78 Lily and Water-Lily.

 

were silent, waiting for the spring to come; spring
days, when the brook gushed forth again, and every
leaf and timely flower burst its cosy shell, and began
to grow with the growing year, and the flush of the
orchards lay pink upon the valleys, and the golden
daffodils spread a carpet for the field-mouse and the
squirrel; summer days, when the scent of the
flowers was heavy, and the yellow butterflies sported
in the hazy air, and the fireflies floated down the
moonlit glades ; sweet autumn days, when the land
was soft and mellow, and every growing thing that
had prospered came to the time of its fruit.

And all through these many days Pearl and Ruby
came to the brookside beneath the great cliff, and
tended the plant of the dead lily that grew beneath
the treés on the green bank.

The little mouse used to come with them, and, when
Pearl was tired, he would run about and serve her
just as he used to do, while Bue. watered the plant
that they-all loved.

And .one moonlight night, when the summer was