLIE'S VICTORY.

bright with loving deeds and thoughts, and beautiful
with the flowers of God's own happy peace, for a
childhood'well spent, though it never comes again,
will perfume all after life, as the beauty of the valleys
brightens barren hill-tops, as roses keep their fragrance
many summers through.
 To and fro, to and fro, across the shining brook,
with rosy faces and tumbled hair, till the low sun
went down behind the tower, and the waters rushed
beneath the bridges singing their evening song; and
the tired children, hand in hand, went home across
the meadows.
 Millie would not go back to the Rectory, but bade
 them good-bye at the gate of Briony Cottage. They
 begged her hard to come, but she merrily refused.
 "Betty is alone, and Betty is afraid of ghosts,"
she said.
 What a large protector you are," laughed Polly.
 Good-bye."
 "Good-bye."
 Isn't she a jolly girl," said Reginald, as they ran
 down the lane.
 Isn't she though," answered Nellie, warmly. I
 am glad she didn't come home, do you know, after all,
 for it wouldn't have been like Millie."
 I hope Miss Conway won't come home for another
month. We will go up in Orleigh Wood to-morrow.
There's a thrush's nest there I'll show," Reginald
exclaimed. The young ones are such queer things.
We will go up to-morrow."
 But it was not to be.

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