THE NORTIHOOFT LILIES,
wiping her hands on her apron, "' she's my daughter;
what do you want with her ? "
 "fHere's a hamper for her," said the man, and he
placed it inside the door.
 "tBut I haven't had a hamper since my poor
husband died, and his sister used to send us one at
Christmas: it can't be for us!"
 "It is, if her name's Nancy Joyce," said tho
man; "and she'll have to sign this," and he laid a
large book with blue leaves before Nancy.
 Mrs. Joyce brought the ink, and in scrambling
characters Nancy signed her name, and then the man
went away.
 1Oh, mother, what is it ?"
 Mrs. Joyce lifted the washing-tub down, and put
the hamper on the stool by Nancy.
 With trembling hands she cut the string which
fastened down the lid, and a sweet woody smell came
out pleasantly into the close little room, as Mrs. Joyce
lifted up the moss.
 "T There's a note from Miss Gertrude," and Nancy
read--
 "C XOnTIICROrT RECTORY, 2a7y 1 tk.
 DEAn NANCY,--The woods here are fall of lilies
of the valley, and we thought Tim and Joe might
sell some at threepence a bunch; so we have gathered
some and sent you. We think the bunches should be
about twelve or thirteen flowers and four leaves.
Little Bertie has helped. You will know his flowers
because they have no stalks. I hope the lilies will
sell well.-Your loving little friend,
 "c GERTRUDE LAYTON."

 Oh, mother, this is kind I Why, the lilies will
sell for ever so much 1"