BRAMPTON-AMONG-THE-ROSES

 tell the elder ones all about the growth of the foliage
 and the young buds that expand into beautiful roses,
 and where the rich fragrance of the rose lies con-
 cealed. Then she taught them all about what is mis-
 called the fall of the leaf," making them understand
 that the summer-leaves do not fall, but are pushed off
 by the young buds that are coming out in autumn to
 take their places, seeming to say as they pushed them
 out, "Be off with you; you are stopping the way;
 you are old, and have done your work, and we are
 young and have come to take your place." And to
 convince the children of the truth of her teaching, she
 would show them some dead branch of a tree which
 had been cut off while covered with foliage, and which
 still remained on the bough though all the leaves were
 withered. Then she had but to finish her lesson by
 telling them that the reason of the dead leaves remain-
 ing on the branch was because no young ones could
 come out to push them from their places. So they
 learnt all about the new buds bursting out under the
 old leaves, and pushing them down and seating them-
 selves in their places, though they would not become
 full grown leaves themselves until the end of the follow-
 ing spring, or the beginning of summer. Then she
 drew pretty simple morals of her own, which caused
 the good curate to smile if he chanced to be a listener,
 but which she made the dear children understand
 thoroughly before she had done, so that they liked her
 little garden lectures, though it might be through the
 young lady dealing out cakes, and cream, and tea, and
 fruit along with her lessons.
 There was no contention in that happy little village
school, in which the curate took so much interest in
the dear children, and listened to their Bible-lessons,
or often offered up prayers to our God and Saviour,