20 Lily and Water-Lity.

 

The two would often be gone for days together,
the bear carrying Ruby on his back whenever the
way was too difficult or the slender little limbs
became too weary; and during these long separa-
tions from her brother, little Pearl would console her-
self in the society of a friendly little field-mouse, with
whom she had for long been on closest terms of
intimacy.

Ruby was not very partial to the field-mouse.

Being a boy, he was inclined to think it stupid and
foolish ; but Pearl understood it better, and always
knew how to make it talk. si

If it had not been for the field-mouse, and for a
pair of pretty thrushes, who were so devoted to Pearl
that they came every night and strewed leaves on
the ground to make her a bed, the little girl would
have fared badly when Ruby was away; but the
mouse was indefatigable in working for her, and
would spend whole days laboriously collecting fruits
and berries and nuts, which he would keep stored

-up in a safe place, and bring to her when she was