THE NORTHCROFT LILIES.

 Now for the moss, to begin with," said mamma;
 and she laid some lightly at the bottom.
 What a joyous packing that was! First a layer of
leaves, and then one of lilies; and Effie, with her neat
fingers, filled up the corners cleverly, and Gertrude
and Lottie brought the flowers; and not an impatient
word or sign marred the pleasure of their act of love.
At last it was finished all but the moss at the top, and
papa was called in to look and admire. Good girls !"
he said.
 "Me too, papa !" said little Bertie, who had pulled
 some tiny lily bells close off with his chubby little
 fingers and thrown them in, and his loving sisters
 would not disturb them.
 "And you too, Master Bertie!" and the bright
little fellow sat on papa's knee while Gertrude wrote
her little note to Nancy. Then came the moss, and the
fastening up of the hamper, and happy indeed was
Gertrude when she directed it in her boldest round
hand to-
 NANCY JOYCE,
 6, White Lion Court,
 Eyre Street,
 Walworth Road,
 Newington,
 London,
and put a great PAID and the date in the corner. From
first to last it had been a joyous task, and her momen-
tary selfishness concerning it had melted away in the
warmth of the willing love which all had shown in the
work, so that she did not even grumble when her
sisters begged they might share the carriage with her;
and Mr. Layton was glad to see this, for he knew that
Gertrude rather liked to be first and all-important.
 At last the hamper was fairly off under James's